Kalikala Cuisine — Restaurant in Hawaii

Update... incredible visit this time. I'm so glad I tried them again. The owner was there and incredibly welcoming. He even shared the story of the location before he ran off to get more flowers.

The food was excellent and the service was great.

I'll definitely go again and bring all the family that stay at me house.

I loved this place before, but the owners son and daughter just don't want to be there. Their son kept making blunt statements to guests. My family of 3 was the first in at 8:05. We asked for the front row seating and were told "that's for couples". We didn't want to sit in back with our view obstructed by couples. Our waitress was very friendly and attentive. Another guest was waiting for her party inside the eating area and was told to wait outside. Not please or could you, it was an order. My wife asked where the restroom was and was told the location of the key and to read the sign. The sign was confusing and it referenced "next to our kitchen". How would she know where your kitchen was if she can't find the bathroom? She went the wrong way and was yelled at for going in the employees only area. No please, no excuse me. She left the eating area to find the bathroom as the son seated a single lady at the front bar (one menu, one place setting). Huh? couples only? That's when I got up to ask why. It ended up me against the owner's kids with them asking why it matters. Unfortunately, I forgot to put on my mask, so the son decided this was the appropriate time to tell me to put on my mask. The daughter said I didn't have to stay and the son jumped in and told me I could leave. I said OK and my son and I left.

I've eaten there a couple times before. The food is pricey, but very good. I don't put up with the silly anti-tourist stuff. It's a cost of living in paradise, but it should be embraced as the massive benefit it is. It's as if oil companies hated ICE cars and airlines wished everyone would travel by train. Locals live there because they love it, tourists go there because they love it. It's a cost of living...

I'm so disappointed by our experience with Kalikala Cuisine today.

My son and I had just landed for a special trip and decided on Kalikala Cuisine for the ocean view and fresh food reviews. We headed over straight from landing.

We were sat immediately, but didn't have a server approach us for 25 minutes! When she did come over, she thanked us for the wait and said they were sat with a few tables at once, so we shook it off and tried to order.

I'm vegan and partially chose Kalikala Cuisine because it said "vegan options available" on the menu and seemed like they would accommodate. When I asked our server about the vegan options, she said "you tell me, you're the vegan". I was honestly shocked at the response. I pointed out to her that it said that on the menu, and she said to let her know what I needed. I ended up order the $18 fruit plate.

While we waited for our food, the table of 3 people next to us had one of their meals delivered while the other two people sat for over 20 minutes for the other food to come out. Two other tables around us waited and waited for their orders to be taken and their food to come.

After almost 45 minutes of waiting for our food, I was nearly ready to get up and tell them to cancel the whole thing, our food finally came. I was shocked at the price tag for the fruit plate size.

The food was not worth the wait and this entire experience was so disappointing.

I paid a total of $34 to park (2 hours), and nearly $60 for a small plate of fruit, the waffles, a piece of banana bread and a drink for frankly embarrassing and rude service.

I understand that it's Sunday, and we may have been sat with several other tables - but the treatment that we received was worthy of a fast food restaurant experience, not the price tag that this restaurant demands. In my experience in customer service and in reviewing restaurants as party of my profession ... a little communication or small extension from management when a rush is happening goes a long way, and this staff...

We came for dinner and left with disappointment. We should have walked away when we saw how empty the place was (for dinner). However, we decided to give it a try. I ordered the fresh catch of the day, with chicken, and it was okay, but certainly not worth the price. I also had a Piña Colada; it was pretty bland and I didn’t even finish it. My mom ordered the teriyaki chicken, and for the exorbitant price, we assumed it would be chicken breast- it wasn’t. It was thigh meat. The Hawaiian rice was meh and wasn’t hot (it was warm-ish), and the vegetables were decent. The worst part: the flies! Holy heavens, this place must be right next to the city dump because I have never seen so many flies in my life, let alone in Kona. I’m not sure what the restaurant is doing wrong, but the flies are overwhelming. The server tried to help by bringing some type of fan that supposedly deters flies, but it didn’t work. My mom eventually gave up trying to fight and shoo the flies, she didn’t even finish her meal. She graciously moved her plate to the end of the table so they could attack her food instead of mine. There were at least 15 flies swarming around us. It was ridiculous and disgusting. There are WAY better places to eat on the island, and many at a better price. The prices certainly do not reflect the food or ambiance. The plus side: the waitresses were super nice and attentive.

Pros: nice staff and no wait since nobody was there.

Cons: flies everywhere, food is meh and not super hot, uncomfortable chairs, mediocre...