Paul's Place — Restaurant in Hawaii

My grandmother, an astute devotee of fine cookery herself, once told me a small, simple truth: that the best dining experiences do not simply taste good, nor do they only fill your stomach. Truly great food makes you question your own cooking, and inspires you to improve what you cook and eat across the board. I am thrilled to report that Paul’s Place, in the downtown quarter of Hilo, is such an inspiration.

Paul is a craftsman of the old guard - not only of food, but also of experience and mood. As the youth of today might say, “it is a vibe”. When I first entered his establishment, I was immediately struck with the coziness of its environs, and by the delectable odor wafting in the atmosphere. Speaking of, a fine selection of jazz music supplied an instant drop in Blood Pressure, and it was played precisely loud enough to enjoy, but not so loud as to render all conversation a contemptible proposition.

Paul himself was confidently and visibly at the helm - a man in possession of both good cookery and good nature. The server made us feel Right at Home as well, and in fact the entire experience of Paul’s Place is that of a home kitchen - a home away from home, of comfort and goodwill.

Now, the food. It is doubtless in my mind that Paul’s smoked salmon benedict was and is the best eggs benedict I have ever had - a divine mingling of ingredients, both disparate and congruent, but all of them simple and fresh, that when set upon the palate exploded with joy. The inclusion of capers was a master stroke, and, to circle back to my first paragraph, inspired me to experiment with them in my own cooking.

I also partook in a plate of Paul’s Belgian waffles. They were, again, the best waffles I have had the good fortune of tasting. Crisp, fluffy, delicate, and filling, even for mine own slightly spacious gut! With warm syrup and fresh fruit, one could’ve sworn this lecherous old goat was the happiest man in the world.

And so I was, by the by, when I dined at Paul’s Place. He is both craftsman and gentleman, but above those platitudes, he is a purveyor of culinary happiness and simplicity, of inspiration and experience. I do hope you find the time to dine here as well - and I shall no doubt be returning, as soon as I can arrange...

Paul's Place was warm, cozy, delightful and cooked with love. It was elegant. Paul and Megan treat each guest like they are the only guest and as if they've known you for years and you are true Ohana. And, the food - cooked with compassion and tenderness and so much flavor. They want each customer's experience to be perfect and they don't rush you, so they have a very small place with three 2-seater tables - so, you MUST make a reservation in advance, and they don't do pick-up up orders/food to go. Please make a reservation here and feel the REAL Hawai'i experience that you have probably imagined or dreamed about. If you just so happen to show up without a reservation and get disappointed that you can't join Paul for breakfast/brunch that day---please make a reservation for another day so you won't miss out on the opportunity to have this wonderful experience. Oh, and the food was presented beautifully and tasted OUTSTANDING - the best BELGIAN waffle ever (still trying to figure out how he made it so fluffy and very very airy light) served with warm syrup, the best LOX & bagel (fresh salmon, with diced red onion, capers, tomatoes, cucumbers, and apples). We enjoyed the atmosphere, Paul & Megan and the food so much that we made another reservation before we left and drove 1.5 hours from Kona side of the island to have this again, and it was well worth it!! Had the angel hair pasta with mozzarella, salad, and smoked salmon & the belgian waffle again- YUM YUM YUM - Thank you again Paul - thank you again!!!! We will never forget you and Paul's Place and will BE BACK on future visits to the big...

The owner Paul actually left the restaurant to search for my girlfriend and me on foot after he couldn't reach us by phone when it was our turn to be seated. If that doesn't show the dedication Paul has to his customers and business I don't know what does. Him and his staff exemplify the spirit of Aloha.

When Paul turned the corner and found us he threw out his arms and yelled my girlfriend's name at the top of his lungs (The reservation was under her name). I was really confused as I didn't recognize immediately who was so genuinely happy to see her on vacation thousands of miles away from home. You can't fake the excitement and hospitality he showed. We will be back to visit every time we return and I haven't even gotten to the food yet.

We ordered the Eggs Benedict with smoked salmon and the Belgian Waffles. The Eggs Benedict was cooked perfectly and served with a lemon aioli instead of Hollandaise sauce, a refreshing change to the classic recipe which I enjoyed much more. The Belgian Waffles were fluffy and delicious and served with fresh fruit and whipped cream.

All the dishes are simple and made with fresh quality ingredients. The menu is focused you won't be overwhelmed with choices. The venue is very cozy, I recommend making reservation a head of time.

Thank you Paul & staff! We...