Best mimosa on the island (and we tried them at many places). Food was fantastic. The staff was attentive and friendly.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Greg Agius
Biggest mistake I made on this vacation was waiting until our last day to come here. I seriously would have wanted to dine here at least 3 more times. Every dish was fantastic and fresh. The beet salad for some reason was my favorite. We ordered all of the desserts and shared and argued about which one was best.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Jennifer Priest
Excellent. Must get reservations!! Great service, great food, be prepared to spend $50+ per person for brunch.
My hubby and I had a late lunch here. We started with the Greek salad (I've never thought of chili in a salad... but wow does it work!) and the tomato bisque (mmm....). Hubby had the kalua pork sandwich--best he's ever had--and I had the ahi tacos. Every bite was like a symphony of flavors in my mouth! We shared a side of potatoes, which were well seasoned and probably the freshest potatoes I've ever had. Service was super friendly and attentive.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Fish Tacos GF, Soup of the Day, Sandwich
Ken Romaniszyn
During our weeklong stay on the Big Island, Merriman's stood out as our absolute favorite dining spot. From the outside, you'd never guess the culinary treasure that awaits within. This fine dining gem truly shines with its commitment to sourcing local ingredients, elevating Hawaiian cuisine to an art form. The blend of high-quality, locally-sourced food with the genuine aloha spirit of service made the meal a memorable experience. The staff's warmth and attentiveness added a special touch to the already exquisite dishes. I highly recommend making a reservation to ensure you get to experience this exceptional dining destination. Also, while the atmosphere is welcoming and sophisticated, you might want to swap your flip flops for something a bit more dressy to match the restaurant's elegant vibe. Merriman's Big Island is a must-visit for anyone looking to enjoy the pinnacle of culinary excellence on the island.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Nelson Z.
Came here for my birthday dinner while visiting the Big Island for the week. We had reservations for 7pm and arrived at 6pm (sometimes its hard to plan exactly given tour times/travel times are dynamic). They weren't able to seat us early due to reservations ahead of us, which is understandable. The hostess was friendly and made a few suggestions for us to pass the time. The food is awesome. I had the Szechuan peppercorn rub prime bone in and my partner did the duo (half/half) shrimp and island beef. They remembered my birthday from the reservation as well. The atmosphere is like any other more upscale restaurant but they let you wear flipflops.
Janine R.
We have been going to this restaurant since 2004 so this is an informed review. The ambience in the restaurant has remained the same. The food and drink quality have changed and not for the better. Beginning with the Mai Tai, the lack of the Tiki glass takes the "fun" of the drink out of the presentation and the honey dew froth makes it sickening sweet. The piña colada is ok, but would be much better with more coconut and if they actually possessed a blender. The wait staff seem quite pleased to note that the restaurant does not possess a blender. The special tomato salad is ok, but the tomatoes are not very flavorful and blue cheese is of poor quality. The Yukon potatoes are crisp, but dry. The mushroom pie is ok - nothing special. The nut crusted fish was better than the other entrees, but not as good as it used to be. The New York strip was also not up to expectations. The pepper coating is weak, the temperature was not prepared to request and took three times to get it closer, but still was not done to request. They apologized profusely and covered the cost of the steak. The steak arrived at the table almost thirty minutes after the other guests at the table finished their entrees. The bread pudding is more of a crisp, the torte is nothing special, and the chocolate purse was better before. Also, there is now a 4% kitchen surcharge added on to the bill. It's sad to post this as it was one of our favorites in the island.
Ann M.
Absolutely amazing experience. Took my family here for lunch on our vacation and was not disappointed. The overall vibe is that of fine dining, and this place lives up to that. Located in an awesome spot, parking was easy and the staff was friendly.
Karie Schaff
Made a reservation at Merrimans for my dad's birthday dinner. Absolutely amazing! Service was fantastic. Food was out of this world. The mushroom pot pie was literally to do die for! One of the things I was really surprised by is that they share the chefs recipes in a cookbook at the restaurant. You can purchase it or snap a pic of the recipe you love. Thought that was really cool!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Pineapple Macadamia Nut Bread Pudding, Peters Original Caesar Salad, Steak
Lizbet
The food was excellent and the server was great. The noise level was high due to some exuberant diners. The kitchen took longer then expected to prepare our meals, but the server didn't charge us for a dessert to make up for it. We dine at Merriman's every time we visit the Big Island and we'll continue to do so.
Everything was great, except for my espresso martini. They don't have espresso. Wish I was told before I ordered. Pretty blah. My only complaint is they don't really allow 2 hours for a table. When you are eating 3 courses and spending top dollar, I don't want to feel rushed. It was like 1 1/2 hr and they were clearing you out.
BrianH
The Merrimans experience was awesome. My wife and I had frequented the MonkeyPod restaurants on Maui and Oahu - the big island Merriman original was as good and better for the ambiance. We look forward to dining here again. Kirk was awesome!
JeanC
This is a trustworthy meal, no matter what one orders, it will be done well. Especially if one likes fish or meats, prepared perfectly! The acoustics in this building are not good for engaging conversations, but the quality of the meal, service, etc., makes it worth the extra lean towards one's companions, speaking louder than usual.
Alissa R.
We had a lovely time at Merriman's last night! There was a bit of a mix up with our reservation but the host and manager handled it incredibly graciously and had us seated after a short 15 minute wait. Our server was so kind and knowledgeable and made great recommendations. My husband had the New York strip and it was delicious and cooked to perfection. I had the catch of the day which was equally delightful - exquisitely and meticulously prepared and presented. The restaurant itself is a beautiful space with very nice decor. Would highly recommend! One word of caution for fellow tourists - make sure you reserve an Uber/Lyft or taxi ahead of time if you don't have transportation - most places nearby close at 9pm and ride shares stop running generally by then too!
PeterP
Sunday brunch at Merrimans is always a treat. Whether you're looking for eggs Benedict, a burger, or anything in between being disappointed isn't a possibility. We were served by a new but competent waiter( I think Josh is his name,forgive me I'm old) who already embodies the combination of efficiency and friendly that is a hallmark there. I enjoyed a virgin Mai Tai with lilikoi foam which was spectacular. Host Jay always makes the experience a little better by his presence.
Best mimosa on the island (and we tried them at many places). Food was fantastic. The staff was attentive and friendly.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Biggest mistake I made on this vacation was waiting until our last day to come here. I seriously would have wanted to dine here at least 3 more times. Every dish was fantastic and fresh. The beet salad for some reason was my favorite. We ordered all of the desserts and shared and argued about which one was best.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Excellent. Must get reservations!! Great service, great food, be prepared to spend $50+ per person for brunch.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Pineapple Macadamia Nut Bread Pudding
My hubby and I had a late lunch here. We started with the Greek salad (I've never thought of chili in a salad... but wow does it work!) and the tomato bisque (mmm....). Hubby had the kalua pork sandwich--best he's ever had--and I had the ahi tacos. Every bite was like a symphony of flavors in my mouth! We shared a side of potatoes, which were well seasoned and probably the freshest potatoes I've ever had. Service was super friendly and attentive.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Fish Tacos GF, Soup of the Day, Sandwich
During our weeklong stay on the Big Island, Merriman's stood out as our absolute favorite dining spot. From the outside, you'd never guess the culinary treasure that awaits within. This fine dining gem truly shines with its commitment to sourcing local ingredients, elevating Hawaiian cuisine to an art form. The blend of high-quality, locally-sourced food with the genuine aloha spirit of service made the meal a memorable experience. The staff's warmth and attentiveness added a special touch to the already exquisite dishes. I highly recommend making a reservation to ensure you get to experience this exceptional dining destination. Also, while the atmosphere is welcoming and sophisticated, you might want to swap your flip flops for something a bit more dressy to match the restaurant's elegant vibe. Merriman's Big Island is a must-visit for anyone looking to enjoy the pinnacle of culinary excellence on the island.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Came here for my birthday dinner while visiting the Big Island for the week. We had reservations for 7pm and arrived at 6pm (sometimes its hard to plan exactly given tour times/travel times are dynamic). They weren't able to seat us early due to reservations ahead of us, which is understandable. The hostess was friendly and made a few suggestions for us to pass the time. The food is awesome. I had the Szechuan peppercorn rub prime bone in and my partner did the duo (half/half) shrimp and island beef. They remembered my birthday from the reservation as well. The atmosphere is like any other more upscale restaurant but they let you wear flipflops.
We have been going to this restaurant since 2004 so this is an informed review. The ambience in the restaurant has remained the same. The food and drink quality have changed and not for the better. Beginning with the Mai Tai, the lack of the Tiki glass takes the "fun" of the drink out of the presentation and the honey dew froth makes it sickening sweet. The piña colada is ok, but would be much better with more coconut and if they actually possessed a blender. The wait staff seem quite pleased to note that the restaurant does not possess a blender. The special tomato salad is ok, but the tomatoes are not very flavorful and blue cheese is of poor quality. The Yukon potatoes are crisp, but dry. The mushroom pie is ok - nothing special. The nut crusted fish was better than the other entrees, but not as good as it used to be. The New York strip was also not up to expectations. The pepper coating is weak, the temperature was not prepared to request and took three times to get it closer, but still was not done to request. They apologized profusely and covered the cost of the steak. The steak arrived at the table almost thirty minutes after the other guests at the table finished their entrees. The bread pudding is more of a crisp, the torte is nothing special, and the chocolate purse was better before. Also, there is now a 4% kitchen surcharge added on to the bill. It's sad to post this as it was one of our favorites in the island.
Absolutely amazing experience. Took my family here for lunch on our vacation and was not disappointed. The overall vibe is that of fine dining, and this place lives up to that. Located in an awesome spot, parking was easy and the staff was friendly.
Made a reservation at Merrimans for my dad's birthday dinner. Absolutely amazing! Service was fantastic. Food was out of this world. The mushroom pot pie was literally to do die for! One of the things I was really surprised by is that they share the chefs recipes in a cookbook at the restaurant. You can purchase it or snap a pic of the recipe you love. Thought that was really cool!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Pineapple Macadamia Nut Bread Pudding, Peters Original Caesar Salad, Steak
The food was excellent and the server was great. The noise level was high due to some exuberant diners. The kitchen took longer then expected to prepare our meals, but the server didn't charge us for a dessert to make up for it. We dine at Merriman's every time we visit the Big Island and we'll continue to do so.
Restaurantji Recommends
Everything was great, except for my espresso martini. They don't have espresso. Wish I was told before I ordered. Pretty blah. My only complaint is they don't really allow 2 hours for a table. When you are eating 3 courses and spending top dollar, I don't want to feel rushed. It was like 1 1/2 hr and they were clearing you out.
The Merrimans experience was awesome. My wife and I had frequented the MonkeyPod restaurants on Maui and Oahu - the big island Merriman original was as good and better for the ambiance. We look forward to dining here again. Kirk was awesome!
This is a trustworthy meal, no matter what one orders, it will be done well. Especially if one likes fish or meats, prepared perfectly! The acoustics in this building are not good for engaging conversations, but the quality of the meal, service, etc., makes it worth the extra lean towards one's companions, speaking louder than usual.
We had a lovely time at Merriman's last night! There was a bit of a mix up with our reservation but the host and manager handled it incredibly graciously and had us seated after a short 15 minute wait. Our server was so kind and knowledgeable and made great recommendations. My husband had the New York strip and it was delicious and cooked to perfection. I had the catch of the day which was equally delightful - exquisitely and meticulously prepared and presented. The restaurant itself is a beautiful space with very nice decor. Would highly recommend! One word of caution for fellow tourists - make sure you reserve an Uber/Lyft or taxi ahead of time if you don't have transportation - most places nearby close at 9pm and ride shares stop running generally by then too!
Sunday brunch at Merrimans is always a treat. Whether you're looking for eggs Benedict, a burger, or anything in between being disappointed isn't a possibility. We were served by a new but competent waiter( I think Josh is his name,forgive me I'm old) who already embodies the combination of efficiency and friendly that is a hallmark there. I enjoyed a virgin Mai Tai with lilikoi foam which was spectacular. Host Jay always makes the experience a little better by his presence.