We were looking for a nice lunch break between adventures in Hilo when we were directed to this cafe. We were lucky to be seated by the window where we could people watch while waiting for our meal. We ordered the coconut calamari appetizer and it was to die for! It looked more like a cheese stick than the usual... More

We were given a gift voucher for this place. I'm glad because the prices are on the higher end. I don't think it's good bang for your buck. The pizza was great. My wife had a pasta dish, she was not very impressed. The other people had a variety of meals (there was 6 of us). No one was overly... More

We went to this restaurant on a whim, we had a very short time to eat as we were trying to catch the observatory before sunset, they were very helpful and got our food ready ASAP, The food was absolutely amazing, we all got pizza and it was to die for! As mentioned previously the service was not only fast... More

This Cafe is great! The food excellent, service friendly and the live music a really enjoyable bonus. The three (3) beer sampler was a fun idea. We stayed five nights in Hilo and ate at Cafe Pesto twice in that time. The only distasteful part of Cafe Pesto was the young fellow sitting on the ground outside the door with... More

Yummylicious!!! Get a table by the window so you can people watch those strolling by in downtown Hilo. The food is "Ono." Cafe Pesto has a very nice ambience. Save room for dessert & try the Lilikoi Cheescake with a chocolate-chunk cookie crust. OMG!!! If you must have an appetizer, try the Coconut crusted Calamari with the fruity/pepper dipping sauce.... More

That is to say the food was delicious and the staff were friendly. We had the catch of the day special cooked in Japanese pepper. Mine was the tuna - seared to perfection, and my wife had the Ono - again cooked perfectly. The accompanying salad was fresh and tossed in dressing - not just poured over. We managed to... More

If you're in Hilo, be sure to stop by Cafe Pesto, which is, definitely, the BEST restaurant in Hilo! Everything is delicious and the service is very good. They have salads, pasta, burgers, pizza, beers on tap, everything!

We had lunch here twice during a visit to Hilo and had great meals on both occasions. The food has nice creative touches that make the meals a cut above the average, and the service was attentive without hovering. We were lucky to have seats by the front windows and enjoyed people watching while we had a relaxing meal. We've... More

Cafe Pesto is an adorable little restaurant in Hilo, Hawaii. We had an amazing dinner here after a long bike ride through Volcanoes National Park. The coconut calamari was particularly delicious and the service was excellent. They even had live music-- quiet, lovely guitar playing with singer-- this really added to the experience.