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Cafe Pesto

Kawaihae Shopping Center, Kawaihae Harbor Hwy. 270, Kawaihae, Island of Hawaii, HI 96743
808-882-1071
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Ranked #6 of 9 restaurants in Kawaihae
Price range: $7 - $35
Cuisines: Eclectic
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Restaurant details
Good for: Families with children
Dining options: Breakfast/Brunch, Lunch, Dinner, Reservations, Takeout, Late Night, Dessert
Dining style: Casual Dining
Cross street: Akoni Pule Hwy
Description: "The best of Hawaii's hidden treasures," claim food critics and locals alike. The menu features fresh local seafood, exotic pizzas, colorful eclectic salads and Asian inspired pastas and risottos. The harbor settings, rich in Hawai'ian history, provide a backdrop of authenticity and charm to the award-winning restaurant. Visit the stone temple Heiau of Kawaihae harbor to view the ancient shark deities on their sunset vigils.
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370 reviews from our community

83% Recommend
    166
    141
    39
    16
    8
Rating summary
    Food
    Service
    Value
    Atmosphere
Date Rating
1 review
2 of 5 stars Reviewed May 21, 2013 NEW via mobile

We expected the place much better after its high ratings. Sadly it turned out to be not good at all. We ordered soup of the day which was more or less tasteless and overcooked. More a supermarket than a restaurant soup. The special dish with pork rips, mango sauce and shrimp was also tasteless and pricey (with the small plate... More

Waimea, Hawaii
2 reviews
Reviews in 2 cities Reviews in 2 cities
5 of 5 stars Reviewed May 21, 2013 NEW via mobile

Always great food and service! We will be back sooner than later! Now only if they would deliver! We can only wish! Lolz!

Sonoma County, California
Senior Contributor
22 reviews 22 reviews
14 restaurant reviews
Reviews in 14 cities Reviews in 14 cities
37 helpful votes 37 helpful votes
4 of 5 stars Reviewed May 19, 2013 NEW

Our friend who owns the condo we rent at Mauna Lani has been telling us about this place for years. We finally visited and can't figure out what took us so long! Just had our second lunch at Cafe Pesto in one week -- crab cakes on greens with miso dressing. Fresh and delicious -- hit the spot, especially accompanied... More

Portland, Oregon
Senior Contributor
44 reviews 44 reviews
26 restaurant reviews
Reviews in 18 cities Reviews in 18 cities
20 helpful votes 20 helpful votes
4 of 5 stars Reviewed May 14, 2013

Food was excellent, the atmosphere is a bit underwhelming as it is in the downstairs of an old strip mall. Get past the decor and enjoy a good island meal!

See 2 more reviews by stolplane for Kawaihae
Baltimore, Maryland
Contributor
16 reviews 16 reviews
6 restaurant reviews
Reviews in 9 cities Reviews in 9 cities
16 helpful votes 16 helpful votes
5 of 5 stars Reviewed May 14, 2013

This was a bit of a drive for us, but not too much and was well worth it. I had the 4 cheese pizza and it did not disappoint. My husband had the seafood risotto and he loved it. I also had the volcano mist salad which was outstanding. We cannot recommend this enough. Go! It is worth the trip... More

Eugene, Oregon
Contributor
12 reviews 12 reviews
3 restaurant reviews
Reviews in 11 cities Reviews in 11 cities
11 helpful votes 11 helpful votes
4 of 5 stars Reviewed May 14, 2013

The beer samplers were a great way to taste several of the excellent beers. The calzone was just okay but the service was awesome.

Senior Contributor
41 reviews 41 reviews
23 restaurant reviews
Reviews in 16 cities Reviews in 16 cities
7 helpful votes 7 helpful votes
4 of 5 stars Reviewed May 12, 2013 via mobile

Twenty years ago we had a really great pizza here. The pizza is still good and so was the service. The fish risotto looked great - next time.

sydney
Senior Contributor
34 reviews 34 reviews
26 restaurant reviews
Reviews in 24 cities Reviews in 24 cities
5 helpful votes 5 helpful votes
2 of 5 stars Reviewed May 9, 2013

We decided to go to Café Pesto in Kawaihae in view of the good reviews. We were very disappointed. The best thing about the experience was the very good service we received from our server. She deserves to work somewhere else that offers food of the same high level. We found most of the food of average to poor level... More

Senior Reviewer
10 reviews 10 reviews
8 restaurant reviews
Reviews in 6 cities Reviews in 6 cities
1 helpful vote 1 helpful vote
5 of 5 stars Reviewed May 7, 2013

Great food with decent prices! Nice place! Best personal pizza I've ever tasted! I had mango chicken ...husband tried ribs..excellent choices. Totally recommend this place.

See 2 more reviews by suzannejcm for Kawaihae
Landrum, South Carolina
Senior Reviewer
10 reviews 10 reviews
6 restaurant reviews
Reviews in 7 cities Reviews in 7 cities
3 helpful votes 3 helpful votes
5 of 5 stars Reviewed May 6, 2013

The grilled shrimp and scallops threaded on a rosemary twig were perfectly cooked and served over a superb saffron risotto. We wanted to try everything on the menu. Even the iced tea was special, ginger and liliko'i tea. Too tired after a long horseback ride to have a cocktail but they have a bar stocked with quality liquors.

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