Highlights
Nestled by the shore, this upscale beach destination offers a romantic ambiance and exquisite farm-to-table dining amid stunning ocean views.
"Luxuriate in the Brilliant Colors of Sunset Is it is possible to be romanced by a property or courted by a restaurant? My luxurious and beautiful dining experience at the Fairmont Orchid Resort's Brown's Beach House Restaurant had me hooked as soon as I arrived on the resort property just after sunset. Immersed in aloha, and comfortably seated on the restaurant's outdoor patio, a solo voice and the sound of ukulele danced through the air in concert with the tropical ambiance. Sustainably grown and locally sourced foods are exquisitely prepared to please the palate, and an air of romance is enhanced with the lull of the surf rolling into the sand, only steps away. For a truly memorable experience, private dining is available on a knoll under swaying palm trees. Reservations recommended."
A Perfect Day on the Big Island of Hawaii
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Mar 16, 2022
"Luxuriate in the Brilliant Colors of Sunset Is it is possible to be romanced by a property or courted by a restaurant? My luxurious and beautiful dining experience at the Fairmont Orchid Resort's Brown's Beach House Restaurant had me hooked as soon as I arrived on the resort property just after sunset. Immersed in aloha, and comfortably seated on the restaurant's outdoor patio, a solo voice and the sound of ukulele danced through the air in concert with the tropical ambiance. Sustainably grown and locally sourced foods are exquisitely prepared to please the palate, and an air of romance is enhanced with the lull of the surf rolling into the sand, only steps away. For a truly memorable experience, private dining is available on a knoll under swaying palm trees. Reservations recommended."
Where to Eat on the Big Island, Hawaii
·
Mar 16, 2022
"Luxuriate in the Brilliant Colors of Sunset Is it is possible to be romanced by a property or courted by a restaurant? My luxurious and beautiful dining experience at the Fairmont Orchid Resort's Brown's Beach House Restaurant had me hooked as soon as I arrived on the resort property just after sunset. Immersed in aloha, and comfortably seated on the restaurant's outdoor patio, a solo voice and the sound of ukulele danced through the air in concert with the tropical ambiance. Sustainably grown and locally sourced foods are exquisitely prepared to please the palate, and an air of romance is enhanced with the lull of the surf rolling into the sand, only steps away. For a truly memorable experience, private dining is available on a knoll under swaying palm trees. Reservations recommended."
Kona Area Food Served with a Sunset
·
Mar 16, 2022
"Luxuriate in the Brilliant Colors of Sunset Is it is possible to be romanced by a property or courted by a restaurant? My luxurious and beautiful dining experience at the Fairmont Orchid Resort's Brown's Beach House Restaurant had me hooked as soon as I arrived on the resort property just after sunset. Immersed in aloha, and comfortably seated on the restaurant's outdoor patio, a solo voice and the sound of ukulele danced through the air in concert with the tropical ambiance. Sustainably grown and locally sourced foods are exquisitely prepared to please the palate, and an air of romance is enhanced with the lull of the surf rolling into the sand, only steps away. For a truly memorable experience, private dining is available on a knoll under swaying palm trees. Reservations recommended."
Farm to Table and Fresh Foods on the Island of Hawaii
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Mar 16, 2022
Matthew Rice
Google
We dined for NYE dinner for a special 4 course prix fixe menu. $195+ per person, but the food wasn’t any better than a large banquet gathering. It all felt “mass” produced. They didn’t even ask what temperature we’d like the tenderloin cooked to. This gave the feeling of your getting what everyone is getting tonight. It wasn’t the best experience given the pricing.
But what would you pay to dine basically “in” the view. It’s a beautiful setting and location. But it’s feels like Brown’s is taking advantage of that rather than enhancing on top of its location.
Thomas G.
Google
Can’t argue with the beautiful sunset (5:00 on a mid-February afternoon)—but…
Food was fine but nothing special in terms of presentation or taste, both of which had a distinctly generic quality to them.
By comparison, the prices are unjustifiably high, even for Hawaiian standards (I think). Take a peek at the tomato salad photo, consider how much you would pay at an upscale restaurant in your town— then double it and you’ll be roughly in the price range.
I’m sure most customers enjoy the attention, but I found the constant hovering of and interruptions by multiple generically nice staff members disruptive and suffocating. Unfortunately, they were not receptive to nonverbal cues.
The ratings and review above were generated in response to a prompt from Google. I would not have offered these opinions of my own accord.
Ken Boyer
Google
Wonderful food and views. We stay at the hotel and always eat here at least once per vacation and have always been pleased.
Subin Mun
Google
The atmosphere, the food, the taste, and even the live performance were all perfect. The staff was incredibly friendly, and we had such a wonderful time. We would love to go back to that moment again
Karey Fulton
Google
Incredible dinner- wow. Summer was a 5 star waitress- attentive to everything. Perfect recommendations and so kind, encouraging, and colorful. Truly loves her work and coworkers. We had Karpachi, Wagyu Skirt Steak, Fried Rice and Lobster Bisque. Couldn’t have been better- topping it all off was the best and most creative Crème Brûlée we have ever had- we have ordered that everywhere we’ve been for nearly 20 years. This delicacy now moves to the top for us. #1. Kudos to Summer for making this a genuinely most memorable meal. 💜
Zach & Clay
Google
Our experience here was beautiful, romantic, and relaxing. Celebrating our engagement, we were fortunate to get seating along the shore. The service was excellent, the staff were super friendly, and the food was outstanding. The ube rolls are a must-have and incredibly addictive. Our server was so kind, she even sent some home with us to enjoy later. This dining experience was wonderful and created many special memories. We highly recommend it to anyone looking for a relaxing and beautiful atmosphere with great food, drinks, and service.
Kari Jorgenson
Google
We came here for our anniversary. The view was spectacular, beautiful sunset, the filet mignon is to die for. Only problem was the jumbo prawns were tempera but still had shells so a little different.
Nina Cerviatti
Google
This place has the perfect view. Great romantic atmosphere.Their food is high cousin, with original dishes and outstanding presentation. Flavors exploding in your mouth with delight. A unique experience with great service.
I recommend the calamari, the deserts, the catch and specials of the day, papaya salad.
We went at least 3 times. All marvelous.
And the best piña coladas.
Amy K.
Yelp
It was a blustery day! Even though we sat "inside" we had to constantly manage our napkins and glasses. Food cooled right away.
We got a coffee old fashioned and a Brown's G+T to start. Then we got a bottle of our favorite, Ridge Zinfandel. We liked the sweet potato bread. We had the clam appetizer. This was so good that my spouse drank the broth (using a spoon of course). The clams were very fresh.
Then I got the filet and he got the ribeye. He thought maybe they mixed the orders because his was extra rare and mine was sort of medium. I sent it back, and wow, was I happy with the replacement. Such soft, flavorful meat. And, the server (Rohan?) also refreshed the local mushroom side dish because it was cold by the time my new steak came. Very thoughtful! The mushroom side is generous, too, with a wide variety of mushrooms. The cheddar mashed potatoes were yummy. The grilled broccolini was perfect. You have to get really fresh broccolini to do it this way and get just the right amount of char on it. Loved.
At the end, we were given a mini mud pie to celebrate our upcoming 38th anniversary. Very nice.
The experience was really only marred by the windiness of the night.
Scott B.
Yelp
It's been awhile since writing a review, but I felt so compelled to do so bc it was just an awful experience and I wish I could have the ~$300 back.
First and foremost, as others have called out here, the waiter for the most part was attentive. However, his counter part that was filling water was judgy and rude when he'd come to fill water. Don't know what that was about, but looked past it as best I could.
The real issue with this place was two-fold - the location that we sat and the extremely over priced, honestly just not good food. Starting with the first point - we were by the kitchen hallway. So loud. Literally so loud. Could hear nothing but pots and pans banging the whole time. That would have been something I could look past perhaps, too, but the combo of the truly awful steak - overcooked, overpriced and sat next to a bed of burnt and dry asparagus - was too much for us. My tuna was also very much average. Just not okay in my mind to price something at $60-$80 and miss on execution so incredibly badly.
In conclusion - I can't believe this place has the gall to call themselves a "premium" dining experience. I've had better food at our local dinner for literally - truly - 1/6 of the cost. Will never be back here again and I wish I could have had the $300 go to any other end than this.
Shannon G.
Yelp
First time at Brown's in a lonnnng time. Food, service and ambience still up to ultra premium standard.
Guests especially loved the watermelon salad and the coconut shrimp. My Caesar was very good, with tempura anchovies that I loved. Excellent coffee!
Except - newer item on the pu'puus menu is a pork belly bao bun. Maybe I'm spoiled by years and years of steamed bao dim sum. Their bun is cold and gummy. I didn't eat my second one; just scooped out the filling.
Still love the place and it won't take as long for me to return this time. Many menu items are calling to me.
Rob B.
Yelp
A lovely place for dinner, scenery cannot get better and universally the service is always great! The food was not as before but I still suggest this place but don't hold out for anything but ordinary food but served as beautifully as possible.
Michelle L.
Yelp
We went because they had vegan options with amazing views. They offered a separate vegan menu with several options. I had the best salad as a starter. My entree was the Congee which was amazing! The server said that was a favorite from the choices. I ended with mango and coconut sorbet. They also had live entertainment which added to the ambience. I would definitely recommend if you are visiting Kona.
Laurie H.
Yelp
All stars go to the atmosphere and sunset view at our 5:30pm reservation. All the servers work hard and are very friendly. The menu items all sound delicious. Unfortunately, there just seems to be a bit of a comedy of errors in both delivery and execution.
The first food to arrive were the rolls, with a butter & likely honey dish to be added, if desired. Yes, please. Honestly, this was the absolute best part of the whole meal, hands down. Warm, rich in flavor, and little pieces of ube baked in.
Next were salads. I had the watermelon salad, hubby had the roasted & pickled red beets salad. You can spy the ingredients on my menu photo. I got 3 squares of watermelon. I'm appreciative that they used Kamuela tomatoes and Hawai'i Island Goat Dairy Feta Cheese. It was good...but check the plate presentation in my photo...um...hubby says it's all about negative space on a plate. I'm more about food on the plate. Ah well. His beet salad was good, and the Big Island Creamery Mac Nut Cheese really made it. We also ordered the Kona Prawns as an appetizer, and after receiving our salads, hubby said "thank goodness we also ordered the prawns" in respect to the amount of salad portions. The prawns were good and had a nice sauce, dipped up by a teeny little piece of ciabatta.
Main course: hubby asked if the prime ribeye was from the Island (I mean, Waimea...paniolos...) but no. The meat was okay...slightly overdone...the chimichurri sauce was salty and over oily...just really should have been better for $89. The twice baked bone marrow potatoes were not very flavorful. Maybe he should have thrown the chimichurri sauce over the potatoes! :-) I had the special swordfish. It was fine...not a lot of flavor in the preparation. It came with some parmesan discs surrounds potato...I think...and they were way too rich to finish.
We had panna cotta with yuzu foam and lemon-ginger cookie and crème brûlée which I think had lilikoi for desserts. They were just okay.
Finally, the service was attentive in the beginning, but as the night wore on, became less so. I had a cocktail that I didn't drink and not once did anyone ask if I liked it and would like another instead. We waited and waited and waited for the waiter to come back to the table after dessert to get the check but he never did. Truly - never. Hubby went to the front to give the hostess our credit card so she could find our waiter. Hubby came back to the table and we waited and waited. Our waiter went to the large table next to us but we still couldn't get his attention...so we left the table to go to the hostess stand and he said to them "oh - they paid" and then another guy had hubby's card to give back and said "oh - they paid" and yet no, we didn't pay. So we explained that and then the waiter said "oh - I got confused - I thought you were at the big table and another guy paid." They're lucky we're so honest. It was something that can happen...but normally not at a dinner that cost almost $400 for 2 people.
We had to walk out repeating to ourselves...they're human...it's beautiful here...we saw the sunset... But we definitely would not return.
Justin M.
Yelp
My wife and I watch White Lotus and wonder, who eats at the hotel restaurant? Well, if that restaurant is anything like this one I can understand why (if I was wealthy enough to eat here more than once on my trip haha).
The view and the service are impeccable (and you pay for it). The pork belly was delicious - meaty, a hit of sweet and sticky - a great starter. My Kampachi was quite good - it paired well with the creamy risotto and the bokchoy which had a good hit of acid but the crab topping was stone cold and a bit off putting combined with the warm elements from the rest of the dish. My wife's steak was fairly unmemorable (which is bad when it costs what it did here).
Overall, this is a great one timer for the ambiance, service, and that view. The price doesn't match the quality of the flavors though so not sure id be back on the next trip.
Jenny S.
Yelp
If you're staying at the Fairmont Orchid, highly recommend having dinner at Brown's at sunset, it's beautiful to be right on the beach with live music to set the mood.
Some of us opted for the 3 course meal, but I ordered a la carte since I wasn't too fond of the dessert options
--ube dinner rolls: complimentary, AND delicious!!! I wanted more but had to save room for dinner
--prawn appetizer / ahi poke appetizer: i liked the ahi poke with the taro chips!
---kampachi fish over coconut rice pudding: fish was perfectly cooked and paired well with the rice pudding
---venison: the hubby absolutely loved this dish
NOTE: If you're staying at the Fairmont Orchid, call down to the restaurant to make your RSVP! As hotel guests, we were able to get an earlier time that was not available online
Karen L.
Yelp
The views and ambiance are the reason to book your reservation as they are the stars of the show and what make the experience memorable. The wine list is also lovely with a nice variety of selections from beautiful regions like the Pinots from the Willamette valley of Oregon , and Sancerre from France.
I enjoyed a beautiful sunset dinner listening to live music The service was attentive and friendly; the food was OK.
We ordered the tempura ahí; I was disappointed in that grade of tuna served given the caliber of the restaurant but given most patrons are tourists, they must figure it's ok to pass it off but unfortunately for them, my partner is an experienced fisherman in these waters and quickly recognized what he was served. C'est la vie.
I opted for the chef tasting menu and was not wowed. My fish dish was also ok. It was topped with some fishy smelling crab which I had to scrape off to the side of the plate as I couldn't get past the scent to eat it.
My favorite items were actually the ube bread rolls, and ice cream dessert. The shrimp appetizer and main fish dish were fine but not worth recommending.
If you come to Brown's, you're here for the experience of dining in a beautiful setting with an ok meal.
Brian K.
Yelp
We stayed 5 nights at The Orchid resort and really wanted to try this place. It wasn't until the last night that we realized they had a vegan menu (they didn't post it in the resort but it was right there on the website the whole time). We were fortunate that a reservation opened up a couple hours before and got a table.
The food was really good. They really seem to care about the food they cook, including the meat-free options, which we really appreciated.
The service was also great. The waiter we had was very knowledgeable about the food and wine list.
The location can't be beat! We had 5:30 reservations, so the sun was in one of our faces for a little while, but dining during the sunset was wonderful.
A tad bit pricey, but we expect that when dining at any resort restaurant, and we usually plan for one pricey meal a trip.
Tracy Y.
Yelp
This is a VERY OVERPRICED restaurant that I would go back to because of their amazing sunset view. The entrees are about $100 a plate. But they do have the MOST delicious Kona coffee mud pie which I am dreaming about as I write this. Definitely dine here right before sunset and you will enjoy a good dinner with the best mud pie.
Elise M.
Yelp
You can't beat the stunning sunset views and resort atmosphere. Live music during dinner with an idyllic view of the ocean. Service was great but the food was not spectacular. The filet was underwhelming with an unusually large portion of broccolini and mashed potatoes which seemed unrefined for such an upscale restaurant. Our dessert, so sort of candy bar, was tasty but comically very hard to cut. A truly spectacular location and you can't beat the relaxing beachside atmosphere.
Chelsea B.
Yelp
Considering the price of the meals, the food was subpar. The husband got the $90 rib eye which appeared to be overcooked. It was well done to the point my (frugal) husband passed on bringing the leftovers home. I had the mushroom risotto ($45) which resembled the quality and taste of your regular boxed risotto at the market. However, their taro/ube dinner rolls and honey butter were exceptional. Our server was attentive. Live music was excellent with the sunset as the backdrop. Sadly I won't be returning.
Kudos K.
Yelp
Dined here mid-Nov. So happy we did. One of the best meals during our visit to the Big Island. Service was good. Food was high quality and we were celebrating our birthdays and they sat us right in front of the entertainment. We really enjoyed our dinner. Had great desserts and really gourmet meal! If you're a foodie, definitely go here! I would have dined here again if we were staying at the Fairmont.
Trianna P.
Yelp
Absolutely memorable experience! Food was beautifully presented, atmosphere is more than you would expect on your Hawaiian vacation! The service is top notch. Our server was informative, pleasant and attentive! There was live entertainment that was enjoyable and impressive! This is the perfect choice to celebrate and big event. We were celebrating our anniversary and it was one I won't forget!
Byron B.
Yelp
Always good
Always beautiful
Some meals are four-star, some meals are 5
Everything is going to be really good no matter what you order. Definitely try to make your reservation a few days in advance time. It was sunset and asked to sit towards the beach and or by the musician depending on the size of your party.
If your reservation isn't till after sunset it's still a beautiful place to go and have a cocktail at the hotel before you walk down to the restaurant.
Stephanie L.
Yelp
Excellent service, beautiful location, and delicious food.
From start to finish, this was an exceptional experience. I definitely recommend the ube rolls and honey butter that everyone is also raving about. Other dishes we tried were the Kona prawns, ribeye, mud pie, and lilikoi cheesecake. They were all very good. The chimichurri sauce on the ribeye was incredible and the ribeye was cooked perfectly. Be sure to save room for the mud pie dessert!
Our server, Janice, was beyond excellent as well.
Sylvan C.
Yelp
We had a fantastic night at Brown's for a birthday dinner. First, the location is amazing. So close to the water, amazing views of the sun setting, and just enough palm trees to provide some slivers of shade.
I skipped appetizers so I could save room for the rib eye, and I'm glad I did because it was scrumptious. Great cook and seasoning.
Dessert consisted of a yummy mud pie. The others at the table were happy with their food as well, particularly the ube bread rolls.
Nicole P.
Yelp
Incredible ambiance. Amazing food & excellent service. 10/10 will def come back! The waitress was super on it with recommendations. I loved the outdoor setting.
Sarah C.
Yelp
I wish I could do 4.5 stars honestly, but the food, location, and service were amazing! The only reason I wouldn't go to 5 is because although the food was delicious, there were some dishes we weren't obsessed with (prawns).
We ordered the lobster bisque, poke, prawns, pork belly, filet, and ahi. We also ordered a couple of cocktails. All of the cocktails we tried were delicious! The lobster bisque is an absolutely MUST. We almost ordered a second bowl. The red curry broth is insanely good. The poke was delicious with super high quality tuna, but we wish we had more of the crema. My husband loved the pork belly as well. The description of the prawns talks about grilled ciabatta, but the ciabatta is served underneath the dish so it gets super soggy which we thought was a miss.
The service was amazing! Our waitress was attentive and the food and drinks came out extremely quickly. It was windy and they offered me a warm shawl, which was a very thoughtful touch. We're celebrating our honeymoon and since we declined dessert, they took off 2 of our drinks which was extremely generous as well! When we come back to the Big Island, we will definitely be back!
Kathy A.
Yelp
Service was lovely throughout the night and they had live music which was a nice touch. They have a great option to do a 3 course meal but I didn't do this but would recommend considering.
To start they bring complimentary tasty ube potato rolls. YUM. I got the Kona Kampachi entree which I really enjoyed. Kampachi seems to be on most restaurants menus on the Big Island and their unique take on it was fantastic. I really liked the coconuts rice porridge the fresh fish sat upon. Of course you need to be a fan of coconut to enjoy this. Not only do you get the kampachi but it's topped with Dungeness crab.
The mushroom side was rather bland sadly and I had to ask them to bring salt and pepper and some chili flakes.
The mud pie dessert sounded good but I opted for ice cream to end the night. You can do one, two or three scoops and switch up the flavors as you like.
Steve P.
Yelp
Awesome place for define dining tonight! Food, service & location were tremendous! The Filet Mignon was cooked to perfection!
Leilani C.
Yelp
My husband and I celebrated our anniversary last night at Brown's Beach House.
Our server, Lianna, was absolutely amazing. She was so sweet and attentive. Very nice to talk to and we totally hit it off. Just loved her!
We started with the Kekela Farms Romaine and Miso Sake Clams. Both were delectable!
For the main course we each had the Filet Mignot. Temperatures were perfect, and the Ulu Mash was great as well.
We finished with the Coffee Crème Brûlée. Wow!
We were beyond pleased with our evening at Brown's!
We will most certainly be back.
Missy G.
Yelp
Unique menu. This is culinary art, not just a place to pick up dinner. Make reservations in advance. Incredible views. Great drinks. Lovely special family meal. Service is wonderful. Live music delightful.
Chris T.
Yelp
Brown's is a solid experience. Great location and really well prepared food. The appetizer menu is modest but has some real standouts (clams and bao buns). The entrees offer something for everyone. Pro tip, if you over do it on the appetizers you can split an entree and they'll bring it divided onto two plates. This also allows you to try more of the sides which are pretty outstanding. May have given Brown's a 5 but our reservation was at 7:30 and we felt a bit rushed at the end of the meal. A little off putting to have staff breaking down tables as you are mid way through your meal. It may seem picky/snobby but if you are springing for a high end meal, shouldn't you expect a near perfect experience? Goes with out saying the staff are friendly and attentive. Overall, top-5 high-end spot on the big island; perhaps even a top-3. My personal fav is still the Canoe House followed by Ulu.
Tabitha P.
Yelp
Breathtaking place to have dinner and watch the sunset over Pauoa Bay. My husband and I had an excellent dining service here. It's quiet but lively with soft live music playing in the background.
Ube rolls with honey butter. Poached pear salad. Kona Kanpachi with fresh crab. Filet Mignon with lobster topped with an onion ring. Every dish was perfect.
The food at the Fairmont Orchid resort overall is pricey but worth it - Brown's Beach House is a must while on the Big Island.
Ted B.
Yelp
Beautiful location, Amazing service and great food. We celebrated our daughter's birthday and they brought a delightful cake too!
Bill S.
Yelp
We took two friends to Brown's Beach House last night. It was about our 10th meal there in the past 30 months. The bread was okay, but not great (sourdough without sourdough flavor). The poke was good, but not great (I liked the chips that accompanied it). The duck was tender and moist, and served with veggies. It had a rich, fatty flavor that people who like duck would love! the coffee and chocolate cheese cake wasn't sweet enough for my taste. My wife had the lobster bisque, which was over-salted, and over-spiced (it appeared to have a layu chili oil on top, which masked the lobster flavor. She also had the Fisherman's Pot seafood. It had a soup base that tasted like coconut Thai curry, and the soup base was way oversalted in my wife's opinion; the Thai curry flavor also hindered the seafood flavors. Overall, a mixed bag. The service was slow during our 8PM starting service, and we were there for more than 2 hours by the time we were finished, mostly due to a slow kitchen. The view and grounds were fabulous, except for loud party music coming from an adjacent part of the resort, soutwest of Brown's (complete with party dance lights and booming bass).
Barb B.
Yelp
Excellent food, service and ambience. If possible, try to get a seating prior to the beautiful sunsets.
And, do yourself a favor and try their Mud Pie. Best we have EVER eaten!
Lo D.
Yelp
Amazing food amazing service!
Must go to restaurant.
Ube buns are a must also
Great atmosphere where you are seated outside by the ocean. Music looking out at the beautiful sunset.
Cannot miss this restaurant
Anne R.
Yelp
Visited the Fairmont last year and had a wonderful experience at Brown's. Not this year. There were three of us and all concurred that the food was extremely subpar. Fish overcooked, asparagus looked like it should've been thrown out, cocktail had no alcohol. They need to up their game at the prices they charge. Also, a lot of children running around and very loud.
Won't come back.
Bobius B.
Yelp
Brown's Beach House does everything well, but I would say it's ambiance surpasses all others. The outdoor seating gives you a more than 180 degree view of the ocean and the live band played non-stop hits. The service was friendly and attentive too.
For drinks I tried the Kona Coffee Old Fashion. It's a unique twist on the classic which is worth trying.
We had the special (a watermelon salad) which was a pleasant surprise. It was an odd mix of ingredients: watermelon, feta, jalapeños, pistachios, tomatoes, onions, and cucumber. It may sound odd but the flavors really complimented each other.
For the main course both my wife and I were craving the filet mignon. The steak was excellent and was sitting on top a flavorful bed of mashed potatoes with a side of broccolini. It was topped with sour cream and a fried onion ring which was a nice touch.
The dessert was a Kona coffee mud pie which I highly recommend. It's Kona coffee ice cream with an Oreo crust which is topped with whipped cream and crunchy sprinkles. There's a bonus treat in the middle, but I won't spoil the surprise.
Richard J.
Yelp
Great service but food was nothing really special and pretty expensive at a resort.
The lobster bisque was okay, solid amount of spices for the curry but something was missing to balance out the soup
Duck was cooked medium, tender, crispy skin, but the rest of the dishes items just seemed thrown on
Heather R.
Yelp
First, we brought our toddlers which probably impacts our view considerably. We're happy to have family friendly options but probably would have been happier dining here without them.
1. It's all outdoor seating when it's nice out. We did have a stormy day and sat in their indoor seating one afternoon and it was still quite windy and rainy. The outdoor seating is very pretty with an upfront sunset and ocean view. There is a path in front of the restaurant seating that is open to the rest of the resort so people are walking by the whole time.
2. We were seated quickly. Our waitstaff was friendly and attentive. We always try to book first seating with kids to get in and get out since the time change in Hawaii makes dining later than usual and it worked well for this location too.
3. We appreciated the gluten & celiac friendly menu options. We got the strawberry broccolini appetizer and was disappointed, it was just an expensive salad. My husband had the Kona Kampachi and it was delicious. I stole most of it. I got the duck and found that there was too much sweet flavors for an advertised "5 spice duck". I typically think of savory for duck so this threw me off. Overall I think it's a good restaurant but not for toddlers, I think it just needs to be enjoyed while relaxed and watching the sunset... and I wouldn't recommend the duck.
Scott T.
Yelp
The view. The service. The food was almost up to par with these two things. But the ube rolls made up for it. If you're looking for the perfect place for a celebratory dinner - like a birthday (or one where your family says it's your birthday even though it's not for another two weeks) - you probably couldn't ask for a more beautiful, classy spot.
Heather G.
Yelp
It was raining so I'm sure that killed the ambiance. Lots of people crowded under the awning, especially after the luau next door was cancelled. None of this was the restaurant's fault though! The drinks were good, and less expensive than our resort (Four Seasons) and we shared 4 appetizers as we weren't that hungry. The beet salad was super delicious. The prawns were in a garlic butter sauce that was rich but not overly so. The clams were way different than expected-more earthy served with Bok choy. Finally the bao-WOW. I've had momofuku's and there came close. We were rushed through the meal, due to the weather. Wish we could have hung out longer.
Jamie M.
Yelp
Favorite meal of my Big Island trip. Loved the Surf and Turf and the crime brûlée was wonderful!
Missy S.
Yelp
My mother and I had a fantastic dinner at Brown's. We were thankful to the staff for getting us a great table as a walk-in. We thoroughly enjoyed the yummy cocktails and the fixed three course dinner. Mom had the the duck and I had the venison - we loved it as well as the sweet waitress who took great care of us.
Carrie R.
Yelp
Can you give 10 stars??? Seriously--don't miss out on the food and views if you are on The Big Island! Is it expensive--yes--but definitely worth it. Our waitstaff couldn't have been better--quick, knowledgeable, and extremely pleasant.
Make sure to go a little early and take pictures.
Amanda C.
Yelp
{Overall: 4; Food: 4} Atmosphere: 5; Service: 5
Really beautiful beachside dining experience. The service and the view were amazing. We were able to watch the sunset over dinner. They also had a live singer. The service was really great and the staff was really accommodating when it came to taking pictures.
While the food was enjoyable, it wasn't the most standout part of the meal.
Definitely will return when I come back to the Big Island.
My W.
Yelp
I had to come here on my last night in Hawaii. You know, just to see how the top 1% lives... and boy do they live!!! Y'all Upper Class Peeps , on the socioeconomic spectrum, sure know how to do it up at the Fairmont Orchid Resort and more specifically, Brown's Beach House.
My family and I blended in with the rich crowd very nicely. No one even questioned why we were there. No alarms sounded. I didn't even have to use my fake W2's. We drove our rented Dodge minivan right onto the property and walked right in. I think the key is to make contact with everyone, smile, and when all else fails, say "Aloha." We felt like we belonged.
Dinner was amazing. Probably the best meal I've had on this trip, possibly my life. Those FREE taro dinner rolls are to die for. And guess what? They even gave us extras to bring home. You know how I knew I was out of my element??? When I smeared the super soft butter onto my roll. What???? I thought all butter came out frozen. People!!! Listen up, rich people don't eat frozen butter. My mind is blown. Maybe Bruce S. (Our Amazing Server) knew that we were dining way beyond our means because he even threw in a whole bunch of free coconut macaroons for dessert. Thanks for being a real one, Bruce. You are alright in my book.
The meal was epic. The venison was the best meat I've ever had. It was tender, moist, flavorful, and not at all gamey. The $25 martini was all vodka no martini. Worth every single cent. I've spent way more on alcohol at seedy dive bars. (Someone give this bartender a raise!!!) The lobster curry bisque is to die for. It legit had chunks of lobster that filled my senses and made my taste buds do a fancy dance like the waltz or the Rumba in delight. I'm assuming all rich people know those dances, right?
And... although I had to charge the meal on my high interest credit card, Brown's Beach House, you are worth going into debt for. You are worth my 14% interest and so much more. You made me feel welcomed in an environment I'm not too familiar with. You made me feel like "Ohana" and that's worth more than anything in the world. Mahalo. Until we meet again... or until I can save some more money to see you again. Much love.
Jason K.
Yelp
The food was excellent! The server attentive. I would say that the prices are definitely reflective of being on the resort. They offer seating close to the ocean and are definitely a great date night/romantic spot.
Jenna K.
Yelp
Expensive, but good service and excellent views - watch the whales and great spot for sunset.
Mal C.
Yelp
First off, the views were great. Waitress was very nice. Service in general was okay, pretty slow. Our waitress realized this and did try to make it right by covering some our our tab. Unfortunately, the food was just mediocre at best. We got the ahi and Kona prawns to start, both lacked seasoning and flavor. My husband got the ribeye, and I got the filet. My medium rare steak was closer to well done and underwhelming. I did not send back as it took over an hour to make it to us. Honestly, the best part of the meal was the bread. Not sure if it was because there was a couple large parties or just a fluke but we will not be returning.
Sushi g.
Yelp
5 stars for view, ambiance, service. If I was just rating food it would be 2-3 stars. Menu is extremely challenging. Everything seems very complicated, lots of sauces, lists of ingredients. Usually a sure sign that the chef is inexperienced or needs to cover up the quality of the food. All unnecessary if you have quality fish, seafood, meat, and fresh ingredients. Like a nice clean grilled fish with farm-to-tables veggies needs little to make the flavors shine through. Unfortunately, what we ended up ordering wasn't great. I had special which was ono. It came with mashed edamame (think mashed potatoes), asparagus. The fish was nice, a little overbooked but good quality, the edamame surprisingly good, but it was served in a shallow bowl & sitting in at least 1/2" of oil. I picked at top of everything but so much oil that the rest was inedible. Spouse ordered mashed potatoes, broccolini, and a salad (got kids salad bc they didn't have simple greens). The broccolini was perfect, mashed potatoes were ok (cheese and cereal other add-ins was just too much), salad was fresh. Kids ordered kids pizzas. Pretty much inedible. Pretty sure they were cheap frozen pizzas. Ordered chocolate dessert. Again, ok, not stellar but kids liked it. Wine list was good. As with all things on the Big Island, way overpriced. A fairly inedible dinner was $600+.
Matt Y.
Yelp
We ate at Brown's as our "splurge" meal of our trip to Hawaii. We came here on impulse without a reservation, but we were seated immediately at an outdoor table overlooking the beach (and the lighting of end-of-day torches, which I'd never seen before). Anyway, the milieu was excellent, and made better by the friendly, fast, and attentive wait staff. All of this mirrored the quality of the food and drink.
We began with some cocktails, which were as creative as they were delicious. I had an old fashioned infused with (Kona, obviously) coffee, which was good, although I appreciated it more for its creativity than its deliciousness (this is a bias on my part, though, since I really like the flavor of whiskey and prefer only minor interference with it). My gf's cocktail (the day's cosmo special) was pure, unobjectionable delight.
I did not expect them to bring bread, but they did. It was hot and fresh and delicious, and came with delicious butter. All of this threatened to ruin my appetite because I was tempted to eat it all before the appetizer and entrees arrived. That would be a shame because our appetizer (ahi poke with taro chips) was scrumptious - fresh, slightly sweet fish that was very well balanced with the taste and crunch of taro chips. I would eat that every day if it were feasible to do so.
For my entree, I had Kona kampachi, fresh fish served on a bed of rice pooridge and topped with sweet crabmeat. It was as delicious as it could possibly have been. However, the correct order was what my gf had, which was the five spice duck breast. It was warm and rich, unfathomably delicious and filling. I would also eat this every day if it were feasible. We got wine with dinner. My sauv blanc paired well, though, but gf's merlot won out (pairing perfectly with the already perfect duck).
In sum, I suppose, this meal showed me what I would eat in my best possible life. It was worth the cost.
Marina K.
Yelp
Food and service was outstanding!! Most beautiful sunset views!! It was a perfect place to celebrate my birthday.
Kristin A.
Yelp
If you can't get a res at nearby Canoehouse (or want to pay more), check this seaside location out. Service was EXCELLENT. Nightly music offered. Best bite of the night was the Lobster Bisque (not pictured - we ate too quickly). Desserts pretty and fun!
Say S.
Yelp
The ambiance is perfect especially if you catch a good sunset. Brother Nino is so soothing and completes the perfect dining experience.
The food is tasty, and portioned well. Don't be fooled by the ratio if plate size to it's contents. It's a lot more filling than you think.
Their bar is smallish but waiters will do as much as they can to get you what you want. Not everything they have is listed and they have a bigger bar in the hotel.
PW W.
Yelp
Had the grilled swordfish. Unfortunately, it was very over cooked. I could only get down a couple of bites. I left most of it on my plate. The waiter picked it up and did not ask me anything about why I did not eat it. I had to make a point and tell him it was over grilled and too tough to eat. The only response was "it is hard to tell when it is cooked". There was no offer or attempt to adjust bill or offer substitute. I was with a business group so I did not push the issue. For the high price it was a major under achiever and lack of response. I would not bother going there. There are better options with more responsive service off property. Sorry Brown's! High price and low performance on food and response from staff. Don't accept a poorly prepared meal. Send it back after the first bite.