Hilo

Excellent service by Cayenne. She checked with us frequently during lunch. We set a reservation 2 hours after coming to the restaurant and toured until our reservation. It was worth it. Cayenne recommended the Spirited Away. A refreshing drink and it hit the spot. Recommendation : Garlic Shrimp Yakisoba +++++ Fresh Catch with salad +++++

Okay, the short ribs were mouthwateringly mindblowingly delicious, idk what else to say, LOL. I hadn't been expecting the medley of mushrooms in the dish and those really put it way over the top. The meat was falling apart it was so wonderfully tender, and the noodles were cooked just right. Add browned cheese and grilled onions and you've got heaven on a plate. Here's the thing, it was a $32 plate. Trust, this is WAY outta my price range. However we were here because my in-laws recommended it (and were paying). Most of the dinner options were in the $20-35 range, unless you got a salad as a "meal." Beverages were all $4+. Basically, you're gonna shell out, but your tongue is gonna be happy. The staff were all really friendly (seems like they probably deal with snooty uppity types a lot, oof) and took good care of us. Service was quick and efficient. Bathrooms were nice and clean. It was dark outside because it was late but I reckon at any other time the views would've been stunning!

I heard sad news about HBC recently, Sushi bar are no longer operate. Because of Main sushi chef had to leave and another couple of chef as well. Over 40 years serving good Sushi ( since NIHON ) and not able to replacement. Too sad. I also heard so much trouble occurred when under new management since last few years. Food quality went down and poor service. No profesional. Despite claiming to be high-end restaurant and charging high prices. It's more like cheap diner. In places where there are in a lot of internal problems, the taste and quality of the food will be affected. That's sucks. Oh well... good luck

Update: We went in again for dinner and had Garlic Shrimp Yakisoba. Still great and recommend!!! Went to Hilo to explore the town and couldn't resist this charming little restaurant on the bay. We sat at the bar and were waited on by Bella. She was so helpful and full of suggestions. We had Fish & Chips with Ono fish, Poke Ahi with sweet potato chips and a side of Jicama-Lilikoi slaw. I also had a tasty lilikoi drink. For dessert we had Goey Butter Cake and a scoop of Ice Cream. Every bite of everything we ordered was exquisite and fresh!!! I highly recommend.

Amazing view and surroundings, impeccable service, great cocktail menu and food options, classy and romantic ambiance...what's more to ask? Thoroughly enjoyed my time here.

Such a cute place, I need to see the view during lunch. Service is nice and attentive. It's definitely a whole experience, if you're looking for a quick bite to eat this isn't the place for you. The miso butterfish salad was yummy and I'd order it again. Fries were a hit, a must get appetizer.

This place has it all--great food, killer views, and solid service. I had the short ribs, and they were incredibly tender and full of flavor. My buddies went for the Thai peanut udon and the pot pie, both of which were hits. The outdoor seating is perfect for catching the sunset, so definitely go for that if you can. Just a heads up: it gets busy, so make a reservation. I usually go with my fam here for weekend outings. I used to go often to sit at the sushi counter to watch uncle Roy work his magic with all the sushi and rolls. Overall, Hilo Bay Cafe is a top spot in Hilo.

This was a beautiful dining experience for my family and I! We had Megan as a server and she was so sweet, impressive memory and answered a lot of touristy questions for us. The view was perfect and we didn't need a jacket once the sun went down. We got an appetizer, drinks, a bottle of wine, dessert and ice cream and our bill was roughly $350 which isn't bad for less than $100 per person! Took almost 2 hours which was perfect because we were on island time I got the ocean NYE special dish and it was PHENOMENAL. Handmade pasta, white wine, and a big piece of marlin! Checkout more on IG: madisoninmt

The crew@HBC are phenomenal! Special "shout-out" to Jess& Seaira for the upmost attention to details& service making my grandson Kilis birthday dinner a huge success! The food, the environment& esp the service will definitely bring us back! Kudos for excellence from everyone working Tues the 14th! ~Aloha Pu Me Hanas

Are here because it was near my hotel and also near the water, and I was so hungry. The menu was mostly chicken and fish, which I'm not complaining about I just can't eat either of those things at the moment ‍. They suggested I eat at the bar, but would have felt better at a table or outside. The bartender offered good enough service, so no complaints.

Ambiance: We were seated pretty much on time. Nice table along the window. Ambiance was okay. Food: TERRIBLE!. French fries were cold. Crab cakes were almost cold. I returned the fries, but it tasted like they reheated them in the oven; still not good! My husband's yakisoba took around 40 minutes and it was terrible. We are so very disappointed with the food. Service: Terrible. Waitress apologized for the wait and the terrible food and said she will let the kitchen know. $100 dinner...We will not be returning!

On our visits to Hilo, we always stay on Banyan Drive and love walking around the gardens. I've passed by Hilo Bay Cafe (the building on stilts with HBC in big lit-up letters) countless times, and finally made an effort to eat there after a few people recommended it. It's a popular spot, so recommendations are a good idea and can easily be made online or over the phone. We arrived earlier than expected and met a friend; the friendly host greeted us and worked with our schedule to move up our seating time. We were given a beautiful table on the lanai overlooking Hilo Bay - the views are one of the main draws to eat here. Inside has many tables as well, which also overlook the ocean albeit through windows. The bar area has seating facing the same way. Our server Cayenne was attentive and friendly throughout our meal, always checking if we needed anything. My friend and I ordered a few local beers, they offer a bunch of draft selections from Big Island breweries as well as the staples. We ordered the house bread, a rotating selection, plus a number of entrees. I had the Thai peanut Udon, which I loved on a hot evening; my dining companions had the pot pie and house of the day fish. Everyone loved their food. It's a wonderful place to watch the sunset over Hilo. Prices are a little more than you might find elsewhere, but you're paying for the view and great service. Parking is free outside. They have a staircase or elevator if needed to get upstairs.

Hilo Bay Cafe~ this time we only stopped in for drinks & a snack, but we've gone before for dinner & lunch, and enjoyed it as well. First of all.. I absolutely love the restaurant ambiance. The view from the dining room overlooking Hilo Bay during sunset is just perfect. We were seated outside on the patio so we got to soak in allll of the views during our dinner. Our server was really sweet - we were very indecisive and took a long time to order, but she was so kind & let us take our time in ordering (thank you!) So we only did drinks, I had a lychee margarita which was really good! I 'm not a huge tequila gal but it didn't taste too strongly of liquor. Other members of our group did have some food, and they seemed to enjoy everything. Except the french fries - they said they were a bit soggy lol. but everything else was fine! Next time in Hilo will definitely go back for their full menu!

usually I love this spot but today will probably be the last day I come back for awhile. Came here for lunch this afternoon and 2 hours later I was hit with what felt like a truck load of classic food poisoning symptoms (nausea, vomiting, stomach cramping, diarrhea, chills) I got the Kabocha squash salad with chicken. Something tasted off with the chicken but I ate it anyway because I wanted the protein. Super bummed.

It was a great experience with knowledgeable waitstaff, excellent food, beautifully presented. The view off the outdoor dining into Hilo Bay with Mauna Kea in the background was spectacular.

Hilo Bay Cafe has a lovely atmosphere inside and the outside has terrific views of the ocean and lights of Hilo. If you can make a reservation as early as you can. The food is quite good as are the drinks and the service. They have a good selection of non-alcoholic drink choices. I tried the honi honi. If you like a drink on the tart side, this is the one for you. We split an order of the fish special, mahi mahi, on udon and vegetables with a side of crab cakes. The crab cakes (2) are on smallish side and came with some dressed greens. They were tasty as were the dressing on the greens. While they aren't anything close to those in Baltimore, they are fine. The mahi mahi was delicious as was the udon which was tossed in a sauce that tasted rich and nutty. As it's on the specials menu, I don't recall the description. Suffice it to say it was very tasty. For a restaurant with a view, the prices were fairly reasonable. It's definitely a place worthy of a precious meal slots during your vacation.

There was a huge line and the lady said maybe a 30 min wait. After about 3 mins, I heard her announce that if anyone wanted to sit at the outside patio, she could sit them immediately. We jumped on that. The patio was nicely shaded, there were lots if cars driving by but we didn't mind. Our server was super friendly and have us tips on how to drive to kona because it was our first time. Honestly this was the best breakfast we had in Hilo in our 3 days of being there. My husband ordered the steak and eggs and his steak was cooked perfectly. My order was a smorgasbord Loco moco but everything was tasty. Great place

Great restaurant looking over Hilo bay. We took out two items as we couldn't get a reservation. Hilo sunset sushi was so good with poached shrimp, spicy salmon, gochujang aioli,cucumber,sesame, sweet potato chips and tempura crisps. We also ordered side of crab cakes: it came with nice fresh salad and tasty salad dressings. We loved that too. Next time we would like to sit in the restaurant and enjoy the foods over a good view.

We were surprised at how modern the restaurant was and it's on the second story to take advantage of the beautiful day. I made the mistake of not going to their website first because we found as we got there we needed reservations. Oops! The hostess was very sweet and she asked if we would mind being seated at the bar. We said not at all since we were both famished after the long drive here from Kailua Kona. We were seated at the bar by a window overlooking the bay. Our bartender/waitress Jessica was like the Energizer bunny; just an awesome worker! She took our drink order of iced tea and asked if we wanted pineapple juice added. We thought that was different and she highly recommended it. She quickly served it and we agreed it was very good. It was aptly called "Plantation Tea." We ordered the fish & chips (fresh catch of the day--Ono fish). Hands down the BEST fish & chips we have had in a long time! The coating was tasty and crunchy and the fish was indeed very fresh, tender, and flaky! We savored every bite! It was accompanied by a fresh salad and the fries were crispy and delicious! For dessert we ordered the Butter Cake. It was perfection! The coffee was fantastic! This was a pricey meal but so well worth it!

This is my favorite restaurant in town. It's best to make a reservation, even for lunch. My first time there we didn't make a reservation, but were able to be accommodated at the bar since we got there right when they opened for dinner. The servers are all really friendly and the bar makes great cocktails. I have tried their bolognese pasta, a vegetarian mushroom pot pie, a butterfish salad, and steak & potatoes. I wish I could find the photo I took of a vegetarian farmer's sushi roll which was absolutely beautiful with lots of local mushrooms and micro greens - it was fresh and generous to share, I would order that roll again and again. My most recent visit was to celebrate our anniversary and the petit steak with broccolini and potatoes was unfortunately over-salted. It was right on that edge of nearly being inedible but I just couldn't bring myself to send it back and risk wasting the food. The presentation was beautiful though and my steak was cooked exactly how I wanted -medium. I can't wait to have the excuse to return and enjoy more food & drink!

Excellent menu. Enjoyed the short ribs, edamame and jalapeno cornbread in cast iron pan. Service fast and efficient. Great ocean views with a choice of indoor and outdoor seating. Definitely a winner.

Honestly, disappointed by this meal. The menu looked super tasty, but the overall execution was lacking. We made a reservation and still had to wait for a table as some guests stayed lingering after the check was delivered. The hostess did do a good job checking in with us and explaining the situation. Not the restaurant's fault, but when we arrive at the table, it took quite a bit of time for the waitress to arrive. By then, we were starving. Outdoor seating was lovely, but I had tried to time the meal to enjoy views of the water which is what appealed to me in the yelp photos. By the time we were seated, it was unfortunately too dark to really enjoy the views. My husband ordered the Lime in da Coconut which basically tasted like someone dumped a whole can of crème de coconut from a grocery store into a glass and squeezed a lime inside. There was no alcohol to be found. It was not good at all - and I am not picky at all about booze. He did not even finish it. After one sip, I was not surprised by that decision. Overall, the meal service was extremely slow. We were starving and ordered sushi as an app which took forever to arrive. When it did arrive, my spicy tuna had hardly any tuna. It was mostly rice. So much rice that I had a hard time even tasting the tuna flavor. We also sat for another lengthy amount of time before the main dishes arrived. I got the chicken pot pie which was the best thing amongst what our family ordered. My husband's steak was extremely well done and had a very high marble of fatty gristle in all the wrong places. Daughter ordered the fried chicken which was so heavily breaded that the inside of the breading was still uncooked. The restaurant just felt like it was trying too hard to be "fine dining" and missed the mark. I don't normally write a negative review, but it was an expensive meal and just didn't live up to the expectations. We always at least look at the dessert menu, but when asked if we wanted dessert - we were tired of sitting there and so disappointed in everything else we had tried that we didn't want to waste more time with another expensive and disappointing dish. The options in Hilo are pretty limited which is why I still rated it 3 stars as there isn't really another spot of this style to visit that I found to even compare it to. If there was any competition in Hilo to this restaurant like on the Kona side, I would have given it 1 or 2 stars.

Beautiful location, we ordered a salad, Chirashi, and a couple roll and lava cake for desert. Food and service were solid but darn the food took more than 29' and the restaurant wasn't even half full at the time. Four stars for food and views and service but deduction for crazy slow food.

Seating hostess and bartender very kind**** Very attentive Ambience is spread and nice Large bar seating Ahi poki no chips today ... served with sushi rice ****. Delicious!!!

Great food, amazing service and excellent restaurant by the water. You can see the Hilo downton and Maunakea Mountain view.

This is my favorite place in Hilo. Atmosphere is awesome especially view from lanai. My husband and I celebrated our 33rd wedding anniversary and it did not disappoint. Food was superb absolutely everything was delicious!!!

We had several small plates. All were delicious. Service was very good and friendly. Southwest salad was very good, bread, yum! Slaw and broccolini also tasty.

Came into this place with my mom and stepdad during our vacation to Hawaii. Found it through food network. Upon arrival, we were overjoyed to find that it was in a beautiful location with an incredible view of Hilo Bay. We were served by the beautiful and fun Sierra who made us laugh and ensured that we were comfortable and happy. We ordered the poke and bread as starters. My stepdad and I tried the overboard IPA which is definitely a beer I will look out for in the future. The bread was incredible, we stuffed it down immediately. The poke was the best we ever had, super excited that we were able to try some from the area where it was invented. For our entree, we all had the chicken pot pie, which was hearty, comforting, and delicious. The creamy garlic dressing on the salad was a nice touch as well. We finished off our meal with the cast iron cookie which had unique flavors that melded together beautifully. Thank you again Sierra and Hilo Bay Cafe for making sure that our experience was so special and memorable, keep up the exceptional work!!

The fish and chips were the best fish and chips of my whole life. I am 61, so that's saying something. I split it with my friend. The fish, fresh catch of the day, was so fresh. I left my phone in the car so I have no photos. I ordered 2 of their Mai Tais. They were good. I am impressed with this place and the way they handled their error. Hubby ordered his sandwich with no onions. When the order arrived, it had onions. While he waited for his new sandwich, the waitress or manager gifted us the garlic edamame. It was scrumpdidlicious! We were told it is best to make reservations here.

I was told that I should make time and go to this restaurant. This place is great! They have a great ambiance as everyone is very relaxed and not rushing you. They bartender went over the menu and took the time to explain everything and she even suggested a fee plates that are her favorite. I started with sushi and you could tell that it was fresh! I was still hungry so I ordered the beef rib. Both were succulent and very well done! The presentation of the meal is top notch and it reminds me of the restaurants in Atlanta. I closed with the Mai Tai and the chocolate cake which they were awesome! If you are in Hilo, you should stop by. If you want to sit outside, get there early because it fills up. I sat at the bar and got there early and by the time that I was leaving, there was a wait. Make reservations or get there early!

One of the best Restaurants in Hilo. Inventive, delicious, unique dishes. The Parmesan Custard is just spectacular. Lucky to have this restaurant.

Unlike another restaurant claiming fine dining on opposite end of Banyan, this establishment lived up to their high reviews. Atmosphere was casual to dressy. view was spectacular and even with soft rain, it just created a special haven to enjoy the moment. Servuce was prompt and friendly. Prices reasonable for the quality and presentation of food. Drinks were interesting and delicious. No complaints on food. everyone in party enjoyed themselve.

This is my fav restaurant in Hilo. I do recommend a reservation. Especially if you want to sit on the lanai with a beautiful view of the bay. I first had HBC when it was located by Wal-mart and got hooked on their pot pies. But, now I usually go for their sushi. Last night I had the warabi roll (fiddle fern), uni and the house salad. To wash it down I tried their Mai tai. It was a little less sweet than most Mai tais which I prefer. As you can tell from pot pies to sushi the variety is unique. But everything is well crafted.

Food is always ono!!! I had the duck duck demy and I will order it again. Service is always great. Ambience is truly amazing, it has an an outside seating overlooking the beach. Perfect for dinner dates

I came in a week ago with a party of ten. Special event in Hilo that day so we were dining afterwards. The place is nice. Modern, clean, kind of that Japanese minimalism thing going on. Great views of the bay. The food, I'll give 6/10. Nice selection on the menu. I got some sushi and the french onion soup (a local favorite, I'm told). I liked the selection of Japanese sakes. What wrankled me was the service. The staff seemed short tempered for some reason, almost like they had something against our party. We were pretty eclectic, some lawyers, business owners, county workers. I'm not sure why we got this vibe. The place was only about one third full and the food/drinks took inordinately long to get to the table. Not good for a place with such an otherwise good rep.

Perhaps I'm spoiled now that I live in LA where food is awesome....but for me, Hilo Bay Cafe didn't live up to its hype. The restaurant is pretty and if you're able to score a table on the patio the ambiance and view is worth it. But, as far as the food goes, it wasn't great but it certainly wasn't gross. However for the prices they charge you expect much more. As far as service, our server was sweet and attentive but when we first got to the restaurant, the hostess was MIA and so many people walked by sawing us wait to check in and they all ignored us. I mean....at least acknowledge that we are there as waiting and someone is coming soon. Would I go back? Perhaps if I'm staying in Hilo but would not drive from Kona to Hilo specifically to try this place.

I saw this place on the Food Network and bookmarked it for when I knew we would be in Hilo. I remember the show made the restaurant look exceptionally good so I was excited to try it. I must say that our experience was a total disappointment. The first bad meal we had during our vacation. Based on all of the 5 star reviews HBC has received, we obviously ordered incorrectly. The ambience is 5 stars. The service is 4.5 stars. The food 1-2 stars. We started with the ceviche tostados and they were not good. The tostado was stale, not crispy. The ceviche needed salt and had zero flavor. It was the first ceviche in my life that had no flavor. About one half of the menu is comprised of sashimi and sushi. You would think that based on that, they would know what they are doing and would offer top notch sushi. You would be wrong. For our entrees, the wife and I split 3 different sushi rolls: spicy tuna, lobster, and rainbow. They were not just bad, they were horrible. The worst sushi we have ever had. We have eaten sushi in almost every large city in the US and in Japan. If a Japanese restaurant served this sushi they would be out of business in a week. To say it was substandard is generous The avocado was spoiled and yet they served it anyway. Why? Does the chef just not care? I tried to pick off most of the black parts. The rice was old. The fish was not fresh. The sushi was obviously not made to order. It was as if the rolls were made far in advance (days in advance?) and sat in a refrigerator, waiting for the naive to think that just because it is Hawaii the sushi should be good. It was a struggle to finish the rolls because the experience was just unpleasant. Neither one of us wanted to eat it but we did not want to waste the food. I would never recommend sushi at this place. If they can't do better, they should take sushi from the menu. The beers were good. So for our $120 dinner we had two good beers. The meal was a total waste of money and the more I think about it, the more annoyed I become. Although other reviewers sing the praises for some of the dishes at this restaurant, I would not consider returning under any circumstances.

The restaurant is on the second story with a beautiful view of the bay. There is an elevator for those needing help. I Highly recommend reservations of you want a table, let alone with a view. As a walk in at noon on a Saturday (what was I thinking, right?) two seats at the bar available or an hour wait for a high top in the bar, no view.

Great food with a fantastic view of Hilo bay. Will definitely be back. Regards Beau Toichi

We popped in for an early lunch and were excited to find they could accommodate us as walk ins. The service was impeccable! We were given options and time to peruse the menu. We enjoyed a couple of the cocktails and some warm bread as an appetizer. I had the fish & chips and my dining companion had the bbq fried chicken sandwich special. Everything was well seasoned and delicious. The views were phenomenal. It would definitely be worth getting reservations to sit on the lanai for the next time when we come back.

Love this place but I've never been to lunch there. That's a new one on me! Love eating out on the balcony with the view of Hilo Bay! So iconic!Food is delicious. A lot of seafood! Not much for vegetarians. A few dishes.

I don't really know how to rate our experience at the Hilo Bay Cafe. Fist I will start with we had a reservation to celebrate my brother and his wife's 31st anniversary and their last night on the island. We got a beautiful table with a view of the bay and enjoyed watching the paddlers. We live here on island and wanted to treat them to a celebration. The food was amazing! It was prepared perfectly and the presentation was stunning. The service well not so great. our server did check on us when we received our meals but our water glasses were not filled regularly and since we are not drinkers this is troublesome. The music , although pleasant, was really too loud for the space and we found it difficult to carry on our conversation without asking for things to be repeated. The restaurant is beautifully decorated but because of the layout the acoustics leave something to be desired. We were glad our dad was not with us as he is hard of hearing and he would not have been able to participate in our conversation at all. Did we get a complimentary dessert in celebration nope I find this simple sad. We only drank water our bill was almost $200 and not even a dish of ice cream in celebration of 31 years of marriage.

Menu changes and new dishes looked appealing and delicious. French onion soup is a favorite of mine and it's usually good there. No more sushi options. Or very few.

Consistent good food and service recommended by our family. The best place in Hilo town. . . ....

Love the atmosphere and ambiance. The service was amazing too will definitely be back

My boyfriend and I were enjoying Liliuokalani Gardens when we realized it was dinner time and noticed Hilo Bay Cafe. Without knowing much in advance, we ended up having our most favorite dinner in Hawaii. We were accommodated with last minute outdoor seating since we didn't have a reservation. I had a yummy Taro Burger and, though I rarely drink, I ordered a cocktail that was also excellent. The staff was kind and helpful and our view was lovely. We intended to return for another meal, but it is closed Sundays and Mondays. Nice for a romantic evening out.

So food was 7 out of 10, felt like it was nothing special. Maybe go if you can get outside seating as view of bay is pretty good. But don't feel like it's a must stop if you're on vacation. My biggest complaint was we got there at 5:19, 11 mins before our reservation and made me wait which is ok. What bugged, is a group of 3 walked up behind me, no reservation and the sat them right away. My table wasn't a fancy table or anything. I felt burned maybe just me.

This place is nice and the food is good. The service could use some improvement. Our server started off strong and we made sure our orders were correct plus Sierra repeated it back to us. However when they brought our food only two orders were correct the chicken pot pies. Sushi had to be corrected and instead of bringing my tataki salad they brought a shrimp noodle dish of some sort. Sierra apologized for the mishap but we don't understand how simple orders could be mistaken from one table to another. This type needs fixing and the reason for three stars is the food plus the ambiance of the restaurant is good. Very nice and plenty of room but do make reservations. Tried it once was good.

Sushi, sashimi and poke is ON POINT!!! This spot has got killer good food! Anything from the raw bar is fantastic. Anything from the kitchen is suitably as good. Service is solid! They really don't skip a beat. This is such a great spot to take out of towers for a nice relaxing lunch/dinner with a beautiful view to boot!