Merriman'S Waimea

Merriman's was hands down the best dining experience we had on the Big Island. From the moment we arrived, everything was exceptional. The service was attentive without being overbearing, the atmosphere was absolutely beautiful, and every dish was perfectly prepared with fresh, local ingredients. You can truly tell they take pride in every detail. If you're celebrating a special occasion or simply want an unforgettable meal, Merriman's is worth every penny. We can't wait to return on our next visit to Hawaii.

We tried Merriman’s for lunch, which worked perfectly with our travel schedule, and we’re so glad we did. From the moment we walked in, we loved the warmth of the staff. Everyone was incredibly welcoming and genuinely made us feel at home. The vibe is relaxed and chill, and our server was especially friendly and attentive without being overbearing. We settled in with some delicious cocktails and mocktails and started with the warm cornbread served with spiced butter. It was simply superb - warm, comforting, and packed with flavor. There were two specials that day, and my partner, being a sucker for jerk chicken, immediately jumped at the jerk chicken sandwich. It turned out to be an excellent choice. The chicken was perfectly cooked, incredibly juicy, and paired with smashed potatoes that made the whole dish feel wholesome and satisfying. I went with the fish of the day, which was swordfish. It was perfectly cooked and beautifully complemented by a miso-ginger glaze, bamboo rice, and a fresh house salad. The miso-ginger glaze added a wonderful depth of flavor to the swordfish without overpowering it, and the whole combination was flavorful without feeling too heavy - exactly what I wanted for lunch. We finished with the lilikoi mousse, which was the perfect ending. It was airy, light, and beautifully balanced, with just the right amount of flavor. Overall, we absolutely loved our experience at Merriman’s. The combination of warm hospitality, relaxed atmosphere, and delicious food left us feeling completely content. We’ll definitely be coming back for dinner the next time we’re in Hawaii. ❤️

We always go to Merriman's when we visit Kona. We prefer coming for lunch so we can take a scenic drive back through the ranch land and Waikoloa Village back to the coast. Merriman's offers a small menu with enough variety for everyone. This time we started with the fresh and delicious beet salad (with papaya and macadamia nuts!) and added goat cheese. Don't miss the hillbilly cornbread, which accompanys the salad nicely. The fish tacos were fresh and delicious while the kalua pork sandwich offered a sweet and spicy bite of the juicy pork (this sandwich is a must). We finished with the incredible pineapple macadamia bread pudding, served warm with vanilla ice cream. The servers are friend and efficient and the dining room is compact but airy. This was yet another great meal from one of our favorite restaurant in the Big Island. Reservations recommended.

We enjoyed a Mother's Day "Eve" dinner here to avoid the crowds on the Sunday when everyone goes out to eat. The food and the service are top notch. We especially enjoyed the Wok Charred Ahi and the Roasted Chateaubriane of Hawai'i Island Beef. For salads, I highly recommend the Charred Hirabara Farm Beets. The only thing that could make the experience better is the location. Set in a strip mall of sorts, the exterior doesn't feel like a fine dining experience.

This restaurant is one of the reasons you should come to Hawaii Big Island (Waimea). We had such a nice time at Merriman’s, everything we had was so good, and our server was so kind to us explaining the menu and helping with everything we needed. The desert was amazing too, pineapple macadamia bread pudding and chocolate mousse.