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Cafe Pesto
Categories: Restaurants Hawaiian Restaurants Pizza Hawaiian, Pizza
613644 Kawaihae RdKamuela, HI 96743
(808) 882-1071
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Quiet
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
42 reviews for Cafe Pesto
Review Highlights
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"Best food I had on the big island so far." In 6 reviews -
"The best item on the menu is their warm coconut tart." In 2 reviews -
"The seafood risotto is absolutely amazing." In 1 review
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42 reviews in English
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Review from Big D.
Sacramento, CA
4/30/2012
Picked this place out of one of those magazines you get at the hotel. It's located in a little strip mall on a dead end street near the harbor. Thought the menu was gonna be typical Italian, pleasantly surprised to see that it wasn't typical at all. There were lots of local touches. I had been craving a burger so I order up their cheeseburger. It was top notch. Fresh BIB, (Big Island Beef), smoked mozzarella, local tomatoes, and your choice of condiments (I had pesto mayo that was awesome) all combined to make a delicious burger. Also tried some of the catch of the day, swordfish, it was fresh and flavorful.
Service was very friendly and helpful.
Can't wait to go back and try more menu items. -
Review from Solomon K.
Hawaii, HI
5/22/2012
I enjoyed this place immensely every time that I visited it in the past. Their kalua turkey sandwich was always a winner. A friend of mine recently ate there and had a run in with one of the cooks outside by the bathroom next to the kitchen. My friend and the cook almost ran into each other, and my friend laughed it off and held the door open for the cook. The cook's response was "F*** you, you f***ing a**hole!" After speaking to the manager outside, it was evident that he was not going to do anything to rectify the situation.
So it is with a heavy heart, and much disappointment that I will never eat there again, nor will I encourage people to go and eat there. -
Review from Steven H.
Lakeside, CA
5/23/2012 1 Check-in Here
Excellent! We split the Blue Caesar Salad and a pepperoni pizza. For dessert we got crem brulee. A little expensive, but we loved it.
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Review from Emily M.
Puyallup, WA
5/14/2012
Food was pretty good, though overpriced. Seafood rissotto was very good. Pizza was overrated- thick crust with sauce heavy on oregano.
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Review from christine s.
Lemont, IL
5/15/2012
Great place for lunch. Very nice atmosphere and very pleasant waiters. We had the coconut calamari as an appetizer. They were really tender and delicious in the dipping sauce. We ordered the southwestern pizza and it absolutely delicious. We ordered two pizzas for two of us which turned out to be a great move. We ended up with an entire pizza as leftovers. It turned out to be a good thing to have the leftovers to snack on after snorkeling and swimming.
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Review from Ann K.
Napa, CA
3/25/2012 2 Check-ins Here
I always get the pizza with peppers and pineapple and am never disappointed. Also, the green mixed salad is fresh and not your everyday packaged lettuce. My friend swears by the fish and of course the coconut tart is his dessert of the week indulgence.
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Review from Daniel O.
Manteca, CA
4/12/2012 1 Check-in Here
Awesome as ever. I had the mango glazed salsa, shrimp nachos and the apple crisp... ala mode. It was great and the flavors were wonderful. Everything was fresh. I even had a pizza earlier in the week and that was spectacular as well.
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Review from Lanni J.
Moscow, ID
4/8/2012
Just had pizza and salad for lunch and they messed up on my pizza order so they made a new one that came out 20 minutes later and was under cooked. Worst meal so far on the Big Island and the most expensive for what you got!! I would not recommend this restaurant.
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Review from Dean H.
10/20/2011 1 Check-in Here
A waiter that "memorizes" 8 peoples order that included drinks, salad dressing, and partial order changes. I wish I could say that was the highlight of the evening but it didn't end there. The food was just as good.
I got a traditional pizza, crispy thin crust made just right with the freshest toppings. Others got the calzone, pesto pasta, and many other good things and it was just all good stuff.
There was also a microbrewery on tap here! WHAT THE HECK? I got the darkest brew they had and enjoyed every thick dark drop of that goodness. Yep you heard that right, ya hear?
Ok, we got here at night and it was a pretty sketchy area but I was HAPPY that we stopped here to get a bite to eat. It sure beat the cup o noodles I had for breakfast at the hotel!
Thanks Cafe Pesto for making full tummies and happy faces!
081/365 pastapizzagoodstuff yelp challenge!Listed in: YELP 365 Hawaii Challenge…
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Review from Kristy S.
10/29/2011 1 Check-in Here
Thanks to Yelp, we found this treasure of a restaurant. We ate here twice, once for lunch and once for dinner. Michael was our waiter for lunch and he was awesome!
We tried a variety of items and they were all exceptionally good. I do not like seafood but was coerced into trying the calamari and it was very good. My kids and S.O. said it was the best they've ever had.
S.O.and I went back for dinner and were not disappointed. The southwest pizza was very good - we had this for an appetizer. -
Review from Brownie S.
San Ramon, CA
11/4/2011
This is a cute, really friendly restaurant with lots of interesting choices.
Yelpers recommended the pizza and calzone, so that's what we had. (After a morning of sun bathing, we had worked up an appetite.)
The pizza crust was in between thick and thin, you might call it puffy. You could also call it good, because it was.
I thought this was one of the better casual options on this side of the island. Worth a try. -
Review from Brooke B.
Washington, DC
1/20/2012 3 Check-ins Here
Cafe Pesto has good, solid pizza, fish, and pasta. The Volcano Mist salad is really tasty. They have some pretty good desserts as well, but there's usually not much room for them! But. If you have a large stomach or one that can stretch nicely, try the warm coconut tart or any of the ice creams/gelatos (they order from Tropical Dreams).
Oh, and avoid the free bread they give you--it pretty much tastes like nothing. Save room for dessert instead! -
Review from Terri M.
Minnetonka, MN
4/21/2012
Good food. A nice reasonably priced place to dine.
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Review from Shiho F.
Carmel by the Sea, CA
8/2/2011
The family that we visited for a wedding celebration always dines at Cafe Pesto when they are in town... always is an understatement. My youngest sister arrived to the Big Island 24 hours before my other sister and I and she said that she had visited Cafe Pesto twice in 24 hours and that the island loving family had visited 3 to 4 times already on this one special trip.
I arrived a little late as I gave up my seat on my early morning flight but I did taste some leftovers... two slices each different: I think one was the Oriental al Pesto which had Japanese eggplant in addition to pesto and the other was the Greek Pizza because I remember sweet peppers and the taste of Kalamata olives. Delicious even cold as we had no microwaves at the Hapuna Beach Prince Hotel. -
Review from Irina N.
San Marino, CA
We are so lucky to have found this little gem early on in our vacation. Just down the street from Hapuna Prince, this cafe is open for lunch and dinner.
By far, the best cafe on the island. You can't go wrong with anything you order. The seafood risotto is absolutely amazing. Priced at $37, it seems a bit pricey at first, but comes with a lobster tail, scallops and shrimp. The risotto just melts in your mouth. Yum!
Tried both their BLT and Luau pizzas and both were amazing. Their wild green salad is wonderful and the veggies are super fresh and the house vinaigrette is perfect.
The best item on the menu is their warm coconut tart.
We ended up coming back here 3 times and look forward to coming back on our future visits to the island!
Don't miss this gem of a restaurant. -
Review from Stephanie S.
Pleasanton, CA
8/10/2011
Dining at Cafe Pesto is an annual tradition for my family Hawaii trip. We'd all agree it's the best place to dine on the Kohala coast. The atmosphere is casual, but the food is always delicious and the restaurant clean.
My favorite is the Hamakua sandwich. The bread is always toasted perfectly, and the chutney complements the kalua style pork well. The potato salad is something everyone must try! It's made with ube (purple sweet potato) instead of the usual. And you can't go wrong by ending your meal with a warm coconut tart. -
Review from Brian S.
Irvine, CA
4/8/2012
Wonderful food and service. Really loved this place for a nice casual meal wit great food.
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Review from Some G.
Redmond, WA
9/29/2011 1 Check-in Here
Best food I had on the big island so far. Being a foodie I was a bit paranoid about my big island trip. This place mitigated any concerns I had. Enjoy your sunset at the resort the head here for dinner! (Their tenderloin is awesome!)
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Review from Mihir M.
Fremont, CA
8/27/2011
We went to the Kohala coast location. Great food. Right by the harbor, but its not an outstanding view. The atmosphere is casual. Our server was helpful with vegetarian options. For me and my wife, the Wild Greens salad, a crostini, the large Lokelani pizza, a soda, a sunrise drink (nonalcoholic), and torte were great.
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Review from scott g.
7/26/2011 1 Check-in Here
My family and I come to cafe pesto every year when we are in hawaii. My kids love it which is icing on the cake. I also get the make your own pizza and it hasnt let me down ever. The service is great here too, I just wish parking was a little better.
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Review from Pang Houa T.
Washington, DC
9/12/2011
One of the best meals I've had on the Big Island this trip. Had the grilled shrimp pizza, and the cilantro creme fraiche really made the pizza! Also loved how the crust was both crispy and chewy. All ingredients were very fresh. My husband had a fish sandwich made with the fresh catch of the day served on pita bread which was also delicious. His onion fries could have been served warmer, but they were still crispy and tasty, and I ate most of his sweet potato salad. Yum. The coconut tart was delicious and hot, although VERY coconutty and on the sweet side. If you are looking for something on the lighter side, we also thought the creme brûlée was very good. Not the most scenic setting for a restaurant, but pleasant enough for a casual lunch. Go for the delicious food.
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Review from Rose O.
Kailua-Kona, HI
11/7/2011
Service was wonderful but the food was less than Desirable I've heard so much great things about their food but sorry it did not live up to expectation.
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Review from Mark W.
Franklin, TN
10/23/2011
Agree with all others, the foods good. Service is good too. The atmosphere is poor, we made reservations and they stuck us next to the kitchen in a dark corner. Others who had no reservation got the good tables. Just average, not memorable enough to return if we're lucky enough to get back to the Big Island.
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Review from M E.
Lane, OR
2/1/2012
This place is getting worse every year. Service, frendliness, and especially the food. The pizza used to be pretty good. Now I would rather have frozen. No kidding. Be careful here.
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Review from Keoki H.
Kaneohe, HI
8/30/2010
Yes they are good. Really good!!!
We stayed on the coast at the resorts and were happy to drive here for lunch. Food was fresh and a good clean healthy taste.
Cost was very reasonable. Soup, Salad, Sandwhiches, some pasta and pizza..........all fresh none of that frozen stuff. I really enjoyed my meal.
Worth the drive.
Kids will ejoy the food and perhaps good idea to take them so they can taste some good fresh prepared food. -
Review from Carol S.
Kamuela, HI
9/19/2011
Impressive menu and good, friendly service, but food is overpriced and a little meh. No view. Bring your own ambiance.
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Review from Vivian N.
4/22/2010 3 photos
Although it's out of the way and a bit of a drive, I think this place has much more class, charm, and character than its original Hilo counterpart. They have a nice waiting area, the decor seems more put together, and the space allows for much more natural light.
There's a dish I love to order from Cafe Pesto -- a penne pasta dish with marinara and chipotle sauce. It's normally served on their lunch menu but I was able to order it for dinner anyway... and unfortunately, at its dinner price too! It was a steep, cheap move on their part. I normally would've paid $14 for it but instead I paid $22. Still delicious, but not worth it at THAT price. I wish I had been made aware of the price difference beforehand though but c'est la vie. -
Review from Brandon B.
Davis, CA
12/31/2009
Bummer. I'd been here a few times and had decent food, but I will never eat at Cafe Pesto again.. Their smoked chicken calzone got me sick, big time. We're talking moaning on the floor between the sink and the john for 24 hours sick. We came in the mid-afternoon and the place was relatively empty. When my calzone arrived it was barely warm, and the texture of the chicken was a little off. I deserve to give myself a retrospective head-slap. Anyways, I ate the calzone, and while my family enjoyed their meals and went on to a lovely ocean-splashing, jungle-trekking vacation, I spent three days recuperating -- at first moaning on the floor between trips to the john or the sink, and later in bed trying to get my strength back.
I did have some good meals there over the previous couple of years, but once a place gets me sick, it's on my ____ list, literally. -
Review from Patrick B.
Lexington-Fayette, KY
4/28/2010
Went in for lunch in April and were relatively pleased. The food was different, which gets some points, but ultimately unremarkable. There was nothing that really stood out about this place. I don't even know that I can remember what I had, I just know it wasn't bad.
The one memorable thing was the waitress, a red-head. She was very attentive and super friendly. We enjoyed chatting with her and she couldn't have been nicer.
So, all-in-all, it's worth checking out. Be sure to get some ice cream or shave ice upstairs once your done! -
Review from Thomas M.
San Francisco, CA
6/7/2008
The original Cafe Pesto location? Between Shell and the Paniolo Grill? They moved from this location about 15 years ago, and the building has been abandoned for most of the time since then.
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Review from Albert H.
Scottsdale, AZ
5/6/2009
Our favorite dining spot while on the Big Island - great pastas, pizza, and numerous local craft beer options were available. Service and prices were fairly good, and this was a surprise given how close this location was to the trendy 'n spendy locations just outside our resort. We went to both locations, here and in Hilo.
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Review from ralph d.
Los Angeles, CA
9/2/2009
I've been here a few times because when in Waikoloa you just run out of places to eat. The food can be OK and can be bad. Our last meal was the crappy kind. One of the pizza's was ordered with garlic and it was "covered" with whole roasted garlic cloves. We picked a plate of them off the pizza.
I know it's Hawaii and it's lousy food in so many places, and over priced. Maybe eat here and keep it simple. Service is not usually on top of it. -
Review from Emily C.
Los Angeles, CA
8/17/2011
Husband and I were pleasantly surprised at how amazing the food was! We stopped in for lunch and mid way through we were regretting we did not save this restaurant for dinner. We had researched the place before and wasn't so sure judging from the menu and pics of the food. We decided to try it because of the great reviews and now we know why they are rated so well. We ordered the crab quesadilla which was really a pizza, Caesar salad and the catch of the day salad which were all delicious! The greens were organic, fresh and crisp; farmers market quality. The fish was tender and delicious. Now that we have been there we understand that this place is offering cuisine made with top local ingredients. Yes there are italian influences but cafe pesto is 100% hawaiian and most of all very yummy. Service was friendly and pleasant. I didn't give it 5 stars because their cushions were a little old and the windows were dirty. Made the place feel dirty even though it wasn't. But please go! You won't regret it.
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Review from bunnymouse k.
Foster City, CA
9/30/2010
The luau pizza was great, very light and fluffy. All the ingredients tasted really fresh. Mac Nut Apple Crumble was to die for. One of the best desserts we have EVER had! Especially delicious with a hot cup of coffee. Service was great and added to the experience. Will go back for sure!
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Review from Daniel K.
Tysons Corner, VA
12/13/2009
Nice little dishes, worth the drive!
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Review from Mark S.
Santa Monica, CA
11/23/2010
Cafe Pesto is a wonderful place to eat and it is very kid friendly. I would know because I am a kid. The food is amazing but the Lone Free Ranger chicken on the kids menu is to die for I highly recommend. My dad literally dreams about the Turkey sandwich with the mango and cranberry chutney when he is on the mainland in California. My entire family highly recommends going to eat there. You WILL NOT REGRET IT. Ever in you entire life it is amazing.
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Review from Mike W.
Walnut Creek, CA
10/29/2009
Nice diverse menu. Calamari and Nachos were very good. Pizza sauce and the pizza was really disappointing. Need to work on the crust too.
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Review from Robin N.
La Quinta, CA
8/16/2010
Delicious choices! The kamuela turkey sandwich was delicious as was the coconut calamari appetizer and the pizzas are to die for. Loved the longilomi pizza with basil pesto and a great crust. The artwork was great and all for sale next door. A real Hawaiian experience!
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Review from brian m.
Beaumont, CA
3/15/2010
One of my favorites. Can be hit and miss though. Last time I was here the food was great but the restaurant seemed to be short staffed because it took much to long for someone to take our order.
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Review from sandra a.
Kamuela, HI
11/1/2010
Every item on the menu is delicious! The food is always fresh and prepared with a creative flair. The service is wonderful with a true aloha spirit.
