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Volcano House
Rating Details »
PO Box 53
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, HI 96785
(808) 967-7321
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, HI 96785
(808) 967-7321
- Price Range:
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$$
13 reviews for Volcano House
I think the appeal of staying here is that you are inside the national park and you wake up and see the caldera steaming up from your window.
That is really about all that's good about the hotel. That and its convenient to start your day with hiking around the park. You don't have to drive anywhere! You just get up and leave your room and hit the trails.
The room was so stark and erie feeling. It felt more like a nicer cabin with a bathroom. The towels were stained with some mysterious yellow stuff...ewwwww and we were tempted to use our flip flops in the shower if not for the new looking non-skid mat.
My worst night of sleep was in this hotel. I know it wasn't like a brand new or named hotel chain so I have to just suck it up. The actual location is neat and memorable too.
I am thinking that since I've done the Volcano House this trip, my next trip I will stay at the Kilauea Lodge instead. Its so close to the national park entrance anyway...and looks a lot more comfortable.
We didn't eat here because I've heard bad things, so I don't have any info around that part of the hotel.
Ate here because it was the only place to eat inside the park. That was a mistake - we definitely should have eaten elsewhere else first or brought food in.
The buffet didn't look good at all and nobody else was eating there, so we chose the cafeteria. Ugh. Worst meal I've ever had. Pretty much had the kind of food you'd get at 7-11, except 7-11 is way better. Hot dog: inedible. Sandwich: gross. Why oh why don't they make this place decent? It's a cruel joke that they have this awesome location and it's just the worst food ever. Come here to check out the view, maybe (there are a million other stops along the road with equally good views too). But do NOT eat here!
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The views are good, but you can walk around on the path that overlooks the caldera without eating here. The food is average, but it is buffet style and on $13 (including taxes) for adult breakfast. It wasn't busy at all when we went, so we were able to enjoy the view for quite a while and sip coffee. If you have a big appetite this is a good deal.
We went to Volcano House to eat lunch, the review is only of the restaurant since we didn't stay in the hotel.
The restaurant has two options, one was buffet at $17 per person, and the other was the cafeteria. We chose the latter because it was soon time to move on to our next destination.
I'm not sure whether it was the correct choice, not much money was saved because it was the most expensive cafeteria meal of our lifetimes.The food was mediocre and one of us found her sandwich to be inedible.
Cafeteria part of the restaurant is not a good value for the money. But the way that we thought about it was as a donation to the national parks. Be thankful that there is a restaurant at all in a semi-wilderness area on the rim of a volcanic crater. If amenities such as a nice hotel are provided to visitors, the revenue to support this has to come from somewhere.
Both rooms of the restaurant have great views of the smoldering crater of the volcano. Certainly a unique location !
The staff of the Volcano House are friendly. I left my bag on the floor of the restaurant while I went to look at an exhibit in the adjacent room. A staff member picked up the bag and turned it in to the front desk. It was probably unnecessary but it was nice that they were thoughtful enough to take that precaution.
I feel that the staff are sincere and that they like working in Volcano House out of appreciation for the natural wonders of Hawaii.
People thought this was:
- Useful (1)
- Cool (1)
Great views of the caldera. Average food at best and expensive. If you want a great view for sunset over the caldera or just to dine on the rim of am active volcano, then this is the place. The food is quite expensive and just OK. Service was friendly. Overall a B experience.
Gist: Eat here for buffet lunch during your national park exploration. The best papaya ever!
After a 4 mile hike in the morning, we were in need of some good refuel. What better than a buffet. It was only $33 for the two of us too. The place was busy, but not packed, so we were able to find a nice table for two right by the window overlooking the Kilauea crater. What a nice place to relax a bit. Food was only pretty good, but what do you expect in the middle of a national park? It's got the basic salads, fruits, rice, roasted beef and fried chicken. The waiters were very nice about cleaning our table when we left for seconds or dessert.
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The restaurant at Volcano House has a dinner menu that appears to promise at least some good eats, albeit at exhorbitant prices. You must make reservations for dinner. On arrival at your time you check in with the hostess who has a waiter escort you to your white-clothed covered table.
I ordered shrimp scampi at $24.50. My S.O. ordered the chicken picatta from the special entrees for the day (at $20.95.) We got a choice of dressings for our salad, the usual selection; ranch, Italian, blue cheese, plus two specialties; papaya seed or liliani passion fruit. We were also asked for our "choice of starch" which consisted of white rice, wild rice or red potatoes.
The salad arrived and we immediately regretted our decision to stay in the park for dinner. The salad consisted of a small plate with a little iceberg lettuce, one cucumber slice, one cherry tomato, and some carrot shavings. The dressing was presented in a plastic cup.
The entrees arrived. The main ingredient in my scampi was mushrooms. At least it had enough garlic to be a little tasty. Not so the chicken. The capers were so vinegary they couldn't be eaten. The chicken was dry and tasteless.
We wonder why they even pretend to be a nice restaurant. They've got to figure on never having repeat customers.
People thought this was:
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This cool hotel restaurant is located on the rim of a volcano in the Volcano Park. Watch the light rain cross the crater ..... dream...
Another time you can try the brunch, they have straight ahead food, like scrambled eggs And yummy portuguese sausage.
bacon, ham, bread rolls, fresh fruits..
They have overnight rooms overlooking the volcano; that would be stellar.
The gift shop is nice. I got me a VH shirt , nobody knows what VH stands for ! love it!! hehehe
Chocolate lava cake. A small mound of flourless chocolate cake filled with warm molten chocolate. Heaven on a plate.
That was a beautiful endcap to a delicious holiday dinner with my family and friends. The dinner was excellent. I had the catch of the day, which was hibi (a tropical whitefish) sauteed in a lemon, butter, and caper sauce. The fish was fresh and delicious! My fiance had the chicken piccata, which he said was excellent. Some of the portions are small (chicken piccata, lamb) for the price, but other portions are the right size (fresh catch, steaks).
All of the entrees are served with a salad and a side. I recommend the house dressing, which is a creamy Caesar. The sides available were white rice, wild rice, or red skin potatoes. None of the sides were too impressive.
Our waiter was extraordinarily professional, respectful, and polite. However, service was slow, but that was mainly because of the holiday rush. We also had a big group (12 people), which typically takes longer to serve.
Good food. Great view of the crater from the window of the restaurant. Highly recommended!
The location of this hotel is great. However,the rooms are very worn out and look like they have not been updated since 1960. Don't bother staying here unless you can get a crater view room - you're much better off in one of the B&Bs in Volcano Village.
As for their restaurant, it deserves a 1/2 star.
I really don't know why we decided to give it a try except that we were lured in by the amazing view.
What a joke!
No to crappy dinner rolls.
No to canned artichokes dumped on a plate with watery butter sauce.
No to iceberg lettuce.
No to $25 pasta with sauce that clearly came from a jar. I had to laugh when I recalled the description of the sauce on the menu as "zesty".
No to tough prime rib accompanied by limp, overcooked vegetables and wild rice pilaf.
No to a $75.00 bill for a dinner that even Hometown Buffet could outdo.
Take it from me, drive outside of the park and eat at one of the quaint restaurants nearby.
We didn't stay here, but walked around the grounds. There's a really amazing view of the caldera.
People thought this was:
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A charming, cozy hotel right on the edge of the caldera...simply breathtaking...excellent service...old Hawaii feel...sit by the fire place on the koa wood rockers...the fire has never gone out~they have kept it lit for years!...Unique experience and family friendly.
This is a buffet a bit of everything I must say that the food was great the, TO me the lunch buffet was the best, fried mahi mahi was my favorite, the prices are reasonable as well.
