Merriman's – Waimea – Big IslandFabulousWe went to Merriman's to celebrate my husband's birthday, it was AMAZING! Our waitress was attentive, informative and accommodating and the bus girl (wish I got her name) was STELLAR. They make their dinner rolls in house and I'm warning you now -- enjoy, but save room for your meal! I'm a vegetarian, so they made me a special plate with a tofu "steak" seared to perfection with corn, asparagus, and those tasty Hawaiian tomatoes (Wow, so flavorful and delicious). My husband had a beautiful steak with mashed potatoes, asparagus and sauteed mushrooms - we both cleaned our plate and our only regret was that we discovered Merriman's our last night on the Island. You'll enjoy the relaxed fine dining atmosphere; enjoy the cool art!5/22/2013 12:00:00 AMRelaxing atmosphereRelaxing atmosphere as restaurant is small and quaint in this quiet upcountry town. Food is served in a timely manner. Assorted poke (fish) appetizer was great. Lobster bisque was ok. The local steak was great but portion was a bit small for my man. Combination of ono (fish) and local steak was very good and paired well. Portion size is more than enough for a woman. No dessert ordered but when making reservations on Open Table I indicated that it was a birthday dinner so they brought a nice plate with Happy Birthday written in chocolate dust and a Lilikoi pudding with yummy cookies and sent us home with a small container of take out container of cookies. What a wonderful treat! Wait staff was wonderful too. Worth the price we paid!5/18/2013 12:00:00 AMBest Resturant on The Island!I never miss a chance to dine at Merriman's. The food is inventive, delicious and never disappoints.5/18/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat as always.Perfect lamb and pork dishes. You know it will always be local meat and fish. Perfectly cooked. And great deserts.5/16/2013 12:00:00 AMGood RestaurantGood food, good service, good atmosphere, a bit noisy, a bit pricey.5/14/2013 12:00:00 AMMATCHLESS!A PERSONABLE FRONT DOOR HOST. A SKILLED AND PASSIONATE WAITER. MENU CHOICES WITHOUT EQUAL. UNIQUE COMBINATION OF INGREDIENTS IN ENTREES. A RELAXED SETTING WITH NO PRETENSE OR ATTITUDE. A MEMORABLE EXPERIENCE THAT ALWAYS PULLS US BACK AS SOON AS WE RETURN TO THE ISLAND. RATES FAR MORE THAN A MERE 5 STARS!5/12/2013 12:00:00 AMConsistently excellent foodOur favorite restaurant on the big island. Entrees are perfectly prepared and very flavorful. Even the side dishes are spectacular.5/11/2013 12:00:00 AMalways a winnerwe have been dining at Merrimans since it opened nearly 25 years ago and have had great service and outstanding meals esch snd every time we go. We dined there on 5-3-13, 5-10-13 and 5-17-13 . On each occasion I had the Chef"s special. One specisl was a fish dish that was full of exoctic flavors. The other two specials were brined pork tenderloin dishes that were so tender and juicy they melted in my mouth! My husband and I feel like "family" when we dine at Merrimans.5/11/2013 12:00:00 AMBest Restaurant on The Big IslandMerriman's continues to be a destination point every time I visit The Big Island. The food is sublime and like nothing else on The Big Island. I just wish he would open a restaurant in Oahu.5/9/2013 12:00:00 AMBest meal on the big islandA friend recommended this place and we loved it!!! The best part is you can pick any two entrees on the menu and have smaller portions of both for your entree. Between the two of us we sampled four different entrees and they were all outstanding. So far, our best meal yet. Ulu grill is a close second.5/7/2013 12:00:00 AMBest restaurant in WaimeaI love this restaurant. The food is excellent. The waiters are young, energetic, extremely professional. The menu changes enough so as a "local" there is something new to try. Always an enjoyable experience!!4/27/2013 12:00:00 AMWe liked Merriman's so muchWe liked Merriman's so much that we went there 3 times during our 5 day trip to Hawaii. Everything is fresh. Best restaurant we've ever been to. Look forward to coming back!4/25/2013 12:00:00 AMI had the "fish of the day"I had the "fish of the day" (Ono) and unfortunately, it wasn't up to the high standard of Merriman's tasty entrees. But, I like that they included a salad with the dish and the beer of the day was excellent(light wheat ale). My wife's grilled chicken sandwich was excellent with lots of chicken in-between the bread slices and very tasty to boot.
We'll give this place another try.4/23/2013 12:00:00 AMA Gem in WaimeaAfter reading the reviews from other Open Table members, we were eager to try Merriman's in Waimea, and they sure did not disappoint! The service, the food, the ambiance was perfect. We both had a pork loin special and it was wonderful- so flavorful and moist! I'm sure that you couldn't go wrong with ordering any item on the menu. It was hard to decide upon one, as they all sounded so delicious. Make sure you book a reservation in advance- they fill up quickly after opening and quite a few folks were waiting in the lobby area waiting for a table when we left. So glad we discovered this gem of a restaurant in Waimea!4/22/2013 12:00:00 AMThis may be the best restaurantThis may be the best restaurant on the Big Island. Is a welcome diversion from the many resort restaurants that are convenient to eat at. However, you need a car (or ride)to get to Waimea. Although, once you eat here you will find a way to dine here on every visit and sometimes more than once.4/16/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat meal! Reasonable wineGreat meal! Reasonable wine list, nice selections. No bar seating. Great service! Reccomended a great place for the best poke in Kona. Like most restaurants in Hawaii, closes early, at 10.4/14/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat food and service. MusicGreat food and service. Music too loud, difficult to hear someone at the table because of it and that detracted from the otherwise great experience.4/13/2013 12:00:00 AMFood was amazing, we lovedFood was amazing, we loved everything we tried especially the mac nut encrusted ono, and coconut creme brulee.4/11/2013 12:00:00 AMWe first ate at Merrimans'We first ate at Merrimans' in 1990. The food was outstanding then and now 23 years later the food is still outstanding. We eat at Merrimans whenever we come to the Big Island which is about 8 times over the years.
I have stopped trying charred rare ahi at other restaurants as the dish at Merrimans is so fantastic no one else's will do. The lilikoi mousse is a test of a relationship if you order one to share. Who gets the last bite?
The service is attentive and thoughtful. Without asking, our server brought us tastings of a couple of wines to make sure we would enjoy our wine,
Well worth the drive to Waimea.4/6/2013 12:00:00 AMFood and service was excellent.Food and service was excellent. Very loud, though! When in Hawaii again, we will definitely return!!!4/5/2013 12:00:00 AMIt's our favorite place toIt's our favorite place to dine in Hawaii. The food and service is always outstanding!!4/2/2013 12:00:00 AMAn enduring delightPeter Merriman has expanded operations to three islands, but this Big Island venue continues to bring it with local meats and produce. Imaginative, unique flavors. The unobtrusive but personal service is worth noting ... the place runs like a swiss watch despite an onslaught of fugitives from resort row down the mountain. Just as good as it was ten years ago ... maybe better.4/2/2013 12:00:00 AMWe loved our lunch at Merriman's!We loved our lunch at Merriman's! Our only regret is that it doesn't exist in our hometown. The service was great with perfect recommendations from our waitress. The food was fresh and luscious.4/1/2013 12:00:00 AMWe anticipate all year returningWe anticipate all year returning to the Big island so we can experience the fantastic food and service at Merriman's in the spring. We've worked ourselves up to 3 dinners in a week's stay, as nothing else compares to the fresh ingredients, properly prepared and combined not in a trendy combination, but to enhance the natural fresh flavors of the fish, meat and other ingredients. And of course, there is no dessert on earth better than the chocolate purse!Our favorite restaurant not just in Hawaii, but anywhere on the planet.3/31/2013 12:00:00 AMWe love Merriman's! EveryWe love Merriman's! Every time we visit the Big Island we have never been disappointed with the outstanding food & customer service. The exquisite flavors are complemented by the fact that all the food is locally sourced! How can you go wrong with Lamb Meatloaf, Hawaiian Hog, fresh Ahi & Mahi, and don't forget the deserts. The chocolate purse is a small package made especially for chocoholics! Delish!3/31/2013 12:00:00 AMnot to be missed!Dinner at Merrimans is a MUST if you are on the Big Island. The food was outstanding and the service just perfect. Next time we will eat there upon arrival and before we leave. It is that good! Make reservations. Worth the drive for sure.3/29/2013 12:00:00 AMThe food is amazing, serviceThe food is amazing, service very attentive, and the music (Dylan, CCR, Fleetwood Mac) a perfect backdrop. We especially enjoyed the roasted beets and the chocolate purse, but everything was excellent. We will definitely come here whenever we are on the island.3/28/2013 12:00:00 AMFour of us had dinner oneFour of us had dinner one evening. We ordered three beverages, four salads, and main courses. No desserts, coffee or after dinner drinks. The bill came to over $250.00 While the food was good and the service very good, the food portions were small by any measure but especially given the prices. Overall, we were not pleased with the level of value here. Better head to this restaurant ONLY for special occasions unless you have bookoo bucks.3/28/2013 12:00:00 AMThe Best of the Big IslandMerriman's is, hands-down, the best restaurant on the Big Island and one of the best restaurants I've ever been to in my life. My wife and I each had an appetizer, soup and salad, entree, and dessert and there wasn't a single weak spot in the entire meal. The service was excellent as well. While the decor was not particularly noteworthy (it wasn't bad, just not as memorable as the food), I can't recommend Merriman's highly enough!!3/25/2013 12:00:00 AMNice, relaxed Hawaiian diningNice, relaxed Hawaiian dining experience. Good local produce and beef.3/24/2013 12:00:00 AMI just love Merriman's. menuI just love Merriman's. menu always diverse and interesting. Food delicious, and good sized portions. Expensive but worth it.3/22/2013 12:00:00 AMBest food we have ever had!Best food we have ever had! Great choice for our last night in Hawaii!3/21/2013 12:00:00 AMFantastic food and service.Fantastic food and service. A bit pricy but worth the drive. It is a rare occasion when a dish's description by the server undersells it but such was the case here.3/19/2013 12:00:00 AMThis is a top tier place.This is a top tier place. The food and beverage concepts and selections are fabulous and the staff marvelous.3/15/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat local food well preparedGreat local food well prepared and served by friendly staff.3/14/2013 12:00:00 AMOur waiter Jim was amazing!Our waiter Jim was amazing! Very informative, friendly, & funny! Food is fantastic! Merriman's never disappoints.3/12/2013 12:00:00 AMOne of the top few restaurantsOne of the top few restaurants on the big island. Well worth the trip to Waimea. Food was spectacular. Only disappointment was the wine list. Flight of Cabs still on menu but no longer available. First choice bottle also not available. Third try, charm.3/11/2013 12:00:00 AMWaimea location is our favoriteWaimea location is our favorite restaurant in the Islands, and beyond!!! Phenomenal food!3/5/2013 12:00:00 AMFarm to table dining at it'sFarm to table dining at it's finest. Food and presentation were outstanding. Great staff, very attentive service. Highly recommend!3/2/2013 12:00:00 AMIf you have never been toIf you have never been to Merriman's before, you are in for a treat. They use local, sustainable ingredients on their menu. If you're a foodie like me, it will be very hard to make a decision on one entree. On my recent visit, I saw 4 entrees that I wanted to try. I got my wish with their "Duos" section where you can get exactly half of 2 entrees on one plate, even the sides. I went with my dad and we were able to get the 4 entrees that I wanted to try and shared. It was fantastic! The service is attentive and friendly. It's definitely a must when visiting the Big Island.2/28/2013 12:00:00 AMLovely eveningHad a lovely evening. Food, wait staff, ambiance were all wonderful.1/1/0001 4:00:00 PM