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I used to to Kaleos a lot,but really slowed down about a year ago. Just seemed expensive for what you get, even tho' the food is mostly pretty good. I always ask to sit out on the lanai as I think they are insulted if you act as though you don't like the music.
Kaleos appears to be trying to be two things at once that are at odds with each other:
A restaurant that serves fine food,
A happening club type establishment with live entertainment.
In my experience, these two things don't really go well together in a place the size of Kaleos.
Most people who go for the fine dining experience want a subdued and mostly quiet atmosphere with maybe some quiet background music.
The club/bar/grill crowd are usually not as interested (and don't want to pay for) fine cooking.
This in my opinion is the problem with Kaleos.
Puna: Our roosters crow first
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We ate there back in November and must have been fortunate as our experience was good. We sat outside overlooking the main street, both liked the food and service was good. We only ate there the one time, so it could have been the exception...
Our overall restaurant experience on the B.I. was, like any location, mixed. Kaleos was one of the decent places we tried. I wished we went back and tried Luquin's, but I'm glad to hear they are re-opening. We'll definitely go there on our next visit.
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Since I started this thread on 01/18/2016 we ate there one time and were disappointed again. Poor service and bad food.
Two weeks ago the wife was craving their deep fried mozzarella, which has been consistently good except for the one time it was served under cooked / cold in the middle, and I had to remind her that I've had like 9 bad experiences there in a row, which is why we quit going. So we went somewhere else. It's sad to hear that instead of getting better, it sounds like it has actually become worse.
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Your wife is getting the wrong appetizer!
Get the calamari!
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I've always had average to good experiences at Kaleos, but one of the points made above is a good one - if the majority of your customers are tourists who aren't likely to return (any time soon), it does decrease your motivation to keep things great. By the same token, once Luquins burned down, if you didn't want to BYOB, it was basically Kaleos or Black Rock. So again, Kaleos is/was going to be full almost no matter what. Perhaps when Luquins re-opens, and more restaurants open in the area, there will be more competition, and everyone will be under more pressure for better food/service.
Also, to tie into one of the other threads, it's my hope that Uber/Lyft will cause more people to head out for dinner at places like Kaleos, Luquins, Black Rock, knowing that they don't need to worry about their B.A.C. before heading home.
Leilani Estates, 2011 to Present
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Well this slug story has decided it for sure, Mrs. Mimosa. Will not be going back. It used to be my husband and my top choice in the area, esp for birthday, anniversary meals. We always forgave the noise level -- yes, even when there isn't live music which has to do with the lousy acoustics in there. Then it was one bad experience after another. Food and service, including the time the waiter completely forgot about our foursome and we had to walk out (owner came running after us and offered a $25 gift card). The only time it's been decent is during lunch on light business days (yes, did spend that $25 card!). But no more. Not after that slug-and-dirt story. Thanks for letting us know.
Kaleo's caters to the Lava seeking tourists, not so much to the many local residents. The music can be way to loud at times and the one T.V very small on Sunday's. The prices of the meals are high for the quality and portions you receive. All to often Your entertainment can be The Homeless folks across the street yelling, fighting, drinking and doing drugs in the open. The owner of Kaleo's can be very kind if your a lost or abused dog. I do find Kaleo's an upgrade from the Godmothers which is why I eat there once in a great while. jmo's
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Hmmm, too much salt is one thing... Slugs in salad ... NOPE!
I've probably eaten there a handful of times. Yes, the music is loud, but the service was good.
I also think some people should really keep these points in mind...
1) this is Puna, it's not like you're eating out all the time to begin with (unless you're rich!)
2) Puna folks are in the older generation and tend not to cook with a lot of salt to begin with. So, when one is cooking at home, it's a low salt diet.
Then it's the Birthday meal to try to find that "Nice" restaurant with good food, you know, take a break from cooking... So, it's off to the "best" restaurant in Pahoa! So, the chef is a bit seasoning happy...
To us, that's like a friggin culture shock to the body. We just don't realize how much SALT is going in on the food these days. To a Chef "let's kick it up a notch", you could put salt and fat on a plastic car bumper and it will taste good. More the better routine. Not bad if you're young and you've been eating out 3 times a week at places like mcdonald's where SALT is KING!
I guess one could ask the waiter if you can get the LOW salt steak meal? Might be the thing to do. Then again, asking them to hold off on the slugs in the salad might be pushing it! 
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When my husband's blood pressure went up, his doctor asked him how often he eats in restaurants. I never noticed a lot of salt at Kaleo's, though. (But never noticed slugs, either! blech!!!)
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it been over a year since I was there , had a slug on my salad , both my friend and I stopped eating and left , they said sorry and we didn't have to pay for our meal . never went back.
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