Where to Dine on Valentine's Day

[Kelena]

One of my favorite songs about the upcoming holiday, is by James Taylor. Here's a "fair use" excerpt:

<<Oh, day to repay the one that you love, Gentlemen, take off your hats as I speak thereof.

Just a brief break from the push and the shove, we may go a few rounds without boxing gloves

Land your punch, I stand my ground, we break for lunch and a second round.

We set them up, we knock them down, Valentine's Day.

Me and you, you and him, him and her, us and them, we keep score love as war, Valentine's Day.

I lost my teeth, I lost my hair, I lost my mind, you don't care.
Love is war, all is fair on Valentine's Day.>>

Cupid is not shooting darts in my household. It's something more akin to improvised explosives. However, one of my future guests has asked about a nice resturant for Valentine's Day. My dining experiences in Puna/Hilo have been limited. My favorite place to dine is the unconventional Kalani, where the food is fresh and where fellow diners are discussing their Third Eye visions. I also really like the place that used to be Verna's, in Kalapana, both in its previous and current incarnation. Neither place would be romantic to most (I think the lunch area at Kalani is VERY romantic, but I have a skewed sensibility).

Lastly, I really like Cafe Pesto because of its 30's ambiance, great service and margaritas. But I am sure I am missing some romantic dining spots. What would you recommend, and where will you be dining with your love muffin this Valentine's Day?

[Wegian]

Aloha Glen,

When we are on the island, our favorite Valentine's restaurant is Roy's in Waikoloa. If you are not interested in such a long drive, you might want to consider the Hilo Bay Cafe.

http://www.hilobaycafe.com/


.... oh how I wish we were there now...

[pslamont]

Hilo Bay Cafe for me all the way!

[csgray]

We often celebrate Valentines Day by going out on either the day before or day after the actual day. Ask any restaurant worker and they will tell you that the 2 worst nights to go out are Valentines and New Years Eve. The kitchen is slammed, the floor staff are overworked, and many diners are not used to going out and will linger at their table long after they are done, even if there are people with reservations waiting.

If you truly love one another every day should be Valentines, not just the Hallmark endorsed date. I would pack a really good basket with a gourmet lunch and go to one of our many beautiful parks.

Carol

[missydog1]

That is so true. Valentine's Day is the worst. I would put Mother's Day second. (I waited tables for ten years.)

I will not eat at Hilo Bay Cafe again. They ruined my last three meals AND they did not care. They left me with nothing while my husband finished his meal. No attention to the problem. Each time I had to proactively seek out help to even convey there was a problem.

Plus on a busy night they pack people like sardines.

Cafe Pesto has very nice ambience. We chose if for Christmas Eve and weren't disappointed.

[Kelena]

Wow. I had no idea Hilo Bay Cafe was so popular. And I've never been. Thanks for the suggestion. As for me, I am more into the "make it personal approach" which for me means a special dinner at home or a picnic if the weather is nice --beautiful table cloth, soft classical music, candles, champagne. The "special dinner" part of it is hard for me as I am an ignoramus at cooking. But I can follow directions, and so I locate some horrendously complicated recipe and then follow it, usually with good results. That's what makes it special! And something heart-shaped. I gotta have something heart-shaped. It is so much nicer when your heart is in it.

[punafish]

We like Kaleo's.

[missydog1]

Glen, Hilo Bay Cafe started out good with care to hire excellent servers, but I will say again they have gone downhill.

I really hate it when there are two tables in the room and I am sitting there not eating my dinner because the cook screwed it up, and the server is lounging over by the station and I have to get up in order to convey that there's a problem. And then they go, whatever, and roll their eyes, and make it clear it's a burden to have to fix it.

They don't have a romantic atmosphere. The tables are WAY close together, and the ones in back have kitchen and bus station noise. The tables for two are especially crowded, except the popular two in the windows. It has a loud bistro feel, which can be fun.

Cafe Pesto is much better, nice tables and chairs, beautiful room, nice art on the walls, and good servers.

Pescatore might be a fine choice too. I haven't been in since they moved though.

Where is Kaleo's, punafish? I have somehow missed this. What's it like?

[missydog1]

If I were near Pahoa, I would check out Paolo's, but I'm not sure if the service is up to handling a holiday crush, from some old posts that I recall. John Rabi is a huge fan of theirs.

[punafish]

Kathy,
Kaleo's is in Pahoa at the "Barbershop" end of town. A tad pricey, but the quality and value back it up (imho). There used to be a thread on Kaleo's...not sure if it's still around...ah here it is:

http://punaweb.org/Forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=4737&SearchTerms=Kaleo's

Tim