Manta - Kohala Coast

1. Left waiting for table for at least 25 ' 2. Seated in high traffic table, an area that should not even have a table 3. Food mediocre at best 4. Hostess extremely rude 5. Wine came 2/3 of the way through our meal 6. Salad sitting in puddle of dressing 7. Denied request for coffee-told coffee machine was down as they were putting up chairs for the evening. 8. Overpriced, many other restaurants deserving of your business! Will never return.

The ono was cooked fine, but the shrimp were under cooked in both mine and my wife's plate. I've never had a restaurant under cook shrimp, usually its the opposite. Unfortunate their cooks don't know how to properly prepare shrimp. View is great and kamaaina cocktails were free the night we went. Great to see 6 mantas swimming at the flood light. That was a treat. Next time we'll eat before we go and just get cocktails and an appetizer and enjoy the sunset.

If you don't like cockroaches, stay away from Manta Restaurant! I was so excited to eat at Manta, but ended up having a disappointing experience. This was the most expensive restaurant we went to on the island, but the worst experience. Our server was actually very nice and professional. The food was pretty good and the soufflé desert was actually excellent. Then, during the desert, our guest had a huge cockroach land on his head. Next, a cockroach was climbing up my husband's leg. Suddenly cockroaches were on the floor invading the restaurant. The wait staff actually started chasing after them and started stomping on the cockroaches, leaving smooshed insects on the ground. The staff looked as if they were experienced in the cockroach killing dance. Needless to say, we asked for our check and bolted out of there!

COCKROACH INFESTATION! Ok, this is a very hard review to write in that the location and views were exceptional...along with the service. The crudo hamachi appetizer was not fresh (seemed dated...quite fishy) ...but that wasn't the real issue rest of dinner was good (although not exceptional). And the dessert passion fruit soufflé was top notch. The problem was that just as we were finishing up dinner and finished ordering dessert we were greeted with sudden infestation of cockroaches...one flew into my hair and another crawled up one of our our guest legs. More continued to show up crawling across the floor which were then noticed by staff who started running around stomping on them. These were rather large 2 size cockroaches. Restaurant needs a major fumigation to address their infestation issue. Well...we finished up desert quickly and left stage right. Memorable experience yes, as we will forever now remember It as the Mauna Kea Manta Cockroach Dinner!

Loved this restaurant! It's inside of a gated hotel, sort of off the beaten path. It's high end and elegant. Food was rich and well portioned. I would say my favorite dish of the evening was the dessert, the Bombay Alaska I believe it was called. I would come back just for this alone. Service was great and atmosphere was beautiful. Located right on the water. A really great experience for the sunset. Definitely recommend!