Uncle Georges Lounge at The Volcano House

The food is fine. The service is hit and miss. Somtimew you wait a long time to be acknowledged and then you have to wait again to be seated. The view is the reason to come. Ten star view!! I am comfortable saying that the operator of Volcano House knows they don't have to spend much money in the guaranteed customer base .

Very disappointing experience. Our server, Jessica, clearly did not care about her tables at all. She never once asked if we needed refills, never checked to see if the food was okay, and basically ignored us the entire time. It honestly felt like she didn’t want to be there or deal with customers. The service overall was terrible — no attention, no effort, and no basic hospitality. I rarely leave bad reviews, but this was one of the worst dining experiences I’ve had in a long time.

Atmosphere: 2

Food: 2

Service: 1

This place was great. A great atmosphere looking over the Volcano. Service was really good and the food was really good.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 4

Service: 4

Tried talking to the person at reception to ask if they have gluten free options. He told me he didn't know a lot about the menu, then I asked to speak to someone who would know as if there weren't any options then we wouldn't be able to eat there. He said they were busy and insisted we be put in the wait list for the table. I asked and explained again that for obvious reasons that makes no sense for us and we would love to just ask a simply question to any waiter walking by. He said no and we should go ask somewhere else. Never have I been denied an answer to a simply QUESTION. Horrible experience from the start. Would never try to come eat here

The overlook on the crater is great, but the food itself is untasty. It tastes like fast food

Atmosphere: 3

Food: 2

Service: 4

Good affordable food, and a nice view.

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 5

Service: 5

The best view from a restaurant on the entire island (in my opinion). But the restaurant is fly infested and the food is not fresh whatsoever.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 1

Service: 1

Hostess told us it would be an hour wait. Waited an hour and 45 minutes, see 8 vacant tables, hostess says others still ahead of us, gave up and left., Pitiful, dont waste your time

Atmosphere: 3

Service: 1

Flirs. A server who doesn’t even try to figure a way to accommodate alleviating the nuisance by asking if we want to relocate or something. Any ideas to help. It’s bright as hell at a certain time of the day. They really should tint or cover a part of the window somehow. It gets really loud.

Atmosphere: 1

Food: 3

Service: 2

The view alone makes Uncle George’s Lounge worth the stop. Perched near an active volcano, it offers a rare vantage point to peer deep inside Kīlauea, watching steam rise from the far side of the crater.

Dining options near the volcano are limited, but this spot combines the experience of the scenery with excellent local-style cuisine. Prices are on the higher side, but considering the effort to get to the island and drive up the volcano, it’s absolutely worth it. A must-visit for both the food and the unforgettable view.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Destrey is amazing. He made our meal, our night and the experience of a potential volcanic eruption unforgettable. Pizza, salads with house dressing & fish/chips excellent with wife stating “best tartar sauce I think I’ve ever had”. View of the volcano and the trails unparalleled. I highly recommend. Ask for Destrey and enjoy!!!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Chicken burger came out cold and slightly pink on the inside, the bbq pork was also cold so we sent the dishes back. 20 mins later they come back the pork is still cold, the chicken was refired but they put no salt on it just an extremely sweet sauce. Absolutely horrible. We were sitting at the bar and the bartender was very apologetic he tried his best but that food was abysmal.

Atmosphere: 3

Food: 1

Service: 3

Food is tasty, prices are high, selection is limited. Service is great. The atmosphere is lacking (so loud). Can’t see really see the caldera in this room as it’s packed and bright. Still enjoyed and appreciate the on site food open late.

Atmosphere: 3

Food: 4

Service: 5

Lunch with a View – But Lacking in Hospitality and Culinary Balance

We stopped here for a late lunch around 2:30 PM. At that time, the place was relatively quiet, and we managed to get a small table in the second row with a partial view of the Caldera – a nice touch.

One of the waitstaff came by promptly to bring us the obligatory water. Shortly afterward, another waitress asked for our order. We went with the Hawaiian Fish & Chips and two soft drinks.

The food arrived quickly, served in small porcelain bowls. Each portion came with a small side of ketchup and tartar sauce. The fries were pleasantly crispy but severely oversalted – the chef must have been very much in love, as the saying goes in Germany. It almost felt like a strategy to boost beverage sales, but unfortunately, it made them barely edible.

The fish itself, in a crunchy batter, was quite good – but there were only two finger-sized strips per portion, which was acceptable in size, though not generous. The sauces were standard fare, nothing remarkable.

Overall, it was an acceptable meal – had it not been for the excessive salt. The atmosphere leaned more toward efficient tourist processing than warm hospitality, although the view remained a redeeming factor.

The bill:
2x Fish & Chips + 2x soft drinks came to just under $58. With tip, we paid $70.
Even though 20% is customary in the U.S., we didn’t feel particularly welcome here – unlike at many other restaurants we've visited. It felt more like being processed and charged than being hosted.

The tip was not even acknowledged with a simple thank you, which was disappointing.

Frankly, I regret how in the U.S., tipping has become less a recognition of good service and more a default component of staff wages. The expectation of receiving 18–20% regardless of the service provided no longer aligns with the original idea of tipping. It feels like businesses are shifting part of their payroll onto the customer, which is inappropriate and frustrating.

Sadly, there's little a customer can do without punishing the staff – a real dilemma.

Bottom line:
A restaurant with a touristy vibe and mediocre food quality. The attached fine-dining area may offer a better experience – we didn't get a chance to try it.

My suggestion:
Have a solid breakfast, maybe pack a light snack, and enjoy your visit without relying too much on the food here. Afterwards, look for a better restaurant elsewhere to enjoy a proper meal in a more welcoming atmosphere.

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 2

Service: 2

We arrived at 8:31pm. It says they close at 9:30pm. They do last seating at 8:30. Barely late and it was my birthday. I worked in F&B for 10yrs. That was trash service. They also said the bathroom was closed when it wasn't.

Atmosphere: 1

Food: 1

Service: 1