The Rim

Amazing service, amazing food, and an amazing view ! 100% recommended.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

The night of the 42nd volcano eruption, we enjoyed a front window seat to the massive lava fountains! Created a great backdrop to a great meal. The restaurant is inside the very old classic Volcano Lodge; complete with wood fireplace. Staying in the lodge made it simple to have meals; we ate at the Rim two nights, one night at the more casual Lodge restaurant Uncle Georges Lounge. All meals were prepared very well.

For the first meal, we ordered a couple of Mai Tais that were nicely flavorful. For appetizers, I can recommend the Furikake Seared Ahi; gently seared with very flavorful colorful condiments. Plus, the portion was relatively generous as well.

The chef's entree special was an amazing local fish prepared attractively and tasting marvelous.

For our second night, the volcano was no longer erupting and the crowds of watchers had left so the meal was far less hectic. Did a less extravagant meal of Big Island Stuffed Chicken (great stuffing of Feta cheese and greens!) and it was a great choice. Straying from fish my partner went with the perfectly grilled 12 oz Hawaiian beef ribeye. Finished up with a fun crème brûlée with lots of burnt sugar!.

Not a restaurant to drive 1-2 hours to, but if you find yourself on the mountain, well-worth stopping for a great meal here. but try to get there when the volcano isn't erupting or you'll be trampled, pushed, and find nowhere to park.

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 5

Service: 4

I was so very dissapointed with my fish and chips! By far the worst fish and chips I e eaten anywhere! They aren’t even comparable to frozen meals you can buy at Walmart and the price tag of 26$ wow! The lives of fish were tiny! The fish was cold and most definitely not fresh! Fros were gross within 5 minutes ! Choose something else if you plan on having a pleasant dining experience !!!

Atmosphere: 3

Food: 1

Service: 2

Slow and unfriendly service

Atmosphere: 1

Food: 4

Service: 1

Good portion. Nice view of the crater. Service not according to the price or the place.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 1

HoHum: any questions? Great location, with the walkway in front of the restaurant, here one can see views of the volcano, but as to the food and ambiance? We wouldn't bother.

Atmosphere: 2

Food: 3

Service: 3

My family and I have been going to eat at the rim Restaurant more than five a years now. Every time we go to eat there, we always get the ribeye steak, which is one of the best steaks we have had and we always get the chocolate cake. This past visit we ordered the ribeye steak, which was advertised as a 12 ounce ribeye that came with mashed potatoes, sautéed spinach and another vegetable item that we could not figure out. When we got our steak, it looked a lot bigger than usual but thin. It also looked more like a sirloin steak than the usual ribeye steak we get. We ordered our steaks medium well, but when they arrived at the table, it was well done and not tender. The seasoning was good, but just not cooked to our liking more well done. We also ordered the chef’s special soup of the day which was described to us as a Filipino soup with pieces of ribeye steak with vegetables. When we got the soup, it was in beef broth with fatty meat and chopped up sour vegetable, which we did not know what it was -. I asked the waiter what the soup was called and he described it as a Filipino soup Laula. This was definitely not that. We were very disappointed. It Only had a sour taste .The best part of our meal was the chocolate cake. We will not be returning unfortunately. This was definitely not worth the $280 we spent . The best part of our meal Was the chocolate cake and our waiter who gave us outstanding service. The only time available was at 8 pm and we didn’t mind the time. The past few reservations we made were at 8 pm and we had no problem, food was great. This time It felt like the staff wanted to be done with the night and served us the quickest shortcut meal. It was served to us much quicker than usual. It’s really disappointing being a kamaaina family that wants to support the local restaurant but sadly we will not be returning.

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 2

Service: 5

I ordered coffee. The staff was pretty busy and preoccupied but not rude. I found some nice earrings for gifts in the gift shop and they had live up close pictures of the vents so that was fun to look at esp since we had just come from the top.

Atmosphere: 4

Service: 4

We had lunch at the Rim today and it was below average meal charged at tourist rates. The burgers had buns that were squashed which turned into a thin damp base that stuck to your plate. Its like the chef couldn't care less what was being served. The wait staff were very pleasant and quick.

Atmosphere: 2

Food: 1

Service: 4

Poor service, unaccommodating. Good view though.

Atmosphere: 1

Food: 1

Service: 1

Incredible experience all around. My wife and I came here on our fifth anniversary the night before Kīlauea’s 41st eruption. Staff gave us a table with a great view of the volcano. We could see it simmering all dinner. I got the penne pasta with medium rare steak, to die for. My wife got the New York Strip and said it was incredible. The mule was a great drink, and my wife loved the wine selection. They brought us out a free desert that they had decorated with a strawberry sauce to wish us a happy 5th. All around incredible experience. I would have easily paid twice as much for this place.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Landon is an awesome waiter. The food is pretty good for a NP hotel / restaurant, honestly. Echo other people's complaints about the lights reflecting off the windows but otherwise this was a pretty nice dining experience.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 4

Service: 5

Had one of the worst steak salads of my life here. The steak was inedible and chewy, the salad was wilted and the tomatoes and radishes were flavorless. Unfortunately it was the only gluten free item on the menu and I have celiac disease so I couldn’t eat anything else. The staff is indifferent and unfriendly. Don’t eat here.

Atmosphere: 2

Food: 1

Service: 1

Don’t eat here. Just drive out of the park. Ugh.

Atmosphere: 2

Food: 1

Service: 3

Breakfast buffet open til 10:30. $24/adults. Omelet station, cocktails if wanted, fruit, waffles, sweet bread, bagels, turkey hash. Guft Shop with Volcano merch. Cozy lobby. Overlooks the volcano.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 4

Service: 4