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grilled New York steak and Cajun chicken with tropical salsa. The kids' menu
features burgers and chips. The new managers recently announced plans to serve
their delicious breakfast all day long and to add a lighter “bistro” type menu
alongside their regular dinners.
Hwy. 11, Kainaliu.
&
808/322-3383.
Kids' menu, highchairs, boosters, crayons. Reservations recommended
for large parties. Most items less than $7; dinner main courses $14-$21; kids' menu $3.95-$5.95. MC, V. Daily
8am-3pm and 5-9pm.
Keei Cafe
MEDITERRANEAN/LATINO/ISLAND Once the darling
of South Kona, the cafe has moved closer to Kailua-Kona and is having some
growing pains. The new location is much bigger with hardwood floors, first-class
artwork and a magnificent view of the coast, but after nearly a year, the man-
agement still has not worked out the service. (Reservations don't mean much;
even after you are seated, it may take a while to be served.) The food, once the
draw, has taken a nose dive. We hope this formerly friendly, casual diner, with
great food and affordable prices, returns to its original stellar self. The menu
roams the globe, from spicy fajitas (chicken or tofu) to excellent vegetarian
black-bean soup; from Brazilian seafood chowder to Greek salad with Maui
onions. Peanut-miso salad and piquant red curry sauces are a nod to Thailand.
The fresh catch and roasted chicken are highlights, sometimes accompanied by
caramelized onions and whipped potatoes. Arrive as soon as they open, espe-
cially with kids, as it may take you a while to get seated.
By mile marker 113 on Hwy. 11, in Kainaliu.
&
808/322-9992.
Highchairs, boosters. Main courses $12-$20.
No credit cards. Tues-Sat 5:15-9pm.
Inexpensive
The Coffee Shack
COFFEEHOUSE/DELI Great food, crisp air, and a
sweeping ocean view make the Coffee Shack one of South Kona's great finds.
Kids are welcome at this informal cafe with a charming wooden deck offering one
of the best views of Kealakekua Bay. Breakfasts are best: French toast made with
homemade poi bread or eggs Benedict with a delectable hollandaise. At lunch
you'll find excellent sandwiches on home-baked breads, and fresh, hearty salads
made with organic lettuces. Let the kids order peanut-butter-and-jelly or grilled-
cheese sandwiches while you try the smoked Alaskan salmon sandwich or the
hot, authentic Reuben (complete with sauerkraut and tangy Russian dressing).
Hwy. 11, 1 mile south of Captain Cook.
&
808/328-9555.
Highchairs. Most items less than $6.95; pizzas
$10-$14. MC, V. Daily 7am-5pm.
Manago Hotel Restaurant
AMERICAN This is old-style family din-
ing. The dining room of the decades-old H. Manago Hotel is a local legend,
greatly loved for its unpretentious, tasty food at bargain prices. At breakfast,
$4.50 buys you eggs, bacon, papaya, rice, and coffee. At lunch or dinner, you
can dine handsomely on local favorites: a 12-ounce T-bone, fried ahi, opelu, or
the house specialty, pork chops—Manago T-shirts announce “the best pork
chops in town,” and the restaurant serves nearly 1,500 pounds monthly. There's
no kids' menu, but they'll find plenty of items to choose from. This place is
nothing fancy, and there's a lot of frying going on in the big kitchen, but the
local folks would riot if anything were to change after so many years.
In the Manago Hotel, Hwy. 11, Captain Cook.
&
808/323-2642.
Highchairs, boosters. Reservations recom-
mended for dinner. Main courses $7-$12. DISC, MC, V. Tues-Sun 7-9am, 11am-2pm, and 5-7:30pm.
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