Cipriano's Kitchen Kawaihae

In a word: Phenomenal. My new favorite Italian restaurant on the planet. If there is seafood you don’t normally order like scallops or calamari, etc., try it here because you will actually like it. The service is so good it’s part of the experience. I will be back!!!

Felt Like Dining at a Friend’s Home! Cipriano’s Kitchen is an absolute gem on the Big Island, and our lunch here was one of the most memorable meals of our trip — not just because of the food, but because of the warmth and hospitality that made it feel less like a restaurant visit and more like being welcomed into someone’s home. Claudia, was simply outstanding and as we were vegetarians, we weren’t sure what to expect, but she took the time to walk us through the entire menu, understood our needs, and personally suggested the pesto pasta and gnocchi — both of which were absolutely amazing. Fresh, flavorful, and made with so much love. What really set this experience apart was how genuinely she connected with us. She had a lovely conversation with us throughout our visit and even took a few pictures of us, which was such a sweet and thoughtful touch. You could feel her passion for food and people in every interaction. If you’re visiting the Big Island, don’t miss this place. And if you’re vegetarian, you’re in good hands with Claudia to guide you. This wasn’t just a meal — it was an experience we’ll carry with us long after leaving Hawaii. Mahalo, Claudia and family! 🌺

The best Italian food I’ve ever had. Couldn’t stop eating it. Wish I would’ve taken pictures of the food before we devoured it. Nothing left on our plates when we finished. Husband got a meatball sandwich and I got the 3 cheese ravioli and panzanella salad. Absolutely delicious. Update - we went again and ordered different food. This time we got pasta with meatballs, Cavatelli cacio & pepe with truffles, 3 cheese ravioli and the panzanella salad. And I remembered to take the photos!

Cipriano’s Kitchen was one of the highlights of our time on the Big Island. Every dish was outstanding, but the lobster cioppino was absolutely incredible—rich, flavorful, and loaded with fresh seafood. The lobster and kampachi ceviche was equally impressive, bright and perfectly balanced. Even the focaccia bread deserves a special mention; it was fresh, delicious, and the perfect way to start the meal. What truly made the experience memorable, though, was Claudia, the owner. She took the time to chat with us and made us feel genuinely welcomed. Her warmth, hospitality, and great conversation added a personal touch that elevated an already fantastic dining experience. If you’re looking for amazing food and authentic hospitality on the Big Island, Cipriano’s Kitchen is a must-visit. We can’t wait to come back!

Oh my gosh! What an incredible meal we had here. Cipriano’s Kitchen has such a fun, welcoming vibe, and the hostess and chef were very accommodating with dietary restrictions. They even offered several vegetarian pastas that weren’t on the regular menu. The lemon pasta with a wine reduction and the pesto pasta were unbelievably delicious. The focaccia was crisp on the outside and perfectly soft on the inside. And the tiramisu was the best I’ve ever had. If you’re in Kona, this place is an absolute must-try!

best meal of our trip. lilikoi lemonade was perfect. amazing pasta. focaccia was great. loved the owner

Just had an incredible dining experience at Ciprianos — easily the best meal I’ve had since returning home to the Big Island! The owner, Claudia, was warm, welcoming, and took time to explain the menu. Their seafood is truly sea-to-table and never frozen, which you can absolutely taste in every dish. We started with a cucumber jalapeño lemonade and a coconut lilikoi lemonade — both fresh, tropical, and perfectly refreshing. The food was outstanding. The Kona lobster Brontë in lemon butter caper sauce was phenomenal, and the handmade pastas had the perfect al dente bite. The frutti di mare — loaded with lobster, squid, shrimp, and added tako — served over tagliatelle was rich, savory, and deeply satisfying. The jumbo Hokkaido scallops were seared beautifully and absolutely delicious. And the tiramisu… one of the best I’ve ever had. An unforgettable meal from start to finish!

My wife and I had lunch at Cipriano’s yesterday. We had one of the best experiences we have ever had in a restaurant! One of the owners, Claudia, greeted us as we came in and from then on our experience was absolutely amazing. Claudia went through the menu items, most of which were not on the standard menu. She also talked to us about her and her husband’s philosophy on running a restaurant. Fresh ingredients (including awesome focaccia that tastes like it came right out of the oven), locally sourced ingredients and creatively prepared menu items. We ordered a very nice bottle of Italian white wine and an appetizer to get us started. For lunch I ordered the squid ink pasta and my wife ordered the scallops. Everything I just mentioned were among the best tasting, freshest and absolutely delicious dishes I have ever had. I’ve been in many fine dining restaurants, some very good, some not so much. This was the best experience I’ve ever had by far. It’s not cheap, but a great experience is not measured by price. It’s also kinda close to the highway so there is a bit of street noise. However, trust me on this, you will have a great experience here!!

This is as close to private Italian dining along the coast you can get. Before we even sat down, we saw the decor of all the different places the owners visited on posters and licence plates and we were captivated. The owner Claudia and her husband Gino are highly trained culinary experts and Claudia makes sure to sit with you and discuss all the best dishes of the day and introduce the entire menu. It felt like we were eating at their coastal cabin with fresh seafood and freshly made pasta. The seasonality of the ingredients were incredible. Hokkaido scallops that were fresh without freezing— were seared perfectly. Kona lobster was juicy sweet and ocean flavoured. The grilled octopus was perfectly blanched and then grilled so that each suction cup gave a crunch — the only place we had that quality was Italy and Greece. This is a MUST stop place and MUST make reservations (it is due to the level of attentive service why you should make the reservation and not just walk in). Don’t forget to eat one of the best tiramisu we have had in our lives. And get the ceviche. Just do it. Bring yourself or bring a group. Go multiple times. Eat the entire menu or eat one dish. Just have it all. In French we call a place like this the pinnacle of La seduction. Grazie Mille Claudia and Gino.

An absolute gem of a locally managed eatery. Fantastic staff, but better food. Try the made from scratch juice specials. All the greens are fresh to include the delicious Caesar salad. The seafood was perfectly cooked and included Kona lobster, Kauai shrimp, grilled octopus, calamari, and fresh scallops. A must visit for an outstanding culinary experience.