Overview
Seafood Bar and Grill is a casual bar-and-grill in Kawaihae on the Big Island’s Kohala Coast, not far from the Mauna Kea Beach area. The basic identity is clear and consistent across the Google Places record and the restaurant’s own site: same name, same address, same phone, same general operating hours, and an active official website. (seafoodbarandgrill.com)
For a traveler, the main appeal is that this is a long-running local stop with a broad menu, happy hour, and a mix of seafood-forward dishes plus some land-based options. It reads less like a fine-dining seafood house and more like a dependable, lively “come as you are” dinner place with a strong local following. (seafoodbarandgrill.com)
Cuisine & Specialties
The kitchen’s lane is best described as seafood-heavy American bar-and-grill with Hawaiian and local influences, plus cocktails and daily specials. The official site emphasizes fresh local seafood, tropical cocktails, pupu, and signature items, while review patterns suggest the menu is broad enough to work for mixed groups that want both fish and non-seafood choices. (seafoodbarandgrill.com)
- Overall menu style: Casual seafood bar and grill; seafood is the headline, but the menu also reaches into ribs, prime rib, chicken wings, fish tacos/quesadilla-type comfort food, and curry-style seafood dishes. (seafoodbarandgrill.com)
- Notable dishes / specialties:
- Seafood Cajun Style Fresh Catch. (seafoodbarandgrill.com)
- Ginger Steamed Clams. (seafoodbarandgrill.com)
- Seafood Bar Fried Rice. (seafoodbarandgrill.com)
- Tuesday kiawe/mesquite-smoked prime rib. (seafoodbarandgrill.com)
- Coconut shrimp, calamari, and black bean seafood combo are repeatedly mentioned in traveler reviews. (tripadvisor.com)
- Red Thai seafood curry is another recurring positive mention in reviews. (tripadvisor.com)
- Drinks / happy hour: The restaurant promotes daily happy hour from 3–5 p.m. and tropical cocktails; reviews also call out drink specials as a draw. (seafoodbarandgrill.com)
- Price expectations: Google labels it mid-range, and both the restaurant and reviews describe it as reasonably priced / moderate rather than splurge dining. (seafoodbarandgrill.com)
- Dietary usefulness / limitations: Tripadvisor’s listing surface suggests vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options may be available, but the strongest support in the evidence base is for seafood and mixed-plate flexibility rather than a dedicated dietary-specialist kitchen. That makes it useful for groups with varied preferences, but not a standout destination for strict specialty diets. (tripadvisor.com)
Notable Features & Ambiance
This is a place built around a bar, an air-conditioned dining room, and an outdoor lanai. The restaurant describes the setting as casual and comfortable, with space for both bar seating and table service, and it leans into a locals-meet-visitors, talk-story kind of atmosphere. (seafoodbarandgrill.com)
- Service model and seating style: Table service with bar/lounge seating and an outdoor lanai; review snippets also indicate takeout exists. (seafoodbarandgrill.com)
- Atmosphere and decor: Casual, fun, and relaxed; Google’s editorial summary describes tiki-lounge-like decor and a patio, while the restaurant itself emphasizes “comfortable breezes” on the lanai. (seafoodbarandgrill.com)
- Practical features: Happy hour is a real part of the draw, and the restaurant promotes cocktails and nightly specials. Tripadvisor’s listing also surfaces parking, outdoor seating, full bar, and waterfront as features, though the waterfront claim should be treated cautiously because multiple reviews note the view is not scenic. (seafoodbarandgrill.com)
- Best fit: Good for an easygoing dinner, happy hour stop, or a mixed group that wants seafood plus a few non-seafood options. It also seems especially suitable for repeat visitors who like daily specials and a local-house feel. (seafoodbarandgrill.com)
- Weaker fit: Travelers prioritizing ocean views or a polished destination dining experience may be underwhelmed by the industrial harbor surroundings. That downside is repeatedly mentioned in reviews, so it appears well-supported rather than isolated. (tripadvisor.com)
History & Background
Seafood Bar and Grill appears to have grown out of an earlier Kawaihae restaurant story. The official history says Chef Aaron Barfield and colleagues started Harbor Grill in 1994, then opened Seafood Bar & Grill upstairs to handle overflow crowds; when Harbor Grill closed in 2010, its best sellers were folded into the Seafood Bar & Grill menu. That gives the place a genuine local-restaurant lineage rather than a generic resort-bar origin story. (seafoodbarandgrill.com)
Review Sentiment Snapshot
What People Love
Review patterns are strongly positive around the food being flavorful, the service being warm and friendly, and the atmosphere being easygoing. Repeated favorites include coconut shrimp, calamari, clams, seafood curry, and the Tuesday prime rib special. Many reviewers also like the happy hour and say the restaurant becomes a repeat stop on Big Island trips. (tripadvisor.com)
Common Gripes
The main recurring downside is the setting: several reviewers note the exterior and outdoor view are not scenic, with industrial harbor infrastructure visible from the dining area. That criticism appears across multiple reviews and looks well-supported. A smaller but real practical caution is that special items may start later than some travelers expect; one review notes Tuesday prime rib did not begin until 5:30 p.m. even though the restaurant was already open. (tripadvisor.com)
Practical Visitor Tips
- Current official hours are Monday–Friday 3:00 p.m.–9:00 p.m. and Saturday–Sunday 12:00 p.m.–9:00 p.m., with daily happy hour from 3:00 p.m.–5:00 p.m.; the site notes hours are subject to change. (seafoodbarandgrill.com)
- If you want the Tuesday prime rib, do not assume it starts as soon as the restaurant opens; one traveler reported it began at 5:30 p.m. on that night. (tripadvisor.com)
- The best experience is likely inside or on the lanai for the atmosphere, but not for a postcard view; several reviews say the surrounding harbor/industrial scenery is the tradeoff. (seafoodbarandgrill.com)
- This is a good place for happy hour or a casual dinner where some people want seafood and others want ribs, prime rib, or other non-seafood options. (seafoodbarandgrill.com)
- The restaurant seems to have a loyal following, so busy periods are plausible; the official site encourages checking current hours and specials, which suggests some day-to-day variation. (seafoodbarandgrill.com)
Verification Notes
- Official name, address, and phone are consistent across Google Places and the restaurant’s own site: Seafood Bar and Grill, 61-3642 Kawaihae Rd, Waimea/Kamuela, HI 96743, (808) 880-9393. (seafoodbarandgrill.com)
- Website is active and appears to be the restaurant’s current official site:
https://seafoodbarandgrill.com/rather than the short rebrandly link in the candidate record. The short link may still redirect, but the direct domain is the clearer canonical source. (seafoodbarandgrill.com) - Google Places shows the business as operational, and the official site also presents current hours, so there is no closure signal. (seafoodbarandgrill.com)
- No major verification issues found.
Sources
- Seafood Bar & Grill official home page —
https://seafoodbarandgrill.com/— retrieved 2026-04-01/2026-04-02 — used for current hours, signature dishes, happy hour, current phone/location, and the restaurant’s own description of the concept. - Seafood Bar & Grill official About Us page —
https://seafoodbarandgrill.com/about-us/— retrieved 2026-04-01/2026-04-02 — used for history, origin story, ownership/chef context, seating/lanai details, and background on Harbor Grill. - Tripadvisor listing for The Seafood Bar & Grill —
https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g60942-d2734457-Reviews-The_Seafood_Bar_Grill-Kawaihae_Island_of_Hawaii_Hawaii.html— retrieved 2026-04-01/2026-04-02 — used for recurring review patterns, common dishes mentioned by travelers, and repeated comments about the industrial view and casual service.
