Hawaii - Big Island - Manta @ Mauna Kea Beach

Mauna Kea - Manta & Pavilion Bar

This is a historic post about two meals I ate over a year ago but I still drool when I think about them, so its never too late to post...Lets go back to February 2010 on my favorite rock in the pacific, Hawaii.

This is one of my favorite hotels on earth and my favorite white sand beach on the Big Island.

I stayed at the Hotel on the last night of my vacation last year, its was a free night from Hotels.com stays so I only paid $30 in taxes for this 5 star resort.  Given that I had "saved" so much money, I immediately went and splurged on food.   I had an amazing solo outdoor diner  @ Mantas and an even better AYCE brunch at same place next AM.  Best meal(s) in years.  Sadly my wife had left for the mainland the day before, so I had to enjoy this majestic place on my own.  Trust me I ate for two both at dinner and brunch the next morning.

I highly recommend, if you are not staying at the Muana Kea Beach Hotel, to go there early one day for the "Beach Brunch."  Get a nice parking spot (best luck b4 10am), go up to the restaurant feast on some ono brunch and then plant yourselves on a primo beach the rest of the day.  That is a perfect foodie vacation day on the Big Island's North Kohala Coast.  Enjoy the food and the post-splurge "Polynesian Paralysis" aka food coma!

I didnt get dessert but if I had to choose from this list, the Portuguese Sweetbread French Toast no doubt.  Altho the Chocolate Beet cake with Corn Ice Cream and Jake & Coke sauce is a strong 2nd.  

View from outdoor table to the beach below.

Brunch buffet of subtropical goodness.

Brunch dim sum w/ sauce

Desserts and Kona Coffee

Open kitchen with a great view.

Looking down towards the buffet tables and past the waffle station.

Manapua, Rib Roast, Eggs cooked to order onion and green bean tempura, and crab legs.  Awesome sauces below with the dim sum decorations.

Vegas Trip Report

Aria / City Center - Like many I have mixed reviews. I'm definitely glad we stayed there, but if I am going to go Lux I'd much rather go to the Wynn. However, my wife really liked it for its Openness and Modern Design. I have to agree, it is a nice change from the usual Rococo interiors and trimmings of Hotels in Vegas. The room is not as country clubby as the Wynn. It is "high-tech" for American Standards but probably on the low-end for any Japanese Hotel. Not that I know that, yet. Great Art all around is cool. That was a good call. Check this sculpture by Nancy Rubins. Its this amazing burst of color that is gigantic. It also happens to be mostly made out of small water vessels like kayaks and canoes of primary colors and bursts with energy.

Stay at Aria if you like tech or Modern Art vs Italianate Flair . I was always startled by the heavy vanilla scenting of the Lobbies, Casino Floor and especially the Elevator banks. Those banks had very cool purple velvet high-back couches. How high-back? Probably 30 feet. I want a house with 30 foot veltvet highback couches in my man cave. No, thats Vegas talking. And I am digressing.

The Vdara is another hotel along with the Mandarin Oriental. We went to all three. There is an overpriced mall named - wait for it.......Crystals ........for Chrissakes just call it Diamonds

On to the Kau Kau. Sage at Aria, Chef I'd say four and a half stars out of five. The Service, Room, Menu ...including options for Tasting or Signature Menus in addition to a la carte. Really well done. I can see why this place "wowed" the Vegas Food scene this year.
The picture with giant painting in background shows the "best" absinthe bar in America. It was a rolling cart going around the multi-room dining space. The soundtrack was my speed as well with downtempo and deep house muted beats which complimented the low lit, and surprisingly hushed spaced (not quiet or still - but more classic and less rowdy than any other vegas restaurant). They had a very extensive New and Old World wine list. Excellent mid-high options and very good choices but limited selection in low-end of by-glass servings. Beer Pairings. Brilliant. I had a Scrimshaw Pilsner but no one else in my party had an adult beverage.

Julian Serrano is a located open-air to the Aria Lobby, on the way to CRYSTALS! It has a design that is candy-esque and very fun. The food was very well-presented, again bright and fun but also very tasteful and hearty servings for small plates. We only had about 5-6 plates but all were solid. My favorite by far was the beef and cheese. No not an empanada. More like a gourmet open faced tapa sandwich for a giant. I'd def go back for more. They had a beautiful bar. I'll try that next time.