Thing To Do & See

Alan Wong's

Alan Wong's Celebrity chef Alan Wong continues to redefine classic Pacific Rim and Hawaii Regional cuisine with flare, whimsy and farm-to-table freshness. You can't miss with signature dishes like ginger-crusted snapper and twice-cooked kalbi short ribs. Reservations are essential.

Banyan Veranda

This courtyard veranda at the Sheraton Moana Surfrider offers both classic Pacific Rim and French cuisine in a thoroughly romantic setting.

Merriman's

An innovator of Hawaii Regional Cuisine, chef and owner Peter Merriman created the Big Island's first gourmet restaurant devoted to organic, island-grown produce and meats. Romance infuses the dining room, and the service is perfect, but the proof is on the plate: Hawaiian- and Asian-influenced dishes like ponzu-marinated mahimahi, wok-charred 'ahi and panko-and-lime-crusted scallops are world-class gems.

Punalu'u Bakeshop

This, the island's best-known sweet bread bakery, is Na'alehu's major tourist attraction, and it's a mandatory tour-bus stop. Its sweet bread comes plain or in the brightly colored flavors of guava, liliko'i or taro. Snack on a pastry or malasada, or grab a salad or sandwich to go from the deli (steer clear of the mediocre plate lunches). A small lawn bordered by flower beds out back is prime for picnicking.