Cafe' Ono

The art of vegetarian dining still reigns supreme in Volcano, Hawaii. For the second year in a row, Café Ono at Volcano Garden Arts has earned TripAdvisor’s Certificate of Excellence, with an average review rating of 4.5 plates out of 5. Out of 622 reviews of the restaurant on TripAdvisor, 423 gave it a perfect 5-plate rating.

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The restaurant, which specializes in vegetarian and vegan food made with fresh, locally-grown organic produce, has earned high marks even from non-vegetarians. 

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“I'm a proud carnivore and would usually shy away from an all vegetarian menu,” wrote one reviewer. “But the soup, sandwich, and salad I had were absolutely excellent. The sandwich was made with a great fresh bread, hummus and artichokes.”

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Some of the reviewers also rated it their best dining experience on the whole island. “Even though we stayed at the posh Fairmont on the Big Island, our best meal was in this beautiful setting in Volcano Village,” wrote one visitor. “We are fans of vegan and organic freshness and the food at Café Ono's was fabulous. From soup to dessert, even the amazing salad dressings, everything was quite flavorful. Portions were more than adequate. The owner was a delight…. Would return to the Big Island just for a meal at Ono's.”

 

“The food was excellent - simple and fresh…,” wrote another. “It was the best meal we'd had in days and I thought it wasn't very expensive for the quality. All in all, it was a great lunch!”

Among the reviewers’ favorites were the Four Cheese Spinach Crustless Quiche Combo, the Artichoke/Hummus Sandwich with Soup and Garden Salad, the Organic Vegan Carrot Cake, the Organic Coconut Macaroons drizzled with dark chocolate ($7 for two enormous cookies), and the Homemade Vanilla Ice Cream with Brownie Crumbles. The restaurant’s fresh gourmet Big Island coffee also drew frequent praise.

 

But beyond that, many reviewers praised what one called “the total experience”: the friendly staff; the setting, in a 1908 building with a gallery full of local and international art on one side and the big picture windows looking out on the extensive garden grounds on the other (Guests can also dine outside in the garden itself). Located on the grounds are our rescued rabbits Timothy and Marley.

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