In Waimea and throughout the island, Merriman's is peerless. Although the founder/owner/chef Peter Merriman now commutes between the Big Island and Maui, where he runs the Hula Grill, he has managed to maintain the sizzle that made Merriman's a premier Hawaii attraction. Since it opened, Merriman's is always busy on the weekends as well as on weekdays. Their parking lot is always full on weekends since they attract locals as well as visitors alike. They also opened a Merriman's at the King's Shops in Waikoloa near the Hilton Waikoloa Hotel. Order anything from saimin to poisson cru from lunch, and for dinner, Merriman's signature wok charre dahi, grilled scallops ume (plum), kung pao shrimp, lamb from nearby Kahua Ranch, and a noteworthy selection for vegetarians. Peter's Ceasar with sashimi (raw fish), Pahoa corn and shrimp fritters, and his sauteed, sesame-crusted fresh catch with spicy lilikoi (passion fruit) sauce are among our many favorites. An organic spinach salad (like most things on the menu, grown nearby), Lokelani tomatoes, goat cheese and kalua pig quesadillas, and his famous platters of seafood and meats are among the many reasons Merriman's is the dining spot in Waimea. Service is professional and excellent (fast and friendly). The restaurant is in the Opelu Plaza which looks like a country cottage . The setting is intimate and upscale but cozy. The lunch main courses run from $8.00 - $17.00 and the dinner main courses run from $14.00 - $25.00 (market price for ranch lamb or ahi). Merriman's is open Monday through Friday from 11:30am - 1:30pm, and it is open daily from 5:30 - 9pm. Their menu items are mainly Pacific Rim (or Hawaii Regional). Reservations are recommended since it does get busy on the weekends and on weekdays. You can usually find parking in the parking lot fronting the restaurant but if you can't you can park on the side of the street. To get to this restaurant from Kona, head north on the Queen Kaahumanu Highway until you get to the Kawaihae Road junction. Make a right and continue up Kawaihae Road until you reach the scenic town of Waimea. You will see Merriman's on your left in a yellow and white building called Opelo Plaza on Opelo Road. I would very highly recommend this restaurant if you enjoy eating Pacific Rim/Hawaii Regional cuisine and you enjoy eating fresh and local food.