Along the curve of a famous banyan-lined drive in Hilo sits a restaurant that hides its charm from the street. Look past the plain entrance and you find a dining room that opens toward the water, plus a menu built around prime rib that keeps regulars coming back.
There is a whiskey cart that rolls to your table, a soup and salad bar, and a bay that shows itself when the light is right. The story here has bright moments and rough patches, and both deserve an honest look.
Keep reading to learn where it is, what makes it stand out, and what to keep in mind before booking a table.
Where To Find It On Banyan Drive
Tucked at 71 Banyan Dr in Hilo, Hawaii, this steakhouse carries the full name WSW Steakhouse Restaurant, also known as Whiskey Steak Wine. The address places it right along the scenic bayfront strip that many travelers pass on their way through town.
The spot sits inside a hotel, which is part of why the outside gives so little away. From the road, the building looks modest and easy to overlook.
Step past the entrance, though, and the interior tells a different tale. The dining room turns toward Hilo Bay, and that shift in setting is the whole point.
Banyan Drive itself is a landmark, framed by the sprawling trees that give the street its name. Landing a restaurant in this location means guests get both a table and a slice of one of Hilo’s best-known routes.
Getting here is simple if you are already exploring the bay area. The steakhouse anchors itself where visitors and locals alike tend to wander.
The Prime Rib That Built Its Name
Ask around about this place and one dish surfaces more than any other. Prime rib is the headliner, mentioned again and again by the people who dine here.
Regulars point to generous portions, with plates that send guests home full rather than searching for a snack later. One couple ordered the beef tenderloin and the prime rib together and praised both the size and the quality.
Pairings show up often too, with the prime rib teamed alongside lobster tail for a surf and turf approach. That combination reads like a celebration plate, the kind ordered on birthdays and first visits.
The kitchen aims for a fine dining feel, and when the timing lands, the steak arrives cooked the way it was ordered. Guests who hit that sweet spot leave planning a return trip.
Consistency has been a talking point, with some finding the cook perfect and others less so. Still, the prime rib remains the reason many book a table in the first place.
If there is a signature to remember, this is it. The rest of the menu orbits around this centerpiece.
A View That Steals The Show
Beyond the food, the setting earns steady praise for its outlook over the water. When the sun is up, guests can take in Hilo Bay right from their tables.
The overlook stretches across Hilo town, giving diners a wide sense of place. That panorama is one of the features people highlight most.
Daytime brings the clearest sight of the bay, so timing a meal for earlier hours pays off for the scenery. Breakfast and brunch guests especially get to enjoy the water in full light.
Even on nights when the meal itself drew mixed reactions, the view held up as the bright spot. Many describe the outlook as the standout part of the whole visit.
Few Hilo restaurants can offer this kind of position along the bayfront. The location does a lot of the heavy lifting to make an evening feel special.
For anyone weighing where to sit, a table facing the windows is the clear pick. The bay is part of the meal here.
The Rolling Whiskey Cart
Part of the fun here rolls right up to your seat. A whiskey cart travels tableside, letting guests choose without leaving their chairs.
The presentation adds a touch of theater to the meal, turning a simple order into a small event. Regulars mention the cart as one of the more memorable parts of the experience.
There is even a smoked option, giving the selection a distinctive twist. That detail alone gives the place its Whiskey Steak Wine identity.
The cart ties neatly into the restaurant’s name, where whiskey shares top billing with steak. It is not an afterthought but a built-in signature.
Guests who enjoy this feature describe it as a highlight worth requesting. The tableside approach makes the choice feel personal.
Whether or not you order from it, the cart signals the kind of setting the steakhouse wants to be. It leans into flourish and presentation.
For a restaurant with whiskey in its name, this is the moment that lives up to the branding.
Appetizers And The Soup And Salad Bar
Before the main plates arrive, the starters set the tone. Bone marrow shows up often as an opener, ordered by guests looking to begin on a rich note.
Shared plates like ahi with shrimp chips round out the appetizer lineup. These pupus give the table something to gather around early in the meal.
A soup and salad bar is a newer addition, and it has drawn approval from guests who enjoyed the extra variety. The unlimited setup gives diners room to build their own start.
Lobster mac and cheese also earns mentions as a side worth trying. It fits the indulgent, celebratory mood the kitchen aims for.
Not every starter lands the same for everyone, and portions have been a point of discussion. Still, the range gives guests plenty of ways to open a meal.
The salad bar in particular reflects an effort to add value beyond the steaks. For those who like to graze, it is a welcome touch.
Together, these first courses stretch the meal into a fuller experience.
Crab Legs And Seafood Options
Steak may top the marquee, but the sea gets its say too. Crab legs draw a steady following, with some guests naming them the main reason they showed up.
Snow crab appears frequently in orders, sometimes paired alongside a steak for a full surf and turf spread. Kauai shrimp have also made appearances, praised for their size.
Poke turns up as a local favorite on the menu, giving the seafood side a Hawaiian anchor. Oysters on the half shell round out the raw offerings.
Lobster shows up in more than one form, from tails beside the prime rib to the lobster mac. The seafood range gives non-steak eaters real choices.
Results have varied, with crab quality being a talking point among guests. Some batches have pleased, others less so.
Even so, the breadth of ocean options fits a bayfront restaurant well. Diners who prefer seafood can build a full meal without touching the beef.
The pairing of land and sea keeps the menu flexible for mixed groups.
Live Music And Evening Atmosphere
Some evenings come with a soundtrack. Live music has long been part of the scene, with guitar entertainment remembered fondly by longtime guests.
The music now plays from the bar area, which shares space with the dining room. That closeness has shaped how the atmosphere feels on busy nights.
For date nights, the setting leans toward a relaxed fine dining mood. Couples have found it a fitting spot for a special evening out.
The bar has gone through changes, including a remodel that shifted where the musicians perform. Some longtime patrons have noticed and missed the older layout.
Sound levels have been a point of conversation, with the bar’s energy carrying into the dining room. Guests seeking quiet may want a table set apart from the action.
When the balance works, the music adds warmth to the room. The bay view and a little melody make for a pleasant pairing.
Atmosphere here is a moving target, so expectations shift depending on the night you choose.
Breakfast, Brunch, And Weekend Hours
Not many steakhouses open their doors for the morning crowd, but this one does. Breakfast service runs early, giving guests a chance to enjoy the bay in daylight.
The kitchen operates from 6:30 to 10 AM on weekdays, then reopens for dinner at 5 PM. Weekend mornings stretch longer, running until noon on Saturday and Sunday.
Sunday brunch is part of the offering, aimed at families gathering for a leisurely start. That daytime slot lines up with the clearest views of Hilo Bay.
Dinner service wraps at 9 PM every night of the week. Planning around these windows helps guests catch the meal they want.
The dual schedule makes the restaurant flexible, whether the plan is an early bite or an evening steak. Few spots in the area cover both ends of the day.
Booking ahead is a smart move, since reservations are available online. A little planning smooths out the visit.
For travelers staying nearby, the morning hours turn the restaurant into a convenient home base.
Prices And What To Know Before Booking
Dining here lands in the mid-to-upper range, with the menu spanning roughly $20 to $70 per item. Steaks sit toward the top of that range, reflecting the fine dining aim.
A full evening for two, with steaks, crab, appetizers, and drinks, has run in the couple-hundred-dollar territory. Some guests have found the value fair for the portions received.
Reservations can be made through the restaurant’s online booking, which helps secure a table during peak times. Weekend and dinner slots tend to fill.
Timing matters more than usual here. Service pace has been uneven, so patience helps on busier nights.
Managers have stepped in to address concerns when meals fell short, adjusting bills in some cases. That willingness to respond is worth keeping in mind.
The honest read is a place with real high points and some inconsistency. Booking with realistic expectations sets up a better visit.
For a special occasion by the bay, the setting and prime rib remain the draw that justifies the outing.
The Bottom Line For Hilo Steak Fans
Weighing everything, the appeal comes down to two things that rarely disappoint. The prime rib and the bay view give this steakhouse its identity and its pull.
Guests who arrive for a celebration often find the generous portions and water outlook make the night. First-time diners have left pleasantly surprised by what the plain exterior hides.
The whiskey cart, the soup and salad bar, and the occasional live music add layers to the experience. These extras give the visit more character than a standard steak dinner.
Consistency is the honest caveat, since service and cooking have swung between excellent and frustrating. Choosing a quieter night and booking ahead can tilt the odds in your favor.
For Hilo steak fans, the bayfront setting is hard to match elsewhere in town. The location alone earns it a place on the list.
Come with an open mind, aim for a window seat, and lean into the prime rib. When the pieces align, this Banyan Drive spot delivers the kind of evening people remember.
Enjoyed this story?
Add Fast Food Club as a preferred source to see more of our reporting on Google.