For more than four decades, La Bourgogne has been one of Kona’s
most distinctive dining experiences — a small, intimate French
restaurant known for classic cuisine, thoughtful hospitality,
fine wine, and dinners meant to be savored.
La Bourgogne was founded in 1981 by Guy and Jutta Chatelard,
who introduced Kona to an intimate style of French dining that quickly
became something special on Hawaiʻi Island.
In 1993, Ron Gallaher and Colleen Moore became the restaurant’s second
owners, carrying that tradition forward for more than 25 years. During
their tenure, La Bourgogne earned recognition as a hidden culinary
treasure and became a favorite for anniversaries, birthdays, proposals,
and countless memorable evenings.
In December 2019, Chef Cindy Smart became La Bourgogne’s third
owner, beginning the next chapter of a restaurant already deeply
woven into Kona’s history.
Cindy chose not to turn La Bourgogne into something trendy or
unrecognizable. Instead, she preserved what had always made it special
while making the restaurant her own — honoring traditional French
techniques, continuing beloved dishes, introducing new creations, and
bringing her own warmth and personality to the kitchen.
At her side is her son, Chris Law, an important part of the La Bourgogne
experience and the restaurant’s resident artist. While Cindy leads the
kitchen, Chris welcomes and cares for guests in the dining room, helping
create the personal, relaxed hospitality for which La Bourgogne is known.
That experience is also made possible by the small team behind them.
Chef Carolina Gaviola brings her skill and dedication to the kitchen,
working alongside Cindy to prepare each evening’s dishes with care and
consistency. Blaze is also part of the La Bourgogne family, contributing
to the close-knit team that keeps this little restaurant running night
after night.
Together, Cindy, Chris, Carolina, and Blaze represent what La Bourgogne
is today: small, personal, independent, and genuinely
family-like.
An Evening Meant to Be Savored
There are no enormous dining rooms, no rushed table turns, and no
attempt to be everything to everyone. Our evenings are designed around
a leisurely three-course French dining experience, prepared with care
and served in the intimate atmosphere that has defined La Bourgogne
for generations.
Our menu reflects the spirit of French country cooking: rich sauces,
classic preparations, beautiful ingredients, and dishes that invite you
to slow down and enjoy the evening.
Depending on the season, guests may find longtime favorites such as
escargots, lobster bisque, baked Brie, duck, rabbit, filet mignon,
fresh island fish, crème brûlée, profiteroles, and other dishes inspired
by both France and Hawaiʻi.
Wine has always been an important part of the La Bourgogne experience,
and our carefully chosen selections are intended to complement the food
rather than simply fill a wine list.
Through three ownership chapters, one thing has never changed:
La Bourgogne has always been about the experience of sharing a
beautiful meal.
We have celebrated engagements and anniversaries, welcomed returning
visitors year after year, watched families grow, and served guests who
first discovered us decades ago and still make La Bourgogne part of
their Kona tradition.
45 Years
1981 — 2026
Forty-five years is a long time for any independent restaurant.
In Hawaiʻi, where restaurants come and go with remarkable speed,
we consider it something worth protecting.
We are proud to carry this little French restaurant into its next chapter.
Still intimate.
Still independent.
Still family-run.
Still unmistakably La Bourgogne.
Bienvenue.
We look forward to welcoming you to our table.
