Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park is the state's No. 1 attraction while Alan Wong's restaurant won top food honors and Roy's was named most popular restaurant in the just-released Zagat Hawaii Guide highlighting "the Islands' best places to eat, drink, stay and play."

The slim new guide sometimes known as the "burgundy bible" for its cover color, chose The Four Seasons Hualalai at Historic Ka'upulehu (Big Island) as best resort, and Kapalua Plantation (Maui) for top golf course.

The Zagat 2009 Hawaii survey includes ratings and reviews of the restaurants, hotels, attractions, golf courses, nightspots and shops in the Islands based on the opinions of local consumers — 4,149 for this go-round. Publishers said it is the first time the company has tackled an all-Hawai'i guide even though the larger restaurant-only Zagat survey has been around for 30 years.

According to the survey, the average cost of a meal in Hawa'i'i is $33.18, which was just below the national average of $34.03. That compared with San Francisco ($38.70), New York ($40.78) and Las Vegas ($44.44).

As for tipping, folks in Hawai'i give an average of 18.4 percent compared to the national average of 19 percent, according to Zagat.

Survey takers also said the economy has changed their dining habits. Here's how some are coping: 34 percent report eating out less, 36 percent say they eat at less expensive places and 40 percent are being more sensitive to menu prices. Roughly 34 percent are cutting back on appetizers, desserts and alcohol.

"No industry, including the hospitality industry, is immune to the current economic crisis," said Tim Zagat, CEO of Zagat Survey. "While we wait for a return of consumer confidence, there is good news for travelers: We are seeing more value-added offers in Hawai'i, even at the top hotels, and dining prices are below the U.S. average."

O'ahu is cited by 87 percent of respondents as having the best dining, and 29 percent say Waikiki is the best neighborhood for restaurants. Half of the survey's top 20 eateries are on O'ahu, including the No. 1 for food, Alan Wong's, which serves Hawai'i regional cuisine.

Those surveyed praise Wong's food as "prepared to perfection" and "artfully presented" and "your palate will thank you."

On par with national trends, 62 percent of surveyors say they are willing to spend more for sustainably raised ingredients, while 48 percent say it's important that the food they eat be locally grown or raised.

What irritates them most? Poor service, 77 percent said. Complaints about food, prices, noise, crowding and parking cumulatively amounted to 23 percent.

Two restaurants that were voted No. 1 for service on the Neighbor Islands were the Big Island's Pahu i'a, located in the Four Seasons Hualalai, and Ferraro's, located in the Four Seasons Wailea on Maui.

The Four Seasons Wailea was the second-ranked resort, while Four Seasons Ko'ele and Four Seasons Manele Bay, both on Lana'i, were the third- and fifth-ranked resorts, respectively. The only non-Four Seasons hotel among the top five was the Halekulani, which ranked fourth.

Nightlife: Hawai'i's night owls spend an average of $52.87 on an evening out, with 38 percent preferring a venue with live Hawaiian music, 34 percent choosing a cocktail lounge and 31 percent a neighborhood bar.

Tops in nightlife: Duke's Canoe Club in Waikiki; the No. 1 spot for appeal is Waikiki's upscale lounge House Without A Key, which features local performers.

Those surveyed dismissed the specialty cocktail trend (33 percent say it's "an excuse to charge more"); or bottle service (48 percent call it "a rip-off").

Some 60 percent said beaches were their favorite aspect of the Islands. And nearly as many — 57 percent — said the natural landscape is what they love the most about Hawai'i. The Big Island's Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park ranked No. 1 for appeal.

Golfers tip their visors to Maui's Kapalua Plantation, naming the site of the 2009 PGA Tour season opener Hawai'i's top course. The guide also breaks out venues by neighborhood and special features (including noteworthy newcomers, people watching, teen appeal and views) and includes maps of each island.

The 2009 guide, which retails for $13.95, was edited by Donna Marino Wilkins, with help from locally based writers that included The Advertiser's Wanda Adams and Paula Rath as well as Jeanette Foster, Jason Genegabus, Napua Leong, Stacy Pope and local consultant Lynn Cook.

The guide is available at bookstores and through www.zagat.com.