Maui Revealed - Restaurant Reviews

Cool Cat Cafe
658 Front St. • 667-0908
Lahaina—As a consumer, it doesn’t seem like it should be that hard to serve a good burger, but so many places fail. Not here, and for that we are grateful. Fresh fixin’s, toasted buns and tasty variations. Try their onion rings for a side. Your food takes awhile, but it’s worth the wait, so chill out, Daddy-o. (Oh yeah, the atmosphere is a half-hearted attempt at a ’50s beatnik theme.) They also have lots of sandwiches to choose from. Desserts include malts, shakes (made the old-fashioned way, thick and tasty), root beer floats and brownie sundaes. $11–$19 for lunch and dinner. (More if you move to pricier items such as the steak or ribs.) On the top floor of the Wharf Cinema overlooking Banyan Tree Park. Bartending is their weak point—stick with beer.

Mama’s Ribs ‘n Rotisserie
5095 Napilihau St • 665-6262
Napili—Ribs and rotisserie chicken are their thing, and it’s mostly take-out. (Just a few outdoor tables.) Solidly average best describes it, except for tastier whole chicken (which, at $16, tastes curiously similar to Costco’s $5 chickens). Plate combo meals with so-so sides of beans, slaw, etc. also available. Despite the name, you’re not treated like family here (unless blank indifference is the usual atmosphere at home). In Napili Plaza off Hwy 30’s 29 mile marker. $7–$24 for lunch and dinner. No credit cards.

Pineapple Grill
200 Kapalua Dr. • 669-9600
Kapalua—An unexpectedly good find at a golf course restaurant. The atmosphere is sort of upscale Hawaiian and the large selection of steak and seafood is coupled with a pretty vast and well-chosen wine selection. (Though their sommelier might not be as helpful as you’d like.) Torches outside make up for the lack of view at night. Items have an Asian twist, such as the excellent Asian braised short rib or the sake-soy grilled mahi mahi. Good porterhouse steak. Presentation is flawless, though service might be a tad lacking. $12–$20 for lunch, $30–$55 for dinner. Reservations recommended. At the Bay Golf Course.

Sunrise Cafe
693 Front St. • 661-8558
Lahaina—A tiny hole in the wall with just a few table in front (more in back), a scruffy no-frills decor and inexpensive food. If you’re looking for cheap grinds, this place will do. Breakfast and lunch served all day, nothing over $10. Limited typical breakfast choices, local-style sandwiches for lunch. Food’s not real flavorful, but it’s not real bad. (Well…the pancakes are real bad.) At Market and Front Streets. Cash only. $7–$10.

Kobe Steak House
136 Dickenson St. • 667-5555
Lahaina—This is a teppan-yaki restaurant. That is where you and seven other people gather around a grill as a talented, knife-wielding chef prepares your food in front of you. This restaurant seems to encourage the chefs to exuberantly engage the guests. The results can be fun. The food is mostly steak, seafood and veggies. Although the food isn’t great, it’s fairly good and, combined with the lively atmosphere and joking style of some of the chefs, it’s a place we like to return to on occasion. Sushi bar also available. Prices are $15–$45 for dinner. Big spread, we know. But it depends on what you want. Reservations required. Between Luakini and Wainee.

Blue Moon Cafe
362 Huku Lii Pl. #101 • 874-8600
Kihei—A large menu of sandwiches, salads, some fish and local-style entrees, including kalua pork and teriyaki chicken. The potential is there, but they seem to cut too many corners. And even if they refer to “fresh fish” on the menu, ask anyway. It might be frozen. In the end the food is oddly unsatisfying. It can be fairly loud inside. At Kihei Gateway Plaza on Ohukai near Hwy 31. $8–$15 for breakfast, $9–$15 for lunch, $13–$30 for dinner.

Fat Daddy's
1913 S. Kihei Rd. • 879-8711
Kihei—A bbq joint with pulled pork, brisket, ribs, chili and brats. Atmosphere is a cross between a Maui lounge and a southern bbq. The brisket is sliced in thickish slabs. We much prefer the pulled pork which goes well with their excellent and savory bbq beans. Service can be a bit scant but it is still a good place fill your bbq craving. $10–$20 for lunch and dinner; more if you go for the full rack. In the Kihei Kalama Village.

Tommy Bahama's Tropical Cafe
3750 Wailea Alanui Dr. • 875-9983
Wailea—If you’ve ever shopped at a Tommy Bahama clothing store, this is the same concept. If you don’t mind overpaying for good quality in an islandy, tropical, tasteful atmosphere, this is the place. How else can you describe tasty ribs that cost almost $40? Or $20 lunch appetizers or salads? Lunch is lots of expensive salads, sandwiches and tropical drinks that taste good but leave you miffed over the price. Desserts are scrumptious. Dinner adds steak, fish and chicken. It’s $16–$25 for lunch, $35–$55 for dinner. In the Shops at Wailea.

Monsoon India
760 S. Kihei Rd. • 875-6666
Kihei—Fantastic Indian food with a great ocean proximity. They have an admirable selection of curries, tandori kababs, naan and vegetarian dishes, and the results are dependably delicious. Try the monsoon kabab for an appetizer. And the lamb biriyani is awesome. Flavors are dazzling here. Service is deferential but sometimes a bit thin. $16–$25 for lunch or dinner. byob. At the Menehune Shores, North Kihei.

Isana
515 S. Kihei Rd. • 874-5700
Kihei—A traditional Korean restaurant complete with tabletop grills. If you order off the bbq menu, plates of raw, seasoned meat are served along with small portions of spicy vegetables. (Because of this, you’ll want to get appetizers unless you’re hankering for mostly protein.) They set up the grill, and you do the cooking. Don’t be afraid to crank up the heat, or you’ll be there a while. Portions are huge and may feed two, but they require two bbq entrées to justify the grill. The sushi is pretty good, if a bit pricey. Try it for half price after 10 p.m. Wed.–Sat. Lunch and dinner are $20–$35. Between Ohukai and Kaonoulu.

Cafe Mambo
30 Baldwin Ave. • 579-8021
Pa‘ia—A cool menu with unexpected items such as duck burgers and fajitas, kalua pig salad, organic tofu burger, spinach nut falafel, etc for lunch. The food is good, and they’re friendly and quirky—exactly what you want in Pa‘ia. Popular with locals, it can get loud inside. They play a movie on Thursdays during dinner. Hope you like onions, ’cause they sure do. $7–$10 for breakfast, $12–$20 for lunch, add a touch of fish and steak and a couple bucks at the top end for dinner.

Pauwela Cafe
1188 Makawao Ave. • 572-0220
Italian—Dinners are their weakest point here. Some portions (especially the pathetic salads) are too small, and the raviolis are simply horrible. Their thin 12-inch pizzas make good appetizers if you can split them with others. (It’s their best offering.) Breakfast and lunch are served in their deli. Egg sandwiches, coffee drinks and baked goods for breakfast, tasty sliced pizza and sandwiches for lunch. $5–$11 for breakfast, $11–$20 for lunch, $14–$38 for dinner. In Makawao. Live music Fridays and Saturdays.