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Restaurant Listings
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| Price |
Typical Entree Prices |
| $ | Under $8 | $$ | Between $8 to $10 | $$$ | Between $10 to $20 | $$$$ | Between $20 to $30 | $$$$$ | Be ready to take out a loan |
Ba-Le – Asian fast food, Sandwiches
270 Dairy Road, Kahului, Maui, HI (Located in the Kau Kau Food Court in Maui Marketplace on Dairy Road)
(808) 877-2400
Parking: in shopping center
Last Visited: July 2003
Food: 3 stars
Atmosphere: not rated
Service: not rated
Price: $ to $$
Ba-Le is a fast food chain, but I’m writing for those visiting Maui. If you need a quick fix, the Kau Kau Food Court in Maui Marketplace in Kahului is a great place. The food at Ba-Le is typical Asian but is Hawaiian due to the mixed plate combos. The other food court stands have a wide offering from typical fries and burgers to pho.
- Short ribs – This is a good example of Ba Le fast food. Short Ribs cooked Korean style is served with steamed rice and macaroni salad. It’s not the best quality, but better than most of the fast food chains you find in California. If only fast food could be found like this all over the place, especially at the cafeteria at work - I would be ecstatic.
I hear that Ba-Le also offers sandwiches, but I didn’t get the chance to try them. It’s a great stop if you want something fast and delicious. Not top quality overall, but at the top of my list for any fast food.
Bernard's Inn - French
20 West Lane, Ridgefield, CT 06877
(203) 438-8282
Parking: in rear parking lot
Last Visited: September 23, 2004
Food: 5 stars
Atmosphere: 4 to 5 stars
Service: 4 to 5 stars
Price: $$$$ to $$$$$
Bernard Bouissou and his wife Sarah own this lovely restaurant. Bernard, raised in the South of France, has worked at Le Cirque in New York and other restaurants in the New York area. Sarah is also a renowned chef who heads her own catering company.
I visited Bernard’s on a Thursday night, and they had two musicians playing live jazz. The setting is quaint and cozy, but the crowd is certainly different than the West Coast group. The patrons are definitely more dressed up than typical California style. The women wore their elegant black dresses, and the men were in full suits or at the least a suit jacket.
Upon entering, the piano is on your left at the entry of the main dining room. A large vase of flowers adorn the top of the piano. The walls are a warm yellow and the white crown molding accents the room. The burgundy carpet with the golden design on it follows the color scheme. Spring like colors are present in the pictures that hang on the wall. The tables are round and oval and the chairs have oval backs giving the room a soft feeling all around.
The host is formal, professional, and friendly, but I don’t think I saw him smile all evening. It’s a different culture than that of the West Coast. Upon arrival, after being seated, the servers offer still or sparkling water. The tables hold candles, fresh flower arrangements, and butter in small round ceramic containers. Once orders are taken, servers bring around warm rolls (we had a choice of sourdough or raisin) that are served to each individual. At each place setting, you’ll find large white plates with a large burgundy B so you’ll be sure not to forget where you’re dining.
The wine selection is extensive. There is a large selection of European wines, and interestingly enough, the others seem to be from the West Coast from wineries right in my neighborhood. All of the dishes are beautifully presented, and the food is served together so each person receives their dish at just about the same time.
The first starter was a bit of a surprise. I hadn’t expected it since we hadn’t ordered it.
- Smoked fish salad – A dollop of smoked white fish mixed with potatoes was placed in a small crisp shell with a base about the size of a quarter. This is laid on a fan of five green leaves that are drizzled with a light dressing. The fish was delicate and just the right amount of salt to bring out the flavor but not overpower it.
- Bernard’s Signature Foie Gras Trio: Grilled with Sour Cherry Sauce and Maple Syrup Glaze, Torchon with Sauterne Jelly, Smoked with Horseradish Aspic – Three pieces of foie gras are placed on a large oval plate. A salad of large alfalfa sprouts and other greens are tossed in a light dressing accompany the foie gras. Four triangles of brioche style toast are served on the side. The grilled foie gras with its cherry sauce and maple syrup glaze is soft, silky, and rich, melting in your mouth. The smoked and torchon style foie gras were very similar in texture – velvety, but firm. Although both were good, my appreciation of these latter two styles needs some honing since the two tasted about the same to me. To the veteran foie gras connoisseur, I’m sure the flavors would be more distinct. $19.50
- Sautéed Frog’s Legs Provençale, Roasted Garlic Flan, Sautéed Salsify, Chanterelles and Fava Beans, Salsify Twists – Frog’s legs are served around garlic flan which is placed in the center of the plate. The coloring from the fresh herbs and fava beans give this dish an element of freshness. I only tried a couple frog’s legs and a bit of the garlic flan. The flan is delicate, but the garlic is definitely infused in it. The frog’s legs are tender, reminding me of the same tenderness of fish without the flaky texture. The legs are nicely flavored. Although the texture was smooth, I found the flan a bit too rich, overwhelming the individual elements of the dish. $14.00
- Marinated Tuna Tartar and Avocado Roll, Tomatoes, Sherry Coulis, Baby Greens and Sprouts –Raw tuna is diced and covered with sliced avocado resulting in a presentation like a mound of green. I didn’t try the other items on the plate, but the pairing results in a melt in your mouth experience. The tuna is lightly seasoned and the avocado is smooth. Excellent. $15.00
- Grilled Lamb chops with herbed couscous and sautéed seasonal vegetables – For this special of the day, four lamb chops are grilled to perfection. A mound of couscous and sautéed zucchini, yellow squash, and other vegetables accompany the lamb. The lamb chops were tender and flavored nicely. The portion is more than adequate. After enjoying the numerous starters, the couscous seemed bland, though on its own, its flavor might have held its own. The lamb chops shine above the side dishes so much that I would have liked for the lamb chops to be available by themselves. Very good. $32
Pastry Chef Catherine Laughlin does a very nice job with the desserts. From crème brulee trios to napoleons, there is enough variety to satisfy just about anyone’s palate. Another surprise - to begin the dessert course, the table received stands of cookies with such a pleasant looking assortment. I call it pleasant looking because I only had enough room to try a part of a large lemon wafer which was light and crisp. The cookies were available in chocolate and nut varieties as well.
Summer Melon Sorbet, Fresh Diced Melon and Lemon Grass Sauce with Orange Meringue Crisps – Two triangles of orange meringue crisps sandwich three melon ball size scoops of sorbet. Two scoops were cantaloupe and one scoop was watermelon. The sorbet flavors are so clear and distinct, they would be refreshing enough to stand on their own without the meringue crisps. Diced melon and lemon grass sauce surround the crisp. I would have liked to have sorbet available on its own without the decorations. $9.00
The overall experience was enjoyable. If you’re like me and like to try a lot of different dishes, then you may find the portions to be a bit on the large side. If you like having your one entrée, then the portion is just right. I liked the special touches of the smoked fish salad and plate of cookies; both were nice surprises. The service at Bernard’s is attentive and it’s a great place to go to feel pampered. I highly recommend Bernard’s.
David Paul's Lahaina Grill - Hawaiian Fusion
127 Lahainaluna Road, Lahaina, Maui, HI, 94761-1502
(808) 667-5117, (800) 360-2606
Parking: street parking, nearby pay parking lots
Last Visited: July 4, 2003
Food: 5 stars
Atmosphere: 3 to 4 stars
Service: 4 stars
Price: $$$$$
David Paul’s is the place to go if you plan to splurge on any dining event. Whether it be a nice dinner or lunch, you will get exquisite food for an equivalently exquisite price. If you want to splurge just that much more, go for the Chef’s Tasting Menu ($74). You are guaranteed a treat, but you also need to have a hearty appetite. The tasting menu also comes with the choice of seafood or meat courses and both are delightful.
Service at David Paul’s is attentive. They are accustomed to a wide clientele and the casual atmosphere is welcoming. The colors are fresh and clean – teals, ivories, and whites. The bar is in the front of the restaurant. The art is present, but I found the dishes being served to be more eye-catching than anything else.
- The Cake Walk – Three petite towers – Kona lobster crab cake, Lousiana rock shrimp cake, and seared ahi cake - are presented on a white rectangular plate. Each tower is dressed with its own sauces and decorations and each contains a tower of flavor. I particularly enjoyed the crab cake with its avocado relish and mustard cream as well as the ahi on a small bed of rice. This is a must try dish. $19
- Eggplant Napoleon – This is another one of those towers. Another mountain of flavor made of thinly sliced morsels of smoked mozzarella, mushrooms, olives, roasted peppers, and to tie it all together, a tomato-balsamic vinaigrette. It was hard to taste each ingredient individually, but you’re definitely going for a full flavored extravaganza in all these dishes. $14
- Baby Romaine Caesar Salad – Pretty standard overall. Served in the classic way with whole romaine hearts that are dressed with standard dressing and asiago cheese. If you love Caesar, go for it, but it’s definitely worth opting out for another more exotic item. $12
- Tequila Shrimp and Firecracker rice – The presentation of this dish is great. The rice molded with the fiery rice – southwestern flavor - on one side and white rice on the other to create an attractive display. The tequila shrimp is butterflied and it tastes great. $31
- Maui Onion Crusted Seared Ahi – I really enjoyed the texture created by the onion crust on this ahi. The sweetness of the onion goes well with the delicate flavor of the fish. Excellent. This dish is served with rice and seasonal vegetables. A dish that must be tried. $39
- Sauteed Mahi Mahi – The fish is served with spinach, pancetta, gorgonzola, and mashed potatoes. The fish was cooked very nicely and the flavors of the other items complement the fish well. $37
- Center Cut Veal Chop – The veal is served with wild mushrooms and a truffle risotto. This dish was also done nicely. I preferred the seafood dishes over the meat dishes – possibly because I was thinking I’m on an island surrounded by water – seafood is the focus here. Certainly, there was nothing to complain about. $39
- Steak Christian – See above. The steak was served with a prawn and garlic mashed potatoes. The sauce was béarnaise with a demi-glace of port wine. The steak was also done nicely, but again, I really enjoyed the seafood. $39
- Kalua Duck – Of the three meat dishes, the kalua duck is the one to get. The crisp skin is what got me. The confit of duck leg is served in a plum wine reduction. Both succulent and tender, the duck is done extremely well. It comes with wild rice and seasonal vegetables also. This is a must try dish. $29
- Triple Berry Pie – I’m not a big berry fan, but if you are, you’ll like this one a lot. Raspberries, blackberries, and black currants are combined and baked in a pie. It’s berry berry all around. $12
- Road to Hana, Maui – Layers of light and fluffy chocolate cake are topped with an even fluffier chocolate sour cream mousse and all is covered in a chocolate shell. It’s a mound of heaven for any chocolate lover, and if you aren’t a chocolate fanatic, you might become one. This is still a must try dessert. $12
- Vanilla Bean Crème Brulee – For me, this wasn’t an outstanding crème brulee, but it was a very good crème brulee. If you’re deciding what to get, opt for the Road to Hana. Custard is infused with Tahitian vanilla beans and the top of the custard is sprinkled with sugar which is cooked to a golden brown. This was a little on the darker side, but the custard was still good. $10
The only bad thing about David Paul’s is that it can be a bit crowded. Tables are put in fairly close quarters, and it’s time to get somewhat cozy with your neighbors. They are literally inches away. If I could do one thing to improve the experience, I would provide a sorbet to my patrons to clear their palates between courses. Then the full flavor experienced can be discovered with each dish. All in all, David Paul’s is a must try for me, especially the Cake Walk appetizer, the Maui Onion Crusted Seared Ahi, Kalua duck, and the Road to Hana dessert.
Kahuna Kabob
126 Lahainaluna Rd, Maui, HI, 96761
(808) 661-9999
Parking: street parking and nearby pay parking lots
Last Visited: July 2003
Food: 4 stars
Atmosphere: not rated
Service: not rated
Price: $$ to $$$
So you may be wondering why atmosphere and service aren’t rated for Kahuna Kabob. Kahuna Kabob is located in a plaza and is basically a restaurant stand, but more permanent. They’re one stand amongst several, and well, the tables are outdoors within the plaza and nearby shopping stalls. The service is basically your interaction with the person behind the counter and when they yell out your name when the food is ready, so you’re really not going here for atmosphere or service.
So why go to Kahuna Kabob? It’s a good lunch spot or snack spot. They allow you taste the soup of the day, and knowing that, you can be assured you’re going to like the soup if you order it. They have great grilled ahi kabobs (did you guess I was going to say their kabobs were good?) and their soup really was good.
- Artichoke potato soup – As I mentioned earlier, they allow you to taste the soup. After a taste, I had to try it out full size. Creamy and flavorful, the soup was delicious and comes with a pack of oyster crackers. Very good.
- Ahi tuna kabob – This can be ordered a la carte or in a lunch combo. I tried the lunch combo. Two grilled kabobs are topped with teriyaki sauce and served over white rice with a scoop of macaroni salad, as is customary for most mixed plate combos. The ahi was tender and juicy, and if you don’t like ahi raw, this is the perfect place for you because they cook the entire kabob – no pink whatsoever, but not overcooked either.
Very simply, very good. Try it out for yourself. It’s a great stop if you’re walking around Main Street in Lahaina.
Lemongrass Chen's Kitchen- Asian
1378 Kahoma St, Lahaina, Maui, HI
(808) 667-6888
Parking: limited spaces in parking lot
Last Visited: July 6, 2003
Food: 4 stars
Atmosphere: 3 stars
Service: 4 stars
Price: $$ to $$$
Lemongrass is located behind the large shopping center parking lot in Lahaina. Look for Hilo Hattie’s, and the parking lot exit is across the street from Lemongrass. Formerly Lemongrass on Main Street, the restaurant size has scaled down, but the food is still high quality. There is a large window which during summer, is left open which gives a feeling of eating outside as the gentle breeze comes into the restaurant.
- Spring rolls – At this point in our visit, we were yearning some vegetables, and these spring rolls hit the spot. The spring rolls are crispy and just the perfect texture. They are served with a fish sauce based dipping sauce and fresh green leaf lettuce and carrots. The presentation is clean, and you roll the spring rolls into the lettuce leaves yourself. Excellent all around.
- Curry chicken – Chicken is cooked in a flavorful and aromatic curry and coconut blend with vegetables including carrots and potatoes. The sauce is great over steamed rice and the chicken is not overcooked, but tender and juicy. Another winner.
- Pad Thai – The pad thai was okay. It wasn’t the best or worst, but sits average amongst the bunch. Good flavor, but not as spectacular as the other dishes tried.
Our overall impression was that the place was small, but the food has a big flavor, and it’s definitely worth a visit. It’s also a good change of pace from the typical mixed plate lunches. Definitely try the spring rolls. You won’t be disappointed.
Roy's Nicolina - Hawaiian Fusion
4405 Honoapiilani Highway, Kahana, Maui, HI 96761
(808) 669-5000
Parking: in shopping center
Last Visited: July 2003
Food: 4 stars
Atmosphere: 4 stars
Service: 4 stars
Price: $$$$$
Roy’s Restaurant and Roy’s Nicolina are located adjacent to one another. People tell me that Roy’s is a happening place, and Roy’s Nicolina is a more subdued, romantic setting. I haven’t been to Roy’s, so I can’t tell you if this is true, but Roy’s Nicolina is definitely subdued and elegant. Both restaurants are located on the second floor of a shopping center and are elevator accessible.
So here’s what I got from going to Roy’s – one serious faux pas and everything else was elegant. It’s my belief that once you seat people, you never move them during that visit. Well, once we were seated and told about the wonderful view, they moved us saying that there had been people that dined there before and they had forgotten that those same people asked for that seat again. Yes, this could be considered very picky on my part, but we’re not talking about moving over at the movie theater. You want to give the best impression you can, and well, that basically tainted my impression.
Onto the food. By the time I had visited Roy’s, I was getting a little tired of ahi, so forgive me if I don’t give enough attention to the wonderful ahi. It was still wonderful, but it’s like any great food – sometimes you have too much, and the appeal is reduced.
- Roy’s Canoe Appetizer – This appetizer really does come in a unique dish that looks like a canoe. It’s a bounty of different appetizers and is great for those who want to try a little of a lot. They’re good, but not spectacular. Shrimp Sticks – Good. Think satay style, but with shrimp. Szechuan Baby Back Ribs – Aromatic flavors infused into tender baby back ribs. Island Ahi Poke – As I said earlier, I was a little tired of Ahi at this point. It was still very good, but no longer as exciting as my initial tastes of ahi on the island. Pork & Shrimp Lumpia – Good, but it didn’t quite compare to homemade lumpia (but food seldom lives up to homemade).
- Boston Bibb Salad - Buttermilk Bleu Cheese, Pecans, Herb Infused White Balsamic Vinaigrette – I was surprised by this salad. I’m not usually a big fan of bleu cheese, but at this point, I was feeling a little deprived of vegetables, so perhaps that made this salad that much better. The boston lettuce was tender and perfectly dressed. It tasted great.
- King Moi with Israeli Couscous – I’ve had quite a bit of oven roasted fish. This king moi was large and juicy and done nicely. It came with seasoned Israeli Couscous (basically, small pearls, but not as small as regular couscous) that complemented the fish well. This is a good entrée to try out for a little something unique.
- Roy’s Melting Hot Chocolate Souffle – If you love chocolate, this is the dessert to get. It’s a molten volcano of chocolate – very rich and luscious. All the reviews I read about Roy’s directed me to the chocolate soufflé, and although it requires a wait (about half an hour), it’s delicious and a special treat.
Overall, I enjoyed the food at Roy’s Nicolina. One of the things that stood out for me was the number of times they lifted my water glass to wipe down the glass table. It was a bit excessive, but you can’t say they’re not paying attention. Every ten to fifteen minutes, someone, be it a waiter, busboy, or whomever, was coming by to check the condensation of the water glasses. The other odd bit of the evening was that the credit card machines weren’t working. We sat around for a good half hour after giving them our credit card before the transaction could be completed. It’s worth trying out Roy’s if you have time in the area and want to splurge a little. Hopefully you won’t run into the same issues I did during my visit. The other factor to take into account was that this meal was the last of multiple wonderful meals on Maui, so it may be a better place to try early on if you visit Maui.
A Saigon Cafe - Vietnamese
1792 Main St, Wailuku, Maui, HI 96793
(808) 243-9560
Parking: in parking lot and street parking
Last Visited: July 8, 2003
Food: 2 to 3 stars
Atmosphere: 3 stars
Service: 3 stars
Price: $$ to $$$
A Saigon Café is known for being difficult to find. Everyone seems to know it by the large satellite dish that is next door. At the time of my visit, they had the neon ‘open’ sign on, but still no main sign. I asked the waitstaff about it and they said the sign was in back, but they hadn’t put it up yet. I think they like being a little mysterious and being known as the place without a sign.
I had a great lunch experience. So good that I went back for dinner, and that’s where I was disappointed. The food for lunch was excellent. The food for dinner was not so. It’s a popular place for locals and tourists alike.
- Sugar cane shrimp pops – Ground shrimp paste is put on sugar cane and steamed, then grilled. The flavor from the sugar cane accents the shrimp. Very nicely presented and great taste make this one definitely worth a try.
- Curry and lemongrass beef – This dish is available with pretty much any type of meat. It’s intense flavor is best with a side of white rice to absorb all the sauce. Very good.
I remember also having a noodle dish that I thought was quite good. So what went wrong? Dinner. The waitstaff was very pushy about having us try some of their crab. It no longer became a recommendation, but more of a selling experience, and that’s not my thing during dinner. Perhaps it was the selection of dishes, or the expectation, but the dinner dishes were not up to par. None of them hit the mark. All had some subtle problem, and since this review is being written at a much later date than the visit, I’ll leave it at this – try their popular dishes like the shrimp pops and curry dishes, but be wary of visiting multiple times and trying out other foods as the level of disappointment may ruin the initial sparkling impression.
Sansei - Japanese
Kihei Town Center, near Foodland, South Kihei Road, Maui, HI, 96753
(808) 879-0004
Parking: in shopping center parking lot
Last Visited: July 3, 2003
Food: 4 to 5 stars
Atmosphere: 4 stars
Service: 4 stars
Price: $$$ to $$$$
Sansei, recommended by Auntie Eileen, is excellent. The food is unique and delicious. Atmosphere is pretty simple, but you’ll find the selection to be special, even for Hawaii. During the time of my visit, if you ordered before 6pm and you received a discount on your meal.
- Maui Onion Tempura Rings – Yummy. Need I say more? Okay, I’ll say a little more. The maui onion is sweet and the rings are large. They’re served with a typical dipping sauce. The only bad thing was that one of the rings didn’t complete the cooking process and there was still a little flour inside the tempura ring. Aside from that, perfect.
- Salmon skin roll – excellent texture. The salmon is still tender and the skin is warm and crispy.
- Unagi – soft, tender, and warm. It was the essence of how unagi should be.
We had a variety of sushi – more than I can remember, but the level of expertise of the sushi chef is such that it can convert a non-sushi lover to one that appreciates sushi. How do I know? It happened before my own eyes. I dined with one that had a strong dislike for sushi, and since this experience, has been converted for life.
- Grilled Fresh Hawaiian Ahi and Asian Rock Shrimp Cake – This is served over furikake rice cake with ginger lime chili butter and cilantro pesto. At this point, I think I overate. I was pretty full with sushi and appetizers, so having this was a bit overwhelming. The rice wasn’t spectacular. The rock shrimp cake has a crispy noodle crust. This helps the cake to maintain a moist consistency, preventing the often dried out texture that some shrimp cakes experience. The ahi is gently seared on the outside and made beautifully so the inside of the ahi is still tender and raw.
The experience at Sansei is different because of the creative style of the chef. The combination of flavors and the terrific presentation make Sansei a must try experience when in Maui. Excellent.
Sushi-Go - Japanese
Located in Queen Ka’ahumanu Center
275 W Kaahumanu Ave # E21, Kahului, Maui, HI 96732
(808) 877-8744
Parking: in shopping center parking lot
Last Visited: July 2003
Food: 3 to 4 stars
Atmosphere: 3 stars
Service: 4 stars
Price: $ to $$
Sushi Go is located in a mall, but don’t let that deter you. Their reasonable prices and fresh sushi makes it worth a stop if you’re in the area. We were looking for a quick meal while shopping and it was a perfect place.
When you walk into Sushi Go, you’ll see the majority of the seats are located in front of the moving conveyer. Dishes are ready for you to take, and pricing is noted by the color of the dish. You’ll also find your ginger and wasabi on the conveyer too. They also offer hot noodle soup and other dishes that are available on the menu. If you don’t see the sushi you want on the conveyer, then you may also order directly from the menu.
The tea here was great. Hot with a roasted rice flavor, typical of many Japanese teas. Standard sushi dishes are available, so I won’t go through the list, but if you’re on a budget, the prices are very reasonable. It’s not top quality, but certainly quite good. In California, it’s likely you would find similar items for at least a dollar or two more.
Great place to go.
W&F Washerette - Shave ice
125 S. Wakea Ave, Kahului, Maui, HI 96732 (between Ka’ahumanu and Kamehameha)
(808) 877-0353
Parking: limited parking in front of laundromat
Last Visited: July 2003
Food: 5 star shave ice
Atmosphere: n/a
Service: n/a
Price: $
Yes, it’s true. This is a laundromat. How does this fit into the whole scheme of restaurant reviews? This is put here for convenience for those visiting Maui. W&F Washerette makes the best and what seemed like the most inexpensive shave ice. According to shave ice connoisseurs, the fineness of ice shavings is dependent on where the blade is in the sharpening cycle. W&F offers shave ice for under $2 (which seems to beat out all competition). It’s a bit out of the way, but if you’re already in Central Maui or needing to do your laundry anyway, it’s the place to go. It’s very close to Queen Ka’ahumanu Shopping Center.
W&F offers a wide variety of flavors and gives a generous portion of shave ice. The basic one flavor shave ice without ice cream starts at $1.25. Larger sizes are also available. At the time of my visit, add ice cream for $0.50 and additional flavors for maybe another quarter or 50 cents more. Excellent value and taste!
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