Maui Revealed - Restaurant Reviews

Son'z Maui at Swan Court
200 Nohea Kai Dr. • 667-4506
They call it a fusion of European and Hawaiian cuisine, so what the heck, we put them under American. Although owned by the same folks that run Sarento's and Nick's in Wailea, the service is much more toned down to the point of being sporadic. Atmosphere and food, however garner them an ono. You're overlooking a beautiful pond and waterfall at the Hyatt Ka'anapali with resident swans. The steak and seafood is good, but believe it or not, their best item is a Kobe beef meatloaf. (Strange, but impossibly delicious. If Mama had made it like that, I'd have eaten it more often.) The wait staff has some autonomy, so ask them if you want to deviate from the the menu. $35'$55. Reservations recommended.

China Bowl
2580 Kekaa Dr. • 661-0660
Chinese food is surprisingly rare in West Maui. This place is one of only two, and the same family owns both. We could tell by the decidedly unChinese music (usually Jazz) playing inside. Lunch is a good bet here with nicely priced specials and big portions. We like the orange chicken. Items are fresh but sometimes drowning in sauce. Staff is warm and inviting, which makes this an easy place to recommend if you’re craving Chinese comfort food. $8-$13 for lunch, $9-$20 for dinner. In Fairway Shops in Ka'anapali.

Aloha Mixed Plate
1285 Front St. • 661-3322
A particularly great place for lunch. Good and varied local style food, meaning it may be a bit fattier than mainland tastes, but most visitors seem to like it. Items like kalua pig sandwich, lomi lomi salmon and chow funn noodles. If these sound a little too alien, don't worry. There's something for pretty much everyone. Prices are reasonable for what you get, and portions are large for most (though not all) items. Service is usually friendly but understaffed. They have an outdoor deck and beachside tables. (No alcohol allowed at the beachside tables due to Maui's goofy liquor laws.) They sometimes let the hedge grow high enough to block the surf, and flies can be a problem at times. But the food and price, along with the winning location, work well. $6-$12 for lunch and dinner. North of downtown Lahaina near the Mala Ramp.

Pizza Paradiso
3500 Lwr. Honoapiilani • 667-2929
The hype is pretty big at Pizza Paradiso. Signs and ads proclaim they were voted "best pizza on Maui" and reviews from a guidebook saying theirs was the "best pizza I ever had." After repeatedly eating here, we can’t help but wonder--were they eating in the same place? In fairness, the crust is fairly good and unusual: spongy but effective. But the pizza is lifeless and tasteless, as well as overpriced. It's on par with a really good frozen pizza, but does that impress you? Even if two people order by the slice, four slices and two sodas for $22 is steep. They have a pretty good Greek salad here. Desserts are either the delicious but expensive home-made tira-misu or something less remarkable. $5-$15. At Honokowai Marketplace (between 25 and 26 mile marker on Hwy 30).

Cilantro
170 Papalaua Ave. • 667-5444
The menu is a bit overwhelming because the items are not exactly standard. Take your time because the food's excellent and flavorful. Consider the taco al pastor--slow-cooked adobo pork with grilled pineapple salsa. And the nachos del sol are a great appetizer. Don't overlook the salsa bar to the right. Prices are not bad for the quality. Atmosphere is basic and simple. $5-$13 for lunch and dinner. In the Old Lahaina Center.

Alexander's Fish, Chicken & Ribs
1913 S. Kihei Rd. • 874-0788
Fairly reasonable prices, but the portions are on the small side. For most items you get a choice of fried or broiled. Otherwise, everything else (including the mixed veggies) is fried. Their combos of two (fish, chicken, shrimp, ribs or veggies) are probably their best deal. The food is tasty but a bit greasy. Service is green and confused. (Hey, everyone needs a first job.) Order at the counter, then wait for your number and eat at the outside tables. On the mauka side of South Kihei Road across the street from the fake whale at Kalama Park. $7-$11 for lunch and dinner.

Pupu Lounge Seafood & Grill
1945 S. Kihei Rd. • 875-4111
This is a good place to go when you're looking for heavy appetizers (pupus) and a cocktail. They have regular entrees, too. But if you grab the pupu platter for two and maybe some coconut shrimp (which is close to perfect) and top it off with a tropical drink, you'll probably leave with a smile. (Love their "Got pupu?" shirts.) Their South Seas bamboo atmosphere helps keep things calming. Across from Kalama Park. $10-$15 for lunch, $17-$30 for dinner.

Waterfront Deli
3750 Wailea Alanui Dr. • 891-2039
Finding cheap food in Wailea is about as easy as finding Mongolian food in El Paso. While it ain't exactly cheap, they got $7 sandwiches, $3 pizza slices and $6 Caesar salads. In the Shops at Wailea. $6-$12.

Mulligan's on the Blue
100 Kaukahi St. • 874-1131
Irish food such as Gaelic steak, fish and chips, corned beef and shepherd's pie (but no Irish stew) served in a campy, Irish pub atmosphere sometimes accompanied by Irish or other local live music most nights. (Saturday is Celtic night.) Most of the food items are pretty good. (Awesome apple pie.) Indoor and outdoor tables. Service can be slow. $10-$15 for lunch, $10-$25 for dinner. At the Wailea Blue Golf Course up mauka of the Fairmont Kea Lani resort.

Gian Don's
1445 S. Kihei Rd. • 874-4041
It was called Marco's before, and the menu seems exactly the same. Boy, is this place overpriced! No view, and it's loud (although beautiful) inside; outdoor tables are quieter. Burgers are $10, chicken alfredo is $21. And the food seems strangely tasteless. At breakfast, a simple cheese and mushroom omelette is $9, and the coffee is dreadful. Hmm. Hard to get happy about this one. On S. Kihei Road south of Lipoa. $7-$13 at breakfast, $12-$32 for lunch and dinner.

Anthony's
90 Hana Hwy. • 579-8340
An excellent place for a morning stop on your way to Hana. (They open at 5:30 a.m. but don't serve breakfast until 6 a.m.) A nice coffee selection, and a phenomenal choice of teas coupled with baked goods (like the coffee cake) and eggs and such means there's something for almost everyone. And the price is pretty reasonable. They also have free Wi-Fi. Most meals are around $5. The place is a bit disheveled inside, but it's nice to have good food on Maui without getting hammered. $3-$7 for breakfast and lunch. (The latter is mostly sandwiches.) In Pa'ia on Hana Hwy, mauka side of the road.

Pauwela Cafe
375 W. Kuiaha Rd. • 575-9242
American: A hidden gem with dishes you wish your mom could make. The food's fresh and the ingredients are healthy, though portions could be a bit larger. Lunch includes sandwiches, burritos and salads. Breakfast has some unusual choices, such as Pain Perdu (which means lost bread in French--don't pronounce it like pane, say it with a French swagger) soaked in orange vanilla custard and baked with fruit on top. Baked goods are made on premises with uneven results. (Good scones, though.) The eggs Benedict special on weekends is great, made on fresh baked cornbread. $6-$12 for breakfast, $8-$15 for lunch. Almost 1/2 mile past the 12 mile marker on Hwy 36 is West Kuiaha Road. Turn Mauka and in 1/2 mile you’ll see the Pauwela Cannery.