Maui Restaurant Tips by GracesTrips

The Gazebo Restaurant Napili: Only Open for Breakfast & Lunch

This was a tip I got on VT as a great place to have breakfast. Well, I think word got out and count on a line to be seated. You can (as we did) order your food to go. It's faster service and then you can sit pool side (as we did) and eat your breakfast. At least if you're standing in line, coffee is available to the side and you can help yourself. It's a bit difficult to find. First look for the Napili Shores Condos and park in the parking lot. Walk all the way towards the beach and the restaurant is right there.

Address: 5315 Lower Honoapiilani Road, (Napili) Lahaina

Comparison: about average

Directions: Between Hui Road and Napili Place on Lower Honoapiilani Road

Phone: 808.669.5621

Price: US$11-20

Rating: 3

Theme: Breakfast

Website: http://www.mauihawaii.org/restaurants/gazebo.htm

Maui Brewing Company: Local Beers

EVen the Plantation House in Kapalua serves beer from the Maui Brewing Company. I had the Sunset Blond. I liked it. I'm not a big beer drinker so this beer was mild but flavorful and I enjoyed it. My boyfriend ordered a type of India Pale Ale and I had a sip. There were hints of floral in the taste and not too much of the ale-ly after taste that ales tend to have. I thought it was pretty good. The food was so-so. I was disappointed with my local plate (hoping for some local style food) of pork and lomi lomi salmon couscous (what lomi lomi?). I wouldn't have labeled this a local plate. My boyfriend was okay with his pasta dish. I think you just need to order appetizers and enjoy the good beer when you're here.

Address: 4405 Honoapiilani Hwy #217, Lahaina, HI 96761

Comparison: about average

Phone: 808.669.3474

Price: US$11-20

Rating: 3

Theme: American

Website: http://mauibrewingco.com/

Leilani's On The Beach: Picturesque Dining

Located in the Whalers Village shopping center on the beach. Dine outside with the ocean views and you just have to order one of those tropical, sweet cocktails with the umbrella in it. I wasn't especially hungry for lunch so I ordered a curried chicken salad which was quite tasty. The presentation was really pretty. My boyfriend enjoyed his Panko Breaded Fish & Chips.

Address: 2435 Kaanapali Pkwy #J, Lahaina, HI 96761

Comparison: about average

Phone: 808.661.4495

Price: US$11-20

Rating: 3

Theme: Seafood

Website: http://www.leilanis.com/

Kimo's: Not the Best Food, But it's Not Bad Either!

It's located in the happening town of Lahaina on the beach side. Two stories so there's a good opportunity to get a table with the view of the beach. The prices for the quality of the food seem steep but you're in Maui so you pay for ambience and a somewhat decent meal. Yea, it's only my opinion and maybe I'm a food snob so don't take my word for it literally. I did enjoyed the mu shu Kalua pork appetizer. I ordered the sushi grade seared Ahi tuna dish. I started to cut the fish and my knife wouldn't cut through it because of the suji (Japanese for thready things). So, I let the waitress know this was not sushi grade and she brought me another plate which was excellent and a pretty large piece of fish at that. Unfortunately, the sides on the plate didn't pair up with the fish too well. We managed to enjoy our experience anyway because we were on vacation. The selection of restaurants on Front Street are limited so unless you want to dine at the swanky places on the side streets, you can't be too picky.

Address: 845 Front Street, Lahaina, HI 96761

Comparison: more expensive than average

Phone: 808.661.4811

Price: US$21-30

Rating: 2

Theme: Other

Website: http://www.kimosmaui.com/

Polli's Mexican Restaurant: Mexican Food in Maui

Since we were riding down on bikes from Haleakala, it was just about time to get something o eat. Alyssa said she needed her Mexican food fix so we stopped at Polli's in Makawao. The hostess offered us bicycle locks so we wouldn't worry about our bikes getting stolen. She said it has happened in the past. We didn't opt for beer since we were still riding down and you can get a ticket for being drunk on a bicycle. The food was good but I'm not sure if it was because we were hungry. I definitely know the salsa was good. Everyone seemed to consume quite a bit of it.

Address: 1202 Makawao Ave. Makawao, HI 96768

Comparison: about average

Directions: On the east side of the island just past Pai'a

Phone: 808.572.7808

Price: US$11-20

Rating: 3

Theme: Mexican

Seawatch Restaurant at Wailea Golf Course: Nice Sunset Views

What a lovely place and also recently under new management. So, the menu changed from when I checked it out a few weeks ago when I made the reservations. This was a special occasion as there were 7 of us for dinner and sort of a friends reunion. We were so caught up with conversation that we ordered abruptly and didn't pay attention to the food and drink. The service was great as they were taking extra care to be attentive. Patience was more the necessity on the wait staff's part because we were slow to order, to eat and to leave. And, they were more than obliging. We ordered 3 desserts between us and we polished them off. The flourless cake was more like a thick candy bar. I ordered a chocolate mouse dessert which was wonderful. And, a cheesecake that was also very good but I enjoyed the chocolate mouse, more!

Dinner for 7 people, the restaurant automatically tacked on a tip of 15%.

Address: 100 Wailea Golf Club Drive, Wailea, HI 96753

Comparison: most expensive

Phone: 808.875.8080

Price: US$41 and up

Rating: 4

Theme: American

Website: http://www.seawatchrestaurant.com/

Plantation House: Panoramic Views

The Plantation House is located on a golf course with amazing, outrageous views of the north shore overlooking Kapalua. They specialize in the fish or catch of the day and offer many variations of preparation. I highly recommend you choose this if you plan to eat here. There are other entrees to choose from but you're in Maui, you should try the fish. Absolutely, fresh! I had the fish preparation of a Taste of Venice. It was delish! My boyfriend had the fish preparation of a Taste of Maui. We came back to the Plantation House for lunch a few days later. I wasn't too hungry and ordered the fried goat cheese salad and a Lava Flow cocktail. What a relaxing place to dine at!

Address: 2000 Plantation Club Drive, Kapalua, HI 96761

Comparison: more expensive than average

Directions: Just slight east of the Ritz-Carlton

Phone: 808.669.6299

Price: US$31-40

Rating: 4

Theme: Seafood

Website: http://www.theplantationhouse.com/

Maui Taco: All Over the Island

I don't know if you consider this Mexican food but it's more like Mexican than not. I had the fish taco and it was good. Black beans, cole slaw, corn are stuffed into this taco along with small pieces of the fish.

This is a chain, there are several all over the island.

Address: 5095 Napilihau St # 101, Lahaina, Maui

Comparison: about average

Phone: 808.665.0222

Price: less than US$10

Rating: 2

Theme: Mexican

Website: http://www.mauitacos.com/

Cheeseburger in Paradise: Happening Place in Lahaina

If you're gonna want a burger, this is the place to have it. Almost every kind of variation of burger is available. If not, you can even make your own. Prices are reasonable and they also have a big beer selection. Entertainment is upstairs. I had a burger with swiss cheese and avocado. I really enjoyed it!

Not to be confused with the Cheeseburger in Paradise owned by Jimmy Buffet in the Carribean.

Address: 811 Front Street, Lahaina, Maui, Hawaii

Comparison: about average

Phone: 808.661.4855

Price: US$11-20

Rating: 3

Theme: American

Website: http://www.mauihawaii.org/restaurants/cheeseburger-in-paradise-maui.htm

Hard Rock Cafe: Need to Collect My Pins!

I seek out HRC where ever I go. I buy a couple of pins to add to my collection of pins. Sometimes I buy a shirt or jacket. Just depends on what they have and if it's something I would wear. I don't necessarily eat at all of them because they pretty much have the same menu even in Paris or Athens. I prefer dining on local cuisine but the HRC always has pretty good food!

Address: 900 Front Street, Lahaina, HI 96761

Comparison: about average

Directions: At Front and Papalaua Streets, west of Honoapiilani Highway

Phone: 808.667.7400

Price: US$11-20

Rating: 0

Theme: American

Website: http://www.hardrockcafe.com/locations/cafes3/cafe.aspx?LocationID=61&MIBEnumID=3