It's a shame to read this.

I have fond memories of enjoying their cinnamon apple french toast after watching sunrise at Haleakala. :)

During a recent visit to Maui, me & the little (no relations) went there for dinner, and I'm sorry to say that my dinner experience does not contradict what you wrote. :(

Great info Boraxo! Let us know the name of that Thai restaurant when you find it!

one week and one day! Can't wait!

Boraxo speaks of Pad Thai: Wharf Cinema Center, 658 Front Street, Lahaina 661-1971

Better yet: Thai Chef: Old Lahaina Center, 888 Front Street, Lahaina 667-2814 Across from the Ulalena theater, 3 doors down from KFC. ;)

I agree also. The brick-oven pizza was great. But they look like complete idiots when we are seated out on the terrace next to the brick oven watching our pizzas being cooked, then go on in to the kitchen, not to be delivered to the table for another 15 minutes! 10+ minutes to take drink order.. 10-15 minutes to GET drink order. It's too bad, because their view and the grounds(a garden of sorts below the outdoor terrace seating) are really neat.

If you're in West Maui, the best, cheap (relatively) food is at Honokowai Okazuya and Deli. This place is a take-out hole-in-the-wall with great food. Originally opened by a chef from Mama's Fish House. The place has new owners, but the food and recipes have stayed the same. Get the lemon-caper Mahi-mahi, the Korean bbq chicken, good chow fun too. Take your food to the beach or back to the condo. In the same strip mall is the Fish Market and if you have a bbq or just want to cook up some amazingly fresh fish at your condo, this is a great place to stop by. Sometimes they have tons of fish, sometimes not so much... they get the fish from the boats in the morning. They also make great crab cakes and ahi poke. mmmmm-mmmmm!

Here are my suggestions for dining in Maui after our trip.

Favorites (in no order)

**Leilani's (bar, casual) - Ordered the beef steak with onions and bell peppers sandwich, Mr G ordered the grilled tuna sandwich. Both were exceptional.

Leilani's - upstairs - Ordered the grouper with cracker crust and mashed potatoes with a side of coconut shrimp. Mr G ordered the Salmon - all were fabulous. Less expensive than Plantation House, but just as good in taste.

Longhi's was a disappointment. We ate there with our friends on a Friday evening and food was expensive and nothing to write home about.

***The Plantation House - MAUI MUST! The view and the food is spectacular! Make reservations and ask to sit next to the rail for the sunset. I had the Oko (sp?) Gray Snapper Oscar Style, Mr G had the Ahi Tuna Med style, one friend had the scallops with Med Style Orzo and another the Papio (like Mahi Mahi) Oscar Style. My mouth is still watering just thinking about it!
Tell the manager you are with FT.
www.theplantationhouse.com

Ruth Chris Steak House - Consistently good food. All four of us had the "early bird" special, 5:30 - 6:30 p.m., which included a petite fillet, side dish, salad or soup, and dessert for 39.00 each. A Deal!

Mama's Fishhouse - went there to make friends happy and it was just like everyone has posted . . . Expensive ($50 for fish dish) and tasteless! I don't know why it stays so busy!

That is it for now. PM me if you have any questions.

Thanks for the advise on the Safeway card, we saved tons of money!

Reporting in .. since I started this thread...
 

Just back ...

Sansei (sat at the Sushi bar) in Kihei. WONDERFUL .. would highly recommend it. Had Shrimp Tempura, Ebi, Togado, Spider Roll, Crab/Mango Salad roll (sorry if spelling is off).

Longhi's Wailea. VERY VERY disappointed. Crab Cakes - good presentation, potato for filler .. could not taste the crab. Amarrato Prawns.. more like shrimp in shell with orange sweet/sour canned sauce for the shrimp to swim in.. extremely poor. Definately a nasty letter going there!

Stayed at Fairmont Kea Lani and ate there a breakfast (buffet .. good tho nothing fabulous), a lunch (GREAT seafood salad) and then a roomservice dinner as I was too lazy (from a morning of horseback riding) to go out to Joes that evening.

That sucks. But letters after the fact don't do squat. The next time, take care of it at the point of sale: just call your waiter over and return the uneaten crab cakes with your criticism. Likewise the Amaretto Prawns. No need to get mad.....no need to pay for something you don't like....no need to leave a restaurant with "unfinished business". Do as I suggest, get immediate satisfaction/gratification, and then you dont have to write nasty letters when you get home. Just a suggestion. Hope it helps. And next time you're here, give a call and come over for some home made BBQ! ;)

I love the Kula Lodge for breakfast, apple bacon and pineapple pancakes.

I've never had a bad lunch at any of the golf courses on Maui either. Actually, at any of the golf course restaurants on any of the islands

Breakfast at Moose McGillycuddy's Pub and Cafe. Go between 7:30 - 8:30 a.m. and get th3 breakfast special for $1.99 Best deal on the island. Look for other coupons in the Maui guides.

Ended up going to Duo twice during my 3 nights on Maui as the snapper with truffle was not available on the first visit. Both occasions the food and service was excellent, although we had the same waiter which may have helped. Beautiful setting also sat out by the pool at the Four Seasons with the cabanas lit up.

Spago was also excellent on our other night although i preferred Duo. The Four seasons was an easy walking option from the Fairmont where we were staying.

The meals capped off a fantastic stay with beautiful weather, hopefully I will be returning next year.

I second the Thai Chef recommendation. We go every year at least 2 or 3 times during our week stay. Excellent Thai food, and nice people.

Just back from 5 days in Maui and I thought I'd post my experiences. Many thanks to kaukau for all his suggestions!

Ka'anapali/Lahaina
- Honokowai Okazuya - a take out sort of Japanese fish place - wonderful food - we took out back to our hotel lobby. No atmosphere but very friendly, and the best fish we ate all week. About $10-15 per entree.
- Lahaina Fish Co - on Front Street in Lahaina - a good place, but we weren't overwhelmed. Prices high for the atmosphere and service, food pretty good, but you are paying for the fantastic setting (on a lanai right on the water, great view of the sunste). Food is good. About $25-30 per entree.
- Aloha Mixed Plate - on Front Street in Lahaina - we ate here 3 times! Great Hawai'ian food and local food. Very smoky laulaus, we really liked them. Sweet and gingery shoyu chicken. Nice setting on a beachfront patio. Entrees $6-12.
- Kobe Steak - apparently this is a chain but I was not aware. I have never been to Benihana but supposedly it is similar. It was not bad. Everything cooked in front of you hibachi style. It was packed the day we went, mostly tourists. If you sit at 5:30 or 6 there is a cheaper menu, so about $18-20 per entree; otherwise $23-27 per entree.

Wailuku/Kahului
- Sam Soto's - thanks to KauKau for this recommendation - old style, local place serving saimin and dry noodles for about $6 each. Terrific and starchy - friendly service - cash only.
- Restaurant Matsu - another local Japanese kind of place with saimin, udon, donburi, and sushi rolls. Everything good. Again, cheap - not much atmosphere - closes at 2 or 3 pm except for Friday, closed on Saturday.

chain
- Maui Taco's - nice burritos and fish tacos. Their burritos are actually better than the tacos, I think. Did not enjoy their fish taco plates because the side beans and rice are not excellent.

Great food and we will definitely be back!

Agree on Sam Soto's. Been going there five or six times a year for the last 15 years. Everybody we take there for the first time can't wait to return.

The place is kind of hard to find even when you have a general idea where it's located. There's little or no signage and it's kind of hidden in an industrial park location.

One of their specialties which they make by the hundreds every day are manju. It's a unique bite size dessert and Sam Soto's bakes theirs rather than steaming them.