My bad. Turns out they were closed for renovations for most of the winter, not permanently T.U.

kaukau and others,

need your help brah/wahines

going back to maui next month (first trip was 7/02) for a week with a family in tow now (4yo and 1yo). have hit some popular places last time: Mama's (was ono then), Hula Grill, Gerard's, CIP, but want to try others. here's my list so far:

high-end: Sansei (before 5:30:D), Pacific'O, Merriman's Kapalua, Nick's Fishmarket

moderate: Plantation House (lunch), Pineapple Grill, Kimo's, Sea House and maybe Brigit & Bernard's Garden Cafe (in Kahului before our departure flight)

inexpensive, local: Honokowai Okazuya & Deli, Paia Fish Market (followed by Ono Gelato:D), Aloha Mixed Plate, Da Kitchen, Alexander's Fish and Chips, Eskimo Candy Seafood

Are there any you would suggest I drop off the list? Or add? There are others I'm thinking of trying, but they may not be a good idea as a family (e.g. Capische only has 9 tables I believe, so wouldn't want my kids to spoil the atmosphere there or have to plan for babysitting service)

Mahalo for any input

This thread is loaded with great finds for fabulous places to eat in Maui, some of them very "kiddo" friendly as well. We will be returning to Maui in August as well.

Of the ones you mentioned, we loved Plantation House at sunset and Kimo's. Like I said, there are several options mentioned from October forward that are worth exploring.

Hope to see you there.

Ritz Carlton with One Year Old
 

We're going to be in Maui at the Ritz Carlton for a week at Labor Day with our 1 year old, and would love if any of the "old Hawaii Hands" could offer up some foodie suggestions. We're pretty eclectic, from local dives to fine dining, but try to be very sensitive to not disturbing others. We have an a condo at the Ritz, so we can bring back takeout too.

Thanks!

W2B Globetrotter, give this a try.

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

IleftmyheartinTX,

Thanks for the suggestion. I've heard it's a great deal there and pretty good food too. On this trip, we've gotten some pretty good resort deals with breakfast included (due to the slowdown), so the only place we might break out for is the Gazebo. Otherwise, we'd be there at places like Moose's, Charley's in Paia and the Kula Lodge for breakfast.

Brian,

We're also going to be up at the Ritz in Kapalua during Labor Day with our 4 and 1 year olds. In the immediate vicinity, we're shooting for the following places: Sansei (25% off before 6pm), Merriman's, Pineapple Grill, Plantation House (for lunch) and Honolua Store (take out items). Nearby would be the following: Sea House at the Napili Kai, Gazebo (very popular for their mac nut pancakes), Honokowai Okazuya Deli (inexpensive plate lunches) and Roy's Kahana Bar & Grill.

There are a ton of family-friendly places along Kaanapali and at Whaler's Village (eg Hula Grill) and especially at Lahaina, which are within a 10 to 15 minute drive.

For the more upscale places, I go with the family at the earliest bookings available (5:30 to 6pm) when it's lighter so as not to disturb evening guests looking for a romantic dinner. Or you may want to decide on the Ritz's babysitting service for those elegant nights out.

See ya there!

If you are staying in the Ritz area and have young ones (been there with a 1 year old and the next year a two year old) the Pineapple Grill is great. When you go ask to be in the lounge, you are able to sit on the the lanai, plus you have a choice of the lounge menu (more casual) or the full menu. The staff is great - one waitress always remembers us - and they will make something for you child that is not on the menu - ours was going through a chicken pasta phase.

If you like Mexican, check out Cilantros in Lahaina - very tasty and fresh (way better than Maui Tacos), and for Pizza we liked BJs in Lahaina (I know it is a chain) the food was good and if you arrive around 5-5:30 (as one tends to do with small ones) you are almost guaranteed a seat that is open to the street with great views to watch the passerbys.

Sensei is of course mentioned and very good and tasty

i go to Dolly's in Kahana for pizza and sandwiches. I think they make about the best pizza on the island and a close second is Gabby's in the town of Lahania.

Dollies would be good for take out to your condo. I love the plantation for Breakfast and ok the gazebo is great to but oh the line gets to me.....

Wailuku dining: two great choices for this area are A.K's Cafe on Lower Main and Marco's where Hana Hwy and Dairy Road intersect (near K-Mart, Costco.)
Both are open for lunch and dinner, and offer good food at reasonable prices.

Paia now has a gelato shop a few doors down from the Flatbread Company. Both offer great choices! The Flatbread Company makes a mean kahlua pig flatbread (pizza) to eat in or take out.

I'd narrow it down to Capische, Fereraro's, or Seawatch. In fact I'm going to a wedding dinner at Seawatch this month! Your other three choices can get very noisy.

Lahaina side: The Westin's Kaanapali Ocean Resort has a sundries shop on the first floor that offers a few selections of good tasting foods that would be easy to heat up and eat in your room.

Also, there is a new market called Lahaina Farms. It's opposite Lahaina Safeway, in the same center as Barnes and Noble and the recently relocated Outback restaurant. They have outstanding produce, and a real deli. You can pick up ready made sandwiches, or order a custom sandwich that costs six bucks and is almost too much to eat at one meal. They have ready made dishes to go that cost under $10, and are good choices (shrimp scamp, chicken parm with noodles.) They also will make a freshly tossed large or small salad for you if you're watching what you eat.

Napili dining: For those of you Lahaina side, I forgot to mention "Fish and Poi" which was a Cafe O lei restaurant that I heard was sold recently. They have great fresh food with an Asian influence, and the meals are reasonably priced at $10 to $20 for lunch or dinner. They are in the Napili Shores condo complex.

Ha! The front end assistant manager at the Kahului Costco (beckoa says "Costco 119" :p) told us to go there, so we did. We both picked the Hawaiian Plate ("your own personal luau...hula dancer not included"), which came with chicken long rice, mac salad, lomi-lomi salmon, kalua pork...and that "seriously yummy laulau"! It was such a huge plate that I have fully half of the meal still in a to-go box...

Now, back to reading this thread to figure out where to eat next... :cool:

Gazebo review http://www.onmyplate.org/2008/02/maui-breakfast.html Doesn't sound worth a trip. Great view but average food according to the reviewer.

Just got back from Maui... We stayed in Wailea and to celebrate our anniversary we went to Sarentos on the Beach. Fantastic food and the table by the beach was perfect to watch the sunset. Killer.

On the Big Island we ate at the Sansei in the new "Queen's Shops" across from the King's shops in Waikoloa. We showed up at 9:30 and they told us to wait until 10:00pm when all Sushi and appetizers are half off, drink specials go on, and Karaoke begins. We hung around and it was awesome. It was just the bit of nightlife we needed on the trip. And the sushi was good.

"Late night dining" at any of the Islands' Sansei restaurant (check the website to see which weekend days are "late night dining" days for the 50% off menu) are great. Some have a line forming at 9-9:30 p.m., others you can just walk in without a wait. The karaoke is usually good dining entertainment if the singers are good...

Heading to Maui next week & staying in Kahana. I've never stayed in that area -- usually aim for Kihei/Wailea. Have a 'few' restaurant questions (please):

• Saw 'CJ's Deli' mentioned somewhere for casual dining. Anyone familiar with it?
• Plan to go to Sansei. I know they have specials (before 5:30?) in the evening. Do they allow take out for that?
• Any good places to grab a pizza? I am familiar w/BJs, but don't care for deep dish. I saw Dolly's & Gabby's in this thread. Either specialize in thin crust?
• Can someone give me an idea of the average entree cost @ Haliimaile General Store for lunch?
• Any 'early bird specials' to recommend (Lahaina/Kaanapali/Kahana/Kapalua)?
• Are the Plantation House and Sea House equally good for lunch?
• Is there easy parking at Whalers Village?

Thanks :)

If I'm not mistaken, this is a kama'aina special? If so you'd need a valid HDL to take advantage of it. But unfortunately, take-out isn't allowed.

There is the late night specials open to all after 10 p.m. on certain weekend nights. 50% off all sushi prices.