Looks yummy. http://www.merrimanshawaii.com/merrimans-maui.php#menu

Maui Birthday Dinner -- Suggestions?
 

I'm looking for a great place for my father's birthday dinner (for 5 people) in May. Of course we'd love a place that has it all -- beautiful setting, great food. I'm not concerned about the price but am definitely after a place that's genuinely delicious. A picturesque spot would be great, but we don't want to be somewhere beautiful where the food is bland. Really looking all over the place right now -- Roy's, Duo or Spago at the Four Seasons, Lahaina Grill, Merriman's, open to anything. Really just looking for the right spot.

I'd so appreciate your feedback. Thank you!

Speaking of nice restaurants I haven't gotten to try.....doesn't this HH menu look expensive :confused:

http://www.merrimanshawaii.com/pdfs/maui_happyhour.pdf

Happy Hour prices are reasonable but check the tripadvisor.com reviews for this place. I think I'll skip it for dinner. However, they might improve by next year. :)

Mama's Fish House in Paia. It has all of the things you mentioned. Pricy, but worth it.

In Kihei, I would recommend two places. Moose McGillicuddy's and Da Kitchen. The first is basically a sports bar type of place that is pretty family friendly for lunch, especially. The Mahi Mahi Fish and Chips are the best ever! Da Kitchen serves Hawaiian plate lunches - good, cheap, and filling for the boys.

The only problem I've got with Mama's is that it is a 1½ to 2 hour RT from where most folks stay in Lahaina and Kaanapali.

Fine for lunch if you're wandering around the Kahului area or coming back from a Haleakala tour but a bit far for just dinner from the West side of the island.

But, as always, YMMV.

Lots of good places in Lahaina. Kimo's is our favorite there. Tommy Bahama's in Wailea is also good.

I would book at Pacific'O on Front St (away from the tourist bustle on the far end)...ask for a table near or on the sand.

Here are some of my favorites:

Wailea:
Wolfgang Puck (at the Four Seasons)
Mala's (at the Marriott in Wailea)
Longhi's (at the shops at Wailea) for breakfast--excellent, excellent and good service.

Kaanapali/Lahaina:
Kimos
Leilani's On The Beach (Whaler's Village)
Hula Grill (Whaler's Village) -- good happy hour here
Ululani's Hawaiian Shave Ice (why not -- it's fun!)

Out of the way, but worth it:
Mama's Fish House -- (maybe 45 min from Wailea or Kaanapali)

I can't speak to the Wailea recommendations, but I have eaten at all of the others, and will confirm them as recommendations. The Hula Grill has a Barefoot Bar with good food, drinks, live music, your chair IN the sand, all a stone's throw away from the ocean. If you want to kill a couple of hours while the wife is shopping at Whaler's village, I can't think of a better place.

One of our favorite places for a "special" night out while we are in Maui (west side) is The Plantation House, http://www.theplantationhouse.com/ We also love Kimo's, http://www.kimosmaui.com/ and Lailani's, http://www.leilanis.com/ We have dined at Merrimans and Dukes, both must have had an "off" night when we were there. Merriman's bar area, which is on the lower level near the ocean, is where I would go for drinks during the sunset, not for dinner. Mama's Fish house is beautiful in Paia, food is okay, very expensive, you pay for the atmosphere. I have never met anyone that says, "I go to Mama's Fish House everytime I am on the island", worth going once. Read on this site and Trip Advisor, there are many opinions. What a special way to honor your Dad! :)

For one of the best combinations of view and excellent food in West Maui, I'd strongly recommend David Paul's relatively new Island Grill (not to be confused with the Lahaina Grill which he sold some time ago).

We usually go to Maui in December which is a slow month for restaurants. And on our last visit David Paul came over to our table and chatted for a good 15 minutes.

Just a few blocks away...no view but dripping with elegance....is our favorite restaurant on Maui, Gerard's.

I don't think you can really go wrong with either place.

Oh yes, forgot to mention the Plantation House. Excellent place.

I do have to disagree about Mama's though. Allow me to introduce myself as the first person you have met who has gone to Mama's every time I am on the island. Ambiance is wonderful, service is very good, and the food is really good as well. While it is a little bit expensive, I do think that it is worth it.

The best meal I had during my last trip was the braised short ribs at Pineapple Grill. The Seared Ahi sandwich at the Fish Market Maui is a good lunch choice.