Restaurants

We love cooking in our kitchen and at the barbeque overlooking the ocean. But when we do eat out, here are some of our favorite places.

Kihei

Five Palms restaurant just walk across the parking lot from the Surfside and you are there. Stunning views of Keawakapu beach and the ocean. Great food - we love the macadamia nut pancakes.

Sarento's On The Beach restaurant ...and just a few steps past the five palms gets you to Sarento's. Fine dining with a killer sunset view (mind you, it is the exact same sunset view we enjoy from the Surfside every evening!)

Cafe O'lei in the Rainbow Mall. Awesome Maui Onion soup with a puff pastry top. We've enjoyed lots of dishes here (fish, chicken, beef). They also have a good sushi bar.

Maui Tacos in the Kamaole Center - our favorite fish tacos. Lots of interesting salsas to try, including a great pineapple salse. Not much seating; we often do take-out.

Alexander's Fish & Chips across from Kalama Beach park. It's the fish and chips with their home-made tartar sauce that brings us back, but they have other good food on the menu, too, including ribs.

Cinnamon Roll Fair grab a cinnamon roll and bring it back for the 10AM coffee at the Surfside. Fantastic with with the macadamia nut topping! (cash only)

Wailea

Gannon's has beautiful decor, and stunning ocean views across to the islands of Kaholawee and Molokini. Chef Bev Gannon also has Joe's and the General Store. The General store has our favorite food, but you can't go wrong at any of them. Set on the greens of the Wailea Golf Club, looking down across the ocean, Gannon's is upscale dining with a world class view. Drop in at happy hour for bargain prices on some great food.

Joe's is another Bev Gannon restaurant. Serving "comfort food" in a low key, open design surrounded by the tennis club, Joe's is about relaxation and great flavors. The chocolate bread pudding was one of the best desserts we've ever tried.

Humuhumunukunukuapua'a at the Grand Wailea is set over a fish pond with beach views (very nice at sunset). Very good food, although pricey.

Lappert's Hawaiian ice cream and coffee in the Shops at Wailea. Fresh waffle cones.

Further away

Mama's Fish House in Paia is right on a palm tree lined beach, with that classic Hawaiian grass-hut decor. The menu is expensive, but we've never had better fish dishes anywhere. The desserts are works of art, and wonderfully delicious.

Hali`imaile General Store is Gannon's best, in our opinion, and Honolulu Magazine agrees, giving it the best restaurant in Maui award numerous times. It has a quaint country style and simply outstanding food.

The Waterfront Restaurant has fine dining at the Maalaea harbor. Try the caesar salad prepared table-side.