Kaanapali Parkway and Honoapi`ilani Hwy
Kaanapali, Maui, HI 96761
808-667-4080
www.tiajuanas.com

It was a big weekend on the West Maui culinary scene with back to back celebrations of a new restaurant duet in Kaanapali. Saturday brought the grand opening festivities for Tia Juana’s Beach Club, located in the former home of Giovanni’s. On Sunday, an official Hawaiian blessing, officiated by Wilmot Kahaiali`i, was held upstairs for invited guests while downstairs eager and inquisitive crowds gathered to check out the memento laden cantina, new home of Donavon Frankenreiter’s Margarita House.

While DF’s Margarita House is an original, there has been another Tia Juana’s in Irvine, California for 22 years. The owners, sensing the Mexican food and margarita options on their favorite island were lacking, teamed up with the celebrity surfer/musician hoping to fill that void using recipes and the same time-proven methods of their successful California eatery. At Tia Juana’s, diners will find the usual nachos, taco, burrito fare along with welcome surprises such as guacamole prepared to order at your table; delightfully unique dishes like Callitos Playa Azul, large sea scallops sautéed in spicy Chardonnay-garlic butter sauce with wild mushrooms; otherwise simple enchiladas stuffed with filet mignon or scallop/shrimp/crabmeat; and ordinary tacos transformed into superstars with luscious lobster filling.

Downstairs, DF’s Margarita House is a repository for all things Frankenreiter with retro, single-fin surfboards lining the ceiling, old guitars and 8-tracks gracing the walls, stacks of amps, vinyls and myriad other nods to the life and times. A surfer/musician’s bar bereft of sound would be scandalous; as such, we are assured live entertainment will be part of the restaurant’s program. Word on the street says Donavon will be personally performing about once a month.

As for the food, those of you still whining about disappearance of Johnny’s Burgers may be pacified at last – the “Donny” Burger promises to be same old, but better. Appropriate to the bar ambiance of Margarita House is a menu of crowd pleasers like the Pass Around appetizer platter chocked full of meat, shrimp, fish tacos; gygundo platters of Big Wave Nachos made with carne asada and black beans; Chihuahua hotter ‘n Kilauea Wings; flautas, quesadillas, ceviche, guacamole and poppers.

Knock it all back with a grand selection of cleverly named tequila-based cocktails like the Maui Orchid or Lana`i Margar-tini. For an after dinner treat try Mexican Café Maui Style, made with Patron Café, Hennesy Cognac, dark Crème de Cacao and freshly brewed Maui Plantation coffee and whipped cream. That should get you dancing. If agave based liquor is not your thing, try the North Shore Mojito made with fresh raspberries or peaches, mint, simple syrup muddled with fresh lime, Bacardi and soda. Sounds almost healthy!

Both Tia Juana’s and DF’s Margarita House are welcome additions to west Maui’s restaurant options. Tia Juana’s will surely attract diners looking for an affordable but relatively upscale and fun night out while Donavon Frankenreiter’s Margarita House will appeal with hearty, spicy food, sumptuous drinks, energizing music and a promising night on the town.