Kahului, HI

Lunch 10:30am-2:30pm M-F
Dinner 5 – 9:30pm W-F
(808) 877-6000

Well-known for staging Maui’s best Oktoberfest, this little Tyrolean style café oozes Alpen style Herzlichkeit all year ‘round, dishing up European style cuisine drenched in Maui sunshine. It’s one of Central Maui’s best options for lunch or dinner, offering both local and Swiss/German cuisine in a lovely, relaxed setting.

A Lovely Oasis in Kahului Industrial

Never mind that it’s nestled between a granite yard and ceiling fan outlet; once inside, Brigit and Bernard’s Garden Cafe offers an ideal urban oasis inside its garden walls. Under the shade of a giant African tulip tree guests can listen to the hum of bees whilst enjoying a frosty mug of Bavarian or domestic beer before diving into a choice of fresh local fish or one of B&B ‘s regional specialties.

Last week we stopped by within an hour of touching down at OGG, suffering traveler’s pangs for something green and wholesome after a day spent eating peanuts and soft drinks. The goal was simple – a few vitamins would do – but we were uber-joyed after biting into one of the biggest, freshest, best-est salads we’ve possibly ever had outside our own kitchen.  Bernard makes his own vinaigrette dressing, which is the secret to this salad’s success along with the crisp, snappy condition of each and every one of the many vitamin rich ingredients. It was exactly what the doctor would have ordered.

Schnitzel mit Nudeln: Sandwich with Mac Salad

Next up was the schnitzel sandwich, an immense, lightly breaded cutlet that couldn’t be contained by the freshly baked bun on which it was served. Light, delicate, and full of flavor, the sandwich is totally authentic, served with a choice of coleslaw or potato salad (German style, of course). On this day the platter came with an extra serving of the same delicious green salad that kicked off our lunch, since they were, mournfully, out of potato salad having had a big run on it earlier at lunchtime.

My companion enjoyed the fresh seared ahi as his entree, served with a delectably sweet/tangy sauce atop a bit of rice. “Delicious,” he mouthed as he went for the last bite within minutes of being served.
“Hey! I need to report on that dish! Save me some!” After an internal struggle, he reluctantly offered me the final morsel. He was right; it was very good indeed.

What's better than Beer in a Garden?

Other choices on B & B’s menu include classics such as Chicken Marsala, Pasta Carbonara, Pepper Steak, and Gambas ala Plancha (shrimp served Spanish style). They are well-known for their awesome teriyaki salmon or chicken burger as well as superior fresh fish preparations. But for me, the draw here is the Tyrolean specialties, including raclette, which is otherwise absent from Maui’s traditionally tropical menus. If you haven’t allowed yourself the pleasure of a really good schnitzel lately, you owe it to yourself to stop by soon. If it’s ahi you’re after, don’t count on your dining companion to share.

Lahaina, HI 96761

808-667-5400

Website

Attire: Casual

Payment Options: Visa, Mastercard

Parking: Street, Parking Lot

Price Range:$ (0-10)

Services: Walk-Ins Welcome, Good For Groups, Take Out, Catering, Waiter Service

Specialties: Lunch, Dinner, Drinks

Vietnamese Crepe Wraps

From chicken soup to pho, every culture lays claim to a noodle based elixir infused with mythical healing properties, which helps to explain why Star has developed such a following after being open only a week. The luminary of this dining show is obvious, but noodles aren’t the only standout on the menu and the food is not the only attraction.

Star Noodle Cool Zone

The restaurant burst onto the Lahaina dining scene after having generated a conspicuous pre-opening buzz witnessed by fans posting notes of anticipation on Facebook while folks in the streets of West Maui ballyhooed Star’s coming.

And lo and behold, Star finally flung open its doors on February 5^th. The anticipation appears to have been with merit. The décor is hip and urbane, much more inviting than one would expect based on the location at the top of the Emerald Plaza business park in Lahaina. The menu features the best noodle dishes from around the world as interpreted by the Chefs Craig Masuda and Sheldon Simeon. By incorporating Korean, Japanese, Vietnamese, Thai, and local Hawaiian influences the team has developed a unique if not rousing dining experience.

Star Saimin

Star serves two versions of both Ramen and Udon, the ubiquitous go-to dinner featuring meats and veggies swimming in rich, satisfying broth. Less expected are Lahaina Fried Soup, a version of Chow Funn with doubly fat noodles; Buckwheat Soba, with daikon and wasabi heat thrown in for dash; and Singapore Noodles, a classic mixture of chicken, shrimp and egg served on vermicelli served with citrus zest for authenticity. Pad Thai rounds out the choices, its translucent, slightly slithery rice noodles teamed perfectly with shrimp, chicken, peanuts, egg and garlic chives.

Star Noodle - Hana Fiddle Head Ferns

For me the “Star” in the name refers to the other side of the menu – the appetizers. Here one finds robust and haute offerings such as the addictive Pohole Fern Salad Appetizer (Hana Fiddle Head Ferns, Ebi, Kombu and Maui Onions) or Roasted Mushrooms, selected locally and sautéed for maximum flavor. Our party jumped on the Brussels Sprouts, the oft maligned vegetable transformed by Star’s chef into a garden delicacy with bacon, napa cabbage and kimchee puree. Table mates raved about the Ahi Avo, done up with olive oil, sambal, and usukuchi.

At Star you’ll find what is surely the island’s best Spicy Namasu, prepared with an exacting balance of sweetness, spice and tang but it was the Vietnamese mainstay, the Crepe Appetizer, that stole the show. A wickedly fresh assortment of herbs and beans sprouts shares the plate with a paper thin egg-based pancake. Diners roll their own, wrapping all the ingredients into a lettuce leaf. Think of lettuce wraps with the extra crepe layer inside.

Star Noodle Server

Satisfying, healthy and well-prepared, Star Noodle is certain to be a favorite of just about everyone — from the ladies who lunch, to nutrition minded hipsters, to those just searching for a little comfort in a bowl. The large relaxed bar will surely attract crowds of regulars appreciative of  the large selection of sakes, creative sake cocktails such as XRated Saketini, Asian beers, and even Oroyu Sushi White Wine blend, ideal for those times when you seek that other sort of comfort.

Seared Ahi

The news of the demi-menu’s homecoming sent us flying into Lahaina Grill last night as we anticipated satisfying (albeit smaller) preparations of our favorite island entrees such as Kona Coffee Roasted Rack of Lamb, Steak Jolene, Firecracker Tequilla Shrimp, Mahimahi, and the surprisingly popular Penne and Meatballs, which are among the gastronomic stars being served in demi-portions at about half price at the bar from 6 p.m. to closing Sundays to Thursdays.

Lahaina Grill Kona Coffee Rack of Lamb

Our party last night started out by tucking into an assortment of Lahaina Grill’s famous salads including the Three Beet Salad – like candy for a beet lover — the Spinach Salad with Pecan Crusted Goat Cheese, and a bowl of the restaurant’s stupendous Lobster Bisque. Gobbling them down, we gave no thought to whether or not we’d still have room when the entrée arrived, since they would be demi portions. Indeed, the Rack of Lamb turned out to be two very meaty ribs served on mashed potatoes with plenty of root veggies and a sinfully delicious bulb of roasted garlic on the side. Perfectly satisfying and nutritionally balanced!

Equally easy to stomach was the demi portion of Lahaina Grill’s world-class wild salmon fillet, prepared with the same Carmelized Maui onion crust. The only difference between that and the original was a bit smaller portion of fish than the full sized entrée. Again, it was ideal for us since we intended to indulge in the demi portion of Triple Berry Pie ($7) without a tinge of guilt!

“Lahaina Grill’s demi menu was originally developed to appeal to a wider customer base, to create a more approachable and casual experience at the bar,” shares Jurg Munch, chef-owner. “The buzz at our bar is already contagious, but this menu just helps to make a night on the town a bit more fun and affordable.” It helps too if you’d like to try any number of Lahaina Grill’s special entrees. If you are short on time in Maui and can only stop in once or twice, we’d highly recommend ordering two or three demi servings to experience all that LG has to offer.

Road to Hana at Lahaina Grill

The new bar menu provides an alternative for diners, which is exactly what consumers today long for – great flavor vs. great quantity. Of course, there are those who still want and need LG’s legendary big portions, as our companion did last night when he insisted on (and finished!) the gigantic bone-in Rib Eye. Whichever menu you chose, we salute Lahaina Grill for giving us choices. By offering their half off entrée portions, consumers can have it all; outstanding food, pristine service, convivial atmosphere, and four satisfying courses that will neither break the bank nor spoil your New Year’s Resolutions.

For more details, call Lahaina Grill at 667-5117.

Mama's Fish House Landmark

Round the curve on the two-lane highway beyond Pa`ia, turn at the meticulously restored, permanently parked surf wagon, hand over your vehicle to the valet, meander down the path fashioned of artistically designed gecko shaped stones, then gasp at sight of the coconut grove framing sybaritic views of the crashing surf. Linger before strolling through the arbor preceding the hostess stand. From there you will be guided to your table through the eclectic structure festooned with brilliant floral arrangements, thatched roofs, and oriental rugs. This is how it must have been a hundred years ago in Hawaii when westerners brought their treasured, albeit out of place, upscale possessions and mingled them with lauhala mats and coconut trees. There aren’t many places like this left in Hawaii.

There is a part of me that wishes I didn’t like Mama’s so much – the part that manages my budget. It’s well known that before you even step inside you must get past the fact this romantic, delicious, picture-postcard perfect place will cost you dearly — like most things we love and just gotta have.

Mama's Fish House, Paia, Maui

The online menu doesn’t even list prices – but read a few posts on travel message boards and you’ll get some idea. “Our lunch was over $200!!” “I expected this meal to be pricey but I didn’t expect to pay $350 for three!” “Sixteen dollars for a Mai Tai? The Four Seasons only charges $12!” Mama’s fees are hefty, so it’s inevitable someone will occasionally feel a bit let down.

Much more often you’ll read that this high priced, far-flung outpost of Tahiti (it’s really more South Seas than Hawaiian if you look closely) is worth every penny. “A must –do for everyone on every trip to Maui!” enthuses one reviewer. In spite of the fact  dinner at Mama’s is probably the most expensive meal many tourists will enjoy on vacation, most seem to walk away hypnotized, wrapped in Mama’s undeniable spell.

What makes it so worth it? I can attest the food is good. Some dishes are even stupendous. If you are in the mood for a special dessert, the Black Pearl tops the charts. The Poisson Cru renders a trip to Tahiti unnecessary. The ahi couldn’t be any fresher unless you were on the boat when they pulled it in.

Mama's Black Pearl Dessert

Mama’s is known for fresh fish taken from the water that morning with the name of the fisherman and location of catch often noted on the menu. In truth, fish pulled from the sea hours before it’s served is standard at many Maui restaurants. Although Chef Perry Bateman was named Best Chef 2009 in a readers poll conducted by Maui No Ka Oi Magazine,  there are other great chefs on Maui who are quite skilled and innovative, especially with fish.

When people travel to Maui from the mainland fantasizing about a little grass shack on the beach, they are actually thinking of Mama’s which essentially personifies the tropical dream. The setting, views, distinctive décor, and overall appeal of the place are simply unmatched.

There are very few, if any, places like Mama’s that are open to the public in Hawaii. Although the restaurant has expanded over the years into a huge, rambling dining room, most guests never notice the banquet hall parameters of the place. They are only aware it is a restaurant they will never forget. And yes, the fish is fresh and excellently prepared.