How to Nab Great Dining Deals in Maui

This all started about a year ago when, being a deal hunter by heart, I first noticed a number of restaurants responded to the economic bubble burst by offering discounts and specials, especially for kama`aiana. I started assembling a list of said specials and sharing it weekly via email. My friends liked it and shared it with their friends which only egged me on.

Soon the deals newsletter expanded into dining reviews, notices of upcoming events, photos of food, and screeching to a halt for garage sale signs – oh, sorry that had nothing to do with What’s Cooking Maui but everything to do with the start of all this – the downturn in the economy. I may be willing to wear recycled clothes but the last things I’ll scrimp on or compromise is the quality of the food I eat. To me, it’s easy to decide where you tighten and where you should spend –inside vs. outside – one matters, one doesn’t. Spend your money on food preferably shared somewhere. That way, you’ve got your health, you got your friends; you let the rest ride.

Since starting WCM we’ve expanded the staff by two ( sometimes four when they are up to it) but lately there are so many specials flooding the dining scene we can barely keep up! Fortunately, this week Maui Times helped us out by presenting their own Taste of Maui special food edition in which they list what they’ve deemed as the top 25 dining deals around Maui. They rightfully admit there’s is not a comprehensive list; in fact, they’ve only scratched the surface of what’s out there, deal-wise. I’m passing along their suggestions and adding WCM notes to further expand upon their recommendations. Hey, we’re just here to help one another!

For the original Maui Times article and comments look here.

I’o
505 Front St., Lahaina
The deal: Half off entrees for Kama’aina daily in September
WCM Says: We love I`o! We told you all about this one!

Gian Don’s Italian Bistro
1445 S. Kihei Rd., Kihei, 874-4041
The deal: Pay by the time of night, Thurs., 4:30-9:30pm
WCM Says: The earlier you arrive the cheaper it is. Clever approach to a money-saving special.

Pacific Whale Foundation
300 Maalaea Rd. #211, Maalaea, 249-8811
The deal: Half-price sunset dinner cruises every Sun. through Nov.
WCM Says: Great way to get out on the water for an inexpensive 3-course meal, even though the whales won’t surface for a few more months.

Lahaina Grill
127 Lahainaluna Rd., Lahaina, 667-5117
The deal: Half-price entrees every Mon. in Sept., 6pm-close
WCM Says: We love Jurg and the entire Lahaina Grill staff, menu, wine list and ambiance. Reviving the Kama`aina special is just what the Doctor ordered. See full feature on this and WCM’s exclusive interview with Mary Swiger!

Diamonds Ice Bar and Grill
1279 S. Kihei Rd., Kihei, 879-9299
The deal: Buy one, get one half off
WCM Says: Well advertised and on our list to review soon.

PS: Another ice bar, Maui Brewing Co, also offers some great menu deals, as does their friends at Maalaea Harbor, Beach Bums.

Matteos Pizzeria and Italian Restaurant
100 Ike Drive, Wailea, 874-1234
The deal: Half off pizza and wine by the glass
WCM Says: Happy to learn about this one! Matteo’s is awesome!

S&Q’s Coffee & Shave Ice Shack
Rainbow Mall, 2439 S. Kihei Rd., Kihei, 344-6598
The deal: Buy any drink over $4 and get a free breakfast sandwich, Mon. & Thurs., 7am-12pm
WCM Says: This is cool – usually you buy the food get the drink free but I guess when drinks are $4-5 smackeroos it’s okay to toss in a sandwich. Sounds like a great early morning deal.

PS: How about Los Pelones’ ½ off breakfast entrees?

Ruby’s
275 W. Kaahumanu Ave., Kahului, 248-7829
The deal: Buy one entrée, get one free
WCM Says: Perfect for when you’re playing Auntie for the keiki, since kids love this 50’s style diner. They love the hotdogs and hamburgers, shakes and little put-together cardboard choo-choo trains. They love the giant gum balls hurtling down a loop-de-loop track before popping out of the machine directly onto the floor so you have to buy another one (whilst you secretly stuff the supposedly contaminated ball into your own pocket for later. Heheh…) In other words, great fun for kids and kids at heart.

Mulligan’s on the Blue
100 Kaukahi St., Wailea, 874-1131.
The deal: 2 for 1 pupus and half-off drinks, daily, 4-6pm
WCM Says: All early bird specials share a similar benefit – perfect for when you get off work early and want to be home for prime time. Cheap easy, sociable, forget your workaday cares — just don’t overdo it on the half-priced drinks.

PS: For many more super Happy Hour and Pupu Specials reported on WCM:

Check these out!

PSS: Loads of Early Bird Food Specials as reported on WCM (exact times vary by restaurant). They are on the WCM calendar, too, so check there.

Lulu’s, Lahaina -50% off all food
Sands of Kahana – second entrée 50% off
Round Table Pizza, Kihei, Kaanapali – buy 1 get 1 ½ off
Ruth’s Chris Sizzling Prime Time Special, Lahaina, Wailea – $40
Ruth’s Chris Happy Hour – ½ off appetizers
Sansei, Kihei, Kapalua – 25% off entire menu
Joe’s Bar and Grill, Wailea – BOGO on entrees
Jacques, Paia – 50% sushi rolls
Tropica, Kaanapali – 20% kama`aina food
Kai Sushi, Ritz – ½ off before 6:30 p.m.
NEW!! Rusty Harpoon – Power Hour – Half off Entire menu 6-7 p.m.

Pho Saigon 808
Wharf Center, 658 Front St., Lahaina, 661-6628
The deal: Buy one special entree, get the second half off, Tues. & Sat.
WCM Says: I think Maui Times said this one best: You can never go wrong with pad Thai and curry.

Sansei
1881 S. Kihei Rd., Kihei, 879-0004
The deal: Half-price sushi, Sun.-Mon., 5-6pm for kama’aina; twenty-five percent off sushi, Tues.-Sat., 5:30-6pm
WCM Says: This deal’s been offered forever so it’s not really new or the result of economic downturn. It serves to pack ‘em into a place that would already be packed without the special. To note: last Sunday we arrived at 7:30 p.m. , and there was still an hour wait.

PS: Kai, next door at the Ritz, also offers Kama`aina ½ off superior sushi until 6:30 p.m.

Polli’s Mexican Restaurant
1202 Makawao Ave., Makawao, 572-7808
The deal: Buy one taco plate or burrito supreme, get one half-off
WCM Says: That’s almost as good as Taco Tuesdays! Okay, even better!

PS:  Los Pelones at the Cannery Mall does a dynamite Taco Tuesday with loads of topping and choices of fillings plus half off second breakfast entree daily, so does Fred’s in Kihei.

Dog and Duck
1913 S Kihei Rd, Kihei 875-9669
The deal: Buy one entrée, get one half off; buy three appetizers, get one free
WCM Says: We’re really digging the buy two get one free appetizer specials being offered at various places. If you have two people and three appetizers, you’re generally set for dinner.

PS: There are similar specials available at Maalaea Grill and Pioneer Inn!

RB Steakhouse
4465 Honoapiilani Highway, Lahaina, 669-8889
The deal: Half price pupus, $2 drafts, $3 cocktails, 3-6pm daily
How to work it: Start with a $2 draft of Widmere Heffewizen and pair it with the escargot—expertly prepared in garlic butter and bearnaise—for $4.50. Please, don’t be one of those food sissies who say they don’t eat snails; the French really know what’s up. After that you can easily cruise through the $3 cocktails or a glass of wine with the lobster artichoke fritters, a shrimp cocktail or the half-pound clams—or simply more beer.

PS: They might not have snails on the menu, but Rusty Harpoon, Dollies Pub, Sands of Kahana,  Canoes, all have half price pupus, $2 Drafts and $3 cocktails during happy hour. In fact, so do many others on this list of Happy Hour and Pupu Specials

Big Wave Café
1215 S. Kihei Rd., Kihei, 891-8688
The deal: Buy one, get one free daily, 5-6:30pm
WCM Says: Nice place to stop in for early bird specials.

PS: Also try Five Palms down the street. Drink specials and half priced sushi and pupus from 3-7 p.m. Enjoy their sunset 3 course dinner special for only $29.95.

Ruth’s Chris Steak House
The Shops at Wailea, 874-8880; 900 Front St., Lahaina, 661-8815
The deal: Twenty-five percent off ala carte menu Sun.-Mon.
WCM Says: Think that’s good! There’s even more! They also offer ½ price appetizers at the bar and kama`aina specials.

Stopwatch Sports Bar & Grill
1127 Makawao Ave., Makawao, 572-1380
The deal: Buy one entrée, get one half-off, Wed.-Thurs., 5-8:45pm
WCM Says: Great deal on already well priced menu and wonderfully eclectic décor.

Mala Ocean Tavern
1307 Front Street, Lahaina, 667-9394
The deal: Half off food nightly, 8-10pm for Kama’aina
WCM Says: This place is really perfect for foodies on a budget because the menu is excellent, the location stellar and it exudes just a hint of class so you never feel like you’re hunting for a deal, though you are.

PS: Another classy joint where you can save face and cash, Merriman’s offers 25% off kama`aina food at the bar every night. Tuesdays you can sit with the gentry in the dining room and no one will be the wiser.

PSS: Buzz’s Wharf, the venerable harbor side stalwart in Maalaea, also dove into the discount dining scene recently. 40% discounts on select menu items for kama`aina from 8-10 p.m. daily.

Stella Blues Cafe
1279 S. Kihei Rd. #201, Kihei, 874-3779
The deal: Twenty percent off daily, 7:30-8:30am, 5-6pm
WCM Says: Classic early and earlier bird specials at reliable favorite.

Kau Kau Tin
2102 W. Vineyard St., Wailuku, HI 96793.
The deal: Call for daily deals
WCM Says: Before we can agree this is a top deal we have to see the actual deal and eat the food. You’re on your own to trust Maui Times on this one.

Kahului Ale House
355 E. Kamehameha Ave., Kahului, 877-9001
The deal: Half price beer-battered fish and chips all day Fri.
WCM Says: We like what MT said about this one:
How to work it: This one’s pretty foolproof: check the calendar to make sure it’s Friday, walk in, order the beer-battered fish and chips and eat them. (A side dish of beer is recommended.)

Maui Coffee Roasters
444 Hana Hwy, Kahului, 877-2877
The deal: $1 cappucinos after 2pm
WCM Says: Zzzzzz….zzz… huh? Oh, yeah, give me one of those.

Santa Fe Cantina
900 Front St., Lahaina, 667-7805
The deal: Half-price entrees every Sun. in Sept.
WCM Says: We’ve mentioned SFC’s specials many times. Specials also include a great happy hour and Taco Tuesdays.

Roy’s
4405 Honoapiilani Hwy, Lahaina, 669-6999
The deal: Buy one, get one free
WCM Says: Half off entrees from the king of Pacific Fusion cuisine? Sweet! But there’s more. Also take 25% off Classic Fusion dishes served at the bar and early birds in the dining room get a four-course prix fixe from 5:30-6:30 -  great value at $39. Wine is half off on Wednesdays, including cheapies like Esser Chard for $15 and monster’s like Shafer Hillside, normally priced at $450 for a mere $219, proving even big spenders like a deal now and then.

The Melting Pot
Lahaina Gateway Center, Keawe St., Lahaina, 661-6181
The deal: Four-course menu for $35 per person (minimum 2 people)
WCM Says: Nice change of pace and monthly ladies’ night out events keep the girls’ going wild.

Restaurant owners, please let WCM know if you have anything to add or change in the information included here.

Ritz Lobby

When the Ritz lobby bar reopened just in time for the Mercedes Golf Tournament in January, 2008, it created quite a stir. The transformation had been so dramatic it took a while for those in love with the “old Ritz” to adjust. Not everyone liked it.

Gone were the cushy, well-worn sofas and other remnants of the formerly gracious plantation era décor, replaced by a modernistic, edgy space the centerpiece of which was the recreation of a lava flow threatening dramatically beyond the lighted onyx bar. If the old lobby bar lulled patrons into a highly soporific state, the new space seems intended to inspire energy, much in keeping with Kapalua’s overall renaissance.

Take the House Salad with beets, pecans, blue cheese and tender greens from Kapalua Farms, or the Cobb Salad when you’re in the bacon and avocado mood. Main course option might be the Filet Sandwich or Pork Potstickers or even the superb Tropical Shrimp cocktail is big and satisfying enough to stand in for an entree.

When visiting with a group, consider starting the night with one of the best kept secrets (and great deals) on Maui – the thin crust pizza, made as you like for only $16! While you wait, slip in an order for the Rainbow Roll, or the  Crab and Fontina Cheese dip which are fun to eat and easy to share.

What I like most about the Alaloa bar menu is the variety of items likely to become crowd pleasing classics. Whether you’re in the mood for Italian (pizza), Chinese (duck spring rolls!), island fare (ahi poke), Japanese (sushi rolls) or good old American style meat and potatos (luscious burgers and fried onions!) you can have it here, along with oft intriguing nightly specials.

When one considers all that comes with such a delightful dining experience — an elegant, hip, see-and-be-seen ambiance, spirited live music, great food, a winning menu, and impeccable service for which the Ritz is well-known — the pricing is also appealing. For instance, last night we enjoyed a satisfying repast for two for under $50 (drinks extra.)

Is it any wonder Alaloa has won over so many former skeptics in such a short amount of time?

Ritz Carlton Lobby Bar, Kapalua, Maui, HI

One Ritz-Carlton Drive,
Kapalua, Hawaii 96761 USA
Phone: (808) 669-6200
Fax: (808) 669-1566

Champagne Point at Merriman's

Many years ago I learned the secret to great cooking from a very famous chef during a cooking class in the south of France. He shared his trick after a fellow student bemoaned that they’d never master the art of precise dicing nor be able to reproduce complicated sauces at home. Hearing that, the Chef wiped his hands, leaned forward on the counter and assured us that 90% of great cooking is shopping. When it comes to cooking, he insisted, the ingredients used in food preparation matter more than anything else.

His revelation wouldn’t have come as big news to Peter Merriman, who in the early ‘80’s had already developed a farm to table approach to cooking in his Big Island dining establishments. His philosophy was simple but novel for the time in Hawaii– use the freshest ingredients available. To accomplish his goal of using 90% local and/or sustainable ingredients he developed partnerships with local farmers, ranchers, fishermen, and growers to ensure he had the best of the best for his customers. It was, needless to say, a hit.

Twenty-some years later it came as no surprise when Kapalua announced that Merriman would take the helm of the newly revitalized restaurant formerly located in the Bay Club adjacent Kapalua Bay. Long recognized as one of the most ideal dining locations on the island, residents and visitors to Maui waited with bated breath for last summer’s grand opening. One year later, the restaurant has developed a following that clearly reflects the value of the restaurateur’s focused appreciation and insistence on using local, prime ingredients.  

 Clearly, since they opened Merriman’s has garnered high ratings as one of the most romantic and elegant restaurants in Maui. After attending a party there last night I can assure you it also ranks as one of the best venues for a special event. 

Merriman's Sunset Reflection

 The party started with hors d’oevres on “Champagne Point,” which competes as the most idyllic setting for a cocktail on the planet. Guests were treated to gorgeously presented and sumptuously prepared appetizers.  Imagine a tray of crisp-fried mushrooms stuffed with scallop and cream sauce, each piece perched elegantly on a little cucumber pedestal, ahi bruchetta floating by on individual slices carrot and bite sized portions of Merriman’s famous duck egg rolls begging for dipping. Brilliant, iridescent rainbows showed up on cue, framing the views to the east as if encouraging the retiring sun to go it one better with painterly swathes of color across the ocean that lingered long after the sun had set.

The crowd moved into the restaurant for the main event, as gloriously orchestrated as the sunset. Seamless, unobtrusive and perfectly timed, Merriman’s created a memorable occasion as forty delighted guests gathered in the south counter of the restaurant. Unencumbered by the goings on in the main dining room and bar area (which were also abuzz with patrons!) guests raved about everything served – the salad, seared ahi appetizer, and one of the most succulent and tender filets this side of heaven.

The event ranked as one of the best private dinner parties I’ve experienced in Maui. What more can a host ask for than attentive service, terrific food, outrageous views, and overjoyed guests who today are thanking their lucky stars to have been counted among their friends?

Table with View

If you’re inclined to spoil your guests with equal aplomb, Merriman’s can accommodate parties up to 60 people in a private area but parties of 61 to 150 require buying out the restaurant. To book a private party or function call (808) 669-6400 or email Joanie Kirk, Event Coordinator at joanie@merrimanshawaii.com.

Ocean Bay Trail Near Oneloa Bay

Ever Beautiful Kapalua Bay

Ambassadors of the Environment

The former tennis garden near Fleming Beach has been transformed into the Ambassadors of the Environment Hale which serves as the starting point for numerous fun environmental awareness programs. Launched last fall in partnership with Kapalua, Ritz-Carlton and Jean-Michael Cousteau’s Ocean Futures Society, AOTE’s programs offers visitors in-depth explorations of the wonders of the natural world. Underwater photography sessions, hikes to the Maunalei Arboretum, and myriad exciting and unique keiki programs lead by trained naturalists, foster a greater appreciation for the world’s interconnectedness. Costs for the program range from $59 – $89.

Ambassadors of the Environment Hale

Kapalua Adventure Center

Have you seen the Unimoggs yet? Ever wonder where they are going? The open-air, all-terrain biodiesel vehicles transport guests from the Adventure Center to Kapalua’s Mountain Outpost. From there intrepid explorers get their kicks on one of the biggest, meanest, baddest zipline tour in North America. The dual system course offers 8 zips carrying adventurers silently above the tree canopy over deep gorges giving a true bird’s eye view without disturbing the natural environment below. Besides the ziplines, the Adventure Center boasts a comprehensive high-ropes challenge course, a four station climbing tower suspension bridge and a thrill swing built for two.

Unimoggs Transport Guests to Adventure

Guests can also hike any of Kapalua’s 100 miles of trails., accessing those at the Mountain Outpost trailhead via the free shuttle that departs five times daily from the Ritz Carlton. Adventure tours range from $45 for the pineapple express tour to $199 for the deluxe zipline tour.

Cafe Kapalua

We’d be remiss if we failed to mention here the wonderful Cafe Kapalua, the perfect spot to start or end your journey into the wilderness areas of the resort. Offering well-priced and delicious breakfast, lunch, snacks, smoothies, coffees and pastries, the unassuming cafe tucked into the back of the Adventure Center next to the outfitters shop across from the golf range,  delivers so much more than you’d expect at first glance.

What might elsewhere be ho-hum —  huevos rancheros, salads, wraps, sandwiches — are elevated to gourmet status by the use of premium, fresh ingredients gathered from farms across the island, in particular, the Kapalua Farms right down the street. Whatever else has happened in this crazy world of ours over the centuries, we humans have retained the ability to recognize fresh at first bite and seem to appreciate that particular trigger to pleasure more and more. So stop by, enjoy the taste of fresh at Cafe Kapalua. Then, get out there!

Ocean Hiking Trail

One of Kapalua’s simpler pleasures is the Ocean Trail, especially during whale season. Running from Kapalua Bay to Fleming Beach, the path passes by the newly completed Ritz Residences and has been recently upgraded to include a boardwalk over the dunes at Oneloa Bay. It’s stunning, it’s easy and it’s free.

Kapalua's Ocean Trail traverses some of the world's most beautiful scenery.

Golf Practice Course

My favorite Kapalua improvement in recent months is the revamped 3-hole practice range on the former Village Course. Each hole has three different tee boxes and although it’s short and sweet, the course provides ample opportunity to practice skills beyond the range and putting green without committing to a full round. It’s also the perfect place to test your skills after a lesson at the Golf Academy. Check in at the learning center before heading to the course; cost is $25.

Kapalua Golf Learning Center Views

Bocce Ball

There’s good reason Italian’s love the game of Bocce; it’s fun, sociable, and you can drink wine while you do it. For a little taste of la dolce vita in Kapalua, get your pals together under the shaded courts located directly across from the Honolua Store. The glorious views the overlooking the Bay Course will inspire even if your skills are initially lacking. If you’ve never played before, don’t worry. Bocce is a game with a quick learning curve and thus appeals to beginners and aficionados alike. Team members take turns rolling bocce balls as close to the pollina (set ball) as possible — and that’s pretty much it. Good hand eye coordination helps, but anyone can get in on the action. The Villas Registration Center loans out bocce sets at no charge to guests and residents.

Both wines and food were a thrill to the senses. James Wadsworth of Southern Wine & Spirits started with a pour of Santa Barbara Traiminer – a drier, more delicious version of the German gewürztraminer, which paired perfectly with Chef Alex’s specialty, a savory first course hummus, tapenades and pita breads which packed more flavor into a spoonful than most meals can in full plate. I was most impressed with the next selection in the wine tasting, a Botesea Rosato which changed my attitude toward rose wine forevermore.

The event had been advertised as a “fun evening” and, indeed, escalated into a true party in the congenial atmosphere of the Grill Room as guests gobbled down platters of steamers, clams and mussels, almond and bacon potato croquettes, and a fabulous sashimi with sea salt, oil and arugula. At the height of the festivities, a Santa Barbara County Barbera beckoned, teemed with an impressed Torta with Carmelized Onion and Potatoes. In fact, attendees seemed so at home, and were having so much fun, that we had to be reminded that the party was over many hours later. Blame it on Spring Fever and Chef Stanislaw’s sense of true hospitality. Oh, and the wines may have had something to do with it, too.

To keep in the loop of future special events and goings on at Plantation House, sign-up for their newsletter. Until next time, dine well and be hearty!