What's Cooking Maui » Lahaina Grill

Deals, Deals, Deals and More Deals

Smmmarti — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 19:07:54 +0000

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.

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Hot Bartender – Mary Swiger

Smmmarti — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 16:47:46 +0000

Mary Swiger at Lahaina Grill

Mary Swiger was kind enough to take time from her her very active personal life and busy job as Bar Manager at Lahaina Grill to grant WCM the following interview.

WCM: Mary, it’s pretty well known that you and your co-hosts at the Lahaina Grill bar are primary attractions… along with the food, of course. How do you mange to keep things sizzling night after night?
Mary: It’s pretty easy really. Our bar lends itself to conversation. Most of our guests are locals or return guests so all it takes is a couple of people to start talking and the bar picks up this energy. It’s really fun.

WCM: You’re more than a bar manager. You also serve full gourmet meals at your bar. With all the serving, bussing, pouring, mixing, and special orders, how do you manage it all so seamlessly?
Mary: All of us girls are great multi-taskers. It’s just one of those things that you learn to do over time. Both Annabehl and I have been at Lahaina Grill for over ten years now. Working with the same person for so long makes it really easy. Jessie is relatively new but she already has blended in great.

WCM: What’s a nice girl like you doing in a place like this?
Mary: I love Maui. When I first moved here I fell in love with the island and then I got this job and it was perfect. This doesn’t even feel like a job. It feels more like I’m going to a great party every night. I feel fortunate to have a job I love so much.

WCM: Okay, better put, how did you originally find your way to Lahaina Grill? How long have you been working there?
Mary: I moved to Maui from Las Vegas. I knew our current General Manager, Debbi Fagan, there. She worked at the same restaurant I did in Vegas. She had lived out here for a bit and worked at the Ritz Carlton. She had a contact there who was the General Manager of this restaurant at the time. She said I should go in and apply and that I could use her name as a reference. So, that’s what I did. I got the job here fifteen years ago. Debbi eventually moved back to Maui and she also got a job here. Now she’s the general manager. It’s a small world out there.

WCM: Fill in the blank. If I weren’t the bar manager at Lahaina Grill I’d _______.
Mary: I’d love to be the owner. Seriously, it’s such a great restaurant that I would love to own one just like it. I really love the industry so if I weren’t here at Lahaina Grill tending bar I would probably still be involved in this industry in some way. It’s such a social environment and I love that.

WCM: Lahaina Grill is undoubtedly West Maui’s best place to meet and mingle. How do you make everyone feel so at home at your bar?
Mary: I’m a people person and I think that’s evident when you’re at my bar. At least I hope it is. I really love getting to know people. I’ve met some incredibly interesting people here and become very good friends with lots of them. People are interesting and a bar is a perfect setting to start conversations with people. It’s not like table side service. It’s a little more casual so it is easier to engage the guests.

WCM: I happen to know firsthand you’ve watched the evolution of many relationships from your position behind the bar; from heady first date to heart aching split. Do you offer advice to the lovelorn?
Mary: Hmmm. I listen and offer advice if I’m asked. I can’t seem to figure that department out for myself, let alone figure it out for someone else, but, sure, I give an opinion if asked. I mostly listen though. That’s all most of us want anyway; a sounding board and someone to listen.

WCM: How do you handle prickly situations?
Mary: Thankfully we don’t get many of those here. I try to be as nice as possible. It’s hard to be nasty to someone who is being really nice to you so that is how I try to manage it. I try to make it difficult for them to stay “prickly”. If, however, they are bent on staying in a difficult mood, at that point I turn the situation over to Debbi, the General Manager. She’s excellent at dealing with difficult situations. That way I can get back to doing my job.

WCM: What’s your favorite libation to serve? To enjoy after hours? To toss down the drain?
Mary: I’m not much of a drinker but I love a good glass of wine from time to time. I also love a great Lemon Drop Cocktail. The only trouble with them is they don’t taste like alcohol so they sneak up on me. I live in Makawao so I never have after hours drinks. It’s too far to drive after drinking. As far as what would I toss down the drain, ask anyone of my co-workers and they will all know the answer to this one. Mojitos! I hate that cocktail. I hate making them more than anything. Thankfully, Annabehl and Jessie don’t mind at all.

WCM: Another fill in the blanks: If I never see another _____________ in my life it will be too soon.
Mary: Mojito!!

WCM: What do you love most about your job?
Mary: The social aspect of it. It’s like a party every night at Lahaina Grill. Some nights are just so fun it feels almost sinful to get paid to be there. We really do have a wonderful clientele at Lahaina Grill — really amazing people. It’s so much fun to look out the window and see a returning guest about to walk in the restaurant. You just know it’s going to be a fun night. It’s like an old friend returning. Annabehl and I have known some guests for over ten years. That’s a long time to know someone and we’ve developed great friendships. We know a lot about them and they know a lot about us. We can talk about things just like old friends do. How are the kids? How’s the new job? How’s the remodel coming along? It’s the same for them. They ask us about our lives as well. And then there are the new guests; always an opportunity to get to know someone else. It really is great fun.

WCM: It’s obvious you love what you do. Thanks so much for sharing with WCM readers.
Mary: This was fun! See you next weekend at Lahaina Grill.

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Cool Bars, Hot Bartenders

Smmmarti — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 16:45:23 +0000

Lahaina Grill Bar

Our series, Cool Bars, Hot Bartenders, focuses on a unique aspect of the Maui dining scene – fine dining at a bar. A far cry from hot wings and beer, Cool Bar dining more likely includes a martini before dinner, followed by further socializing while scoffing foie gras, ahi towers or mac-crusted opakapaka, washed down with a bottle of fine wine, finished with a molten lava cake or trio of tropical sorbets. In many of Maui’s most elegant establishments a seat at the bar is the most coveted table.

Maria and Tony Garcia have reserved specific bar stools every Friday night at Lahaina Grill for years. Asked what keeps them coming back again and again, Maria explains, “Unlike most other restaurants, there are over a dozen items on the menu at Lahaina Grill that we really love, even after all this time. The very friendly and personal atmosphere combined with attention to detail has not been matched in any other restaurant we’ve visited, anywhere in the world, including Europe.”

Maui's Bar Scene Sizzles

It’s a Maui thing… people are drawn to good vibes more than anything. Few can match the vibe created by Jurg Munch and his team at Lahaina Grill, our first Cool Bar spotlight. According to Mary Swiger, Bar Manager at Lahaina Grill and the first in our series of Hot Bartenders, dining at the bar is so popular simply because it’s fun, engaging, and guests are ensured a veritable party every visit. And, we might add, consistently stellar food!

In this week’s featured interview, learn more about Mary Swiger and why she was chosen to kick off our series. Who will we spotlight next? Weigh in via email: info@whatscookingmaui.com

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Local Favorites Extend Kama`aina Deals Through May

Smmmarti — Tue, 19 May 2009 02:34:18 +0000

Lahaina Grill shows the love on Mondays in May by offering locals 50% off any of their fabulous entrees. Try the rack of lamb, firecracker shrimp, steak Jolene or, do as we did last night and surrender yourself to the sublime delight of the Opakapaka special, after which you may swear off red meat in favor of such soul-satisfying seafood. Like most things on LG’s menu, it is truly amazing.

I`O’s continues to woo kama`aina by offering 50% off entrees every night, all night. Check out the menus at www.iomaui.com. Remember what your mama told you –get while the getting’s good.

Mala extends their 50% all food offer for kama`aina from 8-10 p.m. nightly at the Lahaina location only. Visit www.malaoceantavern.com for more information.

Here’s a $5 footlong for ya. Maui Tacos, another local favorite by Mark Ellman and gang, invites anyone to enjoy any and all surf burritos for only $5. Okay, not quite any burrito since the steak and island fish varieties will set you back another $.99. Still a steal.

Online Ballots for Best of Maui, 2009

Show support for your favorite restaurants (or gallery/dj/politico/yoga teacher/MMS fighter) by voting in the Maui Time Weekly Best of Maui. You must first register then vote for at least 40 categories for your vote to count. This, presumably, will halt ballot stuffing and cheating. Voting ends May 20th so stand up and be counted soon.

Heard Through the Coconut Wireless

Drew, of Yen’s Salon at 910 Honoapi`ilani Hwy, at West Maui Center in Lahaina, can’t stop talking about Betty’s Café at 505 Front Street. Though I’ve not yet had the pleasure of dining there, Drew tells me they have some spectacular lobster specials.

Gather your own insider information while enjoying serious fun and socializing beyond haircut, shave, wax or the island’s best prices on a manicure/pedicure by Vee, Yen, Amy and gang. Walk-ins are welcomed but call 667-9188 to make an appointment.

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