Fine Dining in Oahu and Maui with our Top Picks (1/08)
Dining in Oahu
Nick’s Fish Market in Waikiki located in the Gateway Hotel is not your typical dinning experience. Vice President Ben Dowling and Executive Chef Yoshihiro Ohata help make this place a memorable, incredible dinning experience. The romantic atmosphere and cushy leather booths set the mood. They start you with some delicious, warm bread and garlic butter. Our server, Michael was very knowledgeable, attentive and hospitable. We received 5 star services from all of the servers and staff at Nick’s. We started with the Scampi in Garlic Butter that was out of this world. Other signature appetizers include the Oysters Rockefeller, Crab Shrimp and Scallop Cakes, and fresh Sashimi and Tartare. We moved on to the spicy and delicious, 38-year secret recipe New England Clam Chowder (well worth the wait!) The Cesar Salad is a must. Prepared tableside, this age old tradition is rarely seen these days. Our server created a custom made salad that looked like a piece of art. Delicious! They have a wide selection of entrees ranging from roasted Australian Rack of Lamb, Filet Mignon, Shellfish Bouillabaisse, Alaskan King Crab Legs and Baja Abalone (another rarity). Fresh local Seafood from Grilled Mahi Mahi, or Swordfish, Seared Ahi and Sautéed Opakapaka are all great choices. There is even a section on the menu with Lobster combinations or by itself. Choose one of their specialty cocktails or fine wines from their extensive list to accompany your meal.
Mark down Nick’s Fish Market Fine Dinning Cuisine on your next visit to Oahu. For more information and reservations www.nicksfishmarket.com Phone: 955-6333
2070 Kalakaua Avenue Honolulu, HI 96815 Ground Floor of the Waikiki Gateway Hotel
Shokudo Restaurant in Waikiki
This place has a vast variety of dishes in many different themes. It is very home-style and affordable. Shokudo means “Dining Room” in Japanese and you feel right at home here. The place is very big but keeps crowded with many locals enjoying the selections and pricing that is not too expensive especially for Hawaii. Start with some of their signature Sushi Rolls or Salads. Don’t miss the spicy tuna on crispy rice, the rainbow, dynamite or spider roll with assortments of sushi and sauces. The calamari salad is delicious. Next try one of the pupus dishes. These are like appetizers ranging from tofu, edamame, garlic shrimp, mochi with cheese gratin, French fries, and our favorites (the seared garlic tuna and albacore carpaccio. Entrée choices included the assorted tempura, crispy flounder and garlic shrimp with rice served in the hot bowl. The longer you keep it in the bowl the more the rice gets cooked so it becomes crunchier if you prefer it that way. Try some Udon noodles in the tasty soup and beef sukiyaki if your heart desires. There is so much good food and plenty of variety, you cannot go wrong. The restaurant is open till 1am during the week and 2am on the weekend and it keeps busy. This is a great place for families, friends and casual dining with excellent food. Located at Ala Moana Pacific Center, Ground Floor
1585 Kapiolani Blvd Honolulu, HI 96814 More information on their website at www.shokudojapanese.com or call (808) 941-3701
Dining in Maui
In Lahaina
Lahaina Grill located in downtown Lahaina is one of our most highly recommended restaurants to dine at in Maui. It has been voted the Best Restaurant in Maui by Honolulu Magazine for the past 15 straight years. We can see why. It has been a mainstay since 1990 in the historic Lahaina Inn. The Victorian Setting and the spotless, stark white atmosphere are contrasted by the tropical, bright colored paintings by the artist Jan Kasprzycki. This place is very lively and bright. This is not a place for a lingering meal as the chairs are not so comfortable, but the food is to die for! Swiss owner Jurg Munch is the most hospitable down to earth proprietor you will ever meet. He makes his way around to all of the tables to ensure that everyone is having a good dinning experience. We started our meal with the beautifully presented Cake Walk that consists of Kona Lobster Crab Cake, Louisiana Rock Shrimp Cake and a Seared Ahi Cake. We also had the Reconstructed California Roll with Fresh Crab with Cilantro Ginger Vinaigrette, which was out of this world. Lastly, we had the Sweet Soy Seared Ahi Sashimi that was so tender it melted in our mouths. All three of these starters were delicious. Next we chose from a wide selection of salads and soups. We had the light, warm Pecan Crusted Goat Cheese and Baby Arugula Salad with Pears and Roasted Beets. The top choice was the Buffalo Tomato Salad with Blanched Hana Tomatoes and Buffalo Mozzarella, Truffle Oil and Aged Balsamic Vinaigrette. A full list of Meat Entrees from Veal and Pork Chops, Osso Buco, Rack of Lamb, Kalua Duck and a Variety of Steaks are available for your choosing. We chose some of their fish selections. The Maui Onion and Sesame Seed Crusted Ahi with Vanilla Bean Jasmine Rice was the best Ahi dish we have ever had. We also had the Fresh Main Lobster taken out of the shell, which was delicious. It was served in a light Shallot Chardonnay Wine Sauce with Kula spinach and wild mushrooms. The Seared Paw Scallops, Sautéed Mahi Mahi, Tequila Shrimp and Vegetarian Grilled Polenta all looked great but we really enjoyed our dishes. There is a nice wine and cocktail list to pair with your meal. Our knowledgeable server Richard and assistant Mary provided excellent service. There is only one way to finish your meal. Go with their signature sampler that includes a triple berry pie, a chocolate macadamia nut Brownie, a Vanilla Crème Brule and a Flourless Chocolate Cake with Kona Coffee ice cream. This dessert selection is incredible. The Lahaina Grill is located at 127 Lahaina Luna Road. For reservations and more information call 808-667-5117 or visit www.lahainagrill.com
In Lahiana and Wailea
Longhi’s
A mainstay in both Lahiana and Wailea is Longhi’s. Owner Bob Longhi takes pride in freshness and quality of food. Try the delicious fresh squeezed orange juice and one of their signature baked cinnamon rolls to start your breakfast. A variety of egg dishes from crab cake or lobster eggs benedict, quiche of the day or a three-egg omelet with your choice of ingredients are all fantastic. Don’t miss their special recipe home fries to accompany the eggs. On the sweeter side try their waffle, buttermilk pancakes with macadamia nuts and strawberries or Longhi style French Toast with a touch of Grand Marnier and real maple Syrup. A full selection of coffees is available as well. For lunch try one of their Longhi Salads with fantastic salads with crisp romaine lettuce and a variety of ingredients. They also have Shrimp, lobster, crab, chicken, caprese and kula salads. Their extensive menu includes an exorbitant variety of sandwiches (chicken breast, duck, hamburger, reuben, corned beef, crab cake and more). They also serve fish, seafood, pasta, desserts and appetizers. We enjoyed their steamed artichokes for an appetizer followed by a Longhi salad. For our lunch entrees we had the Linguine with Clams and Fresh Mahi Mahi, which were outstanding. Longhi’s in Lahaina is located at
888 Front Street for more information and reservations call (808) 667-2288
Longhi’s in Wailea is located at 3750 Wailea Ala Nui for more information and reservations call (808) 891-8883 Check out www.longhis.com for a complete menu and more information on all of the Longhi’s Location including their Honolulu local.
In Kapalua
The Plantation House Restaurant
The Plantation House Restaurant owned by restaurateur, Roy Dunn (owner of The SeaWatch in Wailea) is located in Kapalua at the beautiful Plantation Golf Course where they hold The Mercedes Benz Pro Tournament. This is popular spot for golfers and fans to enjoy breakfast, lunch or dinner while overlooking the Kapalua coastline and the first hole. We dropped in for a late lunch. From their assortment of appetizers and salads, we chose the cup of clam chowder and sashimi to start. The fresh Mahi Mahi sandwich that followed melted in our mouths and was as good as you can get. For dessert we tried the Da Kine Brownie and the Crème Brûlée. These treats were delicious. The Plantation House serves Breakfast and dinner as well. For reservations and more information go to
www.theplantationhouse.com or call (808)669-6299
In Kihei
Roy’s
One of our other top fine dining choices in Maui is Roy’s Restaurant with many locations around Hawaii and in the US. We visited the Kihei location. This family friendly spot offers some of the best Asian-Hawaiian Fusion food around. Start with one of their signature sushi rolls or delectable sashimi. From the crispy tuna roll, unagi eel roll and inside out avocado crab roll you are in for a treat. The fabulous appetizers include the nightly dim sum for two, blackened island Ahi, Hawaii Kai style crab cakes and our favorite Hawaiian Misoyaki Butter Fish. This delicious fish is marinated overnight and melts in your mouth. Roy’s offers some meat dishes such as Filet Mignon, Bone-in Rib-Eye, Roasted Chicken Breast and Honey Mustard Glazed Short Ribs, but their real specialty is the Seafood. Executive Chef Jason Iwamoto and his staff go out every morning and bid on the best fresh fish caught that day. Their signature dishes you can’t go wrong with are their Pesto Steamed Mahi Mahi and Roasted Macadamia Nut Crusted Monchong. Depending on availability they may have Pepper Seared Ono or Crispy local Moi Fish. We had both of these as our entrees and we loved them. You can always get Mahi Mahi in Hawaii so if there is another fresh local fish available we recommend getting it. Moi used to be reserved for royalty in olden days. Even today is rare to find it on a menu. We had to give it a try. It is prepared with a Shitake Soy Broth with steamed Bokchoy. This local white fish was one of the best we had. Roy’s offers an early dinner prefixed dinner nightly from 5:30- 6pm. This three-course meal includes a tossed salad, choice of entrée and macadamia nut tart for $40. The restaurant also caters to vegetarians offering six choices from Pasta, Tofu, Risotto and a Veggie Stir-fry. Don’t miss one of their popular cocktails or martinis to start your evening off before enjoying some wine from their extensive wine list with your meal. They have a selection of desserts including the tart and the pineapple upside down cake, but be sure to order their Chocolate Soufflé in advance. One of us isn’t eve a big chocolate fan and this is one of my favorite desserts. This is not to miss and pictured below with raspberry sauce! People come to Roy’s from all over for this incredible dessert. Restaurant Manager Tim and General Manager Karina make you feel at home with their excellent staff and servers. Our waiter, Sole was so personal and knowledgeable; he really enhanced our meal and made us feel at home. This Roy’s location is especially set up for families to enjoy with a kid’s menu offering smaller portions of the regular menu. Roy’s Kihei Restaurant is located at
303 Pikea Ave in Kihei. For more information or reservations call (808) 891-1104 or www.roysrestaurant.com
In Wailea
The SeaWatch
The SeaWatch restaurant, owned by restaurateur, Roy Dunn (owner of The Plantation House in Kapalua) is located at 100 Wailea Golf Club Dr in Wailea. It has been voted the best ambience in the Best of Maui Awards. These stunning views overlook the islands of Molokini and Kahoolawe. Humpback whales a can be seen from the lanai as you gaze out at the ocean. You will experience the most amazing sunsets here. Executive Chef Todd Carlos has created an exotic menu with fresh island fish and fresh grown ingredients from local Maui farms. The restaurant is very spacious yet romantic. The beautiful outdoor seating creates a great atmosphere with tiki torches as you fine dine under the stars and swaying palm trees. The two appetizers we recommend most are the Crispy Crab Stuffed Ahi Roll, flash fried, wrapped in Nori and a light Panko Crust or the Pacific Crab Cakes with Blue Crab Meat, Lime, Scallion Butter and Thai Chili Sauce (a SeaWatch Favorite). Other selections include the Chilled Tiger Prawns, Alaskan Scallops and fresh Ahi Sashimi. They have a nice variety of salads. We chose the Goat Cheese Beet Salad with a Balsamic Reduction. This was a nice prelude to prepare our palates for the main course. Dinner specialties include Angus Beef Short Ribs, Muscovy Duck Breast, Australian Lamb Shank, Filet Mignon and Osso Buco (a rarity these days). There is also a fresh fish selection including Mahi Mahi, Ahi or one of their Fresh Catches of the Day. The fish is cooked with your choice of five different preparations from Spiced Mango, Molokina Sunset (grilled and brushed with a Grand Marnier and Orange Glaze served on a bed of heirloom tomato fennel salad), Macadamia Nut Crust Pan Seared and Citrus Lemon Grass Pan Seared. We had the Fresh Monchong, which was prepared Peppered Style. This preparation is marinated in teriyaki flash-seared with a cilantro ginger butter sauce and served with delicious coconut jasmine rice and asparagus spears. Our favorite is the Huikau Eke’. This healthy dish included fresh Opakapaka, Alaskan Scallops and Tiger Prawns baked in parchment paper with potatoes, vegetables, white wine and herbs. Our waiter opened the paper table-side to release the aromatic flavors. Make sure to order this if you are a fish lover. Enjoy one of their wines to accompany your meal. For dessert try their Hawaiian Banana Bread Pudding, Kona Pie, which is Kona coffee ice cream with Oreo cookie crust, or their Banana’s Foster with Mango Chutney. For reservations and more information call (808) 875.8080 or go to
North Shore
Mama’s Fishhouse
Mama’s Fishhouse located on the Maui’s North Shore on Road to Hana is a bit of a drive coming from Lahaina or Wailea, but well worth it! If you are looking for a place with fresh fish and more with a nice backdrop of the ocean try Mama’s. Start with their popular macadamia nut crab cakes or Ahi sashimi or Ahi poke. You’ve got to try their Maui Onion Soup with Vermont Cheddar Cheese. There is a choice of countless fresh fish as the menu changes daily. There are choices from Mahi Mahi, Opakapaka, Onaga, Ahi, Spearfish and Opah all prepared with a variety of sauces and side dishes. Mama’s takes pride in providing one of the largest seafood menus in Maui. Try one of their specialty drinks or wines by the glass to accompany your meal. Finish with one of their signature desserts from Banana Macadamia Nut Crisp, Mama’s Chocolate Kuau Pie or Liliko’i Crème Brulee. One of their specialty coffees, teas or dessert drinks will pair well with your sweet selection. The restaurant features romantic, open air dinning overlooking a secluded white sandy beach. This converted beach house is nestled in a coconut grove and provides an unforgettable dinning experience. Enjoy your meal while you watch the waves come crashing in. The atmosphere is very casual and the service is top quality, yet unpretentious. Definitely a must stop on your next visit to Maui. Mama’s is located 1.5 miles north of the town of Paia at Mile Marker #8 on the Hana Highway. Call (808)579-8488 Reservations are a MUST! Open for lunch and dinner.