I've been looking around for places new to us and came across these three that looked interesting. Have you eaten here and if so what did you think? Mahalo.

808 Bistro in Kihei

Main Street Bistro in Wailuku

Cuatro Maui in Kihei

Hmmm...Really?

How about Coconuts Fish Cafe? Izakaya Matsu?

We want to stay away from the usual suspects at the resorts and will be staying south in Makena so Lahaina suggestions, while welcome won't always be practical. Star Noodles in Lahaina is the one exception. Slurp!

I was just in Wailea/Kihei, so I can give you a few tips. Coconuts is a good lunch spot. Tasty fish tacos and I'm sure the rest of the menu is good too. Low on ambience, but it's clean and service is good. Eskimo Candy in Kihei is another good "seafood plate lunch" place, and has a deli where you can buy fish to take to your condo.

We took a look at 808 Bistro and liked the ambiance; the menu is "comfort food," and was a little low on seafood for us so we went elsewhere, but it was busy and I think they probably do what they do well. You need to BYOB to 808 Bistro.

We also ate at Sansei in Kihei...quite good, but more of a dinner spot. For a special evening, make reservations at Koiso Sushi Bar...it's tiny and in a strip mall, but best sushi ever. Have to make reservations for that one.

As far as upscale resort restaurants, we loved Gannon's at the golf club in Wailea and had lunch there twice. If you get tired of seafood, Matteo's Pizzeria in Wailea, by a different golf course, is a fun change of pace.

Also, if you do any day trips, the Paia Fish Market plate lunch was actually our favorite of the trip. Grilled ono with cole slaw and excellent fries. Yeah!

Thanks voyager! Great feeback and recs! Just what I was looking for.

I've read that the chef at Koiso is a bit of a snob and treats customers he determines as sushi novices with disdain. What was your experience regarding him? I am not the most ardent sushi afficionado, but it does sound like a great spot, but I don't want to be treated like an idiot just because I don't measure up to his standards.

Can't really help you out here, other then to say that we finally got to Joe's for Bev Gannons special crab dip - a good sunset appetizer at the bar before heading on. If you've had the crab pizza at HGS and been underwhelmed and confused, this will set you straight. We only spent an hour there at the bar enjoying the regulars, before moving on to other culinary adventures.

http://www.bevgannonrestaurants.com/joes/

And you can't beat Foodland's spicy poke when it is just made. With some ice and a couple of wooden skewers it makes the perfect pupu.

Yum-I took notes. We will be there end of March

Though not terribly recent, DH and I had a wonderful experience at Cuatro in Nov. 09. The place was tiny, in a strip mall, with very warm and friendly service, inventive cuisine and extremely fresh ingredients. If memory serves, the chef is from San Francisco? Anyway, from my year old experience, I recommend it highly.

Thanks for your rec Iregeo. Sounds great!

Someone in the know told me that Star Noodles up in Lahaina is fabulous. Lahaina ain't my cup, but M has never been there so, we are planning an excursion up that way to have a look around. Star Noodles sounds like the perfect place.

ttt for any other suggestions and feedback!

I am friends with the Cuatro owner/chef's (Eric Arbogast) family, and knew him when he was a kid. He's from the Bay Area.

Here is a video of him on a Hawaii Chef's TV program: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0at4EDRPSHo

Thanks Kailani. I am looking forward to trying it...at least once.

So we leave in a about a week and I am just checking in to see if there is anyone on island now or who has returned recently with some good eats they want to share. Kihei/Wailea location is best, but will be willing to drive for food too. Mahalo!

One place that I would NOT recommend in Wailea would be Ferraro at the Four Seasons. Had a meal there in November and thought it was average at best, and service was just okay. For the price, it should have been the best meal of our stay.

I like sushi at Five Palms in Kihei.

Thanks beanweb. Ferraro's wasn't on our radar screen, so that's good. Thanks for the heads up about sushi at Five Palms.

iamq-When are you returning from Maui? I'll be there Feb 22-28 working a convention but will be looking for dinner places in south Maui. Have been to this area a few times but a friend is coming with me who hasn't been to Maui. We will make the drive to Lahaina as I want to try Star Noodle and I also love Aloha Mixed Plate. Otherwise probably will stay in Wailea/Kihei area. I've been to Sansei in Kihei but my friend doesn't like sushi.

Let me know if you have any new recommendations or try out some of the places listed above. Probably looking for moderate priced restaurants as my friend is paying for her food although I'm on an expense account!!

Hi paula1470, We return on the 27th, so we'll be there at the same time. The last time we were in this area we ate at Alexander's in Kihei a couple of times. It is a super casual/take out fish place that is actually pretty good. We get it to go and walk across he street to the beach. One place we plan to try is the cafe at Eskimo Candy in Kihei. Eskimo Candy is a fish market mainly, but the cafe looks like it serves pretty good stuff at moderate prices.

http://www.eskimocandy.com/

iam1-Thanks for getting back to me. Where are you staying? I am at the Marriott in Wailea. My conference is next door at the Grand Wailea. I am a vendor there and our vendor hours are from 7-1. So I will have afternoons and evenings free most of the time.

It would be fun to GTG for dinner one evening. I attend many of the SF GTG's but seems I have always missed you at those. Let me know what you think and then we can make arrangements to get in touch.

A GTG sounds like a good idea! We'll be there from the 20th to the 27th. We are staying at a rental house in Makena. You can email me a WP94025 at yahoo dot com and we can work out the details.

Oh, and I forgot to mention...I don't bring my computer on trips so contact me before the 20th or we'll be SOL.