Best place for sunset dinner on Maui
 

My husband and I will be visiting Maui in October for his 50th Birthday. I'd love to treat him to a fantastic dinner one night. What's your favorite romantic spot with a gorgeous sunset view? We'll be spending time in both Wailea and Kaanapali, so we could dine in either area. Thanks for your help.

((#))((S))Dinner:P
1. Mama's Fish House (in Paia)
2. Humuhumunukunukuapua'a (Grand Wailea)
3. Sarento's on the Beach (Wailea/Kihei border)

Pacifico's in Lahaina. Ask for one of the outside tables closest to the water.

Pacific`O gets an enthusiatic second from me, but I have yet to find anyplace more spectacular than the Plantation House. You are above the water, as opposed to right at eye level, so the view is a 360 degree panarama.

I recommend Sarento's. We had a very romantic dinner there last year and can't wait to go back this summer. Delicious food and great oceanview tables. Make a reservation a couple of weeks prior to your departure. "Maui Revealed" picked this as their #1 romantic restaurant and I would have to agree. The other restaurants sound great, too. Have fun!

Here_today: From your post, I believe you must live on Maui and have been to all of these restuarants - Yes?? Only someone who has been to these could pick the best. If one has only been to Mama's, would they know if it was the best? I think JohnD has been to most of these places too - not sure though. He's been a lot of help with questions too.

I think tourist who have only eaten at 2 or 3 of these "top-end" sunset places on one or two ocassions may not be able to make a opinion on the "differences" between them.

How is the food at the Plantation House?

Thanks.

I am working towards eating at all of these restaurants, but, alas, it is a long, arduous and expensive job. I have not eaten at Humu's, I have never even had an inclination to do so. I have not really had anyone gush to me about the food, other than the restaurant is kind of "neat". I ate at Sorentos a few years ago, and it was very nice, but I have not gotten around to going back. It did not grab me, but I come from Los Angeles where we have excellent upscale Italian food. To me it was kind of like when I was in Paris with friends who wanted to eat Italian every night. In France I want French food, and on Maui I want Polynesian food and fresh fish. If you want Italian on Maui, check out Capische? at the Diamond Resort. The place is small and intimate, you must have reservations, very romantic, sunset views, pricey, but wonderful.

Personally I find the resort restaurants, no matter how good they are, to be a bit crowded. Some (not all) of them do rush you along a bit, e.g. bringing the entree before I have finished my salad, and they add maybe few more tables than they need to.

I think the Plantation House is underrated by visitors, perhaps because it doesn't get the press in the guidebooks. You can check out heir menu and se irf it appeals to you. I do not eat meat, but I eat fish, so what I like may not work for you. I think their food is simply wonderful. But it is a complete package for me--view, food and value.

Since I live here the value part becomes more important than for people on vacation. Many of the more heavily travelled locations are charging the prices they know you will pay, but it is not necessary to have a $40 entree to have incredible fish.

I do love both I`o and Pacific`O, again as a total package. David Paul's is another place I like, but do not get to very much. While Roy's food is excellent, it is the same as what I can get at Roys at many locations in the US and it became no longer special for me. I eat there in Vegas. Roy's in Kihei is in a Safeway Shopping center, next to an Outback. Just not so special, you know?

Mama's is something everyone should do once. The food is very good, but very overpriced. You are paying for the reputation, because I klnow you can get freshly-caught fish elsewhere for less. Unless you have a later reservation, you will have someone's chair against your back if you are lucky enough to get a railside table. An alternative to Mama's could be the Ma`alaea Waterfront. Fresh fish, nice ambience, best service possible on the island. It is family run and they take great pride in their restaurant. Granted, you have no lagoon outside and there aren't any gecko's on the path, but the food is fabulous.

Hey, another place that just recently has been aded to my list is the Seawatch in Wailea. They are not waterfront, but across the street on a golfcourse, overlooking the water. The sunset is somewhat off-center as we move into the summer, but the food is very good and the room is large and airy and the tables are placed quite far apart. Lovely mountain and ocean views.

Thanks to you all. I've heard about most of these and hope to try several! Here Today--Is Seawatch the restaurant at the Wailea golf courses. I thought we'd do a lunch there, but might change my mind if the sunset is good.

the sunset at the Seawatch is not so good right now and will only move further out of frame over the next few weeks. But the daytime views are lovely. You have a great view of Kahoolawe and Molokini.

Just a note about Sarento's. I believe that they are under new ownership since one of posters was there last. The food is terrific and is MUCH better than say at Humuhumu's. My hubby and I raved through the entire meal. I would definitely check it out if you are in Wailea....

Sarento's is still owned and operated by Tri-Star Restaurants. It is in the location of the former Carelli's, but when Aaron P bought it, he changed to Sarento's, the same as Sorento's on O`ahu. He brought on the chef from A Pacific Café, who, as far as I know, is still with them.

Here_Today, wasn't it Carelli's, before the name change, that required you to pay a certain amount for dinner before you could get the tables close to the ocean? Otherwise, you had to eat in the bar..........??? Some of the guidebooks used to NOT recommend it for that reason....... I believe it was Carelli's.

My sister & BIL love the sunset view from Five Palms restaurant, at the Mana Kai. Not as fancy as some of the others, though very, very nice with good food!

Avoid Bay Club in Kapalua like the plague! There's a lady with a truck on the road near Makena seeling cabobs - avoid her too! And Maui Taco places are dirty!!!

Follow here_today's suggestions - right on the mark. Used them in April, and will again in August.

Pacific'O is terrific.

Sarento's or The Bay Club. These were the best meals in Maui and most romantic. The best sunsets anywhere. The food is outstanding at either as well, as is the service.

Kindra, were you staying in a timeshare at Bay Club? I noticed the waiters seem to know the timeshare folks and offer better service. We were staying south and thought it overpriced, and the service hit and miss. Did we simply hit an off evening?

I need to ask a silly question...if sunset is at 7:15pm, what time should you make the dinner reservation to see the best of the sunset?

Zoe -
That's a question I've been debating as well. I decided to make my reservations for 6 pm. That way the ordering and most of the eating is done and I can order coffee and dessert while watching the sunset - allows me to set the pace...
I was pleasantly surprised to find that I could make reservations on the internet for the four places I KNEW I wanted to eat. Hate that telephone...

Right now the sunset starts in earnest around 6:30, but, at least from south Maui, the sun is setting over Lana`i now, not over the water.

I was staying at the Kapalua Bay Hotel but I was with my parents who were not staying there. They were very nice and we thought the food was outstanding.

I would also vote for Sarentos if you are looking for a nice meal and experience. If you want something less expensive -- try Leilanis on Kaanapali.