Maui - Restaurant & Luau Recos
 

We wil be celebrating our 30th Wedding Anniversary on Maui. Would apprecaite insights into a great restaurant to celebrate the event.

Also would apprecaite insights on Luaus. Have heard that Old Lahaina Luau is the best; would like to know if it is worth the $80/person price tag.

Aloha and congratulations!

You will get a lot of varied opinions and advice here. Personally, I would combine the two and celebrate at the Feast at Lele. www.feastatlele.com
It's run by the same folks as the OLL. We had a wonderful and romantic experience there starting with the setting (right on the water, gorgeous) and following through with amazing entertainment, food and service. Everything was great!

I'O and their sister restaurant Pacific'O are both excellent choices. www.iomaui.com and www.pacificomaui.com for more information. Happy Annversary! ***kim***

I would go with Feast of Lele -- best of 30 or more I've been to over the years. Great food and great show.

Is it really 80 per person???? I have always said that one must experience a luau just once, and then never again. So if you haven't then of course you must....for dining, Spago and Haliimaile General Store. I was sadly dissapointed with Nicks on this trip, what was perfect service, well it no longer is. GL

We really enjoyed Mama's Fish House near Paia late November. Great combination of view, ambience, service and good food. Not inexpensive.
OLL was worthy, though you do not go for the haute cuisine. The show is first rate and the service cum aloha spirit memorable. 2004 prices for adults, taxes included-$85. Children experience the luau for only $55 (that's not a misprint). If you choose OLL book early, seats are assigned based on booking date (you can always cancel up to the day prior w/o penalty). We booked many months early and OLL was already half sold. That's how I'd rate our seating-middling. My children and wife really loved it. I liked it enough to recommend it to people I like, and who like me (If I were traveling w/o children I'd choose The Feast at Lele).
You might also investigate Sarrento's, Nick's (same chain, same apparent indifference to service, in our case reservation requests by e-mail-on their e-mail reservation request site), Spago's, Sea Watch, Lobster Cove, Roy's (Kihei), all down south in the Wailea area, my personal favorite based on dry weather, smallish, toney, relatively uncrowded crescent-shaped beaches, with some contact with the outside world (though some of its visitors may be out of touch w/ reality).

I'd skip to Luau. We went in 'O1 and felt like cattle! Not worth $80...If you want something fun to do, try Warren and Annabels http://www.warrenandannabelles.com/ It was the best activity we paid for in Maui.

Hey Jimsinger,

My wife & I very much enjoyed Sarrento's in Kihei this past Feb. The great food is only beat by the wonderful views.....go during sunset!

I have to agree with Doug. Sarrento's is a very romantic restaurant with a great setting right on the beach. Reserve a beachside table before a hour before sunset. Last summer my husband and I had the most wonderful dinner there - it was really special. In fact, we were just talking the other day about the fish that we were served (can't remember the name of the fish, but it was served to Hawaiian royalty exclusively in the old days?). Truly delicious. Congrats on 30 years!

Kimamom - you recommended Pacific'O and I'O. Have YOU actually ever dined at either one?

If you really feel a need to go to a luau, OLL is probably the one to go to. We went the last time we were on Maui, and were not impressed. The show is ok, the food is buffet style food. My wife and I both thought we could have better spent that money on a REALLY good meal at real one of the many great restaurants on Maui, some listed here by other posters. I think it is overpriced and overhyped.

I was at the Feast at Lele last week and found it really worth the price. Not sure about OLL, but from what I've read I'm glad we splurged a little more for the more romantic Feast at Lele. It wasn't buffet, we were waited on hand and foot by three waiters assigned to our table. All well-informed on everything they served us. The show was wonderful, performers talented and the sunset beautiful. Definitely worth it for your first trip we thought.