Hello All,

Looking for top 5 resturants in Honolulu and on Maui. Celebrating 50th B. Day on Maui, so price is no object, as long as it's worth it.

Thanks,
Robert

I have 1 suggestion in La Haina that we loved and was worth it.

feastatlele.com

Totally worth it on Maui...Spago at Four Seasons. When you make a reservation, tell them it's your anniversary and also request a room with a view.

Honolulu - Alan Wong's is perhaps the best restaurant we ever ate at. The restaurant is located in a residential area [not on or near beach] and would not have been spotted if we didn’t have excellent directions. While it doesn’t have an ocean view, the view from the lanai where we were seated had a lovely view of Manoa Valley before the sun set and had city lights twinkling after sunset.

We did the 7 course tasting menu. Excellent!

http://www.alanwongs.com/kingstreet/king_street.html

On Maui,

We used our Entertainment book for dinner on the next dinner and had a stunning meal at Chez Paul, just south of Lahaina. We saved $39 on entrée. The restaurant is small and really looks like something you would find in Paris. The wait staff was attentive but not overbearing and we dined royally on escargot for DH, lobster bisque for me, DH had a seafood in parchment called “ménage a trios” with so much seafood and fish that he had a big grin on his face the whole time he consumed it. {Not sure if it was the fresh fish which we can’t get in SW or the name of the dish!} and I had a delicious duck. DH had a chocolate flourless cake and I had a pineapple tartan. Truly this was an excellent meal.

http://www.chezpaul.net/

I hope you get a chance to try either of these out, you won't be disappointed.

Deb

Maui..
Love the Plantation House at Kapalua Golf Course..
Chez Paul
Hula Grill
Sansei
Leilani's
Kimo's
Maui Taco's
Manapui white trucks..

hulagrill.com
theplantationhouse.com

Here's a link to my TR from last year - it includes some restaurants for Maui

http://tinyurl.com/3y68ue

I'll second the Feast at Lele and Pacific'O be sure to check out the Waterfront at Ma’alaea

Fave Maui restaurants:

1. Halimaile General Store - nepolean sashimi
2. Spago
3. Hula Grille barefoot bar - crab/mac wontons
4. Nicks - flamebe strawberry dessert
5. Paia Fish Market

Wonderful,(mainly seafood), beachfront setting, is I'o in Lahaina on Maui. See www.iomaui.com

All of the suggestions posted are excellent places to eat, however some are very informal and inexpensive and some are very upscale and expensive so as you select from these be sure to check which category each restaurant falls into and is going to meet your mood and budget for that day.
I would like to add an awesome upscale, pricey but worth it, experience for the views, ambiance, and food: Mamma's Fish House on Maui.

Thanks to all for both links and advice. I'll look into all of them and want to say how helpful this message board is. Can't wait to go!!!

Robert

The restaurant at the Halekulani in Waikiki always gets good comments.

Maui:

Banyan Tree at Ritz Carlton
Plantation House
Sansei
Mama's Fish House

Honolulu:
I only ate at one place (only there one night)and it was fantastic:
Orchids at Halekulani

Oops - regarding my above post - I meant to say I only ate at one place on Oahu (referring to Orchids location)

Maui:
Seawatch at Wailea Golf Course
Joe's Bar & Grill in Wailea
Hula Grill (one on Maui & Oahu)
Maui Thai (in Kihei)
Flatbread Company in Paia (not fancy, but really good...great place to grab lunch if you're wandering around the shops and galleries during the day.)

Oahu:
Duke's (Waikiki)
Kona Brewing Company (Hawaii Kai just outside Waikiki)

I'll just answer for Oahu:
The place that Suze is referring to is La Mer in the Halekulani.

Alan Wong's is terrific! Another over-the-top restaurant is Chef Mavro's, also on King Street. No view. Great food & service.

Chai's Island Bistro (www.chaisislandbistro.com) has fantastic food (you can go for lunch Tue-Fri or dinner any night) with live local entertainment.

Mari808 and I sampled some dishes at Vino and Hiroshi today, both of which are owned by DK Kodama (who also owns Sansei). All were excellent. The two adjacent restaurants are located in Restaurant Row. DK also has two restaurants in Waikiki: Sansei and DK's Steakhouse.

BTW, Lahaina is one word. Just in case you need to do a search.

wash1127: John Dominis is our choice for a special occasion when we are in Honolulu. Great food and one of the best views for a restuarant in Honolulu. Prices are medium high. Their web site is: http://www.johndominis.com/

Maui: David Paul's Lahaina Grill, Gerard's, Longhi's

I will echo La Mer, Chef Mavro & Alan Wong's on Oahu, and Mama's Fish House on Maui. If you REALLY want to splurge, you can have a private dinner on the beach on Maui by tableside chefs. They will bring everything--table, chairs, dishes, food cooked on site, and it is just you two on the beach at sunset. Warning, it is pricey, but sooooo romantic. It is popular for wedding dinners for two. Just google Maui tableside chefs.

In Maui try the sunset dinner cruise out of Lahaina pier 1. Or why not a luau??

Honolulu - The Shorebird literally on the beach at Waikiki. There a large barbeque and you can grill your own meat or seafood. The salad bar was really good. The best part was being able to watch the sunset from our table as the band played Hawaiian style songs. The part of the restaurant facing the beach is sorta like a half wall so it almost feels like you're outdoors.