Please help me plan a wonderful wedding anniversary dinner for our trip to Maui in January. Share your experiences if you enjoyed a romantic dinner, either at a restaurant, at a luau, or wherever.

We are staying in South Maui but will have a car and are willing to drive anywhere. This is the first time we have taken an anniversary trip and I'd like the dinner to be a memorable experience.

I am considering the Feast at Lele but am open to anything. We like fish, seafood, exotic and spicy foods, fresh vegies, and pretty much any good food well prepared. (We also eat beef and chicken.)

Thank you!

Our current plans are to stay at the Maui Prince Hotel on the Maluaka Beach, and also to spend 3 nights at the Hotel Hana Maui. We'll be staying in South Maui on our anniversary night.

I vote for Mama's Fish House in Paia (on the way to Hana)! Gorgeous view during the day, but obviously at dinnertime it's too dark to see the view (depending how late you eat). Yummy!

Our most romantic/best dinner was at Nick's Fishmarket in the Kea Lani.

I will second Nick's as well. We ate there in September also for an anniversary. Make sure to tell them it is your anniversary. They gave us what we thought was the best table in the place and everyone wished us a happy anniversary. We both agreed it was one of the best meals we ever had and we have had some really wonderful meals! I also thought the price was really reasonable in comparison to some of the other places we ate. Have a great time!

Mama's Fish House

Another vote for Mama's. Find out what time the sun sets (around 6:00) and go about a 1/2 hour before that to wander the grounds and have a drink.

Forget the long drive across the island.
I'm sure Mama's is great for lunch with the view, but DINNER should be close to your hotel for safety and romance reasons. Driving long distances at night in Maui is not necessary. You don't say where you are staying. Lots of very romantic restaurants in Wailea area that are fantastic for all special occasions. Give us more of an idea so we can specify> and congratulations!!!

Deloris, I don't understand the comment about driving at night. We never felt unsafe driving on Maui, at night or any other time. Makena to Paia is about 25 miles, or a 45 minute drive. Melissa, if you were leaning toward Mama's, you can decide if this is farther than you want to go on your anniversary night. IMO it's a beautiful drive.

Definitely Nick's in the Kea Lani resort. Food was outstanding! The ambiance was romantic and the service was great.

i vote for Nick's also!!! we went there twice because it was so good and soooo romantic!
i think Deloris may have been just meaning that it is easier to stay close to "home", you may have a drink or two, or some champagne, it is jus easier and safer in some aspects to stay close

Hi Melissjoy

We spent several of my wife's birthdays on Maui and always went out. What we really liked was to go to one of the big resorts and have dinner at their outside restaurant at sunset then a walk on the beach after dinner. We have been to Kea Lani, Grand Wailea, Four Seasons, the difference is not great between these places what is important is the person and the setting.Make reservations and let them know it is a special night.

Have Fun
GP

Absolutely hands down the best and most romantic restaurant is Nick's at the Kea Lani. My hasband ahd dinner there on Sept. 28th for my 50th birthday. We both agreed it was the best and most romantic meal we had ever had. The atmosphere is beautiful and elegant. WE had what i thought was one of the best tables right be the patio wall overlooking the koi pond and with the spectactular sunset beyond that SIGH! Mr. Collins was our head waiter and was just great I really hope you do ahve dinner there and Mr. Colins is your wiater. Do make reservations for sunset time so you get to see the torch lighting ceremony.

Looks like it's between Nick's and Mama's. I ate at both this last Sept and they are both Top Notch. I think Mama's wins in the atmosphere - scenic location though. It's just beautiful if you go before dark. But you can't go wrong with either.

Thanks, you guys are great! If there are any more votes, keep them coming!

I actually could go to Nicks and to Mama's Fish House as well...We are staying 4 nights at the Maui Prince Hotel on Maluaka Beach, which I chose for the great snorkeling on that beach. We are also staying 3 nights at the Hotel Hana Maui, where we have a wonderful-sounding cottage with a hot-tub on the deck overlooking the ocean!

Does any one know how far a drive Mama's Fish House is from the Hotel Hana Maui? Maybe we could have lunch at Mama's Fish House? Or an early dinner before it gets dark?

Can anyone tell me how much dinner for 2 would cost at Nick's and at Mama's Fish House, assuming that we ordered something in the middle-price-range of their menu, and NOT counting drinks? Can you give me a range? Also is lunch at Mama's Fish house cheaper than dinner?

We've been married 23 years...Wow! I'm stunned! And by now I know how to solve arguments about money before they happen...Better to let my husband know now the costs of what I'm planning, so there's no big surprises once we are enjoying romantic Maui. Maybe I should check for a web-site for these restaurants!

Grazie, grazie, grazie. (I'm still excited from our June family trip to Italy.)

I am very excited!

Last year Mama's charged $20-$30 for entrees and $10-15 for appetizers and desserts. It has a website. I recall that Nick's is part of the Tri-Sar Restaurant group, whose site may be found through any good search engine. My children loved Mama's, whose ambience (and lady's room I'm told) cannot be surpassed. Very good food, though Nick's might be better. Can't go wrong w/ either.

Neither Nick's nor Mama's websites have prices on their menus. At Mama's however, I imagine you could figure on a minimum of $40pp not including alcohol. Their menu changes daily depending on the day's catch.

Sorry I can't help you with Nick's prices. (I guess if we have to ask...we can't afford it, right?) Seriously, we don't often spend that much on a meal, but in this case it certainly would be warranted. Happy Anniversary!

Maggi and Lex, thanks for the restaurant pricing. Those prices aren't bad.

Maggi, in regards to "if you have to ask, you can't afford it"...well, actually, you haven't met my husband! The more money he earns, the more he's afraid to let go of it! Our kids tease him and they say, it's okay, Dad, if you don't spend it on us now, we'll just have it all after you die!!!"

I ask prices not because we can't afford it, but because my husband believes firmly in his innermost thrifty heart that you must NEVER waste anything, no matter how abundantly you've been blessed with riches. My job is to find out the prices and convince him that it's NOT wasted! I do a pretty good job of this.

Hmmm, I haven't been to Nick's (am going in November during my honeymoon) but this is their menu and I'm pretty sure I see prices...

http://www.tri-star-restaurants.com/.../NicksMenu.PDF

Definitely vote for Nick's. Wonderful food, gorgeous setting and exemplary service! Have had our final dinner there every time we leave Maui. (I am planning our first family trip to Italy this March!!)
Ciao!

jgg: We just took our first family trip to Italy in June! Fantastic! Need any help planning? I loooove talking about Italy. I planned the trip for my family.

Many votes for Nick's. Must be a special place! I am going to try to find photos and a menu on-line. Somebody posted a link up above.

Anybody tried a place called Sarento's on the Beach? (at the Maui Oceanfront Inn.) Apparently has the same owners as Nick's Fishmarket, I am reading. Wonder which is better? Anybody know?