Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Japanese
If you ask West Side locals where to get sushi, they'll say
M
Sansei
(600 Office Rd., 808/
669-6286,
www.sanseihawaii.com
,
5:30pm-10pm Sat.-Wed., 5:30pm-1am Thurs.-Fri.,
$8-30), a legendary sushi outpost on the main entrance road to Kapalua resort. If you want
to maximize your Sansei experience, here's what you do: Call ahead for reservations on
Thursday or Friday evening and make them for 5:30pm. This is when the restaurant opens,
and they'll usually run an “early bird” special for the first 30 minutes. If you miss the
early bird wave and would rather wait a few hours, the same specials are often offered
10pm-1am.
Hawaiian Regional
M
Merriman's
(1 Bay Club Pl., 808/669-6400,
www.merrimanshawaii.com
, 3pm-9pm
daily, dinner menu begins at 5:30pm, $25-49) is the “nicest” restaurant on the island's
northwestern side, and this venue on Kapalua Bay is one of the most scenic dining spots
on the island. Arrive early to enjoy a glass of wine while watching the sunset from the
oceanfront fire pit. Then enjoy a menu of farm to table fare where over 90 percent of the
ingredients are sourced from local farmers, fishers, and ranchers. Acclaimed chef Peter
Merriman is one of the founders of the Hawaiian Regional movement, and his genius is
evident is everything from the avocado ahi poke salads to citrus ponzu-flavored mahimahi.
Five spice roasted Jidori chicken is masterfully paired with Moloka'i sweet potato ravioli,
and there are probably nations with constitutions shorter than the wine list (which features
over 40 different varietals). Reservations are highly recommended.
The
M
Sea House
(5900 Lower Honoapi'ilani Rd., 808/669-1500,
www.seahousemaui.com
, 7am-9pm daily, dinner $10-24) restaurant at the Napili Kai
Beach Resort has an oceanfront patio perfect for watching the sun go down. Happy hour is
the best time to visit, but the breakfast rivals island favorite The Gazebo. Try the Moloka'i
sweet potato egg frittata or banana pancakes. Lunch brings kalua pig tacos and dinner spe-
cialties include a fisherman's stew of lobster, scallops, shrimp, and vegetables. Get a reser-
vation for Wednesday night, when the places fills up for the slack key guitar concert.
Brewpub
A visit to
M
Maui Brewing Company
(4405 Honoapi'ilani Hwy., 808/669-3474,
www.mauibrewingco.com
,
11am-midnight daily, $12-15) should be at the top of every
beer lover's island to-do list. This is the island's only brewery, and while you can find a
number of their beers in local supermarkets, at least a dozen more can only be found on
tap in the brewhouse. The interior is basic, but this isn't a place you come to for the de-
