Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
of Lahaina's most romantic evenings. Everything from the ambience to the service to the
extensive wine list is what you would expect of a fine dining experience. The only thing
missing is an ocean view, but for what the restaurant lacks in views it makes up for in
a classy bistro setting. The food is a combination of new American cuisine infused with
Pacific Rim favorites, where meat dishes include the coveted Kona coffee-roasted rack of
lamb, and seafood selections range from sesame-crusted ahi filets to Maine lobster crab
cakes. Much of the produce is sourced locally from independent farmers. Reservations are
recommended.
The best burger in Lahaina is at
M
Cool Cat Café
(658 Front St., 808/667-0908,
www.coolcatcafe.com
,
10:30am-10:30pm daily, $10-25). Overlooking the banyan tree, the
inside portion of the restaurant is decorated in 1950s decor, while the outdoor patio is live-
lier. Cool Cats is consistently voted as the island's best burger, and the live music here is
better than down the street. All of the meat is massaged with a secret seasoning, and spe-
cialty burgers like the Don Ho (teriyaki and pineapple burger), Luna (covered in avocado),
and Frisco (served on sourdough bread with grilled onions and jack cheese) are what make
it such a legendary choice. There are also fish sandwiches, blackened fish tacos, salads (get
the Buddy Holly with chicken strips on top), and a popular bar. It's extra to add fries to
your meal (and cheaper to get a basket for the table than to add to each burger separately).
Right next door, sister restaurant
Captain Jack's Island Grill
(672 Front St., 808/
667-0988, 8am-midnight daily, $10-25) does for fish what Cool Cat does for burgers.
Whether it's fish tacos, fish-and-chips, or fish salad, this casual bar and grill overlooking
Front Street has tasty dishes at moderate prices and is always running some sort of special.
This is a good family lunch option. Young kids will enjoy the pirate theme that goes hand
in hand with the town's nautical history (though whalers weren't exactly pirates).
After Cool Cat, your best bet for a burger on Front Street is
Sure Thing Burger
(790
Front St., 808/214-6982,
www.surethingburger.net
, 11am-5pm daily, $6-8) inside the La-
haina Marketplace on the corner of Front Street and Lahainaluna Road. The burgers are
made from Maui Cattle Company beef and the buns are baked fresh on Maui. While this
is only a lunch stand, it's an affordable way to get a burger in Lahaina.
The best burger
off
Front Street is at
Teddy's Bigger Burgers
(335 Keawe St., 808/
661-9111,
www.teddysbiggerburgers.com
,
10am-9pm Sun.-Thurs., 10am-10pm Fri.-Sat.,
$6-9), inside the Lahaina Gateway Center. These juicy, drip-down-your-arm burgers are
made fresh to order. My favorites are the specialty burgers, such as the Kailua Style served
with mushrooms and the Hawaiian Style with pineapple.
