Restaurants near Papakea #C403

Mala is simply one of the best restaurants in Maui. The food and drinks are consistently great. We have been here a number of times prior and it never ceases to disappoint. We would note the oyster shooters and ube bread as appetizers that started things off great. I had the fresh catch and my wife had the pork shank-they were paired excellently with vegetables and sauce that was off the hook. The cocktails are always super solid and their mai tai is awesome. Kudos and shout out to their sister restaurant Coco Deck-we stopped for drink prior to dinner-the staff is awesome and cocktails very well done. We are so glad that these two are back in full swing with the spirit of Lahaina in everything that they do.

We had a lovely table in the corner which gave us a view of the beach and the walkway. Our server, Caitlyn, was friendly and knowledgeable about the menu. She was there when we needed her and not hovering when we were eating. She had a great attitude which added to our experience. The food was great and the Hula Pie was excellent!

Merriman’s has never let us down. We had meatless entrees and we both ate every bite. B ordered pasta from the Starters/Apps menu and I had a mushroom pot pie special. I struggle finding words to adequately describe the flavors, textures, and beauty of the pot pie. A blend of mushrooms and each flavor stood out. The crust was brilliant; absolutely perfect. The dough was stretched over a cast iron pie plate and it had risen probably 4” over the mushrooms inside. And the pastry was delicious. Honestly, a top 5 dining experience of a lifetime of fine food. But salads, yes. Off of the menu, but perfect. Generous portion of very fresh everything. I had the blue cheese crumbles on mine and B went without dairy. Mango, avocado, tomato, greens dressed with subtle citrus dressing. Perfect.

You just can’t go wrong with dinner at Duke’s. We started with wontons that were SO delicious. My husband had the filet mignon which was cooked perfectly and so tender and flavorful. I had the macadamia crusted mahi mahi which was incredible. We finished with the huli pie which is more than plenty for two or three people. We had a reservation and were seated promptly upon arrival at a table with an ocean view. Our server Chloe was so friendly, knowledgeable about the menu and offered superb service. We always plan our trip to Hawaii around our Duke’s reservation. ❤️🌴

We had a great meal on Christmas Day! Our server was excellent…I wish I had gotten his name. We weren’t rushed at all. One thing to note and the management might want to consider: we had a small dog with us and when I looked on website to see if they were dog friendly, I could find anything about that. When I called they said it wasn’t a problem and indeed it wasn’t an issue. They may want to add that information to their website for future guests (apologies if it is there and I just missed it). Thank you for the great day!