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The Banyan Tree
Category: Restaurants Asian Fusion Asian Fusion [Edit]
1 Ritz-Carlton DrThe Ritz-Carlton Hotel
Kapalua, HI 96767
(808) 669-6200
- Hours:
Tue-Sat 5:30 pm - 9:30 pm
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot, Valet
- Attire:
- Dressy
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$$$
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
35 reviews for The Banyan Tree
Review Highlights
"Mascarpone Cheesecake, Chocolate Tasting Dessert, Pineapple..."
(in 2 reviews)
"Check the sunset times for an even better view."
(in 8 reviews)
"The smoked salmon ravioli was simple, but my favorite."
(in 2 reviews)
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35 reviews in English
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Review from Vincenzo N.
Kahului, HI
Atmosphere:
Open-air restaurant with views of the resort's pool & the gorgeous Pacific. Semi-contemporary decor mixed in with a casual beach house look.
Food:
Waipoli salad - Very good. Mixed greens with a honey vinaigrette dressing.
Tempura shrimp - Awesome. Two pieces of deep-fried shrimp tempura and snow peas over soba noodles in a light mushroom & ginger broth. Tempura was crispy and noodles cooked perfect.
Kona lobster - Awesome. Lobster tail and claws and Japanese mushrooms over a rice porridge. Lobster was tender and rice done nicely.
Service:
Very professional, friendly and quick. -
Review from Meredith A.
Temecula, CA
2/8/2012
We were staying at the Ritz for our 10th wedding anniversary and had been told that eating at the Banyan Tree was a "must". Over the eight days we were in Maui we had the opportunity to eat at several outstanding restaurants in Kaanapali and Lahaina. I can honestly say save your time and money and take a pass on The Banyan Tree. My recommendation..... eat at Lahaina Grill or Gerard's in Lahaina. They have far superior food, service and atmosphere.
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Review from Blair B.
7/3/2010
To preface this review, I eat out in Vegas - a lot! I dine out for business and pleasure at high end restaurants all the time and I'm used to jacked up prices, but I'm also used to a very high standard of food.
I'll start on a good note. The view and atmosphere is incredible ! If you are staying at the Ritz (as we were) , at least stop in, try a tasty Lychee martini or reasonably priced glass of wine and maybe venture into the appetizers. I suggest you stop there.
Appetizers were insanely pricey (think $7 per BITE), but very tasty! The smoked salmon ravioli was simple, but my favorite. We also did a special order of kona kampachi. Tasty, but doesnt' compare to the fish I've had in Vegas (which is sad!). The ahi tuna wasn't any big deal, either. Overall good, though, just expensive.
The main courses were awful. Lobster was chewy, YUCK, and the steak was the worst I've ever had at a nice restaurant. I adore steak, I really do, and was craving some - but this was terrible. Tough, overdone, and NO SEASONING. I mean if the meat was good I could see skipping the seasoning and letting the meat flavor shine through. But there was no fucking flavor. 3 of us ordered the steaks and couldn't even finish them they were so terrible.
For the price ($100-$150 pp wtih apps + 1 drink + main course), I'd expect it to at least taste as good as meals I've had on the strip in Vegas for much less. I guess good beef can't be shipped to Hawaii for some reason? Maybe in Kona they don't know how to raise lobsters? Maybe the ahi tuna is better tasting in Vegas for some reason? No idea what the deal was here. It felt like a rip off.
Bottom line - great views, drinks and some decent apps. Finish your evening elsewhere.Listed in: Vacay in Maui
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Review from Tania L.
Honolulu, HI
9/26/2010
[4.5 stars] - 1/2 star for a medium-well filet on a medium-rare request
The management and service were awesome...
Yes, very pricey. Yes, portions are small. Is it worth the experience? Very much so. You can actually have a relatively inexpensive meal or go all out - it's not like Chef Mavro or other prix-fixe places that force you to choose 3, 4, 5, 6, or 10-course meals. Their wines ranged from affordable (which is like $40-60 a bottle) upwards to the typical WTHwhowouldpayforthis prices.
There were four of us in the group. For the most part we each ended up ordering something different so we got to see and taste almost the entire menu (didn't plan it that way; we just all had different taste buds and preferences so it worked out)... They would have gotten a 5 from me but my medium rare tenderlion (filet mignon) was more like medium well. Everyone else's had turned out perfectly, but I'll let them give the five stars. Oh, and a last-minute add: my gf had foie gras paired with her entree (I think) and SHE FELL IN LOVE. It wasn't a huge piece but she was willing to share with the rest of the table, it was THAT good. Melted. Paired well.
What we tried:
Apps
Roasted Beets, Pan Seared Scallops, Kona Lobster, Salmon Ravioli, Mushroom Two Ways, White Bean Soup, and some Chef's special
Entrees
Tenderloin, Lamb Loin, Ribeye, Chef's Special Filet
Opah, Ahi, Hapu, and Snapper
Dessert
Mascarpone Cheesecake, Chocolate Tasting Dessert, Pineapple Caramel Cake, and Carrot Cake
In the end, it's about having a great time with your company - service, satisfactory food, and ambiance. We had a fine time. -
Review from Aaron J.
Salt Lake City, UT
6/12/2010
Banyan Tree is incredible. This is one of our top 3 restaurants!
We made reservations through the Ritz Kapalua during our stay in January and when we arrived for our reservation, we were immediately impressed with the interior of the restaurant. Sustainable Bamboo and a high-end decor that is indigenous to the area greet you at the front. A friendly staff member showed us to our table right by the window for an amazing view of the ocean right before sunset. Truly incredible.
After looking through there very impressive menu, we decided to go with the waiters recommendation and order the Chef's Tasting Menu. For $200 for two of us without wine or drinks it's a little steep, but worth the splurge.
Time after time, we were served impressively thoughtful and delicious cuisine that didn't disappoint. We had to snap a couple pictures of the food as well because it didn't just taste delicious, it was beautiful to boot. They use many organic herbs from their garden, just out the front door as well, which is important when you consider it's protecting what you're fortunate enough to see during your stay in HI.
Loved it. Will absolutely go back. Missing it now. -
Review from Brian F.
Issaquah, WA
9/4/2010
The most flavorless and shoddily served $120 you will ever spend. After waiting nearly 30 minutes past our reservation time (despite the restaurant not being very busy) we were finally seated. I should have stuck to my gut feeling and left after the long wait, but I was too damn hungry. From there out we were treated to continued lackadaisical service, dishes sitting around forever, empty drinks, etc, certainly not what you expect from the upscale restaurant attached to the Ritz-Carlton. The view is nice if the sun has not gone down, otherwise the glare from tiki torches outside obstructs the ocean through the windows.
We started with a goat cheese appetizer, which ended up being just two clumps of local goat cheese for $16 (table bread required to make use of it). My wife had a vegetarian entree and I got the snapper, both were lacking in any form of seasoning and taste. Bland, bland, bland. If you are going to serve a piece of local fish for $45, or a handful of grilled vegetables for $26, then they had better be prepared perfectly and bursting with flavor and excellent accompaniments. It was like the chef had the night off and the busboy they got to make the food didn't know where the herbs and seasoning were stored.
We decided to skip dessert and go elsewhere to cut our losses. I suggest you do the same from the start. -
Review from Courtney D.
Hoboken, NJ
5/28/2010 1 Check-in Here
We were staying next door to the Ritz hotel at the Ritz Carlton Club & Residences, and had the concierge make a reservation for us at the Banyan Tree for 8 p.m. We were a bit delayed, and had the concierge call ahead to notify the restaurant that we were running 5-10 minutes late, but would be there for our reservation. We arrived at the restaurant at 8:10 p.m. and were told it would be at least 10 minutes before our table was ready. We waited, and were finally seated at 8:40. I was a bit peeved as we had a reservation, called ahead to tell them we were only a few minutes late and they gave our table away and made us wait quite a while.
The only consolation: once we did get seated, we had probably the best table in the restaurant, and the most fantastic French waiter I've ever had. His name was Robert and I urge you all to request him as your sever the next time you visit this establishment.
We started with martinis, which were extraordinarily expensive ($17 each!) but were made perfectly, just as we requested, and we are martini snobs. Robert was able to check with the chef, and confirmed that the 50/50 special was available. The 50/50 is a 3-course tasting menu for $50. This is seriously important to know to request, as their normal prix fixe menu is $150/person. My parents both elected for this option and each of their courses were amazing. I chose to have the white bean soup with prosciutto and the dungeness crab with heirloom tomatoes.
Everything was seriously amazing, and the entire experience was brightened by the fact that Robert, or waiter, was so wonderful. I would go back again, but would ensure that he would be taking care of us. -
Review from Dan G.
7/7/2009
The Banyan Tree at the Ritz Kapalua was the best meal we had in Maui the last time around and it was spectacular once again. Few things in life seem to bring it again and it delivered like Godfather 2.
We arrived for our reservations just before the sunset and the place was crowded. Our waiter seemed to be scrambling a bit at first but was on mark with great suggestions and friendly banter. Location is perfect with great views of the ocean and sunset once they raised the blinds.
They brought over some fresh bread and yummy evoo and pepper nut mix for dipping. We started with the app trio of sashimi ahi, local beet salad and seared sea scallops. Always love to get a sampling of what is good and this was a very solid start. The seafood and local produce were very fresh and ridiculously tasty. Wednesday night is half price bottle wine night, so I think in that case we'll have the Grgich thank you.
For our mains my wife had the Wapu (thank you come again) and I had the Opah. Both were very good. The Wapu was flakier, while the Opah was a bit firmer. Mediterranean Hapu was served with couscous, baby fennel, and bell pepper chimichurri. Chorizo Crusted Opah paired with cauliflower florets, oyster mushrooms, and yellow curry. These were some of the best fish dishes we had on our trip, which was about what we had every night. You are in Hawaii right?
Don't quite remember what we had for dessert. Frankly after Pineapple Grill's signature treat, everything else never stacked up. I'll revise if I recollect, but it was good.
A fantastic meal yet again, right up there with Merriman's as the best we had on this trip.Listed in: The Best, Jerry. The Best., Aloha Maui
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Review from Chris L.
Kirkland, WA
4/3/2011
To be fair our expectations had been set very high by other reviews we'd read. The service was excellent and the view is lovely, but none of our food really stood out compared to other truly exceptional restaurants we've experienced on Maui. Case in point, as I write this review a few nights later, I struggle to remember what we ate.
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Review from Dawn B.
San Francisco, CA
9/20/2011
Thought the service was good but nothing special about the food. Not worth the money considering the size of the portions. Will not be returning.
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Review from Amy V.
Lahaina, HI
2/8/2011 1 Check-in Here
We showed up with no reservations and a group of 7 and the staff was friendly and accomodating. The food was amazing...we ordered most of the appetizers and a variety of dinners and nothing disappointed. The fish was fresh and well prepared, the steaks were cooked to perfection. The duck appetizer was delicious. It's a pricey meal, but a guaranteed great one. I'd rather spend money on a sure thing than save a few bucks for something average. The cheesecake dessert was also tasty. Excellent staff! :)
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Review from Tim C.
Santa Monica, CA
7/14/2008
The waiter was nice, but he got defensive when I questioned his description of the horrible appetizer. We ordered the "eggplant caviar." Ok ok ok, I get it -- we shouldn't have ordered the eggplant caviar because who would order such a thing? But it was on the menu, so we tried it -- the waiter said it was like cavier -- but when it came, it was more like tasteless babyfood. I told him it wasn't much like cavier, huh? He said it was merely a play on words, and tried to make me feel as if I didn't "get it." I got it, but it wasn't good and it certainly wasn't what was advertized: it wasn't "cavier-like": it was baby-food puree and tasteless.
I then had the salad with polenta-style croutons -- (since I'm a vegetarian and they don't offer any vegetarian entrees) -- which was good -- the croutons elevated the salad. My partner had fish which he liked, but, boy oh boy, this place is expensive, and you don't get what you pay for. The best part of the meal was the Maui Blond pints, but I could've had those anywhere on the island. -
Review from Debbie A.
Los Gatos, CA
3/5/2011
A friend had recommended this Ritz-Carlton, so we thought we'd try the Banyan Tree for dinner last night.
I was a little disappointed after being 'greeted' by the blonde Lady on reception in a way I've never before experienced..."Last Name?" Wow, not even a "Hello", or "Welcome"?!! I'm absolutely shocked that Ritz-Carlton accepts this dire front-of-house customer service!
After seating at the bar for 30 mins while waiting for a romantic table (come early for best tables/sunset & sea view) & waiting a good 10 mins to even be acknowledged by bar staff (!) we were pleasantly surprised to be served by the most wonderful French Waiter called Robert. His service is impeccable. The quality of food was outstanding & amazing choices. Yes it's pricey, but most signature restaurant's in RC's are!! Go elsewhere if you don't want to pay $50 for the most gorgeous to-die-for, melt in your mouth fresh fish main courses! This pricing is still cheap in comparison to the best ocean front high end restaurants in European hotels like this :-)
We left happy! Would have given 5 stars, but for the offish 'welcome'. -
Review from Yuri V.
Anaheim, CA
7/3/2010
This is one of the best restaurants I have eaten at - ever. Mama's Fish House and Lahaina Grill are great - but do not even come close. The location, food, wine list, service - are better at the Banyon Tree. Ryan Urig, Chef De Cuisine is brilliant. Robert Mora's service is top tier. This is not a tourist trap with honeymooners snapping pictures. Do not let the Ritz Carlton location fool you. This restaurant is epic. I suggest the tasting menu. These are life-long memories. i rarely endorse anything without adding a modality.... This is an exception. It matters not which Island you are on - come to Maui just to dine here,
Listed in: Best Dinner
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Review from craig b.
Dublin, OH
8/18/2011
Very expensive for what you get. Very nice atmosphere and attention to details - place settings, dining room, etc.. Service very knowledgeable and friendly. Downside - for a restaurant on the ocean, can't see much of it - you are too enclosed to really feel like you are dining in a special occasion atmosphere.
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Review from Sarah W.
Tustin, CA
6/25/2008 2 photos
What a 5 star place! I loved the atmosphere. It is named after the trees there. The banyan trees grow all over Maui. I had a feeling of such relaxation as the breeze came through the panels from the ocean outside. The live music played all night. I was staying at the hotel so I went a second time. Mama's and The Bayan Tree are the best of the best!!!!!
Listed in: Top Restaurants
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Review from David T.
West Los Angeles, CA
7/27/2006
My favorite restaurant of all time. I love it when high expectations are exceeded. Food is delicious. Setting is stunning. Service is outstanding. Definitely on the pricier side, but when you get this quality, it's worth it. Call ahead and ask for a table near the ocean edge of the restaurant just at the tail end of sunset. My wife and i went back a second, third and fourth time, and we found that splitting an appetizer and an entree was satisfying and didn't break the budget.
Listed in: Top Restaurants
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Review from gabor m.
Los Angeles, CA
10/21/2009
The food was great but the view is wasted if you go at night. You cannot see anything out the glass windows in the dark and as we were sat facing the window the entire meal, I felt as if we were being punished in the corner. Nobody puts baby in the corner.
Also, you cannot bring your own bottle of wine to any restaurant in Maui. -
Review from Kira M.
Lahaina, HI
12/26/2009
This meal was simply superb. The Banyan's visual aesthetic was gorgeous, and the views at sunset-- there are no words for that kind of beauty!
The wait staff was quite competent, and delivered the food in a timely manner.
Now, my favourite part was, of course, the utterly delectable entrees. My brother and I began with the Roasted Beets with their own "Surfing Dairy" feta, red quinoa salad, and a dash of minus 8 vinegar and the Seared Scallops with salsify and roasted tomato. Oh my god-- I was in absolute heaven-- the beets were perfectly seasoned and the scallops perfectly seared. The roasted tomato was the ideal complement. And this was just the start.
The one thing I must say is that the portions are quite small, albeit beautifully arranged, but they are for a reason. They are meant to fill, but not stuff you. For this reason, if you are searching for a place where you will get large portions, this is not for you. The Banyan is perfect if you are willing to pay a bit more for the quality of food, not the quantity. I would also advise that for 2 people, 2 appetizers, 2 entrees and 1-2 desserts should be sufficient. But be prepared to pay at least about $90, not including a bottle of wine. I would not recommend this to families with small children, unless you are entirely certain they will be quiet and occupied for an hour and a half or more.
Now, onward to the entrees!
My brother ordered the Kona Lobster, which was served with a ginger-carrot rissoto and tarragon-coral butter, whilst I requested the Mediterranean Hapu with couscous, baby fennel, and bell pepper chimichurri. I cannot even begin to describe the utter bliss of the first bite. I am a huge foodie, and this meal was an absolute delight from start to finish.
To cap off this meal, we finished with two desserts. These, again, are quite small, especially for the price of $14. But, I must say, these desserts were well worth it. We ordered the Maple Banana Pain Perdu
which came complete with Mint White Chocolate Gelato and Lilikoi Caramel and the Chocolate Tasting Dessert which is comprised of Dark Fudge Cake, Milk Chocolate Molten Cake and White-Chocolate-Vanilla Sorbet. I must divulge that I am also a die-hard chocoholic. The Chocolate Tasting Dessert is basically my exact brand of crack. It was insanely delicious, but gone all too soon. My favorite part was the Dark Fudge Cake, which was overflowing with fudge-y goodness.
When the meal was finished, the bill came, and we were not surprised by the grand total. But, we concluded that it had been worth it, and we still agree today. -
Review from Amikam R.
Seattle, WA
4/7/2010
The Banyan Tree is a very nice place with fabulous views on the grounds of the Ritz Carlton in Kapalua. It's quite a hike to get there from the hotel entrance and if it rains, as it did for us, you'll get wet walking down through the pool area.
We were two for dinner on Saturday night. The menu is nice and the wine list large. They have a three course menu for $50, which lets you choose some of the regular menu items. They don't tell you about it but if you ask they'll acknowledge its existence.
The bean soup and the goat cheese appetizers were good. The chorizo encrusted opa and the sea bass were very good . The desserts - apple tart and sorbet were OK.
Service is good and it's quiet. The views are, again, outstanding. -
Review from Mollie J.
San Francisco, CA
4/15/2006
With the "Ritz Carlton" Signature service in place there isnt much that could go wrong! The chef is new and has added a great touch to "island cuisine." I especially loved the oil and herbs to dip bread in. A little pricy but again, it's the Ritz, what is not pricy?
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Review from Genevieve V.
Los Angeles, CA
8/23/2009
The food was awesome but not a place to go if you are very hungry. For the price the portions are quite small. The atmosphere and service were wonderful. Check the sunset times for an even better view.
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Review from Doreen H.
Burlingame, CA
3/22/2009
Great food. Very nice & engaging waiter. They were having a 3-course prix fixe option for $50... which is a steal for a place of this caliber.
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Review from Dustin K.
8/27/2009
This is a high-quality expensive restaurant. I definitely agree that the portions are way too small for the price. The food however is quite good and I would probably go back if we stayed at the Ritz again (which is not likely --- I'll get to that posting eventually). The service was great and we loved the bread w/ oil and spices to dip into. The lobster was tasty, but way overpriced ($75), steak was good but not great --- and we expected greatness from this place. Dessert was a little messed up as the gelato was partially melted from a freezer mishap --- but they did not charge us without us even complaining about it. Overall I good place to eat if price is no problem.
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Review from David H.
Encino, CA
7/17/2010
In general, above average food and great views. The dungeonous crab appetizer was great.
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Review from Rachel A.
Lahaina, HI
11/5/2010
Love this restaurant! I still have dreams of the ahi & foie gras. I'm already drooling just writing this. I can never decide on which appetizer to order so luckily you can create your own trio, too bad you can't create an entree trio too since the Kobe ribeye is excellent too not to mention the fresh local fish. It's expensive but it is comparable to other fine dining establishments on the island. My favorite fine dining restaurant in the island!
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Review from Alex S.
Honolulu, HI
7/23/2008
This place was totally on fire with Chef Jojo Fernandez turning out some of Hawaii's best high-end fusion cooking with a bit of El Bulli wrapped in. We ate there and it was truly awesome, fun and funny, everything that Stage on Oahu aspired for but didn't quite hit. Alas, Jojo flew the coop and the party's over. I have no idea how the restaurant is now or whether it will maintain its talent level.
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Review from Kathy J.
Ross, CA
1/22/2010
Delicious seafood and friendly service. Would have given it five stars but we ate here at night and couldn't see the view, thus we were only able to take in the interior design which seemed incongruous with the high prices.
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Review from ben c.
Los Angeles, CA
8/24/2006
After eating at Mamas, david pauls and the plantation house i expected every meal to be great. However my meal here sucked. every was very bland yet it tried to be sophisticated. theres a fine line between subtle and bland and they definitely crossed it. not only was the food bad but it was more expensive than any other restaurant. avoid at all costs, even if your staying at the ritz!
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Review from Robert R.
San Francisco, CA
6/6/2006
I have to admit, the food was great, the service impeccable, and the atmosphere amazing. It would be 5 star except for the fact it has to be one of the most overpriced restaurants in Hawaii... yeah.. Anyway, if you get in there around a sunset seating, you will be more than pleased with the views.
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Review from d c.
Boston, MA
2/24/2011
This place is perhaps the most over priced restaurant I've ever been to. Nice setting on the beach and a beautiful room but even a Childs drink was priced at $9.95. It's almost as if management decided to make it impossible for 2 diners to get out of there for less than $250.00. If you want top food and service in West Maui I would recommend Merriman's right next door. Merriman's is expensive too but the overall dining experience is a level or two above the Banyon Tree.
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Review from Arezou M.
Alamo, CA
8/1/2010
Incredible service and very beautiful view!!! The food was expensive and small portions but very good, definitely not disapointed with this place!!
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Review from scott w.
Beverly Hills, CA
8/26/2010
Way over priced for what they serve. Portions small which seems to be a problem at the Ritz. I don't mind paying for value but this restaurant offers high prices and little value. Service and atmosphere average. Found much better places for dinner than here. Won't be eating dinner at the Ritz rest of our trip!
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Review from Bryan B.
Los Angeles, CA
9/13/2009
Great ambiance and view! Food was okay. While we were staying at The Ritz, we had a late lunch/early dinner here before hitting Front Street Lahaina for the evening. There's a great view of the Kapalua coast, but the sunset is on the opposite end and blocked by buildings. So probably not a good place for the famous Maui sunsets. Service was average at best and alittle disappointing for a joint like this. It just seemed like the service staff were busy with other, more important things. The staff just has a different air here than from the rest of the island. Mostly everyone that we talked to were pretty new to the island. Our waitress was from Atlanta and had only been on the island for 2 months. Point being, most of the staff in the restaurant (and probably the entire resort) don't really have the Aloha Spirit that most of the other locals do have since they're so new to the island... idk, maybe I'm just giving them the benefit of the doubt. Food portions were no the largest, and we ended up having to eat again later in the evening. If you don't feel like leaving the resort, this is probably a good place for convenience. . . but we didn't have a chance to try the other restaurants in the resort.
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Review from Mark R.
Palo Alto, CA
1/24/2011
We had an excellent meal, but a mixed experience on service. We had the Caymus tasting menu which was excellent and our waiter Robert was fantastic very accommodating on some changes). For context, we live in the SF Bay Area and eat at high end restaurants frequently. The fish was the best that my wife has very had (and she eats alot of fish). The Kobe steak was a B+. Yet Robert made the meal, he was very gracious and a joy to work with. On the other hand the maitre d' provided very poor service. We had an early reservation and the restaurant was empty. Yet he asked me twice if we had a reservation and did not seem to be able to find it. We also specifically asked for two wine lists (my wife and I both like to peruse it), yet we only got the wine lists by asking our waiter Robert. The wine lists were only a B (if you want a deep and interesting list, I suggest Merriman's). We had a great time, but Robert really made the meal.
