Food Nights - To do and not to do in Maui

After being here in Maui for just over a week now we have had our food experience ups and downs. Ups would include last night’s dinner at Mama’s fish house (see previous blog) and the meals we have cooked here at the condo. Including the Bonsai burgers (teriyaki burgers topped with fresh grilled Pineapple), the Coconut and Panko Crusted Mahi-mahi topped with fresh Mango Salsa paired with coconut white rice and tonight’s dinner consisting of Beef Filets topped with caramelized Maui sweet onions, blue cheese and red wine reduction, served with fresh garlic green beans, chopped romaine salad and steamed Alaskan King Crab legs. Yes we have eaten very well and I have enjoyed cooking for everyone. It’s nice to stay at a location that will allow us to do this but part of vacation is enjoying the local fare.

Up – Old Lahaina Luau - http://www.oldlahainaluau.com/index_main.html

Hands down this is one of the best experiences I can recall on vacation. This luau is full of Hawaiian history and traditional dance. Oh, and the food isn’t bad either. Kailua pork tops the menu coked in the traditional style ”Imu” (pit oven in the sand covered with banana leaves). Also on the buffet is steak, chicken, fish, salads, fruit, etc. Most things on the buffet line where quite enjoyable including the macadamia tarts served on the desert tray at each table. This place is sold out every night so make sure to get your reservations well in advance and I would suggest asking for the traditional seating up front. $95 per person and worth every penny. All food, drinks (including alcoholic) and entertainment is included but make sure to tip your waiter. Best Mai Tai in the world.

Down – Quicksilver Sunset Dinner Cruise

Wow. Not a good wow either. We decided prior to our visit we would not seek out a dinner cruise while we are here. I envisioned a short boat ride eating mediocre food with watered down drinks and poor entertainment. What we got was much worse.
The couple we are vacationing with had been on a dinner cruise while on their Honeymoon 7 years ago and enjoyed every minute of it. We agreed that if we could find the same one they had gone on then that we would book the trip. While in Lahaina picking up the tickets at Boss Frog’s that I purchased for the Luau we asked the gentlemen about this dinner cruise. Apparently our friends were drunk the whole time when here before or in the twilight zone. At Boss Frog’s they have never heard of this dinner cruise our friends spoke of. Never the less, they of course recommended one that we are sure to enjoy. Great deal too. Book now and get your tickets two for one or $38 per person. Also promised to be a five star romantic experience. Yeh right.
From the time we board the boat to now and beyond I regret making the decision to book this trip. As we find our seat on the boat I have the immediate thought that most of the other patrons booked there tickets through Wal-Mart. Our group is dressed up and ready for a fabulously romantic experience and some of the others are in flip flops, swim suits, spandex, moo moos and tank tops. As we leave the dock and head out to sea about 1 mile off the coast, yep one whole mile before we stop and spin in circles waiting for dinner and the sun to set. Did I mention the entertainment? A one man band singing requests and an occasional Hawaiian style song? He sounds very similar to the worst Karaoke singer you have ever seen or heard but plays his own guitar so most of the songs are barley even recognizable.
Dinner time and we can’t wait for the Prim Rib, Chicken, coconut rice, etc. Oh, woops, I guess we waited to long to get in line. Out of 61 paying customers on boards I would guess there was only enough food for 50. They ran out of food on a dinner cruise buffet???? What little food we did get was over cooked, under cooked or just flat tasteless. Good thing they gave us free alcoholic beverages. Oh, but only two drinks per person until you have to pay for the rest. They did give out complimentary drinks to those of us who didn’t get much to eat. A poor offering to top of one of the worst vacation experiences of my life. Five star service my butt. At least we are open minded enough to make the most out of it and laugh the evening away not letting it ruin our vacation.
Next time we will spend an additional night at Mama’s fish house or cooking at the condo.