Eating Out

For a true Hawaiian meal, head to Da Kitchen, in Kihei. The hearty portions are a true deal for the buck, and the Kaluha Pork is to die for!! You can also experiment with the Hawiian platter, and the Lomi-Lomi Salmon is a true hit. It is a very informal place where food is served in styrofoam boxes even when it is to be consumed on the premises. An entree will be in the range f $7- $8.

Da Matteo, in Wailea, is another informal place (order up front and food gets delivered to your table via a number system). The place has just received their wine and beer license. Matteo is always in the restaurant: the young owner is from Cinque Terre, and his pizzas are true to teh Italian tradition. Good pastas, too. A pizza will ring up to about $12.

Eskimo Candy in Kihei is another excellent location for fresh fish in an informal setting, or to go plates.

Canoes, in Lahaina at the very end of Front Street, is a surprise: not a place you would suppose to be very good, it has some killer selections on its fish menu. The fresh catch was really good, either blue crab crusted with gnocchi or macadamia nut crysted with veggies. Both presentation and taste were up to the hefty price tag of $29.95 for the average entree. Great local beers and a killer dessert list, among which the Pineapple Creme Brulee (a pineapple disk carved out to make room for the custard) is the hands-down crowd pleaser.

Seawatch Restaurant, at the Wailea Golf Club, is a great place for a reasonably priced brunch with a killer view of Molokini.