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 Stopped here for dinner our last night on the island. We had been to this location before when it was under another name/different ownership and weren't impressed but thought we'd give it a try again.Service was great, location/view was awsome, menu was nicely varied and the food was excellent. We had the Ono blackened with mango salsa on the side and the ribs. Fish was great - moist, tender, nicely spiced. Ribs literally fell off the bone and had very little fat. My wife was able to eat without using her fingers once. Presentation of the food on the plates was excellent. Would definetly go back. Was more impressed with the Mai Tai Lounge than with their higher priced and much more crowded neighbors (Kimos to the north and The Lahaina Fish Company to the south).  -- Bob B. We liked the atmosphere (no flowery green carpet that seems to be in high demand in Hawaii), the view is gorgeous and the food was great. It's fairly secluded although right on the strip, only a few tables: this was exactly what we were looking for. I was getting tired of the mainstream restaurants that cater to tourists, and take no pride in the food and decor, but the Mai Tai reconciled me with restaurants in Hawaii! -- Anonymous Great view and creative drinks.I went in for some drinks....so i didn't get to try the food, but the drinks were delicious enough and the food on the table of other diners looked delicious. They were raving about the dishes they ordered. I wanted the cornball hawaiian drink in a tiki cup...and i got it here. Although it wasn't a glass tiki cup, plastic tiki cup fulfilled my need. I tried the Road to Hana and Island Hopper. The drinks tasted like a dessert. Would never know there was alcohol. The top deck has a few tables with lounge chairs for couples to cuddle and friends to relax together. Since the restaurant is near the boat harbor, there's plenty to look at. The view includes sail boats, submarines, the island of Lanai, the beach itself, and depending on the time....a beautiful sunset. We went around 4pm...the service is a bit slow (there was only one server for the whole deck who also doubled as the bartender), but we had to catch our plane....so we were in a bit of a rush. Otherwise, we probably would have appreciated it so we could enjoy the view and maui breeze. Pluis, 4pm is an akward time...not quite lunch or dinner....it's normally that dead time. Go here for a chill place. Not overly packed with tourists.....very friendly staff...DELICIOUS drinks. Cool note: There's a sunken boat that can be seen from the deck. Maui coral is protected...therefore it cannot be disturbed (touched). In order for this boat to be removed...it must be cut and broken apart because the areas touching the coral may not be removed. -- Anonymous It was amazing! WOW! -- Anonymous I was skeptical after read some reviews and decide to go anyway to check it out. My God the food was incredible Adam the server was one of the best we ever had, the views are stunning and the Mai Tai were without any questions the best ever. recomended to judje by your self, been over the world twice and this restaurant become one of the best in my list. congratulations and you will see me back every time we will visit Maui.Steve. -- Steve O. My wife and I went here over Christmas '09. We love the view and enjoyed our drinks. -- Peter M. My husband and I discovered Mai Tai during our February 2010 trip to Maui. One meal, and it became my favorite restaurant on the island -- and we've been to Maui many, many times. Small and intimate, sophisticated yet comfortable. Exceptional macadamia nut mahi mahi -- the best I've ever tasted. First-rate drinks; I love the POG-tini. We dined there three times and look forward to coming back. -- Karilon R. Voted best new restaurant in Maui by Maui times, Mai Tai lounge is reminiscent of an old fashioned speakeasy. You could walk by it a hundred times and not know it was there, making it a great place to meet friends and enjoy ocean front dining on Front Street without the bombardment of tourists and Bubba Gump-style fanfare.Located directly on the ocean next to Kimo’s in downtown Lahaina, you walk through a jewelry store to get to the entrance of the restaurant, which is advantageous for local residents looking to go slightly off the radar or slip in for a beverage without being spotted by paparazzi. I wonder what drink Mai Tai Lounge might be famous for. Maui times awarded the Mai Tai Lounge purveyors of the Best Mai Tai two years running. That, coupled with the only rooftop dining in Maui, makes this restaurant a must see for visitors, and a “must frequent” for those who live here. Whether stopping by for a cocktail, dining on the first floor, or watching the sunset fall over Lanai while catching a breech or two from our annual visitors, Da Whales, make sure to stop in and say hi to Isabella the bartender. She makes a slamming margarita, and can mix a Mai Tai in her sleep. You’ll also be assured your experience is a memorable one by either Michel Roy, the managing partner, or Fernando Canitrot, dining manager. On my latest visit, as we walked through the jewelry store and I made a mental note not to drink too much lest my dinner bill come with an added expense on the way out. From there we climbed the stairs to the dining room with the greatest view on Maui. With a group of three or more I recommend starting out with the Flaming Hibachi Pupu Platter, which is a complete sampler of some of their other aps (yes, there’s an ap for that!) Among the mixture, the Kealoha’s Baby Back Ribs, stood out above all. Slow cooked, tender pork ribs glazed with their secret island bbq sauce, it’s one of the most popular dishes on the entrée menu as well. The Chicken Satay is a nice staple accompanied with three dipping sauces which multi task when used on the Crab Rangoon style stuffed wontons and Shanghai Rolls. We also dabbled in the lobster quesadilla. With my Latin background and extensive mamacita style cooking experience, although I’d never thought of stuffing lobster into a tortilla before, now that I’ve tried it I feel my youth was sorely lacking since it wasn’t spent eating things this deliscioso. And to think for awhile there I thought I’d had a fine childhood! Ah, that Ahi! Even if it’s for sheer presentation wow-value, order the Ahi Rainbow Tower. Fresh, glistening Ahi that’s been prepared poke style is layered with rice, mango, pineapple and avocado, topped with masago and served with wonton chips and a wasabi ginger drizzle. I know Snoop Dogg would try it, Fo shizzle. The beautiful Ahi tower quickly came crumbling down as our clean-up crew was fast at hand to clear the plate. For those wanting a quick bite while catching a few rays, sit upstairs and order the Riki Tiki Tacos, enough to abate your hunger without weighing you down. Your choice of fillings includes Kalua pork or Sauteed Mahi Mahi. For those in no hurry, try the tropical grilled chicken salad construction of tender, sliced chicken breast with mangos, avocados and feta atop Napa cabbage and greens, with a creamy papaya seed dressing and peanut sauce drizzle; a good way to gear up for a day at the beach. Flaming Hibachi Appetizer Boat As for main courses you’ll have a lot to choose from Island favorites such as shrimp or lobster enchiladas, a large order of the baby back ribs mentioned earlier or a filet for those shady meat and potato characters. Along with a late-night dining menu, music and dancing, Mai Tai Lounge is fast becoming one of Maui’s top hang outs, offering a little something for everyone. Just try it – have a drink with a significant other on the rooftop, as the sun goes down. Romance will ensue, I assure you. Or sit downstairs on the water and watch the tiki torches catch fish off their flickering flame. You’ll be saying to yourself, “We should do this more often!” -- WHAT'S COOKING MAUI Isabella Fuerst – Mai Tai Lounge’s Hot BartenderPosted on 25 February 2010 Isabella with Maui's Best Mai Tai Meeting Isabella, you notice her good looks first, followed immediately by her accent. When asked if she’s German, she quickly clarifies – Bavarian. Like most residents of Bavaria, she is proud of her origins, and why not? Dwellers of her home state in southern Germany are well known for their fun-loving good nature – think Oktoberfest. Yet, in spite of having grown up just two hours outside Munich, Bella (as she likes to be called) admits with a shrug to having never attended the famous festival of beer and blasmuzik. Would she like to join the fun some day? To Bella, the job at Mai Tai offers a more exotic and manageable party nightly. Isabella Serves and Mixes with Equal Aplomb Find Isabella and her jolly attitude every night except Monday and Wednesday at the Mai Tai Lounge on Front Street in Lahaina. Before you do, here’s a chance to get to know her a little better: WCM: How do you mange to keep things sizzling night after night? Bella: My enthusiasm for the job and great drinks such as Mojitos, Margaritas, dirty Martinis, Cosmos and Lemondrops, and of course our signature drink, the Mai Tai! WCM: You’re not just a bar manager. You also serve meals at your bar. With all the serving, bussing, pouring, mixing, and special orders, how do you manage it all so seamlessly? Bella: My years of experience and my German charm. WCM: Off the cuff — what’s a nice girl like you doing in a place like this? Isabella Fuerst Bella: Enjoying what I like to do, making drinks and meeting amazing people from all over the world (who will buy some real estate here on this beautiful island of Maui.) WCM: Okay, better put, how did you originally find your way to Mai Tai Lounge? How long have you been working there? Bella: Just walked in one day after JD from the liquor commission recommended me to William the owner. I have worked here over one year. WCM: If I weren’t the bar manager at Mai Tai, I’d be…. Bella: … the owner. WCM: How do you make everyone feel so at home at your bar? Bella: I treat them how I would like to be treated and show my customers a good time at the bar. WCM: Do you offer advice to the lovelorn? Bella: Find your best friend in the person you love, the person you can see every day and love to hang out with because, ladies and gentlemen, looks will fade. WCM: How do you handle prickly situations? Bella: I cut them off. WCM: What’s your favorite libation to serve? To enjoy after hours? Bella: Margaritas WCM: What do you love most about your job? Bella: Meeting new people. WCM: What else would you like our readers to know about you? Bella: I have been in the states a total of 8 years now. I started in Fayetteville, North Carolina, and moved on to Santa Cruz, California, then to Kauai and now on Maui. I am going on my 4th year here and counting. My 2nd passion, next to making drinks, is real estate. I am a real estate agent working for the oldest company on Maui called Maui Realty Company, Inc. I get a lot of my clients from Mai Tai Lounge, so it’s a good job to have from that point of view. I have a dog named Kaya and a cat named Missy, whom I love dearly and miss them when I’m away. I love taking Kaya to the beach and on long walks. WCM: Thanks for letting us get to know you better! Bella: See you at Mai Tai Lounge! -- WHAT'S COOKING MAUI |
