Here's the caveat. I eat at a lot of places around Hawaii and had not eaten at the Pineapple Grill so last time I was on Maui I jumped at the chance. ate at the Pineapple Grill for lunch and the food was pretty good. Have heard its truly spectacular at dinner but could not swing that. So, the rundown. The setting is nice, with views of the ocean, Molokai and the golf course but it still feels a bit too much like a clubhouse for my taste. The decor is fine but forgettable. The wait staff is on top of it and solid -- quick with kids menus and crayons, not to mention drinks. We did not feel rushed. We ate three small plates and three mains and it took about 90 minutes, not bad.

For the small plates, we ordered the Sashimi of Ahi Tuna with wasabi, soy sauce, pickled ginger. It was a fairly small plate but very fresh ahi. It was good but not that different from other sashimis around Hawaii. The basket of crispy Maui onion rings went in a heartbeat -- they were as advertised, plenty crisp and nicely seasoned. The shichimi seasoned mahimahi tacos were a bit on the weird side, a fusion dish run amoke. The Teriyaki Grilled Wild King Salmon with chilled soba noodles & fresh crisp vegetables, citrus ponzu sauce was tasty but not totally memorable. It include a nice piece of fish and some perfectly cooked soba noodles. The ponzu sauce had enough bite but there was a little bit too much of it. Two of us had the fresh dayboat catch island fish sandwiches, which were mahimahi that day. The size was good. The fish were truly fresh. The Maui onion roll was soft but firm enough, with that sweet onion zing to it. The sammies were probably the high point of the meal. Until dessert, that is. The "Maui Gold” Pineapple Upside Down Cake with Whaler Dark Rum foster sauce, Roselani Gourmet macadamia nut ice cream was sublime, just like the old style cakes but with nice modern updates. The cakes was heavy but not overwhelming. The flavors were sweet but not overkill and the rum stuck around long enough to make you realize this plate is not for children. All told, I'd order two of these and the fish sandwich next time in and then take a long nap.

Pineapple Grill
200 Kapalua Drive
Kapalua, Maui,
HI 96761
p: 808-669-9600
f: 808-669-6222

—Alex, 07/23/08