Mamas Fish House

07/09/09

$100 View, $0.50 quality, $0.10 customer service

by Mattson1

The location and view are top quality; with an ambience that requires a modest tweek to be "fine dining" material. The meal was a 7 out of 10.....Hey, when the entree prices rival those of high-end charity events, the meals MUST be truly outstanding to warrant higher praise.

The customer service is of McDonalds quality; my car was valet parked (mandatory at this restaurant) and returned to me with a 1.5 inch gash. The manager claimed his people are "above reproach and 100% honest" and apologized profusely for this unfortunate situation, but sadly, admitted he was "powerless" to "do" anything about it. Repeated calls to the establishments vice president (as suggested my the manager) were met with deafening silence. I was left to cover the repair cost by the rental agency (who actually recommended the restaurant).

Overall, a very frustrating experience ruining a perfectly good day during our honeymoon; a very expensive meal indeed.

BTW, a top notch meal was had at Stella Blues in Kihei; for about half the price!! Now that's a real quality restaurant!!

• Pros: View
• Cons: Zero Customer Service

03/04/09

Very good experience!

by lalakitty

On our first trip to Maui we decided to have a special dinner at Mama's. We made a reservation for 5:45 so we could watch the sky darken over the ocean (you can't actually see the sunset from this location, but it's beautiful just the same). We were seated immediately at a table one back from the windows, as it wasn't yet too crowded. We ordered drinks and the lobster and avocado appetizer w/taro chips, which was yummy. I ordered a curry dish w/three types of fish (ahi, opah, mahimahi) that came w/a small side plate of chutney, diced bananas and macadamia nuts. It was out of this world! Perfectly cooked and an ample amount of food for me (and I can eat). My husband got the opah w/caramelized maui onion. He said it was exactly what he was hoping it would be: flavorful, well-seasoned, and perfectly cooked. We enjoyed a leisurely meal, listening to in-house music system, mixed w/the sounds of the surf and voices of other patrons.

Our service was, overall, quite satisfactory. We weren't rushed or constantly hassled. In fact, it seemed that two other waiters serving nearby tables kept an eye out for opportunities to assist us (more water, etc.). My main issue was our server was a little lax in her duties. She seemed to disappear after our meals were served. She also didn't seem as eager to anticipate our needs (possibly the other waiters knew this, so were trying to help compensate?). We didn't let it bother us too much, since we were enjoying our food and the atmosphere so much.

Drinks were good, though expensive. Based on others' reviews and our assessment of the available options, we chose the Tahitian Black Pearl Dessert. It's both pretty to look at and tasty, and after such a filling and wonderful meal, it wasn't too heavy (I hate a dessert that sits in your belly like a rock afterwards).

Overall, a wonderful dining experience, if expensive. Be prepared to drop a good amount of money on dinner (~$150 for 2p). Go early to avoid serious crowds.

• Pros: Ambiance, Food, View

02/09/09

Still drooling over the macadamia-nut-crusted mahi mahi

by cpevey

OK, yeah, it's expensive. The Hawaiian fish chowder was a great way to start the meal. The curry was flavorful. And the crab-stuffed, macadamia-nut-crusted mahi mahi with lobster tail was fresh. Service was very attentive. Nice view of the ocean. You only live once, so go.

• Pros: It's DELICIOUS!
• Cons: It's EXPEN$IVE!

07/21/08

Nestled at the foot of the east Maui Mountains, this funky spot serves fantastic fish in a cool, casual environment.

by Contributor

In Short
Once a private beach home, this friendly spot now serves up the freshest of fish, along with an ample amount of hospitality. The smallish restaurant is big on personality with a hip, retro interior that's reminiscent of Elvis's "Blue Hawaii." A bamboo ceiling and staff sporting flowers in their hair recreate the welcoming vibe of Old Hawaii. The daily menu proudly announces the day's fresh catches, along with the responsible fishermen. For lunch, try grilled ahi sandwich with smoked bacon and Maui onion dressing. Other tasty bites include delightfully crisp crab cakes and flaky shrimp wontons. Vegetarians can choose from an array of locally grown delicacies including breadfruit, paholo fern, roasted kukui nut and fresh hearts of palm. For dinner, the surf-and-turf option of filet mignon and Pacific lobster tail can't be beat. Finish off the meal with locally grown Maui Mountain Coffee.

• Pros: Great lunch menuFresh, healthy mealQuick service
• Cons: Limited seating

07/02/08

Nice, relaxed and tropical ambiance, but food was marginal and prices were astronomical

by drxrys

This restaurant was highly recommended, but after looking at the menu and prices, I wondered why. I was told that the food was excellent and very fresh. The fish tasted good, but I have had much better at other restaurants for far less. I had a delicious fish dinner at the Four Seasons hotel restuarant in Maui and the price was less expensive there! I was really offended by the $16 cocktails. For that price, I expected the drinks to taste great and be in a large glass. I had a Mama's special cocktail and tasted a Pink Floyd cocktail and Mai Tai, all were flavorless and tasted like they had very little alcohol - definitely not worth $16. I had a much better Mai Tai at the Four Season's hotel and it was only $12 and I enjoyed it while taking in an awesome view there. The wait staff at Mama's were really friendly and nice, but considering everything that Mama's has to offer, they do not make the trip to Mama's and the cost of the dinner worth it. I would not return to this restaurant and I would not recommend it to anyone visiting Maui. If you do decide to eat at Mama's, try the Lilikoi creme brulee - it was delicious.

Reviewed by someone who travels often and has eaten at many different types of restaurants.

• Pros: ambiance and friendly atmosphere
• Cons: overpriced, food is just OK, cocktails are awful and definitely not worth $16

05/17/08

Not what it used to be

by thepest

We have been to Mama's several times over the years, the last time in 2006. It has always been high priced but our visit this time was a great disappointment. As if the $16.00 cocktails are not bad enough, but the menu is way overpriced. The terrible onion soup is $12.00, with what seems like canned beef broth and no crouton or good gruyere cheese. The surf and turf is $115.00, and fish dishes are in the $45-55 range. Appetizers are expensive too. With a bottle of wine, expect to pay about $200.00 for dinner for two.

If you pay high prices you expect perfection in food quality and service. After taking our order, the server, who looked like a spaced out beach bum, never came around again. Our food arrived COLD and the portions were small and mediocre in taste. We sent the food back and after a complaint session with the manager, who agreed that there were problems, we left without eating and paying for anything, since the manger comped the tab.

We will never go back to what used to be our favorite restaurant on Maui. Better and cheaper choices are Maalaea Waterfront, Pacific'o in Lahaina, Kimo's, and Canoes for their earlybird special. At Waterfront, try their excellent Maui onion soup for $7.00.

• Pros: location
• Cons: prices, food quality

04/29/08

Not The Best

by itsmeMiYoung

I like Mama's but if you are not a local, then you'll like it better. You wouldn't know the difference but, their menu is over priced! Living here, you would know it is over priced and you can get fish prepared the same or similar somewhere else for at least $10 cheaper. Over rated could be the word. No doubt the views are spectacular, yes, so pay the price to eat and look at views of the ocean. Service is good, sometimes I feel because we are locals, our waiters/waitress don?t want to tend to us as much. You know, you get that feeling when they kind of ignore you? Service should be at all the same level. I'll go back maybe once a year or less. I don't miss their cooking.

• Pros: Views
• Cons: Valet Parking Only

04/12/08

Fantastic soup!!! Wonderful view!!! fresh fish!!

by Trixie1988

My family and I just came home from Maui this morning and I am already online looking for recipes from Mama's!! Great atmosphere, wonderful flavors and fantastic views! It is a must if you are on Maui. Easy to find and great shops on the way!

• Pros: fresh ingredients, great taste and terrific views
• Cons: Bring a light jacket or sweater..can get breezy

04/03/08

Disappointed with the food but beautiful Scenery

by blforman

I read many reviews on this restaurant before visiting Maui. I felt this was a must stop visit and I booked reservations ahead of time. When arriving the restaurant is absolutely gorgeous with one of the best views. We were seated and I just feel in love with the restaurant and ambiance of the place. The food however was just average food and not at all what I expected. I guess after reading so many great reviews I was expecting the food to be fantastic and was highly disappointed by the quality of the food. I felt very mislead to eat here and didn't even finish my food. However the drinks were very good and the atmosphere was amazing so if you don't mind spending a lot of money on just average food you will definitely be impressed with your surroundings and cocktails.

02/17/08

I sent the Shrimp Won Ton back

by pettyfogger

My new bride and I went to Mama's on our honeymoon based on the recommendation of good friends. The prices were not just high, they were staggering. For instance, just a cup of coffee at Mama's (not a specialty drink like a latte, just a cup) was twelve to fourteen dollars.

Nothing prepared us for the appallingly low quality of food at this Maui legend. The shrimp in the won ton was tasteless and rubber-like, a sure tip off of either frozen or less-than-fresh crustacean. I sent it back and had it replaced with the crabcakes, which, as it turned out, were scarcely any better, Crabcakes should taste like fresh crab, with perhaps a hint of seasoning. These tasted like pure bread crumbs, with the consistency of a wet paper towel. Perhaps if one doesn't live in an area blessed with an abundance of fresh seafood, food like this - leavened with the heady tropical setting and Maui winds - might pass as enjoyable. The soup tasted like canned, and the cheese was a clotted mass floating on the surface like an over-sized banana slice. My wife, who can cook circles around any of the "cooks" at Mama's, opined that it was cheddar cheese, not the usual good quality gruyere found in decent restaurants. Last, and least, was the so-called coconut cheesecake, again lacking any real, satisfying coconut taste. It was just a notch or two below Sara Lee, with none of the texture of the latter that distinguishes cheesecake from frozen pudding.

• Pros: Beautiful view of the ocean (like many on Maui)
• Cons: Poor quality food - at any price