Spring Break to Maui: Eating Around the Hyatt Regency Maui

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Emily:  Daraius and I had some delicious (and some not-so-delicious) food in Hawaii.  Here’s what we sampled in and around the Hyatt Regency, Maui:
Sunset at Merriman’s Restaurant, Maui
Trip Report Index:

The Hyatt Regency breakfast buffet

Emily: On our first day at the hotel, Daraius wasn’t well and slept in, so we missed the free breakfast in the lounge (which we had access to as Hyatt Diamond elite members).  So we went to breakfast at the Swan Court restaurant which is open until 11:00 am.  The line was long, and we waited about 20 minutes to be seated.
Breakfast Buffet Line

The food was pretty good and included fresh banana carrot bread…

Fresh Baked Pastries
..more pastries and danishes…
Banana and Carrot Bread
…cheese…
Assortment of Cheeses
…meats, bread…
Bagels and Breads
…fresh fruit…
Fresh Fruit
…yogurt…
Yogurt and Toppings
…oatmeal…
Oatmeal and Toppings
…and banana pancakes.
Banana Pancakes

There was an omelet station with made to order omelets.

Omelet Station

There was fresh juice as well, and Daraius loved the Pineapple, Orange & Guava combination.

Fresh Juices

My favorite foods were the homemade breads because they were so fresh.  I also liked the selection of cheese, and the banana pancakes.  I got my pancakes with their coconut syrup. Yum!

The birds were also busy enjoying their breakfast!

Extra Guests at Breakfast

Breakfast was very expensive (~$27 per person without tip), and not worth it. I would much rather eat in the lounge for free or have a granola bar and some fruit instead.

Breakfast Buffet Bill For Two

Local Food

The next day, Daraius and I went to “Local Food”, a restaurant in Lahaina which specializes in traditional Hawaiian plate lunches.  Here’s a map from the Hyatt Regency to Local Food (~10 minutes drive).

Daraius:  I read about Local Food on chowhound, but while the price was reasonable, I didn’t like the food.
Local Food
Emily:  They had a small and reasonably priced menu.
Menu

I ordered shoyu chicken…

Shoyu Chicken
…and Daraius had Kalua pork.  Both meals were served with rice and a salad.
Kalua Pork Plate
Emily: The portions were generous and each only cost $7.  But…
Plate Lunch Specials

we both preferred my chicken! The pork wasn’t up to Kansas City standards!

Ululani’s for shaved ice

After lunch, we stopped for shaved ice at Ululani’s on Front Street in Lahiana  Daraius read about this on Chowhound as well.  It is about 10 minutes drive from the hotel.

Ululani’s Shave Ice

They had lots of flavors from which to choose.

Shave Ice Menu

It was fun to watch the employee make it.

Shave Ice in Action
Shaping the Shave Ice
Emily: It looked almost too beautiful to eat.  Almost…
Mango Shave Ice

I had mango, coconut, and passion fruit flavors with a crème sauce on top and mochi.  I really like the mochi balls on top, which are like sweet rice balls.  The serving size was huge…we should have opted for the kids’ size!

Digging In

Sonz at Swan Lake (in the Hyatt Regency) for dinner

Daraius booked us at the Hyatt Regency’s fancy restaurant for dinner, called Sonz at Swan Lake.  He was tired from just 1 excursion out of the hotel, so we stayed in for dinner.

Eating around the Hyatt Regency Maui

The restaurant had a view of the garden with swans, and the waiter said that they sometimes swim up close to the window.  We made reservations late so did not get a table with a good view.

Sonz at Swan Lake

That evening the temperature dropped and it rained, and the hotel a/c was on full blast,  so I was a bit cold!

A Rare Sight – Someone Wearing a Jacket in Maui

The menu prices were expensive.  It was about $15 for an appetizer and ~$25 to $50 for an entree.

Menu Page 1
Emily: For a hotel restaurant, there were plenty of entree choices.
Menu Page 2

We ordered a Yukon Gold Potato Gnocchi Caprese served with Olowalu Tomatoes, Mozzarella di Bufala, “Mean” Extra Virgin Olive Oil, 25 Year Balsamic for an appetizer, which was delicious!  The ingredients were all so fresh, and the tomatoes tasted like they had just been picked from the garden.

Daraius doesn’t like anything green, but even he liked the salad!

Gnocchi Caprese

Next, Daraius had fish for the main course.

Fish

I had beef tenderloin with Maui Coffee Marinade, Loaded Baked Potato, and Asparagus.  My beef was a little dry, and it was cooked medium well, rather than medium rare, as I requested.  But I ate it without sending it back.

Beef Tenderloin

My favorite part of the meal was the Caprese salad, followed by the baked potato.

Hyatt Regency Maui Club lounge for breakfast

The next day, Daraius and I had a light breakfast at the Hyatt Regency Maui Club Lounge.  We were Hyatt diamond elite members so we got access to the lounge and breakfast for free.

Hyatt Regency Club Lounge

The menu selections included apple crepes, oatmeal, cereal, homemade banana breads, pastries, fresh fruit, cheese, and bread.

Apple Crepes and Bagels
Emily: I missed not having fresh fruit but the homemade banana carrot bread and apple crepes made up for it.

But breakfast was free so we ate a late breakfast and skipped a few lunches to save money!

Apple Crepes and  Banana Carrot Bread

We sat out on the patio and had a nice view of the Ocean and the green hills.

Regency Club Lounge Patio

Maui Swiss Cafe

Another day we were back on Front Street and went for crepes at Maui Swiss Cafe.  We hadn’t planned on going there, but the thought of crepes attracted me!

Maui Swiss Cafe

Here’s the menu.

Menu

I ordered the “England” crepe with ham, cheese, and tomato…

England Crepe
…and Daraius ordered a turkey sandwich.
Turkey Sandwich

I absolutely loved my crepe, but Daraius thought it was “okay.”

Lahaina Ice Cream Parlor

Afterwards, we went out to the Lahaina Ice Cream parlor (also on Front Street) for ice cream before heading back to the hotel.

Ice Cream

Merriman’s for dinner with a view

Another night we went to Merriman’s (reservation needed), which Daraius read had good sunset views and food on Chowhound.  It was about 15 minutes by car from the Hyatt.

Merriman’s

There was a bar outside to watch the sunset, which serves small plates and drinks only.

Merriman’s Outdoor Bar
Emily: There were plenty of places to sit outside, and we had our choice of any seat.
Tables at Merriman’s Outdoor Bar

Instead, we sat indoors so that we could relax and enjoy dinner.  Seating inside is first come first serve (once you have a reservation) so you can’t reserve a seat by the window.

Merriman’s Inside View

We were soon served a welcome appetizer and we placed our order.

Appetizer

While we were waiting for our order, we went outside to take pictures.

Enjoying the Sunset

The sunset was absolutely gorgeous and I was so glad to spend it with my honey!

Beautiful Maui Sunset

It wasn’t as chilly tonight as it was a few nights ago, so I left my jacket at home.

Merriman’s

Here’s a link to the menu.  It was ~$15 for an appetizer and ~$30 to $50 for a main course.  I liked that they had an option for smaller portions.

We ordered the Upcountry Organic Kale and Butter Lettuce Salad which consisted of Hana Hearts of Palm, Roasted Beets, Big Island Goat Cheese, Crispy Maui Onions, and Miso Citrus and Smoked Macadamia Nut Honey Vinaigrette for our appetizer.

Kale and Butter Lettuce Salad

Daraius had Crispy “Day Boat” Mahi Mahi Ponzu.

Crispy “Day Boat” Mahi Mahi Ponzu

and Half Butter Poached Lobster.

Butter Poached Lobster

I had the filet mignon which consisted of Spicy Caramelized Maui Onion and Roasted Hamakua Mushrooms, Creamed Kula Corn, and House Whipped Potato.

Filet Mignon

I loved the creamed corn, but my meat was served medium well to well done, instead of the medium rare as I requested.

For dessert, we ordered White Chocolate Filled Malasadas, or small white-chocolate filled doughnuts, served with Maui Oma Coffee Caramel Dipping Sauce.  The doughnuts were served in a brown paper bag.

Malasadas

These were out of this world and the highlight of the dinner!

Enjoying a Great Meal at Merriman’s

Leilani’s

If you walk towards the beach from the Hyatt Regency Maui and then turn right and walk along the path, you will eventually come to leilani’s restaurant in about 15 minutes in the Whaler’s village.  This is another option if you want to not eat at the Hyatt.

Daraius went here by himself while I was laying by the pool and had fish tacos.  He said that the prices were reasonable for lunch, but I can only find a link to the more expensive dinner menu online.

Fish Tacos

Of course he had to get dessert too!

Hula Pie

Aloha Mixed Plate

On our last day we stopped at Aloha Mixed Plate for traditional Hawaiian lunches.  It is about 10 minutes from the Hyatt Regency by car.

Aloha Mixed Plate

This time, Daraius enjoyed his plate lunch!

Daraius – Happy That We Stopped at Aloha Mixed Plate

All seating is outdoors.

Outdoor Seating

And the views are very pretty!

Breathtaking Views
Al Fresco Dining

The food was reasonably priced.  We ordered fried chicken…

Fried Chicken
…and coconut shrimp.  The portions were large.
Coconut Shrimp

To drink we had a mango pina coloda smoothie.

Mango Smoothie

I loved the fresh smoothie and the view, but the fried chicken was okay.  Daraius said the shrimps were better.

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