Maui, as expected, was a completely surreal vacation for us. Not only was this our honeymoon, but it was one of my dream destinations. Everywhere you looked was a breathtaking view and something new to take in. Not only were the views and experiences unreal, but the food was also outstanding!
One of my favorite things to eat (thanks to Paul and his family) is seafood. If you love fresh fish as much as I do then Maui is a trip for you. Every menu had a delightful mix of seafood options that were just incredible. We were completely in our element with the food selections… even at the grocery store. However, one of the places that stood out to us on another level was Mala Tavern.
Mala Tavern offers oceanfront dining on Maui’s Westside. No matter what time of day you visit, the view is beautiful. We had the opportunity to visit for both brunch and dinner and cannot speak more highly of the experience. The quaint tables overlooked stunning sunsets and clear blue waters. Not to mention, the hospitality was spot on. We had the sweetest hosts and servers who truly aimed to make our experience the best it could be.
Known for exceptional cuisine, the pacific rim and mediterranean inspired menu has been drawing locals and visitors of Maui for years, with focus on locally caught fish and incorporation of exotic ingredients.
Chef Savella was born and raised on the island and is well known in the community. His culinary background is impressive and his dishes even more so. The plates his team whips up, packed with a unique flavor and local ingredients, are sure to please. As we tried bites from both brunch and dinner, we honestly couldn’t choose one meal over the other because they were quite different.
Brunch
Our favorite brunch spot in Maui.
Paul’s brother and his girlfriend decided to start off our brunch experience by ordering us shots… of oysters. Weird, I know, but they were one-of-a-kind. Paul loved the shooters and had a Bloody Mary afterward but I’m a bit more fruity so I got myself a Spa Day cocktail and it was super refreshing. Because it was brunch, we also ordered coffees. No exaggeration, their coffee was the best we had on Maui!
We started with a forever favorite: coconut shrimp. These coconutty shrimp bites with their dipping sauce were so yummy. As I always do, I squeezed that lemon over every single piece.
Eggs benedict is my favorite brunch dish of all time so I had to try that along with the seared ahi and wasabi hollandaise. I had never thought to push fish or wasabi on eggs benedict and it was so good. Paul’s Seared Ahi Sandwich was served with incredibly fresh avocado on a crunchy flax seed toast.
Dinner
A mouthwatering & memorable sunset meal.
Do you want an absolutely delectable dinner? Mala Tavern‘s got it. Paul and I had a spectacular view of the sunset during dinner. If you know you know, Hawaiian sunsets are unreal. Sunsets with a glass of wine in hand elevate your dining experience to the next level.
The Poisson Cru is a 10/10 starter that you absolutely have to try if you eat raw fish. The cured catch is served up with coconut, cula onion cucumber, avocado, chili oil, and Moloka’i sweet potato chips. I’m a pasta girl at heart so I couldn’t help but order this dish with multiple bites from the sea – it was delicious!
My mouth was watering just writing this post just remembering all of the flavors we got to experience. If you are headed to Maui for your honeymoon or for any other occasion, you will love Mala Tavern!
Take me back to Hawaii.