First Impression: Brunch at Honu in Lahaina, Maui
Readers of this year’s Top Maui Restaurants may be sick of hearing about one of our favorite new Maui restaurants, Honu in Lahaina, but too bad: we went during their new weekend brunch on Saturday, and it was super-blog-worthy.
So, stiffen your upper lip and look at the view from our table. I took this while sitting down, holding the phone’s camera just a foot away from my face. You are close enough to the water to get damp from the spray hitting those rocks:
The view from Honu in Lahaina, Maui. Delicious, just like the food.
Here’s James’ Bloody Mary:
And his (fluffy) biscuits with (savory, light) sausage gravy over (creamy, dreamy) grits topped with eggs overeasy:
And the side of porchetta (pork loin with pork belly rolled around the side, then sliced thin and grilled). Can you see how crispy that pork belly is? And those perfect grill marks…
I have a picture of my lemon ricotta pancakes, but I didn’t take it until I had destroyed the plate — it doesn’t look appetizing. So imagine a stack of three fluffy pancakes, about 8 inches in diameter. Top it with a dollop of light and tangy ricotta cheese. Add a sprinkling of dark berries: blackberries, blueberries. Now imagine taking your fork and lifting a bite to your lips. The cake is tender, and the flavor is a creamy warm lemon — not too sweet, because the maple syrup takes care of that. The sweet maple syrup and tangy ricotta and lemon cake made me think of swans on Boston Common.
I don’t know why.
But it was a lovely image.
We enjoyed our meal immensely and look forward to returning. We especially like Chef Ellman’s pricing strategy: offer plenty of entrees, but also offer their component parts as sides. The upshot is that you can get everything you want, as you want it, at perfectly reasonable prices.
If you’re looking for a brunch on the West Side of Maui (Lahaina, Ka’anapali, Kapalua), this is a great place to check out. And since it’s offered on both Saturdays and Sundays from 9am to 3pm, you can make it whether you are an early or late riser. Sister restaurant Mala, right next door, offers another great brunch, with a very different menu.
Highly recommended.
(One of our friends, Jon of MauiHawaii.org, took that great video to the right. It’s not us in the video — but it IS one of our favorite dishes on the dinner menu.)
August 30, 2012 @ 9:00 am
Thanks for sharing the pricing strategy. I am somehow noticing this more – as restaurants are mixing up old formulas and making the dining experience less pedestrian and more user-friendly! The eating is so darn good here on Maui! Farm to table, creative modern chefs, unusual menu pairings – it’s all good!
August 17, 2012 @ 5:36 am
Hi,
We’re strongly considering a move to Maui within 2 years or less from the Seattle Area. Tell me, what was the hardest part of moving from the mainland for you and how easy was it to assimilate yourself into island living, aka, the dreaded island-fever? We’d love to hear your input in a move.
Thanks! (love your blogs)
Karla Laird
August 17, 2012 @ 10:48 am
Well. That’s a big question. Here’s my first answer. I suspect I will have more posts about this topic.