Monkeypod Kitchen by Merriman - Wailea, Maui — Restaurant in Maui

I don't get the hype. While the service and atmosphere are nice, the food is mediocre.

Appetizer was the fries. Where's the salt and truffle oil? They were soggy and flavorless (unless you ate them with the grated cheese or dipped them in the sauces provided). I don't like salty foods, but I like some flavor with the seasoning. These fries lacked flavor and texture.

For my entree, I was recommended the Organic Macadamia Crusted Fish as it was supposed to be one of the server's favorites, but it was dry and tasted like bland regular grilled fish that I've had at some below average seafood pounds on the mainland. Despite that lackluster flavor profile, the experience itself was taken down several notches due to the dryness of the fish. It was also hampered by the overcooked veggies. Forget about the rice. It's an atrocity to any Asian - dry and hard and crumbly.

My wife ordered the fish tacos, and while they had a good flavor profile the fish was dry as well - which is unfortunate cause the flavor was actually nice. What is with this place overcooking their food?

The kid's macaroni with red sauce is a joke. It comes in a decent size portion served in a bowl (probably 2 cups worth of pasta), but it was mushy/overcooked. Pasta should be al dente, or at least perfectly firm with a small bite to it. Not mushy. On top of that, they provide you with the smallest ramekin of marinara ever (about 2 tablespoons). Our server knew before we asked for extra sauce that we'd need the extra sauce, but he only brought out another paltry ramekin of it. This totaled enough sauce for maybe 1 cup of cooked pasta max. To add insult to injury, the sauce wasn't anything special. My daughter loves pasta with red sauce, and she hated this place. You'd be better off bringing a jar of Rao's or some other decent commercially made pasta sauce.

I don't really understand the hype, and we decided to go to Monkeypod for a nice dinner over Nick's (which now I'll have to find another trip back to Maui to try) and even casual eats (like Kitoko or Paia Fish Market) that likely would've been better but I'll never know (cause this was our last day on Maui and we didn't get a chance to try them).

I'm so upset we wasted one of our meals on this overrated, overhyped restaurant. I could understand if one dish was just made incorrectly for whatever reason, but there's a trend with the way they cook at this place. Everything is overcooked like someone complained about undercooked food before and they're overcompensating or something. Either way, I don't recommend you eat here if you're looking for actually good food.

Only positive is the drinks good, so maybe...

We had a great experience at Monkeypod Wailea. My wife, son, and I dipped in on the early side to enjoy happy hour before Mr. Baby needed to go to bed.

We were greeted really warmly at the check-in stand and seated immediately. Our server, Tom, gave us a quick tour of the menu and even got a few smiles out of our baby.

Before I could finish reading the menu, we'd already received free butter noodles (this is available for kids under 3)! Baby loved them even if most of them landed on the floor.

I consider myself a chicken wing connoisseur & can confidently say these were some of the best I’ve had. They let the chicken do the talking - the wings are double roasted & there’s a light garlic, rosemary and red pepper rub. They’re incredibly flavorful even without adding the yogurt sauce they come with. Honestly I preferred them on their own. It’s rare for a, mostly, naked wing to have so much flavor. They knocked it out of the park.

The French fries were okay, I think we got a batch that wasn’t from the bottom of the fryer or maybe just a little off. Mostly small nubby fries, dark rather than triumphant, soft but crunchy glorious, lighter looking fries. We’d skip these next time around.

Wife loved the Avocado & Cucumber Salad. Baby liked the avocados too.

The Kahlua Pork & Pineapple pizza was fantastic! The freshly sliced jalapeños gave it quite a kick but added nicely to the flavor profile of the pizza. We tend to like ours with light cheese and ordering it this way turned out really perfectly for us.

A side of plain steamed broccoli was the baby’s dessert. To nobody’s surprise he didn’t eat much of it, but the broccoli was steamed to perfection. Wife and I polished it off.

Fantastic Mai Tai! Great margarita! They don’t use pre-made syrup for any drinks, everything is made in house. Both drinks were well balanced- the margarita was light and refreshing.

We’ll come back again before we head home!

Tom was one of the best servers we’ve ever had. He’s incredibly personable. Halfway through our meal my wife and I wondered if we’d met him before. This was simply because of the incredible, welcoming, kindness that he brought to our table. We asked how long he’d been on the island and where we might have crossed paths, but there’s no way we’d ever interacted.

He anticipated our needs, was always available, and even brought a toy over for the baby when he was starting to lose it. The restaurant was busy, he had other tables, but he made us feel like we were his only guests.

Thanks Tom!...

I had the absolute pleasure of being served by Jed recently, and I have to say, his hospitality and expertise completely elevated my dining experience. From the moment we were seated, Jed's welcoming personality was evident—his warm smile and genuine enthusiasm made us feel instantly at ease. He approached the table with such confidence and a friendly demeanor that it felt less like a typical dining interaction and more like a conversation with an old friend. What really stood out was how incredibly knowledgeable Jed was about the menu. Not only could he rattle off every dish with precision, but he also provided insightful details about each item, from the ingredients to the preparation methods, and even the best drink pairings. His ability to describe the dishes was so vivid that it almost felt like we could taste them through his words alone. Whether it was recommending a spicy dish for those who enjoy bold flavors or suggesting a lighter option for a more delicate palate, Jed knew exactly how to cater to everyone's preferences. What truly impressed me was his attention to detail. As we asked questions about the menu, Jed was able to go beyond the basic descriptions and offer thoughtful, nuanced answers. It was clear that he had not only studied the menu thoroughly but also had a deep passion for the food and drink being served. His suggestions were spot-on, and it felt like he was personally invested in making sure we had the best possible experience. Throughout the meal, Jed was always attentive without being overbearing, checking in at just the right moments to make sure everything was to our liking. His approachable nature made him easy to talk to, and it was easy to tell that he truly enjoyed his role. It’s rare to encounter someone who not only knows the menu inside and out but also knows how to create an experience that’s as memorable as the food itself. If you ever have the chance to be served by Jed, I can’t recommend it enough. His ability to combine expert knowledge with a truly welcoming personality made for an unforgettable experience. Dining out can often feel like a transactional experience, but with Jed, it felt like a personalized, engaging journey that added so much to our...