Kula Lodge & Restaurant Food Truck — Restaurant in Maui

It is unfortunate that I have to write a bad review about Kula Lodge Restaurant under new management by 5 Palms Restaurant. On NYE, we responded to a Kula Lodge Restaurant Facebook ad to welcome the New Year with a special dinner and performance. It offered a late night dinner by Chef Raul Bermudez and entertainment and dancing by Amy Hanaialiʻi Gilliom, accompanied by Jeff Peterson. We love Amy & Jeff and since it was our 34th wedding anniversay, we decided to go. There were 3 tiers of tickets to buy and we bought the general seating tickets amounting to almost $320 for 2 people. It was a well worth splurge for our anniversay and for New Yearʻs Eve, so we thought. The evening started out great sharing wine and conversation with friends and of course, Amy & Jeff. They proceeded to seat everyone at their tables and when we were finally called and escorted to our table, we were seated in the back of the room, around the left corner in a nook that made us look out the window in the opposite direction of the entertainment. In fact, there was a wall to the right and behind us that completely blocked us from seeing the entertainment or any one else. Like, why even sell this table that is totally separate from the party? We asked the server if she could find us another table, one that we could at least see the entertainment and be with the rest of the people. After being gone for a few minutes, she returned saying that there was nothing available. I reminded her that we paid over $300 for our tickets and that our table was unacceptable. We began to feel quite offended with our table location. Were we the last one on the list and why was this table even part of the inventory? So I asked for the owner/manager. (I had spoken to her earlier, when we arrived, and explained that tonight was our wedding anniversary and that 34 years ago we had our wedding dinner party in this restaurant.) She apologized with an empty smile but offered no table like the rest of the guests had. I asked for a refund and she said “there are no refunds.” By now, people were turning their heads and listening to our banter. The manager then offered another table to us that was on the other far side of the restaurant next to the bar and restaurant entrance. We would be able to see the entertainment from the side, but the entrance door way, dance floor by the fireplace, and several other tables in front of the stage would be between us. We would still be isolated from the rest of the guests. No deal! We paid $300+ for this kind of table away from the main event while everyone else has a good seat? We didnʻt want to be up front; we just wanted a decent table like everyone else. I asked for my money back again. “Iʻm sorry, no refunds”. Amyʻs manager overheard what was going on and offered us his two seats next to the stage. The manager then said okay but we would have to pay for the upgrade! Oh, so they have a problem giving back our money, but no problem asking for more money? The evening that was supposed to be an anniversary celebration was now a big arguement. We were embarrassed, offended and felt unimportant. By now, all we wanted to do was leave. After standing our ground, they finally agreed to refund us. We were so happy to leave. All we wanted was to celebrate our anniversary on NYE with Mauiʻs best entertainers. But our expectations was crushed by the management of Kula Lodge restaurant. We are local Hawaiians, kamaʻāina living Upcountry. This kind of action cannot stay in our backyard. As a result, we have told everyone we encountered to NOT patronize Kula Lodge Restaurant which has been one of our favorite places to dine for many years! Now we say, STAY AWAY! Donʻt support a new business that makes no effort to make you feel important and welcomed. Sure, theyʻll get a lot of tourists in their restaurant, but when the tourists are gone, only the kamaʻāina remain. Kula Lodge Restaurant is at the...

This place was chosen because we saw someone else talking about the view and the food. We decided to go to have brunch.

They sat us down very quick. ((For the outside seating a reservation was needed.))

When on the table the waiter introduced herself and offered us water and left.

We were looking at the menu and it took her a while to come back and get our drinks order. When she came to take the drinks order, we went ahead and ordered the food.

Then a family sat on the table next to us. The waiter took their order. Minutes later they were served their drinks, meanwhile we were still waiting for what was ordered to drink. Our appetizer finally made to our table and I was still waiting for the drink. After a while the drink came. We were talking, taking pictures of the view and we still waiting on the food, and the waitress still hasn’t checked up on us. Let it be known that non of our food was brought by our waiter. Time keep passing by and we were waiting on our food, the family next to us is midway on their lunch, and finally our food comes. It was okay food. It wasn’t hot. Probably because was just sitting there waiting for our waiter to get it. Then our waiter shows up to bring us some Parmesan and left. We ate part of our food and we were thinking about taking the left over. We waited over 15 minutes to get our waiter attention and when she finally acknowledges that we were waiting on her she said “I’ll be right there”, would you believe me if I say that she didn’t come. Okay, well, let me tell you, she didn’t! We waited another 5 minutes approximately and we decided to call someone else, as soon as we called another lady, then our waiter came, asked if we wanted a “to go” box, and we were just ready to go, we said no. She came with the ticket, we gave her our card, then she went to the next table gave them their ticket, pick their card, check them out and I was still waiting for my receipt and card. Would you believe me if I say she gave herself a $25 tip without asking? Well she did. You want to know her excuse, it was a mistake. Then she gave me $25 back in cash and told me you can leave me whatever amount you would like to give me and walk off. But that’s not all, she came back, she made up her mind, she grabbed the $25 back and said “it’s better if you write the amount and I refund you the rest”. Like whatttt? Worth highlighting it was the worst customer service experience I have ever had in my entire life. And she kept the $25 tip she gave herself. I’m big on customer service, my family works in the hospitality industry and I’m a business owner, I respect and show appreciation to whoever works in this industry, but my tip is going to be a reflection of your service. And I’m a generous tipper. Honestly I was in shock about how sleek my waiter was, I think she knew that we were not going to tip her. Because to be honest I was giving her $5 and it was for just saying hello because that was all she did. I was thinking about going back just to be able to sit in the outside area, but to be honest I’m disappointed and I might...

I’ve had drinks here plenty of times when I lived on crater road but had never eaten because I always heard it was “meh.” The restaurant is under new management now and I was open to giving it a go. So when I was invited out by friends I was excited to give it a try.

We ended up getting seated at a great table outside and we were all stoked to hear they served a late brunch! (It was midday on a Wednesday). I wish Maui had more brunch spots so I was stoked to order breakfast. Most of us got a Bloody Mary at the bar while we waited for our table and I was happy to hear the recipe hadn’t changed since they were always delicious (and still are). I ordered the crab omelette and throughly enjoyed it! The side potatoes were great. I couldn’t get toast since they don’t offer gluten free bread (seems like they only have gf pizzas). I asked for extra potatoes instead and don’t think I got extra (what’s pictured here looks like a normal amount, no?). I do wish they’d consider carrying gf bread as so many more dishes would be available to gf people if they made that one change. It would be nice if the menu had vegan/gluten free options marked as well. With so many people having food restrictions or specialized diets I can’t understand why places can’t put the little extra effort in to mark the menu. I hate having to pester my server with a million questions. Plus they’re often not that knowledgeable about the intricate details of the ingredients. It definitely effects how comfortable I feel dining at places.

Everyone enjoyed their food, and my friends who had dined with the previous management said it was a 70% improvement! Though the kale salad (with watermelon & feta) my friend ordered to share came out without any dressing and we had to ask for some. It was good, but not amazing. Lima does a much better watermelon/feta salad.

Because I had come to Kula lodge so many times to enjoy a drink by the fire I was so disappointed to see the couches were removed and that the fire hasn’t been lit since the new management took over. It was my favorite part of the lodge and made it feel like a proper “lodge.” I really wish management wouldn’t prioritize having three extra tables squeezed in and keep what was one of the best parts of the...