Tante's Island Cuisine — Restaurant in Maui

I've heard mainly positive reviews on this place and finally got the chance to try it.

ATMOSPHERE: Located in the front of the Maui Seaside Hotel. It reminds me of your typical grandparent's dining room but on a larger scale. Old decor, indoor plants, bright lights (thankfully not fluorescent), and ceiling fans abound. It was really quiet when we got there at 5pm as there was no background music, no TV's, not even a bar. There are big glass windows with a pleasant garden view. Despite the restaurant being at the front of the hotel, the view of the parking lot is hidden by a high lava rock wall. It's a mix of table & booth seating and they're able to accommodate large parties and private events.

MENU: It's a big menu. Mix of local, American, and Filipino apps, entrees, and desserts.

FOOD: Cream of Broccoli Soup - This accompanied my entree (other choice was a salad.) The soup was creamy and very tasty, and a bit spicy from the visible red chili specks. No crackers, boo.

Shrimp Alfredo - I'm usually hesitant to try pasta dishes at local restaurants due to fear of disappointment. While this wasn't the best tasting I've had, it was decent. The five shrimps were perfectly cooked; juicy and crunchy. The sauce flavor was very mainstream, subtle, and possibly bottled then doctored up. The overcooked linguine was a disappointment, though the garlic bread was tasty. Meh.

Fresh Corned Beef Hash & Eggs - $12.50 I added a third egg as two is never enough for me. The fresh corned beef hash is finished with sautéed onions and potatoes. Great flavor but the majority of the chunks were all fat. It looked like I didn't eat anything off my plate. Such a disappointment. I also asked for sourdough toast but received wheat. Sigh...

DESSERT: Kona Mud Pie - Wow, I thought I was back at the now defunct Chart House! The Oreo crust was delish, and the coffee ice cream stood tall and proud, complete with chocolate sauce, chopped nuts, and whipped cream. I absolutely adore ice cream.

SERVICE: The male host was friendly and inviting. Our male server was the same and very attentive. It's a small restaurant so they seem to help each other out.

OVERALL: Good food and prices and a very extensive menu. I'd definitely go back...

I wish there was a way to give negative stars because they don't even deserve 1 star. 5 of us got there for lunch at 12:10 pm on 8/31/2023. We watched the 2 tables at the windows get sat and the got their food b4 us. About 45min after taking our order the sarver (Marrietta) came to the table saying they can't make my order of chicken adobo. While the other 2 tables who sat down after us is already eating their food. She asked if I wanted to order something else. But I didn't want the rest of our table to wait any longer for their food. So I didn't order anything. We watched the workers take trays of food to the back section. Looking like they making plates for the fire victims ( I am also a fire victim as my house is burnt to the ground). Then about 15 min later the food runner comes out with 3 plates. Im thinking its everyone else's food. She ask who had chicken adobo? My table knew they were out of adobo. She trys to give me the same food they making for the fire victims jus on a hard plate. I kno because I stood up and walked to where they were making the plates. So I seen exactly what it looked like. I told her I don't want fire relief food. I've been eating fire relief food for weeks. And that they F'd up. They still didn't have food for everyone. About 7min later the food runner comes out with the pancit that was the last food dish we were waiting for. The manager (Donna) comped our meals but this is unacceptable. I worked at the Ritz Carlton for 5 years in 1 of the fine dining restaurants (Banyan tree). I wasn't expecting fine dining but atleast some communication would have made a big difference. It seems like u have to not jus be Filipino but look and speak it to get good service here. Goodluck to anyone who isn't!! This is not how I thought my birthday lunch was going to be like!! Needless to say we will never eat there again. We usually eat there 2 or 3 times a month and my boss pays and leaves a good tip always. So we kno they recognized us. Marrietta...

Drawn in by the raving reviews, and even listed among the top 10 recommendations for Maui, we decided to give Tante's Island Cuisine a chance. Sadly, our visit was far from positive. From the moment we stepped in, it became evident that the hype didn't align with our experience.

The waiting time for service was agonizingly long, and the initial excitement was gradually replaced by frustration. The staff seemed overwhelmed, and their attentiveness left much to be desired.

When the food finally arrived, we couldn't help but be taken aback by the seemingly authentic Hawaiian dishes presented before us. However, the health-conscious part of us was concerned about the heavy, greasy nature of the meals. While the dishes might indeed represent the traditional flavors of Hawaii, they left us feeling uneasy due to their unhealthy attributes.

I, unfortunately, took a recommendation from Tante and ordered the stew featuring pork and three shrimp. To my dismay, the portion of meat and shrimp was meager at best. The dish consisted mainly of broth and left us craving more substance. It's rare for me not to finish a meal, but this one was an exception.

Adding to the disappointment was the ambiance of the restaurant, which we found somewhat shabby and unkempt. A sense of cleanliness is crucial for a comfortable dining experience, and sadly, this aspect was lacking.

Furthermore, the prices weren't in line with our expectations, especially considering the overall experience. We expected more value for our money, and the cost just didn't match the quality of food and service.

As we left the restaurant, we couldn't help but wonder how Tante's Island Cuisine had earned such glowing reviews. The divide between the positive feedback and our own reality was vast, and we found it challenging to reconcile the two.

This experience has left us with no desire to return to Tante's Island Cuisine in the future. While we respect that tastes may differ, this restaurant simply didn't meet our...