Taylor B.
Yelp
Date of Dining Experience: 10/24/22
Food: 4.5/5
Ambiance: 5/5
Service: 6/5
Management: 5/5
Ever since I booked a trip to Maui in honor of my graduation from graduate school, I knew I wanted to celebrate at Pacific'O...and I couldn't have picked a better, more welcoming place. Everyone--from the hostess to our server to the bussers made sure I felt special with a "congratulations" card on the table (which had prime waterfront views...perfect for catching the sunset! Not only did they help in the celebration, but they were genuinely curious, asking questions about my degree and expressing their enthusiasm for my chosen profession. As stated, our table couldn't have been better, and this is one of the rare places in Lahaina where you can get white-tablecloth service, the other two being Fleetwood's and Lahaina Grill. What makes Pacific'O special, however, is its prime oceanfront location, similar to that of Star Noodle or Kimo's...it truly is the best of both worlds here at Pacific'O.
But now, on to the important part: THE FOOD.
I started with a virgin butterfly cocktail, excited to see the drink, yet apprehensive because often virgin cocktails at restaurants fall flat. This one surely did not! It was a delicious blend of tropical flavors, and, thanks to some color-changing butterfly pea flower magic, it was exquisitely beautiful. Even my dining partner, who typically doesn't enjoy drinks, agreed that this one was quite divine.
We started with an order of bread, which comes with a pretty steep price tag here: $12. But this was our night to go all out, and if you're going to spend twelve dollars (or twenty-four in our case, since we couldn't resist a second order) on bread in Maui, this would be the stuff. It comes out hot, the rolls are flaky and slightly sweet, and the salted honey butter is the stuff dreams are made out of. Absolutely delicious!
For an appetizer, my dining partner and I split the roasted vegetables, which came with a duo of sauces that also seemed to be straight from my dreams--perfectly seasoned and expertly plated! The only downside, here (as others have mentioned) was the vegetable preparation. Though they are supposedly "roasted" there isn't much browning on them to speak of, and they are "toothy" (read: RAW) all the way through. A bit of a letdown, considering how delicious the rest of the dish was, but the vegetables themselves were very tasty and quite fresh (Pacific'O grows them on their own farm upcountry) so it was easily forgivable.
When our entreés arrived, my dining partner and I were both very suitably impressed. I got the signature dish--a mahi-mahi wellington with lobster and pea puree, and it was everything I'd hoped it would be: savory, succulent, and slightly sweet thanks to the high-quality lobster and delectable pea puree. The puff pastry was cooked to perfection as a stunning addition to an already amazing seafood dish. The only part that didn't meet my expectations was, again, the vegetable side, which was very nearly raw.
My dining partner ordered the hamakua mushroom risotto and was very satisfied with their choice. I took a few bites, and I can confirm--this dish was delectable! Studded with little black "blobs" of sauce (we never could figure out what it was, but we certainly enjoyed them) as well as fried kale, it was an impressively unique take on what could be a boring dish.
For dessert, we split the carrot cake, as it happens to be one of my favorite desserts. This one was a fascinating take on the concept, with candied carrot curls and nuts and a delicious cinnamon cream cheese spread on the plate. The only downside was the cake itself which, while moist, was over-spiced for my own liking.
All in all, this meal at Pacific'O was not one to forget, and the staff truly made me feel special and celebrated as I enjoyed an evening of find dining in style during my graduation trip.
Mahalo, Pacific'O!