When asked for my list of must dos on Maui, I can provide y'all with endless things to exercise, see, and places to swallow. Maui is my favorite Hawaiian Island and easily the island I know all-time (I used to live at that place). Merely the listing you actually want is my "brusk" list. Not necessarily the list I throw out to every reader or traveler who asks for tips. This is my "if I only get one day on Maui, how would I spend it list."

And at the top of that list has always been dinner at Mama'south Fish House. It's easily the nigh recommendable special occasion restaurant on the island. Enquire 100 people who've been to Maui where'south the one identify you should go for dinner and 95 of them will say Mama's. Information technology'due south non a "subconscious jewel" or an out of the way place that nobody knows nearly. Only it's the best.

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From time to time, in my private Facebook grouping, the question gets asked "if it's worth it." Is it really worth the hype? Everybody is telling me to go, simply is it actually a tourist trap? Or is there somewhere else that's amend for the money?

The majority of people always assure the question asker that yes, it is indeed worth it. It was the highlight of their trip, etc. But to my surprise, there'southward always a scattering of responders who say "yeah it was really nice, but not worth the coin." Or "We didn't get the hype at all."

So I figured since it'southward hands the virtually popular special occasion spot on Maui, and it generates so much debate, it deserves its ain blog post.

Mama's Fish House Maui

So on my concluding trip to Maui, I headed to Mama'due south (oh the life of a travel blogger!) for the express purpose of doing a full review for yous peeps. Full disclosure-although I'm reviewing my latest feel at Mama's, I've been there over a half-dozen times and then I'll be pulling form past experiences equally well.

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Mama'south Fish House is located on Maui'south due north shore just past Paia so if you're staying in the resort areas on Maui'due south due west or southward sides, information technology'due south going to be a flake of a bulldoze.

Since it's such a hot spot, yous Demand a reservation. During busy times of the year (i.east. Christmas), it's not uncommon for them to be completely booked up. Then reserve early! To be on the safe side, I grabbed a reservation about three months in advance then I could get the exact fourth dimension I wanted.

You'll desire to check the time of sunset during your trip, I recommend making your reservation about thirty minutes before so it'south notwithstanding light when you arrive.

The restaurant has free valet right out front which actually sets the tone. You lot check in at the podium out front end and so brand your style downwardly to the property. It'south right on the embankment and so you'll get to witness those impressive due north shore waves up close.

You lot've also got to get your picture show taken. There's a famous curved palm tree right out by the h2o. That's the proficient spot.

Mama's Fish House Maui

Nosotros made our mode to the eating place to bank check in again (they know people get sidetracked taking pictures on the embankment and don't blitz you lot) and were seated pretty apace. If you idea the exterior of the restaurant was spectacular, wait until you run across the within.

The only way to describe it is every bit a luxurious beach shack. I call this place "Gilligan's Isle meets fine dining." The within of the restaurant is layered and welcoming while still existence impressive. Like maybe y'all're eating in someone's abode or family unit restaurant. It feels very Hawaiian too. But not snobby. Information technology's not mod, trendy, or uppity at all.

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Request a table with a window view if you're dining early, only afterwards dark (which is as early as 5:30 or half-dozen sometimes during the year), it doesn't really matter where you sit down. Since the restaurant is located on the north shore, you're non going to see the sunset and some people mutter almost that. "Why pay all that coin when you don't even become a sunset view." Trust me, y'all won't miss it at Mama'southward. There'south plenty else to impress you.

We were seated in the middle of the restaurant. Nosotros could run into the ocean through the windows across the eating house (well, shutters, I judge I should say since it's open air), simply after 20 minutes or and so it was dark anyways.

Our server was INCREDIBLE. Of the six or then times I've eaten hither, three of the servers have been knock your socks off good (like we were nonetheless talking about how impressed we were days afterwards) and three were exactly what you lot'd look to become at a restaurant similar this. If in that location'due south less than stellar service ever at Mama's, I've yet to experience information technology.

My 2 friends that I was traveling with are gluten costless (allergy, not by choice), and I made note of it on our reservation, just before nosotros could fifty-fifty remind our server, he informed u.s. that he had been briefed past the kitchen before about every item on the menu. I must say, hearing him break down the carte du jour was truly impressive. It's something that they do at Mama's for every tabular array, but hearing about it from a gluten free perspective made it that much more impressive. These servers truly know every ingredient in every dish and how everything is prepared.

One of my favorite parts is that the menu is printed fresh everyday and then they can list not only which fish they're using in each dish, but where on the island information technology was caught and the name of the fisherman. I've never seen annihilation like that anywhere else.

My Usual Order

I must confess, I become the exact same thing EVERY fourth dimension I'chiliad at Mama's. I mean, when I'yard paying this much for a meal and I find something outstanding, I merely don't like to mix it upwards.

Mama'due south has an impressive cocktail menu, but they also have a full bar (a good i too) so they can brand you whatever yous want. Our server had been a bartender here for a long time then nosotros got a pretty extensive overview of their best offerings. My friends were impressed and ordered appropriately. I already knew what I wanted. Distressing. When there's guava buzz on the menu, I can't pass information technology up.

Mama's Fish House Maui

They start everyone out with a petty loving cup of bisque (I believe it was asparagus bisque this evening) along with bread. Honestly, bring me a loaf of bread and nine more of these tiny cups of soup and I'thou good.

Mama's Fish House Maui

Simply then came my appetizer. Yous cannot get wrong with the crispy shrimp wontons. I hateful really. Since my friends were gluten costless, I ate all four. Aye.

Mama's Fish House Maui

And and then came the main effect. I always become Mama's special, which is lobster and crab stuffed mac nut crusted mahi mahi. Aye, you lot should be excited. Information technology's not cheap ($62), only it'south truly a dish that I always wait forrad to eating and has never disappointed.

Mama's Fish House Maui

I must say that after eating almost an entire loaf of bread, bisque, and four shrimp wontons, I was feeling less than hungry, but I packed that mahi away. I didn't actually lick the plate, because, you know, manners, but there wasn't much left. I say this because unlike many "fancy" places with high prices, the portions aren't tiny here. I don't call up I would say you could share an entrée, but if yous each go an entrée, DEFINITELY share appetizers.

I actually didn't get dessert this time (call up the aforementioned loaf of bread), but of form everything is good. Their signature dessert is the Pearl and information technology's literally a chocolate pearl in an edible crush and it's really good, but I retrieve it'south more than for photos/novelty than taste. I love the coconut cake and the Kuau pie.

What to wear to Mama's Fish House?

And then, how should yous dress? Women always ask me this. Yep, it's the fanciest/nicest place on Maui, but you don't have to "apparel upward" if yous don't want to. They probably accept a dress code that's something like "resort casual" which means don't come in your swim arrange.

Basically, for me, shorts and a nice shirt (tee shirt or aloha shirt) is totally fine. For women, pretty much anything goes. I've worn a sundress, niceish shorts and a tee shirt, jeans, an aloha shirt, a skirt and top, etc. and always felt very comfortable. Some people will be dressed up –almost people are celebrating a special occasion after all, merely dressing more casual also doesn't feel inappropriate. It's Hawaii.

Mama's is likewise surprisingly kid friendly. I've been with a child several times, and they're ever all-around with the menu, fifty-fifty bringing out a little mocktail with the adult drinks. This last time I was at Mama's there were several tables with small children and you could tell the server was taking que from the parents about how to pace the meal. I bring this up non to endeavor to convince you lot to bring your kids (because it'southward expensive!), just to assure you that if you do, nobody will bat an center.

So the big question…is it worth it?

First up, what kind of numbers are we talking about? My meal (with cocktail, titbit, entrée and tip), was most $120. I didn't share the appetizer with anyone (easily sharable between 2-4) and my entrée was $62-not the cheapest or near expensive selection.

And then my repast at Mama's was about the aforementioned as a ticket to the Old Lahaina Luau (the best luau on the island).

Here'south what I will say…I didn't economize my meal at all. I got absolutely everything I wanted and I was completely total when I left. To me, there's nothing worse than leaving an expensive meal hungry.

I also never experience let down later a meal at Mama's. Whenever I'k headed there, I'm e'er a niggling worried that maybe I've overhyped it in my mind and it won't be equally good equally I call up. Just it always is.

On this latest trip to Mama's, later we had paid, my friend said, "I didn't expect the food to be this proficient." I asked her if she'd read something that said it was overhyped and she said no, but when she got at that place and saw the setting and the within of the restaurant she just figured the food wouldn't be that good because it didn't have to be.

And that's what'south special about Mama's. It hits the holy grail trifecta of restaurant goals –temper, food, and service. They nail all three. I've been to many other fine dining spots in Hawaii that become two right, simply iii/iii is tough.

Mama's Fish House Maui

The final matter I'll address about value are a few comments I've seen well-nigh price comparisons. I've seen something forth the lines of this from a few people: "Mama's wasn't bad just it'south besides expensive. I tin go downwardly the street to a local identify and get a heaping plate of nutrient for $15. It's a rip off."

I don't even know what to say to that. First of all, I don't think you tin can compare such radically unlike types of food. But the biggest thing I want people to understand is…you know how y'all value your money and are comfortable spending it. Some people just aren't comfy spending money on an expensive dinner no matter how skilful it is. It volition never exist "worth information technology" to them and that's ok.

Not everyone enjoys the aforementioned things and if yous're the kind of person who just tin can't breadbasket spending $$$ on dinner when at that place's a good option for $, then past all means skip Mama's and put that coin towards something you will enjoy.

But if you're looking for an out of this globe special dining experience, you can't become wrong with Mama's Fish House. Read more reviews here.

Special cheers to Cameron White for taking nearly of the beautiful photos featured in this post

Want more dining/eating place recommendations? You lot're not going to desire to miss these posts sorted by type of restaurant…16 Best Maui Breakfast Spots, eleven All-time Fine Dining Restaurants on Maui, 23 Favorite Restaurants on Maui. Looking for something on a certain role of the island? Cheque these posts out: Wailea & Kihei restaurants, Lahaina, Ka'anapali, and Kapalua restaurants, Paia & Haiku (north shore) restaurants, and upcountry restaurants. And if you're looking for more in depth reviews, you'll love these posts: Mama'due south Fish Firm: Is It Worth It?, Old Lahaina Luau Review, and Chiliad Wailea Luau Review.

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