Hali'imaile General Store

Photo: Hali'imaile General Store
900 Hali'imaile Road, Hali'imaile
808-572-2666
$$ - $$$
www.bevgannonrestaurants.com

Chef/Owner Bev Gannon is one of the original founding members of Hawaii Regional Cuisine and her popular destination restaurant, Hali'imaile General Store is located on the lower slope of Mt. Haleakala, in the middle of pineapple and sugar cane fields. It's an unusual location, but when you find it you're in for a wonderful experience. The building itself was actually the general store for the pineapple plantation and town back in the 1920's and has been beautifully renovated and adds a charming touch to the terrific food served. Hali'imaile is consistently voted one of Maui's Best Restaurants having won the Top Maui Restaurant 8 of the last 9 years.

The dishes are creative and always feature the freshest island ingredients, some with a slight Asian flair. Highlights of the lunch menu appetizers include Bev's Crab Pizza, a handmade six-inch pizza with that fabulous crab topping, considered a signature menu item, or you could try the Asian Duck Tostada, duck confit with ginger chili cream slaw, carrots, sun-dried cranberries and macadamia nuts, an unbelievably wonderful combination of flavors. There are six salads to choose from that range from a Crab and Rock Shrimp Cake with Spinach Salad to a Southwestern Steak Salad, or you can skip both and dig into Bev's "Infamous" Baby Back Ribs with French fries and Asian slaw. The Fresh Catch is always a good choice, as is the Wild Salmon Soft Tacos - simply excellent. There are also sandwiches and wraps including a Blackened Ahi Wrap and a melt-in-your-mouth Kobe Beef Burger. There is a good selection of excellent desserts available both at lunch time and dinner.

At dinner, two more appetizers are added to the list including a wonderful Rock Shrimp Tempura and a Cajun Spice Dusted Crispy Calamari. There is also a Raw Bar available with the signature menu item of Sashimi Napoleon with layers of smoked salmon, Ahi tartare, sashimi Ahi and crispy won tons with Wasabi vinaigrette. For an unforgettable salad order the Roasted Local Beet and Goat Cheese Salad. There is a great selection of entrees from chicken, to lamb, to fresh fish and seafood, beef and pork, including a wonderful Coconut Seafood Curry or the Macadamia Nut Crusted Fresh Catch and another signature dish, Grill Lamb Chops with classic black bean Hunan sauce with Wasabi mashed potatoes. This is truly an exceptional restaurant and well worth the money dining here. Full bar available. Open for Lunch Mon. to Fri. from 11 am to 2:30 pm; Dinner Nightly from 5:30 to 9:30 pm. Reservations highly suggested.