We’ve been checking the weather, and while it always looks good, there are some days that appear to have rain forecasted, so we decide today is the best day for the beach. From experience we know to get there early, so we take our walk, visit Foodland and then get on the road toot sweet to our favorite little Po’olenalena beach, nestled between Makena and Wailea. We love it there – so peaceful and so full of shade! As usual, we are some of the first to arrive, so we snag a great parking spot (in the car lot and on the beach!) and settle in to read and watch the water (and the people).
There is a great breeze (isn’t there always?) and it is so comfortable, we could hang out here all day. But hunger takes over a little before noon, so we make our way back to the cottage for Poke lunch (you know I’m in heaven, I’ve got 2 pounds of poke that will be finished off in days – but more in store when we go to Safeway and their Friday sale!).
Later on, we make our first foray up to Maui Brewing Company. They’ve completely expanded and now have this huge restaurant (where you need reservations coz it’s so busy), but the tasting room is still the same, with the lovely little patio out front. We settle in with wine (I’m not in a beer mood today) and different beers for Ed and generally people watch while we decide whether to order snacks (happy hour specials) or not. In the end we decide not to eat, which in hindsight was a huge mistake, but more on that below.
Back home, we decide to have dinner at Lava Rock – the new name for LuLu’s which was a great spot when we were here the first time years ago. Sadly, it is not a great spot any longer, at least not in terms of service or food. The location is still fabulous – 2nd floor looking over the ocean from half a block back – but the service and the food leave so much to be desired, it is hard to even begin to talk about it. We sat at the bar, of course, and the first bartender seemed decent, but she promptly forgot we were there and went about doing anything but waiting on us. If it were busy, we’d understand, but there were only 2 other people at the bar and maybe a handful of restaurant patrons. Finally a 2nd bartender asked if the 1st bartender had taken our order – no, thank you – so she waited on us, which was fine. We finally got our drinks – I asked for water, but that never came - and then ordered food – I got the seared ahi and Ed had chicken wings. When the food finally arrived, the bartender asked if I wanted Shoyu sauce, yes, thanks! Well, it was a nice thought, but it never came either – guess it was with the water! The wings were passable, but the tuna was awful. It came with an excellent mustard sauce, unfortunately, mustard doesn't’ really go with seared ahi…but if we had sausages or chicken strips or some other meat protein, it would have been fabulous. And the tuna itself was dry, tasteless and so fatty it was almost like a dried steak. So bad I couldn’t even finish it. What a disappointment! We hardly ever have an awful meal – and here in Maui, never! Needless to say, we didn’t stay for a 2nd drink, nor will we be back for another meal. Ah well, guess we were due one bad experience.
Back at the cottage, we salved our bruised appetites with Costco snacks and wine and beer – that’s a good way to improve on and end a mediocre evening!
No comments:
Post a Comment