The Banyan Tree
One Ritz-Carlton Drive,1 Ritz Carlton Dr, Kapalua, HI, 96761
The Banyan Tree Menu
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Address :
One Ritz-Carlton Drive,1 Ritz Carlton Dr
Kapalua, HI, 96761 - Phone (808) 665-7096
- Website https://www.ritzcarlton.com/en/Properties/KapaluaMaui/Dining/The-Banyan-Tree/Default.htm
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Tue
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : No
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Valet
Bike Parking : No
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : No
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Dressy
Ambience : Romantic
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Dogs Allowed : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No
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gabor m.
The food was great but the view is wasted if you go at night. You cannot see anything out the glass windows in the dark and as we were sat facing the window the entire meal, I felt as if we were being punished in the corner. Nobody puts baby in the corner. Also, you cannot bring your own bottle of wine to any restaurant in Maui.
(4)Amikam R.
The Banyan Tree is a very nice place with fabulous views on the grounds of the Ritz Carlton in Kapalua. It's quite a hike to get there from the hotel entrance and if it rains, as it did for us, you'll get wet walking down through the pool area. We were two for dinner on Saturday night. The menu is nice and the wine list large. They have a three course menu for $50, which lets you choose some of the regular menu items. They don't tell you about it but if you ask they'll acknowledge its existence. The bean soup and the goat cheese appetizers were good. The chorizo encrusted opa and the sea bass were very good . The desserts - apple tart and sorbet were OK. Service is good and it's quiet. The views are, again, outstanding.
(3)Tim C.
The waiter was nice, but he got defensive when I questioned his description of the horrible appetizer. We ordered the "eggplant caviar." Ok ok ok, I get it -- we shouldn't have ordered the eggplant caviar because who would order such a thing? But it was on the menu, so we tried it -- the waiter said it was like cavier -- but when it came, it was more like tasteless babyfood. I told him it wasn't much like cavier, huh? He said it was merely a play on words, and tried to make me feel as if I didn't "get it." I got it, but it wasn't good and it certainly wasn't what was advertized: it wasn't "cavier-like": it was baby-food puree and tasteless. I then had the salad with polenta-style croutons -- (since I'm a vegetarian and they don't offer any vegetarian entrees) -- which was good -- the croutons elevated the salad. My partner had fish which he liked, but, boy oh boy, this place is expensive, and you don't get what you pay for. The best part of the meal was the Maui Blond pints, but I could've had those anywhere on the island.
(2)Genevieve P.
The food was awesome but not a place to go if you are very hungry. For the price the portions are quite small. The atmosphere and service were wonderful. Check the sunset times for an even better view.
(5)Kathy J.
Delicious seafood and friendly service. Would have given it five stars but we ate here at night and couldn't see the view, thus we were only able to take in the interior design which seemed incongruous with the high prices.
(4)Dustin K.
This is a high-quality expensive restaurant. I definitely agree that the portions are way too small for the price. The food however is quite good and I would probably go back if we stayed at the Ritz again (which is not likely --- I'll get to that posting eventually). The service was great and we loved the bread w/ oil and spices to dip into. The lobster was tasty, but way overpriced ($75), steak was good but not great --- and we expected greatness from this place. Dessert was a little messed up as the gelato was partially melted from a freezer mishap --- but they did not charge us without us even complaining about it. Overall I good place to eat if price is no problem.
(3)Doreen H.
Great food. Very nice & engaging waiter. They were having a 3-course prix fixe option for $50... which is a steal for a place of this caliber.
(4)David H.
In general, above average food and great views. The dungeonous crab appetizer was great.
(4)Ngoc K.
I went to Lahaina Grill the day before so when comparing fancy restaurant to fancy restaurant, I gave Lahaina Grill 5 stars and The Banyan Tree 4 stars. I thought the food was better at LG than BT. The service at BT was great - exactly what you would expect from The Ritz. Great for date night, IMO.
(4)T H.
This was the worst dining experience ever! The worst fish dish I have ever had. The fish was overcooked and dry. It was seasoned with so much vanilla, it was nauseating. Yes, vanilla on fish. My husband had the bouillabaisse. He orders that quite often at other restaurants and said it was the worst he has ever had. We travel extensively all over the world and have eaten at several Ritz Carltons. This is not even comparable to a low class diner.
(1)Jeff V.
Disappointing particularly because this restaurant came so highly recommended (of coarse by the concierge). It has the look and feel of a casual restaurant, the type that you would wear your swim trunks and sandals too. There were no table cloths (which is fine) and no placemats (less fine) no preset tables...nothing looked nice about it except for the view. The service was ok. The server brought out the wrong entree and didn't split the soup or the fish for my wife and I; also everything was recommended without discrimination. I work in service, and yes everything on the menu is good, but there are dishes that stand out, that people generally enjoy more bc they are spicy, or sweet, or light for example. Not here we were told everything is delicious. Really the only good thing we had was a corn soup (that wasn't split though i requested that it be), the faro risotto was also pretty good. But for the price I would skip this restaurant.
(2)Nash A.
Incredible staff, the food we had (Filet Mignon, Margaritas/Tequila, Ahi Tuna steaks, Flatbread with Salmon) was wonderful, I think this location really made our trip to Maui for my wife and I. We were waited on what seemed like hand and foot, great recommendations and our waiter kindly shared where the food was picked at the plantation on site, where the fish was caught, etc. We loved it! Higher end of course as it is one of the fine restaurants at the Ritz but we felt it was well worth it as the meal was a vacation within itself, thank you! Oh and we recommend the Lava Cake for dessert or the Flaming Creme Brulee.
(5)David E.
Best meal and service of our trip! Highly recommend this restaurant. Ask for Robert as your waiter if you can. Excellent food every dish and fantastic service. Great chef! Recommend sharing if you can as everything is so good and you will want to try as much as you can. Drinks, appetizers, entrees, desert, all were delicious. Good coffee also which is also a very good sign.
(5)Andrea S.
We were staying at the Ritz-Carlton for our honeymoon and this is the fine dining restaurant on the resort. We had planned on trying it anyway but a dear friend of ours arranged to have a gift card for this place waiting for us when we checked in (thanks Lindsey P.!) so we were definitely excited to be going. So glad we did! I am going to cut right to this chase with this review... - Ambiance was breathtaking. We were seated with a perfect view of the ocean! Just be aware that once that sun sets, it is pitch black and you lose your view. But who cares, you can see it and smell it. So romantic. - Service is everything you would expect by the quality of restaurant and the Ritz name behind it. Our server was kind, helpful, attentive and personable. He found out we were on our Honeymoon and comped us any dessert we liked. - Big Tip! If you are staying on a weekday and want to try this place, be sure to go on Wednesdays! They have "wine Wednesday" and EVERY bottle of wine is half price. When you are looking at the cheapest bottle being around $70 this is a VERY good thing. We lucked out and happened to be there that night and thus splurged on a nicer bottle. - Food was out of this world. My husband said it was the best filet he had ever had in his entire life. He is still talking about it weeks later. I had the seared ahi which was spectacular and we split the scallop appetizer (best scallops I have ever had). - Why not five stars? I have to mirror what most other reviewers said. While the food is beyond exceptional the portions are very off putting for the price. My seared ahi was 6 small pieces of ahi on a plate. No sides, no garnish, just the small pieces of ahi. The scallop appetizer was almost $20 and was only TWO scallops. Were they out of this world? YES! For $20 bucks though a little harder to swallow. I will say the filet my husband got came with mashed potatoes and a vegetable so it was just the right amount. Could be I just ordered the wrong thing. Overall we would we do it again? Heck yes, we were on our honeymoon, it was an indulgence and worth it. Be sure to make reservations because they fill up fast!
(4)Natsumi C.
Price was a bit expensive for the food you get. But it's inside the Ritz so that's expected. Seafood sausage and pea soup were good. All the entrees we got were just ok. Service was so so. The waiter was kind of annoying.
(4)Tess G.
We had the Wine Table menu special $80 each plus a recommended glass of wine with the entree. Some of the foods we had were: Fried Calamari with a light spinach salad and a citrus vinaigrette; Seared Ahi with snow peas, shiitake mushroom, zinfandel gastrique (I would highly recommend this); Steamed Branzino in maitake-ginger broth and sizzling scallion oil; Osso Buco dish that was like heaven with every bite; 14oz Prime Ribeye "Sous Vide" warm potatoes, green bean salad, sauce bordelaise; Marscapone Cheesecake; Chocolate and Caramel Pudding (too sweet) and two Kona Blend coffees. Total $227 for two Service well above par, noise level well below par - the background noise level was so loud I could hardly hear my dinner partner or the server
(4)Tania L.
[4.5 stars] - 1/2 star for a medium-well filet on a medium-rare request The management and service were awesome... Yes, very pricey. Yes, portions are small. Is it worth the experience? Very much so. You can actually have a relatively inexpensive meal or go all out - it's not like Chef Mavro or other prix-fixe places that force you to choose 3, 4, 5, 6, or 10-course meals. Their wines ranged from affordable (which is like $40-60 a bottle) upwards to the typical WTHwhowouldpayforthis prices. There were four of us in the group. For the most part we each ended up ordering something different so we got to see and taste almost the entire menu (didn't plan it that way; we just all had different taste buds and preferences so it worked out)... They would have gotten a 5 from me but my medium rare tenderlion (filet mignon) was more like medium well. Everyone else's had turned out perfectly, but I'll let them give the five stars. Oh, and a last-minute add: my gf had foie gras paired with her entree (I think) and SHE FELL IN LOVE. It wasn't a huge piece but she was willing to share with the rest of the table, it was THAT good. Melted. Paired well. What we tried: Apps Roasted Beets, Pan Seared Scallops, Kona Lobster, Salmon Ravioli, Mushroom Two Ways, White Bean Soup, and some Chef's special Entrees Tenderloin, Lamb Loin, Ribeye, Chef's Special Filet Opah, Ahi, Hapu, and Snapper Dessert Mascarpone Cheesecake, Chocolate Tasting Dessert, Pineapple Caramel Cake, and Carrot Cake In the end, it's about having a great time with your company - service, satisfactory food, and ambiance. We had a fine time.
(4)Emily H.
This is such a fantastic restaurant! Everything from the decor to the service to the amazing food was perfect! Our server Robert was the best! He was so attentive and everything he described sounded delicious! the cocktails were creative and light. I started with the warm ricotta. It was unbelievably silly and the perfect amount of sweet. I then had the ahi that was cooked perfectly. An amazing meal in a gorgeous setting. I must for a lovely evening in Maui!
(5)Brandon M.
Location was absolutely fabulous, as was the atmosphere. Conveniently located on the Ritz-Carlton property, we were looking forward to dinner at the Banyan Tree in lieu of the mediocre reviews listed. We found both the service and food to be average. The highlight of the dinner (aside from the view), was the homemade lavash bread and whipped garlic butter. With very high prices, not to mention it being part of the Ritz resort, there is an expected level of service and quality; a level that wasn't met. To be clear, the food and service wasn't bad, but simply average...something that I would have expected from the pool-side food service, but not from a higher end restaurant.
(3)Olivia P.
Food was very good. Service not so good. I wished that they acknowledged the customer & let them know that they will attend to you shortly. I don't think I will be a repeat customer.
(3)Beth C.
For a restaurant at the Ritz Carlton we certainly expected more. My husband had the special of the day which was sea bass and shrimp over Asian noodles and I had the pappardelle and pesto. Both dishes were tasteless and extremely salty. The only plus was the view. It was too expensive for food that was average at best.
(2)Kira M.
This meal was simply superb. The Banyan's visual aesthetic was gorgeous, and the views at sunset-- there are no words for that kind of beauty! The wait staff was quite competent, and delivered the food in a timely manner. Now, my favourite part was, of course, the utterly delectable entrees. My brother and I began with the Roasted Beets with their own "Surfing Dairy" feta, red quinoa salad, and a dash of minus 8 vinegar and the Seared Scallops with salsify and roasted tomato. Oh my god-- I was in absolute heaven-- the beets were perfectly seasoned and the scallops perfectly seared. The roasted tomato was the ideal complement. And this was just the start. The one thing I must say is that the portions are quite small, albeit beautifully arranged, but they are for a reason. They are meant to fill, but not stuff you. For this reason, if you are searching for a place where you will get large portions, this is not for you. The Banyan is perfect if you are willing to pay a bit more for the quality of food, not the quantity. I would also advise that for 2 people, 2 appetizers, 2 entrees and 1-2 desserts should be sufficient. But be prepared to pay at least about $90, not including a bottle of wine. I would not recommend this to families with small children, unless you are entirely certain they will be quiet and occupied for an hour and a half or more. Now, onward to the entrees! My brother ordered the Kona Lobster, which was served with a ginger-carrot rissoto and tarragon-coral butter, whilst I requested the Mediterranean Hapu with couscous, baby fennel, and bell pepper chimichurri. I cannot even begin to describe the utter bliss of the first bite. I am a huge foodie, and this meal was an absolute delight from start to finish. To cap off this meal, we finished with two desserts. These, again, are quite small, especially for the price of $14. But, I must say, these desserts were well worth it. We ordered the Maple Banana Pain Perdu which came complete with Mint White Chocolate Gelato and Lilikoi Caramel and the Chocolate Tasting Dessert which is comprised of Dark Fudge Cake, Milk Chocolate Molten Cake and White-Chocolate-Vanilla Sorbet. I must divulge that I am also a die-hard chocoholic. The Chocolate Tasting Dessert is basically my exact brand of crack. It was insanely delicious, but gone all too soon. My favorite part was the Dark Fudge Cake, which was overflowing with fudge-y goodness. When the meal was finished, the bill came, and we were not surprised by the grand total. But, we concluded that it had been worth it, and we still agree today.
(5)gabor m.
The food was great but the view is wasted if you go at night. You cannot see anything out the glass windows in the dark and as we were sat facing the window the entire meal, I felt as if we were being punished in the corner. Nobody puts baby in the corner. Also, you cannot bring your own bottle of wine to any restaurant in Maui.
(4)Amikam R.
The Banyan Tree is a very nice place with fabulous views on the grounds of the Ritz Carlton in Kapalua. It's quite a hike to get there from the hotel entrance and if it rains, as it did for us, you'll get wet walking down through the pool area. We were two for dinner on Saturday night. The menu is nice and the wine list large. They have a three course menu for $50, which lets you choose some of the regular menu items. They don't tell you about it but if you ask they'll acknowledge its existence. The bean soup and the goat cheese appetizers were good. The chorizo encrusted opa and the sea bass were very good . The desserts - apple tart and sorbet were OK. Service is good and it's quiet. The views are, again, outstanding.
(3)Steve A.
By far the best meal we had the entire two weeks on the island and the best service to match. We had Robert as our server and he is at the top of his game in wait staff. If you are lucky enough to get him at your table, you will be treated to a grand dining experience. We were at the restaurant for a special occasion. We started off with a bottle of the French Champaign, and there's something about really Champaign served by a Frenchman, that just makes it even more special. The first course was the Spiced Corn Veloute soup - wow - I could have just kept that coming all night. I love when they drop all the ingredients in your bowl and then pour on the actual hot soup and you dig in. Really creamily and enough things in the soup to keep it interesting. A nice salad of local garden greens grown on the property were served for the next course - very refreshing. The chef actual came out to serve us a couple of seared Dayboat scallops, so well prepared and fresh, they practically splayed your face. For the entrée we both had the filet steaks, perfectly cooked and swimming in a dark brown sauce and crispy fingerling potatoes. I can't every get a steak to come out this perfect where it literally melts in your mouth. For dessert we got a special treat of homemade Macaroons as well as a hot lava cake and ice cream. Everything is hand crafted in this restaurant, so it's worth the price to treat yourself to one big bang on the island. I'm ready to head back and try the other side of the menu.
(5)Orna B.
When going to a high end restaurant i would expect to receive incredible dishes. The Mahi Mahi was not warm, the portion was so small that it wouldn't be considered an appetizer. $40 for flavorless fish ? I was embarrassed to ask for salt. The waiter was disappointed we did not drink nor ordered desert. No sides. Those are extra.... $9 a side. And the dry flat bread served prior was as flat in taste as in shape. Just don't go until the restaurant shapes its act to be as high end as it professes.
(1)Elizabeth R.
I recommend this restaurant most highly. Although we are not wealthy, we save up so that we can stay at excellent hotels, and dine at exceptionally good restaurants (Why go to Hawaii if you're not going to do it up right, we figure). This restaurant is one of the best of the best, in our experience. It was a great pleasure to dine here three times during our recent stay at Ritz Carlton (Dec 2,3,and 5, 2014). The restaurant had just moved back to its lovely former location by the pool, with a beautiful ocean view. For over a year prior to that, it had been operating out of the downstairs lobby location in the main building...a decidedly less charming venue (we dined there several times in 2013). We had no idea when we planned the trip months ago that the move would take place, much less the week we were there! The food was consistently delicious. We always had at least three courses, and sometimes four, so I can speak to a variety of their preparations. Creative flavors. We liked that the fish dishes were enhanced, not overpowered, by the preparation...and always cooked exactly right. We had the delightful bisque soup every time (pumpkin based,if I'm remembering correctly). We adventurously (for us) sampled the octopus and the poke, and found them SO tasty. I loved the filet (very tender) and had it twice. Desserts were elegant and scrumptious. They have a coconut sorbet to die for. Wish I could remember everything we had, but suffice to say it ALL was superb. Just. simply. superb. We wouldn't have gone back two more times if we hadn't REALLY loved it. From the first warm greeting by Cheryl upon arrival at the Banyon Tree Dec.2nd through our sad farewells upon leaving on the 5th, there was a welcoming atmosphere the entire time we dined. One thing we noticed is that at no time were we ever made to feel rushed, throughout all our courses, on all three evenings. This is very important to us when fine dining...and not always the case at other equally pricy Maui restaurants. (Yes, it IS pricy, but worth it to us). The service was absolutely over the top! Our main waiter all three nights was the wonderful Ron. He is knowledgeable, personable, and had our interests at the forefront. He completely spoiled us. Nick and Robert, two courtly and elegant gentlemen with a Continental flair, provided many gracious additional kindnesses to us as well. We love all three of them. I cannot say enough about the management and wait staff here. It's a level of service that will leave you feeling pampered and special. These folks are consummate professionals. Each evening, the Manager of Food and Beverage (Jake, I believe) at RC personally stopped by our table (I guess because it was the first week of the "new" restaurant). The pastry chef came by one night to deliver his delicious flaming creme brulee personally. The main chef came out to wish us good night upon leaving the first night. Very nice touches indeed. Of course, the restaurant manager was hands-on in a multitude of ways.
(5)Meredith A.
We were staying at the Ritz for our 10th wedding anniversary and had been told that eating at the Banyan Tree was a "must". Over the eight days we were in Maui we had the opportunity to eat at several outstanding restaurants in Kaanapali and Lahaina. I can honestly say save your time and money and take a pass on The Banyan Tree. My recommendation..... eat at Lahaina Grill or Gerard's in Lahaina. They have far superior food, service and atmosphere.
(2)Mark B.
The restaurant is beautiful, perfectly located , the service is terrific but here's the why I'm giving it one star. The food was so salty it tasted more like pretzels than chicken or seared Ahi. Very unfortunate! This was on a Saturday night when I would expect the best cooks to be in the restaurant. Whoever was cooking for us last night needs to go back to cooking school and in particular get rid of his damn salt shaker. This restaurant makes a big point about using natural locally grown ingredients or in this case locally caught but the cook did a disservice to the food. I should've returned both dishes to the kitchen as soon as I had my first taste. The corn and the broccoli were also over salted.
(1)Franky M.
Our waiters Nick and Jesus really made our visit wonderful they were so attentive and friendly, 5 stars for their service! We were a fairly large group and the everyone was very attentive which was nice. The food was very tasty and the drinks were great. The creme brûlée so good the fire on top as it was served was a very nice touch. We will definitely be back.
(5)Vikéndios N.
Seared scallops (app) - I'm usually not impressed with the boring scallop, but how they prepared it was impressive. 2 big scallops, seared and topped with a creamy sauce, 2 tiny pieces of caramelized applewood smoked bacon, 2 spears of sautéed asparagus and a grape tomato cut in half. The scallops were very, very tasty and tender with a nice crunch to the outside. SERVICE: Friendly, quick and professional again.
(4)S. T. V.
We had such a memorable dining experience here! Our server was extremely friendly, knowledgeable, personable and efficient... I'm horrible because I now can't remember his name, but he told us that he is originally from Southern California. We tried alot of dishes because we did the 3 course prix-fixe menu - everything was presented very nicely. Portions were just perfect. The ingredients tasted fresh and they were all Hawaiian / Asian influenced. I LOVED the Banyan Tree. Honestly prices were very reasonable for the quality of food and service they provided. This is a place I highly recommend.
(5)Ann P.
I've dined at the finest restaurants all over the World. I feel I am a pretty good food critic. The Banyan Tree at the Ritz Carlton has the finest food as well as service. As we entered the restaurant we were greeted and seated immediately. We noticed the live music was fantastic and at a comfortable sound level. My husband and I felt like we were in the movie The Player as the music was relaxing playing soft romantic tunes we both recognized. Our food server was Nick and we felt spoiled throughout the entire dining experience. "Robar" or Robert followed Nick with impeccable service as well as speaking with a wonderful heavy French accent ... we felt we were somewhere having dinner in France. We literally had five servers for the two of us! My napkin was straightened and empty plates were taken away within seconds. I showed my husband how my filet could be cut with a fork as it was so juicey and tender. Everything was cooked to perfection and I actually told my husband that we were rearranging our plans so we can dine two more times here while we're on Maui. Yes folks, this means we will have dined at The Banyan Tree three times in eight days! That's how excellent this restaurant is. Be sure to meet the manager "Craig" who introduced himself at our table and also escorted us to the exit as we were leaving. If there is any way to rate this restaurant to perfection, that is what it deserves! I reccomend The Banyan Tree to all who visit Maui.
(5)Sandy L.
The BEST fine dining experience we had on the island. Nice presentation and ambiance, great service and food tasted outstanding!! I was supsrised that my wedding planner dropped off our wedding cake at the restaurant. The chef cut up the cake nicely and presented it beautifully with syrup and berries to each of us. Each of our appetitizers were tasty and creative. My entree was surf and turf: Sous vide ribeye + 1/2 lobster. The steak was prepared just right and so flavorful although it is not American Kobe or Australian beef. Very unforgetable taste. This is the restaurant i want to visit again whenever i am in Maui.
(5)Bella D.
I had the opportunity to eat here a few years ago but just recently went back during my vacation in Maui and the experience is as good as I remembered it the first time around. We had dinner reservations around 8:30 since we had a late lunch. The last time I was there, I made reservations around sunset and the view was breathtaking. By 8:30, you lose the view because it becomes dark with not much lighting outside. Still the ambiance of the restaurant was still very nice. Service and food was top notch. Robert was our server and he took very good care of us. I LOVED HIS FRENCH ACCENT. He was so attentive, knowledgeable, and friendly. We really did enjoy our entire dining experience. My BF decided to go with the 4-course Special which included an appetizer, a small plate, an entree, and a dessert with the wine pairings. I opted to order off the menu. I ordered for my appetizer: **SHRIMP TEMPURA that came with buckwheat noodles. Very good. For the entree, I ordered: **CRISPY HAWAIIAN SNAPPER - It was really cooked and prepared to perfection. I've had snapper in the past and if not cooked properly ends up dry but this one was very good. For my BF's 4 course, he had: **SCALLOP - it was Jumbo Seared Scallop that was complimented with an amazing sauce **AHI prepared three ways - This too was delicious **LAMB ENTREE - I forget exactly what it was but according to the BF, he really enjoyed it **POPCORN LEMON DESSERT - I haven't tried anything like it before but it was very decadent and I tried to savor every bite. Yes portions aren't very big here, but it is definitely flavorful and rich. I prefer smaller servings with better quality anyways. We left feeling very full and satisfied. This is a must eat place everytime I go back.
(5)Yuri V.
This is one of the best restaurants I have eaten at - ever. Mama's Fish House and Lahaina Grill are great - but do not even come close. The location, food, wine list, service - are better at the Banyon Tree. Ryan Urig, Chef De Cuisine is brilliant. Robert Mora's service is top tier. This is not a tourist trap with honeymooners snapping pictures. Do not let the Ritz Carlton location fool you. This restaurant is epic. I suggest the tasting menu. These are life-long memories. i rarely endorse anything without adding a modality.... This is an exception. It matters not which Island you are on - come to Maui just to dine here,
(5)Jocelyn N.
Great restaurant, bad food. Yes it's an oxymoron, but it's the truth. Phenomenal service, interesting menu, great views, lovely staff, wonderful vibe. Unfortunately, the broth in my husbands entree was so bland it tasted like the chef poured water all over an otherwise fine meal. My Hupa fish was so over cooked it had the consistency of boiled chicken. We were so disappointed especially when the $300 check came. The people at the table next to us had the same experience this time, but come very year for their anniversary and said they heard there were some major changes with the chef and menu. Hopefully the new guys figure it out because tasty food is the only thing this restaurant doesn't have and unfortunately the most important thing any restaurant needs! Good luck to the banyan tree - I'll be letting other people spend their money while they figure it out.
(2)Dyan J.
After many years, I returned to the Banyan Tree expecting great food. I was disappointed. My husband had the lamb chops which he enjoyed but I had the pork chop which, for $45, left much to be desired. The chop itself was fair (I've had better) but it was served with two florets of unseasoned cauliflower and a piece of bok choy (are you kidding me - cauliflower and bok choy?) which were tasteless. The dessert was also just okay, nothing remarkable. Wine (Malbec) was good as was the cool olive oil mixed with a variety of crushed herbs for the bread. I wouldn't return.
(2)Dan G.
The Banyan Tree at the Ritz Kapalua was the best meal we had in Maui the last time around and it was spectacular once again. Few things in life seem to bring it again and it delivered like Godfather 2. We arrived for our reservations just before the sunset and the place was crowded. Our waiter seemed to be scrambling a bit at first but was on mark with great suggestions and friendly banter. Location is perfect with great views of the ocean and sunset once they raised the blinds. They brought over some fresh bread and yummy evoo and pepper nut mix for dipping. We started with the app trio of sashimi ahi, local beet salad and seared sea scallops. Always love to get a sampling of what is good and this was a very solid start. The seafood and local produce were very fresh and ridiculously tasty. Wednesday night is half price bottle wine night, so I think in that case we'll have the Grgich thank you. For our mains my wife had the Wapu (thank you come again) and I had the Opah. Both were very good. The Wapu was flakier, while the Opah was a bit firmer. Mediterranean Hapu was served with couscous, baby fennel, and bell pepper chimichurri. Chorizo Crusted Opah paired with cauliflower florets, oyster mushrooms, and yellow curry. These were some of the best fish dishes we had on our trip, which was about what we had every night. You are in Hawaii right? Don't quite remember what we had for dessert. Frankly after Pineapple Grill's signature treat, everything else never stacked up. I'll revise if I recollect, but it was good. A fantastic meal yet again, right up there with Merriman's as the best we had on this trip.
(5)Courtney B.
LOVED this place! My husband and I went here on the last night of our honeymoon and everything was top notch. The food, service and wine selections were outstanding. Robert, who has been with them for 20 years was our server and he made our experience what it was. His recommendations were spot on and he gave us background knowledge on the restaurant, property and chef. Because we were on our honeymoon, the chef sent out a personalized plate of dessert saying congratulations on our marriage, it was a really nice touch. The fish dishes were all prepared fresh and were all caught that day and you can tell! At the end of the meal we requested a cheese plate that wasn't on the menu and they whipped something up for us no questions asked. Prices weren't over the top either. Will definitely be back here again!!
(5)Marlon V.
We came here 2 celebrate our newlywedness. Food & service was top notch. Chef Jojo came welcomed us & even created a personalized tasting menu for us. Everything was delicious & we left super satisfied & super full. If we weren't staying at the Ritz, we may have needed to be wheeled out of there. Thank you Chef Jojo & staff, can't wait to visit again.
(5)Vince T.
If you would like to treat yourself to an excellent dining experience then come to the Banyan Tree. The Chef is Jo Jo Vasquez one of Chef Morimoto's assistant chef on Iron Chef America and his food is top quality. We ordered seared scallops, Oysters, Sear Ahi Tuna and Grilled Snapper. Everything was cook to perfection and the flavors and creativity with the dishes was exquisite. Chef Vasquez even took to time to come out and greet all the diners in his restaurant. Overall we had a wonderful dinner at The Banyan Tree, service was impeccable. Tip- Wednesday is half price wines.
(5)Blair B.
To preface this review, I eat out in Vegas - a lot! I dine out for business and pleasure at high end restaurants all the time and I'm used to jacked up prices, but I'm also used to a very high standard of food. I'll start on a good note. The view and atmosphere is incredible ! If you are staying at the Ritz (as we were) , at least stop in, try a tasty Lychee martini or reasonably priced glass of wine and maybe venture into the appetizers. I suggest you stop there. Appetizers were insanely pricey (think $7 per BITE), but very tasty! The smoked salmon ravioli was simple, but my favorite. We also did a special order of kona kampachi. Tasty, but doesnt' compare to the fish I've had in Vegas (which is sad!). The ahi tuna wasn't any big deal, either. Overall good, though, just expensive. The main courses were awful. Lobster was chewy, YUCK, and the steak was the worst I've ever had at a nice restaurant. I adore steak, I really do, and was craving some - but this was terrible. Tough, overdone, and NO SEASONING. I mean if the meat was good I could see skipping the seasoning and letting the meat flavor shine through. But there was no fucking flavor. 3 of us ordered the steaks and couldn't even finish them they were so terrible. For the price ($100-$150 pp wtih apps + 1 drink + main course), I'd expect it to at least taste as good as meals I've had on the strip in Vegas for much less. I guess good beef can't be shipped to Hawaii for some reason? Maybe in Kona they don't know how to raise lobsters? Maybe the ahi tuna is better tasting in Vegas for some reason? No idea what the deal was here. It felt like a rip off. Bottom line - great views, drinks and some decent apps. Finish your evening elsewhere.
(3)Julian M.
Not impressed. The location of the restaurant is wonderful. However, the service and food was really a mixed bag. We have a 19 month old and the options on the children's menu were pretty depressing. The staff seemed annoyed at having to be there. When you stay at a remote resort such as the Ritz Carlton in Kapalua, your choices for dining out are limited. The service and the food at this restaurant reflect that they understand they have a captive audience.
(1)Samip P.
Really great view and service was fantastic. Kids had great experience without being patronized. Above average for normal resort fine dining.
(4)Aaron J.
Banyan Tree is incredible. This is one of our top 3 restaurants! We made reservations through the Ritz Kapalua during our stay in January and when we arrived for our reservation, we were immediately impressed with the interior of the restaurant. Sustainable Bamboo and a high-end decor that is indigenous to the area greet you at the front. A friendly staff member showed us to our table right by the window for an amazing view of the ocean right before sunset. Truly incredible. After looking through there very impressive menu, we decided to go with the waiters recommendation and order the Chef's Tasting Menu. For $200 for two of us without wine or drinks it's a little steep, but worth the splurge. Time after time, we were served impressively thoughtful and delicious cuisine that didn't disappoint. We had to snap a couple pictures of the food as well because it didn't just taste delicious, it was beautiful to boot. They use many organic herbs from their garden, just out the front door as well, which is important when you consider it's protecting what you're fortunate enough to see during your stay in HI. Loved it. Will absolutely go back. Missing it now.
(5)Brian F.
The most flavorless and shoddily served $120 you will ever spend. After waiting nearly 30 minutes past our reservation time (despite the restaurant not being very busy) we were finally seated. I should have stuck to my gut feeling and left after the long wait, but I was too damn hungry. From there out we were treated to continued lackadaisical service, dishes sitting around forever, empty drinks, etc, certainly not what you expect from the upscale restaurant attached to the Ritz-Carlton. The view is nice if the sun has not gone down, otherwise the glare from tiki torches outside obstructs the ocean through the windows. We started with a goat cheese appetizer, which ended up being just two clumps of local goat cheese for $16 (table bread required to make use of it). My wife had a vegetarian entree and I got the snapper, both were lacking in any form of seasoning and taste. Bland, bland, bland. If you are going to serve a piece of local fish for $45, or a handful of grilled vegetables for $26, then they had better be prepared perfectly and bursting with flavor and excellent accompaniments. It was like the chef had the night off and the busboy they got to make the food didn't know where the herbs and seasoning were stored. We decided to skip dessert and go elsewhere to cut our losses. I suggest you do the same from the start.
(1)Michelle L.
Wow, this place is fantastic! Maybe the best on the island. The location alone is a breathtaking destination. You walk past tranquil pools on the Ritz-Carlton property, and end up at The Banyan Tree, a charming beach house near the crashing ocean. To see awesome Maui scenery, arrive before sunset and walk down a little farther to a dramatically beautiful, semi-private feeling beach (DT Fleming Beach Park, YELP reviewed). THE FOOD: We wanted a special night, so we chose the tasting menu by Chef de Cuisine Jojo Vasquez. It included some of the best local, seasonal fare, with delicious additions from around the world. Tonight's Menu: - so good I took notes ;) Hawaiian Kampachi sashimi, avocado, vanilla-orange gelée, nori (outstanding...so fresh and delicious!) Seared scallop, organic egg custard, spicy miso, kale chips (the tastes & textures were freakin' fantastic, like we were on a micro-gastronomy episode of Anthony Bourdain) Grilled Kobe flat iron steak, beans, shiitake mushrooms, hibachi sauce (excellent, savory, flavorful) Lavender almond cake, lemon curd, popcorn ice cream (a totally fun-food idea turned into delicious flavors & delicate textures) Each plate presentation was modern and beautiful (nicer than the photos show). And Chef Jojo's wine pairing took each dish to another level. I actually text'd my friend from the restaurant, "The food is amazing, I'm going to cry it's so good!" If you've ever had one of those meals... you know. SERVICE: The French waiter, Robert, is super cool! Attentive, but gave us plenty private time/space to enjoy the experience. We've eaten our fair share of delicious food around the globe (from street food to fine dining) and I'm so glad we didn't miss this one! ~MAHALO
(5)Brian W.
It's very true that sometimes you read a review and the restaurant doesn't live up to the hype; not in this case. If you could rate The Banyan Tree with 6 stars, I would do it! The staff is amazing, some of the best, most tenured servers on the island....and it shows. The food is consistently off the charts, plain and simple. This is a must stop for us during each visit to Maui. There are probably only 2 other spots on the island that rival Banyan, so make sure you eat here! Cheers!
(5)Mickey E.
Superb! If you stop to think about most of the restaurants on Maui compared to any metropolitan city, they really all fall short; except for this idylic locale. Located at the lower end of the Ritz Carlton property, there is more of a South East Asian feel than a tourist trap with a lit beach. With a peaceful, open setting, the food selections are minimal, but they all deliver. Robaire, the consumate waiter with former Paris training and time spent at Ma Maison in L.A., makes the experience a superlative one. He will make you feel like you are the most important person in the restaurant and Ken backs him up with the ease of a tango partnership. The Opakapaka was sublime, flakey, delicate and sensational. The pea soup was tasty and refreshing. Everything is organic and locally sourced. Skip the traps on Kaanapali Beach and make the evening a dining experience; Expensive but.... anything good (except 100 Wines) is on Maui.
(4)Chris L.
To be fair our expectations had been set very high by other reviews we'd read. The service was excellent and the view is lovely, but none of our food really stood out compared to other truly exceptional restaurants we've experienced on Maui. Case in point, as I write this review a few nights later, I struggle to remember what we ate.
(3)Teema T.
Very very delicious! Great choice for a special night out. Expect to spend the cash-ola!
(4)Amy V.
We showed up with no reservations and a group of 7 and the staff was friendly and accomodating. The food was amazing...we ordered most of the appetizers and a variety of dinners and nothing disappointed. The fish was fresh and well prepared, the steaks were cooked to perfection. The duck appetizer was delicious. It's a pricey meal, but a guaranteed great one. I'd rather spend money on a sure thing than save a few bucks for something average. The cheesecake dessert was also tasty. Excellent staff! :)
(5)D A.
A friend had recommended this Ritz-Carlton, so we thought we'd try the Banyan Tree for dinner last night. I was a little disappointed after being 'greeted' by the blonde Lady on reception in a way I've never before experienced..."Last Name?" Wow, not even a "Hello", or "Welcome"?!! I'm absolutely shocked that Ritz-Carlton accepts this dire front-of-house customer service! After seating at the bar for 30 mins while waiting for a romantic table (come early for best tables/sunset & sea view) & waiting a good 10 mins to even be acknowledged by bar staff (!) we were pleasantly surprised to be served by the most wonderful French Waiter called Robert. His service is impeccable. The quality of food was outstanding & amazing choices. Yes it's pricey, but most signature restaurant's in RC's are!! Go elsewhere if you don't want to pay $50 for the most gorgeous to-die-for, melt in your mouth fresh fish main courses! This pricing is still cheap in comparison to the best ocean front high end restaurants in European hotels like this :-) We left happy! Would have given 5 stars, but for the offish 'welcome'.
(4)Tim C.
The waiter was nice, but he got defensive when I questioned his description of the horrible appetizer. We ordered the "eggplant caviar." Ok ok ok, I get it -- we shouldn't have ordered the eggplant caviar because who would order such a thing? But it was on the menu, so we tried it -- the waiter said it was like cavier -- but when it came, it was more like tasteless babyfood. I told him it wasn't much like cavier, huh? He said it was merely a play on words, and tried to make me feel as if I didn't "get it." I got it, but it wasn't good and it certainly wasn't what was advertized: it wasn't "cavier-like": it was baby-food puree and tasteless. I then had the salad with polenta-style croutons -- (since I'm a vegetarian and they don't offer any vegetarian entrees) -- which was good -- the croutons elevated the salad. My partner had fish which he liked, but, boy oh boy, this place is expensive, and you don't get what you pay for. The best part of the meal was the Maui Blond pints, but I could've had those anywhere on the island.
(2)Genevieve P.
The food was awesome but not a place to go if you are very hungry. For the price the portions are quite small. The atmosphere and service were wonderful. Check the sunset times for an even better view.
(5)Kathy J.
Delicious seafood and friendly service. Would have given it five stars but we ate here at night and couldn't see the view, thus we were only able to take in the interior design which seemed incongruous with the high prices.
(4)Dustin K.
This is a high-quality expensive restaurant. I definitely agree that the portions are way too small for the price. The food however is quite good and I would probably go back if we stayed at the Ritz again (which is not likely --- I'll get to that posting eventually). The service was great and we loved the bread w/ oil and spices to dip into. The lobster was tasty, but way overpriced ($75), steak was good but not great --- and we expected greatness from this place. Dessert was a little messed up as the gelato was partially melted from a freezer mishap --- but they did not charge us without us even complaining about it. Overall I good place to eat if price is no problem.
(3)Doreen H.
Great food. Very nice & engaging waiter. They were having a 3-course prix fixe option for $50... which is a steal for a place of this caliber.
(4)David H.
In general, above average food and great views. The dungeonous crab appetizer was great.
(4)Dawn B.
Thought the service was good but nothing special about the food. Not worth the money considering the size of the portions. Will not be returning.
(3)Rachel A.
Love this restaurant! I still have dreams of the ahi & foie gras. I'm already drooling just writing this. I can never decide on which appetizer to order so luckily you can create your own trio, too bad you can't create an entree trio too since the Kobe ribeye is excellent too not to mention the fresh local fish. It's expensive but it is comparable to other fine dining establishments on the island. My favorite fine dining restaurant in the island!
(5)Mattthe M.
Very expensive for what you get. Very nice atmosphere and attention to details - place settings, dining room, etc.. Service very knowledgeable and friendly. Downside - for a restaurant on the ocean, can't see much of it - you are too enclosed to really feel like you are dining in a special occasion atmosphere.
(4)Arezou M.
Incredible service and very beautiful view!!! The food was expensive and small portions but very good, definitely not disapointed with this place!!
(5)Alex S.
This place was totally on fire with Chef Jojo Fernandez turning out some of Hawaii's best high-end fusion cooking with a bit of El Bulli wrapped in. We ate there and it was truly awesome, fun and funny, everything that Stage on Oahu aspired for but didn't quite hit. Alas, Jojo flew the coop and the party's over. I have no idea how the restaurant is now or whether it will maintain its talent level.
(3)Bryan B.
Great ambiance and view! Food was okay. While we were staying at The Ritz, we had a late lunch/early dinner here before hitting Front Street Lahaina for the evening. There's a great view of the Kapalua coast, but the sunset is on the opposite end and blocked by buildings. So probably not a good place for the famous Maui sunsets. Service was average at best and alittle disappointing for a joint like this. It just seemed like the service staff were busy with other, more important things. The staff just has a different air here than from the rest of the island. Mostly everyone that we talked to were pretty new to the island. Our waitress was from Atlanta and had only been on the island for 2 months. Point being, most of the staff in the restaurant (and probably the entire resort) don't really have the Aloha Spirit that most of the other locals do have since they're so new to the island... idk, maybe I'm just giving them the benefit of the doubt. Food portions were no the largest, and we ended up having to eat again later in the evening. If you don't feel like leaving the resort, this is probably a good place for convenience. . . but we didn't have a chance to try the other restaurants in the resort.
(3)David T.
My favorite restaurant of all time. I love it when high expectations are exceeded. Food is delicious. Setting is stunning. Service is outstanding. Definitely on the pricier side, but when you get this quality, it's worth it. Call ahead and ask for a table near the ocean edge of the restaurant just at the tail end of sunset. My wife and i went back a second, third and fourth time, and we found that splitting an appetizer and an entree was satisfying and didn't break the budget.
(5)ben c.
After eating at Mamas, david pauls and the plantation house i expected every meal to be great. However my meal here sucked. every was very bland yet it tried to be sophisticated. theres a fine line between subtle and bland and they definitely crossed it. not only was the food bad but it was more expensive than any other restaurant. avoid at all costs, even if your staying at the ritz!
(1)Robert R.
I have to admit, the food was great, the service impeccable, and the atmosphere amazing. It would be 5 star except for the fact it has to be one of the most overpriced restaurants in Hawaii... yeah.. Anyway, if you get in there around a sunset seating, you will be more than pleased with the views.
(4)Mark R.
We had an excellent meal, but a mixed experience on service. We had the Caymus tasting menu which was excellent and our waiter Robert was fantastic very accommodating on some changes). For context, we live in the SF Bay Area and eat at high end restaurants frequently. The fish was the best that my wife has very had (and she eats alot of fish). The Kobe steak was a B+. Yet Robert made the meal, he was very gracious and a joy to work with. On the other hand the maitre d' provided very poor service. We had an early reservation and the restaurant was empty. Yet he asked me twice if we had a reservation and did not seem to be able to find it. We also specifically asked for two wine lists (my wife and I both like to peruse it), yet we only got the wine lists by asking our waiter Robert. The wine lists were only a B (if you want a deep and interesting list, I suggest Merriman's). We had a great time, but Robert really made the meal.
(4)D A.
A friend had recommended this Ritz-Carlton, so we thought we'd try the Banyan Tree for dinner last night. I was a little disappointed after being 'greeted' by the blonde Lady on reception in a way I've never before experienced..."Last Name?" Wow, not even a "Hello", or "Welcome"?!! I'm absolutely shocked that Ritz-Carlton accepts this dire front-of-house customer service! After seating at the bar for 30 mins while waiting for a romantic table (come early for best tables/sunset & sea view) & waiting a good 10 mins to even be acknowledged by bar staff (!) we were pleasantly surprised to be served by the most wonderful French Waiter called Robert. His service is impeccable. The quality of food was outstanding & amazing choices. Yes it's pricey, but most signature restaurant's in RC's are!! Go elsewhere if you don't want to pay $50 for the most gorgeous to-die-for, melt in your mouth fresh fish main courses! This pricing is still cheap in comparison to the best ocean front high end restaurants in European hotels like this :-) We left happy! Would have given 5 stars, but for the offish 'welcome'.
(4)Dyan J.
After many years, I returned to the Banyan Tree expecting great food. I was disappointed. My husband had the lamb chops which he enjoyed but I had the pork chop which, for $45, left much to be desired. The chop itself was fair (I've had better) but it was served with two florets of unseasoned cauliflower and a piece of bok choy (are you kidding me - cauliflower and bok choy?) which were tasteless. The dessert was also just okay, nothing remarkable. Wine (Malbec) was good as was the cool olive oil mixed with a variety of crushed herbs for the bread. I wouldn't return.
(2)Meredith A.
We were staying at the Ritz for our 10th wedding anniversary and had been told that eating at the Banyan Tree was a "must". Over the eight days we were in Maui we had the opportunity to eat at several outstanding restaurants in Kaanapali and Lahaina. I can honestly say save your time and money and take a pass on The Banyan Tree. My recommendation..... eat at Lahaina Grill or Gerard's in Lahaina. They have far superior food, service and atmosphere.
(2)Yuri V.
This is one of the best restaurants I have eaten at - ever. Mama's Fish House and Lahaina Grill are great - but do not even come close. The location, food, wine list, service - are better at the Banyon Tree. Ryan Urig, Chef De Cuisine is brilliant. Robert Mora's service is top tier. This is not a tourist trap with honeymooners snapping pictures. Do not let the Ritz Carlton location fool you. This restaurant is epic. I suggest the tasting menu. These are life-long memories. i rarely endorse anything without adding a modality.... This is an exception. It matters not which Island you are on - come to Maui just to dine here,
(5)Kira M.
This meal was simply superb. The Banyan's visual aesthetic was gorgeous, and the views at sunset-- there are no words for that kind of beauty! The wait staff was quite competent, and delivered the food in a timely manner. Now, my favourite part was, of course, the utterly delectable entrees. My brother and I began with the Roasted Beets with their own "Surfing Dairy" feta, red quinoa salad, and a dash of minus 8 vinegar and the Seared Scallops with salsify and roasted tomato. Oh my god-- I was in absolute heaven-- the beets were perfectly seasoned and the scallops perfectly seared. The roasted tomato was the ideal complement. And this was just the start. The one thing I must say is that the portions are quite small, albeit beautifully arranged, but they are for a reason. They are meant to fill, but not stuff you. For this reason, if you are searching for a place where you will get large portions, this is not for you. The Banyan is perfect if you are willing to pay a bit more for the quality of food, not the quantity. I would also advise that for 2 people, 2 appetizers, 2 entrees and 1-2 desserts should be sufficient. But be prepared to pay at least about $90, not including a bottle of wine. I would not recommend this to families with small children, unless you are entirely certain they will be quiet and occupied for an hour and a half or more. Now, onward to the entrees! My brother ordered the Kona Lobster, which was served with a ginger-carrot rissoto and tarragon-coral butter, whilst I requested the Mediterranean Hapu with couscous, baby fennel, and bell pepper chimichurri. I cannot even begin to describe the utter bliss of the first bite. I am a huge foodie, and this meal was an absolute delight from start to finish. To cap off this meal, we finished with two desserts. These, again, are quite small, especially for the price of $14. But, I must say, these desserts were well worth it. We ordered the Maple Banana Pain Perdu which came complete with Mint White Chocolate Gelato and Lilikoi Caramel and the Chocolate Tasting Dessert which is comprised of Dark Fudge Cake, Milk Chocolate Molten Cake and White-Chocolate-Vanilla Sorbet. I must divulge that I am also a die-hard chocoholic. The Chocolate Tasting Dessert is basically my exact brand of crack. It was insanely delicious, but gone all too soon. My favorite part was the Dark Fudge Cake, which was overflowing with fudge-y goodness. When the meal was finished, the bill came, and we were not surprised by the grand total. But, we concluded that it had been worth it, and we still agree today.
(5)gabor m.
The food was great but the view is wasted if you go at night. You cannot see anything out the glass windows in the dark and as we were sat facing the window the entire meal, I felt as if we were being punished in the corner. Nobody puts baby in the corner. Also, you cannot bring your own bottle of wine to any restaurant in Maui.
(4)Amikam R.
The Banyan Tree is a very nice place with fabulous views on the grounds of the Ritz Carlton in Kapalua. It's quite a hike to get there from the hotel entrance and if it rains, as it did for us, you'll get wet walking down through the pool area. We were two for dinner on Saturday night. The menu is nice and the wine list large. They have a three course menu for $50, which lets you choose some of the regular menu items. They don't tell you about it but if you ask they'll acknowledge its existence. The bean soup and the goat cheese appetizers were good. The chorizo encrusted opa and the sea bass were very good . The desserts - apple tart and sorbet were OK. Service is good and it's quiet. The views are, again, outstanding.
(3)Tim C.
The waiter was nice, but he got defensive when I questioned his description of the horrible appetizer. We ordered the "eggplant caviar." Ok ok ok, I get it -- we shouldn't have ordered the eggplant caviar because who would order such a thing? But it was on the menu, so we tried it -- the waiter said it was like cavier -- but when it came, it was more like tasteless babyfood. I told him it wasn't much like cavier, huh? He said it was merely a play on words, and tried to make me feel as if I didn't "get it." I got it, but it wasn't good and it certainly wasn't what was advertized: it wasn't "cavier-like": it was baby-food puree and tasteless. I then had the salad with polenta-style croutons -- (since I'm a vegetarian and they don't offer any vegetarian entrees) -- which was good -- the croutons elevated the salad. My partner had fish which he liked, but, boy oh boy, this place is expensive, and you don't get what you pay for. The best part of the meal was the Maui Blond pints, but I could've had those anywhere on the island.
(2)Genevieve P.
The food was awesome but not a place to go if you are very hungry. For the price the portions are quite small. The atmosphere and service were wonderful. Check the sunset times for an even better view.
(5)Kathy J.
Delicious seafood and friendly service. Would have given it five stars but we ate here at night and couldn't see the view, thus we were only able to take in the interior design which seemed incongruous with the high prices.
(4)Dustin K.
This is a high-quality expensive restaurant. I definitely agree that the portions are way too small for the price. The food however is quite good and I would probably go back if we stayed at the Ritz again (which is not likely --- I'll get to that posting eventually). The service was great and we loved the bread w/ oil and spices to dip into. The lobster was tasty, but way overpriced ($75), steak was good but not great --- and we expected greatness from this place. Dessert was a little messed up as the gelato was partially melted from a freezer mishap --- but they did not charge us without us even complaining about it. Overall I good place to eat if price is no problem.
(3)Doreen H.
Great food. Very nice & engaging waiter. They were having a 3-course prix fixe option for $50... which is a steal for a place of this caliber.
(4)David H.
In general, above average food and great views. The dungeonous crab appetizer was great.
(4)Dawn B.
Thought the service was good but nothing special about the food. Not worth the money considering the size of the portions. Will not be returning.
(3)Rachel A.
Love this restaurant! I still have dreams of the ahi & foie gras. I'm already drooling just writing this. I can never decide on which appetizer to order so luckily you can create your own trio, too bad you can't create an entree trio too since the Kobe ribeye is excellent too not to mention the fresh local fish. It's expensive but it is comparable to other fine dining establishments on the island. My favorite fine dining restaurant in the island!
(5)Mattthe M.
Very expensive for what you get. Very nice atmosphere and attention to details - place settings, dining room, etc.. Service very knowledgeable and friendly. Downside - for a restaurant on the ocean, can't see much of it - you are too enclosed to really feel like you are dining in a special occasion atmosphere.
(4)Arezou M.
Incredible service and very beautiful view!!! The food was expensive and small portions but very good, definitely not disapointed with this place!!
(5)Alex S.
This place was totally on fire with Chef Jojo Fernandez turning out some of Hawaii's best high-end fusion cooking with a bit of El Bulli wrapped in. We ate there and it was truly awesome, fun and funny, everything that Stage on Oahu aspired for but didn't quite hit. Alas, Jojo flew the coop and the party's over. I have no idea how the restaurant is now or whether it will maintain its talent level.
(3)Bryan B.
Great ambiance and view! Food was okay. While we were staying at The Ritz, we had a late lunch/early dinner here before hitting Front Street Lahaina for the evening. There's a great view of the Kapalua coast, but the sunset is on the opposite end and blocked by buildings. So probably not a good place for the famous Maui sunsets. Service was average at best and alittle disappointing for a joint like this. It just seemed like the service staff were busy with other, more important things. The staff just has a different air here than from the rest of the island. Mostly everyone that we talked to were pretty new to the island. Our waitress was from Atlanta and had only been on the island for 2 months. Point being, most of the staff in the restaurant (and probably the entire resort) don't really have the Aloha Spirit that most of the other locals do have since they're so new to the island... idk, maybe I'm just giving them the benefit of the doubt. Food portions were no the largest, and we ended up having to eat again later in the evening. If you don't feel like leaving the resort, this is probably a good place for convenience. . . but we didn't have a chance to try the other restaurants in the resort.
(3)David T.
My favorite restaurant of all time. I love it when high expectations are exceeded. Food is delicious. Setting is stunning. Service is outstanding. Definitely on the pricier side, but when you get this quality, it's worth it. Call ahead and ask for a table near the ocean edge of the restaurant just at the tail end of sunset. My wife and i went back a second, third and fourth time, and we found that splitting an appetizer and an entree was satisfying and didn't break the budget.
(5)ben c.
After eating at Mamas, david pauls and the plantation house i expected every meal to be great. However my meal here sucked. every was very bland yet it tried to be sophisticated. theres a fine line between subtle and bland and they definitely crossed it. not only was the food bad but it was more expensive than any other restaurant. avoid at all costs, even if your staying at the ritz!
(1)Robert R.
I have to admit, the food was great, the service impeccable, and the atmosphere amazing. It would be 5 star except for the fact it has to be one of the most overpriced restaurants in Hawaii... yeah.. Anyway, if you get in there around a sunset seating, you will be more than pleased with the views.
(4)Mark R.
We had an excellent meal, but a mixed experience on service. We had the Caymus tasting menu which was excellent and our waiter Robert was fantastic very accommodating on some changes). For context, we live in the SF Bay Area and eat at high end restaurants frequently. The fish was the best that my wife has very had (and she eats alot of fish). The Kobe steak was a B+. Yet Robert made the meal, he was very gracious and a joy to work with. On the other hand the maitre d' provided very poor service. We had an early reservation and the restaurant was empty. Yet he asked me twice if we had a reservation and did not seem to be able to find it. We also specifically asked for two wine lists (my wife and I both like to peruse it), yet we only got the wine lists by asking our waiter Robert. The wine lists were only a B (if you want a deep and interesting list, I suggest Merriman's). We had a great time, but Robert really made the meal.
(4)Robert R.
I have to admit, the food was great, the service impeccable, and the atmosphere amazing. It would be 5 star except for the fact it has to be one of the most overpriced restaurants in Hawaii... yeah.. Anyway, if you get in there around a sunset seating, you will be more than pleased with the views.
(4)Dawn B.
Thought the service was good but nothing special about the food. Not worth the money considering the size of the portions. Will not be returning.
(3)Rachel A.
Love this restaurant! I still have dreams of the ahi & foie gras. I'm already drooling just writing this. I can never decide on which appetizer to order so luckily you can create your own trio, too bad you can't create an entree trio too since the Kobe ribeye is excellent too not to mention the fresh local fish. It's expensive but it is comparable to other fine dining establishments on the island. My favorite fine dining restaurant in the island!
(5)Mattthe M.
Very expensive for what you get. Very nice atmosphere and attention to details - place settings, dining room, etc.. Service very knowledgeable and friendly. Downside - for a restaurant on the ocean, can't see much of it - you are too enclosed to really feel like you are dining in a special occasion atmosphere.
(4)Arezou M.
Incredible service and very beautiful view!!! The food was expensive and small portions but very good, definitely not disapointed with this place!!
(5)Alex S.
This place was totally on fire with Chef Jojo Fernandez turning out some of Hawaii's best high-end fusion cooking with a bit of El Bulli wrapped in. We ate there and it was truly awesome, fun and funny, everything that Stage on Oahu aspired for but didn't quite hit. Alas, Jojo flew the coop and the party's over. I have no idea how the restaurant is now or whether it will maintain its talent level.
(3)Bryan B.
Great ambiance and view! Food was okay. While we were staying at The Ritz, we had a late lunch/early dinner here before hitting Front Street Lahaina for the evening. There's a great view of the Kapalua coast, but the sunset is on the opposite end and blocked by buildings. So probably not a good place for the famous Maui sunsets. Service was average at best and alittle disappointing for a joint like this. It just seemed like the service staff were busy with other, more important things. The staff just has a different air here than from the rest of the island. Mostly everyone that we talked to were pretty new to the island. Our waitress was from Atlanta and had only been on the island for 2 months. Point being, most of the staff in the restaurant (and probably the entire resort) don't really have the Aloha Spirit that most of the other locals do have since they're so new to the island... idk, maybe I'm just giving them the benefit of the doubt. Food portions were no the largest, and we ended up having to eat again later in the evening. If you don't feel like leaving the resort, this is probably a good place for convenience. . . but we didn't have a chance to try the other restaurants in the resort.
(3)David T.
My favorite restaurant of all time. I love it when high expectations are exceeded. Food is delicious. Setting is stunning. Service is outstanding. Definitely on the pricier side, but when you get this quality, it's worth it. Call ahead and ask for a table near the ocean edge of the restaurant just at the tail end of sunset. My wife and i went back a second, third and fourth time, and we found that splitting an appetizer and an entree was satisfying and didn't break the budget.
(5)ben c.
After eating at Mamas, david pauls and the plantation house i expected every meal to be great. However my meal here sucked. every was very bland yet it tried to be sophisticated. theres a fine line between subtle and bland and they definitely crossed it. not only was the food bad but it was more expensive than any other restaurant. avoid at all costs, even if your staying at the ritz!
(1)Mark R.
We had an excellent meal, but a mixed experience on service. We had the Caymus tasting menu which was excellent and our waiter Robert was fantastic very accommodating on some changes). For context, we live in the SF Bay Area and eat at high end restaurants frequently. The fish was the best that my wife has very had (and she eats alot of fish). The Kobe steak was a B+. Yet Robert made the meal, he was very gracious and a joy to work with. On the other hand the maitre d' provided very poor service. We had an early reservation and the restaurant was empty. Yet he asked me twice if we had a reservation and did not seem to be able to find it. We also specifically asked for two wine lists (my wife and I both like to peruse it), yet we only got the wine lists by asking our waiter Robert. The wine lists were only a B (if you want a deep and interesting list, I suggest Merriman's). We had a great time, but Robert really made the meal.
(4)Emily H.
This is such a fantastic restaurant! Everything from the decor to the service to the amazing food was perfect! Our server Robert was the best! He was so attentive and everything he described sounded delicious! the cocktails were creative and light. I started with the warm ricotta. It was unbelievably silly and the perfect amount of sweet. I then had the ahi that was cooked perfectly. An amazing meal in a gorgeous setting. I must for a lovely evening in Maui!
(5)Brandon M.
Location was absolutely fabulous, as was the atmosphere. Conveniently located on the Ritz-Carlton property, we were looking forward to dinner at the Banyan Tree in lieu of the mediocre reviews listed. We found both the service and food to be average. The highlight of the dinner (aside from the view), was the homemade lavash bread and whipped garlic butter. With very high prices, not to mention it being part of the Ritz resort, there is an expected level of service and quality; a level that wasn't met. To be clear, the food and service wasn't bad, but simply average...something that I would have expected from the pool-side food service, but not from a higher end restaurant.
(3)Michael D.
They really screwed up what was a casual elegant beach restaurant. It now looks like a large diner and the service was very disappointing. The didn't get the salad orders correctly (and couldn't offer a reason why), never returned to the table to pour the beverage from the cooler (I had to get up and bring it to the table), didn't bring utensils for everyone at the table for desert and appeared to to be in training. They had plastic table mats - no table clothes. It was as expensive as any restaurant on Maui. The food was good, however, and the chef circulated which was classy. On balance, its hard to believe the Ritz produced this. What were they thinking?
(2)Rashid M.
We ate here at night, so we weren't able to enjoy the view, but that's ok since we already experienced the view staying at the hotel. The food was very mediocre. Nothing stood out as a "must have". The service was ok. If I'm ever back in Maui staying at the Ritz Carlton, I'll be sure to skip the Banyan Tree.
(2)Michele H.
Setting is beautifully located atop of gorgeous golf course. Windows all open for indoor/outdoor feel. Food was average. Go for atmosphere.
(4)Olivia P.
Food was very good. Service not so good. I wished that they acknowledged the customer & let them know that they will attend to you shortly. I don't think I will be a repeat customer.
(3)Beth C.
For a restaurant at the Ritz Carlton we certainly expected more. My husband had the special of the day which was sea bass and shrimp over Asian noodles and I had the pappardelle and pesto. Both dishes were tasteless and extremely salty. The only plus was the view. It was too expensive for food that was average at best.
(2)Steve A.
By far the best meal we had the entire two weeks on the island and the best service to match. We had Robert as our server and he is at the top of his game in wait staff. If you are lucky enough to get him at your table, you will be treated to a grand dining experience. We were at the restaurant for a special occasion. We started off with a bottle of the French Champaign, and there's something about really Champaign served by a Frenchman, that just makes it even more special. The first course was the Spiced Corn Veloute soup - wow - I could have just kept that coming all night. I love when they drop all the ingredients in your bowl and then pour on the actual hot soup and you dig in. Really creamily and enough things in the soup to keep it interesting. A nice salad of local garden greens grown on the property were served for the next course - very refreshing. The chef actual came out to serve us a couple of seared Dayboat scallops, so well prepared and fresh, they practically splayed your face. For the entrée we both had the filet steaks, perfectly cooked and swimming in a dark brown sauce and crispy fingerling potatoes. I can't every get a steak to come out this perfect where it literally melts in your mouth. For dessert we got a special treat of homemade Macaroons as well as a hot lava cake and ice cream. Everything is hand crafted in this restaurant, so it's worth the price to treat yourself to one big bang on the island. I'm ready to head back and try the other side of the menu.
(5)Orna B.
When going to a high end restaurant i would expect to receive incredible dishes. The Mahi Mahi was not warm, the portion was so small that it wouldn't be considered an appetizer. $40 for flavorless fish ? I was embarrassed to ask for salt. The waiter was disappointed we did not drink nor ordered desert. No sides. Those are extra.... $9 a side. And the dry flat bread served prior was as flat in taste as in shape. Just don't go until the restaurant shapes its act to be as high end as it professes.
(1)Mark B.
The restaurant is beautiful, perfectly located , the service is terrific but here's the why I'm giving it one star. The food was so salty it tasted more like pretzels than chicken or seared Ahi. Very unfortunate! This was on a Saturday night when I would expect the best cooks to be in the restaurant. Whoever was cooking for us last night needs to go back to cooking school and in particular get rid of his damn salt shaker. This restaurant makes a big point about using natural locally grown ingredients or in this case locally caught but the cook did a disservice to the food. I should've returned both dishes to the kitchen as soon as I had my first taste. The corn and the broccoli were also over salted.
(1)Franky M.
Our waiters Nick and Jesus really made our visit wonderful they were so attentive and friendly, 5 stars for their service! We were a fairly large group and the everyone was very attentive which was nice. The food was very tasty and the drinks were great. The creme brûlée so good the fire on top as it was served was a very nice touch. We will definitely be back.
(5)Vikéndios N.
Seared scallops (app) - I'm usually not impressed with the boring scallop, but how they prepared it was impressive. 2 big scallops, seared and topped with a creamy sauce, 2 tiny pieces of caramelized applewood smoked bacon, 2 spears of sautéed asparagus and a grape tomato cut in half. The scallops were very, very tasty and tender with a nice crunch to the outside. SERVICE: Friendly, quick and professional again.
(4)Ngoc K.
I went to Lahaina Grill the day before so when comparing fancy restaurant to fancy restaurant, I gave Lahaina Grill 5 stars and The Banyan Tree 4 stars. I thought the food was better at LG than BT. The service at BT was great - exactly what you would expect from The Ritz. Great for date night, IMO.
(4)T H.
This was the worst dining experience ever! The worst fish dish I have ever had. The fish was overcooked and dry. It was seasoned with so much vanilla, it was nauseating. Yes, vanilla on fish. My husband had the bouillabaisse. He orders that quite often at other restaurants and said it was the worst he has ever had. We travel extensively all over the world and have eaten at several Ritz Carltons. This is not even comparable to a low class diner.
(1)Sandy L.
The BEST fine dining experience we had on the island. Nice presentation and ambiance, great service and food tasted outstanding!! I was supsrised that my wedding planner dropped off our wedding cake at the restaurant. The chef cut up the cake nicely and presented it beautifully with syrup and berries to each of us. Each of our appetitizers were tasty and creative. My entree was surf and turf: Sous vide ribeye + 1/2 lobster. The steak was prepared just right and so flavorful although it is not American Kobe or Australian beef. Very unforgetable taste. This is the restaurant i want to visit again whenever i am in Maui.
(5)Elizabeth R.
I recommend this restaurant most highly. Although we are not wealthy, we save up so that we can stay at excellent hotels, and dine at exceptionally good restaurants (Why go to Hawaii if you're not going to do it up right, we figure). This restaurant is one of the best of the best, in our experience. It was a great pleasure to dine here three times during our recent stay at Ritz Carlton (Dec 2,3,and 5, 2014). The restaurant had just moved back to its lovely former location by the pool, with a beautiful ocean view. For over a year prior to that, it had been operating out of the downstairs lobby location in the main building...a decidedly less charming venue (we dined there several times in 2013). We had no idea when we planned the trip months ago that the move would take place, much less the week we were there! The food was consistently delicious. We always had at least three courses, and sometimes four, so I can speak to a variety of their preparations. Creative flavors. We liked that the fish dishes were enhanced, not overpowered, by the preparation...and always cooked exactly right. We had the delightful bisque soup every time (pumpkin based,if I'm remembering correctly). We adventurously (for us) sampled the octopus and the poke, and found them SO tasty. I loved the filet (very tender) and had it twice. Desserts were elegant and scrumptious. They have a coconut sorbet to die for. Wish I could remember everything we had, but suffice to say it ALL was superb. Just. simply. superb. We wouldn't have gone back two more times if we hadn't REALLY loved it. From the first warm greeting by Cheryl upon arrival at the Banyon Tree Dec.2nd through our sad farewells upon leaving on the 5th, there was a welcoming atmosphere the entire time we dined. One thing we noticed is that at no time were we ever made to feel rushed, throughout all our courses, on all three evenings. This is very important to us when fine dining...and not always the case at other equally pricy Maui restaurants. (Yes, it IS pricy, but worth it to us). The service was absolutely over the top! Our main waiter all three nights was the wonderful Ron. He is knowledgeable, personable, and had our interests at the forefront. He completely spoiled us. Nick and Robert, two courtly and elegant gentlemen with a Continental flair, provided many gracious additional kindnesses to us as well. We love all three of them. I cannot say enough about the management and wait staff here. It's a level of service that will leave you feeling pampered and special. These folks are consummate professionals. Each evening, the Manager of Food and Beverage (Jake, I believe) at RC personally stopped by our table (I guess because it was the first week of the "new" restaurant). The pastry chef came by one night to deliver his delicious flaming creme brulee personally. The main chef came out to wish us good night upon leaving the first night. Very nice touches indeed. Of course, the restaurant manager was hands-on in a multitude of ways.
(5)S. T. V.
We had such a memorable dining experience here! Our server was extremely friendly, knowledgeable, personable and efficient... I'm horrible because I now can't remember his name, but he told us that he is originally from Southern California. We tried alot of dishes because we did the 3 course prix-fixe menu - everything was presented very nicely. Portions were just perfect. The ingredients tasted fresh and they were all Hawaiian / Asian influenced. I LOVED the Banyan Tree. Honestly prices were very reasonable for the quality of food and service they provided. This is a place I highly recommend.
(5)Jeff V.
Disappointing particularly because this restaurant came so highly recommended (of coarse by the concierge). It has the look and feel of a casual restaurant, the type that you would wear your swim trunks and sandals too. There were no table cloths (which is fine) and no placemats (less fine) no preset tables...nothing looked nice about it except for the view. The service was ok. The server brought out the wrong entree and didn't split the soup or the fish for my wife and I; also everything was recommended without discrimination. I work in service, and yes everything on the menu is good, but there are dishes that stand out, that people generally enjoy more bc they are spicy, or sweet, or light for example. Not here we were told everything is delicious. Really the only good thing we had was a corn soup (that wasn't split though i requested that it be), the faro risotto was also pretty good. But for the price I would skip this restaurant.
(2)Ann P.
I've dined at the finest restaurants all over the World. I feel I am a pretty good food critic. The Banyan Tree at the Ritz Carlton has the finest food as well as service. As we entered the restaurant we were greeted and seated immediately. We noticed the live music was fantastic and at a comfortable sound level. My husband and I felt like we were in the movie The Player as the music was relaxing playing soft romantic tunes we both recognized. Our food server was Nick and we felt spoiled throughout the entire dining experience. "Robar" or Robert followed Nick with impeccable service as well as speaking with a wonderful heavy French accent ... we felt we were somewhere having dinner in France. We literally had five servers for the two of us! My napkin was straightened and empty plates were taken away within seconds. I showed my husband how my filet could be cut with a fork as it was so juicey and tender. Everything was cooked to perfection and I actually told my husband that we were rearranging our plans so we can dine two more times here while we're on Maui. Yes folks, this means we will have dined at The Banyan Tree three times in eight days! That's how excellent this restaurant is. Be sure to meet the manager "Craig" who introduced himself at our table and also escorted us to the exit as we were leaving. If there is any way to rate this restaurant to perfection, that is what it deserves! I reccomend The Banyan Tree to all who visit Maui.
(5)Nash A.
Incredible staff, the food we had (Filet Mignon, Margaritas/Tequila, Ahi Tuna steaks, Flatbread with Salmon) was wonderful, I think this location really made our trip to Maui for my wife and I. We were waited on what seemed like hand and foot, great recommendations and our waiter kindly shared where the food was picked at the plantation on site, where the fish was caught, etc. We loved it! Higher end of course as it is one of the fine restaurants at the Ritz but we felt it was well worth it as the meal was a vacation within itself, thank you! Oh and we recommend the Lava Cake for dessert or the Flaming Creme Brulee.
(5)David E.
Best meal and service of our trip! Highly recommend this restaurant. Ask for Robert as your waiter if you can. Excellent food every dish and fantastic service. Great chef! Recommend sharing if you can as everything is so good and you will want to try as much as you can. Drinks, appetizers, entrees, desert, all were delicious. Good coffee also which is also a very good sign.
(5)Andrea S.
We were staying at the Ritz-Carlton for our honeymoon and this is the fine dining restaurant on the resort. We had planned on trying it anyway but a dear friend of ours arranged to have a gift card for this place waiting for us when we checked in (thanks Lindsey P.!) so we were definitely excited to be going. So glad we did! I am going to cut right to this chase with this review... - Ambiance was breathtaking. We were seated with a perfect view of the ocean! Just be aware that once that sun sets, it is pitch black and you lose your view. But who cares, you can see it and smell it. So romantic. - Service is everything you would expect by the quality of restaurant and the Ritz name behind it. Our server was kind, helpful, attentive and personable. He found out we were on our Honeymoon and comped us any dessert we liked. - Big Tip! If you are staying on a weekday and want to try this place, be sure to go on Wednesdays! They have "wine Wednesday" and EVERY bottle of wine is half price. When you are looking at the cheapest bottle being around $70 this is a VERY good thing. We lucked out and happened to be there that night and thus splurged on a nicer bottle. - Food was out of this world. My husband said it was the best filet he had ever had in his entire life. He is still talking about it weeks later. I had the seared ahi which was spectacular and we split the scallop appetizer (best scallops I have ever had). - Why not five stars? I have to mirror what most other reviewers said. While the food is beyond exceptional the portions are very off putting for the price. My seared ahi was 6 small pieces of ahi on a plate. No sides, no garnish, just the small pieces of ahi. The scallop appetizer was almost $20 and was only TWO scallops. Were they out of this world? YES! For $20 bucks though a little harder to swallow. I will say the filet my husband got came with mashed potatoes and a vegetable so it was just the right amount. Could be I just ordered the wrong thing. Overall we would we do it again? Heck yes, we were on our honeymoon, it was an indulgence and worth it. Be sure to make reservations because they fill up fast!
(4)Natsumi C.
Price was a bit expensive for the food you get. But it's inside the Ritz so that's expected. Seafood sausage and pea soup were good. All the entrees we got were just ok. Service was so so. The waiter was kind of annoying.
(4)Tess G.
We had the Wine Table menu special $80 each plus a recommended glass of wine with the entree. Some of the foods we had were: Fried Calamari with a light spinach salad and a citrus vinaigrette; Seared Ahi with snow peas, shiitake mushroom, zinfandel gastrique (I would highly recommend this); Steamed Branzino in maitake-ginger broth and sizzling scallion oil; Osso Buco dish that was like heaven with every bite; 14oz Prime Ribeye "Sous Vide" warm potatoes, green bean salad, sauce bordelaise; Marscapone Cheesecake; Chocolate and Caramel Pudding (too sweet) and two Kona Blend coffees. Total $227 for two Service well above par, noise level well below par - the background noise level was so loud I could hardly hear my dinner partner or the server
(4)Tania L.
[4.5 stars] - 1/2 star for a medium-well filet on a medium-rare request The management and service were awesome... Yes, very pricey. Yes, portions are small. Is it worth the experience? Very much so. You can actually have a relatively inexpensive meal or go all out - it's not like Chef Mavro or other prix-fixe places that force you to choose 3, 4, 5, 6, or 10-course meals. Their wines ranged from affordable (which is like $40-60 a bottle) upwards to the typical WTHwhowouldpayforthis prices. There were four of us in the group. For the most part we each ended up ordering something different so we got to see and taste almost the entire menu (didn't plan it that way; we just all had different taste buds and preferences so it worked out)... They would have gotten a 5 from me but my medium rare tenderlion (filet mignon) was more like medium well. Everyone else's had turned out perfectly, but I'll let them give the five stars. Oh, and a last-minute add: my gf had foie gras paired with her entree (I think) and SHE FELL IN LOVE. It wasn't a huge piece but she was willing to share with the rest of the table, it was THAT good. Melted. Paired well. What we tried: Apps Roasted Beets, Pan Seared Scallops, Kona Lobster, Salmon Ravioli, Mushroom Two Ways, White Bean Soup, and some Chef's special Entrees Tenderloin, Lamb Loin, Ribeye, Chef's Special Filet Opah, Ahi, Hapu, and Snapper Dessert Mascarpone Cheesecake, Chocolate Tasting Dessert, Pineapple Caramel Cake, and Carrot Cake In the end, it's about having a great time with your company - service, satisfactory food, and ambiance. We had a fine time.
(4)Bella D.
I had the opportunity to eat here a few years ago but just recently went back during my vacation in Maui and the experience is as good as I remembered it the first time around. We had dinner reservations around 8:30 since we had a late lunch. The last time I was there, I made reservations around sunset and the view was breathtaking. By 8:30, you lose the view because it becomes dark with not much lighting outside. Still the ambiance of the restaurant was still very nice. Service and food was top notch. Robert was our server and he took very good care of us. I LOVED HIS FRENCH ACCENT. He was so attentive, knowledgeable, and friendly. We really did enjoy our entire dining experience. My BF decided to go with the 4-course Special which included an appetizer, a small plate, an entree, and a dessert with the wine pairings. I opted to order off the menu. I ordered for my appetizer: **SHRIMP TEMPURA that came with buckwheat noodles. Very good. For the entree, I ordered: **CRISPY HAWAIIAN SNAPPER - It was really cooked and prepared to perfection. I've had snapper in the past and if not cooked properly ends up dry but this one was very good. For my BF's 4 course, he had: **SCALLOP - it was Jumbo Seared Scallop that was complimented with an amazing sauce **AHI prepared three ways - This too was delicious **LAMB ENTREE - I forget exactly what it was but according to the BF, he really enjoyed it **POPCORN LEMON DESSERT - I haven't tried anything like it before but it was very decadent and I tried to savor every bite. Yes portions aren't very big here, but it is definitely flavorful and rich. I prefer smaller servings with better quality anyways. We left feeling very full and satisfied. This is a must eat place everytime I go back.
(5)Courtney S.
We were staying next door to the Ritz hotel at the Ritz Carlton Club & Residences, and had the concierge make a reservation for us at the Banyan Tree for 8 p.m. We were a bit delayed, and had the concierge call ahead to notify the restaurant that we were running 5-10 minutes late, but would be there for our reservation. We arrived at the restaurant at 8:10 p.m. and were told it would be at least 10 minutes before our table was ready. We waited, and were finally seated at 8:40. I was a bit peeved as we had a reservation, called ahead to tell them we were only a few minutes late and they gave our table away and made us wait quite a while. The only consolation: once we did get seated, we had probably the best table in the restaurant, and the most fantastic French waiter I've ever had. His name was Robert and I urge you all to request him as your sever the next time you visit this establishment. We started with martinis, which were extraordinarily expensive ($17 each!) but were made perfectly, just as we requested, and we are martini snobs. Robert was able to check with the chef, and confirmed that the 50/50 special was available. The 50/50 is a 3-course tasting menu for $50. This is seriously important to know to request, as their normal prix fixe menu is $150/person. My parents both elected for this option and each of their courses were amazing. I chose to have the white bean soup with prosciutto and the dungeness crab with heirloom tomatoes. Everything was seriously amazing, and the entire experience was brightened by the fact that Robert, or waiter, was so wonderful. I would go back again, but would ensure that he would be taking care of us.
(4)Jocelyn N.
Great restaurant, bad food. Yes it's an oxymoron, but it's the truth. Phenomenal service, interesting menu, great views, lovely staff, wonderful vibe. Unfortunately, the broth in my husbands entree was so bland it tasted like the chef poured water all over an otherwise fine meal. My Hupa fish was so over cooked it had the consistency of boiled chicken. We were so disappointed especially when the $300 check came. The people at the table next to us had the same experience this time, but come very year for their anniversary and said they heard there were some major changes with the chef and menu. Hopefully the new guys figure it out because tasty food is the only thing this restaurant doesn't have and unfortunately the most important thing any restaurant needs! Good luck to the banyan tree - I'll be letting other people spend their money while they figure it out.
(2)Dyan J.
After many years, I returned to the Banyan Tree expecting great food. I was disappointed. My husband had the lamb chops which he enjoyed but I had the pork chop which, for $45, left much to be desired. The chop itself was fair (I've had better) but it was served with two florets of unseasoned cauliflower and a piece of bok choy (are you kidding me - cauliflower and bok choy?) which were tasteless. The dessert was also just okay, nothing remarkable. Wine (Malbec) was good as was the cool olive oil mixed with a variety of crushed herbs for the bread. I wouldn't return.
(2)Dan G.
The Banyan Tree at the Ritz Kapalua was the best meal we had in Maui the last time around and it was spectacular once again. Few things in life seem to bring it again and it delivered like Godfather 2. We arrived for our reservations just before the sunset and the place was crowded. Our waiter seemed to be scrambling a bit at first but was on mark with great suggestions and friendly banter. Location is perfect with great views of the ocean and sunset once they raised the blinds. They brought over some fresh bread and yummy evoo and pepper nut mix for dipping. We started with the app trio of sashimi ahi, local beet salad and seared sea scallops. Always love to get a sampling of what is good and this was a very solid start. The seafood and local produce were very fresh and ridiculously tasty. Wednesday night is half price bottle wine night, so I think in that case we'll have the Grgich thank you. For our mains my wife had the Wapu (thank you come again) and I had the Opah. Both were very good. The Wapu was flakier, while the Opah was a bit firmer. Mediterranean Hapu was served with couscous, baby fennel, and bell pepper chimichurri. Chorizo Crusted Opah paired with cauliflower florets, oyster mushrooms, and yellow curry. These were some of the best fish dishes we had on our trip, which was about what we had every night. You are in Hawaii right? Don't quite remember what we had for dessert. Frankly after Pineapple Grill's signature treat, everything else never stacked up. I'll revise if I recollect, but it was good. A fantastic meal yet again, right up there with Merriman's as the best we had on this trip.
(5)Courtney B.
LOVED this place! My husband and I went here on the last night of our honeymoon and everything was top notch. The food, service and wine selections were outstanding. Robert, who has been with them for 20 years was our server and he made our experience what it was. His recommendations were spot on and he gave us background knowledge on the restaurant, property and chef. Because we were on our honeymoon, the chef sent out a personalized plate of dessert saying congratulations on our marriage, it was a really nice touch. The fish dishes were all prepared fresh and were all caught that day and you can tell! At the end of the meal we requested a cheese plate that wasn't on the menu and they whipped something up for us no questions asked. Prices weren't over the top either. Will definitely be back here again!!
(5)Marlon V.
We came here 2 celebrate our newlywedness. Food & service was top notch. Chef Jojo came welcomed us & even created a personalized tasting menu for us. Everything was delicious & we left super satisfied & super full. If we weren't staying at the Ritz, we may have needed to be wheeled out of there. Thank you Chef Jojo & staff, can't wait to visit again.
(5)Vince T.
If you would like to treat yourself to an excellent dining experience then come to the Banyan Tree. The Chef is Jo Jo Vasquez one of Chef Morimoto's assistant chef on Iron Chef America and his food is top quality. We ordered seared scallops, Oysters, Sear Ahi Tuna and Grilled Snapper. Everything was cook to perfection and the flavors and creativity with the dishes was exquisite. Chef Vasquez even took to time to come out and greet all the diners in his restaurant. Overall we had a wonderful dinner at The Banyan Tree, service was impeccable. Tip- Wednesday is half price wines.
(5)Blair B.
To preface this review, I eat out in Vegas - a lot! I dine out for business and pleasure at high end restaurants all the time and I'm used to jacked up prices, but I'm also used to a very high standard of food. I'll start on a good note. The view and atmosphere is incredible ! If you are staying at the Ritz (as we were) , at least stop in, try a tasty Lychee martini or reasonably priced glass of wine and maybe venture into the appetizers. I suggest you stop there. Appetizers were insanely pricey (think $7 per BITE), but very tasty! The smoked salmon ravioli was simple, but my favorite. We also did a special order of kona kampachi. Tasty, but doesnt' compare to the fish I've had in Vegas (which is sad!). The ahi tuna wasn't any big deal, either. Overall good, though, just expensive. The main courses were awful. Lobster was chewy, YUCK, and the steak was the worst I've ever had at a nice restaurant. I adore steak, I really do, and was craving some - but this was terrible. Tough, overdone, and NO SEASONING. I mean if the meat was good I could see skipping the seasoning and letting the meat flavor shine through. But there was no fucking flavor. 3 of us ordered the steaks and couldn't even finish them they were so terrible. For the price ($100-$150 pp wtih apps + 1 drink + main course), I'd expect it to at least taste as good as meals I've had on the strip in Vegas for much less. I guess good beef can't be shipped to Hawaii for some reason? Maybe in Kona they don't know how to raise lobsters? Maybe the ahi tuna is better tasting in Vegas for some reason? No idea what the deal was here. It felt like a rip off. Bottom line - great views, drinks and some decent apps. Finish your evening elsewhere.
(3)Julian M.
Not impressed. The location of the restaurant is wonderful. However, the service and food was really a mixed bag. We have a 19 month old and the options on the children's menu were pretty depressing. The staff seemed annoyed at having to be there. When you stay at a remote resort such as the Ritz Carlton in Kapalua, your choices for dining out are limited. The service and the food at this restaurant reflect that they understand they have a captive audience.
(1)Samip P.
Really great view and service was fantastic. Kids had great experience without being patronized. Above average for normal resort fine dining.
(4)Aaron J.
Banyan Tree is incredible. This is one of our top 3 restaurants! We made reservations through the Ritz Kapalua during our stay in January and when we arrived for our reservation, we were immediately impressed with the interior of the restaurant. Sustainable Bamboo and a high-end decor that is indigenous to the area greet you at the front. A friendly staff member showed us to our table right by the window for an amazing view of the ocean right before sunset. Truly incredible. After looking through there very impressive menu, we decided to go with the waiters recommendation and order the Chef's Tasting Menu. For $200 for two of us without wine or drinks it's a little steep, but worth the splurge. Time after time, we were served impressively thoughtful and delicious cuisine that didn't disappoint. We had to snap a couple pictures of the food as well because it didn't just taste delicious, it was beautiful to boot. They use many organic herbs from their garden, just out the front door as well, which is important when you consider it's protecting what you're fortunate enough to see during your stay in HI. Loved it. Will absolutely go back. Missing it now.
(5)Brian F.
The most flavorless and shoddily served $120 you will ever spend. After waiting nearly 30 minutes past our reservation time (despite the restaurant not being very busy) we were finally seated. I should have stuck to my gut feeling and left after the long wait, but I was too damn hungry. From there out we were treated to continued lackadaisical service, dishes sitting around forever, empty drinks, etc, certainly not what you expect from the upscale restaurant attached to the Ritz-Carlton. The view is nice if the sun has not gone down, otherwise the glare from tiki torches outside obstructs the ocean through the windows. We started with a goat cheese appetizer, which ended up being just two clumps of local goat cheese for $16 (table bread required to make use of it). My wife had a vegetarian entree and I got the snapper, both were lacking in any form of seasoning and taste. Bland, bland, bland. If you are going to serve a piece of local fish for $45, or a handful of grilled vegetables for $26, then they had better be prepared perfectly and bursting with flavor and excellent accompaniments. It was like the chef had the night off and the busboy they got to make the food didn't know where the herbs and seasoning were stored. We decided to skip dessert and go elsewhere to cut our losses. I suggest you do the same from the start.
(1)Michelle L.
Wow, this place is fantastic! Maybe the best on the island. The location alone is a breathtaking destination. You walk past tranquil pools on the Ritz-Carlton property, and end up at The Banyan Tree, a charming beach house near the crashing ocean. To see awesome Maui scenery, arrive before sunset and walk down a little farther to a dramatically beautiful, semi-private feeling beach (DT Fleming Beach Park, YELP reviewed). THE FOOD: We wanted a special night, so we chose the tasting menu by Chef de Cuisine Jojo Vasquez. It included some of the best local, seasonal fare, with delicious additions from around the world. Tonight's Menu: - so good I took notes ;) Hawaiian Kampachi sashimi, avocado, vanilla-orange gelée, nori (outstanding...so fresh and delicious!) Seared scallop, organic egg custard, spicy miso, kale chips (the tastes & textures were freakin' fantastic, like we were on a micro-gastronomy episode of Anthony Bourdain) Grilled Kobe flat iron steak, beans, shiitake mushrooms, hibachi sauce (excellent, savory, flavorful) Lavender almond cake, lemon curd, popcorn ice cream (a totally fun-food idea turned into delicious flavors & delicate textures) Each plate presentation was modern and beautiful (nicer than the photos show). And Chef Jojo's wine pairing took each dish to another level. I actually text'd my friend from the restaurant, "The food is amazing, I'm going to cry it's so good!" If you've ever had one of those meals... you know. SERVICE: The French waiter, Robert, is super cool! Attentive, but gave us plenty private time/space to enjoy the experience. We've eaten our fair share of delicious food around the globe (from street food to fine dining) and I'm so glad we didn't miss this one! ~MAHALO
(5)Brian W.
It's very true that sometimes you read a review and the restaurant doesn't live up to the hype; not in this case. If you could rate The Banyan Tree with 6 stars, I would do it! The staff is amazing, some of the best, most tenured servers on the island....and it shows. The food is consistently off the charts, plain and simple. This is a must stop for us during each visit to Maui. There are probably only 2 other spots on the island that rival Banyan, so make sure you eat here! Cheers!
(5)Mickey E.
Superb! If you stop to think about most of the restaurants on Maui compared to any metropolitan city, they really all fall short; except for this idylic locale. Located at the lower end of the Ritz Carlton property, there is more of a South East Asian feel than a tourist trap with a lit beach. With a peaceful, open setting, the food selections are minimal, but they all deliver. Robaire, the consumate waiter with former Paris training and time spent at Ma Maison in L.A., makes the experience a superlative one. He will make you feel like you are the most important person in the restaurant and Ken backs him up with the ease of a tango partnership. The Opakapaka was sublime, flakey, delicate and sensational. The pea soup was tasty and refreshing. Everything is organic and locally sourced. Skip the traps on Kaanapali Beach and make the evening a dining experience; Expensive but.... anything good (except 100 Wines) is on Maui.
(4)Chris L.
To be fair our expectations had been set very high by other reviews we'd read. The service was excellent and the view is lovely, but none of our food really stood out compared to other truly exceptional restaurants we've experienced on Maui. Case in point, as I write this review a few nights later, I struggle to remember what we ate.
(3)Teema T.
Very very delicious! Great choice for a special night out. Expect to spend the cash-ola!
(4)Amy V.
We showed up with no reservations and a group of 7 and the staff was friendly and accomodating. The food was amazing...we ordered most of the appetizers and a variety of dinners and nothing disappointed. The fish was fresh and well prepared, the steaks were cooked to perfection. The duck appetizer was delicious. It's a pricey meal, but a guaranteed great one. I'd rather spend money on a sure thing than save a few bucks for something average. The cheesecake dessert was also tasty. Excellent staff! :)
(5)D A.
A friend had recommended this Ritz-Carlton, so we thought we'd try the Banyan Tree for dinner last night. I was a little disappointed after being 'greeted' by the blonde Lady on reception in a way I've never before experienced..."Last Name?" Wow, not even a "Hello", or "Welcome"?!! I'm absolutely shocked that Ritz-Carlton accepts this dire front-of-house customer service! After seating at the bar for 30 mins while waiting for a romantic table (come early for best tables/sunset & sea view) & waiting a good 10 mins to even be acknowledged by bar staff (!) we were pleasantly surprised to be served by the most wonderful French Waiter called Robert. His service is impeccable. The quality of food was outstanding & amazing choices. Yes it's pricey, but most signature restaurant's in RC's are!! Go elsewhere if you don't want to pay $50 for the most gorgeous to-die-for, melt in your mouth fresh fish main courses! This pricing is still cheap in comparison to the best ocean front high end restaurants in European hotels like this :-) We left happy! Would have given 5 stars, but for the offish 'welcome'.
(4)Meredith A.
We were staying at the Ritz for our 10th wedding anniversary and had been told that eating at the Banyan Tree was a "must". Over the eight days we were in Maui we had the opportunity to eat at several outstanding restaurants in Kaanapali and Lahaina. I can honestly say save your time and money and take a pass on The Banyan Tree. My recommendation..... eat at Lahaina Grill or Gerard's in Lahaina. They have far superior food, service and atmosphere.
(2)Yuri V.
This is one of the best restaurants I have eaten at - ever. Mama's Fish House and Lahaina Grill are great - but do not even come close. The location, food, wine list, service - are better at the Banyon Tree. Ryan Urig, Chef De Cuisine is brilliant. Robert Mora's service is top tier. This is not a tourist trap with honeymooners snapping pictures. Do not let the Ritz Carlton location fool you. This restaurant is epic. I suggest the tasting menu. These are life-long memories. i rarely endorse anything without adding a modality.... This is an exception. It matters not which Island you are on - come to Maui just to dine here,
(5)Kira M.
This meal was simply superb. The Banyan's visual aesthetic was gorgeous, and the views at sunset-- there are no words for that kind of beauty! The wait staff was quite competent, and delivered the food in a timely manner. Now, my favourite part was, of course, the utterly delectable entrees. My brother and I began with the Roasted Beets with their own "Surfing Dairy" feta, red quinoa salad, and a dash of minus 8 vinegar and the Seared Scallops with salsify and roasted tomato. Oh my god-- I was in absolute heaven-- the beets were perfectly seasoned and the scallops perfectly seared. The roasted tomato was the ideal complement. And this was just the start. The one thing I must say is that the portions are quite small, albeit beautifully arranged, but they are for a reason. They are meant to fill, but not stuff you. For this reason, if you are searching for a place where you will get large portions, this is not for you. The Banyan is perfect if you are willing to pay a bit more for the quality of food, not the quantity. I would also advise that for 2 people, 2 appetizers, 2 entrees and 1-2 desserts should be sufficient. But be prepared to pay at least about $90, not including a bottle of wine. I would not recommend this to families with small children, unless you are entirely certain they will be quiet and occupied for an hour and a half or more. Now, onward to the entrees! My brother ordered the Kona Lobster, which was served with a ginger-carrot rissoto and tarragon-coral butter, whilst I requested the Mediterranean Hapu with couscous, baby fennel, and bell pepper chimichurri. I cannot even begin to describe the utter bliss of the first bite. I am a huge foodie, and this meal was an absolute delight from start to finish. To cap off this meal, we finished with two desserts. These, again, are quite small, especially for the price of $14. But, I must say, these desserts were well worth it. We ordered the Maple Banana Pain Perdu which came complete with Mint White Chocolate Gelato and Lilikoi Caramel and the Chocolate Tasting Dessert which is comprised of Dark Fudge Cake, Milk Chocolate Molten Cake and White-Chocolate-Vanilla Sorbet. I must divulge that I am also a die-hard chocoholic. The Chocolate Tasting Dessert is basically my exact brand of crack. It was insanely delicious, but gone all too soon. My favorite part was the Dark Fudge Cake, which was overflowing with fudge-y goodness. When the meal was finished, the bill came, and we were not surprised by the grand total. But, we concluded that it had been worth it, and we still agree today.
(5)Emily H.
This is such a fantastic restaurant! Everything from the decor to the service to the amazing food was perfect! Our server Robert was the best! He was so attentive and everything he described sounded delicious! the cocktails were creative and light. I started with the warm ricotta. It was unbelievably silly and the perfect amount of sweet. I then had the ahi that was cooked perfectly. An amazing meal in a gorgeous setting. I must for a lovely evening in Maui!
(5)Brandon M.
Location was absolutely fabulous, as was the atmosphere. Conveniently located on the Ritz-Carlton property, we were looking forward to dinner at the Banyan Tree in lieu of the mediocre reviews listed. We found both the service and food to be average. The highlight of the dinner (aside from the view), was the homemade lavash bread and whipped garlic butter. With very high prices, not to mention it being part of the Ritz resort, there is an expected level of service and quality; a level that wasn't met. To be clear, the food and service wasn't bad, but simply average...something that I would have expected from the pool-side food service, but not from a higher end restaurant.
(3)Michael D.
They really screwed up what was a casual elegant beach restaurant. It now looks like a large diner and the service was very disappointing. The didn't get the salad orders correctly (and couldn't offer a reason why), never returned to the table to pour the beverage from the cooler (I had to get up and bring it to the table), didn't bring utensils for everyone at the table for desert and appeared to to be in training. They had plastic table mats - no table clothes. It was as expensive as any restaurant on Maui. The food was good, however, and the chef circulated which was classy. On balance, its hard to believe the Ritz produced this. What were they thinking?
(2)Rashid M.
We ate here at night, so we weren't able to enjoy the view, but that's ok since we already experienced the view staying at the hotel. The food was very mediocre. Nothing stood out as a "must have". The service was ok. If I'm ever back in Maui staying at the Ritz Carlton, I'll be sure to skip the Banyan Tree.
(2)Michele H.
Setting is beautifully located atop of gorgeous golf course. Windows all open for indoor/outdoor feel. Food was average. Go for atmosphere.
(4)Olivia P.
Food was very good. Service not so good. I wished that they acknowledged the customer & let them know that they will attend to you shortly. I don't think I will be a repeat customer.
(3)Beth C.
For a restaurant at the Ritz Carlton we certainly expected more. My husband had the special of the day which was sea bass and shrimp over Asian noodles and I had the pappardelle and pesto. Both dishes were tasteless and extremely salty. The only plus was the view. It was too expensive for food that was average at best.
(2)Vikéndios N.
Seared scallops (app) - I'm usually not impressed with the boring scallop, but how they prepared it was impressive. 2 big scallops, seared and topped with a creamy sauce, 2 tiny pieces of caramelized applewood smoked bacon, 2 spears of sautéed asparagus and a grape tomato cut in half. The scallops were very, very tasty and tender with a nice crunch to the outside. SERVICE: Friendly, quick and professional again.
(4)Ngoc K.
I went to Lahaina Grill the day before so when comparing fancy restaurant to fancy restaurant, I gave Lahaina Grill 5 stars and The Banyan Tree 4 stars. I thought the food was better at LG than BT. The service at BT was great - exactly what you would expect from The Ritz. Great for date night, IMO.
(4)Steve A.
By far the best meal we had the entire two weeks on the island and the best service to match. We had Robert as our server and he is at the top of his game in wait staff. If you are lucky enough to get him at your table, you will be treated to a grand dining experience. We were at the restaurant for a special occasion. We started off with a bottle of the French Champaign, and there's something about really Champaign served by a Frenchman, that just makes it even more special. The first course was the Spiced Corn Veloute soup - wow - I could have just kept that coming all night. I love when they drop all the ingredients in your bowl and then pour on the actual hot soup and you dig in. Really creamily and enough things in the soup to keep it interesting. A nice salad of local garden greens grown on the property were served for the next course - very refreshing. The chef actual came out to serve us a couple of seared Dayboat scallops, so well prepared and fresh, they practically splayed your face. For the entrée we both had the filet steaks, perfectly cooked and swimming in a dark brown sauce and crispy fingerling potatoes. I can't every get a steak to come out this perfect where it literally melts in your mouth. For dessert we got a special treat of homemade Macaroons as well as a hot lava cake and ice cream. Everything is hand crafted in this restaurant, so it's worth the price to treat yourself to one big bang on the island. I'm ready to head back and try the other side of the menu.
(5)Orna B.
When going to a high end restaurant i would expect to receive incredible dishes. The Mahi Mahi was not warm, the portion was so small that it wouldn't be considered an appetizer. $40 for flavorless fish ? I was embarrassed to ask for salt. The waiter was disappointed we did not drink nor ordered desert. No sides. Those are extra.... $9 a side. And the dry flat bread served prior was as flat in taste as in shape. Just don't go until the restaurant shapes its act to be as high end as it professes.
(1)Mark B.
The restaurant is beautiful, perfectly located , the service is terrific but here's the why I'm giving it one star. The food was so salty it tasted more like pretzels than chicken or seared Ahi. Very unfortunate! This was on a Saturday night when I would expect the best cooks to be in the restaurant. Whoever was cooking for us last night needs to go back to cooking school and in particular get rid of his damn salt shaker. This restaurant makes a big point about using natural locally grown ingredients or in this case locally caught but the cook did a disservice to the food. I should've returned both dishes to the kitchen as soon as I had my first taste. The corn and the broccoli were also over salted.
(1)Franky M.
Our waiters Nick and Jesus really made our visit wonderful they were so attentive and friendly, 5 stars for their service! We were a fairly large group and the everyone was very attentive which was nice. The food was very tasty and the drinks were great. The creme brûlée so good the fire on top as it was served was a very nice touch. We will definitely be back.
(5)T H.
This was the worst dining experience ever! The worst fish dish I have ever had. The fish was overcooked and dry. It was seasoned with so much vanilla, it was nauseating. Yes, vanilla on fish. My husband had the bouillabaisse. He orders that quite often at other restaurants and said it was the worst he has ever had. We travel extensively all over the world and have eaten at several Ritz Carltons. This is not even comparable to a low class diner.
(1)Elizabeth R.
I recommend this restaurant most highly. Although we are not wealthy, we save up so that we can stay at excellent hotels, and dine at exceptionally good restaurants (Why go to Hawaii if you're not going to do it up right, we figure). This restaurant is one of the best of the best, in our experience. It was a great pleasure to dine here three times during our recent stay at Ritz Carlton (Dec 2,3,and 5, 2014). The restaurant had just moved back to its lovely former location by the pool, with a beautiful ocean view. For over a year prior to that, it had been operating out of the downstairs lobby location in the main building...a decidedly less charming venue (we dined there several times in 2013). We had no idea when we planned the trip months ago that the move would take place, much less the week we were there! The food was consistently delicious. We always had at least three courses, and sometimes four, so I can speak to a variety of their preparations. Creative flavors. We liked that the fish dishes were enhanced, not overpowered, by the preparation...and always cooked exactly right. We had the delightful bisque soup every time (pumpkin based,if I'm remembering correctly). We adventurously (for us) sampled the octopus and the poke, and found them SO tasty. I loved the filet (very tender) and had it twice. Desserts were elegant and scrumptious. They have a coconut sorbet to die for. Wish I could remember everything we had, but suffice to say it ALL was superb. Just. simply. superb. We wouldn't have gone back two more times if we hadn't REALLY loved it. From the first warm greeting by Cheryl upon arrival at the Banyon Tree Dec.2nd through our sad farewells upon leaving on the 5th, there was a welcoming atmosphere the entire time we dined. One thing we noticed is that at no time were we ever made to feel rushed, throughout all our courses, on all three evenings. This is very important to us when fine dining...and not always the case at other equally pricy Maui restaurants. (Yes, it IS pricy, but worth it to us). The service was absolutely over the top! Our main waiter all three nights was the wonderful Ron. He is knowledgeable, personable, and had our interests at the forefront. He completely spoiled us. Nick and Robert, two courtly and elegant gentlemen with a Continental flair, provided many gracious additional kindnesses to us as well. We love all three of them. I cannot say enough about the management and wait staff here. It's a level of service that will leave you feeling pampered and special. These folks are consummate professionals. Each evening, the Manager of Food and Beverage (Jake, I believe) at RC personally stopped by our table (I guess because it was the first week of the "new" restaurant). The pastry chef came by one night to deliver his delicious flaming creme brulee personally. The main chef came out to wish us good night upon leaving the first night. Very nice touches indeed. Of course, the restaurant manager was hands-on in a multitude of ways.
(5)Jeff V.
Disappointing particularly because this restaurant came so highly recommended (of coarse by the concierge). It has the look and feel of a casual restaurant, the type that you would wear your swim trunks and sandals too. There were no table cloths (which is fine) and no placemats (less fine) no preset tables...nothing looked nice about it except for the view. The service was ok. The server brought out the wrong entree and didn't split the soup or the fish for my wife and I; also everything was recommended without discrimination. I work in service, and yes everything on the menu is good, but there are dishes that stand out, that people generally enjoy more bc they are spicy, or sweet, or light for example. Not here we were told everything is delicious. Really the only good thing we had was a corn soup (that wasn't split though i requested that it be), the faro risotto was also pretty good. But for the price I would skip this restaurant.
(2)Ann P.
I've dined at the finest restaurants all over the World. I feel I am a pretty good food critic. The Banyan Tree at the Ritz Carlton has the finest food as well as service. As we entered the restaurant we were greeted and seated immediately. We noticed the live music was fantastic and at a comfortable sound level. My husband and I felt like we were in the movie The Player as the music was relaxing playing soft romantic tunes we both recognized. Our food server was Nick and we felt spoiled throughout the entire dining experience. "Robar" or Robert followed Nick with impeccable service as well as speaking with a wonderful heavy French accent ... we felt we were somewhere having dinner in France. We literally had five servers for the two of us! My napkin was straightened and empty plates were taken away within seconds. I showed my husband how my filet could be cut with a fork as it was so juicey and tender. Everything was cooked to perfection and I actually told my husband that we were rearranging our plans so we can dine two more times here while we're on Maui. Yes folks, this means we will have dined at The Banyan Tree three times in eight days! That's how excellent this restaurant is. Be sure to meet the manager "Craig" who introduced himself at our table and also escorted us to the exit as we were leaving. If there is any way to rate this restaurant to perfection, that is what it deserves! I reccomend The Banyan Tree to all who visit Maui.
(5)Nash A.
Incredible staff, the food we had (Filet Mignon, Margaritas/Tequila, Ahi Tuna steaks, Flatbread with Salmon) was wonderful, I think this location really made our trip to Maui for my wife and I. We were waited on what seemed like hand and foot, great recommendations and our waiter kindly shared where the food was picked at the plantation on site, where the fish was caught, etc. We loved it! Higher end of course as it is one of the fine restaurants at the Ritz but we felt it was well worth it as the meal was a vacation within itself, thank you! Oh and we recommend the Lava Cake for dessert or the Flaming Creme Brulee.
(5)David E.
Best meal and service of our trip! Highly recommend this restaurant. Ask for Robert as your waiter if you can. Excellent food every dish and fantastic service. Great chef! Recommend sharing if you can as everything is so good and you will want to try as much as you can. Drinks, appetizers, entrees, desert, all were delicious. Good coffee also which is also a very good sign.
(5)Sandy L.
The BEST fine dining experience we had on the island. Nice presentation and ambiance, great service and food tasted outstanding!! I was supsrised that my wedding planner dropped off our wedding cake at the restaurant. The chef cut up the cake nicely and presented it beautifully with syrup and berries to each of us. Each of our appetitizers were tasty and creative. My entree was surf and turf: Sous vide ribeye + 1/2 lobster. The steak was prepared just right and so flavorful although it is not American Kobe or Australian beef. Very unforgetable taste. This is the restaurant i want to visit again whenever i am in Maui.
(5)S. T. V.
We had such a memorable dining experience here! Our server was extremely friendly, knowledgeable, personable and efficient... I'm horrible because I now can't remember his name, but he told us that he is originally from Southern California. We tried alot of dishes because we did the 3 course prix-fixe menu - everything was presented very nicely. Portions were just perfect. The ingredients tasted fresh and they were all Hawaiian / Asian influenced. I LOVED the Banyan Tree. Honestly prices were very reasonable for the quality of food and service they provided. This is a place I highly recommend.
(5)Andrea S.
We were staying at the Ritz-Carlton for our honeymoon and this is the fine dining restaurant on the resort. We had planned on trying it anyway but a dear friend of ours arranged to have a gift card for this place waiting for us when we checked in (thanks Lindsey P.!) so we were definitely excited to be going. So glad we did! I am going to cut right to this chase with this review... - Ambiance was breathtaking. We were seated with a perfect view of the ocean! Just be aware that once that sun sets, it is pitch black and you lose your view. But who cares, you can see it and smell it. So romantic. - Service is everything you would expect by the quality of restaurant and the Ritz name behind it. Our server was kind, helpful, attentive and personable. He found out we were on our Honeymoon and comped us any dessert we liked. - Big Tip! If you are staying on a weekday and want to try this place, be sure to go on Wednesdays! They have "wine Wednesday" and EVERY bottle of wine is half price. When you are looking at the cheapest bottle being around $70 this is a VERY good thing. We lucked out and happened to be there that night and thus splurged on a nicer bottle. - Food was out of this world. My husband said it was the best filet he had ever had in his entire life. He is still talking about it weeks later. I had the seared ahi which was spectacular and we split the scallop appetizer (best scallops I have ever had). - Why not five stars? I have to mirror what most other reviewers said. While the food is beyond exceptional the portions are very off putting for the price. My seared ahi was 6 small pieces of ahi on a plate. No sides, no garnish, just the small pieces of ahi. The scallop appetizer was almost $20 and was only TWO scallops. Were they out of this world? YES! For $20 bucks though a little harder to swallow. I will say the filet my husband got came with mashed potatoes and a vegetable so it was just the right amount. Could be I just ordered the wrong thing. Overall we would we do it again? Heck yes, we were on our honeymoon, it was an indulgence and worth it. Be sure to make reservations because they fill up fast!
(4)Natsumi C.
Price was a bit expensive for the food you get. But it's inside the Ritz so that's expected. Seafood sausage and pea soup were good. All the entrees we got were just ok. Service was so so. The waiter was kind of annoying.
(4)Tess G.
We had the Wine Table menu special $80 each plus a recommended glass of wine with the entree. Some of the foods we had were: Fried Calamari with a light spinach salad and a citrus vinaigrette; Seared Ahi with snow peas, shiitake mushroom, zinfandel gastrique (I would highly recommend this); Steamed Branzino in maitake-ginger broth and sizzling scallion oil; Osso Buco dish that was like heaven with every bite; 14oz Prime Ribeye "Sous Vide" warm potatoes, green bean salad, sauce bordelaise; Marscapone Cheesecake; Chocolate and Caramel Pudding (too sweet) and two Kona Blend coffees. Total $227 for two Service well above par, noise level well below par - the background noise level was so loud I could hardly hear my dinner partner or the server
(4)Tania L.
[4.5 stars] - 1/2 star for a medium-well filet on a medium-rare request The management and service were awesome... Yes, very pricey. Yes, portions are small. Is it worth the experience? Very much so. You can actually have a relatively inexpensive meal or go all out - it's not like Chef Mavro or other prix-fixe places that force you to choose 3, 4, 5, 6, or 10-course meals. Their wines ranged from affordable (which is like $40-60 a bottle) upwards to the typical WTHwhowouldpayforthis prices. There were four of us in the group. For the most part we each ended up ordering something different so we got to see and taste almost the entire menu (didn't plan it that way; we just all had different taste buds and preferences so it worked out)... They would have gotten a 5 from me but my medium rare tenderlion (filet mignon) was more like medium well. Everyone else's had turned out perfectly, but I'll let them give the five stars. Oh, and a last-minute add: my gf had foie gras paired with her entree (I think) and SHE FELL IN LOVE. It wasn't a huge piece but she was willing to share with the rest of the table, it was THAT good. Melted. Paired well. What we tried: Apps Roasted Beets, Pan Seared Scallops, Kona Lobster, Salmon Ravioli, Mushroom Two Ways, White Bean Soup, and some Chef's special Entrees Tenderloin, Lamb Loin, Ribeye, Chef's Special Filet Opah, Ahi, Hapu, and Snapper Dessert Mascarpone Cheesecake, Chocolate Tasting Dessert, Pineapple Caramel Cake, and Carrot Cake In the end, it's about having a great time with your company - service, satisfactory food, and ambiance. We had a fine time.
(4)Marlon V.
We came here 2 celebrate our newlywedness. Food & service was top notch. Chef Jojo came welcomed us & even created a personalized tasting menu for us. Everything was delicious & we left super satisfied & super full. If we weren't staying at the Ritz, we may have needed to be wheeled out of there. Thank you Chef Jojo & staff, can't wait to visit again.
(5)Bella D.
I had the opportunity to eat here a few years ago but just recently went back during my vacation in Maui and the experience is as good as I remembered it the first time around. We had dinner reservations around 8:30 since we had a late lunch. The last time I was there, I made reservations around sunset and the view was breathtaking. By 8:30, you lose the view because it becomes dark with not much lighting outside. Still the ambiance of the restaurant was still very nice. Service and food was top notch. Robert was our server and he took very good care of us. I LOVED HIS FRENCH ACCENT. He was so attentive, knowledgeable, and friendly. We really did enjoy our entire dining experience. My BF decided to go with the 4-course Special which included an appetizer, a small plate, an entree, and a dessert with the wine pairings. I opted to order off the menu. I ordered for my appetizer: **SHRIMP TEMPURA that came with buckwheat noodles. Very good. For the entree, I ordered: **CRISPY HAWAIIAN SNAPPER - It was really cooked and prepared to perfection. I've had snapper in the past and if not cooked properly ends up dry but this one was very good. For my BF's 4 course, he had: **SCALLOP - it was Jumbo Seared Scallop that was complimented with an amazing sauce **AHI prepared three ways - This too was delicious **LAMB ENTREE - I forget exactly what it was but according to the BF, he really enjoyed it **POPCORN LEMON DESSERT - I haven't tried anything like it before but it was very decadent and I tried to savor every bite. Yes portions aren't very big here, but it is definitely flavorful and rich. I prefer smaller servings with better quality anyways. We left feeling very full and satisfied. This is a must eat place everytime I go back.
(5)Courtney S.
We were staying next door to the Ritz hotel at the Ritz Carlton Club & Residences, and had the concierge make a reservation for us at the Banyan Tree for 8 p.m. We were a bit delayed, and had the concierge call ahead to notify the restaurant that we were running 5-10 minutes late, but would be there for our reservation. We arrived at the restaurant at 8:10 p.m. and were told it would be at least 10 minutes before our table was ready. We waited, and were finally seated at 8:40. I was a bit peeved as we had a reservation, called ahead to tell them we were only a few minutes late and they gave our table away and made us wait quite a while. The only consolation: once we did get seated, we had probably the best table in the restaurant, and the most fantastic French waiter I've ever had. His name was Robert and I urge you all to request him as your sever the next time you visit this establishment. We started with martinis, which were extraordinarily expensive ($17 each!) but were made perfectly, just as we requested, and we are martini snobs. Robert was able to check with the chef, and confirmed that the 50/50 special was available. The 50/50 is a 3-course tasting menu for $50. This is seriously important to know to request, as their normal prix fixe menu is $150/person. My parents both elected for this option and each of their courses were amazing. I chose to have the white bean soup with prosciutto and the dungeness crab with heirloom tomatoes. Everything was seriously amazing, and the entire experience was brightened by the fact that Robert, or waiter, was so wonderful. I would go back again, but would ensure that he would be taking care of us.
(4)Jocelyn N.
Great restaurant, bad food. Yes it's an oxymoron, but it's the truth. Phenomenal service, interesting menu, great views, lovely staff, wonderful vibe. Unfortunately, the broth in my husbands entree was so bland it tasted like the chef poured water all over an otherwise fine meal. My Hupa fish was so over cooked it had the consistency of boiled chicken. We were so disappointed especially when the $300 check came. The people at the table next to us had the same experience this time, but come very year for their anniversary and said they heard there were some major changes with the chef and menu. Hopefully the new guys figure it out because tasty food is the only thing this restaurant doesn't have and unfortunately the most important thing any restaurant needs! Good luck to the banyan tree - I'll be letting other people spend their money while they figure it out.
(2)Dan G.
The Banyan Tree at the Ritz Kapalua was the best meal we had in Maui the last time around and it was spectacular once again. Few things in life seem to bring it again and it delivered like Godfather 2. We arrived for our reservations just before the sunset and the place was crowded. Our waiter seemed to be scrambling a bit at first but was on mark with great suggestions and friendly banter. Location is perfect with great views of the ocean and sunset once they raised the blinds. They brought over some fresh bread and yummy evoo and pepper nut mix for dipping. We started with the app trio of sashimi ahi, local beet salad and seared sea scallops. Always love to get a sampling of what is good and this was a very solid start. The seafood and local produce were very fresh and ridiculously tasty. Wednesday night is half price bottle wine night, so I think in that case we'll have the Grgich thank you. For our mains my wife had the Wapu (thank you come again) and I had the Opah. Both were very good. The Wapu was flakier, while the Opah was a bit firmer. Mediterranean Hapu was served with couscous, baby fennel, and bell pepper chimichurri. Chorizo Crusted Opah paired with cauliflower florets, oyster mushrooms, and yellow curry. These were some of the best fish dishes we had on our trip, which was about what we had every night. You are in Hawaii right? Don't quite remember what we had for dessert. Frankly after Pineapple Grill's signature treat, everything else never stacked up. I'll revise if I recollect, but it was good. A fantastic meal yet again, right up there with Merriman's as the best we had on this trip.
(5)Courtney B.
LOVED this place! My husband and I went here on the last night of our honeymoon and everything was top notch. The food, service and wine selections were outstanding. Robert, who has been with them for 20 years was our server and he made our experience what it was. His recommendations were spot on and he gave us background knowledge on the restaurant, property and chef. Because we were on our honeymoon, the chef sent out a personalized plate of dessert saying congratulations on our marriage, it was a really nice touch. The fish dishes were all prepared fresh and were all caught that day and you can tell! At the end of the meal we requested a cheese plate that wasn't on the menu and they whipped something up for us no questions asked. Prices weren't over the top either. Will definitely be back here again!!
(5)Vince T.
If you would like to treat yourself to an excellent dining experience then come to the Banyan Tree. The Chef is Jo Jo Vasquez one of Chef Morimoto's assistant chef on Iron Chef America and his food is top quality. We ordered seared scallops, Oysters, Sear Ahi Tuna and Grilled Snapper. Everything was cook to perfection and the flavors and creativity with the dishes was exquisite. Chef Vasquez even took to time to come out and greet all the diners in his restaurant. Overall we had a wonderful dinner at The Banyan Tree, service was impeccable. Tip- Wednesday is half price wines.
(5)Blair B.
To preface this review, I eat out in Vegas - a lot! I dine out for business and pleasure at high end restaurants all the time and I'm used to jacked up prices, but I'm also used to a very high standard of food. I'll start on a good note. The view and atmosphere is incredible ! If you are staying at the Ritz (as we were) , at least stop in, try a tasty Lychee martini or reasonably priced glass of wine and maybe venture into the appetizers. I suggest you stop there. Appetizers were insanely pricey (think $7 per BITE), but very tasty! The smoked salmon ravioli was simple, but my favorite. We also did a special order of kona kampachi. Tasty, but doesnt' compare to the fish I've had in Vegas (which is sad!). The ahi tuna wasn't any big deal, either. Overall good, though, just expensive. The main courses were awful. Lobster was chewy, YUCK, and the steak was the worst I've ever had at a nice restaurant. I adore steak, I really do, and was craving some - but this was terrible. Tough, overdone, and NO SEASONING. I mean if the meat was good I could see skipping the seasoning and letting the meat flavor shine through. But there was no fucking flavor. 3 of us ordered the steaks and couldn't even finish them they were so terrible. For the price ($100-$150 pp wtih apps + 1 drink + main course), I'd expect it to at least taste as good as meals I've had on the strip in Vegas for much less. I guess good beef can't be shipped to Hawaii for some reason? Maybe in Kona they don't know how to raise lobsters? Maybe the ahi tuna is better tasting in Vegas for some reason? No idea what the deal was here. It felt like a rip off. Bottom line - great views, drinks and some decent apps. Finish your evening elsewhere.
(3)Julian M.
Not impressed. The location of the restaurant is wonderful. However, the service and food was really a mixed bag. We have a 19 month old and the options on the children's menu were pretty depressing. The staff seemed annoyed at having to be there. When you stay at a remote resort such as the Ritz Carlton in Kapalua, your choices for dining out are limited. The service and the food at this restaurant reflect that they understand they have a captive audience.
(1)Samip P.
Really great view and service was fantastic. Kids had great experience without being patronized. Above average for normal resort fine dining.
(4)Aaron J.
Banyan Tree is incredible. This is one of our top 3 restaurants! We made reservations through the Ritz Kapalua during our stay in January and when we arrived for our reservation, we were immediately impressed with the interior of the restaurant. Sustainable Bamboo and a high-end decor that is indigenous to the area greet you at the front. A friendly staff member showed us to our table right by the window for an amazing view of the ocean right before sunset. Truly incredible. After looking through there very impressive menu, we decided to go with the waiters recommendation and order the Chef's Tasting Menu. For $200 for two of us without wine or drinks it's a little steep, but worth the splurge. Time after time, we were served impressively thoughtful and delicious cuisine that didn't disappoint. We had to snap a couple pictures of the food as well because it didn't just taste delicious, it was beautiful to boot. They use many organic herbs from their garden, just out the front door as well, which is important when you consider it's protecting what you're fortunate enough to see during your stay in HI. Loved it. Will absolutely go back. Missing it now.
(5)Brian F.
The most flavorless and shoddily served $120 you will ever spend. After waiting nearly 30 minutes past our reservation time (despite the restaurant not being very busy) we were finally seated. I should have stuck to my gut feeling and left after the long wait, but I was too damn hungry. From there out we were treated to continued lackadaisical service, dishes sitting around forever, empty drinks, etc, certainly not what you expect from the upscale restaurant attached to the Ritz-Carlton. The view is nice if the sun has not gone down, otherwise the glare from tiki torches outside obstructs the ocean through the windows. We started with a goat cheese appetizer, which ended up being just two clumps of local goat cheese for $16 (table bread required to make use of it). My wife had a vegetarian entree and I got the snapper, both were lacking in any form of seasoning and taste. Bland, bland, bland. If you are going to serve a piece of local fish for $45, or a handful of grilled vegetables for $26, then they had better be prepared perfectly and bursting with flavor and excellent accompaniments. It was like the chef had the night off and the busboy they got to make the food didn't know where the herbs and seasoning were stored. We decided to skip dessert and go elsewhere to cut our losses. I suggest you do the same from the start.
(1)Teema T.
Very very delicious! Great choice for a special night out. Expect to spend the cash-ola!
(4)Amy V.
We showed up with no reservations and a group of 7 and the staff was friendly and accomodating. The food was amazing...we ordered most of the appetizers and a variety of dinners and nothing disappointed. The fish was fresh and well prepared, the steaks were cooked to perfection. The duck appetizer was delicious. It's a pricey meal, but a guaranteed great one. I'd rather spend money on a sure thing than save a few bucks for something average. The cheesecake dessert was also tasty. Excellent staff! :)
(5)Michelle L.
Wow, this place is fantastic! Maybe the best on the island. The location alone is a breathtaking destination. You walk past tranquil pools on the Ritz-Carlton property, and end up at The Banyan Tree, a charming beach house near the crashing ocean. To see awesome Maui scenery, arrive before sunset and walk down a little farther to a dramatically beautiful, semi-private feeling beach (DT Fleming Beach Park, YELP reviewed). THE FOOD: We wanted a special night, so we chose the tasting menu by Chef de Cuisine Jojo Vasquez. It included some of the best local, seasonal fare, with delicious additions from around the world. Tonight's Menu: - so good I took notes ;) Hawaiian Kampachi sashimi, avocado, vanilla-orange gelée, nori (outstanding...so fresh and delicious!) Seared scallop, organic egg custard, spicy miso, kale chips (the tastes & textures were freakin' fantastic, like we were on a micro-gastronomy episode of Anthony Bourdain) Grilled Kobe flat iron steak, beans, shiitake mushrooms, hibachi sauce (excellent, savory, flavorful) Lavender almond cake, lemon curd, popcorn ice cream (a totally fun-food idea turned into delicious flavors & delicate textures) Each plate presentation was modern and beautiful (nicer than the photos show). And Chef Jojo's wine pairing took each dish to another level. I actually text'd my friend from the restaurant, "The food is amazing, I'm going to cry it's so good!" If you've ever had one of those meals... you know. SERVICE: The French waiter, Robert, is super cool! Attentive, but gave us plenty private time/space to enjoy the experience. We've eaten our fair share of delicious food around the globe (from street food to fine dining) and I'm so glad we didn't miss this one! ~MAHALO
(5)Brian W.
It's very true that sometimes you read a review and the restaurant doesn't live up to the hype; not in this case. If you could rate The Banyan Tree with 6 stars, I would do it! The staff is amazing, some of the best, most tenured servers on the island....and it shows. The food is consistently off the charts, plain and simple. This is a must stop for us during each visit to Maui. There are probably only 2 other spots on the island that rival Banyan, so make sure you eat here! Cheers!
(5)Mickey E.
Superb! If you stop to think about most of the restaurants on Maui compared to any metropolitan city, they really all fall short; except for this idylic locale. Located at the lower end of the Ritz Carlton property, there is more of a South East Asian feel than a tourist trap with a lit beach. With a peaceful, open setting, the food selections are minimal, but they all deliver. Robaire, the consumate waiter with former Paris training and time spent at Ma Maison in L.A., makes the experience a superlative one. He will make you feel like you are the most important person in the restaurant and Ken backs him up with the ease of a tango partnership. The Opakapaka was sublime, flakey, delicate and sensational. The pea soup was tasty and refreshing. Everything is organic and locally sourced. Skip the traps on Kaanapali Beach and make the evening a dining experience; Expensive but.... anything good (except 100 Wines) is on Maui.
(4)Chris L.
To be fair our expectations had been set very high by other reviews we'd read. The service was excellent and the view is lovely, but none of our food really stood out compared to other truly exceptional restaurants we've experienced on Maui. Case in point, as I write this review a few nights later, I struggle to remember what we ate.
(3)Michael D.
They really screwed up what was a casual elegant beach restaurant. It now looks like a large diner and the service was very disappointing. The didn't get the salad orders correctly (and couldn't offer a reason why), never returned to the table to pour the beverage from the cooler (I had to get up and bring it to the table), didn't bring utensils for everyone at the table for desert and appeared to to be in training. They had plastic table mats - no table clothes. It was as expensive as any restaurant on Maui. The food was good, however, and the chef circulated which was classy. On balance, its hard to believe the Ritz produced this. What were they thinking?
(2)Rashid M.
We ate here at night, so we weren't able to enjoy the view, but that's ok since we already experienced the view staying at the hotel. The food was very mediocre. Nothing stood out as a "must have". The service was ok. If I'm ever back in Maui staying at the Ritz Carlton, I'll be sure to skip the Banyan Tree.
(2)Michele H.
Setting is beautifully located atop of gorgeous golf course. Windows all open for indoor/outdoor feel. Food was average. Go for atmosphere.
(4)Courtney S.
We were staying next door to the Ritz hotel at the Ritz Carlton Club & Residences, and had the concierge make a reservation for us at the Banyan Tree for 8 p.m. We were a bit delayed, and had the concierge call ahead to notify the restaurant that we were running 5-10 minutes late, but would be there for our reservation. We arrived at the restaurant at 8:10 p.m. and were told it would be at least 10 minutes before our table was ready. We waited, and were finally seated at 8:40. I was a bit peeved as we had a reservation, called ahead to tell them we were only a few minutes late and they gave our table away and made us wait quite a while. The only consolation: once we did get seated, we had probably the best table in the restaurant, and the most fantastic French waiter I've ever had. His name was Robert and I urge you all to request him as your sever the next time you visit this establishment. We started with martinis, which were extraordinarily expensive ($17 each!) but were made perfectly, just as we requested, and we are martini snobs. Robert was able to check with the chef, and confirmed that the 50/50 special was available. The 50/50 is a 3-course tasting menu for $50. This is seriously important to know to request, as their normal prix fixe menu is $150/person. My parents both elected for this option and each of their courses were amazing. I chose to have the white bean soup with prosciutto and the dungeness crab with heirloom tomatoes. Everything was seriously amazing, and the entire experience was brightened by the fact that Robert, or waiter, was so wonderful. I would go back again, but would ensure that he would be taking care of us.
(4)