337110 Wed Oct 25 16:51:26 -0700 2006 11 25 Elsewhere In America 0 1971571 I've read several reviews on here about Mama's and have also been told to go for dinner there by friends with relatives on Maui. Based on my last trip, I know a lot of places are pricey and Mama's seems like it tops them all. However, how pricey is pricey? I have no problem splurging on at least one fine dinner during my trip, but I'd like to have a gauge to avoid sticker shock. A few people mention $250 for lunch with 4-5 people, but then mention they had apps, entrees, and dessert and also lobster. I imagine Maine lobster is close to $30-$40/lb in Maui and since I'm from Boston...I would'nt pay that. Anyway...can someone give me a range for the average app and entree? I'd probably lean toward a fish that is native to the area, something I can't get back home. I'd also skip dessert. Thanks. Wed Oct 25 16:51:26 -0700 2006 12116 Ali G 1 1971780 Naturally, their website doesn't give prices: http://www.mamasfishhouse.com/dinner.html Someone will have been more recently than me, but my recollection is entrees exceeding $30 each at dinner, and that was at least six years ago. I'd say $75 to $100 per person at dinner, at least. At the time, it was one of the most expensive restaurants I had ever eaten in, anywhere!(and in my opinion it simply wasn't worth it!) By the way, you won't save anything by ordering local fish! As you can see on the menu, the fish is almost all local, as is the lobster. If I were you, I'd call and ask them to fax you a menu with prices. If they won't tell you the current prices, well, that will tell you something. (and if they do, please post, it would be helpful to others who don't realize how pricy this place really is, until they get there after a long drive as it is also a bit off the normal resort track....) I'd also consider that on the long thread on the NAF board, having a gift shop is considered a sign that you won't have a good meal...(I guess you can tell I am not a Mama's fan.). The grounds are beautiful, but so are a lot of places on Maui. Wed Oct 25 17:45:44 -0700 2006 1971571 10158 susancinsf 1 1972841 Self confessed Mama's fan here. I've been going there since June of 1990, for a total of 7 or 8 visits, all lunches. last visit was about a week and a half ago. I really like lunch there, it's a beautiful setting, hard to beat even on Maui. Lunch for the two of us ran $123.00 pre tip, with two MaiTais. We had the sashimi appetizer, a knockout. Simply perfect slices of jewel like Ahi, probably 5 ounces sliced over napa cabbage slaw, and served with ground wasabi root, pickled ginger and pickled cucumber. The fish really did melt in my mouth. We followed with two salads, I had the upcountry tomato salad with shaved fennel and Pt Reyes Blue Cheese, and my wife had a spinach salad with tear drop tomatoes, and goat cheese, both very nice. We split the Ahi Club sandwich on house made foccacio bread. It consisted of a nice Ahi tuna steak, rare, and a local bacon that was as good as any I've ever had, and a wasabi aioli with tomato and lettuce. Easily big enough for two, the sandich came with sweet potato and taro fries, and house made ketchup, spicy! The sandwich was also accompanied by a fresh local fruit salad. I forgot to mention the mushroom soup amuse bouche that arrived with our menus, and the poopy seed bread and butter for munching. Dessert didn't strike us, but the urge for another round of sashimi did, so we did. The perfect sashimi was follwed by a dessert amuse of a fresh and toasted coconut custard. Very fine service, good drinks, great food, nice location . . . I couldn't find anything to gripe about, and in all of our visits to Mama's we never have noticed a gift shop. I recommend it heartily, and will be personally disapointed if you don't have a great time. Aloha Wed Oct 25 23:05:02 -0700 2006 1971571 10176 BStack 2 1972909 Their website prominently mentions a gift shop, although no details are given. I suppose it could just be an electronic one, but I do remember being able to buy T-shirts, etc, when I was there. Regardless, your post answers the OP's question: at lunch you had two drinks, two apps, one main (a sandwich) and two salads, and spent $123 before tip, or about $61 each. That means that OP should definitely plan on spending about $100 p/p for dinner, even if he/she skips dessert! My guess based on your figures is that most mains at dinner are now over $40. I guess part of the reason I am not a fan is that, getting back to the OP's request, I didn't think it was 'fine dining' at all. My recollection was of friendly but amatuerish service, and close together tables, and a very, very touristy atmosphere, and fresh fish in fairly standard preparations (similar can be had at Roy's for quite a bit less in a city near you), but at prices equivalent to fine dining experiences in Hawaii.... Wed Oct 25 23:36:47 -0700 2006 1972841 10158 susancinsf 1 1972929 It seemed that the menu was for lunch and dinner. A number of entrees were at or over $40.00. The one's we saw being served look like they were worth it. I doubt you'll get fresher local fish anywhere. The "sandwich" at $28.00 was on a 7 inch square of foccacio and the bottom slice was covered by the tuna steak, and four thick cut slices of bacon. We consisdered the meal a good value. Like I said, never disapointed there. I could have gotten a T-shirt? Damn! Wed Oct 25 23:44:46 -0700 2006 1971571 10176 BStack 1 1972936 Took a quick trip to the web site, and it seems the lunch and dinner menus are a bit dfferent. The only thing available in the online gift shop is a gift certificate for dining there. No T-shirts, bummer. Wed Oct 25 23:50:20 -0700 2006 1971571 10176 BStack 2 1973355 actually, it says that on-line forms to order their T shirts are under construction... http://www.mamasfishhouse.com/giftshop.html Thu Oct 26 03:28:58 -0700 2006 1972936 10158 susancinsf 1 1973962 Thanks for the replies. I wrote to Mama's and they sent me the dinner menu with prices. Dinner is actually not as expensivce as I had thought. Most entrees seemt to be in the mid to high $30s with some specialties and steaks in the mid $40's. Lobster tail is over $50. Apps seem like they can add up since they ranged from $16-$22. I'll consider trying lunch there one of the days. Any idea how the lunch crowd is in early Novemeber? Need reservations? Last time I was in Maui most places did not seemt too crowded this time of year, but this is more of a destination. I'm looking forward to exploring some new chow spots. I went with a group of guys last time and we were content with Maui Taco every day and Cheeseburger in Paradise. I did have one meal at Lahaina Fish Company which I thought was good and fresh. Man, I can't wait to leave. Thu Oct 26 14:30:43 -0700 2006 1971571 12116 Ali G 1 1974084 Lunch a few weeks back was on a thursday at 1:30 or so. We just walked in, and were seated right away. If you'd like a table by a window, recommended for a first visit, you might want to make reservations a couple of days early. Mama's was close to full at 1:30 when we were seated. Have a great time in Maui. Thu Oct 26 15:14:11 -0700 2006 1971571 10176 BStack 1 1978762 My husband and I went there during our honeymoon, and we split an app, entree, wine, and dessert, and I seem to remember it running about $200- probably 50 or 60 of which was wine. It was worth it though. We got an entree that featured about 3 different traditional Hawaiian dishes. I think there are other places on Maui you can go that are just as good, but this place has the total package, so I think for a night it's worth the splurge. Sat Oct 28 01:39:33 -0700 2006 1971571 49524 woostalicious 1 2623267 Just ate there last night and the entrees were in the 39-49 range. When you sit down at the table there are drink menus and this seems to be where they make their money. Most wines by the glass were 16-20. I believe I saw a regular martini on the menu for $20. A bit steep to say the least. After reading reviews of the high prices, I was prepared to see them. The food was delicious but I think their marketing plan is to make the $$ on the drinks. We ordered beers, which weren't on the drink menu and they were just around $6 each, which is fairly normal. It looked like desserts were around $12 so they weren't outrageous. It's not a fine dining restaurant as much as a classic 'old school' place. Overall a fine experience, but the drink prices made for a 'rip off' feel from the start of the meal. Sat Jun 02 10:31:41 -0700 2007 1971571 60207 rpiercef 1 2624630 Ate at Mama's last week. Total price for our dinner for two was $200 (incl tip), which consisted of the two cocktails, sashimi app, poke app, fish of the day (silver snapper) and their signature stuffed mahi mahi. Too full for desert. Overall, was a bit disappointed in the flavor of the fish, not so much the freshness (which is important too). The silver snapper (uku?) was very bland and the stuffed mahi mahi got a bit dry in the middle (maybe its a curse for any stuffed dish). Our waiter did notice our displeasure, and brought out some red sea salt for the snapper and more sauce for the mahi mahi. So I give the place some credit for service, given that its so touristy. The tuna sashimi is hyped very well at the restaurant. It does look like a jewel, very ruby red, clear and clean. The fresh wasabi is a nice touch also. However, if you're a fan of premium toro, I'd save your money (tuna sashimi was $20) and try a different app, because the tuna is too clean tasting, if you know what I mean. Just my 2 cents. Sat Jun 02 21:40:50 -0700 2007 1971571 21754 eatslowly