July, 2007

Rating : 10 out of 10

The Tariff : Breakfast for 4

• entrees for 4
• 4 beverages
• tip
• $46

What a wait! What a breakfast! Would be diners were lined up across the pool deck to get a table at the tiny, quirky open air Gazebo Restaurant hidden behind the Napili Shores Condominium complex, overlooking the ocean on Maui's west coast. Realizing that we have a choice in how we look at situations, I decided rather than view this as an interminable wait, I would view it as an opportunity to take in the scenery along the beautiful Hawaiian coastline. The whole tropical scene there is so lovely--from breezes, to palm trees, to swimming pools, to fragrant plumeria blossoms, to rocky coastline with scooped out areas of sandy beach--so beautiful that even an hour wait on an overcast morning didn't seem so bad. We took turns standing in line and spoke to several other customers. I even overheard one waitress comment that people here often make friends in line!

The Service

Our waitress was friendly and helpful, with simple suggestions as to the size of the portions, etc. We found that even a half order is really a full meal and a short stack of pancakes is plenty! Service was efficient--they do a brisk business there--and if a sampling of the other folks in line is valid, the restaurant is not only frequented by those who stay at the Napili Shores Condos.

The Food

As you might imagine we were hungry by the time our party of 4 was summoned to a table under the gazebo's roof. Birds flew in and out and walked around our feet happily looking for crumbs. Everything was so tasty we weren't sharing any crumbs. We had the French toast, the banana pancakes with a side of bacon, the (famous) macadamia nut pancakes, and the breakfast fried rice (cooked to order). The French toast were large and attractive, but didn't seem out of the ordinary. The banana pancakes were topped with whipped cream and had bananas both in and on the top. Cooked bananas aren't my taste but my son liked them a lot. There was a yummy coconut syrup as well as 'regular' syrup (I say that because I really only like authentic maple syrup and not many places offer it.). The macadamia nut pancakes had chopped or ground nuts in them and a sprinkling on top (as well as the sweet whipped cream) and I thought these were a great addition to the soft fluffy pancakes, with either syrup. The real winner for me, however, was the fried rice, something that I'd have never ordered for breakfast had I not heard another man telling the waitress how much he liked it on his way out. It was a heaping serving of the freshest fried rice, cooked to order with at least 10 optional ingredients topped by a scrambled egg. I couldn't even finish my half portion but I loved having it later for a snack!

Having breakfast here was a treat and a fun alternative to a quick bowl of cereal at our condo.

Open for breakfast and lunch from 7:30am-2:00pm. See info and pictures at mauihawaii.org

The Gazebo Restaurant
5315 Lower Honoapiilani Road
Napili Shores, Lahaina, Maui
Phone: 808-669-5621