Longhi's

My first experience at Longhi's was on 888 Front Street, a memorable 
breakfast! Followed at different times with Lunch and Dinner. We enjoyed 
ourselves
each time. The food was always tasty, 
the atmosphere casual, and 
you knew, this was the place you were 
proud to be at. 
It had a flair, the "elite" would 
seek-out, to meet and observe people. 

The 
wait-
help
verbalized 
the 
menu, 
everything

from soup to cocktails.

We always enjoyed the ease of  
not reading a "menu."

This was one of the few good 
restaurants at the time (in the 1980's) in Lahaina on busy popular Front 
Street.

The ambiance of Longhi's Restaurant
mirrors the creator, Bob Longhi. I 
met him once, and remember his
unique personality ever since.  

Bob  Longhi

He has a persona you do not 
forget, because he 
doesn't let you 
forget!

He conveys a 
personality, who

take risks, simply
because of his

confidence as a Restaurateur

It has been many years that Longhi's has

served visitors and residents alike in 
Hawai'i.

Today, 
Bob Longhi has

additional restaurants

in Wailea , Maui and on Oahu in the

Ala Moana Shopping Center,

each managed by sons,

Peter and Charlie

.....I'm sure with strict

restaurant principles

handed-down by father,  
Bob Longhi.
Let's face it, why change the "recipe" when everyone loves the 
"presentation, taste, touch-of-class, 
and service appeal!" Yes, Bob Longhi
has successfully kept

his name memorable in Hawai'i, 
serving always, to please with an Aloha Spirit,
from beginning to end.

Will have to visit Longhi's again!

It's been long!

However, the fact that I remember

a good food experience

at Longhi's after so many years,

it's about time that

I respectfully tip my hat off to 
Bob Longhi

for serving Hawai'i well.

Would love to hear 
from someone

about Longhi's at

the Ala Moana Shopping Center...Thanks!

4 STAR RATING

Dragon Dragon

Dragon Dragon such a clever name for a Chinese Restaurant!

In Chinese history, dragons are legendary

creatures symbolizing power, strength and good luck.

In the Chinese language, intellectual, or

people of outstanding "worth" are compared to the dragon.

Hence, the double word usage, Dragon Dragon, conveys a powerful presence,

a "catchy sound,"

hence, a good marketing message.

Dragon Dragon's decor, and ambiance exudes beautiful Chinese art,

a presence of strong beauty.

Well-designed walls and Chinese articrafts

are strategically placed, conveying

an unspoken invitation..." we are here to please you..."

Planned well, such artistic interior keep guests

in awe, and at this initial level of satisfaction,

the introduction of the menu become a timely opening

for ordering food...as the guests' are now happy, and "hungrier" to add more

satisfaction, and this time, the art of Chinese cooking!

We have eaten Chinese food in many parts of the world.

From Europe, to Chinatown restaurants in the United States.

ie: New York Chinatown, San Francisco Chinatown,

Oahu Chinatown, and have enjoyed their

authentic Chinese cuisine.

Memorable enough, to want to return again, and again.

Sadly, the food preparation at Dragon Dragon, is unfavorable

to Chinese standards.

Curious who the chef is?

Too thick, with cornstarch, gravies at Dragon Dragon for vegetable and meat

dishes, "drown-out" the respective tastes of vegetables and meat.

Poultry such as duck, and chicken are cooked unlike the Chinese

method. Vegetables are overcooked and served looking wilted in thick sauce/gravy.

For some reason, thick sauces seem predominant with their dishes. Someone needs to

take the cornstarch away from the chef!

Dragon Dragon's wait-help service, has always been efficient, but the food has always been a disappointment.

The end result for such a well-known cuisine, will hamper the restaurant's reputation.

To those with keen observations about Dragon Dragon's

lack of Chinese immersion, will continue to look elsewhere to dine Chinese, or practice the Art Of Chinese Cooking at home. . .To those who are unaware, we say bon appetite.

Each if our visit to Dragon Dragon has been by invitation.

Chinese New Year and Moon Festival were invites. The only authentic

Chinese Food tasted at the Chinese New Year event, were Dried Candied Vegetables

and Gao, a Chinese Pudding. At the Moon Festival, the only Chinese food

we enjoyed tremendously, was the Moon Cake. These, were not prepared by Dragon Dragon, but brought over from Oahu, by the Maui Chinese Club for their members. So why

does the Maui Chinese Club choose Dragon Dragon for their yearly Chinese

events? Hmmmm.

Again, for those who have not eaten authentic Chinese Food, would obviously accept

Dragon Dragon's cuisine, because the current food dishes taste "all right," but NOT up to

Chinese culinary standards.

Dragon Dragon cuisine, practices "the art of substitution" when it comes to Chinese food preparation. Some resident reactions about Dragon Dragon Chinese Food has been:

"Americanized Chinese Food!"

" Eggplant too mushy, soaked in thick unflavored gravy."

A Chinese woman from Beijing said, when eating a chicken dish, "...not Chinese way..."

The Art Of Chinese Cooking, has become a lost art on Maui.

For centuries now, Chinese Culinary has been parallel to French Culinary in terms of

their usage of unique spices and blends, and more so, the value of culinary steps, to achieve

just the correct taste, crunch, bite, color, doneness and presentation.

Where else on Maui, can we enjoy authentic Chinese Cuisine?

2 STAR RATING

Monsoon India

Monsoon India

Kihei

A secluded restaurant in Kihei has

much to offer!

A million-dollar view, affordable cuisine, and delicious tasting.

The times I thought of Monsoon India,

I envisioned the beautiful ocean view, and recall tender

leavened baked bread with cilantro and

garlic topping, comforting spicy curry

chicken and lamb, and the sounds of

pleasant violin music.

Name of the secluded restaurant?

"Monsoon India."

Unless you're a constant restaurant

surveyor,

you may not be

aware of Monsoon India.

Unless you're a road-side sign

reader,

you may not be aware

of Monsoon India.

Many guests are obviously referrals

...the best compliment to any restaurant!

My introduction to

Monsoon India,

was a referral.

I did see the signage often,

but it

did not encourage me to

stop and check-it-out

immediately.

Until one evening, we had the

option to eat-out,

and chose the nearest restaurant

recommended to us...

Monsoon India.

Once I entered the restaurant,

I was immediately

impressed by the approach.

Hari, owner of Monsoon India,

welcomed us with

a confidence that sent a clear unspoken

message, " you WILL have a pleasant

dining experience."

My eyes were drawn to the ocean view

...an expansive

clear setting from one frontal

end of the restaurant

to the other

...an immediate

panoramic sense of comfort

& serenity.

Our wait help, a graduate of a

Culinary

Institute in California,

coordinated total awareness

of approach, introduction and demonstration

of our presence with each other,

with him, and the

restaurant ambiance.

An Indian from Nepal,

his manners

was haute.

You " knew," he enjoyed his job.

His confidence,

conveyed a positive Indian cuisine.

Once our orders were taken, a

comfortable wait

for the first course, was taken-up

enjoying a discussion of the

beautiful ocean view

and manicured lawn, fronting it.

My pre-knowledge of Indian cuisine

was minimal. However, I was aware

of the variety of cooking styles,

and a host

of even greater number of distinct

regional cuisines.

Fresh ingredients prepared

along with

delicate mixtures of many different

fresh and dried spices were expected,

and that recipes vary greatly

from one region to another.

We learned, the Chef, of Monsoon India,

is from Nepal, but

may not necessarily serve

Nepalese-style

preparations, rather

he can vary his

cooking styles,

and can host

other regional cuisines.

Monsoon India with its simple,

clean ambiance,

hint about India's mode of living, and show-off

their artistic side through

the usage of serving utensils and holloware.

The spicy comfort foods,

allude to the usual

preparation of large cooking portions

for the comfort of family

togetherness. The menu reveal

Old World language, and ingredients used

Seasonings Used to Prepare Spicy Indian Foods

many generations ago.

For me, I experience more than tasty foods,

I enjoy the essence of historic values.

Be ready to choose your meal to be seasoned:

Mild, Medium, or Hot.

For us, we love spicy foods, so

Medium was appropriate

for our palate.

I did discover, by allowing

the foods to

"cool-down" to a warmer stage,

the goodness and combination of all spices,

Indian Bread with Dipping Sauce

exploded delightfully in the mouth.

By the way, there was

someone there to refill

chilled glasses of water

. . . so not to worry about

keeping the mouth temperate!

Tender Chicken and Lamb curry with

mint and sweet sauce, accompanied with

garlic/ cilantro seasoned leavened bread,

were satisfying choices for us!

Our evening concluded with Hari, the owner.

He approached our table to chat.

We offered him to sit with us

as his enthusiasm as a Restaurateur

lit-up our curiosity about

anticipations for Monsoon India.

He did not know I was a

Maui Restaurant Critic.

Demonstrations of excellent

dining and food service,

made me curious about their

"restaurant concepts."

We learned their collective studies came from diligent

restaurant research from the mainland, then

to Hawai'i.

Perserverance and enthusiasm

to create,

produce, and continue to

share their native food

across the country,

has been their inherent strength

....nothing fancy, just hardwork, and

excitement to share food, they know well.

We left knowing we would return,

and recommend others

to dine at Monsoon India.

I leave this review with satisfactory

memories of Monsoon India's

ocean view, Chicken and Lamb

Curry, Leavened bread

with garlic and

cilantro topping,

and pleasant violin music

. . . .interested?

4 Star Rating

Aroma D'Italia Ristorante