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Leis Family Class Act

5.0 (22 reviews)
PriceyNew American
Closed • 11:00 am - 12:30 pm

Leis Family Class Act Photos

LEIS FAMILY CLASS ACT ATMOSPHERE

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Moderate noise
Good for groups

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The entrance (second floor of the Pa'ina Building) - VN
Vince N.

Class Act is the name of the dining room of the Maui Culinary Academy, the culinary program at the University of Hawaii Maui College campus. The students learn both back and front-of-the-house skills over 16 weeks, and also get to experience working in a real world restaurant setting with paying guests, which is Class Act. We attended their December 2016 semester finale 6-course dinner complete with wine pairings. It started with a tour and mingling of the garde manger kitchen where the students were preparing and serving hors d'oeuvres from five different stations, which included chicken satay, deviled eggs, beef tataki, pate grand-mere, and smoked salmon pizza. I had to contain myself as I was starting to get full off of these delicious starters alone! ATMOSPHERE: The dining room and kitchen are located on the second level of the Pa'ina Building on the UHMC campus, which also houses the school's diverse cafeteria on the lower level. The dining room is modeled like a traditional restaurant with host stand, configurable table seating, bar, and kitchen. High ceilings and big windows bestow airiness. BEVERAGE: Not being a fan of wine, I brought a cooler of beer. Sorry, no wine review. COURSE 1: Salmon Tartar - Sliced discs of raw salmon were paired with blinis (tiny, thin pancakes) and served with a dollop of sour cream, American caviar, and a side mixture of diced herbs and hard boiled eggs for sprinkling. Subtle, smooth, and very fresh & light. COURSE 2: Seared Diver Scallop & Kauai Prawns - Holy bageezuz, the saffron seafood broth with melted leeks and confit tomatoes it sat in was simply divine. The scallop was perfectly seared and the shrimp cooked perfect. I almost did the bowl to lip thing. COURSE 3: Hickory Smoked Duck Breast - The slices of breast were super moist with a texture similar to filet and sprinkled with a little sea salt. A half wreath of diced butternut squash, greens, and cranberries in a bacon maple dressing garnished the plate. Very nice mixture of savory and sweet flavors. COURSE 4: Herb & Mustard Crusted Lamb Rack - The 2 chops were cooked to medium rare perfection with zero gaminess, over a red wine demi glace with sides of scalloped potatoes, fresh green beans, and baby carrots. Magnific! COURSE 5: Morbier & Compressed Persimmon - Two things I've never tried before have been conquered lol. The morbier cheese tasted similar to gouda with with its smoky and mildly sharp flavors. Yes, I've never eaten a persimmon before as I'm not a big fan of fruits, however, I really liked its light sweetness and almost pear-like flavor and low acidity. Feeling stuffed from the previous 4 dishes and hors d'oeuvers, I didn't eat the slices of ficelle bread that accompanied it. COURSE 6: Dessert - A trio platter of desserts was our reward for consuming all this wonderful food. A half scoop of velvety smooth tiramisu gelato sat over cookie crumbles, and was my favorite as I love ice cream. Standing next to it was a solid chocolate tower filled with a mocha creme anglaise that tasted like melted coffee ice cream. And last but not least was a super moist chocolate souffle dusted in powdered sugar which I couldn't finish more than 1/4 of. SERVICE: The front-of-house students looked sharp in their black uniforms, and provided excellent and professional table service. Our waters and wines were always filled, and dishes explained when placed. The kitchen students did a great job during the garde manger kitchen mingling and hors d'oeuvers, answering questions and kept up with our demanding appetites. Dinner food was amazingly prepared and expertly presented. Dining Room Instructor Mark did an outstanding job of warmly greeting us before the doors opened, and explained what we were going to experience that night. He also went around the dining room conversing with patrons, helped with food and beverage service, emceed throughout the evening, and thanked us as we exited. You can tell that his teachings have rubbed off on the students. Chef Instructor Tom obviously molded the students well, with the delicious food and presentation as proof. All the dishes were perfectly cooked and seasoned. He also helped emcee the evening and mingled with diners. The sommelier, sorry I forgot his name, was friendly, knowledgable and introduced each course's pairing with a little bit of the wine area's history. OVERALL: World-class food and service, and a great start for the chef's and restaurant proprietors of tomorrow. Highly recommended!

Pastry with a salmon mousse and hint of orange
Ashleigh D.

I am a fan of culinary schools and the experience they provide to the students and to the customer who is able to get top notch food at a reduced price. UH-Maui (formerly known at MCC), has a top quality culinary institute. I was able to go to one of the end of semester dinners around Christmas at MCC when I was in high school, and I remembered it being excellent, and for a teenager, it was very impressive to see what they did. Today, I visited on a French inspired menu day. The food remains excellent, and the service is attentive. I'm glad this exists for the students to hone their skills. It is receiving 4 stars because of the price. In similar culinary institutes, the prices have been very fair for a student run dining experience, and the food has been excellent, and the price is about 1/3-1/2 less than what I paid today (especially at lunchtime where it is around 2/3 less than what I paid today at other institutes). Leis Family Class Act is expensive for a student run experience. I could have paid what I did and received a similar meal at a fine dining restaurant on Maui for about the same price.

Front of the house and kitchen.
Jerry M.

We went for the lunch at the Class Act culinary school at Maui Community College. Today they had a Moroccan theme. The menu changes very frequently so you will rarely find the same menu here twice. Food is served in several courses. Our server Brianna was outstanding. She was knowledgeable about the menu and was very accommodating for my special orders. The class act is student run so they are up for the challenge that special orders such as non dairy for example, brings. I had the best octopus of my life today. It was so tender and flavorful. The decor is lovely too. You will never be disappointed by your five star dining experience here. Double highly recommend.

Birthday Lilikoi sorbet
Joyce Z.

I have been wanting to write a review for Class Act for years but never found this listing until new Yelp friend Dennis S. pointed the way. Mahalo Dennis. Lunch is only twice a week on Wed and Fri when school is in session so Jan-Apr and Sept-Dec with changing menus every week allowing you to travel through your palate. I have been coming here ever since it was $25 per person, the ice tea with mango syrup was free and mainly only the locals knew about this spot. It still is a bit of a hidden gem but the price has steadily increased each year to a now varied pricing based on what entree you choose but the thing that has not changed is the friendly and exceptional service you receive and the phenomenal food that they serve. I have been here twice for their French influenced menu, Latin, Moroccan, Asian, and finally last year the elusive Italian menu which never seemed to rotate around during the two weeks I am on island. Grab those napkins to wipe the drool off your keyboard after reading what's to come as after an amuse bouche of a spoonful of caprese, the culinary artwork begins. Appetizer of Ahi Carpaccio with Olive Relish, Roasted Garlic Aioli, Brioche & Sea Salt where you literally grab a little of everything and pile it on the brioche toast points for a party that just melts in your mouth. My husband got the hot appetizer Zucchini Saltimbocca, Gazpacho Sauce & Fried Sage while I got the Acorn Squash soup. I'm not normally a big fan of acorn squash but he should be happy he sampled the soup before I did as after my first spoonful of soup, he never saw the bowl again as it was that good. For the entrée, I got the Pine Nut Crusted Kampachi & Lemon Caper Basil Butter with the fish cooked perfectly but was never a big fan of capers or butter sauce so that part of my plate was left untouched. My husband got the Pork Braciole with Roasted Tomatoes & Creamy Polenta. Now if only I could get the kampachi with the roasted tomato sauce instead, it would have been perfection. The pistachio semi-freddo was hazelnut that day but since I was so full, I had my husband take 1/3 of my semi-freddo before starting which I immediately regretted after my first bite. If I say delicious or so good one more time, this paragraph alone will turn into a drinking game soon. To top it off, since we were celebrating my b-day and they forgot to put a candle on my semi-freddo, they brought me out a second dessert of lilikoi sorbet with a candle on top which is above and beyond. If they have this menu again next year, I would be there in a heartbeat as I was so close to returning 2 days later for the same menu!! Okay, grab that drink as it was SO GOOD!!

Kami S.

WOW is all I can say, I was very impressed!!! We are here visiting some friends of ours and they have been here many times and wanted us to experience this amazing student run restaurant. Logan was our server, he was very competent, very attentive, fun to talk to and the food...OMG, to die for!!! We choose the Filet Mignon, it came with a yummy scalloped au gratin appetizer, amazing tomato bisque soup and then the filet... the filet was melt in your mouth yummy goodness, cooked perfectly to my liking. Dessert was a class in itself, a chocolate mousse cake with raspberries, crunchy praline topping all beautifully prepared as seen in my pictures. Another must have is the iced tea, it came with a mango sweet simple syrup that was delicious!!! Run, don't walk, I 100% recommend this restaurant, you won't be disappointed.

We had a fantastic lunch at Lei's Class Act. The students were so eager to please and the professors went from table to table to chat and answer questions from the guests. The French menu was wonderful with a beautiful view of the harbor. Very reasonable price for a great experience. We'll do this again!

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Almost afraid to provide rave review because it's mostly sold out as is. But it's great if you can get in!

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7 years ago

Super high end it made me feel like I was rich the food was amazing it just melted in you're mouth

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Tante's Island Cuisine - Loco Moco

Tante's Island Cuisine

3.9(603 reviews)
0.4 mi
•$$

Looking for a kid and family friendly Restaurant with Local and Filipino Cuisine? Look no further…read moreand head to Tante's Island Cuisine in the heart of Kahului at the Maui Seaside Hotel. Our Ohana and family friends have been eating here for years. They serve Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner. If you're looking for a place to have a small gathering or celebration, they do catering and had a small party near our table (we were told to be quiet during a prayer for that party which we respectfully did). Our family of 7 ordered a variety of food. My nephew is Vegan and there was a Veggie Stir Fry he ordered with Tofu. My Brother in Law who is on the pickier side and likes it "simple" got Beef Teriyaki with Macaroni Salad. And my mom and niece love their Filipino food so mom ordered a Tamarind Soup with Shrimp and Vegetables called Sinigang and my niece ordered a Peanut Sauce dish called Kare Kare. My dad, sister and I stick to our favorites. He got his usual Baby Back Ribs (which I didn't get to picture), my sister got Sautéed Mahi Mahi with Lemon Caper Sauce and I got my usual Local Favorites Combo that had the most tender and savory Beef Teriyaki and crispy Mahi Mahi with Tartar Sauce on a bed of Cabbage. The Molokai Sweet Potato is a must when you get a side but this time, I did crave some greens so I opted for a side salad with Papaya Dressing. Your Meal isn't complete without Dessert! And Filipino Ice Dessert I might add...Halo Halo (which literally translates to "mix mix"). Being the true Fil-American that I am, I don't like to "Mix Mix" because I prefer my Ube Ice Cream in tact lol. I explained this to my Brother in Law from the Mainland who also said this is the first Purple anything he's ever eaten haha! But this is a refreshing ice dessert to end the meal since it has fresh cantaloupe, avocado, coconut, banana, and jellies, and the ice is creamy with an evaporated and condensed milk mix. If you want to "mix mix" let your inner Filipino out! Our visiting family had a great time catching up and enjoyed our yummy meal together. The Filipino aunty servers are always top notch and serve your food with Aloha. We probably only waited 15 minutes or so for the food as well which is always appreciated especially when hungry.

came in early in the morning for breakfast on maui! there were a lot of parking stalls but i think…read moreit's shared with the hotel (?) very very spacious restaurant, there's no music playing so it's kinda quiet and you can hear what everyone in the restaurant are talking about LOL. the food portion was quite big. i got the veggie omelet with potatoes and side bacon. the bacon was an extra $6 i think which is super expensive but they gave a lot and they were pretty big pieces. the omelet was delicious and cheesy, the potatoes were crispy too! it was kinda pricey though, i only got this and the bill was $30 :/

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Tante's Island Cuisine
Tante's Island Cuisine - Alii breakfast

Alii breakfast

Tante's Island Cuisine

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Maui Culinary Academy - Paina Cafe on the bottom, Class Act Restaurant up top - VN

Maui Culinary Academy

4.5(4 reviews)
0.0 mi
•$

Only found this after 10 months lIving on island - what a gem! Run by culinary students, its a…read moregreat place to get a variety of food from their 3 food kiosks on main level: 1. World Plate 2. Paniolo Grill 3 Sushi Breakfast M-Fri. 7:30-9:30am Lunch M-Thu 10:30 am - 2pm Fri 10:30am - 1pm Upstairs is Fine Dining on Wednesdays and Fridays reservations through Open Table Very happy!

This review is for the Pa'ina Cafe which is on the campus of the University of Hawaii Maui College…read moreand is part of the Maui Culinary Academy program. You don't have to be a student to eat here. ATMOSPHERE: This is the cafeteria of the school so don't expect any restaurant cues. The main cafeteria is on the first floor. It's bright and airy with communal tables of all sizes, with big windows for great outdoor views. The kitchen is divided into stations boasting specific names and cuisines. You order direct and pay for everything at the cashier line. Utensils, napkins, and condiments are last. I've been here a few times and it's never overly crowded. STATIONS (SEASONAL:) Farm To Table - Sandwiches. World Plate - Entrees. Paniolo Grill - Entrees. Raw Fish Camp - Sushi. Name comes from an old section of town on Maui. Campus Cafe - Burgers & quesadillas. Patisserie - Cookies & scones. Ramen X - Ramen! Yes!! FOOD: French Dip - O M G. This has to be THE best sandwich I have ever eaten! The meat was super soft and loaded with flavor. The cheese and horseradish (yuck, I'm so not a fan but could handle it in this sandwich) was gooey goodness. The bread which could've been toasted a bit more was fresh & soft. And the au jus - wow, this was super salty deliciousness! Came with a side of either pasta salad, which I had and tasted okay, or a green salad. Got some sour cream & onion chips which went perfect with it. Cheeseburger - Pretty good taste. They use Big Island cattle for the hamburger. Came with crinkle cut fries in a light seasoned salt. Penne Alfredo - Penne pasta, grilled chicken, and bits of zucchini, asparagus, onions, and mushrooms in an alfredo sauce. The flavor was a bit mild but still enjoyable. House Special Ramen - The broth had a nice shoyu based flavor and not overly salty. The noodles were fresh and cooked perfect. Toppings included bean sprouts, char siu, a poached egg, bacon (odd,) a big square of nori seaweed, fishcake, spinach, green onions and bamboo shoots. Pretty good portion size for $9.50. Edo Ya Special - Available in shoyu, shio, or tonkotsu broths. I chose the latter because no one that I know of makes this on Maui. The broth is smooth and creamy, the noodles are homemade and soft. It was drizzled with a chili oil for added flavor and topped with a soft boiled egg, spinach, bamboo, char siu, green onions, and nori. The char siu was the only disappointment of the dish as it had zero flavor and was too lean and tough with no fat - better for your health but not great as a topping. The portion was just right. SERVICE: The majority of the staff working in the kitchen are students. Some very eager, some timid but generally good service. OVERALL: Great food, great prices and good sized portions = a definite return! TIP: Hours are Monday - Friday 11am to 2pm, but a word of caution, sometimes one or more of the food stations may be closed due to unforeseen events schedules, class time, presentations, or even a lack of enrollment. Check online as it's currently updated. https://mauiculinary.sodexomyway.com

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Maui Culinary Academy - Sushi lunch

Sushi lunch

Maui Culinary Academy - Farm To Table and World Plate counters - VN

Farm To Table and World Plate counters - VN

Maui Culinary Academy - Pa'ina Cafe - VN

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Pa'ina Cafe - VN

Guava Tree Bar & Grill - Fried rice and mochiko chicken

Guava Tree Bar & Grill

4.5(51 reviews)
1.0 mi

I almost donʻt want to share! I find it difficult to find really good food without spending a lot…read moreof money. Guava Tree Bar & Grill had amazing local-style food at reasonable prices and pleasant service. I can see this place becoming a solid, local establishment like Tiffanyʻs or Marcoʻs. Folks, this place should be party of the ʻServing Maui for 30 yearsʻ club! I was here for a private event. The place is cute. Small, charming and loads of potential. The staff was super friendly and welcoming. Alrhough their wine selection was limited and a bit uneven (Sutter Home but then a J. Lohr for chardonnay), their ginger ale selection was delicious! The food was incredible! Tender, fall apart pork slices, covered with savory, brown gravy; crisp, yet juicy, chicken katsu with a bite of ginger; toothsome chopped steak, tender mushrooms and flavorful pepper slices. Perfectly cooked rice. Yummmmmmm. The mac salad is better than many, but lacked a little tang. Overall, the food was so good that I looked up their hours. Iʻd definitely return.

Came here for a private party. It's a great place to hold a small event for a special birthday,…read moregraduation or any celebration. They have a stage area for a DJ or Band. There is a bar area if guest want to order alcoholic beverages. The food was good and service friendly. I would recommend if you're looking for a place indoors to hold a party.

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Guava Tree Bar & Grill
Guava Tree Bar & Grill - $18  |  Shoyu Poke w/Maui Onions, Sesame |  06.20.25

$18 | Shoyu Poke w/Maui Onions, Sesame | 06.20.25

Guava Tree Bar & Grill - Front of restaurant

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Front of restaurant

The Bistro

The Bistro

3.6(14 reviews)
1.7 mi
•$$

Went to the Bistro for my annual birthday meal of Paella and champagne but was immediately…read moredisappointed when I didn't see it on the menu! Paella had been on the menu for at least 25 years! The waitress said I wasn't her only upset guest. She suggested a modified Ciopino but I noticed a new seafood item: MAKAI For Two that included a Lobster tail, fresh fish fillet, shrimp, scallops for $56. I was celebrating so I wasn't going to have an UNhappy birthday so I ordered it and was NOT disappointed. The portions were pretty big, barely enough for two people but enough for 1 large appetite. The 4oz. Ahi was seared, the medium sized lobster tail, 5 scallops, and 3 large shrimp were all grilled and came with a butter/sage dip. Excellent sides included saffron rice and fresh asparagus! The restaurant wasn't too busy and was quiet enough to talk, pleasant as usual. The service was good, the waitress pleasant and the food arrived promptly. The champagne complimented the meal. Although initially saddened by the menu change, I was pleasantly surprised with something new that was very good. Had a satisfying meal for my bday. Enjoy Foodies!

Hawaii resident local on Maui for over 10 years frequently visit and stayed long-term at Courtyard…read moreMaui Kahului Airport by Marriott in the past. Loyal, regular customer and Bonvoy member. Dine regularly at the Bistro cafe, received check tonight during Happy Hour without Kama'iaina (20%). Server declined and said they don't do that despite explaining received a week ago. Server offered for me to speak to a manager. Kalani Paul Hiilei approached me and asked, "Is there a problem? I had only a comment about the server refusing Kama'aina (20%) during Happy Hour and Kalani responded that we don't do that, despite me explaining my past experience. Kalani said, "If you don't like it here, you don't have to come here". Kalani told me, "I've been the Assistant General Manager here for 13 years and I've never seen you here before." I was overcharged for Happy Hour items that server fixed after pointing out and only received Discount Total -$1.60 for side soup $8.00. Needless to say I did not leave a tip. Kalani was very rude, argumentative and disrespectful. Kalani clearly lacks professionalism and needs to learn how to appreciate and treat local customers and deal with anger management issues. I was mistreated and received negative, unfriendly service. I'm making a formal complaint with Marriott Corporate.

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The Bistro
The Bistro
The Bistro

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Cool Cat Cafe - The Classic Leader of the Pack

Cool Cat Cafe

4.2(2.2k reviews)
10.8 mi
•$$
Family-owned & operated
Casual dining

There's plenty of yummy restaurants in town but you'd be hard-pressed to find a large, diverse menu…read moreanywhere even close to Cool Cat! We visited twice and everything we tried was delicious. Their barbecued ribs are surprisingly special and fall-off-the-bone-tender. My husband really enjoyed the fish tacos. We both had grilled chicken on our second visit. I can't remember the last time I saw baked potatoes as a side choice and they were perfectly prepared as well. We found the service to be very efficient and friendly despite the place being super crowded and busy both visits. The milkshakes are a bit spendy with the 'daily special' running $18! My husband loved the flavor but not sure we'd spring for that again.

Cool Cats had been recommended to me by someone i know who lives on Maui. So my wife and I made a…read morepoint to stop in for lunch. We were seated in a booth along the wall by the hostess. Ruby our server takes our order, and sends it in. Time goes by and Ruby comes by looking at worried that we might get mad with her. She tells us that "wifi went down so our order didn't print in the kitchen, and she will it through the kitchen". Things happen. Our food comes out and it was good. While we were eating something else happened so I went to talk with another staff member, who took care of this issue. This turned out to be case of if it will go wrong it will. The manager was told about all that happened and stopped by visit. He took care of things, and asked that we give them a try again. We did, and here what happened. We had just lunch near by and wanted to have one of the various milkshakes. So we stopped in a few days later. The was fairly busy, and hostess sat us at a table in front of the counter. The server came over to take our order in asking us what would like to eat? My wife tells her, that didn't want anything to eat since we just had lunch, and only wanted milkshakes. The servers face soured a little hearing this. She walks behind the counter, turns to lean against the counter with her back to us talking with the young man who makes the shakes. She brings the milkshakes over and they were good. Our server never smiled the whole time in dealing with us. She dropped of the check and walked away. We paid cash, and left. You know that place where you always have a bad experience. Unfortunately Cool Cat Cafe is one of those for us.

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Cool Cat Cafe
Cool Cat Cafe
Cool Cat Cafe

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Leis Family Class Act - newamerican - Updated October 2026

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