I hate to leave bad reviews...but it's sad to see something that used to be good, now be so bad…read more The first red flag should have told me What I needed to know, the lack of customers. This place used to be so packed. only two tables were occupied. Also, the caliber of staffing is not the same. I was used to bread being served while we waited for our food. Now you have to order the "bread basket". it wasn't too expensive, so inndid t really care. when it came out, it seemed like ciabatta from Costco. it was served with whipped garlic butter. Wasn't bad tasting at all though. The entrees were good (beef tips / meatloaf). another red flag was the lack of desserts. Kula Bistro used to be know for desserts. I feel they were they were never a letdown if you just wanted desserts. Now, the showcase is pretty much empty. Now to the most shadiest part, the payment. I already feel the prices are too high for the experience you get here. When we went to pay, there's a cash price and credit card price. This wasn't posted anywhere and a big surprise. To me, this makes this place feel trashy and cheap, but with a big price tag. There's a reason this place is empt. Now I know.

Great food, great service! My husband and I ate here last…read morenight. We have been to Kula Bistro several times in the past, although it's been two years since the last time. I've been seeing some pretty negative reviews on here recently, and wonder how it could be the same place we ate last night. I ordered the wasabi pea and pistachio ahi and it was delicious. Rich, creamy mashed purple potatoes as the base, with a sauce so good I could have licked it off the plate. My husband had the Bistro penne pasta with shrimp and he raved about it. The portions were large, we took enough home to make a second meal out of it. My husband also had the New York cheesecake and said it was better than most. That's another point I wanted to make. Someone posted they didn't have desserts anymore. The dessert case was filled with delicious treats. My only complaint is there wasn't anything that was gluten free. I miss the flourless chocolate lava cake they used to serve, I wish their baker could bring it back. Our server was fantastic. She was personable, professional, attentive to our every need without being intrusive. I wish I'd asked her name so I could give her a shout out. I like that they have a nice outdoor patio now. We didn't sit out there because it was pretty windy, but hoping to on our next visit. Overall, I think Kula Bistro is still more than worth the drive upcountry for a very special dining experience.

They changed the braised pork to a white pie instead of the red that it was. Probably 70% worse…read morenow. BRING BACK THE ORIGINAL ONE!!!!! Pleaseeeeeew

I'm giving 5 stars because this is truly a wonderful family-owned establishment and a favorite…read morego-to of ours when we can make it upcountry. Though I don't get to go as often as I like, I was able to dine recently and noticed the menu changes. The new mushroom pasta dish was a winner! Bread and dips appetizer was tasty, but we had way more dip than bread. Growing up in Indiana, we were taught to appreciate a good portion of bread. It was okay though because we saved the dips to dip our pizza crust in. I was SO sad that the old braised pork pizza is gone. I lived for that spicy red sauce and lilikoi butter combo! My family and I were all looking forward to it and were a little underwhelmed by the new, more basic pork pizza option. I completely understand that menus change, and I actually enjoy trying new things. BUT... please bring it back. And the potato!! The new chicken dish was a satisfactory replacement for the duck that my husband loved, and I don't want to be that person, however... I think it would be so much better with a small salad like the duck used to have, and like the other fish entrée includes. Maybe it's my new fit girl perspective, but I do love a little something green on the plate. It needs that freshness to balance out all that salt, and the basic presentation is almost too simple for a chicken plate over $40. Lastly, PLEASE find a way to serve espresso at dinner?! The sign outside the building explicitly lists "pizza, gelato, espresso." It's a bummer to me and many others who are hoping to enjoy an espresso at the end of a lovely Italian-style meal, only to be let down with very little explanation as to why this is not an offering. But, as always, we loved our overall experience. The staff is genuine and seems to truly care about the food and beverages they serve. Just please bring back the pork pizza how it used to be, and let me have an espresso shot with my olive oil gelato... please :-)

Fantastic pizza! The crust was nice and crispy and the slices don't sag or drop when you pick them…read moreup. Nice crunch on the bottom with generous/appropriate amounts of toppings. We got the daily special pizza and it was delightful! Also enjoyed the old world and the classic cheese. Service was a little slow the night we were in. Our drinks didn't arrive until 3/4 of the way through our meal, which was slightly disappointing, but the delicious food was so yummy... I guess it evened out in the end? I'll definitely go back, but let's just hope the wine arrives on time in the future!

service was great, pizza was good, mozzarella sticks were amazing, and ceasar salad was incredible…read more need i say more? service was very friendly. highly recommend :p !! ps: we got the large pizzas so it was more than enough for a party of 5

Richard is a fantastic, kind, and knowledgeable owner and hires the best culinary talent! I 100%…read morerecommend Kula Lodge & Restaurant, especially as a stop before and after visiting Haleakalā National Park, as it is directly adjacent to Haleakalā Highway. If you desire to eat food made from as many local ingredients as possible in a varied but not overwhelming menu, and in a beautiful and serene location, Kula Lodge & Restaurant is your place. Check it out!

We went looking for the restaurant, but it unfortunately had a fire a few months before we got…read morethere. We went in the market, and the sweet woman working told us about it, but said the food truck was really good. We went over to the food truck. The staff there was very warm and welcoming as well. It was breakfast time, so we got a couple things to share - the banana bread French toast and a benedict. Everything was delicious and just what we needed after an early wakeup for the sunrise. The coffee was nice and hot for the cool morning as well. The grounds were very peaceful and had beautiful views. Everyone's food that was coming out looked and smelled amazing. Their lunch options sounded great too. Definitely worth a visit when driving through the area!

We love this place. We've been coming here for years and never disappointed. The food and drinks…read moreare excellent from salad to entrees and desserts! Service is always friendly and ambiance indoors is nice and relaxing. If you're looking for Italian food Upcountry for dinner try Casanova!

We went here the other night for a cheap date…read more You know, when you don't feel like cooking, but you don't want to spend a lot of money at a fancy place, so no cocktails, no appetizers, no dessert. Instead of two entrées, we decided one appetizer and one entrée, simply because I think their meatballs are the best on the island. They are fantastic. The fresh baked focaccia bread was also outstanding, although my girlfriend and I both found the vinegar/oil a weird mix as the vinegar would not stick to the bread because of the oil. The service was fantastic. You're probably thinking how is this review two star when half of the meal and service is already fantastic? It started with the last two times we came to Casanova's upcountry. *black and white flashback* Casanova's was the restaurant of our first date 6 years ago and we always went there for any special occasion. It always delivered. However, the two most recent trips were less than subpar. The pizza had to be eaten with a fork because the crust was so floppy and thin, and the service was just not there. We had one of those grumpy waiters who made us feel bad for even asking for something. And then the sorbet dessert took more than 30 minutes to come out. *back to present day* So we told ourselves, this would be the third strike, and if Casanova's still disappointed, they would be out of the regular rotation. The waiter asked us if we wanted bread, and my girlfriend said, "yes, please." But then I noticed that bread is not free. To me, you don't offer something that is complementary at many places without letting people know it's gonna cost them. Then, for the meatballs, which, mind you, are still amazing...the manager asked if we wanted parmesan cheese. We said yes, and he brought back what appeared to be Kraft Parmesan cheese from the green cylinder container. You guys all know the one. The ground powder that you grew up thinking is what Parmesan cheese topping is, but then you go to a real Italian restaurant and realize no, it's actually something that is a much more luxurious experience. It is bursting with flavor and shredded on your plate for maximum freshness. I guess it's the same thing as grinding pepper over your salad versus giving you a salt shaker. This is not Fazzoli's lol Also, I do not know if they raised prices since our last few times, but everything felt more expensive. The chicken parmesan was $33. It was ok. It wasn't this omg experience like we had had previously, but, we also couldn't tell if it was just all of the experiences finally coming to a head. A month ago, I had also spoken with a coworker of their own subpar experience at Casanova's as well. So here we are, over $60 for what should've been a cheap night out for one appetizer and one entrée. ...And with this crazy weird Parmesan experience. We felt like they were increasing prices, but lowering the quality of the ingredients. We couldn't put our finger on it, other than to say this was a value to price mismatch. Given the prior two times, this was strike three. We will not be going here again.

Pizza was delicious! Employees were so friendly and welcoming! Highly recommend, we will definitely…read morebe back :)

First time ever in Maui. This was our 5th day and pizza sounded awesome. While there were other…read morechoices with more reviews, sometimes the Guy Fieri poster and boost doesn't really mean the place is going to be that great. This pizza was top notch. The dough was fluffy, crunch and chewy. The topping were all top notch, high quality and the sauce both white and red are obviously made from scratch. It was so beyond tasty. We ate two pizzas in our hotel room, one veggie, artichoke, jalapeños, pineapple with white sauce. Then a supreme with jalapeño instead of bell pepper. It was so good we came back for a second round on the same night. Opting for red sauce, jalapeños, pineapple, olives, adding meat to one half Pepperoni/ham. The service was very friendly and fast, parking was super easy. The inside of was clean with TV and open patio type seating. Will be back here whenever in Maui.

Not only was the food fantastic the service was absolutely exceptional! The menu is as good as it…read moregets for an Italian place in Hawaii (having lived here for 25+ years). We ordered a plethora of menu items having the opportunity to try a majority of their pasta dishes as well as their espresso braised beef dish and chicken saltimbocca. If you're looking for a good Italian place in Wailea, this should be your number one choice.

I have been here many times and have not been disappointed. This recent time was no different…read more Since I was solo, I sat at the bar. There were some older couples already sitting there. I had a really nice conversation with them throughout my meal. Bartender could have been friendly but I think he was busy. I started with the MATTEO'S MAUI MULE: Maui's Organic Ocean Vodka | Dash Angostura Bitters House Lime Juice | Maui Brew Co. Ginger Beer. I always love a mule. This was a good one. Good flavor. I started with the ZUCCA salad: Local Mixed Greens / Roasted Butternut Squash / Mint Goat Cheese / Candied Walnuts / Balsamic Dressing. Very flavorful and light. All my favorite toppings. Yum! For my entree, I had the Chicken Parmigiana special: Chicken Cotaletta, Mozzarella Cheese, Marinara Sauce, Trofie Pomodoro. This was really good. Huge piece of chicken. Lots of cheese and sauce. Nice side of pasta. For dessert, I had the CANNOLI: Cannoli / Toasted Coconut Cream / Lemon Curd Sauce. Very tasty. Nice small bite to finish the meal. Overall a nice meal. Good conversation with my seatmates.

AMBIANCE: our son opted to treat us to a five star meal and booked it at this delightful outdoor…read moresetting with an ocean side view what you might call a rich man's enclave. FOOD: He ordered the three course lunch at a fixed price La Dolce Vita: Chef's course featuring a thinly sliced rib eye sandwich, Tuna Crudo & Gelato.(5/5) The other entrees were the Shoyu Ahi Poke Bowl packed with flavor(5/5) , The juicy Wagyu Burger, the seared ahi club wrap & Fresh fish served over Polenta and broccolini , The sorbet was incredibly refreshing to the palate .(5/5) SERVICE: Impeccable

Great place to stop by and eat and just hang out :).. servers are all friendly and the tables all…read morehave a view of the ocean. Food presented very well and balanced. We recommend stopping by if you are in town. 5 stars for the great service from the staff and we thank you !

We really enjoyed this place. Nice family atmosphere, nothing fancy. Friendly helpful service. The…read morefood was excellent. The service is semi-cafeteria style. You order first at the front, go sit down, and they bring it to you. My only complaint would be that the service was too fast. The display case of desserts was lovely. Too many good things to choose from. The pricing is reasonable. Location is just off the main road.

We ate here on a Tuesday night and the place was very quiet but friendly and welcoming. We don't…read morehave a broad experience with their menu but I can honestly say their bolognese was truly outstanding! We ordered it GF which came as Barilla (or similar rice/corn) penne. It wasn't great but adequate and we were grateful that they had the option. The garden salad was fresh and sizable but the tropical-style vinaigrette didn't quite match with the red-sauce pasta and a more traditional, savory, Italian dressing would have been better. The baked goods in the front glass case looked delicious and high-quality. They even had cannoli which was very hard to pass up. We'll definitely plan a return visit the next time we're in town.