Mama’s Fish House in Paia and Lahaina Grill were among TripAdvisor’s top 25 fine-dining restaurants in the U.S. this year.
The restaurants were named 13th and 14th respectively in the annual Travelers’ Choice awards issued by the travel website TripAdvisor.
“We’re ecstatic,” said Ally Freeland, director of marketing at Lahaina Grill. “For a small little Lahaina restaurant to be named to the list – we love it.”
The website awarded 353 fine-dining restaurants total, in categories that also included the top 25 in the world, as well as separate lists for Asia, Canada, Europe and other destinations.
Mama’s Fish House ranked 10th in last year’s U.S. ranking, while Lahaina Grill made its first appearance.
“We’ve seen a big shift in guests spending time on social review sites like Yelp and TripAdvisor,” Freeland said. “We don’t ask them to make these reviews so it’s amazing how much information they put in them. Our staff prides itself on being detail oriented and takes the time to really engage guests and make their dining experience so special that they go out of their way to make these reviews.”
The West Maui restaurant owned by chef Jurg Munch has been located at the ground floor of the Lahaina Inn for the past 24 years and seats about 130 guests. The restaurant, which is open only for dinner, has 1,473 reviews and 4 stars out of five on TripAdvisor.
“Some of those on the top 25 list are celebrity chefs and large restaurants,” Freeland said.
“So we’re really honored and humbled to be on that list and superhappy to see Mama’s Fish House on that list, too, because we’re all trying to make Maui a fine-dining destination.”
Tami Joslin, general manager of Mama’s Fish House, said she was proud of her crew and thankful to their customers.
“It’s always nice to get the recognition,” Joslin said. “We’re thankful for the readers and vision of the owners. They had the vision, and they stuck to it regardless of what anyone said.”
Founders Floyd and Doris Christenson have owned the restaurant for four decades, and “Mama Doris” still greets and chats with customers, Joslin said. The restaurant that serves lunch and dinner has 4,388 reviews and 4 stars out of five on TripAdvisor.
“I think we have something really special, and I think it’s felt by the customers that come in,” Joslin said. “(The awards) puts you in a limelight, and there’s always room for improvement. People come with high expectations so it keeps you on your toes.”
For all of the restaurant lists on TripAdvisor, visit www.tripadvisor.com/TravelersChoice-Restaurants.
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