Kuma Nori - Japanese, Burlingame

1861 El Camino Real, Burlingame CA 94010
(650) 689-5436
Parking: in strip mall parking lot

Hours: Tues-Sat 5pm-9:30pm, Closed Sun-Mon

Last Visited: February 17, 2024

Food: 3 to 4 stars
Atmosphere: 3 to 4 stars
Service: 3 to 4 stars 
Price: $$ to $$$$

From the owners of Morning Wood, now Diamond Head General Store, comes Kuma Nori.  I was walking through the shopping center and noticed the Japanese letters and stopped to look at the menu.  I wasn't planning on trying it until the Chow family mentioned how great the wagyudon is. Thanks to someone's thorough yelp review, I arrived at 4:20pm on a rainy Saturday and waited ten minutes for the iPad waitlist (on yelp) to be put outside, along with the A-frame sign containing the menu and the other sign saying BYOB since they don't have a liquor license yet.  From there, I returned to my vehicle, sheltered from the rain and wind.

 

About ten minutes before 5pm, I received my first text asking me to look at the menu since they're expecting large groups (aka 4 people) and then a little after, I received a second text - this one to get ready to be seated.  Your whole party must be present in order for you to be seated.  Note that if you have a need for a high chair, you should plan to count your baby/toddler as a member of your party since it's a small place (they managed to fit someone's baby, 5th wheel, onto the bench seating after a minor scolding about how that isn't a party of 4, but a party of 5).  Also note that even if you arrive early enough to be part of the first round of seating, they fill the restaurant about 1/3 of the way full to manage the kitchen.    

Once in the restaurant, the pop music blaring and modern decorations make it a fun and casual atmosphere, but tables are quite close together - it's actually hard to get into and out of the two person tables since one side is bench seating along the wall.  You're right next to your neighbor which is great for seeing what everyone else has ordered, but bad news if you're seeking a private experience.

I wanted to balance out my selection with one fried item, one meat with rice, and one other dish.  

- "Almost famous" fried chicken - The menu says that this boneless fried chicken has a spicy salt and vinegar rub, comes with nanban sauce, shredded cabbage, and 'ryowa' sauce.  Since I had gotten the Morning Wood spicy fried chicken and nearly collapsed from the aftermath of too much habanero and my system not tolerating the spicy sauce, I knew I wanted to try their fried chicken again, this time, without the spice.  Of the three dishes, this was by far the best one - juicy dark meat, crunchy batter, and finely shredded cabbage topped with a creamy sauce containing small pieces of egg white and sprinkled with green onions.  This was a perfect balance - fried goodness and a refreshing salad with creamy dressing.  I had to look up what nanban referred to and found that unlike karaage where you marinate and then fry, nanban chicken is just the opposite - it's usually fried and then dipped in sauce.  That's likely why there is a separate sauce here with red chili in it - so as to keep the batter crispy.  Even without the nanban sauce, it's quite tasty and the crunch lasted throughout the meal as we savored the last bite after trying other dishes and nearly finishing our dinner.  Solid four stars - if I were to go back, I would definitely get this again. It's easily shareable and very good.  $23

- Crab roll - Dungeness crab meat is put inside a butter obanyaki and served with frisee and a yuzu kosho hollandaise sauce.  So reading the Kuma Nori menu is an experience in itself as it's a guessing game if you don't know all of your Japanese foods well.  Once again, I wasn't sure what to expect and had to look up what obanyaki is.  If it sounds like takoyaki, it's in the same family.  It's like having a crab cake and not at the same time.  The tender crab meat is very moist and stuffed inside of this pancake batter which has been crisped in whatever device they are using in the kitchen.  What's weird is that they don't serve this with a knife and fork (unlike the chicken which came with a large steak knife and a fork).  This makes for a great appetizer.  The crab gives this dish a lot of richness and the creamy yuzu kosho sauce is a nice pairing, although it's not particularly strong. Yuzu koshu is a Japanese condiment made of fresh chilis, salt, and the juice and zest of yuzu (a citrus fruit).  However, I pretty much just tasted a very mild citrus and not much else.  The frisee is topped with tiny round rice crackers (bubu arare) which gave it a little crunch. This was ok to try, but personally, I like this type of pancake as a dessert with red bean instead of crab.  I would choose a crab cake over this dish, although the pancake was browned nicely and a touch crispy.  $32

- Wagyudon - The wagyudon is listed as market price based on the specific farm and cut.  Today's was from Hokkaido prefecture.  The menu lists this as house tare, shoyu cured egg yolk, steamed rice, and garlic. Some other things that come with this is pickled vegetables, microgreens, green onions, tiny round rice crackers (bubu arare), and fresh horseradish.  On the wall is a certificate of authenticity for the wagyu.  So this is going to sound like I'm a total snob, but after having Kobe beef in Japan where I had to cook it myself, I still remember the wonderful fattiness and how that complemented the slight smokiness from the grill.  Here, you can enjoy thin rare slices in the house tare, which is typically made with soy sauce, mirin, sake, brown sugar, vinegar, and aromatics.  The rice in the layer below contains furikake and the sauce is soaked into the rice making for a flavorful bite.  Let me break this down.  The meat is tender and fatty.  Nothing is overcooked even if you leave the lid on it for a bit (I was still eating the crab roll and let this sit a little).  Each bite feels luscious, creamy, and rich and occasionally, you'll get a crispy garlic chip which is a burst of flavor on its own.  However, some of the pieces of beef contained sinew. It was manageable, but still present.  I also longed for the wagyu to have that touch of smokiness from being cooked and that was missing.  It's more like eating a tartare which can also be good, but is not the same.  I'm sure cooking it would also be a tricky endeavor because then it could become tough and overcooked if you're not careful. This dish was just ok for me.  It's easily shareable if you want to try other things. $68

When it comes to service, the two servers were friendly, but considering that your bill has an automatic 18% gratuity, I expect a bit more service.  Menus are already on the table when you arrive.  Since I had already looked at the menu as instructed by the text and was ready to order, the wait seemed extra long.  They don't bring water unless you ask for it, so you're pretty much just waiting for everything. 

I heard the server telling the table behind us that the crab roll was a new menu item and asking about what they thought about it, but he didn't ask us.  While that server did come to remove a plate and checked on us once, nobody checked on us again until the end of the meal when they brought the bill and simultaneously asked if we wanted anything else.   

While it was a good place to try since we were celebrating a special occasion, the price tag for most dishes is pretty high.  The food is a variation of what you can get elsewhere; for example, the kuma katsudon is made with a rather large kurobuta pork rib loin, but even in the short period that the restaurant has been open (just a few months), the price tag for that has already gone up and is now $38.  

Other menu items include hambagu steak (hamburger steak), metaiko crab pasta, and the stupid tuna roll which is quite a popular offering.  

Overall, visiting Kuma Nori was an experience that you can't find locally, and I would definitely get the fried chicken again.  The other items were three stars for me.  If you plan to go, show up early to get on the waitlist. 

Liholiho Yacht Club - Hawaiian Fusion, San Francisco

871 Sutter St, San Francisco CA 94109
(415) 444-liho
Parking: street parking
Hours: Mon-Thurs 5pm-10:30pm, Fri-Sat 5pm-11pm, Closed Sundays
http://liholihoyachtclub.com/

Last Visited: December 8, 2016

Food: 3 to 4 stars
Atmosphere: 3 stars
Service: 3 to 4 stars
Price: $$$ to $$$$

Liholiho Yacht Club is a hip place with dishes that have Hawaiian and Asian influences.  The neon sign in blue out front makes it easy to find.  Reservations can be a bit difficult, but I was able to get them on a weeknight slightly in advance without too much effort.

During my visit, it was a rainy evening, and that made the space a bit humid - perhaps that's a bit reminiscent of Hawaii itself without the warmth.  The restaurant has an open kitchen and a lot of light colored wood.

The server greeted us and explained that dishes were intended to be tapas sized and shared family style. We found her to be professional, but not particularly friendly in her demeanor - not sure if it's because we didn't order alcohol or if there was another reason.  She seemed friendlier to the table next to us which ordered a few more dishes and wine even though their party size was the same.  The presentation of dishes is nice with good attention to detail.

- Tuna Poke, sesame oil, radish, nori cracker - I loved the freshness of the poke in this dish.  The nori chip is a bit thicker than I would have liked, but it holds up well to the weight of the fish and the nori flavor is a bit stronger because of the thickness.  A lighter chip would have been preferred, but then you would need to serve it more as a dipping chip rather than a base.  A drizzle of dressing and microgreens top the fish.  If tuna is fresh, it's hard to go wrong with this kind of dish.  Good. $16.50

- Fried Oyster, beef carpaccio, butter lettuce, 1000 island - The oysters were good lightly crisp and the thinly sliced beef was tender.  Chives top the beef.  Although each ingredient was good on its own, this combination did not dazzle me.  Not bad, but not wow - just okay. -  $13.50

- Fried rice, bay shrimp, spam, abalone mushrooms (on menu) - Since my visit, I have heard that there is an off menu version of the same dish with house made spam that is pretty good.  Nevertheless, I found this dish to be very greasy.  There is an abundance of shrimp on top and spam in the dish.  The mushrooms absorb the flavors well, but I ended up taking most of this dish home.  I added cooked rice and stir-fried it again. This made it more palatable since it was less salty and the oil was better distributed. A bit heavy on its own.  Just okay.  $16.25

- Grilled Short Rib, escargot, bone marrow, mushrooms, fresh horseradish - This was the best dish of the evening.  The short rib sat atop leeks and red onions; the meat was cooked medium and topped with an herb sauce and a sprinkle of cheese.  The bone marrow was amazing - probably the best I've had.  Stuffed with escargot and topped with breadcrumbs (or maybe panko), each bite is scrumptious and tender - instead of a butter preparation, these escargot are nestled in the bone marrow and take on all of that flavor.    Although presentation looks a bit messy due to the jus, the taste makes up for it.  Must try!  $40.75

- Baked Hawaii, caramelized pineapple ice cream, vanilla chiffon - The presentation of this dish is lovely.  How can you not appreciate the beehive shape and lovely browning on the meringue?  The caramel swirl and refreshing pineapple ice cream was good, but I found the garnish of canned pineapple and flaked coconut to be less exciting.   $10.50


There are a lot of plate changes throughout the evening, so you can appreciate their service.  Note also that an employer mandate will be charged.

Overall, I think it's a fun experience to try a different cuisine, but not some place I would go regularly mostly because the price point is a bit high considering the service and size of the dishes.  The short ribs and bone marrow could bring me back though.

Morning Wood - Brunch, Hawaiian, Asian Fusion, San Bruno

260 El Camino Real, San Bruno CA 94056
No phone number listed
Parking: very limited parking spaces in parking lot; street parking recommended
Hours: Tues-Fri 8:30am-2pm, Sat-Sun 9am-2pm
https://eatmorningwood.business.site/

Last Visited: December 22, 2018

Food: 3 stars
Atmosphere: 3 stars
Service: 3 stars
Price: $$ to $$$

Open as of December 2017, Morning Wood quickly gained lines out the door with its appetizing Hawaiian/Japanese fusion breakfast and brunch menu.  The husband and wife chef team have certainly created dishes that will cause your mouth to water, but somewhat synonymous with island life, you'll have to get used to a slower pace, including a long wait, even if you arrive before opening time.

I arrived at 8:40am for their 9am opening and there were already a lot of people waiting outside of the restaurant on this brisk morning.  Although I was on the sidewalk, a lot of the parties sent a representative, so there had to be at least 40 people's worth of seats on the clipboard list that everyone was signing in on.  Due to their way of seating where they take a table in at a time and stagger seating, the first seating itself was not complete until almost 9:45 am.  Some patrons had already finished their meal before all seats were actually filled.  Due to some people on the list having incomplete parties, I got in after about an hour of waiting.

Inside, the restaurant has light blue hues and some wood decorations that are reminiscent of Hawaii.  There are also two televisions showing different channels. You'll also find that each table has a roll of paper towels and a wood box containing condiments and a mason jar of utensils.

The menu regularly changes - some days, you'll find a fusion version of Chinese porridge, matcha mochi pancakes, and other things that I couldn't find on today's menu.  Instead, there were variations like the Hapanese breakfast (miso soup and a bowl of rice topped with sous vide eggs with a choice of sides),  matcha bread pudding, corncheeseorice, and choconut macdaddy french toast.

- Crack Potatoes - This was the first dish to arrive and these beautifully roasted potatoes seasoned with a little bit of paprika, spice, seaweed, and black sesame, then topped with chopped green onions, were super tasty and quite addictive.  I had to pace myself so that I would leave room for other dishes.  The name is appropriate.  Get these.  $7

- Hawaiian Hot Fried Chicken - Ginger slaw, pickles, jalapenos, fried egg, and hawaiian sweet rolls.  This is labelled as "very spicy - order at your own risk, no returns!" I should have listened to the waitress when she said it is spicier than Thai-spicy, but I have a weakness for fried chicken.  I should have gotten the mochiko chicken instead.  A heavily breaded chicken cutlet is drenched in a ridiculously hot chili oil that will cause you to stop eating.  This chicken is served on top of a pickled ginger slaw that sits on a sweet roll.  While one may think that the mayonnaise-based slaw would cool the heat, you would be wrongly mistaken since the pickled ginger still creates more heat.  Under the fried egg is a pile of canned jalapenos, and you'll also find a few pickle slices sprinkled over the whole dish.  There's really no reason to offer a dish this spicy unless there is a contest for whom can handle the most heat. One bite, and I downed two glasses of water.  I don't understand what the chefs were thinking about this dish.  Most people have to bring this chicken home because they can't finish it.  The heat and reminders of the dish last throughout the day for hours - so uncomfortable in so many ways.  When we took it home as a leftover, we removed all of the breading, and therefore all of the oil, and an extremely thin cutlet was found under it all.  Not recommended unless you want some sort of bragging rights with your buddies or a memorable experience that you wouldn't wish on your enemies.  $16

- Yuzu Talkin' to me? - Two yuzu butter mochi pancakes are topped with blueberries, li hing mui powder, powdered sugar, and a dollop of yuzu honey butter with a slice of strawberry.  The menu says that these take "a LOT more time. If you can't wait, don't order it." While the pancakes are large, the yuzu flavor doesn't quite come across in the pancake or the butter (or maybe there just isn't enough butter).  I found that they had a nice toothsome texture because of the mochi, but actually tasted better the next day.  Since these came after the chicken, they rescued my taste buds.  Okay, but I wouldn't necessarily order it again. $18

In general, service is okay once you're in the restaurant - at least 2 people are working the room regularly, but as forewarned, food can take a while to arrive.  They also don't make menu modifications.  Note also that parties greater than six may be split up.

While I guess they are staggering seating the tables so that the kitchen doesn't get overwhelmed, bthis can be frustrating because you'll see an available table and still not be able to sit down.  If you're lucky, you'll be standing in line next to some cool people whom you can strike up a conversation with, or you can get some quality time in with your phone.  Don't be surprised to find a line.

Pig & Pickle - American/Fusion, Scottsdale AZ

2922 North Hayden Rd, Scottsdale AZ 85251
(480) 990-1407
Parking: in strip mall parking lot
Hours: Daily Happy Hour 4-6pm, Dinner 4-10pm, Late night 10pm-1am, Brunch Sundays 10am-2pm
http://pigandpickle.com/

Last Visited: May 12, 2014

Food: 3 stars
Atmosphere: 3 to 4 stars
Service: 2 to 3 stars
Price: $ to $$

I first read about this restaurant on the web and since my first choice restaurant turned out to be closed, this one seemed like a good option.  Who doesn't like bacon and pork?  When we entered the restaurant, it felt a bit on the dim side.  Once inside for a while, the red and yellow accent walls and somewhat bizarre art can be noticed.  The bar had high top tables near it and regular height tables on the other side of the dining room next to the kitchen.  We were lucky that we arrived early for dinner and with happy hour specials being only $5 each, we ordered a bunch of them to try as much as we could.

Service was just ok - when they were with us, it was good, but I found that there was definitely room for improvement.  Water glasses were frequently empty, and when I ordered, the server initially seemed ready to take my order without any notes, but quickly pulled out paper when I got beyond the third item.  When it was time to pay the check, nobody was around and I had to flag someone down to get a box and my bill. Our server was Christina.  She was pleasant when she was with us, but it felt like service was somewhat absent.  

All of the dishes below came from the happy hour menu and were $5 each.

- Dump Truck salad - Mixed lettuces, shaved baby veggies (cauliflower, carrots), seeds, radishes, pea sprouts, cucumber, and shallot vinaigrette - This salad is a great value during happy hour.  It's super fresh, and the tartness from the shallot vinaigrette is a really good way to offset some of the richer dishes that are offered. The seeds were a nice addition to give the salad a nutty taste.  I would definitely get this again. Four to five stars.  Typically, this is offered for $7 and $11.

- Bahn mi - Liver smear, ham, and hoisin glazed pork on fresh baguette.  The baguette was really good, nicely toasted.  Some of the same veggies used in the salad show up on the bahn mi, but pickled - cucumbers, carrots, red cabbage, jalapenos, and pea sprouts.  The smear was good.  The glazed pork and ham were ok, but not like real bahn mi.  One problem with this dish was that the pickled vegetables were not evenly pickled.  Some completely lacked any pickling while others were super sour.  All were probably supposed to come from the same batch.  The pickling was not sweet and sour like bahn mi veggies should be, so it missed the sweetness which contrasts the rest of the flavors.  Just ok.  I would prefer to get the smear alone with bread.

- Chef's charcuterie - Offal, sausage, pretzel bread, bread and butter pickles, pickled beets, pickled grapes, stuffed chicken sausage, caramelized onions, apricot jam, whole grain mustard, and butter are served with pretzel bread and foccacia bread.  This was extremely reasonable for the variety that you get - in California, it would be double the price even for happy hour.  The meats were nothing to call home about, but the combination of pickled items with meats was good.

- Beer Cheese - Pretzel bread, grape tomatoes, a single fried tortilla shell, and a mixture of pickled carrots and red onion are served with a dish of hot beer cheese.  I thought the initial taste was good, but as I ate this more, I found it very rich with it getting sweet and bitter with each bite - just a strange combination.  I didn't enjoy this dish at all, but I was hoping for something more reminiscent of fondue.  It's rare that I stop eating a dish and this was one of those occasions.  I would not order this again.

- Tacos with pork belly, siracha, scallion - Diced pork belly is covered in what seems like a thickened siracha sauce is topped with scallions, grated cheese, and a small piece of avocado.  The siracha was too overwhelming and I could no longer taste the crispiness of the pork belly.  The avocado quantity was also too small to really enjoy the combination of textures. This dish was just so-so for me.

- Pork Tostadas with ginger aioli, kimchi, scallions - Two tostadas are served over salad greens.  The tostada shells were crispy, but pretty greasy.  The pulled pork was tender and mild, and although the kimchi was not close enough to the real thing for my taste, the combination of topping ingredients tasted good.  Two to three stars because of the greasy shell.

Pig & Pickle offers a variety of dishes from seafood to sandwiches.  There is a lot of fried options on the menu.  I take responsibility for not selecting a more balanced selection of dishes, but I also think many of the items were on the greasy side.  After dinner, I felt pretty uncomfortable.  Pig & Pickle offers great happy hour values, but if you've had authentic banh mi or other ethnic dishes, they aren't quite up to par with those.

Service could be better, but presentation is nice.  A few tweaks with components of the menu and service could really improve the overall experience.

Doce Lunas - Fusion/California, Kenwood

8910 Sonoma Hwy, Kenwood, CA 95452
(707) 833-4000
Parking: in shopping center

Last Visited: July 27, 2003

Food: 2 stars
Atmosphere: 3 stars
Service: 2 stars
Price: $$$

Doce Lunas is located in the heart of Kenwood. When you walk into Doce Lunas and sit, you’ll notice lots of interesting plates on the wall. For those who love collections, each plate is unique and you’ll find the collection quite enjoyable. There is patio dining available, and a number of seats in the dining room have a view of the open kitchen. Just above the kitchen wall is a blackboard listing the menu. This is especially difficult for older patrons, since there some seats require you to strain to properly see the menu. I visited Doce Lunas for brunch.

- Chicken teriyaki – The chicken teriyaki was nicely presented over rice accompanied with vegetables in a black iron pan. The chicken, though tender, didn’t have the fresh taste that is desired. It tasted like it had been frozen. The sauce soaks into the rice, and the portion is good, but there wasn’t anything spectacular about this dish.

- Poached egg over crab cake over a muffin - The crab cake was good, but also not spectacular. This dish is accompanied with fried potato wedges. I found the English muffin to be a bit soggy, so wasn’t particularly impressed.

At this time, I find no reason to return to Doce Lunas. Service was slow since there was a large party on the patio. In fact, I found the servers to be a bit snobbish and noticed them talking about our table in an unfavorable light which dropped them from 3 star service to 2 stars.

Glen Ellen Inn - California/Fusion, Glen Ellen

13670 Arnold Dr, Glen Ellen, CA 95442
(707) 996-6409
Parking: street parking
http://www.glenelleninn.com/

Last Visited: November 23, 2003

Food: 2 to 3 stars
Atmosphere: 4 stars
Service: 4 stars
Price: $$ to $$$

Glen Ellen Inn – even the name incites a feeling of warmth. The cinnamon and other earth tones of the walls are also inviting. When you walk into the building, you see the bar and tables, and there was a very strong scent of vinegar coming from the kitchen the day that I visited.

The interesting thing about this place is the toilet paper stand in the bathroom. Rather than a holder on the wall, there’s a shiny stand holding a single roll of toilet paper. The restroom also had five chairs just sitting there. Maybe the bathroom makes for an ideal storage spot, but I couldn’t help but feel like the room was waiting for an audience.

One of the best things about the Glen Ellen Inn was the beginning of the meal and the end. Upon our arrival, we received hot savory scones. It seems to be rarer and rarer that hot bread is served, and on this cold day, it was very inviting. At the end of our meal, we were given warm spice cookies. It’s these little touches that make this place special.

Okay, onto the meal itself. All sandwiches are served with choice of soup, salad, or potatoes.

- Artichoke and Sonoma Jack Sourdough Melt – Served with red bell peppers and mushrooms. I’m not sure where the sourdough was, but the sandwich was a melt. It was served on the same homemade rosemary bread that the other sandwiches were served on, so I was a little disappointed having prepared myself for some good sourdough. The sandwich is flavorful, but not the best it could be. $9.95

- Pulled Kahlua Pork Sandwich – Served with caramelized onions and red bell pepper aioli. The pulled pork was very tender and accompanied with a nice dressing. There is a lot of succulent meat in the sandwich, and it is also served on homemade rosemary bread. Since the bread is very homestyle, it tended to break apart fairly easily although it was sliced very thick. The bread itself had a crumbly texture that just didn’t seem to fit the sandwich appropriately. I think I would have liked the pulled pork on a roll instead. $10.95

- Lobster Bisque – The soup was a brilliant orange/coral color that matched the décor and served in a big bowl. A light green oil is lightly drizzled on top of the soup. Once upon a time, I had some lovely lobster bisque on a cruise ship, and it was really good, with small chunks of lobster in the soup. This didn’t quite compare. There weren’t any lobster chunks in this soup. The taste of wine or sherry was very strong – too strong. It overpowered the soup to the point that I couldn’t taste the lobster flavor anymore. Portions vary – some people at our table got a large helping. Mine was noticeably smaller. I wasn’t particularly pleased with this bisque. Maybe I should have gotten potatoes instead.

We sat on the covered patio which is heated during winter. The chairs were not the most comfortable, but as long as you don’t shift your weight much, you’re fine. The table has tea light candleholders that have these metal leaves wrapped around the glass. The service was attentive. I liked the water glasses – they use the thin kind. The meal was not the best I’ve had, nor the worst.

David Paul's Lahaina Grill - Hawaiian Fusion, Maui, Hawaii

127 Lahainaluna Road
Lahaina, Maui, HI, 94761-1502
(808) 667-5117, (800) 360-2606
Parking: street parking, nearby pay parking lots
http://www.lahainagrill.com/

Last Visited: July 4, 2003

Food: 5 stars
Atmosphere: 3 to 4 stars
Service: 4 stars
Price: $$$$$

David Paul’s is the place to go if you plan to splurge on any dining event. Whether it be a nice dinner or lunch, you will get exquisite food for an equivalently exquisite price. If you want to splurge just that much more, go for the Chef’s Tasting Menu ($74). You are guaranteed a treat, but you also need to have a hearty appetite. The tasting menu also comes with the choice of seafood or meat courses and both are delightful.

Service at David Paul’s is attentive. They are accustomed to a wide clientele and the casual atmosphere is welcoming. The colors are fresh and clean – teals, ivories, and whites. The bar is in the front of the restaurant. The art is present, but I found the dishes being served to be more eye-catching than anything else.

- The Cake Walk – Three petite towers – Kona lobster crab cake, Lousiana rock shrimp cake, and seared ahi cake - are presented on a white rectangular plate. Each tower is dressed with its own sauces and decorations and each contains a tower of flavor. I particularly enjoyed the crab cake with its avocado relish and mustard cream as well as the ahi on a small bed of rice. This is a must try dish. $19

- Eggplant Napoleon – This is another one of those towers. Another mountain of flavor made of thinly sliced morsels of smoked mozzarella, mushrooms, olives, roasted peppers, and to tie it all together, a tomato-balsamic vinaigrette. It was hard to taste each ingredient individually, but you’re definitely going for a full flavored extravaganza in all these dishes. $14

- Baby Romaine Caesar Salad – Pretty standard overall. Served in the classic way with whole romaine hearts that are dressed with standard dressing and asiago cheese. If you love Caesar, go for it, but it’s definitely worth opting out for another more exotic item. $12

- Tequila Shrimp and Firecracker rice – The presentation of this dish is great. The rice molded with the fiery rice – southwestern flavor - on one side and white rice on the other to create an attractive display. The tequila shrimp is butterflied and it tastes great. $31

- Maui Onion Crusted Seared Ahi – I really enjoyed the texture created by the onion crust on this ahi. The sweetness of the onion goes well with the delicate flavor of the fish. Excellent. This dish is served with rice and seasonal vegetables. A dish that must be tried. $39

- Sauteed Mahi Mahi – The fish is served with spinach, pancetta, gorgonzola, and mashed potatoes. The fish was cooked very nicely and the flavors of the other items complement the fish well. $37

- Center Cut Veal Chop – The veal is served with wild mushrooms and a truffle risotto. This dish was also done nicely. I preferred the seafood dishes over the meat dishes – possibly because I was thinking I’m on an island surrounded by water – seafood is the focus here. Certainly, there was nothing to complain about. $39

- Steak Christian – See above. The steak was served with a prawn and garlic mashed potatoes. The sauce was béarnaise with a demi-glace of port wine. The steak was also done nicely, but again, I really enjoyed the seafood. $39

- Kalua Duck – Of the three meat dishes, the kalua duck is the one to get. The crisp skin is what got me. The confit of duck leg is served in a plum wine reduction. Both succulent and tender, the duck is done extremely well. It comes with wild rice and seasonal vegetables also. This is a must try dish. $29

- Triple Berry Pie – I’m not a big berry fan, but if you are, you’ll like this one a lot. Raspberries, blackberries, and black currants are combined and baked in a pie. It’s berry berry all around. $12

- Road to Hana, Maui – Layers of light and fluffy chocolate cake are topped with an even fluffier chocolate sour cream mousse and all is covered in a chocolate shell. It’s a mound of heaven for any chocolate lover, and if you aren’t a chocolate fanatic, you might become one. This is still a must try dessert. $12

- Vanilla Bean Crème Brulee – For me, this wasn’t an outstanding crème brulee, but it was a very good crème brulee. If you’re deciding what to get, opt for the Road to Hana. Custard is infused with Tahitian vanilla beans and the top of the custard is sprinkled with sugar which is cooked to a golden brown. This was a little on the darker side, but the custard was still good. $10

The only bad thing about David Paul’s is that it can be a bit crowded. Tables are put in fairly close quarters, and it’s time to get somewhat cozy with your neighbors. They are literally inches away. If I could do one thing to improve the experience, I would provide a sorbet to my patrons to clear their palates between courses. Then the full flavor experienced can be discovered with each dish. All in all, David Paul’s is a must try for me, especially the Cake Walk appetizer, the Maui Onion Crusted Seared Ahi, Kalua duck, and the Road to Hana dessert.