 I‘o Chef James McDonald—a masterful food artist—also owns O‘o Farm, the
bio-dynamic, pesticide-free farm in Kula. O‘o supplies exceptional
fruit, vegetables and herbs to his three Lahaina restaurants. His fresh
fish is delivered by boat directly to his beachside restaurants from
the fishermen who caught it, and his beef comes straight from Maui
Cattle Company (never frozen).
Tucked way in the back of the 505 Front Street complex, I‘o, Pacific‘o
and Feast at Lele whir away every night, creating three distinct dining
experiences. While we like Feast at Lele for their upscale take on the
luau, and we like Pacific‘o for its focus on Pacific Rim cuisine, our
favorite of the trio is I‘o. The modern décor and ocean views aside,
this is a mecca for anyone looking for a hand-crafted, perfectly
flavored meal that showcases Maui’s freshest ingredients. You should
not skip the appetizers.
The outrageously flavorful, smooth-as-silk Thai Curry Asparagus Soup
easily supports a ribbon of spicy tomato coulis with a big chunk of
lobster. The Mad Hatter features a flaky puff pastry overflowing with
scallops, mushrooms, chilies and lobster coconut curry. If you want
something simpler, hearty, and deeply satisfying, try the sweet roasted
beets—perfectly tender—sauced with rich pesto and creamy, salty feta
cheese.
The daily crudo menu is an inspired showcase for local ingredients.
Crudo means “raw” in Spanish, and I‘o’s version features small dishes
of fresh and marinated fish and seafood prepared with vegetables and
herbed dressings. Some of our favorite tastes have come from this
course. Entrees feature filets from Maui Cattle Beef Company, an
excellent fall-off-the-bone short rib, and of course, the most
succulent, fresh fish on the island.
The excellent wine list wins awards with several wines by the glass,
and the martini list (sorry, no lava flows) features our favorite, the
refreshing O‘o Garden: cucumber, pineapple juice and Maui Ocean Vodka.
I'o Restaurant
505 Front St., Lahaina, Maui
Phone: 808-661-8422
Web: www.iomaui.com
Open nightly for dinner 5:30pm-10pm
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I'o Restaurant