Cuisine:

• Tapas
• Pacific Rim
• Diner
• Waterfront dining
• Brew, Pubs, Microbreweries
• Bar
• Contemporary

Mala Description:
Mala Ocean Tavern is a very small restaurant right on the waterfront, with many small plates (tapas) and a few full-size entree plates. Owned by chef Mark Ellman, formerly of Avalon restaurant in Lahaina, currently also owner of Maui Tacos and Penne Pasta Cafe. Just 6 tables are outsid on the patio oceanside, with the rest of the tables indoors. The restaurant is across the stree from the ocean side of the Lahaina Cannery Mall (Safeway grocery store).
Chef Mark Ellman---the man behind the late Avalon and Maui Tacos---is back with Mala, an ocean tavern. He mixes crowd pleasers (huge Kobe-style beef burgers), local produce (organic when possible), a specials list of more upscale dishes (saffron-braised ahi over creamy polenta, grilled opah with mojo verde) and small-plate servings to create a casual waterfront restaurant that's a Lahaina hot spot. The tapas-style dishes are bigger than the usual grazing size. And while the regular menu items may read overly familiar---guacamole, fried calamari---they're all made with choice ingredients, often locally grown. And what really sets this modern American bistro apart is its wine list, dotted with exclusive boutique vintages from California wineries. Reservations are recommended---try to grab a lanai table overlooking the water.


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