Maui breakfast round-up: Gazebo

I'm a big fan of breakfast, probably just because I like eggs, pastries, thick bacon, coffee, and yes, coffee. Call me a brunch snob. My standards are pretty high, considering I can cook a mean omelette at home myself, so what really draws me to dining out in early morn is that lazy Sunday brunch feeling. Taking time with the paper, friends, and catch-up conversation. Of course, good, hearty food helps too.

Lately, I've been going around town trying out different breakfast spots on the island, all in the search of the perfect place. I've already written about La Provence, as well as a cute donut shop, so thought I'd cover some of the critically-acclaimed destinations. Such as Gazebo in Napili. I had never even heard about this place until recently, though the restaurant has been around for almost (or over?) ten years. It's one of those sleeper spots--a place everyone on the West side seems to know about and spread word of mouth. So one morning, we ventured out that way, hoping to see what it was all about.

The restaurant is located at the Napili Shores condominium complex, hidden away in a tiny, what else, gazebo, alongside Napili Bay. It's an understatement to say it is very popular. We went there on a Wednesday morning, shortly before 10am, and the line was out the door, snaking alongside the condo swimming pool. We waited about 30 minutes to just to get seated. It would have been longer if we requested a table along the railing for the best ocean view, but nearly all of the seats have a pretty nice view of Napili Bay.

We chatted with a bunch of people in line and found that nearly all of them were tourists, and many, repeat visitors to the restaurant. The same breakfast and lunch menu is offered all day, from 730am-2pm. The Macadamia Nut Pancakes ($7.75) and Fried Rice Plate ($10.25) were highly recommended by folks so that is what we ordered, to share. For old times' sake, we also ordered Corned Beef Hash and Eggs ($8.95).

Macadamia nut pancakes with topping

Once we ordered, the food came out very quickly. Our server even had our plates divided among us three, which we thought was really cool for them to do. The pancakes came out with a thick, whipped butter-like topping. A bit scary-looking, actually. We asked what it was, to find out it was a Dream Whip butterscotch mixture with maple syrup. Hmmm... It was very sweet, rather, too sweet, and on the pancakes, was a bit too much. Scraped it off. The pancakes themselves were pretty standard, almost a bit too hyped for what it really was.

Fried rice plate

The fried rice plate, even divided among three plates, was huge. The rice contained a variety of different meats including sausage, bacon, and ham along with onions and scallions. And on top, scrambled eggs. The fried rice was pretty good, but again, nothing too special. Same with the corned beef hash plate--right out of the can. Perhaps at that point we didn't expect the corned beef hash to be homemade, but it would have been really nice if it was.

Everyone seemed to enjoy the view

If anything, the only thing to really come here for is the view. It is stunning, and the ambiance relaxing (well, that is, if you don't mind seeing a line of customers impatiently waiting for a table.... your table!) We were in and out of there quickly. A walk along the beach afterward let us work off some of the, um, disappointment. Definitely not worth the long drive from central Maui all the way out here for breakfast, but if in the area, perhaps we might consider it again, just to try the other items on the menu. Or then again, maybe not.

Gazebo, at the Napili Shores, 5315 Lower Honoapiilani Road, Lahaina. T: 808-669-5621.

Comments

[Monica]

I know this doesn't quite fit in with your usual foodie fare, but... any idea where to get Dole Whip on Maui?

[Deborah Dowd]

I am not sure which is more appealing- the food or the place.

[The Weatherlys]

We loved the Gazebo - the banana/mac nut pancakes with the whipped topping were awesome!!! Wish we had the recipe.

[Kent]

I absolutely disagree with this post. The Gazebo is our absolute favorite breakfast place in the WORLD!!! The pancakes are amazing and the rice plate is out of this world. Worth the wait and the staff is super friendly and amazingly helpful...truly a place where you feel the Aloha spirit!

[Danielle]

I also absolutely disagree. The pancakes were so amazing!! They melted in your mouth! And the whipped topping was a perfect addition... you didn't even need to add syrup! We didn't have to corned beef hash or fried rice, but even the breakfast burrito was to die for... which is hard to do! The Gazebo is delicious and compltely worth the 30 minute wait!

[bionic bunny!]

i'm also searching for a recipe, especially after shopping trader joe's today and seeing banana bread mix stocked right next to pancake mix!
i'm really picky about my pancakes. hate ihop. denney's are good, my very favorite local place (in so. cal) has wonderful everything, but their pancakes are like lead.
i enjoyed the gazebo's pancakes so much i had them twice last month. i love the topping, and their coconut syrup is out of this world! the mister loved all of his choices, too.
but then, we were the "kids" hanging with the "old folks" that have been coming to napili for the last 15-30 years.
while we waited, i sat with my swollen feet in the pool. umbrellas are offered for either pounding sun OR rain. staff and other diners are wonderful. and it sits just above the tide pools that my MIL loved so much.

[Larry]

We are breakfast fans and the Gazebo is the first place we go when we visit Maui. We certainly disagree with the negative comments.