Maui’s Hidden Restaurant That’s A Destination Sushi Bar

Botero Lounge, in the Grand Wailea’s lavish lobby, has always experienced off-the-hook cocktails, and the meals in the area has ranged broadly, from bar bites to burgers. But the beverages — and the artwork, of system — had been normally the draw. Surrounded by some of the world’s most popular parts by Colombian sculptor Fernando Botero, visitors to the hotel could libate in museum-like splendor. Now, major sushi lovers can rejoice — Botero Lounge is now a veritable sushi spot. Chef YongHo Mun, AKA Chef Moony, a South Korea-born, Matsuhisa-educated chef who worked at the flagship Matsuhisa Aspen, a pinnacle of Japanese dining in the U.S., has introduced his beautiful expertise — and humorous charm — to what will soon be Maui’s hottest desk. It just opened quietly past thirty day period and does not take reservations. When phrase will get out, there will be a line out the doorway. It is that fantastic.

The Grand Wailea, a Waldorf Astoria Vacation resort, has extensive been a location for luxury and family travel. The premier vacation resort on the island is undergoing a total renovation, and the rollout of the new Botero Lounge is an auspicious harbinger of what is to appear.

Chef Moony exemplifies the adage that you have to know the guidelines in advance of you can split them. His command of common sushi preparing would have been more than enough to shake up South Maui, but he has taken it substantially even more with his individual innovative twists on the freshest uncooked fish you will discover on the island: consider octopus carpaccio with yuzu chimichurri and albacore sashimi with truffle.

When it’s achievable to pop in for a speedy cocktail and a number of parts of nigiri, this is the type of location where you’ll want to settle in and have a total meal. Commence with a craft cocktail from the new list, then allow for Chef Moony to advise dishes. You can’t go incorrect, except you count more than-purchasing, which is a predictable hazard and 1 for which you simply cannot be faulted.

We begun with a nigiri sampler, each individual bite the ideal representation of its typical notion, then transitioned to some of the new-design uncooked dishes, as very well as a couple cooked dishes. There is not a single merchandise that is not on level, so you can simply just comply with your motivation through the extensive menu — which, by the way, retains a bar burger, of sorts: Wagyu with crispy prosciutto, pepperoncini aioli, and pickled Maui onions. My only regret is not acquiring the alimentary bandwidth to attempt this. Next time!

As immersed as you will be in the foods, really don’t neglect to search up and remember that you are surrounded by nine Botero sculptures commissioned by the home, all lovingly preserved (and some now in the system of restoration, which is fascinating to see).

The new cocktail checklist is designed to complement each the sushi menu and the lounge vibe. Sakura in Bloom brings together Suntory Roku gin with Geikkaikan Umeshu Sakura — in essence plum wine and gin — and offers it a lemon raise. It is a crisp, refreshing drink with everything on the menu.

Chef Moony is not back again in the kitchen, he’s front and heart guiding the sushi bar, and he’s delighted to appear out to your table, as nicely, to discuss about just about every dish with treatment and pleasure.

The opening of Botero Lounge is an exciting taking place for common visitors to South Maui, and a legitimate location for environment-course sushi which is truly worth a generate from anywhere on the island.