Pauwela Cafe

Description:

• It's easy to get lost while searching out this wonderful cafe, but it's such a find. I never dreamed you could dine so well with such pleasing informality. The tiny cafe, with a few tables indoors and out, has a strong local following for many reasons. Three local boys purchased this well-loved cafe from the original owners in 2004. Chef Brandon Shim (formerly with Tommy Bahama's in Wailea) trained under previous owner Chris Speere at the Maui Community College Culinary Arts School. Chef Brandon certainly has learned well. Nearly everything in this tiny cafe is made from scratch. Breakfasts feature such scrumptious items as pain perdu (French bread in orange-vanilla custard) and Belgian waffles. At Sunday brunch, he whips up eggs Benedict on cornbread with lemon hollandaise. Lunch is a great collection of salads and sandwiches, including the scene-stealing kalua-turkey sandwich of moist, smoky shredded turkey with cheese on home-baked French bread, covered with a green-chile and cilantro sauce. For vegetarians, there's a taro burger and veggie burritos. Because this cafe is located in an industrial center of sailboard and surfboard manufacturers, you may find a surf legend dining at the next table. It's a little less than 1 1/2 miles past the Haiku turnoff and 1/2-mile up on the left.

• © Frommer's 2013

Awards:

Frommer's

•  Recommended 2010