Bistro Casanova - Kahului

We usually stop by for happy hour and enjoy their delicious mojitos and tapas. We definitely go for the great happy hour but stay for the service. We love how wonderful and knowledgeable Edward and Riley are.

I want to like this place and as a 20 year Maui resident I keep trying to come back to like it despite always having to wait very long to be seated. Last night 08/30/2024 was a horrific experience at this restaurant. My husband and I have been going through some really hard times in life and decided out of all places on island to treat ourselves here for dinner. I called ahead at 8:00pm asking if they had a table for two, I was adviced that they do but last call is at 8:30 which started our experience rushed before we even got there but hey I get it it’s the restaurant industry nobody wants to stay late. When we arrived we waited a while to be seated per usual and we ordered very quickly as to not make the servers stay late. Dinner was great and our server even offered us dessert which came as a pleasant surprise. Upon payment my husband and I realized that we had forgotten my card at home. I was horrified. We both humbly apologized and asked if we could please pay over the phone or come back the next day. My husband even told the manger where he worked to which she replied “yes I know the owner Peter tell him I said hi.” She proceeded to scold my husband for not having his wallet on him and then demanded that I leave my drivers license with her. I told her I had to drive tomorrow and needed my license and she said she didn’t care and that if I don’t come back tomorrow she will have to call the police. We were being extremely discriminated and criminalized. I of course came back the next day shortly after they opened to remedy the situation and when I got there they told me they added automatic gratuity to my bill I always tip as a former server, but to my understanding tipping is optional), Unless of course you look poor? Not only did they force me to automatically tip but the morning server suggested I tip more on top of the 20% they automatically added to the bill. I’m not even upset at the servers because as a former server I understand this is a reflection of ownership and management but wow! This was a traumatizing experience, to be criminalized and threatened with the police was excessive. I’m glad there are many beautiful Italian restaurants in kihei that I can frequent instead and I’m hoping that the owners and managers will do what is Pono in this situation to make it right for their own business. Hewa.

Jeremy was better than awesome.Thank you for a great time

One of us had the spinach ravioli and she said it was delicious. It was the perfect size meal for her. She did use some of the foccacia bread to soak up the remaining sauce. We had the mauka dish which had a variety of grilled meats with some roasted potatos and asparagus. That was a big dish and my husband and I shared it. Perfect for someone doing the carnivor diet! The chicken breast was tasty and moist. The lamb chop was delicious with the marsala and mushroom sauce. The steak was done perfectly rare, but warm.

Food was good not great, ate at the bar, bartender was nice and fun