Sly Mongoose (Lahaina, Maui, Hawaii, U.S.A. )

November 2022

The Sly Mongoose, a true dive bar located in an industrial area of Lahaina.  They are very close to the Sugar Cane Train Food Truck park at 1036 Limahana Place, Lahaina, Maui. There is no web site. As you enter there is a 10 person zig zag situp bar, dark in here as you would expect from a dive bar. This place only holds about 22 people, with 2 pub high round tables of 4, one window table if you can call it that, which seats 2 and one more bench facing the wall that seats 2 maybe 3 at best. They do not serve food here, but there are food trucks around the corner and you can bring it in to the bar.

Bar hours 10 am to 2 am but may close early if no one is here.

Happy hour runs 4 pm to 7 pm and the only features are domestic beer and Schnapps for $3.50. I asked ,"What do you have for white wine?" The bartender replied, "Woodbridge." I said, "That will do." Wine is $7, well drinks are $6.50.  Their beer fridge is a white double door residential kitchen fridge, it works! It was all locals at the bar, but you were made to feel welcome. The bartender was fantastic, nice and friendly and kept checking on us. By 5 pm on Friday it was pretty full, again mostly locals. They have air-conditioning, but no outside seating. They sell t-shirts! No I didn't  get one. The Sly Mongoose is not much bigger that some basements I have been in. They do sell chips. If you are looking for fancy don't come here. If you would like a good dive bar experience, this may just be the place for you!

The Pint & Cork Gastro Pub (Wailea, Maui, Hawaii, U.S.A.)

November 2022

We stumbled upon The Pint & Cork Gastro Pub when in Wailea at the Shops at Wailea mall. The first place we went to was out of white wine so we left and this was a better find. www.thepintandcork.com. It has a very nice long L shaped sit-up bar that seats 25 comfortably. The bar seating is very popular! On the main floor there are 13 tvs. There is a small area upstairs. There is an outside patio area in the open mall area. Open from 12 om to midnight daily except closed in Tuesdays. Happy Hour runs 12 noon to 5 pm: $6 local draft, 30% off glasses of wine, $3 off signature cocktails,  $4 & 5 bottle beer ND discounts in good.  7 pub high tables ranging from 2 to 6 people. 15 different types of beer on tap. Large liquor selection and cocktails. For lunch we had the appy, Deviled Eggs Rockefeller,  darn good! Never saw Deviled Eggs for an appy before, but what a great idea! We shared the 2 Ahi Tacos, fresh caught blackened Tuna seared rare, shaved cabbage, Guacamole,  Pico de Gallo, roasted garlic  Chipotle Aoli, crispy Molokai potato strip, and flour tortillas.  They were very good. We had the Lobster Mac and Cheese, right up their with one if the best we ever had.  The big bonus, one can have a beverage while your spouse goes shopping. We'll worth trying out, you will be very pleased. We will be back for sure.

Stopwatch Bar & Grill (Makawao, Maui, Hawaii U.S.A.)

November 2022

We checked out the Stopwatch Bar and Grill at 1127 Makawao Avenue, Makawao, Maui, Hawaii  www.stopwatchbarandgrill.com

 Another great find, they have parking right in front, plus there is a large public parking g lot out back. You are greeted by 2 wide open double doors. They have a beautiful, long U shaped sit-up bar that seats about 20. The bar surface is a beautiful well lacquered dark wood. The bartender did not know what kind of wood it was. There is about 45 seats in the rest of the bar. Out back is a small quaint patio area that has 5 tables for 2. There are 13 different beer on tap. They have a nice peaked ceiling With exposed beams that open the place up. Happy Hour runs from 3-6 pm, basically $1 off drinks. Their hours at 11 am to 9 pm and Thursday to Saturday 11 am to midnight. There are 9 tvs as this is also a sports bar. We sat at the bar and for lunch I had the lunch special,  fried chicken sandwich and fries, it was very good. My wife had the Beer Battered fish and chips and that too was very good. A nice place to unwind after wandering the streets and hitting the shops.  It is a nice drive and well worth stopping in! Cheers!

Frida's Mexican Beach House (Lahaina, Maui, Hawaii, U.S.A.)

November 2022

Frida's at 1287 Front Street at the north end of Lahaina right on the water www.fridasmaui.com  An amazing place, great friendly service, stunning ocean view and great food. They have a beautiful 12 person sit-up bar with 3 tables for 2. The restaurant is much bigger.  There are 8 beer on tap, 4 Mexican and 4 Hawaiian.  There is a large selection of Tequila and Tequila cocktails. We had an awesome table over looking the ocean, sitting outside. For lunch my wife had Enchilada Plate, 2 Enchiladas, Crema, Pico de Gallo, rice, beans and Queso Fresca Cheese. She said it was awesome. I had the Manchego Crusted Quesadila, with chicken, goat cheese, Oaxaca cheese, Guacamole,  Pico de Gallo,,  sour cream, and Maui Gold Pineapple Salsa.  Amazing, one of the best I have ever had. Everyone is very friendly. When you are finished you get nice decals that say "Practice Aloha" .  This is a definite must go to place when in Maui. They are closed on Sundays. 

August 2023 was not by the Lahaina fire but had previously been closed.

Mala An Ocean Tavern (Lahaina, Maui, Hawaii)

Mala is a great spot, right on the water looking towards the island of Lanai.  It is at the north end of Lahaina Front Street, you can't miss it. I will be talking g mostly about the bar. On the left as you enter is an L shaped 10 person sit-up bar. We like this spot. They have 2 tables for 5, over looking the ocean which is one of the pictures. They have  lot of staff and the service is very good. We did nit eat here. There are 6 beer on tap including Longboard, a favorite of my wife. There is a small restaurant area and a big outside patio area, which is outside. The bartender knocked over a glass.of water, breaking the glass and soaking me. No comped drink, nothing other than he said he must have bumped it, i surely didn't  knock it over and no one else was around. Oh well, I dried quickly. I have been here before and we will be back again!  2 thumbs up!

August 2023 Survived by the Lahaina fire.

Tap and Barrel (South Surrey, British Columbia, Canada)

September 28, 2022

Tap and Barrel 3211-152 Street, South Surrey, British Columbia, Canada. www.tapandbarrel.com  We were here on their 2md day after opening so obviously they have kinks to work out. This place seats 500, with the lounge/ bar side to the east and the restaurant is on the west side.  You enter the building in the ground floor and can either take the stairs up or the elevator. What we saw as we went up, they greet you at the top of the steps or if you go up in the elevator they take you to the top of the steps. It was quit congested there. As you get off the elevator the hall you are in is also where the staff carriy drinks to the restaurant or food from the kitchen to the bar side. I can see collisions being inevitable. In the bar side there is a large rectangle sit up bar in the middle, that seats around 32 people. There are numerous booths and tables. They have a covered patio area and is fairly close to the freeway Hwy 99, I don't know how noisy it would be out there. Their Happy Hour runs 2-5 pm and  930 pm to close. 16 oz, lager, Ale, and IPA are $4-5, Highballs 1 oz $4 2 oz $7, house wine is 6oz $6 and 9 oz $9. We tried the food from the Happy Hour menu started off with the Tater tots nothing special here, basic with ketchup. We ordered a side of the garlic Aioli sauce which improved them. Then has the Steak Frites they were good and finally we had the Hummus and Za'atar and flat bread, this was very good. One in our party had the Blackened Chicken Rice Bowl and said it was good. Service was good but they had a lot if staff working, this will be reduced once they settle in. The washrooms are at the far west side and you have to walk through a row of booths and tables to get there.  It got quite loud in there and made visiting a little difficult.  We will have to wait and see how things go before passing judgment. 

Mirkwood Public House (Arlington, Washington U.S.A.)

August 11, 2022

The Mirkwood Public House 117 E Division Street, Arlington Washington, USA.  www.mirkwoodpublichouse.com  What a great find! Originally built as Methodist Episcopalian Church in 1898 and rebuilt in 1928. It sat vacant for about 30 years when the owner purchased it and made it in to this amazingly cool bar. You enter in the front going up a flight of about 12 steps. On each side of the steps is the patio area. You enter the front vestibule area and in to the main part of the bar. It has nice high ceilings with the Situp bar to the right. The sit-up bar seats 9 and is kind if an art octagon curved bar. To the left there is an upstairs area that is about 1/6 the size of the main bar area. It is very eclectic up there with various seating including an old couch and a round couch (as seen in the above pictures.)  If you keep going once entering the bar is a huge stage area that is about 4 steps high. This is probably where the minister and choir used to be. It now is a stage for bands. Friday and Saturday evening they have live bands. Wednesday and Sunday they have live jam sessions and Thursday evenings Karoeke.  There are 6 beer in tap oddly 5 are IPA. They have various cocktails and wine too. Their menu is pretty good. For lunch I had the French Dip and tater tots. Thick with thinly sliced beef, cheese and onions. It was very good. My wife had the Street Tscos 3 of the pulled pork, these were disappointing as is was not pulled pork but pork roast diced up in to cubes and lacked flavour. The bartender/ waiter was very friendly and provided fantastic service.  There is also a barber here and you can get a beer and hair cut. Also the owners daughter has a tattoo shop down stairs. She was the youngest person to get xertified at the age of 14 and held that title for 10 years. 

The pub is open 11am to midnight 7 days a week. We really liked it here and are sure that you will like it too! 2 thumbs up for sure!