Leis Family Class Act

As soon as you book your plane ticket to Maui, you need to book a reservation at Lei’s Family Class Act!
It is entirely run by culinary students, who rotate through the different shifts so they have a full range of restaurant experiences.
The service was exceptional. They were extremely accommodating of the baby we had with us and rearranged the tables so our large party could sit together.

Still a great experience.
I won’t bother with a detailed review of the food, since it’ll be different each week going forward. I still stand by my review of two years ago. We go each year, booking as soon as they start taking reservations. (For reference, on February 4^th when we were there for lunch we were told there are still a few openings at the end of the season in April.)
Service is both professional and friendly (sorry, same adjectives as 2013’s review), with the opportunity to talk with your student waitstaff. They’re nervous but have been well taught. We even got to the point of discussing what we liked and didn’t like about a dish and what our waitperson liked and didn’t. Lots of fun.
Check out their website for each week’s planned menu throughout their season. You’ll have a couple choices for entres as well as for appetizers. Modest portions, but fine for lunch and for a four course meal.

I have been wanting to write a review for Class Act for years but never found this listing until new Unilocal friend Dennis S. pointed the way. Mahalo Dennis.
Lunch is only twice a week on Wed and Fri when school is in session so Jan-​Apr and Sept-​Dec with changing menus every week allowing you to travel through your palate.
I have been coming here ever since it was $ 25 per person, the ice tea with mango syrup was free and mainly only the locals knew about this spot. It still is a bit of a hidden gem but the price has steadily increased each year to a now varied pricing based on what entrée you choose but the thing that has not changed is the friendly and exceptional service you receive and the phenomenal food that they serve. I have been here twice for their French influenced menu, Latin, Moroccan, Asian, and finally last year the elusive Italian menu which never seemed to rotate around during the two weeks I am on island.
Grab those napkins to wipe the drool off your keyboard after reading what’s to come as after an amuse bouche of a spoonful of caprese, the culinary artwork begins. Appetizer of Ahi Carpaccio with Olive Relish, Roasted Garlic Aioli, Brioche & Sea Salt where you literally grab a little of everything and pile it on the brioche toast points for a party that just melts in your mouth. My husband got the hot appetizer Zucchini Saltimbocca, Gazpacho Sauce & Fried Sage while I got the Acorn Squash soup. I’m not normally a big fan of acorn squash but he should be happy he sampled the soup before I did as after my first spoonful of soup, he never saw the bowl again as it was that good. For the entrée, I got the Pine Nut Crusted Kampachi & Lemon Caper Basil Butter with the fish cooked perfectly but was never a big fan of capers or butter sauce so that part of my plate was left untouched. My husband got the Pork Braciole with Roasted Tomatoes & Creamy Polenta. Now if only I could get the kampachi with the roasted tomato sauce instead, it would have been perfection. The pistachio semi-​freddo was hazelnut that day but since I was so full, I had my husband take ¹⁄₃ of my semi-​freddo before starting which I immediately regretted after my first bite. If I say delicious or so good one more time, this paragraph alone will turn into a drinking game soon. To top it off, since we were celebrating my b-​day and they forgot to put a candle on my semi-​freddo, they brought me out a second dessert of lilikoi sorbet with a candle on top which is above and beyond. If they have this menu again next year, I would be there in a heartbeat as I was so close to returning 2 days later for the same menu! Okay, grab that drink as it was SO GOOD!

This is the restaurant run by the students of the Maui Culinary Academy at the University of Hawaii — Maui. Lunch is served only two days per week with a different theme each week and seating is limited. Be sure to make a reservation well in advance.
We dined here for the first time yesterday. It was fabulous. At $ 33 per person for a gourmet four course meal, it is not cheap, but it is a memorable meal.
The theme for our meal was Italian.
Ahi Carpaccio appetizer (5*), Zucchini Saltimbocca (4*), Acorn Squash soup (5 *), Pine Nut Crusted Fish with Wild Risotto Cake (5*), Panna Cotta with Dark Chocolate Crisp Pearls & Blood Orange Sorbetto (4*)
For the entrée, there were three other choices– pork, lamb, and vegetarian. (but we both had the fish)
If you are a foodie, you need to eat here.