Mala Ocean Tavern Blog
MALA Featured on Forbespeople.com
Mala Ocean Tavern has been making waves for 17 years on the culinary front on Maui, but now under new ownership and the direction of General Manager Rob Farrell and Executive Chef Alvin Savella, MALA is getting recognized by FORBES. Forbespeople.com has listed Mala Ocean Tavern as one of five businesses to watch in 2022.
Mala Ocean Tavern has been making waves for 17 years on the culinary front on Maui, but now under new ownership and the direction of General Manager Rob Farrell and Executive Chef Alvin Savella, MALA is getting recognized by FORBES. Forbespeople.com has listed Mala Ocean Tavern as one of five businesses to watch in 2022.
Mala Ocean Tavern established in 2004 in historic Lahaina town is a classic staple of the Maui food scene. Featuring the best oceanfront dining on Maui and overlooking the old Mala Wharf. Known for exceptional cuisine, the pacific rim and mediterranean inspired menu has been drawing locals and visitors of Maui for years, with focus on locally caught fish and incorporation of exotic ingredients. November 1 of 2018 the restaurant came under new ownership. The young new owners came with ambitions to bring MALA to the next generation, keeping the vintage charm and adding contemporary vibrancy. Bringing daily Brunch and incorporating new approaches on familiar dishes, they've established a modern vibe to the oceanfront eatery.
2019 the team was hitting a stride, and then 2020. As it did for many, COVID rocked the world of MALA's new owners, knowing that if they were not open for service they would not survive. During their closure the whole staff came together to give the older structure (once a pineapple weigh station) a little TLC. Indoor/Outdoor Dining returned on June 1, 2020 and the new owners wasted no time innovating to keep the doors open and to support the local community. During Covid, the team got creative inviting 'out of work chefs' from all over the island into the MALA Kitchen to cook for the locals "starved" for normalcy (All within Covid Guidelines and mandates). After several months and many exciting chefs, one chef stood out. After selling out three different tasting menus, the MALA owners decided to extend the Executive Chef position to Chef Alvin Savella. Savella, known as "The Kitchen Assassin" for his inventive and unexpected twists on flavor combinations, agreed to join the aspiring restaurateurs. Chef Savella is bringing a fresh perspective to the cuisine and his own unique flair, elevating the atmosphere at the classic Maui restaurant. Whether Bone Marrow with Pipikaula, Seafood Brodo, or Chef Alvin's spin on HuliHuli Chicken, the fusion of tastes for your pallet will erupt. Chef Alvin say's "Foods have to look good, taste good, and bring an element of surprise." Of course, the classics are there, because there is always something for each person to share in the aloha. However, big things are happening at this unassuming restaurant by the sea.
MALA means Garden and the experience of being in a garden near the ocean as you watch turtles (honu) splashing in the surf and see rainbows over the West Maui Mountain is one of a kind. This oceanside gem allows you to absorb into island living. With nearly two decades on Maui, the restaurant wants to continue to be where locals and guests of the beautiful island of Maui come together. Sharing in the aloha and offering an authentic experience for food, atmosphere, and service. The new MALA team has been able to raise the bar for dining on Maui's Westside. Priding themselves on creative culinary cocktails, perfectly executed dishes, education of the staff about food, wine, & spirits, along with outstanding customer service, MALA hits all the marks. Island living can always be a challenge to make things new, yet the community has embraced the fresh approach and welcomes the thoughtful changes that have been brought to the best oceanfront dining on the island of Maui, Mala Ocean Tavern.
ForbesPeople.com - Recognizing 5 Businesses We’re Keeping An Eye On in 2022.
COOKING HAWAIIAN STYLE WITH EXECUTIVE CHEF ALVIN SAVELLA ON MAUI!
Chef Alvin Savella is the Executive Chef for Mala Tavern, Down The Hatch, and Breakwall Shave Ice Co. was featured on an episode for the 2021 Season and we are so proud of him! Watch Chef Alvin, known as “The Kitchen Assassin”, on Cooking Hawaiian Style (above) with Host Lanai Tabura.
Cooking Hawaiian Style just finished shooting their 15th season on Maui and one episode features our Executive Chef Alvin Savella. This season was sponsored by Maui County Farm Bureau, location sponsor Kula Country Farms, and Aloha Air Cargo.
Follow @malatavern to find our more about what’s happening at our oceanfront eatery.
MALA website making news!
Mala Ocean Tavern launched our new website at the beginning of March 2021 and our design team, Menadena, was featured discussing the new site on Newswire. The site was an exciting achievement for our restaurant as we continue striving for improvements in all aspects of our business. With so many changes occurring through 2020, we wanted our site to be user friendly and functional for our wide variety of guests dining at our oceanfront establishment. The goal was to have simple navigation for booking reservations, easy accessibility to offer contactless menu options for diners, as well as highlight our award winning Chef Alvin Savella, among many other great aspects of the site. Everything we wanted was achieved, along with using our brand details to make the image appealing to the eye. We hope that you enjoy touring MalaTavern.com and are able to join us for an exceptional dining experience while you are in Lahaina, Maui.
Many mahalos to Menadena for helping our vision for this site be achieved. We also thank you Menadena for the previous work that they did on the site for our sister restaurants Down The Hatch and Breakwall Shave Ice Co. Their standards and level of professionalism are unparalleled.
Mahalos to our graphic designers, Diego & Maja, and our house Photographer RM Shutterworks for the imagery.
Happy Hour Lives on at Mala
Mala Ocean Tavern is a a sign of hope for tourists during tough times. The owners say they are here to serve locals as the restaurant continues to host musicians during their daily happy hour.
Mala Ocean Tavern is a a sign of hope for tourists during tough times. The owners say they are here to serve locals as the restaurant continues to host musicians during their daily happy hour.
Read the full article.
Mala Welcomes Chef Alvin Savella
Nationally acclaimed Maui Chef Alvin Savella Named Executive Chef for local restaurant group Mala Ocean Tavern, Down The Hatch, and Breakwall Shave Ice Co.
Nationally acclaimed Maui Chef Alvin Savella Named Executive Chef for local restaurant group Mala Ocean Tavern, Down The Hatch, and Breakwall Shave Ice Co.
We are so proud to announce and name Chef Alvin Savella Executive Chef of Mala Ocean Tavern, Down The Hatch, and Breakwall Shave Ice Co. starting December 1, 2020. Chef Savella known as the “Kitchen Assassin '' throughout Maui and to his large media following, is a true Maui local, born and raised on island, hailing from Lahaina.
After culinary school, Savella honed his craft for 10 years in Los Angeles while working for a wide variety of Chef’s. From his experience at the Ritz, he says “I never had to leave, because the new chefs I could learn from kept coming in.” In 2012, Savella moved back home to find himself working at the Ritz Carlton in Kapalua and eventually taking on Chef de Cuisine at Humuhumunukunukuapua'a at the Grand Wailea. Due to Covid, Savella’s displacement left him open to new opportunities. After several guest Chef appearances at Mala Ocean Tavern, the opportunity came to fruturition to be the Executive Chef of a team of aspiring chefs at both Down The Hatch and MALA. Chef Savella was enticed.
Chef Alvin Savella is known for his inventive approach to cuisine. As Executive Chef of Down The Hatch and Mala Ocean Tavern, Chef Savella will maintain the signature of each restaurant and begin to steer the restaurants on a new journey with menus featuring an array of innovative dishes, all highlighting Hawaii’s freshest produce and sourcing local proteins. When asked about what lured him to come into his role, Chef Savella said “To take the next step for myself as an Executive Chef and to take over the kitchens of staple restaurants in my hometown of Lahaina. I’m excited to shape MALA’s own culinary identity and come on board to allow MALA to stand on it’s own.” As for taking over the kitchen in The Best Bar on Maui, Down The Hatch, Savella looks forward to experimenting with the Southern Aloha Cuisine that DTH has been famed for through media like Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives on the Food Network. “I love all cuisines and I’m excited to bring flavors of the south and combine them more with the flavors of Maui… I can cook anything,” “The Kitchen Assassin” boasts.
Chef Alvin will step into his new role with Mala Ocean Tavern, Down The Hatch, and Breakwall Shave Ice Co. on December 1, 2020.
“The Kitchen Assassin” Chef Knives are now available the MALA SHOP today! Chef Alvin has a variety of knives that will have you in the kitchen cutting, chopping, and slicing like a pro. Order online today!
Cooking Hawaiian Style host Lanai Tabura licks his lips while Chef Alvin prepares a Tako dish while filming Upcountry on Maui. Click on the picture to see “The Kitchen Assassin” in action.