Being famous doesn’t always get you a pass, like earlier today with the recently infamous Cheeseburger in Paradise. After today’s closure by the health department, it would have preferred to land in hot water, as you’ll see. The Front Street Maui establishment was previously in the news when we wrote about who was eating there.
Cheeseburger in Paradise shuttered by red safety placard.
But today, the Hawaii Department of Health (DOH) dropped its dreaded red placard on the joint, closing the Lahaina restaurant until remediation can occur. This resulted from an inspection that was instigated by an anonymous complaint.
The restaurant on Front Street in Lahaina had no hot water, which meant it wasn’t possible to wash, degrease and sanitize their wares properly. As a result, the Health Department wanted to be sure that visitors were safe. They will follow up in the next two days to determine if remediation has occurred.
The health department’s report said the restaurant plans to replace its water heater. Plus, have a hot water booster in place to assure compliance with safety requirements. “District inspector will conduct a follow-up inspection by Friday 04/14/2023 to re-assess the establishment’s progress with the installation of the new hot water heater and functioning to produce consistent hot water at minimum 110F. Establishment must remain closed until DOH approval has been received to resume operations.”
An imminent health hazard, first with no hot water.
Further, in its inspection report today, the DOH called the situation “An imminent health hazard resulting in closure.”
In addition to the lack of hot water, the DOH noted “grease build-up on the surrounding walls/equipment.” That resulted from a faulty kitchen ventilation hood system, which was addressed between the restaurant and the health department.
Prior notoriety may have been equally undesired attention.
We wrote about Cheeseburger in Paradise last month when Gregory Becker, ex-president, and CEO of Silicon Valley Bank (SVB), had his wife Marilyn drop in for a quick pick-up. The couple also walked on Front Street in Lahaina following his bank’s collapse.
The once prestigious couple seemed odd pairing with the Lahaina burger joint. Cheeseburger in Paradise typically features oceanside dining and great views. The restaurant has been in business since 1989. It has a range of reviews from “Great food, music, drinks, service, and location!” to “salad had dry chicken with bag lettuce that tasted like it was opened days ago.” The restaurant has over 4,500 4.3-star reviews.
Kudos to the anonymous tipster.
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We have been going to Ka’anapali Maui for over 40 years, got sick from eating a cheeseburger there, never went back. Not recommended.
I never found cheeseburger in paradise to appear clean……windows, door trim, flooring, tables….also close proximity to strangers at other tables….have not been back since 2017…
totally agree.
The first time we went in 2014, the service and food was amazing… we went every year after that and it seemed to decline, but we wanted to give the benefit of the doubt… then this last time in Jan 2023, the service was garbage and the food was really mediocre.
ps..the Food is Yuck as well…we went one Christmas Eve after a full day of hiking in Hana…Very disappointed ! had not been in years and know why…Hamburger tasted like a frozen Costco Pattie heated up…fries were cold- we sent them back and got warm not hot ones…never been back since…Visitors go for the name, not the food
We were just there last week and the burger.. Fries and onion rings were great!!!
The food was Not “Yuck”
We first at Cheese Burgers in Paradise in the summer of 96 or 97. It was a good place, fun and a wonderful view. When we were getting ready to visit our grandkids in 2018 and my granddaughter’s birthday was approaching she asked where should we go to celebrate her big number 9. I suggested this place. Well, I almost felt like I should apologize to everyone in our party. Food was so-so, service was so-so, the music was good and the view great. I got the feeling that corners were being cut to keep profitable. No desire to go back again. Cool Cats is now my son’s family staple and he makes a point to try each of the monthly specials.
I have to say Cheeseburgers in Paradise was our worst meal while on Maui. High priced and nothing to write home about.Burgers and drinks were just so-so.We did enjoy Captain Jacks, Lahaina Pizza Company, and Ululani’s Shave Ice while down on Front Street.
We visited Maui in 1998. We went to Cheeseburger in Paradise. Didn’t seem that sanitary then.
My family vacations in Maui frequently. Many years ago we were bombarded by termites as we ate our delicious burgers. That was the last time we dined at Cheeseburger’s in Paradise. I’m sure there are many health issues that should be addressed there.
Love cheese burger in paridise. One of the best meals we had when there. Hope they get everything corrected and reopen.
Way back in the day there was a great joint called hamburger Mary’s on front Street. It was awesome!
Funny, I mentioned this last month about how most of front street should be shut down and this specific restaurant. My wife worked there as a hostess and rat climbed on her foot she freaked out and flung it across the place and it ran into the kitchen. Moose Mcgillicuddy’s was the same working the art gallery below you could hear he rats running around in the ceiling/floor of Moose. This was a while back but doubt they got better.
Lmao I have stories all day about the Ka’anapali location….but, in true Maui style, just left instead. Leaving there was actually the killshot for me leaving the islands. Have to always be like “all good brah, ees good” but it was absolutely not good whatsoever. Far worse than anything in this article. But, as BOH has noted recently, things are rapidly changing in the islands. As always, there will be a few bottom feeders who are well positioned to float themselves to the top. Reading this post, I can see a couple of those folks…..
Aloha. Cheeseburger in Paradise just committed a mortal sin. How can you risk the lives of young children, the elderly and your customer base by having no hot water? The general manager and owners should be given some time in prison to ponder their haphazardly, management competence.
Prison?? Wow John
My question regarding the violation is whether CIP was continuing operations while knowing the hot water source was out or did they self report? One of our favorite local SoCal restaurants had the issue of their hot water heating taking a dive and they self reported to the county.
Cheeseburgers in Paradise was always a fun place to go. Their food was maybe a bit above average and certainly overpriced, but the ambiance and especially the live music on the second floor made it all worthwhile. When they dropped the live music they lost me for good. A forty year customer
Harry Troupe was performing there for 20 years. I like to listen to him at the Kaanapali Beach Club instead, but he said Cheeseburger in Paradise never hired him back after Covid. I only went a couple of times because my boy-friend wanted to have their country potatoes. The 1st time was “ok”, but the 2nd time was bad and I always wondered how they could survive, especially without the live music!
food above average was probably a mistake, you probably meant price above average