By Kristin Hashimoto

Reuben sandwich at Ale House, photo by Kristin Hashimoto

Sweet potato fries, garlic parmesan potato wedges, pastrami piled high on toasted rye bread, and brews on tap. These are just a few of the tasty offerings at the Ale House in Kahului. Open for lunch and dinner, the Ale House serves up affordable, (around ten to twenty dollars), American and Hawaiian food relatively quickly. Expect to wait an average of twenty minutes with a half-full house of dinnertime customers.

Unfortunately, the calamari rings were more than a wee bit tough, the batter was more hard than crispy, and the marinara dipping sauce was just okay. The pork quesadilla laid limply in a pool of its own oil, and dripped when picked up. Still, it’s rather affordable pub food, and the redeeming lunchtime Reuben sandwich is awesomely good. It’s even better if you’re a sauerkraut fan, as, like the slices of meat, the tangy cabbage strips are mounded between toasted slices of bread.

Garlic Parmesan Fries, photo by Kristin Hashimoto

If live music is your thing, you might want to avoid the aural irritation of the house speakers. While instrumentation works fine, spoken or sung words sound like the unintelligible teacher from the Charles Schulz cartoon and comic strip, Peanuts. The other patrons didn’t seem to mind the Friday night bass and drum guys jamming away. In fact, the beer and cocktail happy patrons gathered around the full-bar, were only too thrilled to have some kind of live music available. Customers can also shoot on short pool tables and catch the game on any of their numerous television screens scattered through the House.

Located at 355 East Kamehameha Avenue in Kahului, the Ale House is open from 11:00 a.m. to 1:30 a.m. Want Wi-fi? They got it. Call 877-9711, for more information. Reservations accepted, but not required. Dress is casual; t-shirt and slippers are okay.