The Wooden Crate

Great hidden Gem on Baldwin Rd up from Paia with farm to table food. I enjoyed it for dinner more than anything in Paia and went back for dinner a few days later. Fixed menu that changes each day, good price $40/head on our visits for big salad, entree and desert. Casual outdoor covered seating (could use some updating) without the crowds. Call to check if the nightly menu interests you. Make a reservation.

The coconut milk tomato soup and lime avocado mousse were both incredibly delicious. Everything else was also good. We stayed 4 nights at Lumeria, a heavenly retreat that includes wonderful morning and evening classes and breakfast for 2 for about $400/night. Recommended!

While Lumeria is a beautiful quaint quiet property, the price fix dinner at wooden crate was very disappointing and overpriced. My rib eye was thin, flavorless and served with mediocre fries. Grilled asparagus were average at best and not served hot. My guest was also disappointed. Dinner for two with dessert and one glass of wine each: $150!! Highlight of the evening was relaxing in beautiful lobby and walking grounds. Hope they make needed changes and ideally set up expensive dining in lobby quarters vs outside on porch deck. You can BE better!

This used to be a great place to have dinner. One did not know what would be offered for dinner until the Chef had completed his shopping! The meal would be worth the markup for the great location! Now they have a set menu and various choices, prices are still high but food is mediocre at best!! I do not recommend this place for dinner, go to the “Fish Market” in Paia and get a large helping of the freshest fish for less $$, however, you will stand in line to order and seating is on benches. P.S.: I had invited a business man and had praised this restaurant. He left half his dinner on the plate. I was embarrassed. Also want to mention that the menu does not state pricing for the meals, left $150 plus tip for two meals and two glasses of wine- not to mention that I am “Kama’aina” (local) and had a 10% discount! Enjoy the beautiful grounds but stay away from this diner (!) is all I can say!!

Very disappointed by the cuisine here. We could not finish any dish (too sweet for the tomato soup, too salty and oily for the fish and too dense and sweet for the chocolate dessert). Worst meal in a long time. Too bad.

Arrive early to walk around the grounds before dinner. Very limited menu choices all absolutely superb. One flaw was the 2 excellent desserts were both chocolate. Was no option other than chocolate.

Dinner was a major disappointment. Although every course had a multitude of flavor, sugar was the prominent flavor in each of the three dishes served in their prix fix menu. The location being part of an educational center, ambience in the dining area, and service were excellent.

We had the pleasure of dining at The Wooden Crate while staying at Lumeria for a week long yoga retreat. Three wonderful meals each day were provided by the talented Preston and Shane in the kitchen and Carla in the dining room. Not only was each meal delicious, their attention to every detail was noticed. From early morning coffee at 6 am to dessert after dinner each evening, we were properly nourished for 4 hours of yoga daily.

They are open Thursdays, Fridays, & Saturdays, it's $55 per person Friday & Saturday; & Thursday is Local’s Night (Kama’aina $45/person) Making reservations was super simple, and I even had to change the reservations which was also a breeze by calling them. All the food is locally sourced, which I love. The mood was welcoming and cozy. This property is so stunningly beautiful. I had an incredible time with my boyfriend for his birthday.

I honestly wanted to love it more than I did. I absolutely love the Lumeria property. It is so peaceful and magical. The starter salad was tasty and felt very fresh. The ahi rice main dish was quite bad honestly. The ahi was flavorless and overcooked. The rice had too much sauce and the beets were not cooked enough. The chocolate avocado mousse for dessert was tasty, but for $55 per person to just eat a salad and dessert really missed the bar. It’s too bad.