“Eggplant Parm, meatball Parm (!! with bucatini !! ) and pizza margarita made us so very happy last night.After driving by Frank's truck several times, we finally decided to give it a try last night.We have hearty appetites, but we'd been munching on appetizers all evening already, so the 4 of us decided to order 3 items and share them family style.My husband called the number that's posted on Yelp and it was answered by Kelly ... so very sweet and welcoming.She told us that we could text her our order and just come to pick it up when it was ready.This is just fantastic b/c they make your order fresh when you order, but there really isn't anywhere comfortable to wait while your order is being made. There aren't any outdoor tables or benches there, so your only options are to sit on the curb, wait in your car, or go into Creekside Bar for a drink.Being able to text in your order is such a help.We texted in our order, Kelly texted right back to confirm, gave us the total, and said it'll be ready in 20 minutes.Sure enough, when my husband went to pick it up, they were just packing it up and he was back home in a matter of minutes.Everything was piping hot and very neatly packed. The pizza margherita was super good. The crust was nice and thin and the outer edge was perfectly puffy and chewy.The eggplant and the meatball parmesan were delicious - - - my absolute favorite surprise of the night was that they used (my favorite pasta) bucatini as their pasta. A lot of full scale Italian restaurants don't even have bucatini . . . but Frank does ! ! He gets 10 stars alone just for that * * * * * * * * * *The servings were very generous and my husband is having leftovers for breakfast now as we speak.Try it - - - you won't be disappointed.“
“Assagio is the penultimate family Italian restaurant in Hawaii. When several locations, their recipes are delicious and fine and they deliver consistently. Everything is made from scratch, I believe. Highlights on the menu: chicken olio, eggplant parmigiana, tableside Cesar salad, and the tiramisu. You should make reservations because the place is always packed.Parking: There's covered parking for free under the huge metal structure next to the restaurant.“
“All of the staff were extremely friendly and helpful when deciding what to eat. We got the Salmon Picatta and the Lasagna (which wasn’t on the menu but was instead recommended); both were absolutely delicious. I’m definitely coming back again :)Parking: Parking spots available right in frontKid-friendliness: Saw a family of 4 come in excited to eat dinner together“
“Other than for the fact that the outside tables are located adjacent to the front driveway of the property, the place is excellent, and definitely will be a go-to restaurant in the future. The wines by the glass list, moreover, is reasonably varied and the prices are good.“
“Ordered take-out from here, and it was amazing. I got their Italian sub and my husband got their meatball sub - sharing a side of fries. Everything smelled amazing there! Their fries were a classic crinkle cut - hot, salty, and delish! Their Italian sub had all the flavors of a New York Italian sub. I absolutely loved it (my husband is from New York so I know a good Italian sub!). He really enjoyed the meatball sub too! Wish they were closer to where we live because this would be our regular spot! The employees were welcoming and nice too. Highly recommend.“
“Went to have lunch with my daughter. It was my first time there, she's been there multiple times so I let her do the ordering. Our server Tammy, was very attentive. Filled out Plantation Iced Tea a lot ?. We had the Tomato Basil soup, Crusted Chicken salad and the Turkey and Avocado sandwich.“
“Solid Italian restaurant that hit the spot. I almost feel like the decor and store front doesn't match the level of quality of food. Don't let this fool you. The food here is very good and doesn't taste like fast food at all. We were surprised that it was empty on a Monday night at 7pm but by 8pm it filled up! I would definitely come back to try the lasagna! We loved every dish that we ordered!“
“Pretty decent food the evening we went! Great friendly service with live music. The restaurant had no windows so it could be a little dim. I feel like it could use a bit more decor to make add more warmth to it. My favorite items there were the mud pie and surf and turf. The filet mignon was very tender and juicy and the lobster was delectable. We also tried their escargot, foie gras, duck breast. The escargot could use a bit more herbs, the foie gras was mostly fat and not much liver, not very good quality, and the duck breast was cooked almost like in Cantonese style? Too much hoisin sauce for me. Overall nice evening to celebrate my birthday in a small, local restaurant.“
“Typical local bar serving local style Japanese food. Great happy hour specials. The place does get really loud so if you want to come for an intimate conversation not the police I would go. Great to bring groups of friends over. Best hidden gem on the menu is the garlic bread and garlic cream sauce.“
“Good homestyle restaurant with friendly attentive staff. They treat you like family here and really appreciate and value their guests. Super convenient for folks who don't want to drive over the hill to dine. My mom and dad come here for lunches occasionally and we've had a couple of birthday parties here. Picked up to go for mom and dad during Covid and service was outstanding then. Good vibes from all of the staff including the managers (previous and current) who are hands-on and check in to make sure guests are happy. They're good with large parties. The servers know the menu well and they're attentive while allowing guests to socialize. EZ parking too!! Mahalo!“
“Best vegan pizza on the island hands down! The owner and the team are all vegans as well and are great people to talk to. The restaurant has a very chill environment with outside and inside seating. Everything and I mean Everything from the dough to the cheese to the toppings is made in house definitely making vegan replacements is tough, but they have pulled it off. The salads were awesome definitely recommend while waiting for the pizza! Also the cheesecake is great! Definitely our go to dinner spot on the weekends we love the vegan food and chill atmosphere here!“
“Made reservations here for Valentine's Day, about a month ago, and so glad we did. First off, there's $5 valet parking, or free street metered parking after 5pm. Valet guy was sooo nice btw.As soon as we entered, the restaurant had really cool vibes and decor. We ordered these:Crostini - this was a perfect 4 piece appetizer for the 2 of us, a bit small but the flavors in this work so well together, from the sweetness of papaya and honey, with the salty and savory prosciutto on a piece of bread.Funghi Pizza - basically like an upscale mushroom pizza - very good, and the bready part was amazingly good.Arrabbiata with Smoked Mozzarella Pasta - this was so simple and delicious. The texture of the pasta was perfectly al dente.Basque Cheesecake - we weren't going to do dessert, but we were convinced by our lovely server, and glad we did. It's a perfect cheesecake, not too sweet, and satisfying.In general the portions are on the smaller side, but it was perfect for the two of us and glad we got to try 4 of their items. But note that the pizza was a good size - 8 slices! I am definitely coming back to try everything else. Lastly, the service was top knotch!“
“The service was excellent. Our waiter had the menu down to a science where he described almost every dish to the "T". You can't be the quality of the amazing dishes here. We had the seafood platter, tomahawk steak and the best squid appetizer on the island. No other restaurant can measure up to the quality, taste, and service like Cino's.“
“bruh broke da Mouf!! Gotta get early. They're open 8-12 at Kaka'ako market every Saturday. We were lucky to be the last customers as they ran out!!! Delicious caramelized onions on a perfectly grilled smash burger. Truffle sauce was on point. Fries were crisp and delicious. Put this at the top of your list of "must try"“
“Fantastic! We had the calamari , tagliatelle alla bolognese and tagliatelle pomodoro e crème con gamberetti! Fantastic choice with a generous portion! Our server was Randy and he was fantastic! Aran info is our go to Italian restaurant and we go there frequently, never have been disappointed!“
“It was an experience like none other! We enjoyed tremendously the chef's tasting menu and wine pairing! The service was excellent and the truffles were outstanding! We are so glad we did this. It was pricey but again we were glad we did it!“
“Another amazing Bernini dining experience sitting at the bar with David. The French onion soup and Tomato Caprese with burrata were great starters. David is very hospitable and attentive to his customers every need. The restaurant owner, Nat Is very engaging with her guests and staff ensuring that the service, food and the guests dining experience is perfect in every way. Kitchen is open to modifications. The pasta tagliatelle carbonara and Margherita pizza were flavorful and cooked to perfection. We were celebrating my husbands birthday and they served him a dessert with chocolate written happy birthday. Very nice touch. Our dining experience once again was outstanding service and food. Speaking to the hostess, Nat and David contributed to our great dining experience. One minor comment We brought our own Chardonnay to pair with our food since the wine list selection is quite limited for Chardonnay. We are very willing to pay a Corkage fee but found $35 charge to be high compared to other restaurants with a similar dining experience. This will not stop us from coming back- something to consider for other guests. Shelley and Kevin“
“Food was good (when in Oahu, it’s hard to find as good quality we’ve found so we’re comparing this place to other Oahu places- not mainland).They use San Marzano tomatoes so the sauces are that good true Italian flavor.Portions are okay, and cost is high, but so is the island in general.It was SO LOUD and kind of crammed inside so don’t expect to be able to have a quiet table conversation. It’s as loud as a cafeteria.Our waiter was such an amazing person and was very helpful.We would eat here again for sure!“
“Woooow amazing restaurant!!! Really fast and kind servers! Their food was exquisite. My friend brought me here for a late Birthday dinner and I am hooked I love this place. They have 18% off pastas during their happy hour. We were looking at the menu and were debating what to get so we ended up getting 3 different pasta dishes to share. The mushroom risotto, bolognese, and the uni pasta. My favorite dish is the bolognese I love that the pasta was not over cooked or mushy. It was a perfect texture Al dente and the meat sauce was not over powering. I'm not a huge fan of uni but my friend was and that was her favorite dish.“
“This is strictly take-out, but boy, they do it well. Talk about yummy! Any one of the lasagna options are my favorite. We order from here regularly, and I have to say I have never (knock on wood) had a sub-par meal. I daydream about this food I love it so much. Service is on point, place is clean, food is great and prices won't give you sticker shock. Try it out. I dare you.“
“This little 5star business is the real deal. Come eat very clean, farm to table, taste your food, Italian. Eat dish is made to order so plan accordingly. Some dishes you can order in advance, so try the ox tail…!!!Spaghetti con Pomodorini - subtle clean 4.5 starsPappardelle Norcina - 4.5 starsHouse Salad - 4 starsBread - amazingService - 5 starsBring the family, make a reservation, 6 people max, I’m coming back!“
“We had a very good experience. Didn’t realize it was only pick up when we ordered. When I called no one answered right away but just popped out the door to hand us food. The food was fantastic and something different for the island. Very authentic Italian. We had the white, vodka, and red sauce. All were fantastic. Would order again!“
“My favorite meal we had on the island, and at 1/2 the price of other restaurants. Highly recommend. We had three different pastas and the Caesar salad. Everything was phenomenal. Only recommendation is that they advertise the location better because we had a hard time finding it via the directions on google and Apple Maps - it was on the other side of the hotel from what maps said.“
Mediterranean • $$$
“My wife and I booked a reservation at Vein after viewing the photos and reading several reviews on Yelp. So, on Thursday, 4 April 2024, there we were. First, we want to salute the entire staff. We have never seen such a hard-working group. Our meal started with an Aperol Spritz and a Negroni 13, accompanied by Karaage artichoke hearts and grilled Tako. Both of these starters and the drinks were superb. Next, we ordered lamb and Pistachio pasta. The grilled lamb was the best we've ever had, anywhere on the planet. The bucatini pasta was perfectly al-dente, covered in a house sauce of puree and pistou pistachio nuts, Parmigiano Reggiano, and Prosciutto di Parma. This unusual creation was a first for us, and it was exceptional. Finally, we shared Creme Brulee and their fabulous Bread Pudding with a scoop of vanilla ice cream! Whew! This place is welcoming and comfortable. We never felt rushed. The Head Chef, Mr. Jordan Harris, was most gracious, taking the time to chat with us. He even added a special gift to our go bag! We will most definitely return! Five stars!“
“The aesthetics of the restaurant is nice. The pasta was just is ok, typical chain restaurant kind of food.There could be a wait if you don’t have a reservation.On Mondays they do have a special that you can get soup or salad, pasta of choice, and a scoop of ice cream for $25.“
“Firstly, it's been awhile since I've been to La Pizza Rina. Secondly, i vaguely recall their pizza, which I had once. Lastly, they provide vegetarian options ( only a few ) other than a cheese pizza. I dined in once several years ago - small dining area with around 10 tables - but have had takeout the last 3-4 times I have patronized this local small business. There is parking behind, I believe, but I have only utilized the metered street stalls. Ordered takeaway pizza on this last occasion. Got it within the wait time quoted. Small cheese pizza. Not exactly a classic NY pie but it was alright. I have had a couple of pasta dishes and antipasto and if I recall correctly, I did enjoy all of the aforementioned.“
“Can't wait to come back! The homemade gnocchi was an absolute treat, the cacciucco was chock full of fresh seafood and veggies and the escargot was delectable! Highly recommended!Parking: Parked on the street, so can't speak to a lot of any sort“
Italian •
“I was looking for a good place to eat Italian spaghetti and meatballs and sausage. It's very difficult to find good Italian take out food that's reasonably priced in the Honolulu area. I found it here. Catania is located in the Pioneer Plaza in downtown Honolulu. It's one of the many lunch places in this plaza that the business crowd patronize during lunchtime. They're only open Monday through Friday from around 11am until 2pm. They're busy from 12pm to 1pm with people who work in the downtown area. The spaghetti/linguini noodles are cooked perfectly and the sauce is delicious. I'm a big eater and the regular plate is very filling. I would probably put on a lot of weight if I eat here every day so I try not to go here too often. The service is fast (everything is precooked) and friendly. It's convenient for people who live and work in the downtown area but more difficult if you need to find parking (metered and pay parking nearby). They also have a few cold pasta salads and lasagna. If you have that craving for Italian food you should give this place a try.“
“TL;DR Very good (but not quite amazing) pizza. La Bomba pizza = ONO Funghi pizza = ONO Cannibale pizza = ONO ----- My family lives right across the street from Manoa Marketplace, so we were very excited to here that Aroma Italia (AI) was coming to town. We had enjoyed the catering of the Monsarrat location a couple times and were looking forward to having a pizza joint nearby. I believe that last time Manoa had dedicated pizza restaurant was when Boston's Pizza was located at the now Serg's. Enough chit chat. Let's get to the review. We've ordered from AI three times now and have enjoyed every meal. Is this the best pizza in the world? Of course not. But it's solid. Our favorite pizzas are the La Bomba, the Funghi , and the Cannibale. We've also had the Pollo Pesto Caprese (decent - I'm just not a huge fan of pesto sauce on my pizza) and the Garlic Pink Scampi (very good flavor, but very little shrimp). We ordered the Caesar Salad, which was alright, but they provided the tiniest portion of dressing; it was not nearly enough to dress all the lettuce provided. Apparently they typically provide two dressing containers, so perhaps they just forgot one of ours. We probably won't order another salad. Hopefully in the future they expand their menu to include pastas.“
“Ordered drinks and were served warm bread with dipping oil. After splitting a fresh caesar salad we ordered pasta bolognaise and the spicy red sauce with shrimp. Both were served quickly, food was hot, and they were both super delicious! This is a small restaurant with family friendly service with a smile. Reservations are a must due to limited seating. Dont miss this gem!“
“I go to this place a lot. Good size portions. Prices are reasonable and the owner is very friendly. I have never had a dish that I did not like. I've never tried them, but I've heard the cheesecake is very good.Parking: Find parking in the Market City shopping center“
“$10 Charcuterie!? I'm in!I saw this place on Instagram, offering $10 Charcuterie Days on random Fridays, so as soon as I saw the post announcing the date, i gathered my food-loving friends and we made our way downtown (walking fast, faces pass). We got there 20 minutes early and were the fourth people on line. By opening time, the line was out the door and stayed that way for last least an hour.They have a variety of items to choose from like cheeses, meats, pastas, salads, etc. and they'll keep refilling it as needed for the duration of the buffet, and you can go back as many times as you want. Everything we tried was delicious, and it's a great way to sample different things. They also sell groceries (cheeses, snacks, olives, truffle oil, etc.) straight from Italy.“
“Although we really, REALLY miss Hukilau, the work gang was game to try Onokai. There are mixed reviews on Yelp so we wanted to judge for ourselves. Walked in at 11:30 a.m. and we were the only ones there. That worried me a bit. But it was great that our group of 7 didn't have to wait to be seated! The layout and most of the furnishings don't seem to have changed much since Hukilau. The plastic-covered plumeria tablecloth was a little... kitchy? But it was clean and not sticky. The menus were like bound sheet-protectors but I guess if you're planning to change up menu items often, that makes sense. We weren't there to judge the menu, anyhow. The food more than made up for the decor. I ordered the rice cake ramen just because it was something I'd never heard of anywhere I'd been before. It was deliciously spicy and flavorful, and I loved the chewy texture of the rice cake slices. It reminded me of ozoni, that Japanese mochi soup. I worried that the rice cakes would get mushy in the hot broth but it didn't. Even when I took my leftovers to go and ate it an hour or so later. Friends ordered the Army ramen, kimchi soup, regular ramen (which earned my friend an odd look from our server), ramen kimbap, bulgogi tteokbokki, and the vongole pasta. (I only got pics of a couple dishes since we were hungry!) Everyone enjoyed their meal and said the spice level was spot on. Prices were pretty much on par with other sit-down places downtown - under$10 for ramen except the Army $14.99. The bulgogi tteokbokki was $18.99 and vongole was $15.99. Now that the weather is getting cooler, I'm looking forward to going back to get some more belly-warming ramen.“
“Fantastic place for fresh pasta which is pretty hard to find in Honolulu.Excellent concept. You choose your pasta, choose your sauce (or even mix sauces), choose your toppings.Or if that's too damn complicated for you, they have some pre-selected options.You can also pick up a salad, and walk over to the bakery right next to it and grab some of Honolulu's best focaccia.There are tables to eat in or outside. I've even brought a bottle of wine and some glasses.The food is much better than most of the "Italian" restaurants around and the prices are reasonable. You can't go wrong here unless you want a full service dining experience.“
“I was seriously impressed by the talent of the chef. This place is amazing, the food is spectacular!! The pasta is a piece of art and the Lamb omg just delicious! My husband and I are obssesed with this place. We had diner here 4 nights in a row!“
“My son and I visited here yesterday and had a wonderful experience. I’m sorry I do not remember the name of our server, but she was excellent and attentive without being overly so. We split an appetizer of calamari which we try at every single restaurant that has it on their menu. Needless to say, since we eat out a lot, we have a lot to compare to and this was by far the best calamari we have had anywhere all over the US. For an entrée, my son had the New York strip steak with linguine and sautéed mushrooms. He loved it, he said the steak was perfectly cooked. I had the chicken puttanesca, which was divine. It was a little more spicy than what I’ve had in the past with puttanesca, but it was still delicious. We will definitely be back!“
“By far the best pizza on the island! The pizza was glossed with a nice mozzarella glaise but wasn't too overwhelming for the palate. A perfect balancing act if I do say myself. I have ventured into many establishments through years that have claimed to "perfect the pizza". However, Pizza Pie is truly unrivaled in their culinary skills. Compliments to chef! I was also amazed by the hospitality on display. The staff was phenomenonal! My server, Blake, went above and beyond. He was constantly checking in and made sure I felt welcomed. Pizza Pie is second to none!“
“Had an amazing dining experience with friends. Delicious appetizers to share…shrimp scampi, crab cakes and clams were all great! My main course was the Osso Bucco and it was spot on down to the marrow! Had their salmon piccata as leftovers next day and it was so tender and moist. Definitely will be back!Vegetarian options: Lots of vegetables options sides and entreesDietary restrictions: They had pasta substitutions- rice, vegetables or potatoesWheelchair accessibility: Very accessible for all!“
Italian •
“We ate for 2 for under $50 with cocktails! That's a hard find on the strip. There are multiple restaurants in the food hall. It's located on the 3rd floor of the shopping center. We tried Potama, Burger Wiki Wiki, and Five Star Shrimp. I was really impressed by Potama, for $5 this is definitely a bang for your buck type of meal! The seaweed one had a sweet and savory umami flavor that I loved. The garlic shrimp was amazing and for only $15.5 you really can't beat the price. There are other restaurants in the food hall so I'll definitely be back before the end of my trip.“
“Older well taken care of neighborhood place. I will come back to this place next time I am in town. Had the osso bucco in the best brown gravy. Nice chianti. Every one at the table raved about their dishes. The front end service was so polite and the food came out quick.Vegetarian options: They have them but I was not interested“
“Love this place! Newly discovered, passed by so many times and never noticed, it is hiding between two buildings. Food is amazing, just perfect amount of salt and spices to hit your taste buds. Desserts are great too, sampler plate was a winner.Nice place overall, great service, presentation, ambience.One note! Please fix the bread, it is too light and soft.“