My friend and I needed to pick up something in Waikiki on Sat. 2/28/26 at 1:30p so we stopped by at…read more12:45p to have lunch at Cucina Moon located at the McCully Shopping Center. We both heard so many great reviews of their homemade pasta. We were greeted at the door by the friendly hostess and she said to have a seat anywhere. We sat at a table for 4. We loved the spaciousness. We really appreciated that they have such convenient portable bag rests that they place on the floor next to the table to hold your purse or packages. This was the first time I saw that in a restaurant and was immediately impressed. We put in our orders and we were served a spinach salad that came with our lunch order. We also looked at their dinner menu and ordered the Garlic Bread. I ordered the Carbonara and my friend ordered the Garlic Shrimp Tomato Cream. You can immediately taste the difference with fresh pasta; it's tender, slightly chewy, and perfectly holds onto the sauce. The carbonara sauce was silky and glossy, coating every strand without feeling heavy. The guanciale was flavorful, adding just the right amount of saltiness, and the Pecorino gave it that sharp, savory kick. The black pepper tied everything together beautifully. It was rich but balanced and comforting. You can tell care went into every step of the dish. I ate the entire plate. It was fun breaking the yolk into my pasta. My friend enjoyed her Garlic Shrimp Tomato Cream Tomato Pasta and she said it was so good. The homemade pasta was tender and fresh, and the sauce was creamy, garlicky, and perfectly balanced with a touch of tomato brightness. The shrimp were juicy and flavorful. She also ate the whole thing. The garlic bread was nice and warm and paired well with our pasta dishes. We really enjoyed the homemade pasta. The fresh pasta was tender, soft, and slightly chewy. Unlike dried pasta, it had a delicate bite and it absorbed our sauces beautifully. If you want to experience real homemade pasta with their flavorful sauces, Cucina Moon is the restaurant to experience. We will definitely be back. I will try the Squid Ink Pasta next.

On a recent evening we weren't sure to have, we decided pasta was in order. Cucina Moon used to be…read morea main part of the Test Kitchen on the second floor of McCully Shopping Center, but on this visit I noticed the space has been divided into a Cucina Moon dedicated space around the kitchen, with the poke and ice cream spots on the other side of the wall. What that means is it feels more like a planned restaurant. The kitchen is open at the back, so you can see all the food being made. They have various size tables and bar seating around the kitchen. We ordered our food to go, which was a little frustrating as all items weren't on the online menu. A few things, like bread and salad, I had to order at the host stand, which added to our wait time as the pasta dishes were ready. The staff was super helpful and welcoming however, offering water and seats while I waited. I tried the spaghetti bolognese and loved it; it was a garlic bomb with great flavor and noticeable portion of meat. The salad was delicious, fresh and bright and simple dressing. The garlic bread was soft and great for dipping. Overall, this is a fun place to come. You may have a better experience dining in; and must love garlic!

Needed a place to eat out tonight and was tired of the same ol' places we always go to. Glad I…read moreremembered about this dynamic duo of Japanese style bento type entrees and made-to-order pasta. We were stoked to arrive in time for the end of day pastries discount at 6:00. You need to buy 6 and we just made it! They didn't have the apple pastry we usually get but because of that we got to try the peanut banana cream roll which was delish! Not too sweet, with apple banana and creamy peanut goodness in the center. On the Miopastalogy side, we ordered: 1) The Special: Salmon ikura cream pasta- a beautifully cooked fetucine- "light on the cream" which made for a nicely coated but not too creamy white sauce with salmon flakes, mushrooms, spinach, capers and a dollop of ikura. Mom and aunty loved this. 2) Shoyu butter pasta- their most popular pasta also el dente, a light shoyu with bacon, mushrooms, spinach, katsuo bushi, and a pad of butter, sprinkled with nori and chili flakes over spaghetti. I really liked the flavor on this. On the Dell's Kitchen side we got: 1) Kurobuta katsu- good quality pork with a crispy breading on a delicious Japanese curry with 2 scoops rice 2)Miso salmon - attractively plated with fresh ingredients Both came with potato salad and a cabbage salad tossed with a yummy creamy sesame dressing. I got the Dammann iced tea which was unsweetened and refreshing and hit the spot. Anunexpected bonus was the $10 off we received off each bill for having spent $100 on prior visits! Delicious food with great value and friendly service! They will deliver food but you seat yourself and bus your own tables. We'll be back!

Stopped by Mio Pastalogy and decided to skip my usual build-your-own pasta to try their special:…read moresalmon tagliatelle with ikura. It was seriously bomb -- rich, flavorful, and the ikura was a perfect salty pop with the salmon. It's a casual dining experience , service was quick and friendly, and I've never had trouble finding parking.

I remember hearing about Onda Pasta years ago and we finally checked it out while eating at their…read moresister business next door. It's located in Kaimuki and has convenient free parking right behind the shop. The store is small but packs a lot of choices. The main draw is the homemade pasta and sauces, ready for you to take home and simply heat for a local meal. They also have a selection of wines, local beer, and grocery items from Italy like anchovies and olives. Prices are reasonable for the homemade quality. Portion sizes are small; if you're making a big meal for a family or group of friends you'll definitely need multiple bags. The cashier was welcoming and friendly, telling us about the business. At the back you can see them making pizza dough and pasta for the restaurant next door too.

Looking to make a quick and authentic Italian meal. Look no further. Onda Pasta and Provisions got…read moreyour back. You can pick up homemade pasta and sauces that literally would take you minutes to make it home. They have a variety of different pasta sauces, as well as different types of noodles. You can also get homemade Burrata here that is probably one of Honolulu's finest. Be sure to call ahead for specialty items like the Barrata. They have amazing olive oil and balsamic vinegar directly from Italy, as well as canned tomatoes and can tomato sauce.

It was a little tricky to find, but we are glad that we located it on our second pass down the…read morestreet. The food, service, & atmosphere were just right for our "travel day" lunch. We shared a house salad and then had the mushroom crostini. Everything on the salad was super-fresh. The creamy Italian dressing was good, too. The crostini was loaded with tasty mushrooms. The hot bread brought to our table was crusty on the outside and soft on the inside. Yummy! My hubby had linguini with meatballs for his entree and I had shrimp fettuccine Alfredo. We both enjoyed our meals and felt that the ingredients and the way that the food was prepared were top notch! At the end of our meal, we shared crème brûlée. The blueberries on top provided a nice flavor balance. The dessert is one of my faves and I would highly recommend it. Great meal!

03/22/26 Got to have dinner again…read more Crab and mushroom appetizer, always hood. No king salmon so I had the shrimp and scallops alla pink.. very good! Nice portion and the sauce is delicious. Hubby had shrimp and scallops alla pink scampi. The young man was quite attentive so service was good.

Came to Repetti's on a Friday evening for dinner. There's lots of parking in the lot, and we were…read moreeven able to catch a beautiful sunset. There's a few tables inside and more seating outside. I got the calzone with pepperoni and the blackened ahi Caesar salad. The calzones here are definitely a must! I love the different cheeses they use as they complement each other really well. The calzone was crispy and not super doughy which I liked. I would probably pass on the Caesar salad next time though. The dressing was watery and the fish was dry. The service here was exceptional. My friend brought her dog, and the workers brought out a water bowl and kept checking up on us. Overall, pretty decent spot for dinner and the ambiance is nice. I would come back just for their calzone.

Located in an unassuming location, in a grocery store shopping center setting, along Koko Marina in…read moreHawaii Kai, Repetti's is a delightful, rustic eatery that provides a haven from the expected hustle and bustle of more popular Italian restaurants in the area. We dined on a Friday night, so many of the other restaurants were busy and loud. This was exactly what we were looking for after a busy work week. The food quality is very good. Our food was tasty, timely, and hot. Our server correctly recommended the vodka sauce chicken pasta and the grandma pizza, which were both amazing. Although the pizza was a bit pricey, $31, it can easily feed a family due to its large size. For the pasta, the noodles were cooked to a perfect Al dente and the sauce was out of this world. The grandma pizza, similar to Boston's spinach and garlic pizza, was AMAZING! Easily tops Boston's version because of the Alfredo sauce that they use as the base. The service was impeccable, efficient, and friendly. The staff were very polite and attentive throughout our visit. If you're looking for a better alternative for exceptional Italian cuisine in Hawaii Kai, Repetti's is your place. Removed from the hustle and bustle, and always welcoming and good.

My wife and I took our younger son (10) to this place for a lunch as our older son was doing…read morehomework at our hotel. I have to say THIS RESTAURANT HAS BEEN THE HIGHLIGHT OF OUR STAY SO FAR! Here is why: * Ambiance: The place is small and cozy but VERY CLEAN and very inviting. It smelled nice and the temperature was was set to not too cold or hot. * Service: The server was awesome and there was ice cubes filled glasses on our table and cold bottle of water to go with it (very thoughtful). * Food: We got this: - Margherita Pizza: My younger son got this for himself and it was DELICIOUS!! It was WAY too big for him (he had 2 slices and like 6 left still - I helped by eating one). - Lunch Special: My wife and I got the lunch special - Pizza with Mediterranean Salad (we could have chosen Tiramasu instead of salad). We chose the Primavera (SO SO Delicious). Between the two of us there was 2 slices left over. In retrospect the three of us could have just ordered the special and be fine...but I have to say this place is A GEM! I would highly recommend it (it is a drive) and we will go again!

We like to order food delivery from here because it can be quite painful to find parking in the…read morearea. I have found their pasta dishes to be quite good, even the veggie pasta primavera which can be sometimes bland. They add a lot of veggies so you feel full from eating it. I have never eaten in the restaurant but the food delivery is always great, on time, and without issues.

La Cucina Ristorante was outstanding from start to finish! The reservation process via email was…read moreincredibly easy, and booking a table right at opening made for a smooth and relaxed dining experience. Service was fast, attentive, and welcoming throughout the entire meal. Everything came out perfectly timed, allowing us to truly enjoy each course. We started with the Crostini al Porcini and Burrata--both were absolutely delicious and a perfect way to kick things off. For mains, the Ravioli Spinaci and the Spaghetti Granchio e Vodka were truly unique and incredibly flavorful. Every bite felt thoughtfully crafted and elevated. We wrapped things up with a slice of their in-house crème brûlée cheesecake, and wow--an absolute must try. The perfect ending to an already amazing meal. Parking was easy with street options on Cooke Street or the added convenience of free garage parking with validation. Try to get the coveted opening reservation and/or email what you want to order in advance when confirming your reservation to beat the longer wait times. Top notch and highly recommended.

Deliziosa…read more.. Slightly hidden amongst the surrounding of Kaka'ako is La Cucina Ristorante Itlaiano for many though I knew of this place for quite some time since I do have frequent Imperial Plaza for many other biz found here. The restaurant is located on the grounds floor inside the lobby area and can be easily missed for it's simplicity but those who knows it's a place to visit. To do so you must make reservations and it's online by e-mail only and it was a process for me as it's their primary way of communication along with presetting your order as well especially for braised items that requires 48hrs in advance notice. We didn't select those items but have decided to preorder our starters which is their Insalata di Casa which is a lovely simple salad with Italian vinaigrette and some fresh tomatoes and Bruchetta which is also another simple item but until you've tried them it was very crafted and delicious that was wonderful start to our meal. To share we decided on the Rigatoni Bolognese though they were out of Rigatoni and offered us Pappardelle instead which I was fine and Ravioli Zucca and from what I understand the Pappardelle is house made and it was just the perfect consistency and the bolognese was a delicate sauce that went perfectly together but the Ravioli Zucca was just as amazing. Stuffed with Butternut Squash and my favorite vodka sauce is paired with Italian sausage and garnished with sliced almonds and Italian parsley it was such an elegant bite. This spot is very small and cozy so you must wait outside to be called to your table which they set up for you before you're seated and parking is validated in the building though I did find street parking which is free as well after 6pm but the vibe here is very calm though many do come here as groups and it can get quite loud at moments though the staff did very well to course our starters and entree which is nice as the table is small and won't find much at the same time. I do appreciated the time it takes to prepare the reservations though must admit it was quite different to make it all work and see that it's all done in ways that you have very little wait for your table and your food as well and just loved how it's all crafted to make it a balance of harmony for us all. Thank you!

My mom and I go to Rigo once every three weeks or so. Every single thing I've tasted from there is…read moredelicious. My favorite is the Crostini, It's like having dessert before dinner. The staff is very well trained. Efficient, attentive, and polite. Well, Post photos next review.

Rigo is located in Kapahulu right across Safeway supermarket. They have complimentary valet for…read morelunch when several of my friends dined. It was busy for a rainy Thursday! I remember it used to be a Genki Sushi restaurant a long time ago. I was pleasantly surprised how stunning the interior was! Bright, tall ceilings, large booth seating enough for 6 of us comfortably in front of large picture windows! Please check out pictures of waiting room, bar, and amazing second floor display of wines galore! Nice cozy area for intimate dining. Remember to see Toto bathroom! The service is implacable! Prompt and attentive especially allowing us to have separate checks! ( which not all restaurants let you)!! Now for the food: Make sure you check the Monthly Lunch Specials beside the extensive menu! 3 of us had the Clam & Bourguignon Butter Spaghetti: 5 small manila clams,white wine,clam stock,garlic,minimal cherry tomatoes, bourguinon butter, and a few sea asparagus tossed with handmade spaghetti! Very delicious and not too rich! It came with a side crunchy kale salad with a few thin slices of prosciutto. Portions are small and a bit pricey with no complimentary table bread to accompany the pasta. I definitely was still hungry for the $30 lunch! We were celebrating 2 birthdays with only 1 person ordering a dessert that came with a candle. The other birthday person received a lonely candle on a small dish!! It was cute and funny at first but now that I think about it, it was rude and tasteless!! Definitely will celebrate birthdays elsewhere! 3% service charge too!

Truly a wonderful place. I've spent over a decade traveling to Italy, and I've been all over the…read morecountry. Bocconcino is the perfect place to indulge in all the Italian delicacies I've missed, from meats and cheeses to pizza, sandwiches, beer, and wine. The pizza is spectacular, especially the Margherita. And I was surprised by the wine prices. I picked up a bottle of Pinot Grigio from Friuli for $15, and they provided glasses and a bucket of ice with no corkage fee. I can't wait to try more things here, especially the pizza al taglio, which has always been my favorite snack in Italy. The atmosphere is fun and casual. Seating is limited, but the communal tables make it easy to sit with others and maybe make a few new friends. Service is very friendly and professional. Ci tornerò presto!

I have been meaning to come here for a long time though still have not. I had my brother go and…read morepick up an order of Il Bolognese panini and Salsiccia & Funghi pizza. My brother said the ordering process was ok in the shop but you have to go outside to wait for them to call your name. The Il Bolognese panini had a slight crunch to the crust. The bread was of good quality and the fillings were good though I couldn't really taste the pistachio which is my only complaint. The fungi pizza used the same bread as the panini and it was good also with clumps of melted cheese, sausage, and mushrooms. I would like to try their Neapolitan pizza next time but this was a filling slice. I can see why people have been raving about this place to get good Italian food and I'll be back, this time in person!

We just had a wonderful dining experience at Giovedì, where Italian food is served with a pan-Asian…read moreflair. Every single dish we sampled was exceptional. We ordered the Scallop Carpaccio, the Nairagi Crudo (striped marlin), the Spaghetti Arrabbiata, the Gnocchi Mapolonese, and the Char Siu Pork. While every dish dazzled us, the Nairagi Crudo, containing sliced marlin, Calabrian chili crisp, charred eggplant, and mint, was our favorite. Elise, our server, was extremely attentive and helpful. It turned out to be a memorable evening. We can't wait to go back. Highly recommended! Before tipping, we spent $176 for a two-person meal (no alcohol, no dessert, 2 mocktails, 2 appetizers, 2 pastas, and 1 protein).

It was a nice experience, but im not sure I would go again, given the price and selection. The Milk…read moreBread was definitely amazing! The scallops were good because brown butter makes everything good. But the salad was anti climactic. Our main dishes were good but never wowed- and it felt like the menu never gave you a true idea what you were ordering so its kind of a blind order. I did like my take on the Vietnamese noodles though. The drinks were strong but meh. I remember it being enjoyable but its not memorable or recommendable. The desert Carrot Cake was a huge disappointment. Maybe its just not for me? We left a good half of it behind... The service was very good. Maybe not the most attentive but when it came around it was great and friendly, and very professional. I would go again if someone wanted to go, but I don't think ill return on my own accord