This place lost 2 stars based on the awful perfume being pumped into the space alone. It really distracted me from what was probably amazing food. Don't they realize that smell really affects taste?!?! I went twice, the second time was not my choice, but I was trying to be social and we were just getting drinks so I wasn't worried about the smell affecting the taste of my food. The first time I got the bolognese and i can say it was really good (because i took some home and was able to enjoy it in my perfume-free apartment). I hope they stop the perfume so I can go back and truly enjoy it. read more

Great Italian restaurant! Great customer service, cute ambiance, kid friendly, costs isn't crazy high esp for the quality of food! No complaints, will defiantly be back! read more

Beautiful ambiance! Awesome service! Food was great! We all ordered different dishes and shared. read more

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I was staying in Kakaʻako with my cousin and decided to grab a drink at Cino with some friends. The place was pretty packed, but we managed to snag seats at the bar--where we met Justin. Based on what we told him we liked, Justin crafted each of us the most amazing drinks. I'm usually not a fan of craft cocktails (they tend to leave me puking in the parking lot), but he somehow nailed the perfect gin drink--light and not overloaded with sugar. What really stood out, though, was Justin himself. There's nothing worse than a bartender who thinks they're too cool and lacks personality. Thankfully, Justin was personable, hilarious, and genuinely fun to talk to. What started as "just one drink" turned into seven... and once you hit seven, you might as well go for fifteen. When Cino closed, Justin even recommended another spot and told us to ask for his friend--who also ended up taking great care of us. Although our "mellow night out" spiraled into dignity-crushing debauchery, it was hands down one of the best nights we've had in a long time. I moved to the mainland a few years ago, so I'm no longer up to speed on the cool spots--but Justin not only made our night, he gave us great recs that made the whole trip even more unforgettable. The ambiance at Cino was great--and let's be honest, after drink number three, a drink is a drink. But I'd absolutely come back just for the service. Justin and the rest of the staff made it more than worth it. read more

"We reserve the right to refuse service" for disabilities. We were told that our party with a service animal could not sit in the air conditioned area on a warm and humid night. When advised that they were violating the Americans with Disabilities Act, "prohibiting discrimination against individuals with disabilities in all areas of public life" and "requires accessibility in private businesses (restaurants, hotels, stores) and commercial facilities" a gentleman (waiter? bartender? said that they have "the right to refuse service." It is a tragedy that there are many who purport untrained and unruly animals are service animals, but that (and treatment like what we received at Cino's) is a great diservice to people who genuinely require aid to participate in public life. Requiring those with disabilities to not be able to sit in a cool environment after an exhausting day is awful. We left and will not be back. I hope that this review will have them be better educated and more humane in future. read more

Cino is fairly new so you'd think there would be some hiccups. The only hiccup was that they didn't have beer yet - I forgot what reason. It would've been great if they could stock some bottles while they wait for their beer on tap but that wasn't the case. Other than that, we had a fantastic meal! The major standout was the cauliflower. I normally don't care for cauliflower but the pictures looked really good so we decided to try it. You'd be surprised how delicious cauliflower can taste! The pastas were also really good (small sized though). My parpadelle was tasty and full of meat. I'd definitely eat here again! There is a small lot in the building for "retail" parking but the stalls are really tiny. If you can't find parking here, or don't fit, there's ample parking around the Ward area. read more

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My relatives were visiting from the mainland and it was the perfect time since we can celebrate my mom's birthday together. We booked a table for 7 people a few days after my mom's birthday since we were all free on the weekend. The restaurant located in Ward right across the street from Nori and a few doors down from Planted. The interior was beautiful. The place has a classy and romantic vibe to it and we had high hopes that this would be a great place to celebrate a special occasion...or not. Crab cakes: There were 3 mini crab cakes on top of fresh tomatoes and a dollop of basil aioli. The crab cakes were pretty tiny. It's like the size of your index and thumb finger to shape a circle. It was good and the tomatoes on the bottom were fresh and delicious. It's has a nice and refreshing taste. Dozen oysters: There were 12 raw oysters that were small to medium sizes and 2 different types of sauces. The oysters were fresh. I did have a couple where there was a little crunch of sand/dirt in the oysters. The sauces were cocktail sauce and what I assume fish sauce with garlic. Both were good with the oysters. Otoro tuna: The otoro was presented beautifully. The otoro however doesn't look fatty or marbled. The otoro I've tried has a light pinkish color. This one was red and looked more lean like a maguro. It was fresh but didn't have the melt in your mouth texture that otoro usually are. Crispy rice: This has hamachi and avocado mousse. This was pretty good. The aioli drizzle and the avocado mousse were delicious. The crispy rice was nicely crispy and not hard to bite into. Crab spaghetti: The crab spaghetti has a fair amount of uni on top. The taste wasn't what I expected to be. It has a pretty unbalanced mixture of saltiness and citrus taste. Not much umami flavor. I guess I hyped myself up regarding this pasta dish since it is their most recommended. Rigatoni bolognese: Ok, a couple of my relatives got this dish and they gave some to me. We were all disappointed. It tasted so close to Zippy's spaghetti meat sauce but with rigatoni. This dish was nothing special. Campanelle: One of my relative's girlfriend ordered this. She said it was "plain tasting". The pesto was pretty generic and there were hardly any Italian sausages as described on their menu. She couldn't finish this dish. Veal Osso Bucco: The veal was tender but it was hardly seasoned. It was tender and moist enough to fall from the bone. The meat was pretty lean. It tasted similar to pork. The saffron risotto was just okay. The risotto wasn't creamy as I would have liked and it looked like it was sitting in oil. There wasn't much saffron flavor. I tried saffron pasta from other Italian restaurants and they were exceptional. The saffron risotto here was disappointing. Twice baked potato: This came out 10 minutes after we finished all our entrees. We had to asked a different server if they forgot about this order. The presentation looked great. Hearty, delicious, flavorful. However, we got the exact opposite of what we were expecting. The baked potato hardly has any seasoning, butter, or sour cream to flavor it. The toppings helped but it was gone after 3 scoops. The rest of the potato just tasted like plain baked potato once there weren't any more toppings. Overall, we were pretty underwhelmed and disappointed. The appetizers were great but when it came to the entrees it gone all downhill. The service here was also terrible. Our server was rude and seems judgmental of our party's order "amount". We didn't get any drinks or much appetizers since we all shared an order of crab cakes, oysters, otoro and hamachi. But we did got 6 entree orders for each of us (a couple shared 1 entree). He also didn't acknowledged my mom's birthday when he asked us if we were celebrating a special occasion. He just plainly said "oh" and changed the topic when we answered him. He also missed an order for one of my relative's girlfriend so she had to wave another server down to place an order. After we placed our orders, we never saw our server again. He never came by to check up on us or refill our waters. We had to asked the busser to refill them. We saw him served other tables just fine, but just not for us. Once we were done, he came by for the check, didn't thank us for coming and then just left again. When we left, the path to the entrance door was pretty narrow. A server and the hostess were chatting by the hostess podium and he accidentally stepped on my foot. He turned around and said "oops" but didn't apologize and just left. The hostess also saw what happened but didn't say anything and didn't thank us for dining there when we left through the door. Honestly, a horrible dining experience. I was planning on trying brunch here with my friends but change of plans. read more

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The atmosphere is great with beautiful decor. The service is really accommodating and they always keep you updated on the status of your drinks and order. The Frito misto has a great combination of fried things for everyone. The octopus is so tender. You won't even think it's octopus. The rigatoni bolognese is my favorite pasta. There are so many things to try but not enough space to eat it all. read more

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Came here for my birthday. As other reviewers mentioned, this place can get "loud". I wish designers would think about the acoustics of a restaurant when dining. All you need is one party to ruin your dining experience. Our server Dillon was outstanding. Think of every good adjective for a server, and he was it. The food was great. Apps: -Charred Spanish Octopus: Tender, tender, tender. I would say it was the best dish of the evening. -Salt Roasted Beet Salad: I'm a sucker for a beet salad. Did not disappoint. -Big Eye Tuna: Honestly, I liked the fancy wasabi pastry over the ahi more than anything. That is not to say the ahi wasn't good. It was. Just the elegance of the dish was beautiful, and to work the Wasabi into that pastry was creative and brilliant. Main Dish: -Duck: Hubby said it's the best duck he's ever had. -Rigatoni Bolognese: Really good. Flavor was very balanced. Protein was veal, so how can you go wrong? Sides: -Twice Baked Potato: Huge, yummy and creamy. No regrets. -Roasted Cauliflower: Recommended by Dillon. Again, no regrets. So tasty. Hubby jot crazy over cauliflower, but he loved this one. Dessert: -Panna Cotta: if you have oom, this is a very nice way to end your meal. Light and delish. I left out my excellent choice of wine and ice cream, only cause this review is getting too long for me. BOTTOM LINE: I almost gave Cino FOUR stars because remember my first line of this review...it was my birthday. Hostess knew and stated so once hubby gave his name. They knew it was my birthday, but I never got my birthday dessert like the other birthday girl sitting next to us. Either the message wasn't passed on to Dillon, or he forgot. I have a hard time with Dillon forgetting, cause this guy memorized our entire oder. Didn't write anything down. Of course, as my mother used to say, even monkeys fall from trees. Whatever happened, I am including this in my review so Cino can figure out a way to make sure it doesn't happen to anyone. I still gave them 5 stars because no one's perfect. It didn't ruin my evening. read more

We were surprisingly let down with our experience dining at Cino's last month. I had been 3 years prior and really enjoyed it. Unfortunately the second time did not live up to our expectations. While the server was friendly and kind, the food service took a long time. So long that we didn't send back overcooked steak. For a restaurant of that caliber and price, I was expecting more. Hopefully it was just a one off. read more

Cino is described as an Italian chophouse, and they offer a nice dinner and a cocktail menu. We came here for dinner, and we started off with: +the Fritto Misto - with calamari, shrimp, seasonal vegetables, and a calabrian aioli +Charred Spanish Octopus - with romesco, gremolata, and pepperonata +and, Crab Cakes - with basil aioli For our mains, we tried: +the Crab Spaghetti - prepared with urchin, dill, and bread crumbs +Corn Agnolotti - with local corn, Parm regginao, and porchini espuma +the LInguine Alle Vongole - with littleneck clams, fresno chilis, and white wine +Twice Baked Potato - with crispy pancetta, creme fraiche, and chives +Crispy Garlic Potatoes - with Parm and parsley +Broccolini - with banga cauda +and, Creamed Spinach - with confit egg yolk and pecorino romano Service was friendly, but more on the slower end; the space is vibrant and modern-like. I liked the bar setup and the light fixtures. Making reservations was a breeze, and highly recommended. +slow service read more

Came to check out this new place. Reservations was made online on open table very easy. Once we got there, hostess got us seated very quickly as well. Ambiance was very nice, but the back area is a bit noisier than the front part where the bar is. We ordered an appetizer, two main courses, and two desserts. The service was incredibly slow and we had to ask the poor waiter to check on our orders multiple times. So in the end he was kind enough to comp us for our desserts. (The simple meal took 2 hours) Onto the food, the charred octopus was one of their most popular dishes and it was great. Charred just right but it was a tad too salty in my opinion. It would have been better if it was salted less and we could taste the freshness of the octopus. My crab pasta was also one of their most popular dishes but I thought there would have been more uni. There was only one piece that acted like garnish on top . The pasta was homemade and cooked al dente. (Not AS firm as you'd find it in Italy but definitely firmer than most). This dish didn't give me as much of a wow factor as I thought it would, the seafood pieces tasted a bit like unfrozen seafood bites. Didn't get to try the chicken but the date seemed to have enjoyed it. The tiramisu is very creamy. Didn't quite taste much rum but definitely very filling despite looking so small. The mango panna cotta was very sweet but you can definitely taste the mango in the panna cotta. The rasbberry? Syrup on top was a tad too sweet. But if you have a sweet tooth this is your dessert! They also have home made ice cream too. I would maybe give them a month or two more to iron out operations before going so hopefully service won't be as slow! read more

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My boyfriend surprised me with reservations at Cino for my birthday. I wonder if he used Yelp to help him find this spot? I'm usually the person that makes reservations in our relationship so I'm very pleasantly surprised that he found this restaurant. Located in the Ward area, across from the Victoria Ward park. There is free Ward shopping center parking close by but you do have to walk just a bit. The interior is cool -- kinda giving art nouveau. I will say that it can get a bit loud inside, at least from where we were sitting. There was a lot of "HUH!" "What did you say again?" in our dinner conversations. For food we ordered: Lamb ragu pappardelle- fresh pasta and a creamy dollop of ricotta. Crispy rice- this is one of my favorite bites of the night - super crispy rice - almost like a hash brown, topped with hamachi and caviar. Beef tartare - the tapioca puff made of a bit hard to eat since it was easily breakable. I think it would've paired better with a nice piece of bread but overall it was good (if you're into this kinda thing)! Okay, this is where it gets a little confusing. Because I'm now sure that I ordered the romaine salad, it's something that I saw pictures of on Yelp before ordering. It was something I was set on but instead of the salad, the charred octopus was put on our table. I mentioned to the person who put the octopus on our table that I wasn't sure if we ordered that, although she wasn't our server she was confident that we ordered the octopus. Maybe it was a blessing in disguise because the octopus was very good! I was just hoping to pair the pasta and salad together. And then it got a bit more confusing, after we had ate our meal- our server came up - put some more utensils down and said " ready for your entrees?" And then it dawned on us that our server didn't really check up on us when we had our meal (we were meaning to ask about the salad but never got the chance). We didn't dock our server on this - I could see that he had a large section both inside and out on the patio. There was support staff that helped out a lot but there was just some lapses in communication. read more

The food was great and the service was excellent. I had the Spanish Octopus and Osso Bucco. The oyster appetizer was very fresh tasting. Everyone enjoyed their meals of veal, branzino and clams. read more

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went here for a birthday celebration. where our waitress forgot to put a meal in resulting in a meal coming hour 20+ minutes later. Then dropping the garlic potatoes down my husbands back. Nothing was done after, nothing was comped. for that high end of a rest more should've been done. read more

Cino has the look and feel of a place that should impress, but unfortunately, the food did not live up to the expectations. I wanted to like it. The atmosphere was stylish, the menu read well, and the service was decent--but the actual dishes fell flat. Everything we ordered was just okay, and in some cases, not even that. Flavors were muted, textures felt off, and nothing stood out as memorable or crave-worthy. For a restaurant that presents itself as elevated, the execution was surprisingly lackluster. It felt like the kitchen was playing it safe, and the result was a series of forgettable bites. Ingredients did not taste fresh, and plating looked rushed. I have had better meals at casual cafes with half the fuss. Service was polite and attentive enough, but when the food does not deliver, great service can only do so much. If you are looking for a place with nice lighting and decent ambiance, Cino might work. If you are coming for an outstanding meal, you may want to keep looking. There are too many excellent dining options to settle for something that is just mediocre at best. read more

Food: 10/10 Amazing flavor, can't go wrong! I want to try the lobster pasta next time! Service: 10/10 Our guy Justin was amazing, took care of us and made our evening so special! Ambiance: YOU BETTER WERK You better come in an outfit you have never worn before. It better be giving boujee, it's giving expensive, it's giving you cannot afford me in the best ways possible. This is the place to go when you're feeling like a fancy treat. When you're trying to show someone you can be boujee. read more

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Conveniently located in Ward Village/Kakaʻako, Cino is the perfect spot for a night out with friends or a date night. Two dinners and one bar visit in, and I'm already a regular customer. Must-tries: * Apps: Beef tartare and Spanish octopus - flavorful and fresh * Sides: Twice baked potato - hands down the best thing ever (like clouds of buttery mashed potatoes) and Crispy garlic potatoes - dangerously addicting * Pasta: Herb Pappardelle, crab spaghetti, and carbonara - all delicious and satisfying * Dessert: Panna cotta - my favorite dessert on the menu Cocktails? Unique, tasty, and STRONG (in a good way) Ambiance? 10/10 - classy, aesthetic, and totally TikTok/Instagram-worthy. What really made each visit special and top-tier was the staff. Huge shoutout to bartender Justin, server Romain, and manager Dillion-- all incredibly warm and attentive! I'm already planning to go back for the steak. If you haven't checked this place out yet, make a reservation. You won't regret it! read more

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loved the food and drinks here! very pricey so it's a good spot for celebrating special occasions to splurge but 100% worth it. our waiter was very attentive and detailed in explaining menu items or personal recommendations. the pork chop was a table favorite. the pasta and entree options are really diverse and creative. all our drinks were delicious. they brought out a special rainbow cake for the birthday boy, which was from 85c. the restaurant and the bakery have the same owner so cino gets special orders from 85c specifically for these desserts! parking is super accessible at Ward (and free!). the entrance is tucked away in a quiet side of Ward. read more

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Service was knowledgable and attentive. 5/5 Ambiance was classy and chich 5/5 Drinks were inventive and delicious. Flavors were distinct and the fat washed liquors muted the tast of alcohol. 5/5 Food was mostly good, but a few slip ups. Uni & Ikura- Uni was slightly bitter and portion size was miniscule, I wish I would have been prompted that they were individual sized 2-biters, would have ordered one per person 3/5 Fritto Misto- Delicious, lightly battered, sweet and sour peppers provided pops of acid to really set apart. 5/5 Pappardelle- Pasta was tender, with slight bite, but bolognese was flat. Lacked richness and could have used additional salt or parmesan to season. 3/5 Crab Spaghetti- light and bright, while still rich and comforting. Exactly what I want to eat in Hawaii. 5/5 Tomahawk Ribeye (daily special)- Temperature was more medium than medium rare. Good char on the steak and good dry age flavor, but there was a lot of connective tissue more than I would have liked for a steak at this price point. 4/5. read more

Park in the Kakaako Whole Foods structure off Queen Street. Walk along Helakauwila past Rinka across Nori Bar. Inconspicuous Brown wooden door. Reservations at 5:00 pm on a Saturday. We were able to beat the rush. Food: Salt Roasted Baby Beet -5/5 Charred Orange, Aged Balsamic Goat Cheese, Hazelnuts Complementing Flavors of each popped with each bite. Fresh Taste of quality ingredients. Charred Spanish Octopus -5/5 Romesco, Gremolata, Pepperonata Nicely charred flavor, fresh sprout greens, touch of perinatal. Must order. Braised Beef Cheek-5/5 Marrow and cauliflower cream were delicious compliments. Ambiance: Trendy Casual. Service: Attentive. If you love Italian-Spanish cuisine, I highly recommend you try Cino. With high expectations, food was on par. Reading other recent reviews, service this evening was improved. Good job Shay! We will definitely return. read more

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Second time I walked in and sat at bar. Main dining seemed pretty busy. I was only person at bar both nights, one night later on had another person at the bar which they seem to know, and second night 3 others came and they seem to know them too. Anyways, if you want to dress up and be around pretentious people or waiters/bartenders who are like that ...come on down. First off ...dry aged steak had no taste, dbl baked was weird. Pasta was not good at all. 2 times there and all 6 dishes I had were not good. Lastly , service sucked !!!!! Definitely not spending $150-200 on myself for this ! read more

Went to celebrate here with my bf for my birthday and we can't wait to go back. I was really sad to find out they don't do the prime rib anymore but we went in really wanting to try the. Crab spaghetti and I'm still thinking about it! Asked for a reccommendation and the waitress said they featured their pork chop in an interview so we got that. The octopus was also really good. The crab cakes were super tiny I wasn't expecting that so I wouldn't get it again. And their birthday freebie was gelato :) I didn't like that they didn't have a dessert "menu" she just told us and we didn't know how much any of them were but the tiramisu was good but tasted more like a chocolate mousse then tiramisu. All in all, enjoyed our time and can't wait to go again! read more

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Well well well... Hello little beautiful new spot!!! We really loved this place! We popped in, without a reservation on Wednesday night and got two seats right at the bar. We like to sit at the bar. If you want a table, make a reservation as this place is going to be VERY popular I think. They have been open a month, still tweaking things but off to a great start. This place feels so trendy and chic. Just love the atmosphere inside. Our bartender, Nicolo (not sure on spelling) is making sure things are being tweaked, really listening to customers and is a great bartender. It seemed he was training other people and the vibe we got was they really are committed to providing well made craft cocktails. I am a lemon drop martini fan and they did not disappoint. Perfect. We also tried their take on a whiskey sour. The whiskey drink was a little sweet as it has pineapple hints in it. The second one we ordered was a regular whiskey sour and asked them to muddle some jalapenos in it. AWESOME! Highly recommend! We started with the Romain Salad. ONLY get this if you LOVE anchovies. Wowza.. super super heavy on anchovy paste and anchovies. Beet salad-very good! I had that as my entree and it filled me up. Jadori Chicken: Very good! Twice baked potato: Very good and very large! All in all, love the place and we will be back for sure! read more

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First time here, saw them on YELP. The food was good. Our server was Excellent..JR was our waiter, explained the whole menu in detail. We had a problem with the Pork Chop, a little dry. JR apologies and didn't change us on the bill. First class service restaurant. JR is from Las Vegas, the owner wanted him to work for him in Hawaii. Restaurant being open only 10 months. Parking is in the Ward Theater garage...10 minute walk. Give this place a try if you're in the Ward Village area. Aloha, Derek read more

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From start to finish our server JR was great, giving us great recommendations. The octopus was tender, however just not my personal favorite. Everything else was great the crab cakes, crab spaghetti, and spaghetti vongole. The tiramisu was also very yummy covered in a chocolate crust. Overall, a great dining experience and a cute vibe! read more

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I'd put this place on par with Mara - pretty to look at with beautiful interior and good service. Again ultimately it's about the food and while the food here was fine it wasn't anything special. I'd come back here just for atmosphere with someone who hasn't been. I don't think I'd return with just the hub bc I'm craving their special dishes. Cocktails at 17-20$ are fine - again nothing too special. I had their version of the gin and tonic which was ok. And their martini with apple which was also ok thankfully not sweet. The bolognese was a bit under seasoned. The beet salad was fine nothing spectacular. The prosciutto with arugula and pear was my favorite dish bc I was surprised by the burrata underneath. My pork chop was fine, one note, cooked well, little bland. My friend's duck was tasty and cooked well. The twice baked potato is like delicious mashed potatoes. And the panna cotta and tiramisu were good. Maybe I'm getting jaded - I think the prices are perfectly fair for a high end place but the food just isn't as special as some places like Miro. At least it's easy to make reservations online. Service was perfectly solicitous and didn't rush us. read more

Cino has been on my list to try since they opened, but it is slightly pricier than I'd spend on a random middle of the week dinner. So I was happy when my boyfriend made us reservations on my birthday. Cino is located in on the first floor of the 'A'ali'i condominium in Ward, which makes parking very simple. We parked at Whole Foods and took advantage of that by doing some grocery shopping after dinner. The decor is just gorgeous and the food amazing! I don't normally drink but do enjoy cocktails every now and then. If not on your birthday then when? I really enjoyed the Orange Yuzu Cooler which was sweet and refreshing, while my boyfriend tried the Luce Verde (try it as is, then let the ice melt a bit and try it again. I think there was some salt on the ice cube and it changed the flavor profile after it melted in to the drink. Not good, not bad, but just different). I honestly would never have thought to try it, but since their Yelp page claims that they're "known for charred octopus and lively atmosphere", we had to try the charred Spanish octopus. At $22, it was VERY pricy for the two tentacles. However it was SO GOOD! The flavor was smoky and just so tender- not chewy at all which is what you would imagine. For our entrees, we had the House-Aged Half Roast Duck and the Rigatoni Bolognese. We also shared a side of the Twice-Baked Potato because our server Dylan told us that my duck doesn't come with anything. WRONG - it does come with some cauliflower (however the potatoes were really good so I'm glad my boyfriend wanted to try it). Whenever we dine out, we always swap dishes halfway through so we can try a little of everything. We both didn't want to give up the duck when it was our turn. The duck was so good. It was tender and fatty and the flavor was just perfect. We'd go back for the duck. The twice-baked potato was also amazing. It was the best baked potato I've ever had - probably because it was essentially mashed potatoes. But it was a VERY GOOD mashed potato. We'll most likely get this again. The Bolognese was good for what it is but not overwhelming like the other dishes. If you like Bolognese, you'll like it. But overall not something I'd order again. There's just so many other options. I was told they made their pasta in house though so that's always good. read more

We came in tonight to celebrate an early Father's Day dinner and it was lovely! Vanessa was so sweet and attentive to us, we never wanted for anything. The cino pinwheel was insane, I was not prepared for how good that was! We loved the octopus, the cauliflower and the beets too. Great service all around, clean restaurant and good ambience. Love this place. read more

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I was very impressed with this upscale Italian dining experience in Honolulu. All the food was fresh and deliciously prepared. Had the Crab Spaghetti with Urchin, Dill, Bread Crumb and an entire fish Branzino with Red Chimicurri, Fresh Herbs for entrees. The spaghetti had big chunks of crab and I was nervous about the urchin but it was hardly noticeable in the dish. Was happy with the choice of this establishment for a quiet ambiance and overall enjoyable dining experience. read more

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Gfs took me there for my bday. Cute place but little loud. Bad acoustics, but after wine, we got over that. Got there a little late b/c of traff, but we had called and they said we had 15 past our res to get there. Started with wine - they didn't have the one we selected, but offered a good option. That worked, and except for a short miscommunication between bottles, we were good to go. Started off wtih some pupus: - Octopus - Tasted okay but sooooo overcooked. Good if you don't like to chew your food. Borderline mush. - Beet Salad - this was pretty good. Gf loved it. - Fritto Misto - I really liked the cauliflower. Seemed to be a lot of it. Don't think I got anything else. - Cino Pinwheel - we all wanted to try but since no meat, didn't want as a main. This was sooooo gooood. - Branzino - gf had this. She wanted the sauce on the side, but it wasn't. No biggie since she ended up liking it. I personally liked just the fish. Cooked well. - Double baked pot - so good. - Vongole - other gf had this. She always get that from wherever we go. She liked it though. - Crab Spag - I got this and it was bland. I tasted the uni separate b/c you just gotta, and yum...but then I mixed it in, and still no taste. Better to eat it separately. Said there was dill, but not much of it to add any flavor. And still bland when I had it as a leftover. One thing I wish we had was bread. I love bread. The Vongole came with a crostini, so my friend gave that to me...but would have been nice to have some earlier. Had a wonderful bday dinner. Our waiter was super awesome. I'd go back but no tako or crab spag. Just Pinwheel and a steak. read more

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A hidden gem of an upscale and elegant Italian fusion restaurant quietly opened in the Kakaako area in Sept. 2023 and is a perfect for a celebration, and it's called Cino (pronounced "chino"). Operated by DB Concepts that also opened Kakaako Café, DB Grill, and Mad Bene, Cino is located on the ground floor of the A'ali'i residential condo. Cino's Executive Chef is Arnold Corpuz, home-grown from Aiea and became the chef at Manzo at the Park MGM in Las Vegas (LAS). Not only did Chef Corpuz move back to Honolulu to open Cino, but he also brought along some of his experienced servers from LAS as well. A bit of Vegas in Honolulu! Cino's dinner menu offerings include: appetizers (fried seafood/veggies, octopus, beef tartare, beets, romaine, caprese, prosciutto, charcuterie); pasta (spaghetti, pappardelle, bolognese, pinwheel); grilled: pork chops, filet mignon, New York strip, ribeye, wagyu, fish; entrée (butterfish, veal, chicken, duck, lobster, osso bucco); crudo seafood; sides (potatoes, veggies). A new brunch menu on weekends boasts a lighter fare of appetizers, main dishes, breakfast sandwiches, eggs, pasta. As I enjoyed seeing the photos being posted by diners at Cino, I had bookmarked this restaurant for a dinner to celebrate a special occasion. Our grandson from Toronto was visiting and thoughts of Cino were in my mind. Then fellow Yelper Terry K posted a 5-star review, which instantly made our decision to take our grandson there to celebrate his 22nd birthday. We love how the food and desserts are plated so elegantly like what you would see in LAS restaurants. We were intentional in ordering just two meat dishes and a side, knowing that these were heavy items and to allow room for dessert. We ordered the following: * Pork chops (14-day dry aged). The star of the show, the pork chops were slightly crunchy on the outside, while juicy and tender on the inside due to the apple reduction sauce. Generous thick pork slices with a large bone taken home to nibble on. Absolutely delicious! * 25 oz. ribeye (60-day dry aged). The ribeye was tender, flavorful, had a nice char to it, and cooked medium rare. While this was our grandson's choice, he said it was delicious but enjoyed the pork chops more. * Twice-baked potatoes. This huge potato of crispy pancetta, crème fraiche, chives, and bacon bits with partially mashed potatoes and chunky potatoes made this creamy side dish outstanding! Very generous portion! * Tiramisu. This was delicious with a subtle taste of coffee and cocoa powder. Note that a new supplier is being used, so this doesn't resemble the original tiramisu which I liked better for its appearance. Nice gesture by Cino as a complimentary birthday dessert. * Mango coconut panna cotta topped with fresh mixed fruits. Excellent dessert that was light, silky, smooth, and flavorful! Vibrant colors and its presentation made this an outstanding dessert. Nice gesture by Cino as a complimentary birthday dessert. Our server, Carissa, was very friendly, accommodating, and knowledgeable about the menu items. As menu items vary depending on the day, Carissa was able to explain in detail with accuracy as to what was available that evening. She was very attentive in meeting our needs to ensuring that we enjoyed our dinner. Upon entering, the full bar is straight ahead, and the main dining room and outdoor patio are to the left. The main dining room has a tile floor, which allows for the acoustics to be compromised, as Yelpers have noted that conversations are "loud." We requested to be seated to the right of the dining room near the bar where it was much quieter. The restaurant interior is stunningly beautiful with an elegant ambiance. Dark mahogany walls and wall art adorn this innovative, trendy restaurant. Dinner hours are: Sun, Mon to Thurs, 5p to 9p and Fri/Sat 5p to 11p. Brunch is Sat/Sun, 10:30a to 2p. While the proper address of Cino is on Queen St., note that the entrance is on Halekauwila St., across from Nori Bar. Free parking in the A'ahi'I condo parking lot, Ward Theater parking, and Whole Foods parking. What a great find in HNL, and still without any loud fanfare, Cino makes a name on its own. We certainly will return for the next special occasion! read more

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This is the second time I've been here and it was still amazing. Good food, gorgeous ambience, and superb service. Just a perfect place to celebrate a birthday, special day, pr just to have lunch with your friends. read more

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Food is delicious. Especially the broccolini that was cooked perfectly and a nice size to share for two. I had a Sagebrush made with Bourbon, elderberry and Meyer's lemon. Excellent buy pricey. You can get better value for your money but everyone there seemed to be enjoying themselves. It was extremely noisy the night we went and others have told me that the noise level is quite high there. Limited choices for my friend who doesn't drink alcohol but enjoys a fancy non-alcoholic beverage whenever we go out to dinner. No dessert menu! Limited choices anyway. read more

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Food was amazing! Everything we ordered was soo good! We got the charred octopus, beet salad, & crispy rice hamachi for appetizers. We really enjoyed the octopus. It was grilled crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. Squeeze the lemon over it & it gives you a nice kick. The beet salad was refreshing with goat cheese and hazelnuts. I wasn't into the crispy rice too much but babe enjoyed it. For main entrees, Babe got crab spaghetti which was pretty good. The pasta was on the harder side. I got the pork chops with a side of broccolini. I was amazed by how good the pork chops came out. It was perfectly seasoned and cooked medium to perfection. soft and tender. The broccolini is a good veggie choice to get with your protein. The serve a nice portions. The only reason why i'm giving 4 stars is because we didn't finish the crispy rice hamachi and wanted to pack it togo but someone in the kitchen ended up eating it so our server said she would comp our dessert. She did comp dessert but she forgot we were celebrating my bday. They also took our napkins when clearing the table and forgot to bring us new ones. But overall, it was a nice first experience. We would come back and try other things on the menu. The ambiance of the restaurant is very romantic and modern. Love read more

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Nothing bad to say about this restaurant. The staff was so thoroughly versed with the menu food and drinks, extremely attentive and helpful. We sat outside which was more private and it was very cozy with all the foliage. I have nothing bad to say about the food. Everything we had was exquisite. We tried all three of the deserts as well and they were delicious. read more

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So it's my first time here and I've heard so many great things about it. Location: clean, modern, and cozy. Great for date nights! Service: our service was nice but seemed to have a hard time multi tasking a whole section of tables. I kinda felt bad for him to be honest because it looked like there were only 2 servers on the floor that evening. Menu: we asked for the wine menu but apparently they are still updating it. Our server had to tell us the types of wine they had along with a rough estimate of the prices. I would assume that a nice restaurant like this would at least make a temporary menu print out for their guests. Food: I had the best octopus dish here! Hands down! Bathroom: nice on the outside but dirty in the inside. There's water all over the bathroom counter and toilet paper everywhere. Overall, I like this place but I'm not in love with it. read more

Food was really good , services was top of top notch. Inside this restaurant was super nice and very clean. read more

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Came here to try the new restaurant Cino to celebrate my mom's 60 birthday. Food: food is great except for the Steak which is bland. If you looking for Steak would suggest to try a steak house. The Crab Uni spaghetti is our favorite. Environment: is really noisy. The table are close to each other. I will go for the food but not the environment as is really loud and I can't heard our conversation if we don't talk loud enough. Parking: we part at whole food the building has the own parking as well. Price:$$$ read more

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Reminiscent of Podamore interior. It's nice. Kind of eccentric classy high end residential feel. Service was great. Friendly and knowledgeable staff. Drinks were great. Old fashioned was on point. Charred octopus was great, tender and meaty. Panna Cotta really good. Herb Pappardelle was absolutely amazing. Pasta made in house with herbs pressed into the noodles. Fall apart boar meat. Refreshing ricotta. The perfect dish. 60 day dry aged New York was an...experience. I may not want to experience that again. I've had 15, 30, 45 dry aged steaks before, but not 60. I found out on this visit, that dry age has diminishing returns. This steak although perfectly cooked had a strong blue cheese and parmesan cheese flavor. The smell was also like cheese. In fact, it was the only thing I could taste with a hint of butter. No beef flavor here. None. The texture was a tender steak, but the flavor was so off. Personally, I don't see the point. Skip it unless you like that sort of acquired taste. Pasta was the stand out. Dry aged steak wasn't worth it, but everything else was. I should have tried the pork chop. I'll do so next time! read more