Only one thing was on my mind when I went to Fete Hawaii: carbonara. I had seen so many fantastic pictures about this dish and heard raving reviews about it. I know Fete is known for other delicious items like their burger, but I really wanted to try their pasta.
My boyfriend called ahead to make reservations, as it was a Saturday evening. Our reservation was around 7 p.m. and we parked in the nearest municipal lot (on Nuuanu I think) so it was a short walk.
I loved the décor and vibe of Fete, in that it was definitely contemporary, modern and buzzing. It really did remind me of a place that came straight outta Brooklyn or San Fran. I loved the dimly lit atmosphere, the red brick walls and the bar scene.
The only thing I really didn't like--which ended up being a huge factor--was how close the tables were to each other. Yes, I know you're trying to pack out the place and make the most of minimal seating space, but our table for two was claustrophobically close to the two neighboring tables. It was almost like we couldn't move or sit comfortably. I wonder if our neighbors felt the same way.
Our waiter was pleasant and gave good recommendations, as this was our first visit. My boyfriend even ended up ordering the pasta special for the night, since it came highly recommended. Service was speedy and our food came out relatively quickly, which surprised me, since the place was busy. But, we definitely felt rushed throughout our entire meal -- like they wanted to hurry and usher us out pronto so the next wave of people could come in.
The food, however, gave this place a four-star review. Both of our pasta dishes were excellent; I would order that carbonara again in a heartbeat, even if I felt rushed thru dinner. This is one of my favorite carbonaras on the island. Even though the desserts on the menu looked promising--I'll have to return for the "Rocky Road to Hana"--we wanted to go someplace where we could linger and take our time (ended up getting the famous salted caramel cheesecake to-go from nearby Livestock Tavern). Perhaps I'll come back to Fete for lunch and try something different off the menu ... if I can bring myself to deviate from that wonderful carbonara.
Here's what we got:
"Linguine Carbonara": This carbonara included slab bacon, Portuguese sausage, Parmigiano-Reggiano and Pecorino Romano cheeses. If you like super buttery, cheesy carbonara, this one will be right up your alley. The blend of cheeses was divine. I loved the sharp Parm and the Pecorino Romano blend. I actually recently saw a special on "The Food Network" about the carbonara dish, in particular, and the guy on the show was saying how a good carbonara is defined by the noodles and that Pecorino-Romano cheese. In short, I knew I was eating the real deal. Unlike some carbonaras--where the sauce is super liquidy, oily and oozing with butter--this one was creamy and thicker. The noodles were well coated in it, but not drenched. I also thoroughly enjoyed the hearty chunks of slab bacon and Portuguese sausage. This carbonara reminded me of my favorite version from Sale Pepe (in Lahaina) and I'm glad I now have an alternative for when I'm really craving this dish, as I can't just fly over to Maui all the time. The portion size of this dish was just right--I was really hungry, so I ate the whole thing in one sitting. It was less than some pasta dishes I've had in the past, but that was fine -- I left the restaurant full but not overly stuffed, with enough room for dessert.
"Special": I can't remember what my boyfriend's entrée was called; all I know was the cavatelli pasta they used in it was on point. I really loved the noodles in his dish. There was a lot of meat/meat sauce but the ground beef was super flavorful. The boyfriend--who knows authentic Italian food well, since he grew up in an Italian family--relished every bite and said he would get this special if it were ever offered again.
"Chaz Burger": This is the dish I wanted to try, but figured I would save it for next time, since I was absolutely craving pasta this time around. It featured caramelized onions, Naked Cow cheese, Kula tomatoes, roasted garlic aioli, ketchup, bread and butter pickles and it comes served with frites. I can't wait to try that roasted garlic aioli and I've heard good things overall about the flavors of this burger. It's once in a rare occasion that I'll have a burger, as I don't eat red meat all that often--and prefer sandwiches--but for this famous concoction, I'll have to make an exception.
"Twice-Fried Chicken": I first tried Fete's fried chicken at Hale Aina, and it was love at first bite. This entrée comes with spicy tomato jam, Charleston grits and collared greens. This entrée is one of the pricier ones on the menu, but I would splurge and order it one day just so I can re-live that glorious fried chicken and I'm curious to taste the grits. read more