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Formaggio Grill

3.1 (666 reviews)
Closed • 12:00 pm - 12:00 am (Next day)
Updated 3 months ago

Formaggio Grill Photos

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FORMAGGIO GRILL ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Casual
Moderate noise
Happy hour specials
Good for groups

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Chicken marsala
Robin S.

Excellent restaurant that surprisingly was completely devoid of patrons during early-prime dinner hours on a weekday. Do locals not know of this place? - Nice layout, ambience, not loud (maybe because it was empty?) - Great food - Good service Recommended.

Local Fish special.
Koka L.

First time here celebrating my Birthday, Food very tasty, servers are nice and friendly and attentive. The Brussel Sprouts, Bacon wrapped Shrimp and Calamari were very good! I had the Local Fish special which was Ono prepared perfectly with shoe string onions, fresh Zucchini's and Squash. Other entrees were Garlic Ahi, Salmon Piccata, and a Wagu Beef burger. Everything was very tasty! Talked with the owner for a little bit as we were on our way out. She's really nice! We will be back in the future.

Leah H.

We may have been the only ones in there for lunch, but that only means others are missing out. The sweet potato fries were fresh, crispy on the outside and soft in the center aïoli sauce they were served with was different but really good, that same sauce was served with the calamari. I was finally so nice to get serve the tentacles and not get rings! They were perfectly fried! The appetizers were so good I was almost too full to eat my lunch. The big plate lunch's are big enough to share and boy we should have. Caesar salad fresh and the dressing was amazing with a slights lemon zest taste, it was so good I ate the whole side salad before I even took a bite of my burger. The Kobe was Cooke well, but this is where they lost a star for me. I had to have my husband ask for some napkins because there was so much mayo on the burger it was all I tasted. My other friends thought it was melted white cheese at first. It took 3 napkins to get it off. I ended just taking part of the bread and lettuce off as my lettuce was soaked in mayo and eating it that way. The fish tacos were huge fresh and perfect! My friends just kept saying how good they were. Loved all the artwork on the walls and bar area was super nice. I am sure they get a good dinner crowd.

Ahi tacos hit the spot. Great portions
Ramiro H.

High ceilings, nice bar, good size venue with great service. Pricey menu but the food portions are filling and taste good. I tried the tacos and the Kobe beef burger. Both were prepared well and didn't take very long. Servers were polite and attentive. I'm glad I found this spot because I'll definitely be returning to the bar area for a date night later down the road

Dessert
Stef H.

Being a Lone Ranger on island at Christmas, I decided to take myself out to a nice Christmas dinner. I sat at the bar with my reservation and had a very nice Cabernet to go with my absolutely delicious chicken Parmesan and spaghetti. The service itself was great. 3 different servers consistently attended to me which was very pleasing. The dessert finished off very well with my wine as well. The ambiance was very holiday visitor vibe but the staff was great at hosting at a great level. Thank you for a great ending to my solo Christmas Formaggio's!

Bruschetta Sampler
Lois B.

this place is one of the best restaurants on the island! the food, the service, the ambience. i've been here over a dozen times and each time, the food and its presentation are A+++. they have such an eclectic menu. from bruschetta to fish tacos to buffalo wings to choice cut steaks. they are all prepared by the chefs in an open kitchen. the staff is very warm and inviting, and service is prompt and efficient. i usually have their bruschetta. it's like bruschetta on steroids. the salads are crisp and fresh. i highly recommend coming here for a nice dinner or a casual lunch. you can even watch a game or two on their big screen TVs. on Friday nights they have live music. definitely a place to keep coming back to.

Bacon wrapped shrimp

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16 years ago

We attended a Wine Dinner a few nights ago and everything was top notch. Highly Recommended.

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5 years ago

Rushed service. Salad delivered and entree was served within minutes. Music was good but way too loud for a dinner and clientele.

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Page 7 of 17

Formaggio Grill Reviews in Other Languages

Ask the Community - Formaggio Grill

Should I make a reservation for 2 people?

Is this place any good my GF had a bad experience once and won't go back... help?

In the beginning, all of their food was fantastic. They still have some really good food and some great wines to go with it. The competition is becoming more heated in Kailua. We'll see how they respond. I'm sorry your gf had a bad experience.

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Buzz's - Ribs with garlic mashed potatoes-tender and delicious!

Buzz's

3.4(1.6k reviews)
0.9 mi
•$$

We walked into Buzz's on a Sunday around noon during Mother's Day weekend. The place was absolutely…read morepacked -- buzzy in every sense of the word. Families hovered around the hostess stand hoping for a table, conversations floated through the air like music, and somewhere beneath it all you could feel the pulse of a place that had been feeding people and creating memories for generations. "There was a guy, his name was Buzz, a greater guy there never was..." Two haole boys and a haole girl from Oxnard, California stood in the middle of it all -- directly across the Pacific from our own modest beach town known as the Strawberry Capital of the World. Farming communities understand something important: the sacred relationship between people, food, and land. Buzz's felt like it understood that too. The sun-kissed, freckled-faced hostess greeted us warmly. The wait? About an hour. Not surprising. Places with soul usually require patience. Knowing my way around restaurants, I told her the best seat in the house is almost always the bar. That's where the stories live. That's where you meet the people making the magic happen. To my surprise, she smiled and welcomed us in. And there it was -- the perfect bar. Open, timeless, alive with character. Across from us sat an elegant woman in traditional Hawaiian attire, facing the ocean, staring through the front windows like she had done it a hundred Sundays before. She had it right - positioned on the best side of the bar. You don't turn your back to the view of the ocean, so we sat next to her. The room hummed with warmth and familiarity. It didn't feel transactional. It felt communal. "Seat da people, spock da chicks, Buzzy always got his pick." Then came the bartender -- commanding the room with charisma, warmth, and effortless aloha. Her energy moved through the restaurant like a tide. Every server who approached her bar carried away drinks and a little piece of her spirit. You could feel it. The laughter became contagious. The hospitality felt genuine. I wasn't drinking that day, but she kept the non-alcoholic daiquiris flowing with the same care and enthusiasm as every cocktail she served. Somewhere between the ocean breeze, the company, and the aloha spirit, I started questioning whether my drink secretly had alcohol in it. Maybe that's just what happens when people make you feel welcome. And then there was the food. The Teriyaki Steak was exceptional -- tender enough to cut like butter, rich with flavor, perfectly balanced alongside rice and vegetables. My cousin ordered the Fish Burrito and couldn't stop talking about it. By the end of the meal he declared it the best thing he'd eaten on the island. "Steak & lobster, salad bar, with a place like this he could go far." As we walked out and continued our adventure through Oahu, Buzz's kept circling back into the conversation. The people. The food. The laughter. The feeling. A little part of me wants to protect this place like a local secret. But that wouldn't be in the spirit of aloha. So much love and respect to everyone at Buzz's. Mahalo.

Very expensive and limited menu. Food was just okay, but given the price, was underwhelming. Got…read morethe shrimp scampi (~6-8 shrimp) for $41 and friends got the steaks with asparagus, mashed potatoes, and baked potato for ~$60 a piece. Steaks were cooked properly and sides were fine. Caesar salads to start, they were great and tasted fresh. Good size for a starter salad. We got margaritas and an aperol spritz for drinks, and the lava cake for dessert. The host was absolutely lovely and sat us on the porch with a tree and ambient, cozy, lighting with Hawaiian music in the background. However, our server, again given the price, was disappointing. We started off with drinks and were told any modifications to drink could not be sent back or comped if we didn't like them because the manager "isn't the type to do that". Our drink order then came out wrong and we drank them anyway. When asking between menu items, she recommended the scampi over the mahi because "anyone can grill mahi". For a $40 fish, I hoped for more given other experiences on the island at a similar price point. We were then passed off to two other servers throughout the night with no formal introduction. With a tab of $300, we were hoping for a better food, drink, and service experience. As a local, it was sad to bring friends into town and this be their first dinner experience on this side of the island.

Photos
Buzz's
Buzz's
Buzz's - Lychee martini

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Lychee martini

Gaslamp  - Wagyu tamahawk

Gaslamp

4.1(507 reviews)
0.3 mi
•$$$$

I've eaten at places with $200 plates of steak and Michelin star locations when I was in the…read moremainland, and have often been disappointed. Being in the food industry for many years I believe good food doesn't have to cost that much, and I'd leave most fancy places hungry cause they give you small portions (I'm 6'6. A big dude who loves to eat). While this place is on the pricier end for my taste, I do think it's completely worth it. We ended up here for our anniversary and I think this spot is great for special occasions. It's an intimate atmosphere with live jazz music, the bartender Clark was very knowledgeable about drink recipes, the food was delicious, and the service was amazing. This place was an experience. Not just getting served expensive food. We probably spent $400 that night for 2 people, but thats what you would spend at a nice steak house anyways. Definitely recommend checking this place out if you haven't already.

My experience here started rough but it really did get better through the night, and the food was…read morethe saving grace. The bad: we received our "pass phrase" to get in for our reservation, but when we arrived at the telephone door they just asked for our name...defeating the point of a speakeasy experience. Then the waitress had us stand in a very crammed and busy walkway in the pub for 10/15 minutes only to tell us they had no tables available and that we have to sit at the bar (the barstools had no backs and were uncomfortable). It was very loud and small in the actual restaurant, and as they bussed all the other tables dirty plates they were staging them right in front of us at the bar? Not really what I want to look at all night if I'm paying over 130+ per person. Fortunately someone was a no show and they moved us to a table. I recommend stating you want a table when making reservations. The food: our food came out really fast and most of it was top tier and delicious in every way possible! Although, I did not care for the crab and artichoke dip. The crab was shredded and could easily be replicated with canned crab. If it were lump crab/chunky and bigger pieces of artichoke it would be way better in my opinion. The charred octopus was good but one tentacle was very rubbery while the other was soft and cooked well, I wouldn't get this again. The Yacht: hands down the best seafood tower I have ever tried. The seafood was bursting with flavor and most surprisingly it was grilled. The meat was still warm but placed on top of a bed of ice. The variety of lobsters, crab, shrimp, and the oysters were phenomenal. The mignonette and melted butter were perfect. Dutch Veal Chop: possibly the best piece of meat I've eaten in a very long time! The veal charred to perfection and the meat was so tender. The flavors were on point. Desserts: we tried the creme brûlée and butter cake. Again, I think this is my favorite crème brûlée! The flavor, texture and toppings were perfect. The butter cake was warm and melt in your mouth. Gaslamp is very expensive. If you come here knowing it's tucked in the back of a very crammed dive bar, and the actual restaurant it self is tavern-like and you probably can't see half the food you're eating you'll be fine lol. Oh yes, there was also a fire dancer on top of the bar in the middle of our meal, which was pretty cool!

Photos
Gaslamp  - Upstairs

Upstairs

Gaslamp  - Tomahawk.

Tomahawk.

Gaslamp  - There's drinks are amazing b it's all about presentation !

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There's drinks are amazing b it's all about presentation !

Faria - Pasteis De Nata // Portuguese Custard Tarts

Faria

4.7(118 reviews)
0.2 mi
•$$$

I come here weekly. The menu is special, just come on in and see for yourself. The staff is more…read morethan just special, they're a family and will make you feel apart of it too! Bar is open seating but best bet is to make a reservation. You can't make a wrong decision while ordering so don't worry about that. The e restaurant itself is cute, small and comfortable.

Cute date night place in Kailua! Very romantic vibes and I love how it isn't too loud like some…read moreplaces. The big downside for me was that we were seated right where the AC was blasting so it made the experience not as enjoyable. Thankfully I brought my jacket but even then, I was freezing. I was looking around to see if we could move somewhere else but they don't have much two seater options; the best one was the table against the wall so it avoids the AC... another small downside was our server's attitude. She kinda seemed like she didn't want to be there. She wasn't the worst but a more friendlier, welcoming attitude would of been nice We ordered a decent amount of food: Bolinhos de Bacalhau (Cod + Potato Croquettes), Salt and Vinegar Onion Rings, Caldeirada De Pescadora (Fisherman's Stew), Alcatra (Pot Roast), and Pasteis De Nata (Portuguese Custard Tarts) The two appetizers were one of our favorites! I don't know how they get it so light and crispy and paired with the herb mayo sauce (from the croquettes) gave it a nice tanginess. The entree portions were huge! We could of easily shared because we came out super full. I was pretty shocked by the amount of seafood the Fisherman's Stew came with and for $30, it was so worth it! I definitely recommend adding a bread basket to soak up the extra soup (they only give one) or I wish they had rice to pair alongside with it. You can also tell how popular a dish is when you look around and see almost everyone eating it! I wouldn't mind coming back again but they do get booked up so always best to make a reservation ahead of time

Photos
Faria - More rosaries!

More rosaries!

Faria - Pasteis de nata

Pasteis de nata

Faria - Storefront... with 3 parking spaces right in the front

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Storefront... with 3 parking spaces right in the front

Haleiwa Joe's Haiku Gardens - Prime Rib ($52.95) - Medium Rare!

Haleiwa Joe's Haiku Gardens

4.1(3.2k reviews)
5.0 mi
•$$$

My old review is still accurate w/a few caveats: Hands down…read morebest Prime Rib on island, best atmosphere, best 'hidden' restaurant, kinda hard to find;) My old review still stands although it's even pricier now:( INFLATION. but you get great food, so for something special--grads, b-days, anniversaries...WORTH IT. Aloha

The service was standout, I feel bad that I do not remember her name as she went above and beyond…read morein her service. We went for dinner after Kualoa Ranch, on our way back to Honolulu. They do have a large parking lot. They don't do reservations. But this is less of a problem here then other places. We were not lucky with the weather, if it was good, the ground are beautiful gardens. They do have one of the best waiting areas I've ever seen, as well as a bar area, to wait in, so you are not hovering over others as they eat. You can also order drinks and apps in the area. Their mango margarita was standout, "it tastes just like a mango!" The restaurant appears to be arranged so that most tables have some of a view of their open patio. Even with the rain, it was lovely, and they lit touches as it grew dark. The menu is the right size, I think a more focused menu lends to better food. We had difficulty deciding as everything sounded great. We started with their poke, very good, and nicely presented. I had the grilled fish, which was great, and my friends had two very different steaks. One got the prime rib, and it was on theme for our dinosaur tour at the ranch. It arrived as big as her head, all three of us could have enjoyed it. Great experience and I hope to return without the side of rain.

Photos
Haleiwa Joe's Haiku Gardens - Interior

Interior

Haleiwa Joe's Haiku Gardens - Paradise pie

Paradise pie

Haleiwa Joe's Haiku Gardens - House Sald

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House Sald

Formaggio Grill - seafood - Updated May 2026

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