Had dinner there tonight with 14 in our group. We made reservations in advance. They had us separated into 3 different tables. We asked if they could move the tables into 1 long table. They said no. We were one of the very first there. Plenty of room to be able to accommodate our request. As we all sat there for an hour with no food, and no orders taken we were told they had a private party in the back and the kitchen was backed up. Remember I said we were the first group in the main dining room. That tells me the kitchen was understaffed. A problem many businesses are having an issue with on the islands. No apologies, not even bread was brought to the table to get us by. The food was good, a bit overpriced and I understand with a group of 14, the 20% "service charge" was added to the bill automatically. No plans to return here even though I live in Kailua. read more

Haven't been here in forever but decided to go here for a business meeting last night. They had live music going on and the restaurant was pretty full. They offered us a private room which was so nice of them because without them knowing we really wanted something more quiet. I had to dock a star because they told us it would be about five minutes when it ended up taking a bit longer. Honestly, I wouldn't mind the wait but we should've been told from the beginning. The second star off was for my friend and I both ordering the same meal (see picture) and our food turning out completely different. Hers was almost completely raw in the middle (like cold to the touch raw) and mine was cooked perfectly. She ended up eating only half of her meal which was so disappointing to me because she hardly goes out. On the fence if I would come back again because of the inconsistency of food. Wait staff and hostess were all very nice, they do have very good service. read more

Formaggio Grill - Garlic Ahi - Seafood Near Me - Kailua, Hawaii

3.5 stars definitely, the service was solid and so was the food. I was also very pleased with the service and how the waiters encourage you to use the option where you can pay a few dollars for a few ounces of wine. This does t take you down a winding rabbit hole faster but still it's a cheaper rabbit hole.. I really do enjoy wine and I like when it is dry, in my old age I can't handle the sugar in moscato type wine. The waitress we had was super nice and very helpful! She gave us some good ideas about what wines to try. I wasn't impressed with Noodles they were drenched in sauce, but they did give a good amount of shrimp read more

Steak Neptune was delicious (photo included). Excellent service and nice ambiance with live music. read more

Formaggio Grill - Steak Neptune - Seafood Near Me - Kailua, Hawaii

Went for Happy hour and received the bill that did not represent happy hour prices because we sat at a table instead of the bar. Nobody said anything until we received the bill, last time I will ever go there. read more

The garlic ribeye was cooked perfectly medium rare and was tender, juicy, and very flavorful with lots of ga read more

Formaggio Grill - Perfectly cooked garlic ribeye. - Seafood Near Me - Kailua, Hawaii

Second try ... second fail. We had a bad experience at Formaggio in the past, but decided to try them again to take advantage of their "Sunset Special" which was promoted by a banner. We came at the allotted time. The food was decent but not exceptional. And when the bill came it was at full price so I asked about the special - and was told that it was for certain entrees only, which was never explained when we ordered (even though we asked if one of the items on the menu was part of the promotion). Additionally, I had made a reservation, which required leaving a voice message. I got a text confirmation in response, but they had no record of this at the restaurant. There are too many good restaurants in Kailua to put up with this amateurish operation. Sorry ... two strikes, you're out Formaggio. read more

My girlfriend and I came here for some pupus and drinks and we are so happy about our experience here! We got in right away surprisingly on a Friday night at 7pm! We sat at the bar and had an amazing bartender named Beth!!! She is so welcoming and she made my dirty martini perfectly!!!!! The live music was awesome and our pupus (appetizers) came out in less than 10 minutes! We ordered the calamari and the caprese flat bread and they were both amazing! We'll definitely be back! read more

Formaggio Grill - Bar!! - Seafood Near Me - Kailua, Hawaii

See all

The food was very good and the wine selection decent , however the staff needs to be more sensitive to the customer. At entering the establishment we were yelled at by a male waiter/busboy for not waiting to be seated. He pointed to a chair on the side, I told him we had friends that were seated at waving at us to enter, and if they put the chair at the middle of the entrance people would be able to see it. Later, near the end of dinner, my companion asked the same young man if she could see the wine list again, she was scolded second time for not wearing a mask when she was talking to him even though she was still eating. The mood was ruined, and we ended up leaving immediately after she finished eating. They need to train their staff in manners. read more

What do you do if you sat down at a table fumbling with recent reviews of that restaurant and noticed multiple low ratings of that establishment? Do you: 1) Exit without ordering. 2) Ask for management and question why such low ratings. 3) Give the place a chance. Met up with some fellow Yeeps last night and ended up here because Hale Kealoha, our original destination, dinner reservation fell through as they received a large last minute catering order and didn't bother to call us to cancel despite making reservations earlier in the week and calling back that day to reconfirm. As I walked in Formaggio's I immediately noticed the dim lighting, creating a different dining experience I'm accustomed to. I rarely come to Kailua and felt like I was dining somewhere in the mainland. It was very loud and noisy. Felt like I was at Roy's in Hawaii Kai. Our waitress was very friendly and informative with daily specials as well as to some of our questions about the menu. So noticing the low reviews I focused on the higher ratings and saw a pattern of the Kobe Beef Burger. Trusted my fellow Yelpers and they came through. Get the Kobe Beef Burger. I asked our waitress what she thought and she claims to eat this once a week. The verdict? The burger was INCREDIBLE. Cooked to perfection, no fillers. 100% beef. Served on a toasted Ciabatta with sliced tomato and a light dressing I was a happy camper. I also added bacon to my burger and requested sweet potato fries instead. Ketchup and a spicy aioli accompanied the plate. I also sampled the lobster mac and cheese which was okay. Not to sound like a snob but I've had better. Service was overall good but we were ignored for a bit as several cups of water were at low levels for some time but a wait staff finally came to refill our glasses. When it was time to settle our bill one of our members mentioned we were celebrating 2 people's promotion the next thing we know 2 complimentary desserts were brought over. I immediately noticed the chocolate pyramid from JJ French Pastry on Waialae. I've been wanting to try this and I had a dessert foodgaism! Also sampled the cheesecake, which was good. In addition to the loud noise and high prices here, our seats were uncomfortable. They were cushioned chairs without back support, therefore giving many of us sore backs after our meal. Despite the many low ratings here on Yelp I pleasantly had a great dining experience. I wouldn't mind driving up the Pali just to have the Kobe Beef Burger with Bacon for over $20. NOTE: For our group of seven, our waitress was able to accommodate separate checks. read more

See all

I get Formaggio's and Assaggio's mixed up, they're both in Kailua, are really good and end in AGGIO, but that's about where the comparisons end. We love Formaggio's, it's usually our go to when we forget that half the places we want to go have weird hours in Kailua, but for some reason Formaggio's is always open. I really appreciate their rotating and diverse wine list, as well as their lighthearted decor and friendly staff. My favorite drink is the Bubblecello, which is their AMAZING house-made lemoncello with champagne or prosecco, it is to die for. My hubs usually gets a gin and tonic lemonade or a seasonal glass of wine. To eat, do not miss the garlic bread ($7.95). It's dense, chewy, buttery and delicious. My favorite meal is the Warm Kale salad ($12.95), with a bacon-y vinaigrette, seared cherry tomatoes and herbed carrots, this is way more than your run of the mill salad. Hubs usually gets the perfectly cooked and tender Kobe burger ($17) with a fried egg (+$2.25) or the Garlic Seared Tuna ($27.95) with garlic linguine, both are amazing. I would not advocate for the Mushroom Gnocchi ($14.95), I had that on my last visit and it was possibly the most soggy and tasteless plate of carbs I've had in awhile. The waitress didn't even ask how it was when she removed my basically untouched meal, maybe she knew that it was boring. Wait times vary, I've been served immediately and I've waited extremely long, so that's really unpredictable. Also parking is iffy, lunch is easier than dinner, but getting to their strip of parking spots is crazy, it's much easier to park behind them in their private lot with Hibachi Grill. Prices are comparitive to other "nice" restaurants in the area. read more

See all

Driving over to the Windward side is always a treat. When you exit the tunnel you see the beautiful blue ocean and lush green mountains--reminds this townie that I live in Hawaii! Headed over to Formaggio Kailua to catch up with my buddy, SR. Haven't been to this location in a long time. They open at 5 and happy hour is from 5-6pm at the bar only. Eleven seats and by 5:15 just three seats were left..... Happy hour menu-- Just ok.....Over fried calamari and garlic fries A few choices--tofu and ginger, garlic edamame, flatbread pizza.... Sauté calamari ok Drink specials--red or white $6 for their house choice, sangria, well drinks and select beers $4.50 Ambience Very comfortable. Good place to catch up with friends and relax....talk....laugh....always good to connect! Service Laid back and friendly Parking In front and back of the building. read more

See all

Sweet service, good vibes, and food is on point. Lobster pasta comes with real chunks of tender lobster with satiating and perfectly al dente penne pasta. Nice cream sauce. Caesar salad dressing was tasty...lots of flavor without being drenched in sauce. Give it a go! read more

Three of us came for dinner. Two of us were served. The third was not served until 30 minutes later. The one who was not served until 30 minutes later was a minority. They would not take drink orders after the first round. It appears a racist target. I had gone there several times before but after this disgusting display of racism they will not get my business again. So sad in this day. read more

Kailua is becoming one of the most sought after real estate markets on Oahu and this restaurant adds to the appeal. Excellent appetizers, live music, outstanding steak, fresh seafood, delicious prime rib, and extensive wine selection. We are very blessed to have a restaurant in our backyard. We ordered the calamari friiti; crispy fried squid rings and legs with zucchini, mushrooms and peppers, served wtih a mayo-type remoulade sauce. Excellent taste, but very spicy. Please be sure to request a pairing recommendation: you have the option to order 2 oz (tasting) 4 oz (glass) or 8 oz (wine-o) ;) After reading other reviews, I was tempted to order the lobster bisque, but opted out after seeing the size of the bowl. It was looked HUGE! Needing to pace myself, I promised myself a bowl on my next visit. Entrees Margherita Pizza - crispy, 10" thin crust pizza with tangy marinara sauce, tiny grape tomatoes, and fresh basil. High quality, authentic Italian pizza. Combo Prime rib and shrimp scampi - Kiawe smoked 12 oz prime rib which arrived brown on the outside and moist red on the inside. Perfectly seasoned and cooked to perfection! Shrimp scampi was on the smaller side (25/30), but soft and tasty. Filet mignon was cooked to perfection! Caramel brown on the outside, and moist and tender on the inside. One of the best steaks in Hawaii! Service Waiter and host were very helpful and friendly. I was also impressed with Daniel's intimate knowledge of each dish, background and preparation. We had a question about the salmon and he explained that they were farmed raised in Alaska, as opposed to wild catch, but knew that the fish were air flown to Honolulu. In addition, we described the cooking techniques for the Beef Bourguignon grand mere sauce with intimate detail. He either cooked the dish or spends a lot of time with the chef. We also tried to order the gelato, but he rejected the dish due to inferior product (freezer burn) did not meet the restaurant's standards. Exceptional service! read more

See all

just recently had two celebrations in their gallery room. Each with great expectations that was meticulously .Celebrating an 80th birthday is a blessings to even reach that age for some of us. Celebrating Jesus birthday was a blast as well. everyone raved about the service. they were there without you even knowing with every need and want.The Gallery is an excellent place for a good size private gathering. We experienced both the individual entree and the Family style and each was just excellent in its own way. to the chefs as the Food was amazing delicious very pleasingly presented. Looking forward to revisiting soon. read more

I don't like to give 1 star review cause they actually should get 0 stars. It took over almost 1.5hours just to get 1 of 2 appetizers. Then waited n waited n waited for our 2nd appetizer (calamari) to arrive and it was cold hardly any calamari mostly crumbs. The waiter then came with 2 New York steak plates with prawns and said these were on orders that came from another customer but they left and it's a deal since I didn't have prawns in my original order. However, my friend ordered the garlic ribeye and he doesn't eat prawns. So it wasn't a deal. Also, they had cold french fries instead of mash potatoes which they said they ran out. We then asked for rice and none either. Sorry but if I'm going to eat a $61.00 steak, I don't want cold french fries. The steak was tough and dry. We were so hungry by the time the waiter gave us our deal that we really should have left. Ohhh, my other 2 guest we're still waiting for their entrees, chicken marsala w/pasta & braised short ribs!!! The chicken marsala was not very good and the pasta was undercooked. The braised short ribs was salty and could have been better if there was some kind of starch...no potatoes, no rice, they ran out of French fries! Wait, there's more to this review. We ordered ice tea unsweetened with extra lemon. Our server said their ice tea is already sweetened. Ok. Since we waited soooo long for our food we ended up drinking our ice tea. We had to ask many times for a refill but was told they ran out and had to make a fresh brew! We finally got our freshly brewed tea and it was unsweetened but ran out of lemons! There were many customers that just walked out. The owner was walking around, I guess dealing with other patrons complaining! We could see many plates being brought back to the kitchen. Gordan Ramsey help help!!! read more

This is a nice spot in Kailua. The high ceilings are very nice, as is the bar area. They also have a big back room for special occasions and that I once had dinner in. I am a fan of their fish tacos, although I wish you got one more as they are very good. The burger is delicious as well. We have always had attentive and good service here. read more

Formaggio Grill - Seafood Near Me - Kailua, Hawaii

My husband and I visited this establishment one evening during our vacation. The bartender was welcoming and seated us with 5 minutes (with no reservation). Everything went down hill from there. It took several minutes for the waitress to greet us and take our drink order. She seemed quite harried and confused. It then took quite a bit of time for her to take our order. When we did receive our food the side salads were outstanding and my husband thoroughly enjoyed his seafood dish. I, on the other hand, did not enjoy the chicken parm. The tomato sauce was overly sweet and cold - as well as the pasta. The vegetables on the plate were cold as well - small bits of cauliflower that appeared to be charred but were greasy/wet. The chicken breast was lukewarm, super thick, tough, and the breading was not good. Not to drone on....but, my husband just opened the credit card bill and discovered the ditzy waitress charged us twice - one charge for $146+ (the correct amount that included her tip) and another $120+ (dinner minus the tip). Don't bother going to this place! read more

There at Happy Hour on Easter Sunday. Not very busy but sat at bar and had a fantastic time. Abby was great. Bistecca Griglia was a winner, and tested a few other items. All was great and music a nice touch. We will be back. read more

Worst. Dining. Experience. Ever. Our waitress was wonderful, but nothing could make up for the Valentine's Day SCAM Formaggio pulled off. Charging $20 for an appetizer priced on the regular menu at $11, $64 for a seafood pasta that tasted like SpaghettiOs, and serving frozen french fries instead of "truffle mashed potatoes." The amount I paid for this meal was the same as some of the most expensive and delicious restaurants I've been to. Instead, we were served seasonless, overcooked trash. DO NOT COME HERE read more

My husband and I went in on Friday evening for a cocktail. We sat at the bar. The bartender for the night was Derek and he was wonderful! He was friendly, well mannered, calm, and genuine. He is fairly new as a bartender, and he was upfront and honest with us when we ordered something he wasn't familiar with. He wanted to know how to make it and he wanted to meet our expectations. They were understaffed and you could sense some stress and anxiety from some of the wait staff. Derek remained very much in control and he was extremely professional. Can't recommend his service enough! read more

The Food Is Super Yummy! You Must Try This Place. Had The Kobe Burger With Sweet Potato Fries! Suckahz Was Ono (Good) lol. You Must Try The Ube Pana Cotta & Flourless Chocolate Cake. The Desserts Ate Super Good :) read more

I hadn't been to this place in a long time. Regrettably I remembered why. The food was awful. It looks like it would be a great place to go since there's live music and a bar, but it's not. I ordered the chicken parmesan, simple dish right, this looked amazing because I was so hungry! But alas it had no flavor and the chicken was dry. I was surprised how bad it tasted because it looked kinda good. The noodles were dry and no taste, and kinda hard on some parts. Undercooked or an iron pressed on it idk. My friend had the bacon wrapped shrimp, which is their top seller, and it was not happening. Just plain shrimp wrapped in plain bacon. served over some coleslaw straight from a bag. We could tell the bartender was also new because another lady, maybe the manager, had to show him how to make some of the drinks. Also he was running to the counter to get our food that was sitting there for a while. The brussel sprout appetizer was tasty, but the sprouts weren't cooked all the way, barely a char on it. Huge plate with like 4 sprouts on it. So disappointing. And the we kept giving it a chance and ordered the chocolate lava cake. Disappointed again. The cake was kinda dry and the lava wasn't flowing out of the cake when we cut into it. I was honest with the lady who seemed to be the manager because she wanted our honest opinion and so we told her, nicely. Sadly another disappointment, no compensation at all. Go someplace else guys. read more

Formaggio Grill - tiny chocolate lava cake. Don't do it. - Seafood Near Me - Kailua, Hawaii

Garlic Ahi!!!! Must get!! It's amazing! Was the best Ahi I've had and over pasta with garlic! #ono

Best post Covid meal, hands down! We went exactly at 4:30pm. We were seated by Jordan who was also our waiter. Awesome personality, offered great recommendations and was just the right amount of attentive. We got the shrimp lumpia (highly recommend) and shared lamb chops and lobster pasta. Both were tasty and the fried kale on the pasta was sooo amazing! 1st time but will definitely be back! Hopefully we remember to save room for dessert. read more

Mc Kenzie was our precious waitress she was so thoughtful, conscientious and attentive. She was able to accommodate our special allergies and requests. The food was fresh & delicious. Not your ordinary "Italian Restaurant " not any plain pasta dishes on the menu just expensive "proteins" w/ a small side of pasta‍ regardless, the service was exceptional and we recommend coming in and asking for McKenzie read more

Horrific. A special occasion dinner for 4 women, including one out of town guest. Waited 2 hours for dinner to be brought to the table, then only 3 of 4 meals arrived. Two of those had cold potatoes and overcooked, grainy, tasteless, tepid filet mignon. Sent steaks back to the kitchen & they never came back. Guest 4 got her cold lamb chops & cold potatoes after 2 1/2 hours. We decided to leave at that point, paid for our starters & drinks, the price for which was more than $50 pp. We were never told about the $99 Pris Fixe dinner. ONE dessert choice (chocolate). Terrible experience. We went out for tacos after. What a joke. read more

Terrible food, was super excited. Big disappointment. Went twice just as bad as the first experience.

Huge mistake. Had reservations for 8:30, didn't seat us until 8:52. All the entrees and appetizers were cold. Food was extremely bland. Found hairs in the food and told the owner, he said, "it happens" and shrugged his shoulders. This place is honestly one of the worst establishments I've ever been to. Highly recommend any other place than this. read more

Second helping, I was in the mood for pasta but forget that despite the name it's really not a noodle place. That said, I had a very delicious shrimp and mushroom "carbonara", delicious yes but carbonara is a stretch. I would call the dish mushroom and pancetta linguini in a cream sauce with shrimp. They have a trememdous list of wine by the glass but the markup is agregious. The top pour is 6 oz, to get you through a meal your going to need 2-3 glasses and it averages $18 a 6 ounce pour. By the bottle would be the way to go but honestly I didn't note the markup on the bottles. Service at the bar was perfect and friendly. There are few places in Kailua that a single diner can sit at a bar alone and be confortable. This is one, but have a beer or a cocktail. Wine here is a negative. read more

Went for date night Parking: there's free parking in front Went early around 5pm so it wasn't busy. Nice place for a date or family dinner. Didn't know that all the three different Formaggio's on island are now owned by three separate owners but kept the same name and logo. So many sure if you plan a party or make a reservation, that you make it at the right one. The menu is probably different at each one. We got the *beet and kale salad *margarita flat bread *kobe burger Garlic shrimp Fresca *are the ones we'd get again. read more

See all

We used to be frequent customers a few years back and for many years before it changed for the worse. The menu is completely overpriced and the service is awful - particularly the over arrogant bartender. We tried it once last year and the food was too salty and cold. Last week we tried having dinner again and due to the lack of interest in serving us we walked out and enjoyed a meal down the street at a much nicer restaurant. In short, we have to say it became overpriced, with an awful service and worse menu options. We missed the old Formaggio and our favorite bartender, "big Dave". read more

I pulled a wire out of my mouth and let my server know about it, he was underwhelmed and told me that the chef said it's from their wire sponge, as if that would make me feel better. They remade the dish, so I waited double the time and had to just take it to go, then they insisted I still pay for it. It was a long back and forth about it until they finally compromised to just compensate that one meal with the wire in it. But had us still pay for the rest of the bill, like our whole dinner wasn't ruined. I wouldn't have taken it so personal if they cared about my safety, but surely they could care less. You should never treat people like that in general. No aloha. Very disappointed in this restaurant and their character . read more

They have the rudest bartenders. Food is good most of the time. Atmosphere is good when the have live music. Just the worst bartenders in Kailua. read more

I called at 7:45pm to ask what the last call for food was. The girl on the phone said 8:45pm I got there and at 8:27pm and they said that the kitchen decided to close early??? Like what kind of costumer service is that?? Extremely disappointing experience read more

I not only enjoy the delicious food and wine but also the ambiance and service. The menu is somewhat limited but everything is on point. All the staff is so friendly and helpful. It's a mellow space for a date night or getting together with a friend for conversation and listening to the live music. Thursday's music is mellow and so enjoyable with such a variety. read more

First time coming here and thought the restaurant ambiance was really nice! We ordered a great Cabernet Sauvignon wine that I really enjoyed! In my picture I posted, I ordered the pono pork pasta and it was really good! Very creamy and great texture. But from there...it went downhill! There were three of us so we started off with truffle fries as appetizers and then everything went DOWNHILL, we became soo disappointed! the fries tasted plain, and they reminded me of cheap fast food fries like kid valley ! My brother got lobster pasta and there was one baby piece of lobster and very fishy! Ew, the sauce didn't go very well with the pasta. My boyfriend got the Kobe beef burger and the bun was extremely dry and as if it wasn't even toasted nor cooked...he also added bacon and the bacon was the worst thing I've ever tasted ! I would definitely come back for the wine because it was a great choice but I DO NOT recommend dining here for the price! read more

Formaggio Grill - Pono pork pasta - Seafood Near Me - Kailua, Hawaii

Wonderful food and service in an intimate setting! Mahalo Arrenvy for making us feel welcome and for being so attentive. Complements to the chefs for the flavorful food! We will be back again soon! read more

See all

I've been a regular at Formaggio for years, I've always loved the atmosphere and the food and lately I've noticed the menu has been changing and for the better. The new, fresh, modern dishes are a fantastic sign of progress. I encourage the owner to allow the chefs to create even more new ambitious menu items and truly bring Formaggio to its true potential! The passionate young men in the kitchen have done so well! read more