Years ago, we would drop off our eldest grandson at Ricado's Italian Restaurant at Pearl Kai…read moreShopping Center in Aiea to meet up with his friends. And once, we saw my hubby's cousin having dinner with friends there. Little did we know that it was a popular place for those living westside.
Ricado's has been opened since 1993, serving delicious pastas and Italian cuisine. It offers:
* Appetizer. Calamari, cheeses, shrimp piccata, salami, veggies, garlic bread.
* Salad. House, Italian, Caesar, chicken, antipasto.
* Soup. Minestrone.
* Pasta. Bolognese, linguine, penne, carbonara, ravioli, tortellini, lasagna, fettuccine, chicken, eggplant.
* Poultry. Chicken piccata, parmagiana, marsala, saltimbocca.
* Veal. Marsala, piccata, saltimbocca, New York steak.=
* Seafood. Shrimp, calamari, fish.
* Dessert. Gelato, sorbet, cheesecake, tiramisu, mud pie.
As we live in East Honolulu, let's see what we've been missing out. On a recent dinner visit, we ordered the following:
* Shrimp Sorrentino. House specialty of mushrooms, eggplant, mozzarella cheese, marsala-wine butter sauce served over linguine. A very filling meal with a delicious generous portion of breaded eggplant and large shrimps over cheesy linguine and toppings! A new favorite for me!
* Lasagna. Meat with ricotta cheese, Mozzarella cheese, and tomato sauce. Creamy and cheesy lasagna that meits in your mouth in delicious generous portions! Hubby's choice, and he loved it!
Complimentary hot baked bread with generous slices of butter was served. The bread was crispy on the outside and fluffy soft on the inside. A serving dish of fresh Parmesean cheese was provided to allow use of the Parmesean cheese as toppings and as much as we wanted!
Staff was friendly and attentive, refilling water glasses, taking timely orders, assuring that requests are taken care of, and that boxes are provided for leftovers. They all had smiles and were willing to please. They allowed you to take your time in ordering. And once you're done, they will thank you for coming as they appreciate your patronage.
Hours of operation are Tues to Thurs 5:00p to 8:00p, Fri to Sun 4:30p to 9:00p, Mon closed. Long gone are those lunches, as only dinner is served. We elected to have an early dinner on a Sunday instead of fighting traffic on a weekday. No reservations were necessary for an early Sunday dinner, as we noticed large family dinners had special occasion celebrations, and that we were early enough before the dining rooms got crowded. The dining rooms appear outdated, but the lights are dimmed to create a date-night ambiance.
With delicious pasta, large portions, good value, a pleasant ambiance, and excellent customer service, the dining experience is one to remember! We would definitely return for our favorites or try the different menu offerings. Sure wish there was a Ricardo's in East Honolulu. Support local!