I've never been disappointed with this place. The menu since the first time I visited to my most recent visit has changed quite a bit but it still leaves a lasting impression every time. I recommend making a reservation as I saw people turned away as the night went on. Service was incredibly friendly and welcoming! I even got to chat with the bartender about his drink creative creations and it was so fun to hear the passion in his descriptions. These people really seem to like what they do and I love that. Between my date and I, we ordered two types of pasta (because if you can't decide, order both, right?!) and two sides as well as a fish dish. That lemon pasta haunts me to this day. I need to go back for more. Thursday was ladies night and all the drinks were massively discounted! I may have taken advantage of the discount and tried quite a few more cocktails than I typically would. We sat near the outside where we could people watch shoppers throughout Salt. Ambience was low light chill and elegant. If you're debating if this is a good place to take a date, do it. FYI If you have amex plat, you can use your $100 quarterly resy credit here as they are in the Resy system. Cheers read more

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My wife and I stopped by Vein for a simple glass of wine to cap off the night... but one glass quickly turned into a bottle and a couple of spectacular appetizers we couldn't resist. The artichoke karaage arrived perfectly crisp and addictive, while the grilled Spanish tako with chimichurri was tender, vibrant, and beautifully balanced. Paired with a refreshing Alverdi Pinot Grigio, every bite and sip felt thoughtful and effortlessly elegant - exactly the kind of flavors that make you slow down and savor the moment. The service and ambience were spectacular, transforming an impromptu nightcap into one of the most memorable parts of our evening. Safe to say, we'll absolutely be back. read more

Vein At Kaka'ako - Mediterranean Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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Service - would be 0 stars if that were possible. Tried for 3 days to call to make a dinner reservation. No answer regardless of what time. Can't leave a message. Tried online reservations on their website - "No tables for 5 available..." I got suspicious and tried different days and times - same response. Hmmm. I had a problem making a lunch reservation early in 2025 but eventually got through. No luck this time, which is a pity because the food was good the last time. Guess they are so popular they don't need to let folks make reservations. If that's the case, should just say they don't take reservations. read more

This is my new favorite pasta! The spaghetti noodles are covered in a delicious brown butter shoyu sauce with pancetta and mushrooms spread throughout. Then topped with a cured egg yolk and furikake. Soooo good! Great service as well and a great spot for lunch with family and friends. read more

Vein At Kaka'ako - Focaccia and salad - Mediterranean Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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VEIN at Kaka'ako is a great place for a nice dinner. Tried the Artichoke Karaage, Uni Carbonara, Miso Salmon with Risotto. Artichoke Karaage: the hearts were meaty yet not too chewy, and the leaves were light and crispy. The mayo was goooooood. Gave me fried calamari vibes. 8.5/10 Miso Salmon and Risotto: you think it's just miso-flavored salmon, but there's a something else there (and not just the risotto). This was the fresh catch option so not sure how often it's on the menu but recommend. 8.5/10. Uni Carbonara: normally skeptical of uni dishes, but this dish was tight. There were some magnificent bites. If you like the taste of uni and carbonara, or think you might, I think it's worth it to try, 9/10 read more

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Recently went for dinner walked in with no reservations. They are Dog friendly on the outdoor tables and brought our pups water. We shared a bottle of red wine and had the prix fix dinner for $65. *note all people on the table must order it if you get it. It comes with salad, choice of pasta and choice of main dish and dessert. Food was delicious and the service was really good. Relaxing delicious dinner in Kakaako. read more

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Service was great and lunch was delish! It wasn't that busy for lunch on a Saturday so I think you can do walk ins. Nice little open air dining venue. read more

Vein At Kaka'ako - Uni Pasta and the Nanban Chicken - Mediterranean Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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Dinner in Kaka'ako, Honolulu, Hawaii... My calabash nephew wanted to take me to dinner and asked where I wanted to go. I told him that I hadn't been to Vein at SALT yet, so I made a reservation. Parking was free for an hour and a half in the structure - enter from Keawe Street. It's a paperless system. Scan the QR code, enter your license plate number, and pay online. Located on the ground level, Vein had an open-air, dimly lit, quiet atmosphere. Our server, Andrew, was so efficient that we made it back to the parking structure in time! Our water glasses were refilled promptly and we didn't have to ask for the bill. He made great suggestions and explained menu items competently! We ordered the Pre-Fix menu which included a green salad starter, pasta, entrée, and dessert of Bread Pudding! Both types of pasta were delicious because of the wagyu and sausage sauces. Both entrées (tender lamb and catch of the day) were tasty and had beautiful presentation! I wouldn't mind returning! Thank you, nephew Benny and server Andrew! read more

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Located in SALT on the ground level, our party of 4 came here for lunch. With 6 items to choose from, Vein made it simple and easy for people who are indecisive to choose. The prices are very reasonable for what you choose - starting at $17 for salad, bread or rice (depending on what you order) and entree. I decided to order the shoyu butter pasta and WOW!!! Umami screams from the dish. It comes with an egg yolk for you to mix into the pasta dish. With pancetta and shredded nori added into the mix, the flavor profile is rich, creamy, a little sweet, perfect amount of salt and totally stretch pants worthy ;). For $17.50, this is so worth it. read more

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We had a nice meal with attentive and friendly service. Like the indoor/outdoor vibes of the restaurant in a lively location. Free street parking after 6 pm or reduced rate at their garage so long as you scan QR code. Good cocktails. The octopus appetizer had good flavors, but the greens to octopus ratio was off. Not enough octopus. The greens we also slighted welted and the octopus was slightly overcooked. As for our main entrees, they were both tasty and well cooked. The lamb was a nice portion for the price, but the black cod was quite undersized. Should've got it from Pioneer Saloon, lol. Crème brûlée was not good. It had a nice crust and texture, but it wasn't crème brûlée. It tasted like it was all cream and they forgot egg yolks. That's all I can think of right now and bon appetite. read more

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We've walked by this place many times and finally had a chance to try it!!! My bascaiola was REALLY tasty!!! It has small chunks of Italian sausage! I also highly recommend the artichoke karaage! It was really good with the sauce . . They have a pasta happy hour too!!! Bread would have made it a 5 read more

Vein At Kaka'ako - Bascaiola - Mediterranean Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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Nice casual dining with good food and great service. Pleasant (quieter) outside tables as well as inside tables. Appetizers were good choice to start the meal, especially the the Brussels spr Food :We tried their special and it was very tasty. Also enjoyed dessert. It was a special occasion and they offered a free dessert to help us celebrate. Thank you ! Service : This was their outstanding feature!! Our two servers, Ty and Jamie were EXCELLENT! They made our dinner experience special--so friendly and also efficient. We had a reservation, but were running a few minutes late because of a traffic jam, they were so understanding. Facility- read more

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I came here with a friend because we've always wanted to try this place. It is located in salt kakaako right below pitch's sports bar. Remember to call for rsvp because we walked in and got lucky to get a table for an hour haha the workers were super nice to fit us in. The food looked good. I wanted to try their popular item which was the uni pasta carbonara, BUT it was being prepped and would take an hour so I switched over to their Cacio é Pepe & tomato bruschetta. It was super yummy. We also got their brussel sprouts which was amazing! Best ones I've tasted. Super airy and they add Parmesan cheese on it. We got their vein house salad which was also good. Everything came out fresh and hot. Note: they do open at 4:30 pm and they have ladies night which is half off all drinks! Fun! We also went on pasta hour so we got a little discount on our meal read more

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Second time going to Vein for dinner. First time we ordered the prefix menu. Both prefix and regular menu are delicious! Ryan was our server and very attentive. Really cool spot located in salt perfect for date nights. I highly recommend this place! read more

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We took our infant out to eat with us in a public setting for the first time today, and "Vein" did not disappoint :). This was also our first time at this restaurant. Delicious food at decent prices. A nicely decorated, clean, and airy restaurant. Customer service was excellent. We went during lunch time, so they had a variety of lunch sets. The Koshihikari side tasted good, too. Tip: I was able to make prior reservation through Resy. Vein is not available through Open Table. read more

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Dinner at Vein Kaka'ako for the first time! We had a reservation at 5PM (reservations made through Resy) and they have indoor and outdoor seating. All pasta and appetizers 18% off happy hour from 4:30PM to 6PM everyday. We first got there around 4:45PM and were a bit confused and had to double check our reservation because the doors were closed considering the HH starts at 4:30PM. Restaurant didn't open till 5PM but maybe the opening hours changed. But no problem at all, we were there early. As soon as we sat, service was great and servers were friendly. We started off by ordering drinks, they had a deal on two wines one red wine (Barossa Valley) and one white wine (not sure the name). We tried both! Appetizers: we got the Artichoke Karaage and the Burrata and Mochi Artichoke karaage- I don't care for artichoke much but it did pair well with the dipping sauce Burrata and mochi- interesting! It's kind of like an airy, chewy but crunchy on the outside mochi with burrata on top of tomatoes and avocado. A little sweet but it was good Entrees: Uni Carbonara and TKG Risotto Uni Carbonara- delicious! I loveee uni and have tried uni pasta at many other places but this has to be one of my top choices. They mentioned the pasta is cooked inside of uni butter and with the uni toppings, it is not shy with the uni flavor. Mixing it all with the egg yolk and the bacon was chefs kiss. By far my favorite uni pasta! TKG risotto- flavorful and creamy! The soy cured egg yolk really put it all together and the risotto was perfectly cooked. Definitely will be coming back. Noted to come on a Tuesday for ladies night! Ladies receive 50% off all cocktails and glass wines all night. Men are Wednesday night. Parking: Kaka'ako Salt lot recently changed their parking system so it is a automatic scan and go upon entry and exit. Be sure to get a validation by scanning the QR code from the restaurant to receive discounted parking! read more

Vein At Kaka'ako - Uni Carbonara and TKG Risotto White wine - Mediterranean Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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Compliments to the CHEF Make sure you make a reservation That's a must !! Waiter recommended the UNI Carbonara and OMG this was soo delicious never have I ever tasted anything like this . All the flavors were there and the service was amazing . You won't be disappointed. Oh and don't forget about desert they have the best bread pudding . read more

Vein At Kaka'ako - Uni Carbonara - Mediterranean Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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Came here for an early dinner and was able to take advantage of their happy pasta hour where all apps and pastas are 18% off between 4:30pm to 6pm! We had the artichoke karaage and the watercress salad. The salad was especially yummy with the smoked salmon. We also had the bolognese, risotto funghi, and the caccio e peppe. The first two were especially flavorful and delicious that I think they overshadowed the caccio e peppe for me. Service was stellar and just a great place for dinner. Restaurant is open air with relaxed vibes but also would make a great place for a dinner date. read more

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Enjoy Pasta Hour... Seriously from 4:30pm to 6pm it's 18% off all pastas and day drink specials as me and my bestie came for an unplanned visit it was like a deal too good to be true as these couple of pasta lover did a small cheer of joy for this discovery. Vein is located in Kaka'ako...obviously on the ground floor right below Pitch and parking is either in the SALT garage or right out front of Highway Inn and yes they do validate as street metered parking is available though are much more elusive than the deals found here. Walking in we were immediately greeted and was nervous as we didn't have any reservations into this cozy spot but was thrilled that there was a couple of tables open right at the semi outdoor section of the restaurant. Ordering is easy as we had very similar likings as we started on the "Kawamata" Tomato Bruschetta and absolutely loved the massive Japanese twist it had starting with the edamame mixed into the ricotta spread on the toast which was topped with the marinated tomatoes soooooo flavorful as we kept analyzing each bite it's topped with shio kombu which is salted seaweed normal found in musubi and chiffonade shiso leaves all items I love but never imagined in this format that we both absolutely loved. Now to the pasta we each picked as she chose "Bolognese" the classic though the base with wagyu beef tossed all over rigatoni and topped with cheese and a dollop of porcini cream was so heavenly delicate bite, as for my choice it's "Bascaiola" Italian sweet sausage and mushroom is tossed in creamy aurora sauce all tossed in linguine we both enjoyed very much...before our any of our choices we already knew that "Risotto Funghi" was the choice and it was the winner winner fungi for dinner and this mushroom truffle and as we both dove in as this was a moment of silence and just a wide eyed stare down of bliss as the truffle overtook my palate and just was so impressed how wonderful it really was. Nothing was left on our plates though I did struggle with the last few bites...here comes dessert that we didn't expect "Bread Pudding" that was the perfect ending as it wasn't too sweet and the cake wasn't heavy or dense but light and the sauce accents it perfectly along with fresh fruits just sweetened our dinner to a sweet end. Thank you! read more

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10/10 for food, drink, service and ambiance. This uni w/scallion aglio y olio is so delicious. This chewy pasta luxuriates in a light delicious olive oil garlic herb sauce you can sop up with the soft focaccia. Pair it with a nice white wine and you're set. Perfect balance of richness and brightness. We will definitely be back! read more

Vein At Kaka'ako - UNI w/ Scallion Aglio Y Olio Ume Stock, Yuzu, Chili, Kaua'i Sea Salt and Spaghetti. (*Mollusca, Gluten) with House Salad / Foccacia - Mediterranean Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

I tried shoyu butter pasta and that was pretty good! Pretty unique flavor and haven't tried something like that yet. The butter is not too heavy. The nori added it to the flavor. Usually I feel tired after eating pasta but I felt great after eating. I went during lunch time around the time it opens. There was barely any customers yet but the service was a little slower than I imagined. Clean and modern ambiance. Would go again to try other dishes. read more

Vein At Kaka'ako - Shoyu butter pasta - Mediterranean Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

We finally got this try this place out and I have nothing but great things to say. Drinks, foods, service -- EVERYTHING was fantastic! We made a reservation because most of the times, walk-ins will be hard to accommodate as they're very popular. Considering this place is located in Salt - Kakaako, so there's a small parking fee. Our server's name was Ryan and he was attentive and friendly. He was able to make great recommendations for us too. DRINKS: Yuzu margarita and Jala-coloda. Both AMAZING, especially the Jala-colada. I would be willing to go back just for this drink. FOODS: Artichoke karaage as the appetizer. This, I wasn't too impressed with and wouldn't order again. It's light and crispy, but I tasted more of the fried skin rather than the artichoke itself. Uni carbonara and Bascaiola were excellent. I'd recommend both of those pastas. 10/10 would recommend. I am looking forward to coming back and trying out their other dishes and drinks! read more

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Been wanting to try this place for a LONG time. Perhaps i hyped it too much in my head. Food was mid I like my bruschetta on crunchy bread. This one was toasted french bread, so slightly crisp top but otherwise soft bread. Tomatoes were over ripe and sooo mushy too. Looked good though. So nice presentation. Risotto was also over cooked. Was like eating jook or congee. Bread for the bone marrow was much better. Carbonara was the best dish. Uni was barely there and offered nothing to the dish. My friends liked the bolognese but i thought it was also slightly overcooked. Wide open restaurant so not very cool (ac). Plus little flies kept bothering us all through the meal. Glad i got to experience it. Wouldnt ever choose to go again unless someone im with really wants to go. Only plus side was the staff. Super nice and hospitable. Glad they at least got something right. read more

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Decided to give this another try for an anniversary dinner. They have several deals going on - one being a prefix menu for $60. I only gave it two stars last time due to the parking issue I experienced but the food was really good so I was still excited to come back to try other menu items. The prefix comes with a salad, choice of pasta, choice of protein, and bread pudding. If you decide to do the prefix the whole party must order! I would say its worth it as you get pretty good portion sizes of each course for a steal! Salad: I thought it would be a simple house salad but this was served with radishes and prosciutto. To my surprise it was really really good and I wished we got more! A great start to the meal. Pasta: We decided to try the wagyu bolognese and the bascaiola. We were both really impressed by the bascaiola which is a creamy sausage pasta. The flavor was delicious! It looked like a small portion when brought out but I think once we started to eat more it seemed a bit more filling that what it appeared to be. I would order the bascaiola if we came back! Proteins: We both ended up ordering the lamb which is served with a ume olive tapenade. We were intrigued by the steak frites but got convinced to both try the lamb. I think we should have tried both but we were both happy with our selection. I appreciated that we each got three bones each - so it was not a small portion! The flavor was delicious and tapenade was really refreshing and a good flavor combo. The food came out a little lukewarm so if anything I wished it was hotter but still super yummy! Dessert: Bread pudding was good but probably not the best part of the meal for us. It would be nice if you could pick from a few options - but it was still great. Overall we loved the meal and this time no parking issues! read more

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I absolutely love this place with the Asian Fusion. A great example of what can be done with a little creativity and excellence! I started off with the tempura artichoke which was straight fire!!! Then finished with the amazing uni pasta that was superior in every way when comparing to other competitors. Great seating, amazing mixed drinks especially the orange bang drink!!! A must try! read more

Vein At Kaka'ako - Uni pasta best on island straight of Hokkaido... - Mediterranean Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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Got the pre fix menu this time. It's a great option. It comes with a lot of food. I think it's worth the price for the amount of food you get. read more

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Love this spot! Went here for dinner and shared burrata and mochi appetizer. This was amazingly yummy and creative. Also got their bolognese penne pasta and my friend got their lemon pasta which was very refreshing. The bolognese pasta was very savory. read more

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I went here on a date recently and the staff was so kind! My date had brought me flowers and they provided him with a tin to keep them in with water and were able to seat us around 5PM without a reservation. I hadn't been here since the menu change and really enjoyed trying different options. I had the prosciutto with fried mochi and pickled veggies and I really loved that appetizer or the variety and it all went well together. Like a local version of crudo and prosciutto/bread. I had the kabocha pasta and really enjoyed trying something different. Next time I am definitely considering doing the prie fix menu to get a wide range of variety. The service this time was outstanding though, from helping my date, to drink and dinner recommendations and working with our time crunch before we went to do a virtual escape room. Thank you again! read more

I give 5 stars due to customer service mostly! The food was delicious and I do recommend this place. We weren't a fan of the steak and frites. The steak tasted like a hamburger. So we assumed it was pan grilled/seared. It did not taste bad, but we weren't expecting burger flavored LOL. We ordered the prefix special: Bolognese, bascaiola, steak and Frites, lamb chops, and bread pudding. We loved it all! I ordered the Resiling wine and it paired really well with my selection. What stood out the most was the customer service. Brian was phenomenal and very attentive, which we loved! Definitely would go back! read more

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TIP: Don't forget about their HH from 4:30pm-6pm. All pasta and pupus are 18% off FOOD Joshu wagyu beef if you haven't tried it def. Request it! The default: washugyu bone marrow w/ uni butter is delish if you're craving something rich and a top fav Other dishes I get are: MP fish, c.a.b. harami steak (hanging tender), and uni carbonara PARKING Paid structure parking around the entire shopping complex SERVICE Consistent friendly service from all staff members and mahalo Adam and Chef Dell Valdez for always making things right for us! AMBIENCE Clean the perfect ambience, no issues. Just with you didn't have to use the public toilets outside the restaurants. read more

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Delicious food, good atmosphere, & friendly service. I was thoroughly impressed with the food. Everything from the appetizers to the desserts were absolutely delicious. My favorites of the night were the crispy brussels, uni carbonara, & the lemon merengue cocktail. I would definitely recommend making a reservation if you're looking to come in for dinner. Will definitely be back again soon! read more

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Christmas Dinner, YES! Such a cute place to have a dinner with friends and family. The service was as good as it can be for a small restaurant. This is located in Salt Kakaako near Boiling Crab and Mokus. They have minimal seating so highly recommend making reservations. Otherwise, We had a few of their appetizers such as the tempura artichoke and fried Bacon Brussel sprouts. The Uni Pasta was my absolute FAAAAVORITE! I would definitely come back for it. & of course dessert. Creme Brûlée & a holiday bread pudding was absolutely delicious! I would definitely come back since they do change their menu often. If you are looking for a nice gathering place highly recommend. read more

I'll be honest -- I'm usually very picky when it comes to Italian food, and I didn't walk into Vein at Kaka'ako with high expectations. My previous dining experiences at SALT didn't leave a lasting impression, so I wasn't expecting much. But wow -- Vein completely blew me away. From the moment we sat down, everything exceeded expectations. The Mochi Burrata is hands down one of the most unique and mind-blowingly delicious appetizers I've had in a while. It's the kind of dish you keep thinking about days later. Their risotto was creamy, perfectly cooked, and bursting with flavor. The pastas? Fresh, balanced, and full of depth -- you can tell there's true craftsmanship in their kitchen. If you're skeptical like I was, don't be. Vein is the real deal. Whether you're a foodie or just looking for an elevated yet approachable Italian experience in Honolulu, this place is 100% worth a visit. I'll definitely be back. read more

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My husband and I went to Vein for our Valentine's Dinner. It was absolutely amazing. The food and service were great! The manager came over and answered all our questions about various dishes and our server was quick and never had us waiting. The food was absolutely 10/10. The steak was cooked to perfection and the bolognese sauce was incredibly. We will definitely be back again soon! read more

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Vein Kaka'ako is one of those spots that just gets it right. From the ambiance to the food. Everything feels thoughtfully curated, and the dishes are packed with flavor. We tried the Grilled Spanish Tako, Bolognese, and the Steak & Frites, and honestly, every bite was chef's kiss. The Lamb Scottadito with Pickled Plum Tapenade was a surprise favorite. It's a bit on the pricier side, but the quality and service make it worth it, especially for a date night or special dinner. Highly recommend if you're looking for a more elevated dining experience in Kaka'ako. You can also get 50% drinks for ladies night on Tuesdays so definitely check them out! read more

Vein At Kaka'ako - Mediterranean Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Delicious food, amazing service, and laid back ambiance. The drinks were also quite tasty and will definitely be back.

2.5/5 stars, an underwhelming experience. After seeing their instagram posts, my partner and I were very excited to check this place out on our anniversary. Unfortunately, the food was lackluster and cold. Let's start off with the pros. The service was amazing. The male server was quick and attentive to our needs. Food and drinks came out relatively fast. The Orange Bang cocktail was delicious and tasted exactly like the nostalgic Orange Bang. Onto the cons. We ordered the Artichoke Karaage, Bolognese, Risotto Funghi, and Lamb, which all came out barely warm. The artichoke kaarage was not bad, but it tasted like canned marinated artichokes. I love canned artichokes, but for $16 I was expecting more or fancier artichokes. The Bolognese tasted like Chef Boyardee. The Lamb and Risotto Funghi were okay but the flavors were nothing special. The restaurant has indoor and outdoor seating but the indoor seating isn't fully enclosed. While we were eating inside we had to fight off flys and gnats which was a bit annoying. For the price, I was expecting a lot better. I wish they used hot plates or maybe kept the food under a food warmer to prevent it from getting cold. I'm sorry but I hope to come back and see some improvements! read more

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The family and I stopped in for lunch on a Saturday afternoon. There are only six options to choose from for lunch. I chose the Shoyu Butter Pasta with Mushrooms, Husband had the Wagyu Beef "keema" Curry and they were kind enough to get my kiddo some spaghetti and marinara. We all wanted to lick our plates. Delicious food and great service. read more

Delicious food! Especially you can't go wrong with happy hour pasta 18% off! Came here with 2 friends of mine, and we all liked the food. We enjoyed the uni pasta most! The red sauce pasta was also delicious. The mushroom risotto was cheesy and savory but toward the end it's a bit heavy, but it's still good the second day as leftover! We also tried their grilled octopus and bone marrow. Both were delectable. I love how they put so much greens and colors on the octopus dish. The meat was also cooked perfectly, not chewy at all. Our server was patient with us as we were waiting for one of our friends. Street Parking can be tough, but there's garage parking that's more doable. If I want uni pasta again, I know where to go ;-) read more

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I wanted to order take out so I called the restaurant and a guy with an unpleasant voice answered the phone. As soon as I told him, I wanted to order take out, his reply was "We are too busy to do take out. Have a good day" in a condescending tone. At least have someone else answer the phone in a more pleasant/polite tone.. read more