Arancino at The Kahala

“"The trouble with eating Italian food is that five or six days later you're hungry again." ― George Miller I was taken here for my birthday and what a treat. Italian food, cheese wheels, fire... What more could a woman ask for? Oh! And an espresso martini. We love a good espresso martini. What I ate: Bagna Cauda ($25 - Fresh vegetable crudités with a warm anchovy garlic dip): I had heard Randy S. had gotten this crudités and it was served in a pot so naturally, I wanted it too. I'm glad my gal pal shared with me as the two others at the table passed. It was interesting. The warm anchovy garlic dip made for a nice salty bite with otherwise fresh vegetables. It was enjoyable but I'm not sure I'd recommend it. Insalata Caprese ($27 - Locally grown tomatoes, mozzarella di bufala, petite basil): I should have listened to Rod U.'s review and passed on these. It's not that it was bad but it's classic and meager for a $27 price tag. Carpaccio di Salmone ($28 - Thinly sliced salmon, fennel, blood orange, sour cream, red onions): A perfect, refreshing, and bright bite of thinly sliced salmon. Rigatoni alla Gricia ($38 - Classic roman dish with guanciale, pecorino romano, parmigiano reggiano, toasted black peppercorn and rigatoni prepared tableside in our imported pecorino romano cheese wheel): As much as I wanted the Spaghetti ai Ricci di Mare, I really wanted pasta served from a cheese wheel. Set ablaze by Everclear, this is prepared tableside. It was amazing although I must admit I was expecting more cheese sauce after watching this prepared tableside. Espresso Martini ($19 - Grey Goose vodka, kahlua liquor, house made syrup, illy espresso coffee): Smooth, balanced, and thoroughly enjoyed throughout my meal. Torta al Cioccolato ($18 - Flourless chocolate almond cake, pistachio sauce, vanilla whipped cream): I paired this with a decaf illy Americano and it was perfection. The flourless chocolate almond cake itself was rich but not overly sweet. The vanilla whipped cream supplied all the sweetness if that's what you're looking for. It was a great dessert. And since it was my birthday, they offered an amazing and gorgeous soufflé and sponge cake dessert with a beautiful blown sugar casing that you are encouraged to break. I was so mesmerized that I didn't even blush at the singing. Johntin was our server on the evening of Easter and he's the greatest.”

“The food is delicious. The Caesar salad is especially outstanding, and the uni pasta is also excellent. The Bolognese pasta tasted a bit mild at first, but it turned out to be very flavorful. Overall, the quality of the food is exceptionally high—this might be one of the best Italian restaurants in Hawaii. Additionally, Leo, who served us, truly understood what the guests wanted, gave great recommendations, and ensured everything was perfectly prepared. I’d really like to commend him. The food, the atmosphere—everything was top-notch!”

“There are some restaurants you enjoy once, and then there are places you keep coming back to because they become part of your life. For me, Arancino at Kahala is one of those places. I come here for special occasions, and this visit was my birthday dinner. From the moment we sat down, the atmosphere already felt calm and warm. It didn’t feel rushed or noisy, just comfortable in a way that makes you want to relax and enjoy the night. We ordered à la carte and everything we had was honestly delicious. The Chardonnay was a great value and paired really well with the food. The uni pasta was rich and creamy without being too heavy, and the squid ink pasta had deep flavor and was cooked perfectly. The owner’s favorite pizza was exactly what you want from a good Italian pizza, and dessert was also very well done. Nothing felt like an afterthought. The service made a big difference this night. Leo was incredibly kind and gentle, and you could tell he genuinely cared. He made us feel welcome in a very natural way, not forced at all. Because of him, the whole experience felt less like eating out in Hawaii and more like being in Italy. With the atmosphere and the service combined, it really”

“My husband and I dined here last night and had the best time. Our waiter, Leo, was fantastic!! He really guided us on ordering and making sure we got the best dishes. The carbonara (add truffle) was out of this world, and the pizza we shared was delicious. We are already looking forward to our next visit!”

“Near the Kahala Resort valet driveway (opposite Hoku’s) is the Arancino restaurant. We were celebrating a birthday and I requested a relatively quiet table. We were seated just outside the indoor area which had a large group table seating and smaller 2 and 4-person tables nearer to the kitchen. The hostess staff were professional and cool and our server, Ken, was warm, instructive and gracious. The 5 stars are largely for him. The mai tai-liano was delicious, truly. So good! The first serving of focaccia was also amazing (fluffy, warm, moist). The lobster bisque was tasty but a little clumpy and the brioche square was chewy. I think I’m spoiled from lobster bisque (Magnolias) I tried in Charleston. Anyway, I don’t think you can go wrong with the pasta dishes here (おすすめ、courtesy of Ken). The uni San Marzano cream spaghetti was rich and delicious. The cacio pepe-like Rigatoni was also really good. Portion size was perfect so we could try their dessert and leave space for the birthday surprise dessert which was very dramatic and tasty.”