Assaggio Ristorante Italiano
7192 Kalanianaole Hwy,Ste D107, Honolulu, HI, 96825
Assaggio Ristorante Italiano Menu
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Address :
7192 Kalanianaole Hwy,Ste D107
Honolulu, HI, 96825 - Phone (808) 396-0756
- Website https://assaggiohi.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:00 am - 9:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No
Categories
Italian Cuisine
The immense popularity of Italian cuisine globally isn't unknown. You can find an Italian Pizzeria around every corner of almost every city in the United States. Not to forget that in every house, people enjoy mac and cheese as comfort food. But it would be wrong to believe that Italian food starts with pizza and ends with good pasta as this Mediterranean country has much more to offer other than these two dishes. In Italian Cuisine, there is a high use of fresh tomatoes, all kinds of herbs, great quality of cheese, all types of meat, seafood and fresh handmade pasta. Many find it hard to believe that Italians have been making noodles long back.
Italian and Greek cuisines are always mistaken to be same, but they are poles apart. The primary difference between the two cuisines is the use of cheese in most of the Italian dishes. Italians love to cultivate their own cheese and process them as per their food requirement. It is believed that some cheese is so expensive that cheese producers secure them in lockers.
If you are bored eating the same old pasta or pizza, you can try some of the authentic Italian dishes like Risotto, Polenta, Ribollita, Lasagna, Fiorentina Steak, Bottarga, Ossobuco, Carbonara, Focaccia, Arancini and Supplì. Another item which Italians love to relish every morning is a good cup of Italian Coffee. Once you taste a freshly brewed cup of Italian Coffee, you might not visit Starbucks ever again. Authentic Italian food is made with heart and soul, so go find a restaurant where you can relish Italian cuisine in your city.
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warren k.
i always heard good stuff about assagio & living right by it here in hawaii kai we finally decided it was time to go try it~ i had the chicken anchovy olio which was sooooo good! it doesnt taste anything like anchovy so dont worry~ i mean ceasar salad is made of anchovy paste too but no one would guess that right? anyway, the chicken in it was super moist & delicious & the pasta is very garlicky which i loved! my hubby had the carbonara which he said he liked but i thought it was mediocre... i finished my small portion but my hub who got the large had a lot of left-over (huge portions) we also ordered wine which was good & the service was excellent. oh, the warm fresh bread in the beginning was a plus too! the only negative thing i would say is there is no free refills so my hubby ended up paying $7 or something like that for his coke which was filled with all ice anyway.
(4)C O.
Italian cuisine is one of my favorite things to cook and eat and, including in Italy, I've dined on it all over the world. Except for Venetian and Roman regional cuisine it is a fairly homogeneous style of cooking. Flavor profiles are consistent, fresh and flavorful ingredients are the norm, and the simplicity and elegance of the ingredients is meant to shine above the preparation of the chef who assembled the dish. What I find about Assaggio is that all of these things are missing. The flavors are dull and muddled. The ingredients taste processed and preserved. The cooks appear to work to hard to meld flavors and create dishes rather than letting good ingredients do the work for them. While the names on the menu sound like traditional Italian food---the preparation evokes the palette of someone who has never had good Italian food. There are better places to eat in Honolulu if you want Italian flavor---this may be marketed as pure Italian food but to me evokes impressions of a cheap knock-off. That being said, they do have a lovely house salad. This house salad, a favorite of my wife, has the been the vehicle that brings me to Assaggio time and time again. At first I resisted (given the low quality of their menu and food selections) but the salad has worn on me and now, after three years, I actually look forward to the simplicity and crisp flavor profiles of the garden salad. What does it mean when the only positive of a restaurant chain is that they prepare a good garden salad (arguably the only dish on a menu you cannot screw up)? I'll leave that up to you to decide----in the mean time I'll keep going on my monthly sojourn to Assaggio to please my wife and enjoy the garden salad and a diet coke.
(2)Nori L.
We had the italian jambalaya over linguine. Very tasty. For appetizers, we had the cold antipasti plate - besides the proscuitto, cheese, salame, it had pickled veggies which was quite yummy. Service was excellent - very friendly and attentive. Nice ambience
(4)Dixie R.
aww i'm kinda sad assagios only gets 3 1/2 stars. the kahala one i understand but hawaii kai i love. the service is always consistent and the food is unreal! portions are big for fatties like me and the hot antipasto is to die for. for the price, you get a lot more than what you would at other bougie italian places. the wine list is good and reasonably priced oh and their bloody maries are greaaaaaaaaaatttttttttt.!
(5)Kelly M.
I have had good and medium experiences at Assagio, but my most recent led me to write this review... I had limited time and love their wine selection so I joined a friend at the bar while I waited for my take out. I should mention I order the shrimp putanesca. Usually I get the chicken putanesca but am trying to eat less meat so shrimp it is. I also got a side of asparagus. The bartender there is wonderful, accommodating, friendly, the whole nine yards. Had a great glass of pinot and went home with my take out. When I got home, the surprise was revealed. There was the shrimp, the putanesca sauce, the asparagus, but not one single pasta noodle. What the heck? I was a little upset so I phoned the rather unfriendly lady who took my order (I believe this was a Sunday night) and asked her what happened to the pasta. She said, oh, I didn't think you wanted pasta. I said doesn't putanesca come with pasta? She said yes. I waited. NOTHING. No, I'm sorry I made a mistake, NO, we'll put some pasta together and you can pick it up. I could go on and on, however, the simple point is, my order was incorrect and nothing was offered to rectify, not even a simple apology. I'll go to the bar, but I will not phone a reservation in nor a take out order. They'd better be on Open Table. ;)
(3)SUE S.
My hubby was craving Italian. He always orders Lasagna. He wasn't impressed. He said it was too bland. I ordered the special, scallop and shrimp with bacon, garlic and basil in a white wine sauce over linguine. I was happy with my dish. Very flavorful. The house salad dressing is yummy. Overall, the food was alright. The service was good and very attentive. But my hubby judges an italian joint by their lasagna so I think we'll be trying a different spot next time.
(3)Kaili N.
Consistently good. I've been to the Mililani and Ala Moana locations several times and to Hawaii Kai just once. I always order the caesar salad (made tableside and very hard to find nowadays), filet mignon with pasta and tiramisu. I've never had a problem with service although I don't recall ever being overly impressed either.
(4)jeannemarie v.
sorry this has to be the worst Italian food I've ever had. my friend had a regular pasta dish and I had the pasta putanesca. the sauces were exactly the same except mine came with some capers sprinkled on top. now let's talk about what a putanseca sauce really is... it's a peasent sauce in which you take what you have and add it. over time, it has meant to have onions, garlic, olives green & black, capers, you get the idea. so dissapointed. anyway went to try again recently and had the pasta fagioli. for some strange reason it had ham hock added to it. too many beans and very little pasta. the ham taste made it taste more like a green pea soup rather than a pasta fagioli. I guess no one beats grandmas cooking or that of good old NYC for that matter.
(1)Jo Ann V.
Whenever we feel like ditching the kitchen, Assagio's is a welcome retreat. We often show up without making reservations, although I've discovered that our table location improves considerably if we call ahead. Their wine list is extensive (I'm partial to pinot noir) and EVERYTHING on their menu is delicious. I enjoy variety, so I'm always quite happy with their special of the day. Hubby sticks with their seafood combination with tomato sauce--claims it's the best on the island.
(4)Bonnie M.
Always enjoyed this Assaggio until a year ago when the service was so poor that we had vowed never to return. We gave it another try 4 months later, which by the way by then we would have normally been there 8 times in the 4 months we stayed away. It was no better then, from the service to the taste of the food. Another 6 months passed and finally last night gave it another try. We we got a table right away, it was 3/4 full at the rush hour of dinner. We finally got water and bread after 10 minutes, cold breads to go along with the room temp water. The another 10 minutes and the waiter arrived. 15 minutes later flagged him down to inquire about our drinks, ice tea and a martini. 5 minutes later the ice tea and the wrong martini arrived. The antipasto never arrived, no sign of the waiter to ask that the martini be corrected. Dinner arrived 35 minutes later. We asked for the manager who never arrived at the table. Instead the waiter finally returned with the correct martini, 3/4 way into his so so meal, so much for a pre-dinner drink! Their offer of a free desert was not accepted and they comped the martini. Result: From the poor service, dirty decor, and food from what seemed like it was cooked by Hells Kitchen newbies, we will never again dine at this location.
(1)Mako H.
My first time here, (even though it's 5 min from home) i'll start off by saying i'm not a huge "Italian food fan", having said that wifey wanted to try it for mothers day. Got there just before our reservation and was told "your tables not ready yet" even though there was 5 tables un-occupied. NO big deal, next thing a delivery man arrives with food thru the front door (YIKES)after a short wait I nudge the kids to start running around and making noise,,,, yup it worked got seated right away "smiles* ordered up some fancy smacy stuff and low & behold when it arrives (I got the shrimp and chicken carpasso) I took 1 bite and thought "this can't be this blan with all this garlic on this" and then as if by magic the savory bite crossed my palate, slid over my tongue, swam down my throat and I knew I was in heaven, had to have been the best shrimp/chicken combo i've even eaten, as you swallowed each bite the flavor kept coming on (I guess it was the chili pepper water), as a result I was over ate be4 I had even realized it. Would have given a 5 star if they offered a wheelbarrow to roll you out to the car after eating. I must admit i'm still not a big "Italian food" fan but I will definetly be back to Assagios to eat (probably not to far in the future) Price was reasonable too (60 w/o tip for 2 adults 2 kids) kids eat like adults when it comes to spaghetti)
(4)Daisy S.
Good place for Italian restaurant. It's pretty romantic place by the marina, especially during sunset. They have one of the best Cesar Salad which they fix in front of you, and the meal portions come in small and large. Only came here for special occasions though because it's kind of pricey. Love their Mililani location, too.
(4)JS H.
Pricey. Too much food.. much went in the trash...not many options for a vegetarian (there are LOTS of us in Hawaii). We had a lovely table for a holiday "special" meal but I don't think I'd go back.
(2)Alan T.
We had dinner for 7 here and everyone's plate looked and tasted great! The menu selection is large. I ordered the Seafood Combination with Garlic sauce and it was fantastic. The portion of seafood was more than enough even with choosing the small portion plate. I would definitely return for the food here the next time I'm in Oahu and craving for Italian food. Now one thing I would comment that didn't make the dinner experience all that great was our waitress....she was polite but somehow didn't seem genuine to be serving us and not to mention she tackled on gratuity for a table of 7 when the menu specifically mentioned only for 8 or more. Since we enjoyed our dinner we didn't want to spoil the night by making a scene. So if your wondering where you can get great Italian food in Oahu, Assaggio's is the place!
(4)Jo H.
i actually like assaggios. i think the prices are reasonable, the atmosphere is nice, the service is good, and the food is mostly good. i usually order the house salad because i love the dressing and the clams scampi. i've had clams at other places that are just way too oily and buttery but the clams at assaggios are great. and the sauce is perfect for dipping bread in. and did i mention that they have great bread?? for entrees, the filet and shrimp scampi special is always a good choice--but you HAVE to get it with roasted potatoes too! or the chicken parmigiana or the pomodori....both are delicious. they also have good desserts--different flavors of gelato, or cheesecakes, or tiramisu. let's not forget the service either. everyone is always so attentive; you never have to worry about running out of water or bread, and everyone who works there is so nice, it really makes it a pleasure to eat out.
(4)J L.
The food was pretty good. I was a little surprised with the restaurant management's attitude. We arrived before 5:00pm - before the restaurant officially opened. We asked if we could have drinks at the bar. We could have spent our money at Kona Brewing Company, so we felt that this was to their advantage. Management reluctantly agreed. The bartender was fine though. After our meal, which was pretty good but pricey, we ordered dessert and lingered. After lingering maybe 10 minutes, management informed us that they NEEDED our table. We ordered drinks before dinner, had a bottle of wine with dinner and even ordered dessert. We spent some money here. Anyone who has eaten here knows that it is not inexpensive. The ambience of the restaurant encourages a relaxing, leisurely meal - management does not. This was a business dinner, so we were not loud, boisterous nor obnoxious. There was no need to rush us off. Assagio Management left a bad taste in our mouths. We will not be returning here.
(3)Leah E.
I've only been to Assaggios once before (Bistro across from Kahala Mall). To be honest I didn't even know this location existed. It's right on the boat harbor and next to Bubbies (score)! We made reservations and had an awesome table with a view of the boat harbor. We arrived a few minutes before 5 and were seated right away. We ordered and food came out right away along with fresh bread immediately after we were seated. Service was attentive and not overbearing! I ordered the chicken sorentino. With is served with lightly breaded and fried chicken and eggplant parm with your choice of pasta covered in mushrooms. Yum! I knew the full portion was going to be huge. But I'd rather pay a few extra dollars and have leftovers. My grandma had some kind of shrimp and vegetable linguine pasta. She said it was the best meal she's had in a long time. Overall, I can't give five stars because I think Assaggios is overpriced... Even for Hawaii standards. A plain Caesar salad here is $10, what?! And no refills on plantation iced tea ($5). If I'm spending $30 on a plate of pasta, give me two teas. No room for Bubbies, next time I'll only eat one loaf of table bread!
(4)LL N.
Came here last night after eating here in January with local friends and loved it then. Last nite everything we had was way to salty! Must be trying out a new cook. Hope you guys get it right cause other local folks saying the same. Good luck no adding so much salt. 08/22/2015
(2)Skye L.
my mother, aunts and i came here to celebrate birthdays for my aunts. it was a saturday night around 7. it was fairly busy but not crowded............we brought in our own champagne, you should never have to drink champagne out of a water glass....especially when you are charged a corkage! no excuse!
(1)Muhammad C.
I've been to this Assaggio about three times over many years as my parents like to go sometimes when they feel like trying something different. The restaurant has changed a lot over the years and my last visit was by far the worst. Neither I nor my parents will likely ever return. The restaurant tries to pretend to be fine dining while serving food a freshman in college could slop together in 20 minutes at 4am while pulling an all nighter for finals. We ordered a few pasta dishes and the portions were ridiculously enormous.: something I have never complained about, ever. Sauces were extremely bland and any seafood was clearly not fresh. Scallops had zero browning on them and looked, felt, and tasted like you could have cooked it in a microwave. Clam bits they used were clearly out of a can that you could find at the supermarket. The only thing out of our dishes that was palatable was the NY steak with mushrooms and a black pepper sauce. If the portion on that steak was like that of the pasta, I would have been delighted. The sauce was actually quite good. The restaurant has white linen tables that look very nice. It sits under a sheet of paper though that they use to protect the linen from getting dirty. I had checked out the menu online before coming but apparently was looking at an older menu, as the dishes that interested me most were the gnocchi and risotto, which they do not serve. I asked the waiter if they had either, and he looked at me like he had never heard those words before in his life. The current menu is setup in a ridiculous way and I can't imagine the person who made it has ever put together a menu before. I don't even know how to explain their menu in words, so if you're ever by and looking for a laugh maybe pick one up to look at. They top their pasta dishes with pecorino romano instead of the more typical parmagiano. I like pecorino romano quite a bit so this didn't bother me, but I know a lot of people who think it smells like puke, my parents included. The moment we were seated they mentioned the restaurant smelled of ass.
(1)Leslie R.
The quality is inconsistent, one day great, the next so-so. I want to love it but can't. My experience is that the Kahala location is better.
(3)Mindy K.
Not going to return! The lunch wait for our food was crazy long- over 30 minutes for appetizer and food (which came out together). Also, irritating because the people who came in after us were approached to order before us. The restaurant wasn't even crowded! Maybe five or six tables! We almost left, but my son was already starving and we kept hoping that our food would be ready soon. Also, the food was really overpriced! $50+ for two chicken pasta dishes plus an eggplant appetizer (that was only two or three rolled up slices of eggplant covered with cheese?)! The only star was for the busser- nice female that kept refilling our water during our loooong wait!
(1)Helen C.
great staff, good food pleasant atmosphere. We just finished snorkeling and were quit hungry. We wanted hime cooked feel. We were hesitant to try it since we had our beach wear, but they were very receptive and sat us by the window with a beautiful view. Jonathan was our waiter he was sweet and recommended my meal that was exactly what i wanted!
(5)Karen D.
The service was great The food was ok I would recommend the ravioli Garlic bread and fettuccine
(3)Jim B.
Was going to the Kona Brewing Company but it was closed for renovation. (Jason didn't bother to check). So went to Assaggio's instead. Had the Fettucini Alfredo with Jumbo Shrimp and Broccoli, small portion. It was more than enough to eat and very tasty. Felt it was over priced for pasta. Service was great and atmosphere was good. Sorry to say that I won't be going back.
(3)Krysten I.
Assagios is pretty well known in hawaii for good Italian food. With several locations on the island, they're pretty consistent with the quality and presentation. The service at this location isn't as good as other locations I've been to. When we walked in, the hostess had a bit of an attitude, didn't greet us, and didn't seem very friendly. It wasn't a great start to our evening. The servers all seemed young and inexperienced. They were a little awkward, and although they served us decently (refilled waters, offered more bread and cheese, etc.), it didn't seem exceptional. When I asked for suggestions between calamari and mussels and the waiter said he would suggest the mussels because they are big. Big mussels aren't necessarily better, in fact, they're usually worse. When you go to a restaurant where you're expected to pay $30-$40+ per person, service should be better than average. I ended up getting the mussels marinara and a Caesar salad. The salad is always good, just the way I like it: tons of anchovy flavor and cheese. The pasta was enough for two even though I got the small. At $18 for pasta, it wasn't amazing. It was good, but not great, especially for the price. There were several parties waiting for tables when we left, so it's a very popular place to eat (it's also graduation season). It's a nice place with candles and flowers at the table and a nice view of the marina, so it's a good place to take a date.
(3)Bryne N.
Went for a family dinner tonight and the food was great as usual. We had calamari and steamed clams for appetizers and for dinner I had the seafood combo with garlic sauce. My family ordered the veal and shrimp with rice, veal marsala with rice and the seafood combo with red sauce. Everyone enjoyed what they ordered but the two "dings" was that the food was a little slower coming out than past visits and the waiter didn't rattle off the specials/fresh catch. Bottom line if you are in the mood for good Italian and you are in Hawaii Kai, Assagio's is the place to go.
(4)Louisa N.
I have never had a bad meal at Assagios Hawaii Kai to date. My new favorite is their opah Picatta style with veggies (kinda rich sauce you can order it light on the sauce). My other favorite is the chicken Saltimbocca. Their small portions are HUGE. Very good service. Very good quality. Usually easy to get a table. Good value. Delicious complimentary bread.
(5)G D.
The kitchen was definitely not working well tonight. A planned quick dinner with calamari and Caesar salad turned into fried erasers with a dull tartar sauce. Dining in at 845p must signal to the kitchen "cook" to start pushing out the old supplies before it needs throwing out. I guess the only positive part of this fiasco is that I was relegated to a low cal salad since the kitchen was shutting down and it would have taken or meal to closing time to receive and have my spouse just stare at my eating a replacement menu item. I'll pass on this location for a while to allow me to forget the experience. Now off to my home fridge for a scavenger hunt for food. ..sigh...
(2)Taylor W.
So I've been here before a long time ago for dinner and from what I remember the food tasted okay. So anyway my boyfriend and I always come to koko marina to go to the bank on Saturdays because I live on that side of the island. Anyway so we decided to try here for lunch but we were scared because we weren't dressed so great. But we got seated right away, and it wasn't too busy. FIRST off we ordered the plantation iced tea and my boyfriend was then going to order an appetizer but as soon as he was going to say something the server immediately walked away to get started with another table. We were kind of like wtf but it's okay. The plantation iced teas were pretty good, but no refills :( and the bread that you start off with is actually really good! So food wise: we started off with the crab cakes, that was okay. I think the crab cakes at the restaurant I work at is better but it was good to try. And then I got the carbonara because I was going to get the lasagna but my bf told me to try something different. The carbonara was pretty good, good bacon, good ham, and the fettuccine was cooked perfectly. But it was too heavy for me. My boyfriend got one of the veal dishes, he liked the veal but the pasta was just okay because it was just linguine with tomato sauce, probably could've made that at home. But it's good if you want some quick cheap Italian food, for lunch that is. I would come back and get the lasagna haha!
(2)Monica B.
One of my fave restaurants! They have an extensive menu, with something for everyone. Pasta, chicken, veal, eggplant...everything! My fave is their Sicilian Chicken. They have a full-service bar & their delicious sourdough bread is fresh & baked on-site!
(5)Spirit B.
Food great as always. Service tonight not on point. I wanted another glass of wine and the waiter never came back until it was time to give us a dessert menu by then all I wanted was the check!
(3)Kayla R.
I feel like its really a hit or miss here, some nights they're on point, and some nights they're just horrible. The food is good, but I think it really depends on what you're ordering. My boyfriend always gets the steak, and it's really consistent. I'm just truly not a fan of this place, but since it's one of the only "Italian" restaurant in Hawaii Kai, it always seems to be the go to restaurant on a lazy evening of not wanting to drive into town. I just feel his restaurant is kinda dirty (or moldy) and outdated, they need to do some renovations, or change the carpets. Or add something new!
(3)Rob M.
It took me some time for me to gather my thoughts and write this review. I have been a loyal patron of Assaggio's since they opened. I have spent thousands of dollars on lunches and on dinners. Nothing could prepare me for what happened, just about a month ago at the Hawaii Kai location. Keep in mind that it is privately owned by a woman named Sylvia and they only pay to use the name, Assaggio's. One night, I decided to call in an order of their famous Chicken Caesar Salad with anchovy filets on top. When I got there, 15 minutes later, salad wasn't ready but almost done. They put it in a bag and I took it back home to eat. When I got home, portion was good, but the lettuce looked old and no anchovies. Omg! I called Hawaii Kai Assaggio's right away and spoke to the hostess on the phone. She was very apologetic and I told her that I would like a new salad with anchovies the next time I come in. She said that she would have to ask the manager. I said okay. The manager/owner Sylvia, was very nasty and said that I'm not welcome back and she was going to refund my entire order on my card. Before I had a chance to say anything, she hung up the phone. I will never ever return to the Hawaii Kai Assaggio's. Nasty owner will never get my money! If I had a choice, I wouldn't even rate her a star! DON'T EVER GO THERE!!!!!
(1)Marty G.
This is not Italian food. It's American food. The sauces have no depth of flavor and the pasta is not fresh. Should be at this price point. Interior is outdated.
(1)John F.
Best option in Hawaii Kai.
(4)Marni T.
Its not my first time here, but I think I have been to all Assagios locations. They are all the same, the service is okay here, all the other locations I go to I always get fabulous service. But this location is slacking a bit. I always get something different and its all really good. The ambiance is always nice, I like being able to hear and talk to my date when I come here. I do like trying new things but this is always my go to spot for Italian restaurant.
(3)Diana T.
I'm from Mainland U.S. & I have to compliment that Hawaiian Italian restaurants are to my opinion, one of the BEST ITALIANS I've ever ate. Way better than Mainland U.S. The Assaggio in the Koko Marina Center of Hawaii Kai is to me the best one of all Assaggios. Here's why: 1. Beautiful view of the boat harbor. Reminds me of being in a fishing village near Sicily. 2. Restaurant environment. Warm, clean, cozy & welcoming. Exactly how a fancy restaurant should be. 3. Not too pricey (even though this restaurant is classified as a fancy restaurant). I like it because of the doable price AND keep the fancy environment. Now what I like about the food: 1. Your seafood dishes. Because your restaurant is located in the boat harbor, seafood dishes are the "symbol". & after tasting your seafood dishes like the calamari linguini, the Opah linguini, all RICH IN FLAVOR & QUALITY TASTING YET!!! A fine job & I have to compliment that ALL your seafood dishes should be your "Signature Dish" for the Assaggios of Koko Marina Center. 2. Your starter breads. I love the texture, it's very hot (like freshly baked hot), it crust very crispy with fine flavor to it. 3. Your soups are also fine tasting as well. Even the soups which you recommend that it served as ice cold, I never tried ice cold soup before, but I have to say that ice cold chowder has a fine tasting flavor & is beautifully decorated too. 4. For ALL foods in general, I love how you decorate it. Beautifully done. Now the following below are further suggestions to enhance your restaurant. Though, these suggestions are minor because I like your restaurant a lot: 1. According to your menu, it says you served Lobster Ravioli, BUT only in Ala Moana locations. My suggestion is the Assaggios of Koko Marina should ALSO have Lobster Ravioli as well. The reason is because the Assaggios of Koko Marina is located in a boat harbor which is suitable environment for ALL seafood dishes including Lobster Ravioli. I guarantee that if Assaggios of Koko Marina included the Lobster Ravioli, this Lobster Ravioli would DEFINITELY be the top Signature Dish of the Assaggios of Koko Marina. 2. Outside your restaurant I saw those fluorescent lights at night. I would suggest replacing those fluorescent lights outside your restaurant with those "cast iron street lamps" or those flame torches. Replacing those bright fluorescent lights with a slightly dimmer "cast iron street lamps" or flame torches would simply make the restaurant environment much more romantic. 3. If you can, perhaps include some outdoor seating. As I said before, those 3 suggestions are MINOR because overall I like your restaurant & I will definitely come back someday as well as recommend this Assaggios to others I know. Bravisimo Assaggios of Koko Marina!!! You definitely earned a PERFECT 5 stars out of 5 from me. Best wishes to your business & I hope to come visit your restaurant again in the future someday.
(5)Spleen T.
Don't get me wrong, I like the food at Assaggio's. This one is no different from the food I've gotten at others. We've eaten here multiple times with satisfactory results. Our server tonight was fine though the main entrees did come out all scattered. By the time I was eating my entree, most of my table were more than half way through theirs and I ended up eating by myself towards the end. But what irritates me to no end and what rated the one star was the lack of service recovery. They lost our reservation. My wife had called in the early afternoon, talked to a man with an accent (Laotian or Vietnamese?) and made reservations for tonight. When we got there, they did not have a record of our reservation. They asked who we had talked to, my wife said that it was a man, the hostess checked with the bartender who apparently was the man who was on premises at the time we made reservations (the owner?) and he flatly denied taking a reservation for us. They then proceeded to call all the other Assaggio locations to see if WE had screwed up and called a different location and made reservations there instead of dealing with the fact that they had unhappy customers in front of them. After some time, they told us we couldn't be accommodated until 45 minutes later. Since we had our kids with us who had been looking forward to this meal, we decided to wait instead of going elsewhere. When we finally were seated (1 hour later), despite the hostess thanking us for being patient, no other acknowledgement was made for us being inconvenienced. While I like the food and the majority of the staff, this experience has soured me on the restaurant so we will not be back any time soon. Mistakes happen all the time but it's how you deal with them that matters.
(1)Chloe L.
I went here for a Saturday dinner with my boyfriend. We made a reservation an hour early and they were able to accommodate us. Parking is located in the Koko Marina Shopping Center. Our waiter was formal, very attentive, and knew the menu well. I had a hard time deciding between two dishes and he was able to describe both in greater detail. I ordered the small portion of the Alla Pomodori with house made sausages (a very good sized portion) and my boyfriend had the large portion meatball spaghetti. Both arrived promptly and were delicious. I have been to the Kahala and Ala Moana locations. I would have to say this location is as good or slightly better than the other locations. The added bonus is the excellent view of the boats in the Hawaii Kai harbor.
(4)Nick F.
It's always delicious, albeit slightly pricey. Pretty hard to beat a nice table by the water though.
(4)Caleb S.
The staff and food was great and I believe its the only Italian place in Hawaii Kai. Ive always had an awesome time here. Very relaxing and not expensive either.
(5)GLENN F.
For lunch ordered the Salad with Jumbo Shrimps $19.95. Not jumbo shrimps! Very disappointing. Also ordered an appetizer, the Shrimp with basil. Now these shrimps were JUMBO. I showed the waiter the difference and he said nothing. See photo added.
(1)Gemma R.
Lately, a lot of my reviews start with - they were able to schedule us last minute! That's what Assagio's did. Cam called earlier that evening, asked for a reservation and we were able to not only get an nice time frame, but apparently we were going to get a "coveted table". When we got there, we kind of giggled about where that coveted table was. In the corner - facing the window but also facing the corner, with a lovely view of darkness! LOL. It's safe to say that if this was during sunset, yeah that's a prime seat but at 7-8pm, not so much. Still it was a nice and romantic spot - but cold. Even Cam was cold. We waited around for our server and then waited around some more for our order. Our drinks actually came when our food came which was weird - and can give you a time frame of how long it took for us to get a beer and a mixed cocktail. Long right? So, we get our food, I ordered a small Seafood Combination with a garlic sauce and Cam ordered - at this point I don't even remember. I wish I had know the garlic sauce was oil with garlic. Unless there was a sauce but I wasn't sure. It had a hint of lemon in it but I also squirted lemon on the whole dish. Either way, I wasn't too happy and I really wanted to go to Outback and get their bar nachos. (aheeeemmm Cam). Over all, I did enjoy the service - they were very polite and quick after the food came out and the bread. Yes, the bread was delicious. I don't think I'd come back but still, nice romantic spot if you don't want to spend a lot of money.
(4)Angel L.
How do I describe my experience at this restaurant? Where do I even beginning? I think I can sum up the excellent experience with one word. Lyle. Our waiter was most likely one of the sweetest, kindest, and down right helpful waiters I have ever had the pleasure of meeting. I'm a very picky eater when it comes to Italian food. I know my Italian and I want it a very particular way. So when I asked if I could substitute and change a few things on the menu, Lyle was VERY helpful and nice about it. When he brought the food out he was so excited, he even went as far as to tell me my changed dish was a huge hit in the kitchen! That the chef himself really liked the combination. He joked and said if they ever add it to the specials they'd name it 'Pasta Angelique' after me. Which of course, made me smile so hard. After all of the amazing food, not to mention impeccable service by the best waiter ever, during dinner, we thanked Lyle and paid our check. Of course we felt it necessary to tip higher than normal, since he was by far the best waiter I have ever experienced to date. Thank you again Lyle, you brightened our day and made our dinner experience amazing. We both hope you get a raise! We are most deff going to call ahead and ask to be sat in his section the next time we come back to this location.
(5)Stacy K.
Either they were short handed on the staff tonight or they are slow.
(2)Chelle L.
Sooo I'm writing this review as a combination review for my past 3 visits. I'm usually a take-out kinda gal, so that being said, my first two encounters were for takeout. First, I ordered Cheese Ravioli, which is spectacular! But I also ordered a side of Sausage and Meatballs. As I walk out of the restaurant with my bag of food something cold touches me...I'd been served un-cooked sausage and meatballs. Umm who really plans on cooking half of their dinner? So of course I went back and showed this to them (which always makes me skeptical, because I don't like to have my food re-made). Not only that, but the owner lady YELLS at the girl who took my phone order IN FRONT OF ME. Not cool, very unprofessional. If you're going to scold as employee, you never do it in front of the customer. Now you've just made everybody feel uncomfortable, especially me. Second, I ordered two entrees for takeout, asked to get two loaves of bread. And was charged $1.50 for the second loaf. Ummmm bread is complimentary... But the person who was taking my phone order informed me "not for takeout." I'm pretty sure it's the same food, so why wouldn't it have the same expectations? You don't even have to wait on me or clean my table, I'm saving you time & labor, so to me that was beyond rude and I didn't tip. Third, Unfortunately I was in a good mood from my glass of wine, but I shouldn't have tipped anything at all last night. I decided to take my sister and 5 month old nephew out to dinner and it was his first night in the high chair. I was seated immediately by a window with a nice view, served my glass of wine as I waited for my company to arrive. Food was great, Jordan (our server) was good until I am served the dessert menu and he spilt my guest's glass of water all over the table, a little on my guest, and on the high chair as well. Luckily, my nephew was getting fussy because he was tired, so I was holding him. And I asked the waiter to comp our dessert, he said he would ask his manager, but never returned. And of course it was still on my bill. So what my nephew had to be tortured with cold water and risk catching a cold before it would even consider being comped? It was $5 come the crap on...... I'm pretty sure when the restaurant screws up, their supposed to make it up to the guest. That's just what customer service is, serving the customer to the best of their ability. I don't consider that best of anything, other then chang. I'm tired of the stinginess I feel in this restaurant, and I'll just make my own damn pasta from now on.
(1)Alex T.
Made a reservation for 2 at 530. Was seated immediately at a candle lit booth with a nice view and a rose (valentine week) with no problems. Noticed a couple of things, first my napkin wasn't folded although my date's was. No big deal though. Next it did take about 8 minutes for someone to greet us although there were only 2 other parties in that section (one was finishing up). Our waiter never introduced himself, but I found out his name was John and although he was decent, he wasn't overly attentive nor too friendly. Food was decent, got the calamari legs (4/5) eggplant appetizer (3/5, a little flat tasting) and the Caesar salad (5/5, made table side, pretty good but a little too heavy on the dressing) It took a while for John to come back for our entree order but it did come out rather quickly once we finally ordered. Date was already full off the appetizers by the time hers came around and I got the Special: Chicken shrimp and linguini something. Shrimp was cooked well but the whole dish felt like it was missing something. I'd come here again if I'm craving Italian, but not a restaurant at the top of my list. 8/10 ambience 6/10 service 7/10 food
(3)Shawna K.
I've been to assaggios a few times. The food is great and the service is pretty good also. I love the Caesar salad and carbonara. Last night I decided to go out of my comfort zone and order something different. I got the chicken anchovy olio and I was very unimpressed. The pasta was extremely dry and there was waaaaay too much garlic, my breath alone after would have killed a vampire. My main problem is that the portions are so big I always end up taking some home, but I have begun to notice that all my left over food is not boxed. Last night I did an experiment and counted my pieces of chicken and estimated how much pasta was left. Upon opening the take out box, there was considerably less food than I had left on my plate. Since they box it for you there is no way to ensure you are getting what you pay for. I have noticed this at multiple island wide assaggios locations. What gives? Do they just throw it away or allow the workers to take some home or what? My "lunch" for today is nothing more than 3 fork fills of pasta and 2 pieces of chicken, when I had barely touched my food by the time it showed up since I was so stuffed on appetizers. Not cool assaggios. Not cool.
(3)Kelly G.
Decided to drop in for a Sunday lunch ...... we were seated at a nice table overlooking the Marina - so gorgeous & relaxing !! Lyle was our FABULOUS server ... totally "on it" - it has seriously been a while since I have been impressed with someones server skills !!! We had a salad assortment - house, caesar, and the seafood plus roasted peppers and one special - veal piccata & scampi to share... everything was good and complimented by the many loaves of hot bread we devoured !! Awesome lunch ...great price, great view, & awesome service !!
(5)Jeff N.
This restaurant is a real find, worth a few visits. The staff was good but not great and wines at about $12 a glass really nice. I would recommend the seafood here. It is a bit hidden in a mall, so you wonder if it could be good, but it really is a great restaurant. You could take a family or a just wife/date here for fine dinning. We had a great meal and got out for under a hundred.
(4)Lianne S.
I really like Assagios in Koko Marina. I first went here almost 10 years ago and it's pretty much stayed the same over the years. Service has always been average to good, never had a bad experience here with service. Nobody has really ever omg wow'd me here but nobody has ever pissed me off, either ;) It's a pretty busy restaurant and if it's a long wait I just say the heck with it and hit up Zippys. Food has always been good. I mostly always get shrimp scampi with linguine. The shrimp is so jumbo and yum! If I'm not terribly hungry I get the small portion (approx 21.00?) or large potion if I'm super hungry (27.00?) I'm a little off on pricing but gives you an idea of what you're looking at price-wise. They provide warm bread which is always very good.
(4)Wayde F.
As it was I didn't like this place already, but to just hear that my roomate and his girlfriend had been turned away by the staff for takeout because it "WAS JUST TOO BUSY FOR TAKEOUT" is one of the most F#$%ING insulting and embarrassing moments an establishment can have against a faithful, dedicated returning customer! It's a very disgraceful and despicable action when you turn away service against a dedicated and faithful customer who comes to your establishment weekly. They wished to eat at Assaggios for Valentines day, but wanted to eat at home and be alone on the Lanai to enjoy their food, which is perfectly in their right to take the food out...and this is how they are treated! Assaggio may have lost me a long time again, but what they lost today was a faithful and dedicated customer that will NEVER, EVER, EVER be back to Assaggios in Hawaii Kai again. You just never know who's going to step into your establishment on what hour or what day and when you disrespect your faithful customers you only harm yourself and your brand. Shame on you again Assaggios...Shame on you!
(1)Tracie F.
I must say that I am quite the Assaggio connoisseur! I have been to every single location on the island and I must say that this one is the best! Fabulous service! Wonderful food! Nice decor! This Assaggio truly has it all. Our server, who was also the floor manager, was uber attentive. No glass went unfilled and no need went unmet. I think he had mental telepathy because all we had to do was think of something and it was there!!! A complimentary appetizer was delivered pronto. Only half of the party was there at seating so when the rest of us arrived he delivered ANOTHER appetizer to make sure we all had the opportunity to sample it. Portions are HUGE!!! I couldn't finish the small portion of the filet. The filet is incredible! Who would have thought you would go to an Italian restaurant and order the filet? Well if you are a lover of fine steak then this is THE place to get it! Super yum!!! The only drawback? The a/c was broken and it was super hot. Do you know what our thoughtful waiter did? He brought us a sampling (full sized scoop) of each of their sorbet flavors. Delicious!!! If you are in Hawaii Kai (or even if you aren't) and are looking for a wonderful meal with fabulous service at a reasonable price then this is the place to go!
(5)John Y.
Nice upscale Italian restaurant in an small open air shopping center in Koko Marina catering to a mix of neighborhood residents and tourists going to/from East Oahu (Hanauma Bay, Koko Head, Waimanolo, etc) When visiting relatives living in Hawaii Kai I usually try to make a stop here before heading back into "the city" if I haven't eaten yet. Been here a few times mostly for dinner, dark/quiet atmosphere (unless you're sitting near a noisy group), romantic, nice place to take a date/wife/mistress. Never been disappointed with any of their entrees, fresh & tasty ingredients makes a huge difference in the final product (pasta, sauces). It amazes me how some "Italian restaurants" will serve tomato sauce with the true flavor completely ruined/hidden; overpowered by other seasoning (eg. herbs, salt, sugar, pepper), listen up, just add a little fresh garlic to the fresh tomato sauce, let me decide which extra seasoning to add to my sauce at the table. Order the Caesar Salad, it's done right at your table the way a proper Caesar Salad should be done. 4 stars only because the staff turnover is high, always new faces, some staff very friendly, others simply scared to death btw Don't forget your shaved ice at Kokonuts Shaved Ice & Snacks a couple of stores down, picture of Obama w/ shaved ice in front window.
(4)Heidi P.
I have been to the Assaggio's at Ala Moana and Kahala before - and have come to this location twice now. What I appreciate about Assaggio's is the consistency in their atmosphere from restaurant to restaurant. It is always very clean and crisp with their white linens and silverware. The waitstaff is always polite, friendly and attentive. Even though many of the diners that come to their restaurants may be in shorts and a shirt - they always treat as if you are in a fine dinning establishment. Their wine list is really nice and the staff are helpful to make a few suggestions. I had gone last night with a few girlfriends and had a nice Coppola Pinot with our meal. We all had pasta, mine was mushroom rigatoni in a garlic butter sauce. I enjoyed it, but thought a little something green in the dish like spinach would be a nice touch. The pricing is OK for the portions you get - I usually order the small portion and that can run you $13 - $18 a plate - but you are paying for fresh ingredients I suppose. It is a nice place to have a nice meal with friends or family. You don't feel rushed to leave even if the restaurant is busy and relaxing by the water can't be beat. I would suggest going early on Friday or Saturday evenings - we had reservations at 5:30 and I would say the restaurant was at full capacity by 6:30.
(4)Jen F.
This is a good - but not great - Italian restaurant in Hawaii Kai. The food is pretty good, but not quite what you'd find at a really nice Italian restaurant that has authentic food. Nonetheless, it tastes good, and I will certainly go back. The staff is great, and the wait for food does not take long. The wine list is okay, but not very extensive. The menu is huge with many options for any type of food you're hoping to eat. And, of course, great views of the Hawaii Kai marina.
(3)Mari S.
From family dinners... to first dates... to out of town guests get togethers... there have been many good meals and memories made at Assagio's in Hawaii Kai! I usually order the chicken anchovy olio. I really think this is one of their best pasta dishes! Watch out though, there is tons of garlic in this dish, so don't order it if you are on an intimate date! The other dish I highly recommend ordering is the ceasar salad for two, where they prepare it for you table-side. The salad is made just right and also very filling! I really enjoy watching the server prepare the salad from scratch. The wine list at Assagio's is very good. On my last visit, I ordered the Crusher petit syrah. It was so smooth and had an excellent finish! I also noticed they had the Candor red zin (one of my new fave's!) The overall service here is good. The servers are professional, efficient and knowledgeable about the food and wine. While the menu is a bit pricey, the food portions are generous and delicious! The ambiance here is also very nice, especially during sunset.
(4)Nathan F.
Came here for a birthday for the first time with a group of 5 for reservations made at 7 pm. We were seated pretty fast. Our waiter was really attentive and came back every few minutes to see if we were ready to order. Prices are a little higher than your standard Italian restaurant, but the quality and service was there for the price. Besides the complimentary hot bread and well salted butter we also ordered appetizers to start off. We ordered a hot seafood appetizer as well as a cold antipasto. They came out pretty fast. First the cold then the hot. The cold was prosciutto and salami with veggies in a vinegar sauce. The hot appetizer consisted of a couple of mussels, scallops, squid steaks, and fish (they were out of clams that night and gave us scallops instead) that was in a slightly spicy/garlicky oil sauce. It seemed like the oil would be a deterrent from eating it but it went well with the hot bread they brought out for us. The entrees come in small and large orders. Small orders are the size of a regular entrée portion and the large is enough for your dinner and lunch for the next day and I'm saying this as a big eater lol. I can't exactly remember what was ordered but I had a sausage pasta dish with a tomato base and my fiancée had a mushroom and chicken pasta in oil sauce. Both were delicious. Water was filled when we were low without asking. The birthday boy got a slice of coffee (toffee?) ice cream cake with a candle in it which is more generous than what I've seen other restaurants give for celebrations which is great. We had left over bread and wanted to take it back home to eat with our leftover pasta and when we asked to pack it up with the pasta they gave us 2 fresh whole loaves! It's small actions like that which give a restaurant a whole star. I had a wonderful time and meal and would definitely come back to dine here.
(5)Weddings O.
A little pricey. However the food is good. Service is very good. Great wine selection. Excellent Caesar salad
(3)Fati Y.
I wasn't feeling well and came in to get the filet mignon which I ordered with hot tea, I asked for honey and got it right away, I asked for extra sauce on my steak with no onions, no problem, my waiter was very efficient and friendly...just the kind of service everyone would appreciate! Thanks John for making my lunch experience enjoyable and hassle free! Great service
(4)Brie A.
My boyfriend and I decided to go to Assaggios for our anniversary because we don't mind the environment and the food is pretty decent (eh). Service was nonexistent. As soon as we walked in, we were greeted and seated; that is where the service ended. Our waiter was very informal (saying "wassap," yo man," and "i'll get back at you") and was not timely. We basically had to stare down our waiter to get his attention to order and get the bill upon completion. It was also a little later in the evening (around 7 or 8 I think) and one of the employees busted out a vacuum cleaner and proceeded to vacuum the carpet right next to us while we were eating. My boyfriend ordered a mussel appetizer (I think scampi clams? I do not recall) and he said the clams were old and unpleasant to eat. However, the rest of our order was decent.
(1)J C.
We have been going here for years but last Sunday we had the worst service and food quality! We had a large party so gratuity was already included at 18% which the staff did not earn. We waited 30 mins to be seated after our RSVP time and when we got to our table it was not fully set, napkins here, no silverware and plates for everyone. We ordered and waited 1 HR for our dinner to arrive, had to ask several times for bread, and at the end of the night didn't even know who our waiter was since we were asking anyone for help the entire night! And the food was just ok, usually it is very tasty, but it felt like it was rushed out to us and the pasta wasn't really cooked and flavored well.
(1)Bonnie M.
Good food, good service, nice view. But air conditioning weak.
(4)Tasha T.
First off, we got here pretty late at 9:10pm (they close at 10pm). Nonetheless, the service was great, food was perfect. The Caesar salad tossed table side is bomb! I ordered the Chef's special, steak & shrimp scampi. It was really, really good (it was also still tasty as leftovers, btw). Water was always filled (even if I only took a couple sips), and no one seemed to care that we were there so late. Only downside? I requested A1 steak sauce with my meal, and our server left us an over-sized Costco bottle that was almost empty. !? The manager came by and even took note of it with a remark ("Could your server have left you a bottle any bigger?") and I'm sure she scolded him after we left. Other than that, it was a great meal. Assagio's is classic and consistent throughout the years and locations.
(4)Cindy M.
I am a big fan of Assagio's! I have always loved their Italian food, especially their "make it at your table" Caesar salad! BUT, I have been very disappointed with their service because of two incidents that my Dad had to experience. First, besides having to wait a while for our take out order, when he came home we realized that they had given us THE WRONG ORDER!!! Yes, we could have checked it before leaving the restaurant but it is THEIR responsibility to ensure that the right order goes to the right person! Another incident just recently happened. My Dad went to go pick up our take out order. When he got there, they had lost our order and had to hurry and make it! My Dad had to wait even longer! When he did receive our order, they were not sincerely apologetic for losing our order and didn't offer any kind of complimentary "sorry we messed up and thank you for waiting" discount. When he came home with our food, it was good except my Chicken Sorrentimo was a little on the burnt side making it very obvious they were rushing! My family and I will no longer eat at this location. We don't want to be a victim of a third bad experience. No thank you!
(2)Jaclyn C.
Delicious! Large menu with large portions worth the price. Everything was hot and fresh and full of flavor. Friendly service, no wait, and nice part of town. Definitely going back.
(5)Kim S.
Celebrated a birthday there on a Monday nite. We (2) were seated at a 4-top with a view of the marina. It was tucked away behind a short wall so we didn't see or hear other patrons the entire evening. Our table rates: 5 stars Service was good - not great, could have been more attentive. 2.5 stars. Ok, the Italian food in SF is amazing so it's tough not to compare quality...overall food: 3 stars. Caprese Salad - fine. Mozzarella not as fresh as I'm used to & olive oil could have been higher quality. But not bad. Mussels Alla Marinara - on linguine w/spicy marinara - yummy. Decent # of mussels. Scallops and Shrimps Alla Bolla - on linguine. Scallops were large & fat. There were 2 large prawns. Would have tasted better if the seafood was pan seared - i.e. browned before tossing in the sauce. There was too much minced garlic thrown in. Sauce: white wine butter sauce was tasteless & boring. Sauce needed a more crisp/dry wine & asparagus would have added more flavor. The slice of chocolate cake with a candle was a nice touch.
(3)Christine L.
My absolutely favorite Italian Restaurant in the entire world. And that's really saying a lot since I've been to Italy and had the food there. Everything is prepared fresh and delicious. Caesar salads are done tableside, my Dad absolutely has to have it everytime we go. I always get the newyork strip steak. They cook it to perfection with this amazng flavorful sauce on top with mushrooms and onions. A work of art. And their bread is always warm and fresh and yummy. The restaurant looks out over the canals in Hawaii Kai. When the sun sets it really is quite beautiful. I haven't been in about three years since I moved to Cali, and I miss it more than any other part of Hawaii.
(5)Jermel-Lynn Q.
Haven't been to this specific location in a while and had to go today for a lunch meeting. This place is such a cute place for family and romantics. Italian food is one of my favorite types of food and this restaurant is a great place to go to for a nice intimate setting whether lunch or dinner. I just love anything with tomato sauce. At today's meeting I ordered the Boneless Julienne Chicken Vegetable dish and it was great! I love prosciutto and tried their prosciutto dish with melon today. That appetizer was yummy. it also had picked celery and carrots. The carrots reminded me so much of Japanese namasu. I was also able to taste their cheesecake. The cheesecake's filling was fairly light and the crust was delish.
(4)Sara T.
Waitstaff is friendly and quick, food is great (especially the fresh bread). Get the Hot Antipasto and soak the bread in that delicious, spicy sauce!
(4)Karen M.
I've been dining at Assaggio Ristorante Italiano - Hawaii Kai Location (ARIHK) for well over 6 years. It's not a location that i would just drive there cause I felt like it, especially I'm originally from the Leeward area of Oahu and permanently reside in Honolulu. So it's a HUGE deal for me to dine at that particular location. This year was a disappointment. It took a long time to make the reservation. Servitude is damn slow to picking up the phone. On the night of dinner, we got there with my fussy 14month old. We were quickly seated to our table, but rather aggravating that escorted host with the sparkly green top kept on inquiring where to place the high chair. At that point I didn't care or what or how many place setting was left behind, my focus was on my son. My husband left the table to use the restroom, leaving me with my son (on a high chair) and trying to distract his attention and focus on the movie on his iPad and removing all sharp or blunt objects away from his prying hands, which MS. Sparkly Green Top failed to remove from the table. I assume she believe it was quite cute for a 14month old to play with and fly it down everywhere on the ground. What irate me was the busser (with the gauge peirce ears) arrived to serve us our water and inquired if there three people at our table. I indicate no there are 2adults and one high chair. Still continued to pour the third glass of water and not offering to remove the extra set of silverware. Within in three minutes, same busser returned back and asked if it was just the two of us (me and my son in the high chair). I bluntly replied NO and my husband will be returning back from the restroom any minute. SIGH. Upon my husband arrival, our waiter RICHARD introduce himself, told us the special, and inquired if care for something to drink. No wine menu insight. Of course Richard looked at us and said he'll returned back to our table when we're ready with our drink request. I had to ask another hostess for the wine menu because MS. Sparkly Green top assume we don't drink or blanked out on offering our menu! When we finally set in our drink request, I immediately ordered 2 side table Caesar salads and calamari legs as a starter to speed up the process. Our drinks literally took 5 minutes, which RICHARD returned and meekly looked at my husband and apologize for the downfall that they don't have a Cabernet available. Richard had to do that twice before finally confirming us that my husband new drink request is available. By the time we were chowing down the bread to satisfy my fussy son. While waiting for our appetizer, I quickly ordered our entree, which I requested to Richard I wanted the Veal and Shrimp and my husband ordered the Sirloin with linguini noodles. Richard than asked if we need a plate to share. I said yes, because we're sharing our meal with our son! Appetizer and Caesar Salads arrived and tasted okay. the Calamari legs were a disappointment because it looked like it light tossed in flour and cooked in not-so hot oil, which was placed on a bed of greens. It was greasy and chewy. While waiting for our entree, I had to ask Richard for a refill on bread twice.. which he absentminded forgot and didn't refill the butter. The meal finally arrived and the water just looked me like I knew what the hell he was going to do. I had to ask what was it and he indicated it was the Sirloin, which I pointed out that was my husbands and he asked where to place the extra plate. I just took it from him. Hence, my meal hadn't arrive. I had an inkling that Richard goofed on our order and asked him where was my meal. He looked me stupidly and asked what did I order. I was fuming and quickly asserted that I had the Veal and Shrimp and I told him directly of my order. He went straight for the kitchen and in a mater of minutes I had tiny Asian guy in regular polo shirt and jeans (assuming it was the owner/manager) indicate to me that Richard didn't take my order down and it was the reason why he asked if we needed an extra plate and that they can fire up my dinner right away. Please note, I ate veal at different locations and was really looking forward to tasting it. I angrily told him no, that my husband will share his dinner with and the extra plate was for my son. As a comp to the mistake, they were going to offer us dessert. Whoop-di-do! I told the manager that it is his bday. He ruined it for us. We quickly made do of what is left with the dinner and asked for the check. Even that took long to retrieve because they thought it was a nice gesture to give my husband a birthday dessert. Hence they included the dessert at no charge on the check, which we really didn't request. I still recommend the location, but I highly advise to keep yourself on your toes. They lack the service to match up to the ambiance of the location. Strike one ARIHK. I hope next year it wont be a shame on me!
(2)Larry G.
Where everybody knows your name. . . . For a convivial and fun evening in Hawaii Kai, look no further than Assaggio's Bistro. If you're by yourself or a couple that enjoys meeting people, opt for a seat at the bar. Rest assured that Pam, bartender par excellence, will take good care of you. Pam always introduces new people to the many regulars enjoying dinner or a drink at the bar. She also pours the best cocktails in town which are catalysts for getting everyone in a happy, talkative mood. I highly recommend her massive martinis that never fail to remind me of shimmering infinity pools. Assaggio's also serves dependable Italian style meals at good prices. Most dishes come in small or regular portions. Fish is almost always Opah or Mon Chong done in several Italian preparations. All are excellent, neither over cooked or raw. Surprisingly, this Italian bistro also serves some of the best steaks around. I especially like their pepper steak. The menu is extensive and my favorites are too numerous to mention all, but for satisfying comfort food at an affordable price, try Sicilian chicken with potatoes. If you're cutting back on carbs, you have option of substituting vegetables for starches. It's not a bad idea because the free fresh bread and butter they serve when you sit down is so darn delicious.
(4)Syd L.
If you want a dab of "hair," in your dish, this is the place to go! Because I work in Hawaii Kai, I like to treat myself to some "upper scale, not just a Mcdonald's" kind of lunch. I ordered a Scallop Alla Scampi, as I was eating the noodles, I poked my fork in one of the scallops. I noticed there was "something black" on the scallop. As I pulled it closer, I saw that it was a strand of hair. The hair was pretty much "twisted" in the scallop! GROSS! I called and spoke to the manager and let him know. Of course, he offered to make it right and gave me a comp of the same dish or equal value. The scallops were undercooked, the sauce had no flavor. I was very disappointed, especially since I spent $18.74! I know to order "extra" sauce because I order take-out, by the time I eat it, it's dry. BUT, to make things worst, this is actually the 2nd time this has happened at the Hawaii Kai location. My friend ordered the Osso Bucco and she also found a strand of hair in her food. :( They really should consider wearing hair nets! Yikes!
(1)Ryan S.
Service 5 stars Food 4 stars Drinks 2 stars The wait staff was great. I ordered the tenderloin with scampi and fettuccine (all one meal). I ordered it medium rare and it came out more on the medium well side, but it was still good. We are Italian food buffs and this was much better than we expected, especially out here on an island. If you're thinking about a solid italian (or steak), this is definitely a great option in my opinion. Hope this helps......
(4)Brent K.
My favorite Italian restaurant ! I think I tried most of the menu. And everything is great. even the warn bread and salads. Small and quiet. Good service. And lots of garlic ! Some times to much garlic. I love this place. They could use some help in the desert department. But not that important. You're to full to eat it anyway.
(5)Elle V.
Assaggios has been my fave restaurant from when I was 9 years old so it's been a long time running but this one has my fave view for lunch time. Caesar salad and fish olio is my fave!
(4)Cat M.
Assaggio has always been the "high school date night" place in my mind, you know, the place where the high school boys save up a month's allowance to take out the girl they've been crushing on... Got there around 8pm with no reservation on a Wednesday. After being promptly seated, we were bombarded by great service - greeted by our waiter, server asst brought over water and hot bread. We kicked off "high school date night" with a bottle of The Crusher red wine - eaaasy drinking. I need to call to confirm if this was a petite syrah. The menu here is like a short novel - pretty lengthy, a little overwhelming - I suggest looking through their online menu before spending 15 minutes just to read through the menu once. Appetizer - Eggplant Rollatini - menu description did more for me than the actual dish did. Had to ask for crushed red peppers, but I should've gone the Tabasco route instead. Entree - Fish Alla Piccata with rigatoni. Delizioso! Just the right balance of lemon, white wine, butter and capers, pasta al dente (!), and lightly pan fried fish. Winner winner fishy dinner! *Beware: The small portion here can feed two pax. Desserts - Cannoli - I always get giddy when I spot cannoli on dessert menus, but I've always been disappointed. Unfortunately Assaggio's cannoli reinforced my belief that good cannoli does not exist on O'ahu. Fail. Creme brulee is another dessert I always try to see if it can compare to Kincaids. Another fail at Assaggios. Tiramisu here was awful - dry cake (not soaked ladyfingers) and some kind of filling that did not taste like marscapone cream. Service tapered off through the meal - saw the server only once after he took our order, saw the server assistant way more, don't know if the lady standing behind the bar was the manager, but I didn't get a good vibe from her. Oh well... at least the service started off on the right foot! Wine and entree - win! Appetizer and desserts - fail! Service at the start of the meal - win! Service throughout the meal - fail! Very extreme-ended experience here, hence the A-OK. If I'm ever craving fish alla piccata again, I'm definitely sitting at the bar and not ordering dessert.
(3)Titamas K.
My family dines here often. The establishment was recently sold and the new owner is living up to it's name with 5 stars. Much of the staff are the same, so I assume the cooks are as well and perhaps why the food remains excellent. They serve a warm bread appetizer with butter. We like the bread so much we order an extra loaf to go. Our top appetizers are the Jumbo Shrimp Cocktail, Cold Antipasto and Bruschetta. The Bruschetta is one of their newer items, I don't think it's on the menu, but they offered it as a complimentary dish and we liked it so much we always order it now. For the entree my husband likes to get the Osso Bucco. The red sauce is deliciously creamy and the meat falls right off the bone. They give you a teeny fork to dig out the bone marrow. I don't have a favorite dish, so far I have liked all the dishes from the Eggplant All Parmigiana, Seafood Combo, Shrimp Assagio, Carbonara, Filet Mignon, Veal to the Special of the Day and much more. The location is very romantic in the Koko Marina Shopping Center . If you are seated by the window fronting the marina, you can watch the sunset and eat a nice dinner with your loved one or family. Parking is free, but near weekend dinner time parking gets busy because of the movie goers. It's a litte more pricey than your normal restaurant. Be prepared to spend around $60 for a dinner for 2. They also offer dessert but I rather walk to Bubbeys Ice Cream a few shops down and get a Mochi Ice Cream.
(5)Mimi L.
We went to Assagio in Hawaii Kai for our date night! It was sooooooooo yummy! It has been here for years! Assagio is in the middle of Koko Marina, near the water. Ambiance is nice, very comfortable, and if you're lucky to sit near the marina side, you got a great seat and pretty view! I recommend to make dinner reservations. Our server was great! Very friendly and attentive. The food was so good! First, the warm bread. I could not get enough! Then I had minestrone soup. Not too tasty. But, the Ceasar Salad!! Oh My!!!! That is a must have in my book! Our waiter made it in front of us and it's my new favorite salad of all time! I had the Fish Alla Piccata. I ordered the small portion, but still way large enough for me and I couldn't even eat half of it, since I stuffed myself with all the other stuff we had ordered. It was so good!!! The fish texture and sauce was amazing! The hubby had Fresh Chicken Olio and he was impressed too! Very tasty!! I would recommend this! For dessert, we had an ice cream dessert that had a chocolate hard shell on it. It was a great finish to complete our fantastic evening! Thank you Assagio Hawaii Kai for a great date night! We loved the ambiance and our experience! We will see you again!
(5)Watah H.
I went there, second time around. First for lunch and tonight for dinner. The lunch was ok but nothing special as we just ate. But, tonight at dinner what excellence. I ordered several beers and every time they gave me a fresh frosted cup; didn't have to ask. Plus one. We ordered several appitizers all good. The entrees came and my dinner partners wanted extra sauce, hot sauce..no problem.. I ordered the filet mignon medium rare and it came that way. Wow, I get my food my way? So nice. I'll come back again and again. The best in Hawaii Kai.
(5)Lawrence T.
First off, it's not Assaggio's, and it's not Assaggios. It's Assaggio - no "s". Come on people, it's not that hard to get the name right - it's on the front door, it's on the menu, and it's on the top of this web page! :) No, the place doesn't serve "authentic" Italian cuisine, so if that's what you're looking for, look someplace else. What Assaggio does serve is tasty food that's consistently good and at relatively decent prices. The Hawaii Kai location has been my go-to place for years, and I've rarely been disappointed with either the food or the service. The bar's also a pretty good place to hang out for drinks, dinner, or both. It's usually filled with regulars of the Hawaii Kai variety, meaning if you're 23 and wearing your hip-hop attire or hoochie mama spandex, you'll be out of place. Don't worry, though, the regulars are friendly, and a couple of them are downright hilarious. I'd recommend the filet mignon with roasted potatoes, the chicken anchovy olio, or the chicken alla saltimboca romana. Can't go wrong!
(4)Deni P.
We ordered take-out the other night & it was expensive & bland!! It tasted like they used canned tomato sauce w/o any spices.. The veal & Italian sausage had absolutely no flavor.. The only thing good about our meal was the garlic bread, the fresh loaf of bread & the cold antipasto.. Thank goodness we ordered take-out because we were able to add seasoning to our meals to make it edible.. They used to be good.. Don't know what happened, but they need to fix it!!
(1)Teresa G.
My very favorite Italian restaurant in Hawaii. I love coming here and having the shrimp and fresh vegetable linguine in the red sauce. With a crisp tossed salad and the freshly made bread. YUMMY!!! Couple that with a glass of pinot noir and I have the perfect dinner. Overlooking the marina with the love of my life...It just doesn't get better then this!!! The service is impeccable and friendly and the prices are reasonable. They do seem to fill up fast on weekends. I will come back again and again!!!!
(5)Hawthorne A.
This place is great. Very relaxed, comfortable and the staff is attentive and friendly. Food is delish, the chicken eggplant marsala is yummy and the chefs special filet mignon and shrimp scampi a regular pick. They have a great dressing for their salads, and clams are wonderful. 4 stars because I can only afford to eat here every other week when I could eat here every other day.
(4)J. C.
The food at the Hawaii Kai Assaggio is just as good as the Ala Moana location. However, the Ala Moana location is the only one that has the rainbow ice cream dessert. Richard was a good waiter & worked hard to make our caesar salad. The temperature is a little warm, perhaps due to the sun glaring in. The men's bathroom needs remodeling and better lighting.
(4)William H.
Had a bad experience with the food service and quality of food seems to be going down hill the past year.
(1)Joy V.
My favorite thing on the menu is not Italian really but yummy delicious steak. I love love love to death their steak salad (it is my favorite salad in the whole world just above cpk's BBQ chicken salad). I've had the veal. Veal is okay not so much my taste. I also really enjoy their chicken Marsala. However it is kind of dry so i always order extra Marsala sauce with it. The Alfredo is not bad, but far from my favorite thing. As for Italian restaurants this place beats olive garden hands down!!! And for all the other three locations on the island, i believe from experience this one was the less crowded.
(5)E Po'u L.
Service and the food was excellent!! Had the steak n scallops chefs special. Best italian place so far.
(5)Amie B.
My family loves Assagio's! I have only been to the Ala Moana and Hawaii Kai locations and every time has been as delicious as the last. We go to Assagio's for birthdays, anniversaries and give gift certificates as gifts to family and friends. It is the only restaurant in Hawaii Kai that my family frequents that we ALL leave happy and content with our meals and service!!
(5)Jenny C.
I'm going back and forth on whether I want to give this place a three or four star, but I'll stick with the four. I came for dinner tonight after Le Bistro told us there would be an open spot in 3 hours. We called Assagio's about a seat and was given one right away. When we got there, since we were still pretty early, a lot of staffers were standing around. We got seated, my companion went to the restroom and the staff that greeted me were very nice and attentive. I got greeted by three different people, all helpful. Anyhow, I like Assagio's food! It's very good. I generally get their homemade hot antipasto over pasta because it's just so good. I used to order it and it was great, and I think about 3 bucks more as an entree than the antipasto. It's a great deal because you get a lot of seafood (shrimp, calamari, clams, mussels, etc.), a great sauce (read: rich) and over noodles of your choice. The sauce, it's tomato...but not a thick marinara...it's a thin spicy tomato sauce...that compliments everything so well. Anyhow, I ordered it up again and was informed by the waitress that it was called...something long in Italian and she said it was prepared with mushrooms and onions and asked if it was okay. I said yes. I was asked if I wanted the large or small...and I fussed around a bit about it...but ended up getting the small. Well their small is a pretty big portion! I was pretty full and we didn't even have an appetizer. We both ordered coke and yes, they do not refill for free. That's kind of ridiculous to me since it's $2.50 and they give you like a small glass full of ice that probably takes only half a can of coke. I wouldn't complain as much if the coke tasted okay...but as a person who has worked these fountains before...it had a weird taste. Not a bad taste, but like...a hose was reused from another flavor and now connected to coke. It just had a weird mixed taste that I didn't appreciate. Anyhow, good food. Skip the soda...they have a bubbies down the hall for great ice cream, a movie theater across the way for entertainment and possibly the cleanest price busters I've been to in Hawaii...with a huge snack selection.
(4)Brad E.
I have been going to Assaggios Hawaii Kai for over ten years mainly because I thought they had the best filet mignon on town. Unfortunately, the management has recently changed and I don't know if they are buying their beef from another source but its just not the same. Overall the food is overpriced.
(1)Michael W.
Ambience: For a shopping center restaurant, the place seemed quite relaxing and peaceful, even though there were many passers by. Lighting was adequate for reading of the menu, but subdued enough to feel some measure of intimacy. Service: Although waitstaff seemed eager to please, having to apologize continually for mistakes is uncalled for if more and proper training is utilized. Appetizers were served at the same time as the entrees. When the pre-dinner salad was finished, entree for one person was not at the optimum temperature. Seems the wait person doesn't know how to time his ordering with the kitchen. Food: Osso Buco seemed mushy and rather dry. My dish had perfectly cooked al dente pasta. However, it was the wrong type of pasta. The scallops were way over cooked and chewy. The canolis were certainly not worth the $4.50 they charge. In my opinion, $.50 would probably be the value of the worst canoli I've had in my life. Overall, I didn't give it a one star rating because I've had worse. However, I had much better at many other establishments. I will not be going back to Assagio's again.
(2)Kimo S.
This a upscale sauce place. Not cooked by italians but nice sauce. That said good service and polite staff. This last visit I had Oso Buca. I make it at home and try to see if different places do well. This is not a gourmet's delight. It was covered in grease! Never have I seen such a mistake. A good sauce with tomatoes or stock would be fine but no, they covered it in fat. Okay there is some fat in the pot but that is skimmed off before serving. It is not how much it cost it is how good it is. It was poor. I love to take out their marinara sauce for home use on my pasta. Best to not order anything that takes skill there. Sabrina's used to make this dish and it was good. They only do it for special occasions. I think I like Sabrinas more for every
(2)Candace M.
Service is terrible. My husband and I were seated immediately and waited over 5 minutes just to order a drink. Waited 5 more minutes to catch waiter attention to check on our drinks and I immediately place our lunch order. 10 minutes gone by & still no drinks, no water, 3 parties seated after us got their drinks before us! Waiter was nice but no attentiveness. In all 20 minutes still no drink, no waiter, manager counting money at entrance. It was not busy at all, we walked out while the waiters gather in front of bar lounging.
(2)T M.
Something is happening in HK. We have been dining here for at least 5 years and have enjoyed the consistent food and service. Tonight, I wish I had gone somewhere else. It all started when I called for reservations. The answerer asked me to spell my name (which is good), but then addressed me by only my last name. No Mr, Mrs, Ms, Dr, etc. "Ok, then reservations for 3 at 6pm. See you XXXXX." Upon arrival, again, only last name, no eye contact, hostesses were too casually dressed in a tank top and glittery party top. A guy that looked like the manager was aimlessly wandering around in his untucked polo type shirt looking stressed! The only workers in uniform were the waiters. The others looked like relatives who were called to fill in. After 15 minutes our drinks were served. Another 10 minutes: the Caesars salad was made and very tasty. Then 15 minutes later, our appetizer with no sideplates was placed on our table. I'll get ethnic here. I felt like I was eating at a chop suey house run by immigrants who think it is easy to own and run a restaurant in America. Hello? I heard this place was sold about a year ago. Interestingly it took this long to break down. The bar was so chaotic, a young kid (21 of course) was pouring drinks. The bar was so chaotic, they forgot to charge us for all the drinks! They were struggling! When I told them I ordered 3 glasses of wine, they said,"Oh" and added them to the bill. BTW, the entree was very tasty, but not as hot (temp) as it used to be. There's a good chance it was sitting on the counter with no one to serve it. Looks like we have to drive to Kahala or Ala Moana for the true Assagio experience.
(1)Diana C.
Assagio's at Hawaii Kai has really gone downhill. The wait staff are completely untrained, not knowing when or even how to bus the dishes, often reaching all the way across the middle of the table between us to remove a dish. They wanted to remove the butter dishes even before the entrees were served. We ordered seared scallops but they came deep fried. We've always considered Assagio's our most reliable neighborhood restaurant but not any more!
(2)Ronald T.
We ate here and enjoyed the service. The portions were very generous but the taste of the food was a bit uninspired for the price. Not bad, but didn't knock our socks off. I had the Chicken Marsala and the sauce was lost in the sea of pasta while the chicken was well-cooked but not seasoned enough. Wife had a side of Fettuccine Alfredo which she didn't love or hate. Atmosphere was pleasant enough.
(3)Anna p.
I love this place. There menu is so well rounded, the staff is extremely nice and the wine selection is wonderful. They have a wonderful waterfront view of the Hawaii Kai marina that at sunset is just breathtaking. The entrees all come with a choice between a small and a large plates. The small plates I can't finish and the large plates terrify me :) So if being hungry when you finished with your plate is something you don't like happening well bring your own wheelchair for here, you will need it.
(5)Arabiki D.
Assaggios...my favorite! This location has the best romantic atmosphere! (TIP for the guys out there trying to score points) Wait staff is great and the food is always on point! I usually eat the same items...either chicken Marsala or Sicilian chicken! OMG ***DROOL** Lots of parking after surrounding shops close and close proximity to "dinner and a movie" status!
(4)Rotini R.
I've eaten at the Hawaii Kai Assagios and the Ala Moana Assagios probably at least twenty times between the two over the past few years. Excellent Food. Excellent Service. Excellent Ambiance. Great Quality. Good Value. Decent wine selection. Always consistent. I can't say much else about it, you just need to go. This is the best italian restaurant in the State, for the money, hands down. Average large portion entree is about $18-$20, and its alot of food. Try their Chicken Saltimbocca, its ridiculous. Avoid Bucca or Romano's like the plague, and go here. Don't go to the new Kahala Assagios yet, though, they're still working out the kinks.
(5)David C.
Three visits over 18 months and we decided this place is not for us. We know people love and rave about the Italian food at Assagio, but each time we find the flavors to be off from good/genuine Italian cooking. Pasta sauces are too sweet, al dente pasta is a lost idea here, the salads are overdressed, the osso bucco is somehow dry, and sausages had little flavor. The two stars are for the food only. If we considered the generally poor service with attitude, we'd rate Assagio a zero.
(2)Michelle H.
I don't know what it was but, it was just okay. Maybe I was expecting more since the place was so nice and due to my high expectations, maybe that's why I'm only giving it 3 stars. If half stars were allowed, I'd give it 3 1/2 stars. Fried calamari was tasty though.
(3)David D.
To me, its like a nicer Olive Garden...in both food and ambiance. Our waiter was super nice, but Bucca is way better all around.
(3)Dan L.
This is the kind of place that is frustrating to go to. The management is so cheap and unconcerned about customer satisfaction that they throw in little charges to make extra money. Up until the bill arrived, it was probably a three star experience, but we'll get to the bill in a second. There were 14 of us that came for a birthday party, and the restaurant accomodated us well. Service was good, in spite of what other reviewers said. Food was ok, bread was bland, Ceasar salad was bland, garlic bread was similar to what might come from Costco. Everythin tasted ok, but nothing special. The menu itself is way too big, every animal and the child version of that animal is available, cooked pretty much any italian way you want it. It is overwhelming, and took most of us 20-30mins to figure out what to order. I ordered the chicken piccata, which was good but not great, chicken was slightly overdone, not enough sauce, but tasted pretty good. Other chicken and fish dishes were ordered with largely the same results, good but not great. Since it was a birthday party we brought cupcakes, and the restaurant treated desert for the birthday girl. Nice. Then the bill came. Just minor things that aggravated all. First, because we had cupcakes, each one of us was charged a 1$ cake fee. You might be asking, "What the #%$# is a cake fee? That was similar to my question. I think my exact words were "what the #%$# is a cake fee?" Well apparently it is a charge that each person at the table must pay if anyone brings in desert. Each person doesn't have to eat the desert mind you, everyone is charged no matter what. Including 2 year old children who watch Elmo for the entire meal. Another charge that I have never seen in America at a restaurant that serves fountain drinks is charging full price for every refill on soft drinks. I was unaware of this charge and had 4 diet cokes. Yeah, I know, I shouldn't drink so much diet coke, it's bad for me, take it easy Mom. They were mostly ice anyway. I got charged 11$ for diet cokes. I think my exact words were "11 #%$# dollars for diet cokes?" Of course they included the tip in the bill, so there was no way to exact revenge. But it wasn't the fault of the staff, they deserved the tip, except they probably should have failed to notice that we had cupcakes, that might have led to an even better tip. But the concensus was clear, and everyone in the restaurant knew it as we laughed out loud at the bill and the bogus charges. We will never eat at any Assaggio again. This type of customer service is not tolerated on the mainland, but is encountered too frequently here in Hawaii. If your going to be cheap and nickel&dime us on a 500$+ bill, we're not coming back.
(2)David H.
The house Caesar Salad is as good if not better than any I've had here. Good job Tip! Now all they have to do is get Jennifer from Zippy's Koko Marina to make the croutons for a perfect Caesar Salad.
(4)Romi B.
Had a lunch with my spouse here last Tuesday. The Filet mignon could have not been prepared better, best steak ever had. The price is very reasonable and the service was excellent.
(5)James L.
Made a reservation for Saturday night and the two of us were promptly led to our seat on time. The atmosphere was really nice. Dim lights and candle on the table makes gives it a nice romantic atmosphere. The food was pretty good. I ordered a steak and even the small portion filled me up well. The price is on the medium side ($15~$20 per person maybe) and is great setting for a date, especially when it becomes dark outside. It's right next to the boat docks, so if you're seated by the window it would probably be even more specular. (We weren't by the window, though.) The service was good and the people were polite. The only small gripe is that all the tables are a bit too close to each other, separated by a glass wall fixture. Making you feel like you're sitting next to a stranger. Since it is in Koko Marina shopping center, which is a popular place for family and tourists alike, there might be kids or a lot of people chattering in the restaurant, which wouldn't make it a good "quiet and romantic" restaurant.
(4)Dana S.
Heard rave reviews from family members while visiting from Colorado. The tableside prep on the Caesar was nice & kind of old school. But the salad itself was seriously overdressed. My cousin claims this is the best bread in Honolulu; if so, Honolulu suffers from a dearth of boring white bread. My chicken with linguine & veg was solidly mediocre. My husband's chicken thighs with anchovy & garlic al olio was much better. Part of this restaurant's problem is that the menu is too large. I'd rather choose from a handful of entrees using fresh, locally sourced ingredients. And lose the white bread.
(2)Grover H.
My favorite Italian restaurant in the whole world and I've had Italian food in Italy, NYC, UK, Japan, Australia and many other countries. The chicken cacciatorri is the BEST. All the Assagios restaurants use the same recipe.
(5)Rakel A.
This is the first time ever I have bought a bottle of wine and was so neglected by the wait staff that we had to pour our own wine. We did not receive a fresh bucket of ice for our wine. Instead, we got a bucket of cold water with maybe 10 ice-cubes floating in it. I ordered the lasagna. It was good. Just good. I expected more flavor. My gf ordered pittances and she too said it was just ok. I ordered a mixed green salad no dressing, no extra veggies, i just wanted a handful of greens. (makes me feel better about the calories in the lasagna lol) One would have thought I asked for a salad made of $100 bills. It seemed almost incomprehensible. First I got a plate full of romaine... luckily a second waiter was listening in and explained what I was asking for. The atmosphere is what makes this place. The crowd is somewhat mature. The table next to us made my dining experience 4 stars but... we cannot rate based on other patrons so... a solid 3 stars it is. Don't count Assagios out. overall, it's not too bad
(3)