Verbano Italiano Ristorante
1126 Koko Head Ave, Honolulu, HI, 96816
Verbano Italiano Ristorante Menu
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Address :
1126 Koko Head Ave
Honolulu, HI, 96816 - Phone (808) 735-1777
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:00 am - 2:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Romantic
Noise Level : Quiet
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
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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Fran P.
I used to love Verbano when it was on S. King Street. Not anymore. I went there with 2 friends and we all sent our food back to the kitchen. Pasta was overcooked. 2 of us had chicken dishes that were not cooked well (I should say reheated) because we think it was previously frozen chicken. The flavor was very bland overall. In the pasta, we detected the taste of coconut oil which does NOT go with Italian food! I am all for coconut oil but not with pasta. When the server asked how our food was the second time around, we said it was better. She informed me that next time I need to order my pasta al dente!! Sorry, Lady, but there will not be a next time!
(1)Xavi M.
Ordered the fresh catch of the day (Opah) lasagna Verbano, spumoni, and triple chocolate martini. Awesome and satisfying.
(5)Lauren C.
****** DISCLAIMER ****** I have been on a liquid diet for a week and I chose Verbanos to be my first meal off only liquid LOL I've been to Verbanos before and I remembered their food being good so we decided to come back. Not to mention I live only up the hill from this restaurant so it was also a very convenient choice. There is also parking in the lot behind it- also convenient and nice. I had an entertainment book coupon (one entree is free with the purchase of another entree) and I was sure to notify the waitress upon being seated. However she got us all confused with her trying to explain the rules behind the purple coupon, but the only thing I could remember from her explanation was $14. To be safe, I kept the price of my meal under $14. I ordered the penne arriabiata (sp?), no bacon and not spicy. The pasta was delicious. It was loaded with plain marinara sauce, but the sauce had a lot of onions, garlic and ham :D I was pleased with it being my first meal because spaghetti/pasta is a guilty pleasure of mine. However, what makes me give this a lower rating is when we were trying to split the check, we just wanted to put three different credit cards down and have our cards credited the amount of each of our meals. At first the waitress said okay she will do it. But then she changed her mind and said she can only split it down the middle but could not give us a reason why except "entertainment card rules." We didnt understand what the difference was between crediting each card the specific amount vs just splitting it in half since the total amount would be split anyway. And we wished that she would have told us all the guidelines of this entertainment card from the beginning. Props to the man who kept filling up our waters though. I like having my water always filled!
(3)Kanya G.
I really like this place partially because it holds sentimental memories... dates, gatherings, birthdays. The atmosphere is pleasant, dimmed, and romantic. Service is generally very good. Tried the Pollo and Melanzane di Casino for the first time upon Nat N's recommendation. So good!! Chicken, mushroom, eggplant and bacon = amazing. P9 (arrabiata) is always a regular among my boyfriend and his family. Lasagna here is pretty good, too, just smaller than I expected. Overall, nice date spot!
(4)A S.
It's been awhile since I last came to this establishment and I always enjoyed coming here. They have a candlelight atmosphere, nice to go for some place intimate, or with a group of friends. They are always accomadating. Parking can be a hassle since most lots require payment, unless you find street meter parking, which is free after 6pm. Please read street signs. I remembered their warm crispy complimentary bread and the wait help are always friendly. I've eaten at a handful of Italian restaurants and like I said I used to like coming here, but their quality of food isn't what I remembered it to be. I didn't like their fettuccine noodles because it was overcooked. I didn't know you had to order it 'aldante' in order to not have mushy noodles. The taste of the food was bland and for my small portion meal, I ordered seafood into my dish and got a shrimp and a scallop, and a few pieces of calamari. I should have not paid for those few pieces. There were other dishes that were good, their vegetarian lasagna, and veal. The prices are reasonable and they're all very nice. If I had another opportunity to dine here, i would remember my last experience at a restaurant and because it wasn't that good, this probably won't be choice to come.
(2)Jennifer M.
If you want the worst spaghetti and meatballs you've ever had, order from Here. So expensive ordered through aloha to go and so disgusting. No flavor, the meatball meat was terrible and hard chunks in it, and the sauce they barely put on was tasteless.
(1)Maya H.
This used to be a really good Italian restaurant however with places like Assagios & Win Sputino they need to step up.
(3)John R.
Mediocre at best. The good stuff. My house salad and penne with meat sauce was ready in 15 minutes. Of course that's because the salad was probably prepared the day before, and the pasta was from the finest ingredients Safeway has to offer. The food was bland, almost warm and cost us $27. Won't be back- won't be recommended.
(2)Bruno S.
The staff was very friendly. Service was A+. The restaurant is small, but nice and more for couples than families (however there were two families there). Felt like we were in a library it was only 6pm. There were other guests there. Parking was metered and in back. Food on the other hand, not the best Italian food. The portions are Very small. Not too pricey for Hawaii. Let me get the bad out of the way. I ordered chicken Marsala and after biting a few times into gristle or what felt like rubber chicken I became nauseated to the point I could not eat anymore and just wanted to leave. My kids meatballs and wife's eggplant were all undercooked. The bread was fresh and hot. The water was always filled. The fried mozzerela we ordered was good but only enough for one to two people; so if you come with a family order enough for all. Same with their $10 salads. Main courses do not include salads, so we bought a salad to share but it was individual sized salad. Didn't bother me too much because it's probably the right portion size I just thought it should be about half the cost. I've been spoiled w Italian food in my life, and the food here is not good Italian. It is hard to be harsh here because the service was so great for us. If I returned here I would order a pasta plate, but I don't see myself ever coming back :(
(2)Emily O.
I usually order the Bucatini Chicken Salad which is a just the right size portion. Flavor is good however could chop the romaine lettuce a little smaller as opposed to the dinosaur size pieces. Stopped by just the other day and tried the Gratin Rigatoni Fromage Combination and the pasta came out watery. Reading through other reviews I don't agree that you should have to request "al dente" pasta at an Italian restaurant. Place could use some improvements and listen to suggestions from these yelp reviews.
(2)Elliot L.
Very sad to see how far this restaurant has sunk. It used to be a great Italian place in Kaimuki. Now seems like they're just going through the paces until they shut the doors for good. Ordered veal marsala. Veal looked pale and like it was previously frozen. My fiance ordered linguini with meatball and sausage. Both meats were bought, not made in the kitchen. But sadly, that wasn't the worst part of the experience. There was a giant roach cruising at the table next to us. There was a bright spot. The staff was very friendly, except for the hostess, I think she was the owner. Too bad to see they've gotten so bad.
(1)Charles W.
Service was fast and attentive -- high marks. Food was pretty bad in every way. What a bad surprise.
(1)William H.
If you like microwaved food it ok! If your not into fresh food it's ok! Have never had a microwaved New York Cake before outside is warm inside still is defrosting. This is not an Italian Restaurant by any means nothing is fresh .....
(1)Sally C.
I have thought about eating at this place for months and while reading yelp reviews about this restaurant [at this location] provided an idea on what to [possibly] expect, I figured the only way I would truly know was to try it out myself. As with many things, everyone's experience will vary- this was mine. My friend and I arrived half an hour early before opening to find parking. There are various areas to park. Metered parking is available on both sides of the street on Koko Head Avenue between Waialae Avenue and Harding Avenue. Parking is also available along Waialae Avenue. Some are metered and some are not. Parking however is free after 6:00 p.m. (Note: You may want to check the parking signage in some of the areas just to be sure).There is a metered parking lot in the back of Verbano which has a two hour parking limit. There is another parking lot across the street on 12th Avenue but it also requires payment. Anywho, we decided to have dinner on Saturday at 5:00 p.m. which is the time Verbano opens. My friend and I were the first guests to arrive. Over time, more guests began to trickle in. We were promptly greeted and seated by Tiffany, our waitress/server for the evening. Both Tiffany and the staff were extremely friendly and accommodating throughout our stay. Service was prompt with each item we ordered. There are white table cloths, silverware, an Anthurium flower and candle light on each table. It indeed has a cozy and "romantic candlelit" feel to it. Verbano offers Appetizers, Soup, Salads, Vegetables, Pasta, Verbano Ultimate Di Bistecca, Vegetarian Pasta, Gratin Pasta, House Specialities, Seafood and Delectable Desserts. Complementary bread and butter are also provided. The bread crust was crispy and once you pealed a slice off, the inside of the bread itself was warm. For appetizers, we ordered escargot and fried mozzarella. Appetizers range in price from $7.90 to $10.90. For the main course, my friend had (HSP8) Ossobuco Gremolada which was $21.90 and I ordered the "Lunch" portion of (P10) Polio and Melanzane Di Casino which was $12.90. The "Dinner" portion of the Polio and Melanzane Di Casino is $15.90. Some items have two listed prices which [if I heard correctly] represents "Lunch" and "Dinner" portions or small and large portion sizes while others simply come in one size and therefore only have one listed price. Depending on what you order, prices range from $10.90 to $21.90. The pasta was not overly salty nor was it under-seasoned. It was just right. The garnishes and chicken were well seasoned and complemented the subtlety of the garlic and cheese in the pasta. The veal in the Ossobuco Gremolada was very tender. It was a hearty dish. For desert, my friend ordered Lychee Sorbet and I had Mud Pie. The Lychee Sorbet was refreshing and light. Although on the heavier side, compared to the Lychee Sorbet, the Mud Pie will satisfy those who have a sweet tooth. Desserts range in price between $4 to $6. I did not feel heavy nor did I have a "kanak attack" after eating all that food which was a nice surprise. The prices are reasonable and don't "break the bank" for those looking for a nice dining experience. I would definitely come back on a later occasion.
(4)Diane L.
It wasn't busy when I came to eat the chicken parmesan. It was dark inside and the food took a little long, but I enjoyed my meal.
(3)K.J. N.
Verbano is comfort for me. I can't explain it. I just really feel comfortable there, and the food is not fussy nor fusion. Perhaps, it is because it is right here in Kaimuki, and home is just a stone's throw away. Last night, after a simply horrible day at work, beginning with a car accident (I was Driver #2!), we went to Verbano on Koko Head for an early dinner at 1745 hrs. I started with a glass of pinot noir as usual and had the clam florentina for a change instead of the cold antipasto. Wow! Had I known that the clam florentina with fresh spinach, bacon, and wine was so delectable, I would have ordered it as an entree! Friendly Patricia says that you can, and they will add pasta! The sauce is creamy but not thick and heavy. Take a Lactaid, and do not waste one drop of the clam florentina sauce. Use that bread to clean that plate...ah, I have no shame... Proceeded on to order the full size of the Pollo and Melanzane di Casino and a shrimp dish--the name escapes me but I remember 'funghi"--with linguine. The shrimp was fresh and not overcooked. The pasta is always prepared the only way pasta should be prepared--al dente. I stopped myself from eating the entire portion, but I could have easily finished it. Devin was our doting server. I left the restaurant with such a happy stomach and mood, ready for the 4th of July weekend. Shouldn't every Friday night dinner leave you like this? You can bring your own wine, and Verbano will charge a $10 corkage fee. This is certainly worth it for two people or more. :) My only recommendation? While the restaurant is clean and pretty, the women's bathroom needs freshened decor. Hide those Clorox and cleaner bottles under the sink, as well as the vacuum and what not. Add a coat of fresh paint and hang some cool black and white photo. In San Francisco, all restaurant bathrooms have personality, adding a finishing touch. And yes, I would add jazz music...Oscar Peterson in the background would definitely add that artsy vibe that people come to Kaimuki for. Verbano on Koko Head is one of my favorite places after a harried day.
(4)Ches M.
Verbano on King Street used to be our favorite place to go with the family. When it closed, we started going to the Kaimuki location. Although we didn't like the ambience as much as the other, we were able to get our old favorite dishes. The last time we went here we were very disappointed. The arrabbiata sauce was not spicy at all and the chicken aglio olio seemed undercooked and bland. Lights too bright! Not the same!
(2)John F.
Like Assaggio's, not an authentic Italian restaurant, but a favorite of mine. When I want a good veal marsala or piccata, or similar veal or chicken saltimbocca, I am more than satisfied with the food. The veal and chicken is tender, the pasta with mushrooms side is very tasty, the ossobuco is also very good, and desserts are par for this restaurant. Ambience is cozy and quiet. Pricey, but reasonable considering how comparatively expensive Assaggio's is.
(4)Kristy P.
I really didn't like the restaurant because it was so tiny. It was a romantic atmosphere however it had a funky smell. It just seemed like it was dirty and not cleaned in months. My hubby and I enjoyed their lasagna but I think they used canned sauce on it. The bread was good and the waiter was nice.
(2)Trisha G.
I go here often for family get togethers in Oahu. They like this place, mostly because there's a good amount of tables available for larger gatherings and the price is reasonable. At this location, parking can get tight. There's a metered lot in the back, but it gets extremely packed. The Italian food is standard with nothing standing out in my mind. But I've ever had anything bad here. My niece is a big fan of the escargot.
(3)Greg P.
Wife and I have been a fan of this restaurant for years, yes we went there regularly when they were on Waialae. Although we prefer the feel at the other location, we definitely enjoy the romantic atmosphere the new location provides. The food is and always has been amazing. We have tried a variety of items, had custom items prepared, and always enjoyed the rich and savory flavors they send our way! Their deserts are, in a word - wonderful! We regularly remind ourselves we can come here after a night out for desert alone. Plus there is a very good selection of deserts! When you are looking for deserts to please everyone in a group they are bound to have something for all! BTW - the tiramisu is consistently excellent in our book!
(5)Charlene S.
Sadly, their food quality is mediocre. For their small portion Seafood Pasta, which was still quite pricey, it had very little seafood. Try 1 single shrimp, slivers of calamari, a few unshelled pieces of clams and mussels! Incredibly disappointed. Worst meal in a long time! Considering the great cafés in town, Verbano needs to update their food quality and style by aiming to satisfy a loyal customer base with great food and service versus making profits by cheating their customers with poor quality foods and high prices, this is what it seemed to be. Sorry, I am happy to say I will not be returning there anytime soon!
(1)Ding D.
Eat the osso bucco. So good! Fantastic date spot!
(4)Nat N.
I love Verbano - they have one pasta dish that I cannot find anywhere else - the pollo and melanzane di casino. Now I know "pollo" means chicken and "melanzane" means eggplant. I have yet to figure out what "di casino" means, but just trust me when I say that you will need to try this dish! It has everything yummy in it - chicken, eggplant, mushrooms, linguine, and most importantly - BACON!! I tried to make this dish at home once and it was a major FAIL, perhaps because I didn't have any bacon. As you all know, bacon makes everything taste better! I love their bread and butter too. The loaves seem to have shrunk in size over the years, but at least they give you a free re-fill. I always wonder how they stay in business because most times I come here, it's pretty empty. Actually, that's one of the nice things about this place (you can walk in without a reservation and get seated right away), but I just hope that they can stay in business.
(5)Erik B.
Ate here recently at the Koko Head location. I thought it was great and am a little baffled by some of the poor reviews I saw here. Wait staff was very young, but fast, efficient, attentive and professional in their behavior (despite looking about 14 years old). The bread was fresh and great, the salad was crisp, fresh and delightful and well presented. I had pasta and it was al dente and the sauce was fine. White cloth table clothes and tasteful decor added to the experience. If you're in Honolulu, try this out, you'll be favorably impressed.
(4)Aline T.
I came here three times, with friends, with family and with my gf. Seeing as how I came three times this place must be pretty good - and it is. It's not wow but you'll feel pretty satisfied after your meal. Best Tiramisu I've had so far. The lighting is low and the decor is simple, romantic. It's located in a sort of mall strip that is home to Cafe Laufer, Big City Diner, Maguro Ya and Happy Days. It's after Tamura's, 7-11 and Kaimuki Park and before Toys n Joys and Coffee Talk. Palazzo in Aiea gives Andes mint chocolate for FREE after your meal though!
(3)Erich K.
ID Card 15% discount! Parked in the metered lot behind the restaurant ($0.25 for 20 min). Got here around 5:30pm and were the only customers! Service was great: fast and attentive (water refilled 4 times throughout dinner!). Ordered the Chicken Saltimbocca and was not disappointed. First thing that came was the bread with half a block of butter! The amount of butter given on the side was ridiculous. I could have taken the extra home and baked another loaf of bread with it. The bread was warm and tasted as if it just came out of the oven. The server offered another loaf so we gladly accepted! The small portion was enough food for me. The eggplant on the chicken was very tasty and the pasta that came with it was very buttery. For dessert, I would not recommend getting the Tropical Cannoli. This was the worst tasting cannoli I have eaten! The cookie shell was thin and tasteless. The cheese filling was not sweet and was crumbly! If I had no shame, I would have returned it and asked for a refund.
(4)Teresa L.
*Bread & butter is so good! Nice and warm, crunchy! - this is complementary. One per entree ordered *Their house salad's home made dressing (creamy + vinaigrette) is very delicious. It's a must try. *Their menu is large. Lots of selection for different tastes like chicken, steak, shrimp, scallops, or just plain pasta. What's great about this place is that you can customize a lot of the dishes. You can add, or take out anything on the entrees. All entrees come with pasta unless specified it comes with potatoes. However, if you don't want any starches you can substitute for sauteed vegetables in garlic). Dinner comes with two sizes, a regular or small portion (which is equivalent to their lunch portion). I suggest getting a dinner portion and taking the rest home for left overs or lunch the next day. They also have really delicious dessert. I suggest Lilikoi Ice Cream Pie. It's good and unusual. It's not something you can find any where else. Served with a chocolate fudge drizzle. The place is a great little restaurant in Kaimuki. It's not too busy here so you don't have to worry about feeling crowded. It's a dim lighted atmosphere so it's a great place to take a date.
(5)Kaitlyn F.
I love Verbano! Prior to my most recent visit, I had only been there for lunch...so you could say I was pleasantly surprised when I walked in to a completely transformed restaurant. The ambiance was amazing! There were white table clothes, candles, and everything! Even if I was with my parents it was still a magical experience, heh. Anyway, I got the Squid Ink Ravioli filled Lobster, It was pretty good. My first time ever trying squid ink anything...yeah it didn't taste any different than regular ravioli, but it was a cool quirk. The lobster was very tasty, but in my opinion, there was way too much sauce so it kind of masked the flavor. My mom got the Arrabbiata, which was AMAZING. Super flavorful and wonderful. One of the highlights of dinner was the complimentary bread. I consider myself a complimentary bread critic and this one was definitely first rate. It was warm (+1), crunchy on the outside (+1), soft and fluffy on the inside (+1), delicious (+1), and the butter was spreadable (+1) not super hard! We had leftovers so we ended up taking it home and they gave us a full loaf of bread to go! WONDERFUL customer service. I will definitely be back.
(4)Ben S.
When I walked in for lunch and there was no one there should've been my first clue... However I naively was hoping that this meant that they would be more attentive to my order. I was pleasantly greeted by possibly the owner, not sure, but she was nice. The place is VERY dark inside since they have no lights on inside, which would've been ok had they opened the blinds more... The menu is quite expansive and possibly has too much on it. I settled on the Chicken Parmesan, which I will return to. First brought out was the bread, which was ok, however the butter still had a piece of wrapping on it, which I might have noticed had it not been so dark but I ended up having to spit it out. So the chicken Parmesan wasn't completely breaded, though it did taste alright. The pasta did not have a lot of pasta sauce and the pasta itself tasted undercooked. So the icing on the cake of the most ridiculousness of it all came when I got the bill. So at the onset of my meal I ordered a diet coke, to which they brought out a small 8oz glass. Halfway through my meal I had to ask for a refill of it... Now when I got my bill, I realized that they charged me $2 for each small glass of soda... $4 bucks for those small drinks?!?! Are you kidding me?!?! There wasn't even booze in them! Overall: the food was overpriced, the drinks were super overpriced, the food was average... I do not suggest this place... And I usually only write good reviews, especially since I am usually very easy to please!!!
(2)Asako O.
The other night my husband and I went to have dinner at Verbano Italiano Ristorante on Koko Head Avenue for the first time. With limited street parking in the area, we managed to find free parking further up the street near the fire station at the end of Koko Head Avenue. We were greeted by the staff at Verbano's and was seated to a cozy table in the back of the restaurant. It is a small restaurant which is dimly lit and provides a romantic atmosphere. I was quite surprised with the wide range of menu options available. It was a difficult decision since there was so many choices to choose from. In the end I ordered the seafood ravioli with pesto sauce for $17. My husband ordered the calamari parmigiana for $16. Our waiter immediately served us complimentary hot french bread which was soft and light in texture that it melted in my mouth. The softened butter on the bread made it taste heavenly. It was so good that we ended up with another loaf to enjoy eating with our meal. My pasta dish arrived with about 7 - 8 large ravioli on my plate. The pesto sauce tasted nice and was perfectly paired with my pasta. The only problem I had with the ravioli was that I could not taste any seafood. It seemed like it was filled with melted cheese and spinach. Also it was not plump, but flat as a pancake. It would have been nice to have more filling so that I could enjoy the taste of seafood in this dish. My husband's dish was absolutely wonderful. A tender soft calamari steak was placed over a bed of cooked linguine and served with a lightly tossed mild marinara sauce. For dessert, we ordered the chestnut cake for $3 and a scoop of spumoni for $4. Whipped cream is served with a warm slice of their home made chestnut cake which is lightly spiced and sweetened. Very nice cake best eaten with a hot cup of coffee. My creamy gelato was slightly over sweetened from the candied fruits but it did provide a nice way to end our meal.
(4)Adrianne K.
Wow, what has happened? What a disaster. First of all, we walk in, there's a juvenile acting as the hostess, dressed like she just came from middle school. I cheerfully greet her with, "Happy Holidays!" She just looks at me, very uncomfortable like, and says, "He he, yeah." Okaaaay. Off to a great start! Happy happy joy joy! Then we get seated. Our waiter and wait help were fabulous. Right away the wait help greeted us and served us water, then our waiter came by to say hello and that he'll be right with us. Service was excellent! The bread is our favorite! Our meals, bleh -- no, negative bleh. He ordered linguine marinara, which was far from al dente. Really?! They couldn't even get the pasta right. As for my dish, scallops piccata (some fancy name I don't remember) was so bland and mushy. The pasta was so well done, it was just mush in my mouth. No flavor whatsoever. How in the world when you have such fine ingredients such as wine, lemon, garlic and capers? Oh, my. Had to jet to church, so I asked for our check. Fine. The waiter says it'll be right out. Waiting, waiting, waiting.....waiting....waiting..... Ah forget it! I'll just go to the register and pay. Again, the juvenile youth was supposed to have prepared my bill. Oh, so Mom steps in and takes care of it. The waiter was very apologetic. I appreciate that he cared. Some don't. For mediocre Italian, try this place!! You'd be wow'd at how average and bland Italian can be! For my son and I, it was very disappointing. I was so looking forward to our meal here. We probably won't be back. We will, however, head over to the Italian establishment on corner of Waialae and St. Louis Heights Drive! *wink* We miss Jeff from the Verbano King Street location when my son and I would hang out with the regulars and all have dinner together. I hope Jeff and his family are doing well. Happy Holidays Yelp!ees!
(2)J L.
Interesting. Came here on a Tuesday night. Not very crowded at all. There were only like 5 tables? There was seriously only ONE lady on the floor. An asian woman? She sat everyone, and she also took your order and drinks and then also brought it to you. I also noticed she was the one clearing and bussing the tables. I wouldn't have been surprised if she cooked the food too! One woman show! She seemed friendly though. The food is OKAY. It didn't wow me or anything. Lilikoi cake was good though. Ambiance was interesting. It's like they're trying to make it seem like a fancy restaurant...when it's not lol. I'd give this place another go but only if I'm in a pinch.
(3)Cassie P.
A vey pleasant surprise! My bf and I decided last minute to drop off the baby and have a date night. This was the perfect choice! Dim lighting, white linen table cloths, a glass of delicious chianti and a basket of warm bread with soft butter, we looked through the huge menu.... We ended up sharing a hot antipasto, which was very good, and then had the veal saltimbocca and chicken cacciatore. Everything was wonderful. The service was stellar. This is my new date night spot, for sure. Thanks, Verbano!
(5)Ryan T.
I've been here more than a few times. It probably has to do more with the atmosphere than the food, however there are some dishes that stand out. On this particular occasion I ordered to go, got the Meat Lasagna and Pollo Verdue Linguine. Lasagna was very good, however I was hoping for a larger portion. The Pollo Verdue Linguine had lots of good vegetables and portion was a good size. I did feel like the red sauce was missing something though on the Pollo Verdue, maybe garlic, salt, more tomatoes or some combination thereof. What I like: Atmosphere: its more relaxing and good for a date or to wind down a rough day. The lights are dimmer, the tables are spaced out, unlike so many other restaurants in Honolulu where the lights are bright and the tables are practically on top of one another to save space. Staff: always friendly. Parking: street parking, and a large lot behind the building so not too much of an issue unlike many other places.
(4)Ed L.
Hadn't noticed this Verbano setting up shop in Kaimuki until I went on an errand to the US Post Office and it was next door. I normally fo to the Post office in Kahala anyway. Since I love italian food as much as the next person, I decided to try this place out. This review is overdue, but I need to write this. Went here for a quick dinner and I learned it was quite pricey. The food was excellent of course and the ambiance was average. This is not really fine dinning, but they try to make it upscale. Epic fail really. The wait staff is nice, I'll say that much, but it does lack that certain sophistication that goes well with upscale dining. Hope they know what that is, since I surely do. Parking is limited to street parking, but there is a big lot in back of the restaurant. It's metered, so don't party to long or you gotta go feed the meter more than once in a night. I think I like Assagio's better. Verbanos accepts credit cards, so that's always a plus. The ambiance was definitely romantic, when you dim the lights down really low. I guess you get old when you complain how dark it is. lol Still, it was an experience though. Support local! B-
(3)Denise V.
The only reason I gave 2 stars was for service, don't let the decor fool you, the foods terrible here, and they should lose their zagot rating because its so bad. As for the seafood, forget it, it may make you sick, as it's freezer burnt and out of date.
(2)Fred W.
Had dinner there the other night. Was really disappointed, especially since everytime before I was really satisfied. First, the bread sucked in comparison to the way they used to serve it (before it was regular fresh bread, now its some baked thing. BTW, I did like the butter they served with it). I had the escargots as an app. Extremely disappointed with this tasteless thing. I had the chicken saltimbocca as an entree. The dish was actually prepared well, but the sauce was tasteless. I have only ordered this dish here in the past because it always tasted so good. But not this last time. I thought that it may be there wasn't enough sauce so I asked for more. They were nice enough to give us more, but it was still tasteless. I'm not sure if a new owner took over or just an off night for the chef. However, I got there at 6:30 pm and we were the only ones there. This was my first time at the Kokohead location. I've been satisfied in the past at the King St and Waialae locations. On a good note, service was very excellent.
(2)matthew g.
Literally the worst anything I have ever had, call me spoiled because I have been to Rome and Naples, I was so hungry so I got a large 20 plate, it looked alright so I dug in and tasted nothing, I pasta with chicken and mushrooms and tasted nothing. I took my second bite just because I was hungry and I was done, the bread had more taste than everything else so I pretty much paid 20 bucks for a dinner roll. I am a fat boy at heart and I scrape plates all the time and this was the first time I wasted a meal. I got my meal to go and phone ordered so I am not rating the service, which I imagine must be amazing because food cannot be keeping this place in business. I might give them another try, every one deserves a second shot I guess.
(1)Kaiulani K.
Asians do everything better... including Italian food! At least in Hawaii. Sometimes on Oahu, it's hard to find good/authentic foods other than Asian cuisine. Thankfully, Verbano fills that void for delicious Italian food. This location is smaller than the one on King St. and I believe the portions are smaller here as well, but everything is still tasty. The calamari doesn't taste like the usual Italian style, but I liked it. If you're gluten intolerant, diabetic or just watching your carbs: rejoice! They will substitute veggies for pasta in your dishes. Anyway, if you're looking to try Verbano, I definitely suggest it. Perhaps check out the one on King St. instead?
(3)Puddytat C.
Valentine's day. The service on a busy night is far below par. We kept having to ask repeatedly for our drinks, bread, etc. On top of that, the Clams Alle Vongole came out with no sauce (garlic, wine, butter sauce). I think they totally forgot to include it. Had to ask for additional sauce since it was so dry and tasteless. I know they were busy but that's no reason to lower your quality standards. We also had the chicken Saltimbocca which was good. We've been thoroughly enjoying the food here for years at the old location. We hadn't been back since it moved several years ago but decided to give it a go. Sorry to say, they just can't handle a busy day. The waiting staff were too young and inexperienced, kept forgetting everything or delivering to the wrong tables. The food is usually very good so I'm hoping it was just too busy for them to handle. I have a feeling ownership changed since it moved locations since the old location had no problems during a busy night. Is that so?
(2)Keoni N.
i gotta admit i was pretty impressed, i didnt expect much, the food was good, the bread really suprised me! i was stoked on that. The service was very helpful, i would go again. the portions werent the biggest tho. but over all it was a good experience. thiumbs up yo!
(4)kari g.
I really enjoyed this restaurant! I ate the eggplant Parmesan and then had their lilikoi ice cream pie for dessert. I would go back JUST for the pie, it was so tasty! I went with a group of folks who ordered a few different things and everyone seemed happy with their choices. Smallish-establishment with dim lighting and metered parking in a large lot behind it.
(4)Flynn M.
Gluten Free Friendly. No, not gluten free pasta. But they substitute veggies for the pasta. Several gluten free appetizers. The waitress was knowledgable about gluten free. The veggies paired excellently with the sauce; I had a clam marinara. I met my friends here on one of their recommendations. He's a pescatarian and this is his favorite italian place. And one of his favorite places overall. The atmosphere is very romantic italian. It was candle light level without having candles out. I felt transported from the islands all the way to Italy or at least America's Italy. Verbano definitely sets an intimate mood. They will be a top contender when I want to romance the wife. Three of them split a ravioli appetizer. It was fried and the marinara looked tasty. I was tempted to get a carpaccio appetizer for myself but he said the meal would be filling. So I held off and my dinner was filling. Maybe next time, thinly sliced raw beef. I had a clam marinara with veggies instead of pasta. The veggies were sautéed and cut into thin strips. It was easy to scoop clam, veggie, and marinara with each mouth watering bite. The clam pieces were a bit small but that made it easier to eat with the veggies. The marinara was tangy with plenty of garlic flavor. I recall the menu said the clam dish had a spicy marinara, but it was not spicy at all. I like spicy but not all spicy marinaras are good. I was happy that the marinara was bold and flavorful. We opted for dessert. I had an ice cream that was way too sweet. I only ate half of it. My friends had new york cheese cake and lillikoi pie. They loved them. Apparently the lillikoi pie is a real treat. Very unique to Verbano. I split a bottle of italian wine with one friend. Neither of us had heard of this grape before. It was very good, very dark; a strong red. It was $25. They have two price portions. The waitress said the small was about 3 ounces and the large about 5 ounces. Small is about $13 and large about $18.
(5)Nathan N.
Nothing special. The air conditioning wasn't working the night I was there. That was quite annoying.
(3)Kassia A.
The BEST Italian restaurant I have been to in a very long time. All of the food that my two friends and I got was amazing! The tortellini, lasagne, and eggplant. The desserts are all wonderful too. Only thing I could complain about is the fact that they need a hostess and more help. Even that would not deter me from coming back. Awesome food!
(5)Catherine L.
Just returned from dinner from this location on Koko Head. I had the special -- swordfish with a picante sauce -- with roasted vegetables. The vegetables were delicious, but the fish was a bit underwhelming. I think it was slightly overcooked and the sauce was not very flavorful. My parents both had pasta dishes, which also did not seem to be particularly amazing. As some other reviewers have stated, the menu is rather large and can be pretty overwhelming. Even the waiter suggested to my mother, who was having difficulty choosing, that some people sometimes just close their eyes and point to pick a dish. Overall, the prices are reasonable and the food was decent. I would return if I was in the area and craving Italian food, but I don't think I would choose it otherwise.
(3)Jenn T.
I went here to check out a local Italian place, rather than the go to the same ol' franchise ones. I walked in and immediately noticed that the restaurant was very small, quaint and fairly empty for a saturday night. We were seated immediately and once i opened the menu, I noticed that it was FILLED with different things. I was pretty overwhelmed by the amount of items on the menu, I was debating back and forth between pasta or chicken or seafood or veggies...It all came down to a last minute decision as the waiter asked me what I wanted (after taking everyone else's order first lol). I went with this linguine primavera, which came with veggies and chicken. We also ordered the carpaccio as an appetizer. The carpaccio was alright, it was simply rare beef, pounded thinly on top romaine lettuce. There was an interesting balsamic vinegar sauce with pepper on the side, which was very strong. Nothing special in my opinion. The linguine primavera was very interesting. It came out looking like stir fry noodles from a chinese restaurant (I was fairly confused as to what I had just ordered), but it was because there was a ton of veggies and chicken piled on top of very little linguine. The sauce was simple tomato sauce, which not much flavor. I was fairly disappointed at how little pasta there was, especially since i thought it was going to be a pasta dish. There was a good amount of chicken and veggies (mushrooms, bell peppers, carrots and TONS OF ONIONS). The toppings almost overpowered the pasta dish and I felt like I was eating chicken with veggies stir fry instead of a nice italian pasta dish. Definitely not what I wanted. The restaurant was fairly nice though. They had a nice ambiance, decorations and music. The staff was very nice and attentive, with great service. Our waiter was always checking up on us, refilling our water and giving us lots of bread. He also was able to customize my dad's dish to what he wanted with no problem at all. Overall, a mediocre restaurant with great service.
(2)Kyle M.
Everything about this place screams intimate-date restaurant. Lights down low, prices up high, food too rich for its own good. I think I gained 3 pounds in butter.
(3)Marilyn M.
My husband and I ate here tonight. Devin was our server, and he was excellent -- a good listener and very attentive to our needs. The food, as always, was delicious. Verbanos Kaimuki is one of the few restaurants we frequent where the food has maintained its high quality.
(5)Mari S.
I am saddened by the low star rating currently given to Verbano (but hopefully my rating will help raise it up!). My boyfriend & I dined at Verbano's during the holidays. It was my first time dining in their new Kaimuki location on Koko Head Avenue (they used to be on Waialae Ave). It was nicely decorated and welcoming. We ordered a bottle of Zinfandel to share, which was an excellent pick. We also shared the cheese & salami plate, which was delicious! I ordered a chicken alfredo pasta. Everything tasted wonderful. Our server was friendly and efficient, and made sure we were well taken care of. We had a pleasant experience at Verbano's and will likely visit again in the near future.
(4)Melissa L.
I love this place for Italian! This location is the best! My husband and I have been going to this little restaurant every year for either our birthday dinners or anniversary. I love it's cozy quaint atmosphere, the food and wine. :) The staff are always friendly, accommodating and willing to customize dishes if you ask. Although the parking is limited, we always make the drive from Kapolei to eat here. In my opinion, so much better than Assagios! :)
(4)Fedora A.
Verbano is terrible, aside from friendly waiters whose scant appearance makes you feel either like ordering then immediately paying for your bill out of fear of being forgotten, or throwing a pokeball at them mistaking them for a rare find. From order to food presentation, it took about an hour. And even when the food did come, the actual presentation wasn't impressive at all. I ordered the lasagna, which sloppily sat upon a chicken breast that was stringy and dry. The marinara sauce was watery and dropped off the sturdy layers of pasta. The cheese must have yelped this place, because it was nowhere to be found. And a friend's dish came without half of the entree. And when I say half the entree, I mean it came with pasta and they forgot the chicken that supposedly comes with it. Verbano must have done something right though, because there was a nice looking insect (have no idea what it was) crawling around on the table. He must have read the good yelps.
(1)Jerry S.
I have been eating at Verbano of Kaimuki since it first opened at The Atrium Shopping Center. This Asian owned Italian restaurant might not be as glamorous as other Asian owned Italians like Bernini or Taormina, but it has one of my all time favorite dish Pollo Puttanesca. well marinated chicken ,nicely baked potato and garlic along with right amount of anchovies and parmesan cheese made this dish irresistible. This cozy rest is perfect for informal meeting or casual friend gathering,
(4)LooLicious L.
Pretty good for a quick decent bite to eat. Service is always good & they have the best bread ever. It's one of those Hawaii specialty Italian restaurants where they are owned & operated by asian people. But it's pretty good.
(3)Marcia J.
Went there for dinners tonight. Thought I had heard good things about this place. Only two people in the restaurant at 6pm, should have been a clue. We ordered fettuccini Alfredo with chicken - very laden with cream sauce and chicken was dark meat. Also ordered fettuccini carbonara, which had same heavy cream sauce. What came to mind is this looks and tastes like something one would get at Denny's. The food came to the table looking terribly unhealthy. Tasted the same way. Sorry, we won't be going back. Oh, we even mentioned kindly to our server that we were not happy with our meal, and she politely ignored us and came back with our bill. Not good service.
(1)Meep M.
The food was good, but not exceptional. It's a place i'd go if I wanted to eat for the sake of eating and not for yummy quality food. The service is timely, courteous, and the atmosphere is very relaxing. All in all, an A-OK eatery.
(3)Darrell S.
The name might give one an impression of real Italiano, but unfortunately not the case with my taste buds. My family likes this place so it's not just on one occassion that I have sampled their version of Italian cuisine but nothing close to traveling through even the humblest eateries in Italy. The French bread is wonderful, nice clean atmosphere, service attendants are well dressed but how about putting more effort into the food. Given their pricing structure and the relative cost of ingredients they certainly could add some fresh herbs which would help. As is, I would say the food is okay, mediocre at best. Sorry I am just accustom to much better at this price point.
(2)Lian E.
I've been trying to check this place out for a while, and when I finally did, I was disappointed. Service was great (attentive and courteous without being overbearing or pushy), as was the ambiance and wine. It would be a great date spot, if only the food had been decent. I ordered two dishes, and was disappointed by both. The cheese and salami was bland and tasteless. The pasta carbonara was overcooked, limp and soupy. The only plus was that they offer a smaller and larger portion of many of their entrees.
(2)Kai C.
My favorite Italian Restaurant. Have to go to the Kaimuki location. Great carpachio and fettuccine alfredo. Cost is average, location is small and parking is meter stalls in the rear.
(4)Goro S.
the chicken marsala is always a winner...and their catch of the day often includes ulua, which is onolicious...
(4)Dustin N.
Went here for dinner with me lady and it was a good experience, not spectacular but worth another visit. Food was good not great, definitely recommend the chicken saltimbocca! Overall nice atmosphere, service was eh...it could be better! Will go back for another try though!
(3)Angel L.
Our first time here we thought it was pretty decent but the clams was pretty disappointed! But, the food is very different from what I used to eat from Arancino:) need to try someplace new!
(4)Jin W.
Ugh, seafood combo lacked seafood in general, super small scallops... Only went here bc 12 th ave. Grill was packed. Service was kind and attentive, food ok...Paesano has much better seafood pasta for same price...with so many quality restaurants in this area, walk a few minutes to somewhere else....we had a party of seven, all dishes were bland, escargot very small as well, served in "dented" metal dish, not traditional ceramic one...pretty much ghetto...
(1)Colin F.
GO to the King street one its way better.
(2)Irene C.
Again, went with a group of maybe eight. Not very catering. Ordered a cream-based entree. It was super, super rich. The sauce started separating mid-meal! That was indeed unappetizing. We were placed in a corner table and easily forgotten. Have not returned.
(2)Daisy S.
It was pretty good food although the white sauce is way too oily for me. But, sometimes, I got to find a coupon for the place so it's all worthed!
(2)Moani A.
Oh my beloved Verbano, how I miss you. This is the first place my boyfriend and I went on a REAL date, and I just fell in love with it. It's an intimate little, dimly-lit place in the heart of Kaimuki. The servers are always professional, knowledgeable, and personable. The place is always packed with local families, friends, and couples. And it's super affordable. Be sure to make reservations though because this location is small. The menu is diverse with Italian offerings for every taste. I always order the seafood spinach salad: served in a tostada (weird, I know) with spinach covered in calamari, scallops, and prawns stir-fried with bacon, red pepper, and provolone. At the bottom of the salad is a lovely surprise of...pretzels! But sometimes they're a little stale, so be weary. We've never been disappointed with anything we've ordered. Just with the management. They're just a little, hmmm, forceful sometimes. And the wine list is a little lacking, but you can certainly bring your own along.
(4)Ai M.
This restaurant on Waialae is my favorite Italian restaurant. Whenever I have my family visiting from outer islands I will take them there. Restaurant recently moved, it is now located next to the Kaimuki (?) Post Office. New location is pretty much the same size as their old location. We parked our car in the parking metered lot. Food is always excellent and service is great every time we visit there.
(5)A B.
If you want tasty Italian food in a clean setting for a decent price than you will be pleased with Verbano Italiano Ristorante on KOKO HEAD AVE in Kaimuki. Capitalized the location because someone in the restaurant said that they need to update their new address on their website but we haven't actually checked that out. Parking in the back is metered but cheap. Only a buck for over an hour. Otherwise street parking if you are lucky. The lighting is romantically dim which helps everyone look younger but is not so easy for reading the menu. No worries they will bring you a light or candle. The staff was quiet and attentive. Even helped me learn to fold my napkin the clever way they had it. Hot Bread basket was filled as soon as we gobbled it up. The music is definitely classics only but goes with the whole Italian mood there. The chef was invisible but really knows how to cook because everyone was pleased with their meal. We have gone back there again this month and the picky eater European guests we were with went back twice more so they must be doing things right. Table cloths, clean, romantic music, good food and reasonable prices... so why not?
(5)Jacob S.
I like this place. It's not super fancy, but they have good food. Try the chicken marsala, it's awesome.
(4)Sherry N.
I've been going to Verbano for several years now, most recently last night during an island-wide blackout. The service here has consistently been courteous and prompt (and the same held true last night, especially in light of the circumstances), and it is a cozy, candle-lit space that is both casual and comfortable. I have fond memories of the food, particularly the Pollo Puttanesca. I don't know if I had built up too high of an expectation of the place, but I had only mixed impressions about the food last night. The honeydew in the prosciutto and melon was a bit underripe. The hot carpaccio was a bit misleading, as it was not really carpaccio, but rather cooked beef that has been marinated. The cold carpaccio, however, was excellent, and served with a tangy dipping sauce. Two of my dining companions were very impressed with their entrees ... the Chicken Saltimbocca and a Mahi dish that was the special of the day. I tried the Seafood Combo with Spaghetti in a Marinara sauce. The sauce was o.k., but I was disappointed in the seafood, which consisted mainly of calamari strips, with the exception of one piece of shrimp and a small piece of scallop. As I mentioned above, our meals were prepared, served, and consumed during an island-wide blackout, so under other circumstances the food might be significantly better.
(3)Jennifer M.
If you want the worst spaghetti and meatballs you've ever had, order from Here. So expensive ordered through aloha to go and so disgusting. No flavor, the meatball meat was terrible and hard chunks in it, and the sauce they barely put on was tasteless.
(1)Maya H.
This used to be a really good Italian restaurant however with places like Assagios & Win Sputino they need to step up.
(3)John R.
Mediocre at best. The good stuff. My house salad and penne with meat sauce was ready in 15 minutes. Of course that's because the salad was probably prepared the day before, and the pasta was from the finest ingredients Safeway has to offer. The food was bland, almost warm and cost us $27. Won't be back- won't be recommended.
(2)Diane L.
It wasn't busy when I came to eat the chicken parmesan. It was dark inside and the food took a little long, but I enjoyed my meal.
(3)John F.
Like Assaggio's, not an authentic Italian restaurant, but a favorite of mine. When I want a good veal marsala or piccata, or similar veal or chicken saltimbocca, I am more than satisfied with the food. The veal and chicken is tender, the pasta with mushrooms side is very tasty, the ossobuco is also very good, and desserts are par for this restaurant. Ambience is cozy and quiet. Pricey, but reasonable considering how comparatively expensive Assaggio's is.
(4)Sally C.
I have thought about eating at this place for months and while reading yelp reviews about this restaurant [at this location] provided an idea on what to [possibly] expect, I figured the only way I would truly know was to try it out myself. As with many things, everyone's experience will vary- this was mine. My friend and I arrived half an hour early before opening to find parking. There are various areas to park. Metered parking is available on both sides of the street on Koko Head Avenue between Waialae Avenue and Harding Avenue. Parking is also available along Waialae Avenue. Some are metered and some are not. Parking however is free after 6:00 p.m. (Note: You may want to check the parking signage in some of the areas just to be sure).There is a metered parking lot in the back of Verbano which has a two hour parking limit. There is another parking lot across the street on 12th Avenue but it also requires payment. Anywho, we decided to have dinner on Saturday at 5:00 p.m. which is the time Verbano opens. My friend and I were the first guests to arrive. Over time, more guests began to trickle in. We were promptly greeted and seated by Tiffany, our waitress/server for the evening. Both Tiffany and the staff were extremely friendly and accommodating throughout our stay. Service was prompt with each item we ordered. There are white table cloths, silverware, an Anthurium flower and candle light on each table. It indeed has a cozy and "romantic candlelit" feel to it. Verbano offers Appetizers, Soup, Salads, Vegetables, Pasta, Verbano Ultimate Di Bistecca, Vegetarian Pasta, Gratin Pasta, House Specialities, Seafood and Delectable Desserts. Complementary bread and butter are also provided. The bread crust was crispy and once you pealed a slice off, the inside of the bread itself was warm. For appetizers, we ordered escargot and fried mozzarella. Appetizers range in price from $7.90 to $10.90. For the main course, my friend had (HSP8) Ossobuco Gremolada which was $21.90 and I ordered the "Lunch" portion of (P10) Polio and Melanzane Di Casino which was $12.90. The "Dinner" portion of the Polio and Melanzane Di Casino is $15.90. Some items have two listed prices which [if I heard correctly] represents "Lunch" and "Dinner" portions or small and large portion sizes while others simply come in one size and therefore only have one listed price. Depending on what you order, prices range from $10.90 to $21.90. The pasta was not overly salty nor was it under-seasoned. It was just right. The garnishes and chicken were well seasoned and complemented the subtlety of the garlic and cheese in the pasta. The veal in the Ossobuco Gremolada was very tender. It was a hearty dish. For desert, my friend ordered Lychee Sorbet and I had Mud Pie. The Lychee Sorbet was refreshing and light. Although on the heavier side, compared to the Lychee Sorbet, the Mud Pie will satisfy those who have a sweet tooth. Desserts range in price between $4 to $6. I did not feel heavy nor did I have a "kanak attack" after eating all that food which was a nice surprise. The prices are reasonable and don't "break the bank" for those looking for a nice dining experience. I would definitely come back on a later occasion.
(4)K.J. N.
Verbano is comfort for me. I can't explain it. I just really feel comfortable there, and the food is not fussy nor fusion. Perhaps, it is because it is right here in Kaimuki, and home is just a stone's throw away. Last night, after a simply horrible day at work, beginning with a car accident (I was Driver #2!), we went to Verbano on Koko Head for an early dinner at 1745 hrs. I started with a glass of pinot noir as usual and had the clam florentina for a change instead of the cold antipasto. Wow! Had I known that the clam florentina with fresh spinach, bacon, and wine was so delectable, I would have ordered it as an entree! Friendly Patricia says that you can, and they will add pasta! The sauce is creamy but not thick and heavy. Take a Lactaid, and do not waste one drop of the clam florentina sauce. Use that bread to clean that plate...ah, I have no shame... Proceeded on to order the full size of the Pollo and Melanzane di Casino and a shrimp dish--the name escapes me but I remember 'funghi"--with linguine. The shrimp was fresh and not overcooked. The pasta is always prepared the only way pasta should be prepared--al dente. I stopped myself from eating the entire portion, but I could have easily finished it. Devin was our doting server. I left the restaurant with such a happy stomach and mood, ready for the 4th of July weekend. Shouldn't every Friday night dinner leave you like this? You can bring your own wine, and Verbano will charge a $10 corkage fee. This is certainly worth it for two people or more. :) My only recommendation? While the restaurant is clean and pretty, the women's bathroom needs freshened decor. Hide those Clorox and cleaner bottles under the sink, as well as the vacuum and what not. Add a coat of fresh paint and hang some cool black and white photo. In San Francisco, all restaurant bathrooms have personality, adding a finishing touch. And yes, I would add jazz music...Oscar Peterson in the background would definitely add that artsy vibe that people come to Kaimuki for. Verbano on Koko Head is one of my favorite places after a harried day.
(4)Ches M.
Verbano on King Street used to be our favorite place to go with the family. When it closed, we started going to the Kaimuki location. Although we didn't like the ambience as much as the other, we were able to get our old favorite dishes. The last time we went here we were very disappointed. The arrabbiata sauce was not spicy at all and the chicken aglio olio seemed undercooked and bland. Lights too bright! Not the same!
(2)Aline T.
I came here three times, with friends, with family and with my gf. Seeing as how I came three times this place must be pretty good - and it is. It's not wow but you'll feel pretty satisfied after your meal. Best Tiramisu I've had so far. The lighting is low and the decor is simple, romantic. It's located in a sort of mall strip that is home to Cafe Laufer, Big City Diner, Maguro Ya and Happy Days. It's after Tamura's, 7-11 and Kaimuki Park and before Toys n Joys and Coffee Talk. Palazzo in Aiea gives Andes mint chocolate for FREE after your meal though!
(3)Lauren C.
****** DISCLAIMER ****** I have been on a liquid diet for a week and I chose Verbanos to be my first meal off only liquid LOL I've been to Verbanos before and I remembered their food being good so we decided to come back. Not to mention I live only up the hill from this restaurant so it was also a very convenient choice. There is also parking in the lot behind it- also convenient and nice. I had an entertainment book coupon (one entree is free with the purchase of another entree) and I was sure to notify the waitress upon being seated. However she got us all confused with her trying to explain the rules behind the purple coupon, but the only thing I could remember from her explanation was $14. To be safe, I kept the price of my meal under $14. I ordered the penne arriabiata (sp?), no bacon and not spicy. The pasta was delicious. It was loaded with plain marinara sauce, but the sauce had a lot of onions, garlic and ham :D I was pleased with it being my first meal because spaghetti/pasta is a guilty pleasure of mine. However, what makes me give this a lower rating is when we were trying to split the check, we just wanted to put three different credit cards down and have our cards credited the amount of each of our meals. At first the waitress said okay she will do it. But then she changed her mind and said she can only split it down the middle but could not give us a reason why except "entertainment card rules." We didnt understand what the difference was between crediting each card the specific amount vs just splitting it in half since the total amount would be split anyway. And we wished that she would have told us all the guidelines of this entertainment card from the beginning. Props to the man who kept filling up our waters though. I like having my water always filled!
(3)Kanya G.
I really like this place partially because it holds sentimental memories... dates, gatherings, birthdays. The atmosphere is pleasant, dimmed, and romantic. Service is generally very good. Tried the Pollo and Melanzane di Casino for the first time upon Nat N's recommendation. So good!! Chicken, mushroom, eggplant and bacon = amazing. P9 (arrabiata) is always a regular among my boyfriend and his family. Lasagna here is pretty good, too, just smaller than I expected. Overall, nice date spot!
(4)Kristy P.
I really didn't like the restaurant because it was so tiny. It was a romantic atmosphere however it had a funky smell. It just seemed like it was dirty and not cleaned in months. My hubby and I enjoyed their lasagna but I think they used canned sauce on it. The bread was good and the waiter was nice.
(2)William H.
If you like microwaved food it ok! If your not into fresh food it's ok! Have never had a microwaved New York Cake before outside is warm inside still is defrosting. This is not an Italian Restaurant by any means nothing is fresh .....
(1)Trisha G.
I go here often for family get togethers in Oahu. They like this place, mostly because there's a good amount of tables available for larger gatherings and the price is reasonable. At this location, parking can get tight. There's a metered lot in the back, but it gets extremely packed. The Italian food is standard with nothing standing out in my mind. But I've ever had anything bad here. My niece is a big fan of the escargot.
(3)Greg P.
Wife and I have been a fan of this restaurant for years, yes we went there regularly when they were on Waialae. Although we prefer the feel at the other location, we definitely enjoy the romantic atmosphere the new location provides. The food is and always has been amazing. We have tried a variety of items, had custom items prepared, and always enjoyed the rich and savory flavors they send our way! Their deserts are, in a word - wonderful! We regularly remind ourselves we can come here after a night out for desert alone. Plus there is a very good selection of deserts! When you are looking for deserts to please everyone in a group they are bound to have something for all! BTW - the tiramisu is consistently excellent in our book!
(5)Charlene S.
Sadly, their food quality is mediocre. For their small portion Seafood Pasta, which was still quite pricey, it had very little seafood. Try 1 single shrimp, slivers of calamari, a few unshelled pieces of clams and mussels! Incredibly disappointed. Worst meal in a long time! Considering the great cafés in town, Verbano needs to update their food quality and style by aiming to satisfy a loyal customer base with great food and service versus making profits by cheating their customers with poor quality foods and high prices, this is what it seemed to be. Sorry, I am happy to say I will not be returning there anytime soon!
(1)Ding D.
Eat the osso bucco. So good! Fantastic date spot!
(4)Nat N.
I love Verbano - they have one pasta dish that I cannot find anywhere else - the pollo and melanzane di casino. Now I know "pollo" means chicken and "melanzane" means eggplant. I have yet to figure out what "di casino" means, but just trust me when I say that you will need to try this dish! It has everything yummy in it - chicken, eggplant, mushrooms, linguine, and most importantly - BACON!! I tried to make this dish at home once and it was a major FAIL, perhaps because I didn't have any bacon. As you all know, bacon makes everything taste better! I love their bread and butter too. The loaves seem to have shrunk in size over the years, but at least they give you a free re-fill. I always wonder how they stay in business because most times I come here, it's pretty empty. Actually, that's one of the nice things about this place (you can walk in without a reservation and get seated right away), but I just hope that they can stay in business.
(5)Erik B.
Ate here recently at the Koko Head location. I thought it was great and am a little baffled by some of the poor reviews I saw here. Wait staff was very young, but fast, efficient, attentive and professional in their behavior (despite looking about 14 years old). The bread was fresh and great, the salad was crisp, fresh and delightful and well presented. I had pasta and it was al dente and the sauce was fine. White cloth table clothes and tasteful decor added to the experience. If you're in Honolulu, try this out, you'll be favorably impressed.
(4)Ben S.
When I walked in for lunch and there was no one there should've been my first clue... However I naively was hoping that this meant that they would be more attentive to my order. I was pleasantly greeted by possibly the owner, not sure, but she was nice. The place is VERY dark inside since they have no lights on inside, which would've been ok had they opened the blinds more... The menu is quite expansive and possibly has too much on it. I settled on the Chicken Parmesan, which I will return to. First brought out was the bread, which was ok, however the butter still had a piece of wrapping on it, which I might have noticed had it not been so dark but I ended up having to spit it out. So the chicken Parmesan wasn't completely breaded, though it did taste alright. The pasta did not have a lot of pasta sauce and the pasta itself tasted undercooked. So the icing on the cake of the most ridiculousness of it all came when I got the bill. So at the onset of my meal I ordered a diet coke, to which they brought out a small 8oz glass. Halfway through my meal I had to ask for a refill of it... Now when I got my bill, I realized that they charged me $2 for each small glass of soda... $4 bucks for those small drinks?!?! Are you kidding me?!?! There wasn't even booze in them! Overall: the food was overpriced, the drinks were super overpriced, the food was average... I do not suggest this place... And I usually only write good reviews, especially since I am usually very easy to please!!!
(2)Asako O.
The other night my husband and I went to have dinner at Verbano Italiano Ristorante on Koko Head Avenue for the first time. With limited street parking in the area, we managed to find free parking further up the street near the fire station at the end of Koko Head Avenue. We were greeted by the staff at Verbano's and was seated to a cozy table in the back of the restaurant. It is a small restaurant which is dimly lit and provides a romantic atmosphere. I was quite surprised with the wide range of menu options available. It was a difficult decision since there was so many choices to choose from. In the end I ordered the seafood ravioli with pesto sauce for $17. My husband ordered the calamari parmigiana for $16. Our waiter immediately served us complimentary hot french bread which was soft and light in texture that it melted in my mouth. The softened butter on the bread made it taste heavenly. It was so good that we ended up with another loaf to enjoy eating with our meal. My pasta dish arrived with about 7 - 8 large ravioli on my plate. The pesto sauce tasted nice and was perfectly paired with my pasta. The only problem I had with the ravioli was that I could not taste any seafood. It seemed like it was filled with melted cheese and spinach. Also it was not plump, but flat as a pancake. It would have been nice to have more filling so that I could enjoy the taste of seafood in this dish. My husband's dish was absolutely wonderful. A tender soft calamari steak was placed over a bed of cooked linguine and served with a lightly tossed mild marinara sauce. For dessert, we ordered the chestnut cake for $3 and a scoop of spumoni for $4. Whipped cream is served with a warm slice of their home made chestnut cake which is lightly spiced and sweetened. Very nice cake best eaten with a hot cup of coffee. My creamy gelato was slightly over sweetened from the candied fruits but it did provide a nice way to end our meal.
(4)Adrianne K.
Wow, what has happened? What a disaster. First of all, we walk in, there's a juvenile acting as the hostess, dressed like she just came from middle school. I cheerfully greet her with, "Happy Holidays!" She just looks at me, very uncomfortable like, and says, "He he, yeah." Okaaaay. Off to a great start! Happy happy joy joy! Then we get seated. Our waiter and wait help were fabulous. Right away the wait help greeted us and served us water, then our waiter came by to say hello and that he'll be right with us. Service was excellent! The bread is our favorite! Our meals, bleh -- no, negative bleh. He ordered linguine marinara, which was far from al dente. Really?! They couldn't even get the pasta right. As for my dish, scallops piccata (some fancy name I don't remember) was so bland and mushy. The pasta was so well done, it was just mush in my mouth. No flavor whatsoever. How in the world when you have such fine ingredients such as wine, lemon, garlic and capers? Oh, my. Had to jet to church, so I asked for our check. Fine. The waiter says it'll be right out. Waiting, waiting, waiting.....waiting....waiting..... Ah forget it! I'll just go to the register and pay. Again, the juvenile youth was supposed to have prepared my bill. Oh, so Mom steps in and takes care of it. The waiter was very apologetic. I appreciate that he cared. Some don't. For mediocre Italian, try this place!! You'd be wow'd at how average and bland Italian can be! For my son and I, it was very disappointing. I was so looking forward to our meal here. We probably won't be back. We will, however, head over to the Italian establishment on corner of Waialae and St. Louis Heights Drive! *wink* We miss Jeff from the Verbano King Street location when my son and I would hang out with the regulars and all have dinner together. I hope Jeff and his family are doing well. Happy Holidays Yelp!ees!
(2)J L.
Interesting. Came here on a Tuesday night. Not very crowded at all. There were only like 5 tables? There was seriously only ONE lady on the floor. An asian woman? She sat everyone, and she also took your order and drinks and then also brought it to you. I also noticed she was the one clearing and bussing the tables. I wouldn't have been surprised if she cooked the food too! One woman show! She seemed friendly though. The food is OKAY. It didn't wow me or anything. Lilikoi cake was good though. Ambiance was interesting. It's like they're trying to make it seem like a fancy restaurant...when it's not lol. I'd give this place another go but only if I'm in a pinch.
(3)Cassie P.
A vey pleasant surprise! My bf and I decided last minute to drop off the baby and have a date night. This was the perfect choice! Dim lighting, white linen table cloths, a glass of delicious chianti and a basket of warm bread with soft butter, we looked through the huge menu.... We ended up sharing a hot antipasto, which was very good, and then had the veal saltimbocca and chicken cacciatore. Everything was wonderful. The service was stellar. This is my new date night spot, for sure. Thanks, Verbano!
(5)Bruno S.
The staff was very friendly. Service was A+. The restaurant is small, but nice and more for couples than families (however there were two families there). Felt like we were in a library it was only 6pm. There were other guests there. Parking was metered and in back. Food on the other hand, not the best Italian food. The portions are Very small. Not too pricey for Hawaii. Let me get the bad out of the way. I ordered chicken Marsala and after biting a few times into gristle or what felt like rubber chicken I became nauseated to the point I could not eat anymore and just wanted to leave. My kids meatballs and wife's eggplant were all undercooked. The bread was fresh and hot. The water was always filled. The fried mozzerela we ordered was good but only enough for one to two people; so if you come with a family order enough for all. Same with their $10 salads. Main courses do not include salads, so we bought a salad to share but it was individual sized salad. Didn't bother me too much because it's probably the right portion size I just thought it should be about half the cost. I've been spoiled w Italian food in my life, and the food here is not good Italian. It is hard to be harsh here because the service was so great for us. If I returned here I would order a pasta plate, but I don't see myself ever coming back :(
(2)Fran P.
I used to love Verbano when it was on S. King Street. Not anymore. I went there with 2 friends and we all sent our food back to the kitchen. Pasta was overcooked. 2 of us had chicken dishes that were not cooked well (I should say reheated) because we think it was previously frozen chicken. The flavor was very bland overall. In the pasta, we detected the taste of coconut oil which does NOT go with Italian food! I am all for coconut oil but not with pasta. When the server asked how our food was the second time around, we said it was better. She informed me that next time I need to order my pasta al dente!! Sorry, Lady, but there will not be a next time!
(1)Emily O.
I usually order the Bucatini Chicken Salad which is a just the right size portion. Flavor is good however could chop the romaine lettuce a little smaller as opposed to the dinosaur size pieces. Stopped by just the other day and tried the Gratin Rigatoni Fromage Combination and the pasta came out watery. Reading through other reviews I don't agree that you should have to request "al dente" pasta at an Italian restaurant. Place could use some improvements and listen to suggestions from these yelp reviews.
(2)Elliot L.
Very sad to see how far this restaurant has sunk. It used to be a great Italian place in Kaimuki. Now seems like they're just going through the paces until they shut the doors for good. Ordered veal marsala. Veal looked pale and like it was previously frozen. My fiance ordered linguini with meatball and sausage. Both meats were bought, not made in the kitchen. But sadly, that wasn't the worst part of the experience. There was a giant roach cruising at the table next to us. There was a bright spot. The staff was very friendly, except for the hostess, I think she was the owner. Too bad to see they've gotten so bad.
(1)Charles W.
Service was fast and attentive -- high marks. Food was pretty bad in every way. What a bad surprise.
(1)Erich K.
ID Card 15% discount! Parked in the metered lot behind the restaurant ($0.25 for 20 min). Got here around 5:30pm and were the only customers! Service was great: fast and attentive (water refilled 4 times throughout dinner!). Ordered the Chicken Saltimbocca and was not disappointed. First thing that came was the bread with half a block of butter! The amount of butter given on the side was ridiculous. I could have taken the extra home and baked another loaf of bread with it. The bread was warm and tasted as if it just came out of the oven. The server offered another loaf so we gladly accepted! The small portion was enough food for me. The eggplant on the chicken was very tasty and the pasta that came with it was very buttery. For dessert, I would not recommend getting the Tropical Cannoli. This was the worst tasting cannoli I have eaten! The cookie shell was thin and tasteless. The cheese filling was not sweet and was crumbly! If I had no shame, I would have returned it and asked for a refund.
(4)Xavi M.
Ordered the fresh catch of the day (Opah) lasagna Verbano, spumoni, and triple chocolate martini. Awesome and satisfying.
(5)A S.
It's been awhile since I last came to this establishment and I always enjoyed coming here. They have a candlelight atmosphere, nice to go for some place intimate, or with a group of friends. They are always accomadating. Parking can be a hassle since most lots require payment, unless you find street meter parking, which is free after 6pm. Please read street signs. I remembered their warm crispy complimentary bread and the wait help are always friendly. I've eaten at a handful of Italian restaurants and like I said I used to like coming here, but their quality of food isn't what I remembered it to be. I didn't like their fettuccine noodles because it was overcooked. I didn't know you had to order it 'aldante' in order to not have mushy noodles. The taste of the food was bland and for my small portion meal, I ordered seafood into my dish and got a shrimp and a scallop, and a few pieces of calamari. I should have not paid for those few pieces. There were other dishes that were good, their vegetarian lasagna, and veal. The prices are reasonable and they're all very nice. If I had another opportunity to dine here, i would remember my last experience at a restaurant and because it wasn't that good, this probably won't be choice to come.
(2)Teresa L.
*Bread & butter is so good! Nice and warm, crunchy! - this is complementary. One per entree ordered *Their house salad's home made dressing (creamy + vinaigrette) is very delicious. It's a must try. *Their menu is large. Lots of selection for different tastes like chicken, steak, shrimp, scallops, or just plain pasta. What's great about this place is that you can customize a lot of the dishes. You can add, or take out anything on the entrees. All entrees come with pasta unless specified it comes with potatoes. However, if you don't want any starches you can substitute for sauteed vegetables in garlic). Dinner comes with two sizes, a regular or small portion (which is equivalent to their lunch portion). I suggest getting a dinner portion and taking the rest home for left overs or lunch the next day. They also have really delicious dessert. I suggest Lilikoi Ice Cream Pie. It's good and unusual. It's not something you can find any where else. Served with a chocolate fudge drizzle. The place is a great little restaurant in Kaimuki. It's not too busy here so you don't have to worry about feeling crowded. It's a dim lighted atmosphere so it's a great place to take a date.
(5)Kaitlyn F.
I love Verbano! Prior to my most recent visit, I had only been there for lunch...so you could say I was pleasantly surprised when I walked in to a completely transformed restaurant. The ambiance was amazing! There were white table clothes, candles, and everything! Even if I was with my parents it was still a magical experience, heh. Anyway, I got the Squid Ink Ravioli filled Lobster, It was pretty good. My first time ever trying squid ink anything...yeah it didn't taste any different than regular ravioli, but it was a cool quirk. The lobster was very tasty, but in my opinion, there was way too much sauce so it kind of masked the flavor. My mom got the Arrabbiata, which was AMAZING. Super flavorful and wonderful. One of the highlights of dinner was the complimentary bread. I consider myself a complimentary bread critic and this one was definitely first rate. It was warm (+1), crunchy on the outside (+1), soft and fluffy on the inside (+1), delicious (+1), and the butter was spreadable (+1) not super hard! We had leftovers so we ended up taking it home and they gave us a full loaf of bread to go! WONDERFUL customer service. I will definitely be back.
(4)Ryan T.
I've been here more than a few times. It probably has to do more with the atmosphere than the food, however there are some dishes that stand out. On this particular occasion I ordered to go, got the Meat Lasagna and Pollo Verdue Linguine. Lasagna was very good, however I was hoping for a larger portion. The Pollo Verdue Linguine had lots of good vegetables and portion was a good size. I did feel like the red sauce was missing something though on the Pollo Verdue, maybe garlic, salt, more tomatoes or some combination thereof. What I like: Atmosphere: its more relaxing and good for a date or to wind down a rough day. The lights are dimmer, the tables are spaced out, unlike so many other restaurants in Honolulu where the lights are bright and the tables are practically on top of one another to save space. Staff: always friendly. Parking: street parking, and a large lot behind the building so not too much of an issue unlike many other places.
(4)Ed L.
Hadn't noticed this Verbano setting up shop in Kaimuki until I went on an errand to the US Post Office and it was next door. I normally fo to the Post office in Kahala anyway. Since I love italian food as much as the next person, I decided to try this place out. This review is overdue, but I need to write this. Went here for a quick dinner and I learned it was quite pricey. The food was excellent of course and the ambiance was average. This is not really fine dinning, but they try to make it upscale. Epic fail really. The wait staff is nice, I'll say that much, but it does lack that certain sophistication that goes well with upscale dining. Hope they know what that is, since I surely do. Parking is limited to street parking, but there is a big lot in back of the restaurant. It's metered, so don't party to long or you gotta go feed the meter more than once in a night. I think I like Assagio's better. Verbanos accepts credit cards, so that's always a plus. The ambiance was definitely romantic, when you dim the lights down really low. I guess you get old when you complain how dark it is. lol Still, it was an experience though. Support local! B-
(3)Denise V.
The only reason I gave 2 stars was for service, don't let the decor fool you, the foods terrible here, and they should lose their zagot rating because its so bad. As for the seafood, forget it, it may make you sick, as it's freezer burnt and out of date.
(2)Fred W.
Had dinner there the other night. Was really disappointed, especially since everytime before I was really satisfied. First, the bread sucked in comparison to the way they used to serve it (before it was regular fresh bread, now its some baked thing. BTW, I did like the butter they served with it). I had the escargots as an app. Extremely disappointed with this tasteless thing. I had the chicken saltimbocca as an entree. The dish was actually prepared well, but the sauce was tasteless. I have only ordered this dish here in the past because it always tasted so good. But not this last time. I thought that it may be there wasn't enough sauce so I asked for more. They were nice enough to give us more, but it was still tasteless. I'm not sure if a new owner took over or just an off night for the chef. However, I got there at 6:30 pm and we were the only ones there. This was my first time at the Kokohead location. I've been satisfied in the past at the King St and Waialae locations. On a good note, service was very excellent.
(2)matthew g.
Literally the worst anything I have ever had, call me spoiled because I have been to Rome and Naples, I was so hungry so I got a large 20 plate, it looked alright so I dug in and tasted nothing, I pasta with chicken and mushrooms and tasted nothing. I took my second bite just because I was hungry and I was done, the bread had more taste than everything else so I pretty much paid 20 bucks for a dinner roll. I am a fat boy at heart and I scrape plates all the time and this was the first time I wasted a meal. I got my meal to go and phone ordered so I am not rating the service, which I imagine must be amazing because food cannot be keeping this place in business. I might give them another try, every one deserves a second shot I guess.
(1)Kaiulani K.
Asians do everything better... including Italian food! At least in Hawaii. Sometimes on Oahu, it's hard to find good/authentic foods other than Asian cuisine. Thankfully, Verbano fills that void for delicious Italian food. This location is smaller than the one on King St. and I believe the portions are smaller here as well, but everything is still tasty. The calamari doesn't taste like the usual Italian style, but I liked it. If you're gluten intolerant, diabetic or just watching your carbs: rejoice! They will substitute veggies for pasta in your dishes. Anyway, if you're looking to try Verbano, I definitely suggest it. Perhaps check out the one on King St. instead?
(3)Puddytat C.
Valentine's day. The service on a busy night is far below par. We kept having to ask repeatedly for our drinks, bread, etc. On top of that, the Clams Alle Vongole came out with no sauce (garlic, wine, butter sauce). I think they totally forgot to include it. Had to ask for additional sauce since it was so dry and tasteless. I know they were busy but that's no reason to lower your quality standards. We also had the chicken Saltimbocca which was good. We've been thoroughly enjoying the food here for years at the old location. We hadn't been back since it moved several years ago but decided to give it a go. Sorry to say, they just can't handle a busy day. The waiting staff were too young and inexperienced, kept forgetting everything or delivering to the wrong tables. The food is usually very good so I'm hoping it was just too busy for them to handle. I have a feeling ownership changed since it moved locations since the old location had no problems during a busy night. Is that so?
(2)Keoni N.
i gotta admit i was pretty impressed, i didnt expect much, the food was good, the bread really suprised me! i was stoked on that. The service was very helpful, i would go again. the portions werent the biggest tho. but over all it was a good experience. thiumbs up yo!
(4)kari g.
I really enjoyed this restaurant! I ate the eggplant Parmesan and then had their lilikoi ice cream pie for dessert. I would go back JUST for the pie, it was so tasty! I went with a group of folks who ordered a few different things and everyone seemed happy with their choices. Smallish-establishment with dim lighting and metered parking in a large lot behind it.
(4)Flynn M.
Gluten Free Friendly. No, not gluten free pasta. But they substitute veggies for the pasta. Several gluten free appetizers. The waitress was knowledgable about gluten free. The veggies paired excellently with the sauce; I had a clam marinara. I met my friends here on one of their recommendations. He's a pescatarian and this is his favorite italian place. And one of his favorite places overall. The atmosphere is very romantic italian. It was candle light level without having candles out. I felt transported from the islands all the way to Italy or at least America's Italy. Verbano definitely sets an intimate mood. They will be a top contender when I want to romance the wife. Three of them split a ravioli appetizer. It was fried and the marinara looked tasty. I was tempted to get a carpaccio appetizer for myself but he said the meal would be filling. So I held off and my dinner was filling. Maybe next time, thinly sliced raw beef. I had a clam marinara with veggies instead of pasta. The veggies were sautéed and cut into thin strips. It was easy to scoop clam, veggie, and marinara with each mouth watering bite. The clam pieces were a bit small but that made it easier to eat with the veggies. The marinara was tangy with plenty of garlic flavor. I recall the menu said the clam dish had a spicy marinara, but it was not spicy at all. I like spicy but not all spicy marinaras are good. I was happy that the marinara was bold and flavorful. We opted for dessert. I had an ice cream that was way too sweet. I only ate half of it. My friends had new york cheese cake and lillikoi pie. They loved them. Apparently the lillikoi pie is a real treat. Very unique to Verbano. I split a bottle of italian wine with one friend. Neither of us had heard of this grape before. It was very good, very dark; a strong red. It was $25. They have two price portions. The waitress said the small was about 3 ounces and the large about 5 ounces. Small is about $13 and large about $18.
(5)Nathan N.
Nothing special. The air conditioning wasn't working the night I was there. That was quite annoying.
(3)Kassia A.
The BEST Italian restaurant I have been to in a very long time. All of the food that my two friends and I got was amazing! The tortellini, lasagne, and eggplant. The desserts are all wonderful too. Only thing I could complain about is the fact that they need a hostess and more help. Even that would not deter me from coming back. Awesome food!
(5)Catherine L.
Just returned from dinner from this location on Koko Head. I had the special -- swordfish with a picante sauce -- with roasted vegetables. The vegetables were delicious, but the fish was a bit underwhelming. I think it was slightly overcooked and the sauce was not very flavorful. My parents both had pasta dishes, which also did not seem to be particularly amazing. As some other reviewers have stated, the menu is rather large and can be pretty overwhelming. Even the waiter suggested to my mother, who was having difficulty choosing, that some people sometimes just close their eyes and point to pick a dish. Overall, the prices are reasonable and the food was decent. I would return if I was in the area and craving Italian food, but I don't think I would choose it otherwise.
(3)Jenn T.
I went here to check out a local Italian place, rather than the go to the same ol' franchise ones. I walked in and immediately noticed that the restaurant was very small, quaint and fairly empty for a saturday night. We were seated immediately and once i opened the menu, I noticed that it was FILLED with different things. I was pretty overwhelmed by the amount of items on the menu, I was debating back and forth between pasta or chicken or seafood or veggies...It all came down to a last minute decision as the waiter asked me what I wanted (after taking everyone else's order first lol). I went with this linguine primavera, which came with veggies and chicken. We also ordered the carpaccio as an appetizer. The carpaccio was alright, it was simply rare beef, pounded thinly on top romaine lettuce. There was an interesting balsamic vinegar sauce with pepper on the side, which was very strong. Nothing special in my opinion. The linguine primavera was very interesting. It came out looking like stir fry noodles from a chinese restaurant (I was fairly confused as to what I had just ordered), but it was because there was a ton of veggies and chicken piled on top of very little linguine. The sauce was simple tomato sauce, which not much flavor. I was fairly disappointed at how little pasta there was, especially since i thought it was going to be a pasta dish. There was a good amount of chicken and veggies (mushrooms, bell peppers, carrots and TONS OF ONIONS). The toppings almost overpowered the pasta dish and I felt like I was eating chicken with veggies stir fry instead of a nice italian pasta dish. Definitely not what I wanted. The restaurant was fairly nice though. They had a nice ambiance, decorations and music. The staff was very nice and attentive, with great service. Our waiter was always checking up on us, refilling our water and giving us lots of bread. He also was able to customize my dad's dish to what he wanted with no problem at all. Overall, a mediocre restaurant with great service.
(2)Kyle M.
Everything about this place screams intimate-date restaurant. Lights down low, prices up high, food too rich for its own good. I think I gained 3 pounds in butter.
(3)Marilyn M.
My husband and I ate here tonight. Devin was our server, and he was excellent -- a good listener and very attentive to our needs. The food, as always, was delicious. Verbanos Kaimuki is one of the few restaurants we frequent where the food has maintained its high quality.
(5)Mari S.
I am saddened by the low star rating currently given to Verbano (but hopefully my rating will help raise it up!). My boyfriend & I dined at Verbano's during the holidays. It was my first time dining in their new Kaimuki location on Koko Head Avenue (they used to be on Waialae Ave). It was nicely decorated and welcoming. We ordered a bottle of Zinfandel to share, which was an excellent pick. We also shared the cheese & salami plate, which was delicious! I ordered a chicken alfredo pasta. Everything tasted wonderful. Our server was friendly and efficient, and made sure we were well taken care of. We had a pleasant experience at Verbano's and will likely visit again in the near future.
(4)Sherry N.
I've been going to Verbano for several years now, most recently last night during an island-wide blackout. The service here has consistently been courteous and prompt (and the same held true last night, especially in light of the circumstances), and it is a cozy, candle-lit space that is both casual and comfortable. I have fond memories of the food, particularly the Pollo Puttanesca. I don't know if I had built up too high of an expectation of the place, but I had only mixed impressions about the food last night. The honeydew in the prosciutto and melon was a bit underripe. The hot carpaccio was a bit misleading, as it was not really carpaccio, but rather cooked beef that has been marinated. The cold carpaccio, however, was excellent, and served with a tangy dipping sauce. Two of my dining companions were very impressed with their entrees ... the Chicken Saltimbocca and a Mahi dish that was the special of the day. I tried the Seafood Combo with Spaghetti in a Marinara sauce. The sauce was o.k., but I was disappointed in the seafood, which consisted mainly of calamari strips, with the exception of one piece of shrimp and a small piece of scallop. As I mentioned above, our meals were prepared, served, and consumed during an island-wide blackout, so under other circumstances the food might be significantly better.
(3)Melissa L.
I love this place for Italian! This location is the best! My husband and I have been going to this little restaurant every year for either our birthday dinners or anniversary. I love it's cozy quaint atmosphere, the food and wine. :) The staff are always friendly, accommodating and willing to customize dishes if you ask. Although the parking is limited, we always make the drive from Kapolei to eat here. In my opinion, so much better than Assagios! :)
(4)Fedora A.
Verbano is terrible, aside from friendly waiters whose scant appearance makes you feel either like ordering then immediately paying for your bill out of fear of being forgotten, or throwing a pokeball at them mistaking them for a rare find. From order to food presentation, it took about an hour. And even when the food did come, the actual presentation wasn't impressive at all. I ordered the lasagna, which sloppily sat upon a chicken breast that was stringy and dry. The marinara sauce was watery and dropped off the sturdy layers of pasta. The cheese must have yelped this place, because it was nowhere to be found. And a friend's dish came without half of the entree. And when I say half the entree, I mean it came with pasta and they forgot the chicken that supposedly comes with it. Verbano must have done something right though, because there was a nice looking insect (have no idea what it was) crawling around on the table. He must have read the good yelps.
(1)Jerry S.
I have been eating at Verbano of Kaimuki since it first opened at The Atrium Shopping Center. This Asian owned Italian restaurant might not be as glamorous as other Asian owned Italians like Bernini or Taormina, but it has one of my all time favorite dish Pollo Puttanesca. well marinated chicken ,nicely baked potato and garlic along with right amount of anchovies and parmesan cheese made this dish irresistible. This cozy rest is perfect for informal meeting or casual friend gathering,
(4)LooLicious L.
Pretty good for a quick decent bite to eat. Service is always good & they have the best bread ever. It's one of those Hawaii specialty Italian restaurants where they are owned & operated by asian people. But it's pretty good.
(3)Marcia J.
Went there for dinners tonight. Thought I had heard good things about this place. Only two people in the restaurant at 6pm, should have been a clue. We ordered fettuccini Alfredo with chicken - very laden with cream sauce and chicken was dark meat. Also ordered fettuccini carbonara, which had same heavy cream sauce. What came to mind is this looks and tastes like something one would get at Denny's. The food came to the table looking terribly unhealthy. Tasted the same way. Sorry, we won't be going back. Oh, we even mentioned kindly to our server that we were not happy with our meal, and she politely ignored us and came back with our bill. Not good service.
(1)Meep M.
The food was good, but not exceptional. It's a place i'd go if I wanted to eat for the sake of eating and not for yummy quality food. The service is timely, courteous, and the atmosphere is very relaxing. All in all, an A-OK eatery.
(3)Darrell S.
The name might give one an impression of real Italiano, but unfortunately not the case with my taste buds. My family likes this place so it's not just on one occassion that I have sampled their version of Italian cuisine but nothing close to traveling through even the humblest eateries in Italy. The French bread is wonderful, nice clean atmosphere, service attendants are well dressed but how about putting more effort into the food. Given their pricing structure and the relative cost of ingredients they certainly could add some fresh herbs which would help. As is, I would say the food is okay, mediocre at best. Sorry I am just accustom to much better at this price point.
(2)Lian E.
I've been trying to check this place out for a while, and when I finally did, I was disappointed. Service was great (attentive and courteous without being overbearing or pushy), as was the ambiance and wine. It would be a great date spot, if only the food had been decent. I ordered two dishes, and was disappointed by both. The cheese and salami was bland and tasteless. The pasta carbonara was overcooked, limp and soupy. The only plus was that they offer a smaller and larger portion of many of their entrees.
(2)Kai C.
My favorite Italian Restaurant. Have to go to the Kaimuki location. Great carpachio and fettuccine alfredo. Cost is average, location is small and parking is meter stalls in the rear.
(4)Goro S.
the chicken marsala is always a winner...and their catch of the day often includes ulua, which is onolicious...
(4)Dustin N.
Went here for dinner with me lady and it was a good experience, not spectacular but worth another visit. Food was good not great, definitely recommend the chicken saltimbocca! Overall nice atmosphere, service was eh...it could be better! Will go back for another try though!
(3)Angel L.
Our first time here we thought it was pretty decent but the clams was pretty disappointed! But, the food is very different from what I used to eat from Arancino:) need to try someplace new!
(4)Jin W.
Ugh, seafood combo lacked seafood in general, super small scallops... Only went here bc 12 th ave. Grill was packed. Service was kind and attentive, food ok...Paesano has much better seafood pasta for same price...with so many quality restaurants in this area, walk a few minutes to somewhere else....we had a party of seven, all dishes were bland, escargot very small as well, served in "dented" metal dish, not traditional ceramic one...pretty much ghetto...
(1)Colin F.
GO to the King street one its way better.
(2)Irene C.
Again, went with a group of maybe eight. Not very catering. Ordered a cream-based entree. It was super, super rich. The sauce started separating mid-meal! That was indeed unappetizing. We were placed in a corner table and easily forgotten. Have not returned.
(2)Daisy S.
It was pretty good food although the white sauce is way too oily for me. But, sometimes, I got to find a coupon for the place so it's all worthed!
(2)Moani A.
Oh my beloved Verbano, how I miss you. This is the first place my boyfriend and I went on a REAL date, and I just fell in love with it. It's an intimate little, dimly-lit place in the heart of Kaimuki. The servers are always professional, knowledgeable, and personable. The place is always packed with local families, friends, and couples. And it's super affordable. Be sure to make reservations though because this location is small. The menu is diverse with Italian offerings for every taste. I always order the seafood spinach salad: served in a tostada (weird, I know) with spinach covered in calamari, scallops, and prawns stir-fried with bacon, red pepper, and provolone. At the bottom of the salad is a lovely surprise of...pretzels! But sometimes they're a little stale, so be weary. We've never been disappointed with anything we've ordered. Just with the management. They're just a little, hmmm, forceful sometimes. And the wine list is a little lacking, but you can certainly bring your own along.
(4)Ai M.
This restaurant on Waialae is my favorite Italian restaurant. Whenever I have my family visiting from outer islands I will take them there. Restaurant recently moved, it is now located next to the Kaimuki (?) Post Office. New location is pretty much the same size as their old location. We parked our car in the parking metered lot. Food is always excellent and service is great every time we visit there.
(5)A B.
If you want tasty Italian food in a clean setting for a decent price than you will be pleased with Verbano Italiano Ristorante on KOKO HEAD AVE in Kaimuki. Capitalized the location because someone in the restaurant said that they need to update their new address on their website but we haven't actually checked that out. Parking in the back is metered but cheap. Only a buck for over an hour. Otherwise street parking if you are lucky. The lighting is romantically dim which helps everyone look younger but is not so easy for reading the menu. No worries they will bring you a light or candle. The staff was quiet and attentive. Even helped me learn to fold my napkin the clever way they had it. Hot Bread basket was filled as soon as we gobbled it up. The music is definitely classics only but goes with the whole Italian mood there. The chef was invisible but really knows how to cook because everyone was pleased with their meal. We have gone back there again this month and the picky eater European guests we were with went back twice more so they must be doing things right. Table cloths, clean, romantic music, good food and reasonable prices... so why not?
(5)Jacob S.
I like this place. It's not super fancy, but they have good food. Try the chicken marsala, it's awesome.
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