Honolulu Weekly

European

Cafe Miro

3446 Wai’alae Ave. (734-2737). Tue.-Sun. 5:30-9pm. Chef’s tasting menus: $32, $43. AmEx, Disc, MC, V.

Serving classic French food while still keeping things on the traditional side. The menu reintroduces the classics like a bright, delicious vegetable terrine. And the crme brulee is quite possibly the best on the island.

Cassis by Chef Mavro

Harbor Court, 66 Queen St. (545-8100) Mon.-Thu. 11am-2:30pm, 5-9:30pm; Fri. 11am-2:30pm, 5-10pm; Sat. 5-10pm, under $30, AmEx, DC, JCB, MC, V.

A collision of roots–traditional bistro fare infused with the flavors of the islands–takes Chef Mavro’s new creation to the top. From start, to finish, and the spaces between–Cassis is already better than a lot of places in town.

Chef’s Table

Hawai’i Kai Towne Center, 366 Keahole St. (394-2433). Tue.-Sun. 11:30am-2pm, 5:30-9pm. Appetizers: $6-$9. Entrees: $16.50-$22. MC, V.

Mitteleuropaosche flavors are to be had in the form of the obligatory spatzle, red cabbage, wiener schnitzel and paprika-red goulash, along with a Swiss cheese fondu. The delicate superflaky apple strudel will knock your lederhosen off.

Downtown @ the HiSaM

250 Hotel St. (536-5900). Mon.-Fri. 7-11am; Mon.-Sat. 11am-2pm. Food: $4-$16. AmEx, Disc, MC, V.

Chef Ed Kenney does it again with this Mediterranean-style lunch spot. The lamb lasagna and Wingnut’s Super-Sized Salad make breaking for lunch the smartest thing you’ve done all the day.

Du Vin

1115 Bethel St. (545-1115). Daily 11am-closing. Food: $4-$16. AmEx, DC, Disc, JCB, MC, V.

Sample vin, vino or wine from the expansive wine list to go with a cloudlike, supple brie baked in puff pastry, oysters Rockefeller or the chalkboard’s daily specials.

Elua Restaurant & Wine Bar

1341 Kapi’olani Blvd. (955-ELUA). Mon.-Fri. 11:30am-2pm; dinner served daily from 6-11pm, late night wine and cheese service Fri. & Sat from 10pm-midnight. AmEx, Disc, MC, V.

Try both sides of the menu–the French with its rich sauces and succulent seafood and the Italian with its perfect pasta and down-home flavors. The pan-fried veal is divine.

Spada

First Hawaiian Bank Center, street level, 999 Bishop St., entrance at Alakea and King (538-3332). Mon. 11am-2:30pm; Tue.-Fri. 11am-4pm, 5pm-9pm. Tapas: $3-$9.95. Entrees: $5.95-$26.95. AmEx, Disc, MC, V .

This downtown Italian spot is just what you didn’t know you wanted for mellow after-work reverie. Kick off your merriment with a happy hour caipirinha or martini and an order of Thiago’s special dip with housemade bread. Save room for zabaglione with mango sorbetto.

Town

3435 Wai’alae Ave. at 9th Ave. (735-5900). Mon.-Thu. 11:30am-3pm, 5:30-9pm; Fri. & Sat. 11:30am-3pm, 5:30-10pm. Dishes: $13-$22. AmEx, MC, V.

Pure, unadulterated flavors punctuate the Mediterranean-leaning dishes made with local ingredients. The only problem is deciding what to order–braised veal cheeks and mussels in a Cinzano-spiked broth sound so alluring. Gnocchi in sage brown butter. with fresh peas are a must order.

Italian

Baci Bistro

30 Aulike St., Kailua (262-7555). Mon.-Fri. 11:30am-2pm, 5:30-10pm; Sat. & Sun. 5:30-10pm. Appetizers: $3.95-$9.50. Entrees: $10.95-$23. AmEx, MC, V.

Kailua residents keep this neighborhood restaurant bustling. Rustic, home-style food such as pungent puttanesca are on the all-over-Italy menu.

Bistro Sun

2671 S. King St. (946-7580). Mon.-Sat. 11am-2:30pm, 5:30pm-12am; Sun. 11am-2:30pm, 5:30-9:30pm. Entrees: $8.95-$19.95. AmEx, Disc, JCB, MC, V.

Bistro Sun has the alarming tagline ‘Italian Fusion Style.’ But you can have a good comfort dinner by mixing and matching dishes such as kakuni (long-simmered pork in a sweet shoyu sauce), maguro carpaccio and a really eggy carbonara (with or without kimchee).

Buon Amici Ristorante

3605 Wai’alae Ave. (732-5999). Daily 5:30-9pm. Pastas: $18.50-$22.50, Entrees: from $20.50. MC, V.

The restaurant strives to retain Italian-style neighborhoodiness. Fresh pastas are a standout, including classic Bolognese, papardelle with sausage and pancetta and gnocchi with gorgonzola cream sauce.

Caffe Latte Italian

339 Saratoga Rd., second floor (924-1414). Wed.-Sun. 6:30-10pm. Three-course prix fixe: $35. MC, V.

The menu is prix fixe only–choose an appetizer, soup or salad, an entree and dessert. The 13 different house-made pastas are the stars. Choose from selections such as pillowy gnocchi in a tomato sauce, tagliatelle bolognese and butter-sage ravioli.

Cafe Sistina

1314 S. King St. between Pi’ikoi and Ke’eaumoku Sts (596-0061). Mon.-Fri. 11:30am-2pm, 5:30-9:30pm; Sat. & Sun. 5:30-9:30pm. Appetizers: $6-$12. Entrees: $9.25-$17.75. AmEx, MC, V.

This cornerstone of Honolulu Italian dining is the perfect place for a contemplative dinner for one. Order some hearty fresh-made pappardelle topped with venison-and-merlot ragu.

Pasta & Basta by Donato’s

Restaurant Row (523-9999). Mon.-Thu. 11am-10pm, Fri. 11am-12am, Sat. 5pm-12am. MC, V.

Donato Loperfido brings quality Italian ingredients–including house-made pastas, sausage and mozzarella–to this counter-service casual eatery. Twenty-three pastas (gnocchi gorgonzola, tagliatelle Bolognese) and an appealing array of salads, pizzas and paninis make deciding what to have a very difficult task.

Romano’s Macaroni Grill

1450 Ala Moana Blvd. (356-8300), Sun.-Thu. 11am-10pm, Fri. & Sat. 11am-11pm. Entrees: $9.99-$20.99. AmEx, Disc, MC, V.

Macaroni’s offers traditional fare including chicken scaloppini and veal saltimbocca. Order the giant mushroom ravioli covered with a creamy marsala sauce for a starter and the chocolate ganache-filled dessert ravioli for a finale.

Vino

Restaurant Row, 500 Ala Moana Blvd., Diamond Head end (524-8466). Wed. & Thu. 4:30-9:30pm; Fri. 4:30-11pm; Sat. 7-11pm. Tasting plates: $7.95-$16.95. AmEx, Disc, JCB, MC, V.

In master sommelier Chuck Furuya’s domain, grapes are the main attraction, with the wine list dwarfing the abbreviated menu. Vino is a learning center, and Furuya is an enthusiastic teacher. The kitchen delivers savory dishes such as a revamped caprese salad, silky butternut squash and mushroom ravioli and rich osso buco.