Dining experience was great! All was in good timing. Servers were enthusiastic and happy to serve guests. There's plenty of food and drink options. Everyone had a great time.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Rich S
Went on 20 Jan for dinner and it was the first time visiting in about 4-5 years. There was plenty of parking and service was great as usual. Out dinner party consisted of 7 people.We started off with several appetizers including calamari, crab cakes, caprisi salad and bruschetta. The calamari was the favorite appetizer. The breading was well seasoned and the squid was cooked to tender perfection. The crab cakes on the other hand were a dissatisfying. The cakes themselves were mealy and lacked any lumps of crab meat. It did have crab flavor, but lacked the texture of crab meat in the dish. The caprisi salad was nice, but the slices of mozzarella cheese were almost half an inch thick. I was able to stand the cheese up on its side and was able to cut the slices in half and that made the salad much better. The pesto sauce or dressing was almost fantastic. The parmesan cheese was noted up front, but the taste of basil never made its presence known. The bruschetta was tasty and tasted like it may have had a bit of white balsamic glaze mixed in with the tomato topping.My main course was their special for the night, shrimp and clams in a red sauce with garlic, capers and a bit of chilli peppers. The shrimp were large, plump and well cooked. The sauce was well rounded and flavorful, but there was only one bite that hinted at any chili peppers in the sauce. My fiance had the mushroom spaghetti with red sauce and her comment regarding it was it totally lacked salt.All in all, it was a pleasant dining experience but could have been better. Rhe atmosphere and service were the stars rather than the food as food items were really hit and miss.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Jason T
This is one of our favorite neighborhood restaurants. My usual choice is the carbonara but I opted for the scallops with linguini instead. I went with the small, but it almost looked like the large. I recommend making a reservation as they tend to fill up fast. We didn't make one but the host was kind enough to squeeze us in. We'll definitely be back again.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
R. Alan Belshe
Delicious Shrimp Scampi, delicious variations of Veal Scallopini, just delicious pasta dishes.
An amazing hidden gem in the heart of Mānoa. Delicious food and great service.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Rich S.
If I could give them less stars I would. Called at noon and made reservation. Gentleman answered the phone and booked us for 6pm at this manoa location. At 6 we walked in and spoke to the host, mentioned our 6pm reservation. The guy asks if our phone number is (whatever was written down) we said no. He proceeded to say we don't have a reservation. We told him we called around noon and reserved. He gives us a bunch of attitude and basically laughs in our face that we called the wrong number and that we probably called the other paesano. I understood this was a possible mix up. He kept saying we were wrong and was shaking his head and rolling his eyes. I was a bit annoyed by it because my mother is the one that made the reservation and it was possible that she called the wrong one. So I look at her call log and see that she made the call to the correct one. The manoa paesano. The guy continued to argue with us and when I tried to show him the call log, he refused to look at it. The. He says he has an extra table for us. We sit down, and they rushed the hell out of us. He hands us the menu and immediately says let's just order now and get it out of the way so the food can come. We told him to wait because we just sat down. After 2 min he comes back and gives us bread and demands we order food. So we order appetizers. He gives us bread, but no olive oil/balsamic. So I ask for them. He rolls his eyes and comes back and slams it on the table. With no bowl or small dish to put the olive oil and balsamic into. So I ask for a small dish and AGAIN I get attitude. He demands we order our entree, to hurry up. So we order what we wanted, and the food tasted decent. But the service here was absolutely dog s**** I'll never come back. My family knows me as a very generous tipper, but tonight I had to give 10% and my family thought that was even too much. Avoid going here, and go to any other Italian place if you want a nice dinner with good service.
Food was descent. We ordered their special of ribeye and shrimp scampi, seafood combo, chicken parmigiana Chicken olio anchovies and more shrimp scampi linguine We went there to celebrate a Daisy award winner. Our female server was friendly and accommodating. How're, there was one male server who seemed upset, rude with a very flat affect because we didn't want our watered down no tea flavor plantation ice tea. It was just pineapple with water. Shouldn't it be half ice tea and half pineapple juice. Yuck. Overall we would come back.
Justin H.
TL;DRChicken Alla Marsala = ONO!!!Shrimp Scampi = ONOTossed Green Salad = ONO!!! (particularly their house dressing)Caesar Salad = ONOPlease note this review is in no way biased by the fact that I was born and raised in Manoa and have been dining at Paesano regularly since as far back as I can remember.I have travelled to many places, including Italy, and I can say without a doubt the best Italian food in the whole wide world is right here in the quaint valley of Manoa.-----I don't really know what else to write other than Paesano might be my favorite restaurant of all time. Obviously there is an element of nostalgia to this evaluation, but I also just love, love, love the food here.My family typically takes out, but after the restaurant's most recent extended closure (for vacation), we decided to dine in for a change. And what a great choice that was, because eating there in person really felt like having a meal with family. Billy, the long-time owner and an old friend of my dad, happened to be visiting the restaurant, which is now, I believe, managed by his son. Billy and the staff offered us a complimentary order of garlic bread bruschetta, which was delicious. Our waiter was also a friendly face and someone who has been an employee at Paesano since forever. It was so nice to be back. We plan on dining in more often.For the past 25+ years, I've pretty much ordered the same thing every single time. The house tossed salad and a large portion of the chicken alla marsala. My wife typically orders their shrimp scampi, which is superbly garlicky and succulent, not unlike an upscale, meatier, and peeled version of the North Shore garlic shrimp subbing linguine for rice.The house salad comes with lettuce, tomatoes, an assortment of pickled veggies, cheese, and the most wonderous red wine vinaigrette dressing. The pickled veggies and the house dressing are the highlights here. The dressing, in particular, is tangy, savory, and sweet, and absolutely delicious. I just can't get enough of it. When I do takeout I usually ask for a few extra servings on the side so I can have some for future homemade salads.Recently, my wife and I started ordering the caesar salad as well, which is also delightful. It's always prepared fresh and is an exceptional take on a classic, with an especially zesty dressing.The chicken alla marsala is a slightly unique spin on the standard Italian dish. Instead of just a flour coating, Paesano dredges each piece of chicken thigh in bread crumbs. This coating is perfect for soaking up the flavorful and robust marsala sauce. Yummm! And of course, I always top it off with an unreasonable amount of parmesan cheese.We don't always order desserts, but when we have the cheesecake and the chocolate mousse cake have been hits.PAESANO 4EVER!!! I hope they never leave Manoa Marketplace. I would be utterly devastated.
Jo Y.
Owner Billy Rattanasamay, wife Nila, and sister Siri Ky, opened Paesano Manoa in Manoa Marketplace in 1992 after its predecessor, Castagnola, closed after 10 years of operation, as the owner of Castagnola had trained his staff to open similar Italian restaurants accordingly. A second location of Paesano opened in the Waimalu Plaza Shopping Center in 2008. Executive Chef of both locations, Gerry Quach, has been with Paesano from the start. Staff are trained to treat their customers like family.Paesano is known for its Italian cuisine. Their pasta comes directly from Italy, and linguine is its standard pasta (as opposed to spaghetti) for more texture, as a flatter pasta, and its ability to absorb the sauces for better flavor. 95% of the food items (meatballs, , sausage, lasagna, soups, salad dressings, pesto sauce, meat sauces, bread) are house-made.Menu items include:* Appetizers: crab cakes, carpaccio, eggplant, shrimp cocktail, clams, prosciutto and melon, salami & cheese, calamari, garlic bread.* Salads: Caesar, tossed, chicken, shrimp, calamari, seafood, Caprese, blackened salmon, fish.* Soups: minestrone, macaroni and beans with hamhocks.* Veggies: Portobello, mushrooms, zucchini, broccoli, eggplant.* Pasta (linguine, fettuccini or rigatoni): various sauces (marinara, meat, anchovy, pesto, clam, mushroom); meat ball, sausage.* Chicken: cacciatore, marsala, Sorrentino, puttanesca, piccata, Florentine, saltimbocca, pomodori, oreganata.* House specialties: fettuccini alfredo w/ shrimp, chicken, broccoli; ravioli; stuffed eggplant, rigatoni, linguine w/ chicken, shrimp, calamari, veggies; Portobello; lasagna; seafood; sausage and peppers.* Seafood: shrimp, scallops, clams, calamari, mussels, fish.* Veal: breaded veal with various veggies and sauces.* Grilled: pasta, potato or veggie w/ New York steak, pepper steak, osso bucco.* Chef's specials: steak, shrimp scampi, cioppino, osso bucco, fish, veal, chicken, salmon.* Drinks: beers, martini, extensive list of wines, tea, coffee, soda.* Desserts: homemade cheesecake and tiramisu, cannoli, sorbet, gelato, ice cream.Popular items include: cioppino, osso bucca, shrimp alla bolla, Sicilian chicken, crab cakes.A group of 25 friends gathered one evening for good food and fellowship. We were seated on two long tables in the corner of the restaurant. Each of us ordered on our own, resulting in separate checks for ease of paying. I had the following:* Hamakua Tomato Bruschetta (provided by our host): This delicious appetizer consisted of fresh tomatoes and grilled red peppers with fresh basil and onion on toasted French bread slices. Nice way to start the meal!* Special of the day: clams and shrimps over perfectly al-dente linguine with a red tomato-based sauce. There were lots of good-sized clams and jumbo shrimps that made this dish so flavorful and filling that I could not finish it. It was accompanied by a complimentary warm bread loaf with a crisp crust and soft interior with cold butter slices that melted as you spread the butter on the bread. Couldn't get enough of the bread, as I used the remaining pieces to soup up the sauces from the pasta.Service was satisfactory, as attentive wait staff took our orders promptly, dishes served within a reasonable amount of time, water glasses filled periodically, and individual checks processed without a hitch.The restaurant seats about 70 people. The interior is dim, cozy, and intimate and is perfect for a special occasion or for a date night. Beautiful art works are reflected on the walls. The outside of the restaurant, however, is blocked with construction, as Manoa Marketplace is making major renovations to its shopping complex. The restaurant may look closed, but it is open.Hours of operation are: lunch from Mon to Fri only 11a to 2p, dinner daily from 5p to 8p. Free parking is available in the Manoa Marketplace that is shared with other businesses.I look forward in returning to try other menu items in this delightful upscale Italian restaurant that is frequented both by tourists and locals for many years!
Great pizza and service. Visiting our sister's family and went here in a recommendation. Great thick-crust pizza. Locally owned and worth the trip.
이경은
You just gotta try this place!!Seafood spaghetti is to die for!!A gem for UH at Manoa area!!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Homemade Tiramisu, Scallops and Shrimps Alla Bolla
Kamana Seymour
Good service, decent food, very elegant
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 3
Service: 4
Erica K.
Very tasty, lovely staff and nice atmosphere. Maybe a bit loud but that adds a homey feeling for me. :)Like a lot of more local-styled Italian food, they're real heavy on seasonings. Especially garlic. But that's why I love it.Their tiramisu is great as well!
Sam M.
This restaurant NEVER has any fish other than salmon. And they act like, "oh the fish for today is salmon".....that's the fish EVERYDAY!!!!The construction around the restaurant makes it look like it's closed.
Dining experience was great! All was in good timing. Servers were enthusiastic and happy to serve guests. There's plenty of food and drink options. Everyone had a great time.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Went on 20 Jan for dinner and it was the first time visiting in about 4-5 years. There was plenty of parking and service was great as usual. Out dinner party consisted of 7 people.We started off with several appetizers including calamari, crab cakes, caprisi salad and bruschetta. The calamari was the favorite appetizer. The breading was well seasoned and the squid was cooked to tender perfection. The crab cakes on the other hand were a dissatisfying. The cakes themselves were mealy and lacked any lumps of crab meat. It did have crab flavor, but lacked the texture of crab meat in the dish. The caprisi salad was nice, but the slices of mozzarella cheese were almost half an inch thick. I was able to stand the cheese up on its side and was able to cut the slices in half and that made the salad much better. The pesto sauce or dressing was almost fantastic. The parmesan cheese was noted up front, but the taste of basil never made its presence known. The bruschetta was tasty and tasted like it may have had a bit of white balsamic glaze mixed in with the tomato topping.My main course was their special for the night, shrimp and clams in a red sauce with garlic, capers and a bit of chilli peppers. The shrimp were large, plump and well cooked. The sauce was well rounded and flavorful, but there was only one bite that hinted at any chili peppers in the sauce. My fiance had the mushroom spaghetti with red sauce and her comment regarding it was it totally lacked salt.All in all, it was a pleasant dining experience but could have been better. Rhe atmosphere and service were the stars rather than the food as food items were really hit and miss.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
This is one of our favorite neighborhood restaurants. My usual choice is the carbonara but I opted for the scallops with linguini instead. I went with the small, but it almost looked like the large. I recommend making a reservation as they tend to fill up fast. We didn't make one but the host was kind enough to squeeze us in. We'll definitely be back again.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Delicious Shrimp Scampi, delicious variations of Veal Scallopini, just delicious pasta dishes.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Jumbo Shrimp Scampi, Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo, Veal Scallopine Alla Marsala, Carbonara, Carpaccio Thin Sliced Filet Mignon Cold
An amazing hidden gem in the heart of Mānoa. Delicious food and great service.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
If I could give them less stars I would. Called at noon and made reservation. Gentleman answered the phone and booked us for 6pm at this manoa location. At 6 we walked in and spoke to the host, mentioned our 6pm reservation. The guy asks if our phone number is (whatever was written down) we said no. He proceeded to say we don't have a reservation. We told him we called around noon and reserved. He gives us a bunch of attitude and basically laughs in our face that we called the wrong number and that we probably called the other paesano. I understood this was a possible mix up. He kept saying we were wrong and was shaking his head and rolling his eyes. I was a bit annoyed by it because my mother is the one that made the reservation and it was possible that she called the wrong one. So I look at her call log and see that she made the call to the correct one. The manoa paesano. The guy continued to argue with us and when I tried to show him the call log, he refused to look at it. The. He says he has an extra table for us. We sit down, and they rushed the hell out of us. He hands us the menu and immediately says let's just order now and get it out of the way so the food can come. We told him to wait because we just sat down. After 2 min he comes back and gives us bread and demands we order food. So we order appetizers. He gives us bread, but no olive oil/balsamic. So I ask for them. He rolls his eyes and comes back and slams it on the table. With no bowl or small dish to put the olive oil and balsamic into. So I ask for a small dish and AGAIN I get attitude. He demands we order our entree, to hurry up. So we order what we wanted, and the food tasted decent. But the service here was absolutely dog s**** I'll never come back. My family knows me as a very generous tipper, but tonight I had to give 10% and my family thought that was even too much. Avoid going here, and go to any other Italian place if you want a nice dinner with good service.
Great Italian food in the heart of
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Eggplant Parmigiana, Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo, Veal Scallopine Alla Marsala, Carbonara, Chicken Marsala
Food was descent. We ordered their special of ribeye and shrimp scampi, seafood combo, chicken parmigiana Chicken olio anchovies and more shrimp scampi linguine We went there to celebrate a Daisy award winner. Our female server was friendly and accommodating. How're, there was one male server who seemed upset, rude with a very flat affect because we didn't want our watered down no tea flavor plantation ice tea. It was just pineapple with water. Shouldn't it be half ice tea and half pineapple juice. Yuck. Overall we would come back.
TL;DRChicken Alla Marsala = ONO!!!Shrimp Scampi = ONOTossed Green Salad = ONO!!! (particularly their house dressing)Caesar Salad = ONOPlease note this review is in no way biased by the fact that I was born and raised in Manoa and have been dining at Paesano regularly since as far back as I can remember.I have travelled to many places, including Italy, and I can say without a doubt the best Italian food in the whole wide world is right here in the quaint valley of Manoa.-----I don't really know what else to write other than Paesano might be my favorite restaurant of all time. Obviously there is an element of nostalgia to this evaluation, but I also just love, love, love the food here.My family typically takes out, but after the restaurant's most recent extended closure (for vacation), we decided to dine in for a change. And what a great choice that was, because eating there in person really felt like having a meal with family. Billy, the long-time owner and an old friend of my dad, happened to be visiting the restaurant, which is now, I believe, managed by his son. Billy and the staff offered us a complimentary order of garlic bread bruschetta, which was delicious. Our waiter was also a friendly face and someone who has been an employee at Paesano since forever. It was so nice to be back. We plan on dining in more often.For the past 25+ years, I've pretty much ordered the same thing every single time. The house tossed salad and a large portion of the chicken alla marsala. My wife typically orders their shrimp scampi, which is superbly garlicky and succulent, not unlike an upscale, meatier, and peeled version of the North Shore garlic shrimp subbing linguine for rice.The house salad comes with lettuce, tomatoes, an assortment of pickled veggies, cheese, and the most wonderous red wine vinaigrette dressing. The pickled veggies and the house dressing are the highlights here. The dressing, in particular, is tangy, savory, and sweet, and absolutely delicious. I just can't get enough of it. When I do takeout I usually ask for a few extra servings on the side so I can have some for future homemade salads.Recently, my wife and I started ordering the caesar salad as well, which is also delightful. It's always prepared fresh and is an exceptional take on a classic, with an especially zesty dressing.The chicken alla marsala is a slightly unique spin on the standard Italian dish. Instead of just a flour coating, Paesano dredges each piece of chicken thigh in bread crumbs. This coating is perfect for soaking up the flavorful and robust marsala sauce. Yummm! And of course, I always top it off with an unreasonable amount of parmesan cheese.We don't always order desserts, but when we have the cheesecake and the chocolate mousse cake have been hits.PAESANO 4EVER!!! I hope they never leave Manoa Marketplace. I would be utterly devastated.
Owner Billy Rattanasamay, wife Nila, and sister Siri Ky, opened Paesano Manoa in Manoa Marketplace in 1992 after its predecessor, Castagnola, closed after 10 years of operation, as the owner of Castagnola had trained his staff to open similar Italian restaurants accordingly. A second location of Paesano opened in the Waimalu Plaza Shopping Center in 2008. Executive Chef of both locations, Gerry Quach, has been with Paesano from the start. Staff are trained to treat their customers like family.Paesano is known for its Italian cuisine. Their pasta comes directly from Italy, and linguine is its standard pasta (as opposed to spaghetti) for more texture, as a flatter pasta, and its ability to absorb the sauces for better flavor. 95% of the food items (meatballs, , sausage, lasagna, soups, salad dressings, pesto sauce, meat sauces, bread) are house-made.Menu items include:* Appetizers: crab cakes, carpaccio, eggplant, shrimp cocktail, clams, prosciutto and melon, salami & cheese, calamari, garlic bread.* Salads: Caesar, tossed, chicken, shrimp, calamari, seafood, Caprese, blackened salmon, fish.* Soups: minestrone, macaroni and beans with hamhocks.* Veggies: Portobello, mushrooms, zucchini, broccoli, eggplant.* Pasta (linguine, fettuccini or rigatoni): various sauces (marinara, meat, anchovy, pesto, clam, mushroom); meat ball, sausage.* Chicken: cacciatore, marsala, Sorrentino, puttanesca, piccata, Florentine, saltimbocca, pomodori, oreganata.* House specialties: fettuccini alfredo w/ shrimp, chicken, broccoli; ravioli; stuffed eggplant, rigatoni, linguine w/ chicken, shrimp, calamari, veggies; Portobello; lasagna; seafood; sausage and peppers.* Seafood: shrimp, scallops, clams, calamari, mussels, fish.* Veal: breaded veal with various veggies and sauces.* Grilled: pasta, potato or veggie w/ New York steak, pepper steak, osso bucco.* Chef's specials: steak, shrimp scampi, cioppino, osso bucco, fish, veal, chicken, salmon.* Drinks: beers, martini, extensive list of wines, tea, coffee, soda.* Desserts: homemade cheesecake and tiramisu, cannoli, sorbet, gelato, ice cream.Popular items include: cioppino, osso bucca, shrimp alla bolla, Sicilian chicken, crab cakes.A group of 25 friends gathered one evening for good food and fellowship. We were seated on two long tables in the corner of the restaurant. Each of us ordered on our own, resulting in separate checks for ease of paying. I had the following:* Hamakua Tomato Bruschetta (provided by our host): This delicious appetizer consisted of fresh tomatoes and grilled red peppers with fresh basil and onion on toasted French bread slices. Nice way to start the meal!* Special of the day: clams and shrimps over perfectly al-dente linguine with a red tomato-based sauce. There were lots of good-sized clams and jumbo shrimps that made this dish so flavorful and filling that I could not finish it. It was accompanied by a complimentary warm bread loaf with a crisp crust and soft interior with cold butter slices that melted as you spread the butter on the bread. Couldn't get enough of the bread, as I used the remaining pieces to soup up the sauces from the pasta.Service was satisfactory, as attentive wait staff took our orders promptly, dishes served within a reasonable amount of time, water glasses filled periodically, and individual checks processed without a hitch.The restaurant seats about 70 people. The interior is dim, cozy, and intimate and is perfect for a special occasion or for a date night. Beautiful art works are reflected on the walls. The outside of the restaurant, however, is blocked with construction, as Manoa Marketplace is making major renovations to its shopping complex. The restaurant may look closed, but it is open.Hours of operation are: lunch from Mon to Fri only 11a to 2p, dinner daily from 5p to 8p. Free parking is available in the Manoa Marketplace that is shared with other businesses.I look forward in returning to try other menu items in this delightful upscale Italian restaurant that is frequented both by tourists and locals for many years!
Restaurantji Recommends
Great pizza and service. Visiting our sister's family and went here in a recommendation. Great thick-crust pizza. Locally owned and worth the trip.
You just gotta try this place!!Seafood spaghetti is to die for!!A gem for UH at Manoa area!!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Homemade Tiramisu, Scallops and Shrimps Alla Bolla
Good service, decent food, very elegant
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 3
Service: 4
Very tasty, lovely staff and nice atmosphere. Maybe a bit loud but that adds a homey feeling for me. :)Like a lot of more local-styled Italian food, they're real heavy on seasonings. Especially garlic. But that's why I love it.Their tiramisu is great as well!
This restaurant NEVER has any fish other than salmon. And they act like, "oh the fish for today is salmon".....that's the fish EVERYDAY!!!!The construction around the restaurant makes it look like it's closed.