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Arancino on Beachwalk
Categories: Restaurants Italian Restaurants Pizza Italian, Pizza [Edit]
255 Beachwalk AveHonolulu, HI 96815
(808) 923-5557
- Hours:
Mon-Sun 11:30 am - 2:30 pm
Mon-Sun 5 pm - 10 pm
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Garage, Validated
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- No
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
- Dogs Allowed:
- No
139 reviews for Arancino on Beachwalk
Review Highlights
"UNI PASTA was sooooo good."
(in 12 reviews)
"Blue crab and zucchini was delightful, creamy and light."
(in 6 reviews)
"shrimp/avocado salad had creatively added grapefruit..."
(in 5 reviews)
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138 reviews in English
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Review from Doug F.
Honolulu, HI
11/16/2011
Excellent quality for the price.
You must, must MUST have the lobster bisque! OMG so good.
Can't wait to try the kama aina lunch specials at the other location walking distance from our condo. :) -
Review from Daniel k.
Honolulu, HI
2/2/2012
Walked by this restaurant the last time I went to Ginza Bairin (tonkatsu shop 2 doors away) and made a mental note to go there the next time I was in the area. Well, I made sure I was in the area, so I could eat there. And not disappointed at all.
On the table to sample: Blue crab & Zucchini Spaghetti, Pork & Beef Meatball Spaghetti and Pancetta Rigatoni. Simply put, the pasta was cooked perfectly and the sauce was fantastic. The other restaurant names can't be mentioned by name, because they're not worthy. The tomato sauce had a deep and rich flavor, but not creamy. It was so good that I used the bread to wipe the dish clean. Unlike other seafood pasta dishes, the crab carried the blue crab and zucchini spaghetti.
Service was good, nice and quiet during lunch, but a bit pricey ($15-$25 for the pasta dishes).
Next task is to find another reason to be in Waikiki, so I can try the other dishes on the menu. Maybe a calzone next time. -
Review from Cin T.
I know I'm a couple months behind on my review. Thanks to my fellow yelpers' constant reminding, I finally finished this one. Many have commented on my Arancino pics and asking me how everything tasted, so here you go (that's what I get for posting pics months ago without a review, lol)!
Upon walking in, I immediately noticed that the décor is cliche Italian/Pizzeria, with its red and white checkered tablecloths.
A dimly lit, romantic ambience was cleverly attempted with the use of black dish rags. So shabby chic, lol!
http://www.yelp.com/bi...
Started the meal off with some wine ($7.50 chard & Monte Antico $8.50) and delicious hot focaccia, yum!
http://www.yelp.com/bi...
SPAGHETTI AI RICCI DI MARE ($27):
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I came in specifically for the Uni pasta. I love all these Uni, so I had to make a trip just to try out this pasta dish. Naturally, my expectations were high, since everyone keeps raving about how awesome it is.
The sweet tomato cream-parmesan sauce (like a 'rosa sauce' but heavier) overpowered the delicate taste of the uni. It also was lacking salt and flavor, I had to add salt and chili flakes myself before eating. I've had uni pasta similar to this before, but the difference was that Arancino used too much whipping cream and not enough salt.
I think a simple olive oil-butter sauce would have been a better pairing with uni. The sauce needs to take a back seat and let the uni flavors come through. What a shame to dump all that precious uni into the sauce and not be able to taste it.
SPAGHETTI PESCATORA ($29):
You would think that with the hefty price & menu description promising "a sensational seafood medley of......topped with a large savory shrimp scampi", that the dish would be amazing. But it wasn't.
Shrimps, calamari, clams and mussels were tossed in a white wine & olive oil sauce. Didn't get much of the listed garlic and it lacked salt.
http://www.yelp.com/bi...
What's also disappointing was that the seafood was all OVERCOOKED. Even, the shelled prawn on top of the pasta was pretty much meatless because it was so overcooked and dried out. Here's a pic of it all shelled and tossed together.
http://www.yelp.com/bi...
ZUPPA DI VONGOLE ($13):
Clams in a garlic/white wine broth
This was listed under Zuppa/soup, but it was more like a clams appetizer.
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Their "exquisite white wine garlic sauce" was okay, but calling it "exquisite" is a bit much since it was nothing spectacular, I've had better. It was very unappetizing when you're constantly crunching on sand/grits with every piece of clam.
ZUPPA PICCANTE ($9):
A simple "spicy tomato soup" with calamari. The soup wasn't spicy at all. The calamari was cooked just right though.
http://www.yelp.com/bi...
Vanilla Gelato ($4, also avail in non-dairy flavors of strawberry & lemon):
You get 3 generous scoops of gelato. This was the 2nd best part of my meal, the first being the house focaccia.
We got ours for free, my friend had a coupon for free dessert because he was staying at the Marriott.
http://www.yelp.com/bi...
I'm not a fan of desserts or sweets, but I licked this bowl clean. It was a little too frozen/stiff, our waitress had a very difficult time as she struggled to scoop it. It wasn't as smooth or creamy as some of the ones I've had before, but it was still delicious.
http://www.yelp.com/bi...
An extra star was added for the amount of uni given, otherwise it would've been just 2 stars because in all honesty, "meh, I've had better"........and I couldn't really taste the uni. -
Review from Jesse C.
12/13/2011 1 Check-in Here
They open at 5p. They cater to Japanese tourist and seem to have a strong following. Highly recommend placing a reservation. (I made mine the evening of.) They do not take reservations after 7p for the day of. Just keep that in mind.
I tried, of course, the uni pasta. Or as Emi would say it, "UNI PASTA!" Don't know what uni is? Never tried it? Shame. I enjoyed it...a lot. But I do not recommend it if you are not a raw seafood eater.
My friend had the lasagna. (Why is it spelt lasagna? You don't spell my name Jegsse C.) It came out bubbling over; hot from the oven. She devoured it. Mind you, she's a petite asian woman. I'm not sure where she puts it all. But trust me when I say she enjoyed it.
But I'm coming back for that uni pasta. And I'd like to come back and try their desserts. Maybe I'll bring my friend back too. Ha ha. -
Review from David B.
Honolulu, HI
1/27/2012
Haven't eaten here in a long time. Have been going to the Arancino di Mare closer to Daimond Head. Better ambiance here. The food was absolutely perfect - and I'm a picky Italian boy from NYC. OK, well, except for the "boy" part, the rest is true.
So, 5 stars is a lot to be said for a Japalian restaurant. Service was great, too. -
Review from Kim S.
Let me start by saying I'm not a big pasta girl. The Asian blood flows strong through these veins so rice is my starch of choice, with potatoes coming in second & pasta dragging along in third. I end up at places like Auntie Pasto's, Verbano & Assagio's not because of my own choosing but because friends want to go. I'll order chicken marsala or something to that effect & it'll be alright, meh, nothing spectacular. But the pasta at Arancino? Oh baby, that stuff gets me frisky.
Perhaps it's the fact that Arancino does pasta with an Asian twist that gets me going. Like Pietro's but more upscale. If Pietro was your average Joe, Arancino would be his hot, sexy cousin wearing a D&G button-down & driving a Porsche Boxster.
I ended up here for a friend's birthday dinner & doing my foodie duty I yelped it prior to arrival. I was torn between trying the uni pasta or the squid ink pasta but luckily I didn't have to choose because a friend suggested we order both & split them, along with a bowl of lobster bisque soup (which was amazing).
Now I must preface this by saying I'm not madly in love with uni or anything. In fact, I only tried it for the first time within the past year, & I've had it a few times since. It's good but it's not like it rocks my world or anything. Except in this pasta. If you're not an uni fan it'll turn you in a second. A friend of mine who's somewhat closed-minded when it comes to food (poor, lost soul) tried a bite & was delightfully surprised ("It's not fishy at all!"). This dish is a bowl of rich, creamy, sea urchin loveliness & the pasta was cooked to a perfect al dente.
The squid ink pasta was quite divine as well. Don't be deterred by the black color; the sauce was deliciously garlicky with just a hint of spicy heat. The tiny legs of the calamari covered in the inky sauce may also be a little daunting to less venturous eaters but don't be intimidated!
The service here was great; the staff is friendly & polite. Our server even comped free birthday desserts for our two birthday guests. My one complaint about Arancino is that the space is a little tight. For example, a Japanese tourist couple came in & was shown to the table next to us. Girlfriend had to squeeze by & I swear if she wasn't plagued by Japanese flat ass syndrome (I can say that because I share the same curse of my people) there's no way she would've made it.Listed in: ROTD, BABY!!!
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Review from Joe C.
Honolulu, HI
1/5/2012
By far my favorite Italian on the island. Since I've moved here I've tried pretty much any Italian place i find and this has be far and beyond the best. Lucky for me I like about 5 blocks from here so I go pretty often. My favorite thing is the fetachinni crema' (sp?) Also for lunch they have a chicken cesar salad pizza and it is awesome as well. I honestly can't say I've had anything I didn't like there and I can't forget to mention the bread they give you! It's absolutely amazing! so fresh and soft! If your on Oahu you have to check this place out. Make sure to get there early or expect a wait.
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Review from Erika C.
10/8/2011 2 photos
We scootered here on a warm Hawaiian night. My first time eating uni pasta was right here, a few years ago. The uni pasta was delicious and novel at the time; this, coupled with good service in a cozy setting, made for a memorable experience. I would recommend anyone here. I hope they've kept up the quality; judging by the other reviews, I would guess that they have.
I have since tried uni pasta in several other places, some better and some worse than Arancino... but I had a great experience here, so four stars! -
Review from Phil R.
Waimanalo, HI
1/7/2012 1 Check-in Here
Wow!!! Soooooooooo good!! Definately worth it!! Not saying the bad reviews weren't bad for those people...but I am saying our experience there was 5star all the way!!! This is for LUNCH so I can't speak for dinner... We got seated right away(got there at a little before 2)...our food came out fast, but didn't taste like fast food...it was delicious!!! My wife got the lunch special with a choice of salad and a choice of pasta...ceasar & the spaghetti meatballs... Yuuuuuummmmmy!! Yes only 2 meatballs...but they were so good!! Pasta cooked perfectly and the sauce was flavorful! Even the ceasar was delish!! I can't stand anchovies but it was the right amount...my order was the blue crab spaghetti.... Wooooooow!!! I dunno how anyone could say it doesn't have enough flavor because mine was definitely packed with flavor AND crab!! They sure don't skimp!! Even the bread was awesome...and the service was top notch! Super attentive but not overbearing...even when being there almost an hour after closing! We will definitely be back!
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Review from Tara K.
9/26/2011 1 Check-in Here
Stumbled upon this place while walking around Waikiki and decided to stop for lunch. Had the Spaghetti and Meatball lunch special which comes with bread and a salad. Was very good, especially the sauce. And, while the portions didn't look huge, I was very full when I left. Even too full for dessert...
Service was friendly, but kinda forgettful. Think my husband asked for water 4 times before they brought it. -
Review from J R.
11/27/2011 1 Check-in Here
Excellent - authentic Italian eatery that's a far cry from the usual tourist fare. Not too mention very reasonable prices. If you like Italian, enjoy Arancino on Beachwalk!
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Review from Soo Yeun K.
Honolulu, HI
1/20/2012
This is one of the best in Hawaii.
We went for my friends birthday and surprisingly, they have Korean menu's! I didn't need it, but it was sure helpful in figuring out the Italian names for the food.
The special Shrimp with tomato cream was great, good tomato flavor and creaminess. My friend had the black in pasta that looks like something from the food channel. we were surprised by the great and delicate flavors.
Service was great. Our server Allison took really good care of us and really had a great personality, our cocktails were good and looked like a magazine picture!
Since it was my friends birthday, we were surprised with a tiramisu and a custard dessert that the manager said he took care of and wished him a happy birthday. He even said "kamsahamnida" which is thank you in Korean. I think his name was Sam or Sean, but thank you.
Price is not very cheap, but it is reasonable because the portion is large. Awesome place! -
Review from Aya T.
12/28/2011 2 photos
I had my doubts on this place for some reason. Maybe it was something to do with their "no reservations, first come first serve" policy. Luckily we only waited for about 30 minutes for our table which gave us enough time to take a stroll down the beach to catch the beautiful sunset. My dining partner and I both tried the Columbus set menu which came with 4 courses and we also went with the wine pairing for an additional $14. The antipasti sampler was good, I loved the caprese with the fresh buffalo mozzarella and the prosciutto/papaya dishes. The next course was pretty spectacular with scallop sashimi topped with tobiko caviar, sea asparagus and red onion. In fact this dish surprised me, such delicate ingredients that packed a fresh punch with each bite. Next up was the Uni pasta that everyione raves about. Now I've had great uni pasta dishes before, in fact nearby Taormina has a great version. I have to say this dish at Arancino is now probably my favorite. Spaghetti cooked al dente topped with a luscious tomato cream sauce packed with beautiful pieces of uni mixed in. I did add some red pepper flakes to my pasta and I think that little touch of heat is what really made this dish so special. It was a big bowl of rich pasta so I ended up taking some home so I could save room for dessert. Vanilla bean gelato with espresso on top, so simple and so good. All in all, Arancino is a great deal. I didn't care for their wine pairing but the food was pretty fabulous and definitely worth the wait!
Listed in: Oodles of Noodles
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Review from gregory t.
North Bend, WA
12/16/2011
Ate here 4 times over the last 2 weeks. Just an honest well made pasta house w/ a great hard working staff.Most pasta plates are below $20 and are worth it. The only pasta place in town that I have found that makes pasta as well as me!
Small, clean, not fancy- highly recommend. -
Review from Michael C.
San Francisco, CA
11/9/2011
Had dinner there our last night in hawaii. Couldn't find reasonable sushi at all in Waikiki. So have some Italian. Waited 45 mins but well worth the wait. The wife had the blue crab pasta and I had the pestcitorie. Amazing service and food too.
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Review from Diane Y.
5/3/2011
You'll want a reservation. This restaurant is a cozy, homey hole in the wall which is very popular with Japanese tourists. Even on a Monday night, there was a crowd waiting for tables. They only give reservations between 5-6 pm, but you can also call ahead and reserve a spot in line half an hour before you show up.
You know, I'm not usually a fan of eating at Italian restaurants, because it's so easy to make pretty good pasta at home for under $5. But this place is different. I ordered the blue crab and zucchini spaghetti and the sauce was rich and delectable, but not overpowering. It also left a bit of mystery - I couldn't break it down like "oh, it's just butter, cream and too much garlic". There were many items on the menu I would return to try like the squid ink pasta. Use the free rosemary focaccia to soak up the sauce, and ask for 2nds and 3rds - they'll give it to you!
The service was warm and attentive without being obnoxious or hovering. I truly felt at home here. The decor is classic Italian kitsch, but it's certainly endearing.
Restrooms: pretty clean single-person restrooms that feature an automatic spraying toilet. I didn't try that feature... -
Review from JJ L.
7/22/2011 1 Check-in Here
This is a LUNCH review.
The restaurant is tucked along Beachwalk Ave and falls into the "off the beaten path" category only because you don't feel so Waikiki-ish with the narrow road, non-beachy foliage and 3-story motel/hotels nearby.
Ambience (3/5 stars) -- casual, open air, a bit cramped and dark. The music was similar to what you'd hear while in line for a ride or along the parade route at Disneyland: POLKA!
Service (4 1/2/5 stars) -- Kyle is cute (sue me!), attentive and knowledgeable. I knocked off 1/2 a star only because the Japanese tourist couple that sat AFTER us received their drinks, bread and meal BEFORE us. The manager remembered my friend and made sure we received the KAMAAINA DISCOUNT off the "LUNCH SPECIALS" MENU (yay for semi-cheap eats: the $17 dishes are discounted to ~$10-11)
Food --
bruschetta pomodoro $11 (2/5 stars)
"Marinated Roma Tomatoes & Herbs on Fresh Baked Soft Pizza Dough" -- this tastes as lame as it sounds. The tomatoes weren't fresh, and there wasn't any real "marinated" flavor. Other than the menu telling you what it is, you'd easily think the bread was a microwaved-with-a-wet-napkin flour tortilla.
spaghetti con tobiko e calamari $17 (3/5 stars)
"Flying Fish Roe & Calamari Lightly Sautied in Garlic & Olive Oil" -- tobiko overkill. If you're not familiar with tobiko it's the Japanese man's caviar - there was fish roe for days making the dish a bit too salty. The calamari was cooked perfectly while the garlic was too subtle. This dish didn't have any depth.
spaghetti con polpette $19 (4/5 stars)
"Spaghetti with Homemade Pork & Beef Meatballs" -- spy-say meata-ballahzz! The meatballs make this dish. The spaghetti sauce wasn't anything spectacular and I'd go as far to say that it tasted like a higher priced (think Williams & Sonoma, hey that's a good thing) bulk/canned product. I'd give this a whole 5 stars had there been more than the 2 puny meatballs.
spaghetti all' ortolana $17 (2/5)
"Spaghetti with a Medley of Fresh Vegetables Lightly Tossed in a Garlic & Olive Oil Sauce" -- VEGETARIAN option for our resident vegetarian lunch-mate. I don't know why this costs $17. The vegetables were decent, but it was almost like a heated pasta salad made with spaghetti noodles.
I would like to re-visit Arancino on Beachwalk for dinner sometime because I NEED to try Emi H.'s highly recommended UNI PASTA and I'm a sucker for spaghetti al nero di seppie $15 "Spaghetti and Squid Sauteed in a Unique Black Squid Ink Garlic Sauce" and the aforementioned Japanese tourist couple made shizz look good! -
Review from andrea s.
Louisville, KY
12/19/2011
It really amazes me when I see so many people give five star reviews. That to me is an exceptional restaurant in every way. Come on people...This is not a five star restaurant! At best... I could only give it a three. We had dinner here tonight because of how charming it looked as we passed by the day before. Our reservation was for 5:15 ( the only time available) and we were seated right away. I ordered a glass of Chardonnay whilst my husband perused the wine list. Our waitress was very pleasant and I could tell she wanted to take our food orders right away. My husband ordered a bottle of red wine and it arrived within seconds. He told our waitress to bring another glass as I would probably be having red wine with my entree later. Our waitress said, " I cannot bring another glass until your wife finishes her white wine first". What!! In all of my years of traveling this is the first time I've heard this. She explained its a law in Hawaii not to have more than two glasses for wine on the table. Is this for real? Anyway....we ordered a caesar salad and a Caprese salad. I had almost finished my salad ( small and just ok) my husband was only half way through his caesar when our entrees arrived. We asked if they could give us more time and to bring the entrees back later, which they did. We felt terribly rushed having only been there for 20 minutes! Our entrees were good but I wouldn't say anything exceptional. I thought our waitress was being extra attentive by coming over so many times to ask how our meals were but then I realized it was to see if she could collect our plates! That was enough of a turn off that I never want to recommend this spot to any friends who are planning a visit here. Spend your money elsewhere and someplace where you can relax!
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Review from Raphael C.
Palo Alto, CA
Great service, fantastic food, good prices. Highly recommended!
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Review from Emi H.
3/12/2011 2 Check-ins Here
Two words: UNI PASTA! If you love uni then you must try this dish! If you're not an uni fan then move on because this is an uni-biased review.
The Uni pasta is $27 and the creamy sauce is made with fresh uni. The sauce is combined with fettuccine noodles then topped with more fresh uni. You would think that it would be too rich (which was my big concern), but the flavor and thickness of the sauce was perfection. I had the first bite of our shared entree and my BF asked me, "What does it tastes like?" I replied, "It tastes like sex!" I'm not a pervert or a nympho, that was just the first thought that popped into my mind! I guess sex tastes delicious because that Uni pasta rocked my socks off!
For our appetizers we also tried the Prosciutto & Papaya as well as the Marlin Carpaccio. The papaya had the perfect sweetness and when combined with the salty prosciutto, I could have eaten two orders by myself. Our carpaccio was less impressive. They had seared the marlin, which we thought was odd, and it came out overcooked instead of raw. That's where they lost a star.
The upside though was that our waiter Chester was completely awesome and I hope we get him as our server the next time we return. You'll probably end up spending $40-$50 per person so just be aware when you're planning date night. For me it was completely worth it to have a plate of sexy tasting pasta! -
Review from Janelle R.
Princeton, NJ
6/5/2011
For a decent Italian meal in Waikiki - this is the place.
This isn't the best Italian food out there unless you maybe you're a regular at the Olive Garden or the Macaroni Grill (then you'll probably feel this is top notch), but it's definitely decent. The ambiance (although a bit cramped and loud) along with the service is also decent. The wine list is good and the food was fresh and tasty. The bread is not the kind of bread that should be served outside of a Pizza Hut,, but overall we had a nice dinner here. Overpriced, yes, but this is Waikiki. -
Review from Lan N.
6/9/2011 1 Check-in Here
Was introduced to this place by a friend and I had to go back during my latest trip to hawaii.
The restaurant is small and you'll almost always see people waiting outside on benches. My favorite dish is the spaghetti and meatballs. The dishes are served family style but I kinda want to just eat the whole plate!
Service has always been awesome. They aren't overbearing and did have a homey feel.
For dessert, we had the tiramisu and it is the best tiramisu I've ever eaten. Granted, I'm not much of a dessert person, but it was a delight!Listed in: Honeymoon in Hawaii
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Review from Axi N.
Irvine, CA
7/15/2011 3 Check-ins Here
Best experience we had in Waikiki!
They have the right portion and a great taste for their pasta and pizzas. -
Review from Rick J.
West Sacramento, CA
9/13/2011
Overpriced good Italian food.
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Review from Lisa H.
Chicago, IL
6/20/2011
I'm sad to report that Arancino is mediocre and at best, overrated.
Even if it IS the best Italian food in Waikiki, that does not mean the food is fantastic. It would be easy for an authentic Italian restaurant to move in and trounce this place. While everything else about Arancino was wonderful (warm ambiance, location, nice servers), the food is: (1) very bland, and (2) overpriced. That is not a good combination and we had several meals in Waikiki that were cheaper and tastier. Our belief is that this restaurant gets rave reviews because there are so many tourists from overseas (specifically from Asian countries) who may not experience a lot of Italian food. Or, because as "mainlanders" we are generally used to eating crappy Americanized Italian food.
Kudos to our very nice, helpful servers, and the fact that the hostess squeezed us in, in under ten minutes, during a very busy dinner time.
The problem we had, was with the food...which we basically had to dump salt and pepper on to get any taste. I don't even like salty food, and Italian food prepared correctly should be flavorful on its own. The focaccia bread was all right, but there was far too much balsamic vinegar in the dip we were given and it kind of ruined it. To their credit, the eggplant parm was soft and tender, but it weirdly had almost no flavor. My hubby got the seafood linguine and he was seriously disappointed. It tasted steamed and then just drenched in olive oil.
I was initially excited for my margherita pizza but it too was incredibly bland. I was baffled by this, as it's hard to screw pizza up, but my husband agreed. The only seasonings on the pizza were a few basil leaves and I had to (again) put salt and pepper on it all to make it palatable.
Our bill was over $100, and we both were still hungry after we left.
To sum up - if you want some Italian food and have $ to blow, this place will do you just fine. But I would advise spending your hard-earned cash at a much finer establishment like House Without a Key, or Roy's. -
Review from Kris Q.
Washington, DC
6/12/2011
I had a sudden craving for Italian, so my cravings brought me to Yelp, and Yelp brought me here.
It's conveniently located in central Waikiki and the walk from my hotel was pleasant. *They don't take reservations after 6 o'clock!!* My boyfiriend and I waited for about fifteen minutes, this was at peak dinner time on a weekday. I think it's a popular spot for Japanese tourists, and I don't know but the menu seemed to cater to their cuisine -- there were a lot of seafood dishes and virtually no heavy meats (but this might be a feature of the Napoletan cuisine? More on that later).
We started with the bruscetta. It was served on this weird flat-bread that our server explained was how they do it in Napoli. I found it somewhat bizarre and a half-assed job for $12.
We also order the "Owner's Favorite" pizza. This was between $20-25 and was thin crust, shrimp, garlic chips, and extra parmesan. I did not like this at all. It was thin crust but was soggy, the cheese tasted nasty, and the garlic "chips" were little pieces of garlic that happened to get crunchy due to the fact that the pizza gets baked.
Lastly we shared the spicy pasta, which was penne in a spicy tomato sauce. It was tasty, but sadly very basic and for $12 could at least use some cheap proteins in there.
On the bright side -- The service was excellent, our bread basket and water glasses were always full. Coming from a city with excellent Italian cuisine (hollaback SF), I have to simply deduce that in an area with limited Italian restaurants this is just one of the better ones. The food is WAY overpriced, not backed by exceptional food in the least.
I would've given 3 stars because of the service but Yelp caption that as "A-OK" and I had a definite "Meh. I've experienced better" feeling. -
Review from Toni M.
3/9/2011
Arancino was a surprising departure from the mediocre Italian in Honolulu. It's casual, off the beaten track and small. It fills up FAST, so get there early or make a reservation.
I went with a couple of friends. We tried a some of the traditional Italian appetizers...beef carpaccio, bruschetta and caprese salad. All of these were authentic and scrumptious. Even the "steak, well done" dude enjoyed the carpaccio. Soups were OK. The spicy tomato was good but the calamari was too tough to enjoy. The lobster bisque was creamy with a sherry undertone.
We followed with a mixed bag of pastas and salads. Sauces and dressings were flavorful and creamy. Portions were moderate to large. All of it was timed nicely and the staff was attentive and friendly.
They serve Lavazza coffee...hey, it matters. The wine list was impressive, but we took advantage of the corkage (insert snob here).
Good quality in an unpretentious atmosphere. I'll be going back!! -
Review from Erika a.
Updated - 1/14/2011 1 Check-in Here
The best pizza on Oahu. It's light, airy and crispy, just the way I like it.
I also love their Gorgonzola pasta.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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11/23/2009
I love this place. It's been a few years since I've gone but everything is grrreeeat! It was one of… Read more »
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Review from Rebecca C.
San Diego, CA
8/17/2011 1 photo
Ok did anyone else actually eat the food here???
I was sooooooo excited to eat at this place, but it let me down big time. My girlfriend and I went here on our last day in Waikiki to have lunch. I had done some previous research on yelp and found that this place had really good reviews. I was won over by the pictures of the blue crab pasta. I had been thinking about it the entire trip. When we first sat down, we ordered some "specialty" cocktails that weren't very special. After our drinks, we ordered the blue crab pasta and a calzone of some sort. The calzone came with a starter salad that was very lackluster. After finishing the salad, the entrees came. Omg, it looked delicious! Please see photo. But jokes on us because it was terrible. There was absolutely no flavor at all. After putting some salt on it, I would still only give it about 2 stars. I was so disappointed! The calzone was just ok, nothing special about it. It just sucks because this place is so cute and the wait staff was very nice too. Too bad the food couldn't have been better :( -
Review from Andy r.
Pleasanton, CA
10/21/2011
I ordered the Gnocchi and it was the best i ever had. We also ordered an egg plant parmesan appetizer and it looked nothing like what we get in the bay area Italian chain restaurants.
The marinara sauce in the egg plant parmesan was so yum, i could have had a bowl of it.
The service was just unbelievable! There was a waiter at my table checking on us every 3 minutes. -
Review from Mike M.
Honolulu, HI
6/28/2011
Good food. I prefer this location vs. the one on kalakaua. Taste better to me for some reason...
The pasta is always cooked perfectly, no matter what dish i order. The carpaccio is awsome in either fish or beef, a must try! Margarita pizza too.
i just with they had a bigger selection of italian beer. Wine recommended by staff is pretty spot on. I visit them once or twice a month. Service is usually good.
Delizioso! -
Review from Kahanalei M.
San Francisco, CA
12/30/2010 3 photos
Service that we received from this place was excellent. My Mom and I came here around 5:30pm in the middle of the week and were told that the wait was going to be about 45min. After we heard that, we thought for a moment of going someplace else, but since we came here once before two years ago and enjoyed our time here, we thought, well, why not?
We were seated exactly 45min later and we decided to order the Insalata Mista/Salad w/mixed greens, Linguine ai Gamberetti/Linguine w/ black tiger shrimp and arugula in a tomato sauce and the Spaghetti al Nero di Seppie/Spaghetti in a black squid ink garlic sauce.
The salad was fresh and had a number of different varieties of veggies in it with some papaya on top, and the pasta from here is oh so delicious!!! I could tell the shrimp was super fresh, and the tomato sauce that they used for their linguine was seriously up to par with the sauce used in the seafood linguine that I had gotten from Sotto Mare (one of the best Italian restaurants in SF). And don't let the color of the black squid ink deter or scare you from ordering it - that is so tasty and it has a bit of spice to it that gives it a certain kick - this is definitely worth ordering.
For dessert, we had the Tiramisu and that was one of the best of its kind that I've ever tasted. Yes, since this place is in Waikiki, the prices here are going to be on the high side (depends on what you order, but likely about $25-30 per person w/out drinks), but for me, I thought for going there once a year or so, it's surely worth it.
Our server (an Asian female) was so attentive and even though this place was super busy, she came over often to check up on us. The other servers that we had encountered were pleasant and the lady who was taking the reservations at the entrance was nice as well.
Some folks may understandably be a bit bothered by the intimateness and coziness of this place, since the tables are set a bit close to each other, but it personally didn't bother me at all and I've been to many places where it's easily even more cozy and intimate than here. When considering the level of service and the quality of the food that we received from here, this place personally to me is simply 5 stars. -
Review from Tony L.
Uni pasta. For my last lunch in Honolulu, I have to give it a try. Rich. Creamy. Decadent. Thirty bucks is a little on the spendy side, but for one lunch to remember, sure why not.
Strolled in on a lazy sunday morning just after opening. Arancino isn't a restaurant that easily catches your eye from the outside, it doesn't scream trendy, touristy, or new. I looks like a restaurant that's been there for a while, perhaps a little weathered but not beat down.
Inside, the service is friendly enough. A couple pieces of warm freshly baked focaccia, one side dipped in olive oil to a delicate crunch and we're off to a good start. Then comes the pasta, noodles cooked to an al dente perfection. Small scoops of fresh uni throughout, creamy and delicate. If I have one caveat, it was that the uni didn't make a big enough statement, that it was just a bit muted under all that cream sauce.
I don't know that uni pasta is a must have I'd have to come back and have again. But definitely I wouldn't mind returning to try some of the other dishes on the menu.Listed in: O'ahu, part two.
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Review from Chris D.
San Francisco, CA
6/4/2011 1 Check-in Here
Great little italian spot if you're stuck over in waikiki where we spent a few hours checking out some sites. Fresh salads (the caprese comes with realy good mozzarella di buffalo), tasty spicy penne amatriciana, my girl had the squid ink pasta which was the best with generous portions of calamari and a great spicy garlicky sauce. Service was great, they even treated us to their house tiramisu. Check it out if your sick of local grub and want a taste of Sicily.
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Review from Pedram M.
Los Angeles, CA
9/18/2010
Staff is friendly but smiles are rare. They also enjoy building some traffic on the sidewalk that is on a quiet side street, so expect to wait outside, even if it doesn't look particularly busy or some tables are open.
As for the food, we tried the lasagna and it was fresh, meaty and yummy. Pizzas are all thin crust and you can pretty much get any combination of toppings you want. They are also very good. Their linguine pasta resembled spaghetti more (but it tasted good and was almost certainly home-made) and the dish with tiger shrimps should be made the way we ordered it, with pink sauce instead of red; delicious.
Prices are on the high side for a casual joint that isn't particularly on the main tourist thoroughfare, but then again this is Honolulu and that can be expected nearly everywhere.
Overall, if you don't mind not seeing many smiles and occasionally wait for no good reason, stop by Arancino, one of the best Italian joints in Oahu. -
Review from Connie W.
2/15/2011 2 photos
I'm fairly certain my dreams tonight will be of Arancino's tiramisu because it's been on my mind since I had my first bite this evening. I'd come back for the tiramisu alone, but luckily the food is delicious as well.
To begin, the complimentary rosemary focaccia is divine. We had seconds... and shamelessly asked for thirds. The star dish of the night was the chef's special, fettuccine with shrimp in a tomato cream sauce. I wish they'd put it on their permanent menu. The linguine ai gamberetti leaned too much on the salty side; I wasn't crazy about it.
Service was perfect. Our waiter was very knowledgeable about the menu and took care of us with a smile. The manager visited us towards the end of our meal, which is always a nice touch. Amazing and cozy little date spot.
Mmmm... tiramisu, I'll be back for you. -
Review from Janice U.
Honolulu, HI
8/5/2010 2 Check-ins Here
Until I take the opportunity to travel to Italy and taste authentic food from the motherland, then this place will suffice. A little more pricier and portions are smaller than what you'd find around town, but it's well worth it (this coming from a small-town island girl who lovers her huge portions from hole-in-the-wall joints).
Over the last ten years that I've lived on O'ahu, I've tried a number of Italian restaurants AND restaurants that offer Italian dishes:
- Angelo Pietro on Kap'iolani Blvd.
- Assaggio's at the Ala Moana Center
- Auntie Pasto's on Pensacola St.
- Old Spaghetti Factor at Ward Center
- Paesano Italian Restaurant in the Manoa Marketplace
- Romano's Macaroni Grill at the Ala Moana Center
- Verbano Italiano Ristorante on S. King St.
None of them have offered a more deliciously authentic experience than Arancino's on Beachwalk. The last time my bf and I dined there, one of the highest compliments paid to them was from another couple dining parallel from us. The girlfriend/wife had spent some time living abroad in Italy and she enthusiastically marveled at how each of the dishes she ate tasted just like it did back there.
Their ingredients, from the parmesan cheese they'll freshly grate for your pasta dish, to the actual pasta itself, are all flown in from Italy.
We eat here every few months or so for dinner and we rarely are EVER disappointed. This is the site of the original restaurant and this is our favorite spot. The other restaurant, Aracino Di Mare, in the Waikiki Marriott Hotel is much too large, busy and noisy.
Our favorites to order:
- Owner's Favorite Pizza: $23 (shrimp, onion & garlic chips, smothered w/cheese) - This is NOT American Pizza Hut-type of pizza with the thick oily crust. It's done classic Italian-style with a thinner, lighter crust. Depending on how generous the chef's feeling that way, this can come decorated like a war hero with shrimp or just a paltry handful. Bf loves shrimp & this is his absolute fav!
- Penne Gorgonzola: $12 (penne pasta with gorgonzola cream sauce) - Gorgonzola is a distinctive blue cheese hailing from ... where else? (Italy!) While delicious by itself, make sure they come by and grate you some fresh Parmesan cheese to mix it while your dish is still hot. Mix together well!
- Tiramisu or Panna Cotta -
Review from Alan M.
Lake Oswego, OR
3/22/2011
We went there last night. We had spaghetti all pescatora, lasagna, penne gorgonzola, and spaghetti all arabiata. As with any Italian restaurant, the sauce is critical. Their sauces were FANTASTIC!
Went back two days later for lunch. They have a lunch special also! Sauces were still good. So far consistent -- this is also fantastic. -
Review from Lisa K.
Honolulu, HI
7/23/2010 2 Check-ins Here
If caviar and pasta got married and had a beautiful little baby, it would be the Tobiko & Calamari Spaghetti from Arancino. This delightfully different dish is one of several I've tried from Arancino, but elicits a Yelp review because it's just so darn tasty.
I found myself scraping the last few flying fish eggs from the plate like an anteater coming out of hibernation. (Do anteaters hibernate? I don't know. Doesn't matter--I was on a mission.)
Up until now I'd always tried the seafood pizza or a generic lunchtime pasta special, which, while consistently good, were never rock-my-socks, WOW-worthy. This was.
No over-cooked rubbery excuses for calamari like you commonly find at Italian joints. Plus, the lunch special comes with a salad and foccacia bread, what more could you want?
On the downside, service was stretched too thin and the bread was baked past its prime today - still fluffy, warm and fresh from the oven, but edging toward "slightly burned." Hopefully today was just an anomaly because it's otherwise stellar.
Make sure to ask for the kamaaina menu (if you're local) to save some $$. -
Review from Ramon G.
12/23/2010
Diamond in the rough for sure. With nothing else but chain restaurants around we were lucky enough to find this place.
Great service, awesome menu and wonderful specials.
Both of our pasta dishes were excellent. Perfectly al dente with what tasted like made from scratch sauce.
Good portions and wonderful flavor.
Definitely a "must try" if you're in the area.
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