Mediterraneo Italian Restaurant

 

76

228

Liz T.

San Francisco, CA

Prices just went up by $1 or $2 per antipasti and primi piatti. =(

Ok, not a big deal you say, but how did one appetizer, one entree, and one dessert add up to $40? I don't drink either.

The food is thankfully still delicious. I'd still come here over Cafe Sistina across the way in one-tenth of a heartbeat on cardio.

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4

97

Shay S.

Honolulu, HI

I'm a fan because they serve gnocchi. LoL. =o)

Anyways, they don't have a website, so when we wanted to order take out, it was quite hard over the phone because I didn't know what they had and what they didn't have.

Warning! DO NOT go into their parking lot in the back. OMG, it's sooooo tight. They only have 6 stalls, and it's all crunched up back there. You'd be doing many back-n-forth if you go back there.

The food was good. I liked the gnocchi pomedoro. We also had this pasta with mahi mahi. I don't know what it was called.

I'd totally go again!

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16

29

young i.

Honolulu, HI

In case my love affair with Le Bistro's Lambchops doesn't come to fruition, I have a capable replacement ready: Mediterraneo's Tiramisu. After a few bites, I thought I could hear harps strumming and angels singing...it was that heavenly.

Now, if only the rest of my dinner was as divine, 5 stars would be a comin.

Osso Bucco, the Gnocchi, and Lobster Ravioli were above average. The only dish that stood out was their Risotto, which was full of flavor. The Sauteed Mushroom Buschetta also merits mentioning.

Ditto on someone saying Mediterraneo needs a good cleaning.

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3

7

Lala E.

Honolulu, HI

Went back to Mediterraneo recently, and the potions are much smaller.  STILL AWESOME though.  We took my Sicilian father-in-law there, who is a VERY picky eater- especially when it comes to Italian food.  No one can ever cook Italian better than him!  Needless to say, he really liked it.  Especially the bruschetta...he said the bread was crusty and reminded him of an old bakery he used visit every day in the Italian section of Milwaukee.  He also loved the cannoli.

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12

74

Dave H.

Honolulu, HI

I normally go for sushi or fried anything. So italian is a little bit outside of my circle....actually it's quite a bit out there. The only thing italian i like is the tiramisu, which looks like a japanese name. LoL. Anyway, this place has made me a fan of italian food after trying their sassuage linguini thing... (read Liz T.'s review for a better description, haha). Even though the food isnt presented like i'm used to, i absolutely loved it and am anxiously waiting to go back and try some more once ive recovered from eating everything else here on my short vacation. Anyway, I can honestly say, this place has now made me a fan of little italy.

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1

21

Allie J.

Honolulu, HI

Yes!  Really good *real* Italian food in Honolulu!  I just got back from this place and must rave.

The restaurant is small (so be aware) but cozy and the service is great, but the food is really why we're here, right?  Oh, it's good.  The Boy and I split an order of bruschetta, a green salad and the pasta Amatriciana; all if it was great.  My meal left me satisfied, happy and with that great garlic taste in my mouth.  Not the skunky kind, but the rich aromatic kind.

Anyway, the bruschetta is a bit different than what I think most people are used to - instead of tomato chucks, the tomato, olive oil, garlic and basil are all mashed together into a sort of pulverized heavenly mass.  This sits atop a not-to-thick-not-too-thin piece of toasty bread just waiting to be devoured.  Not only does this taste wonderful, but it all stays put; no dripping oil or tomato jumpers.

The salad.  OK, so the salad could have been a bit better but I'm giving them the benefit of the doubt here.  While full of flavor (instead of pieces of tomato, they use a scoop of the pulverized heavenly goodness mentioned above) was intensely oily.  I would order this again (with caution) because it could have been a mistake; either the proportions in the dressing were off tonight, or whoever constructed the salad was a little to heavy-handed with it.  This err didn't stop us from polishing off the bowl however.

On to the main event.  I talked The Boy into the Amatriciana because of the recommendations from fellow Yelpers; I loved it, he just liked it.  We got our dish with the thinnest pasta they offer (can't remember the name now, it's on the uncommon side) which was an excellent choice.  It was just sturdy enough to handle the chunky sauce but not so thick as to make you feel carb-tastic and not over or under cooked.  The consistency was just right - not too runny or thick - and was full of smoky bacon-ness without overpowering the tomato flavor or the hint of spice.

Since we split these dishes (and actually had some pasta to take home) we went for dessert.  The unanimous vote was for the tirimisu which was great - almost as good as the one I make :-)  Most restaurant tirimisus are mostly whipped cream and the ladyfingers are too saturated.  Not this one.  The mascarpone really tasted like mascarpone and the cookies were moist but still retained some structure.  Very yummy.

The wine selection was also good.  While small, it was quite pleasing - I love me some Montepulciano!  Both our selections were very good and stood up to the flavors of our meal.

So, can you tell I liked this place?  If you haven't been here, definitely get down there soon!

OH!!!!  I can't believe I almost forgot...The guy who said the parking lot is directly after the restuarant must not have been driving...or he was driving down King the wrong way...We pulled into the lot directly after Mediterraneo and were promptly and incoherently chewed out by some lady from the adjacent business.  When you are driving down King in the right direction the Mediterraneo lot is *immediately* before the restaurant.  There is a (admittedly large) sign with their logo but it's easy to miss at night and from the street.  We didn't see it on the two passes we made in the car but saw it as we were walking up.

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1

14

Larry B.

Honolulu, HI

Breaded Veal Salad, Amatriciana  with smoky bacon, Osso Bucco, Lobster spaghetti, two bottles of wine brought by my girlfriends father, tiramisu, cheese cake, chocolate gelato, and a huge double espresso.  I ate so much I felt obese.  I love the fettuccine here.  This would be a great place to eat on a weekend with close friends, and then enjoy a cigar with some scotch at home after.  A molten hot lava bomb!

-------------------------------------------------- ---------------
6-25-08
Went again last night.  Great meal for me.  I had the Amatriciana again, and for an ap we had the egg plant.  Also very good.  I didn't really care for the Shrimp Scampi that my gf orderd though, it was to bitter, and unlike any scampi that I have eaten before.  I give last nights meal 3.75 stars.  The service was great, the wine was good, great way to spend my b-day dinner.  It was just the scampi that slightly set the night off.  I will come here again, and next time, I'm going to choose my gf meal.

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75

156

sky i.

Honolulu, HI

First impression: Quaint little hole-in-the-wall with a rustic, Italian feel.

I tried to make reservations, but I was told over the phone that it wasn't necessary and to just come and walk in. I was puzzled since a restaurant with such glowing reviews should be harder to obtain tables. However, when I arrived, I realized why...it's very difficult to find parking. The parking space behind the restaurant holds only 5 cars, maybe 6 if you squeezed some compacts in there. Your best bet is street parking.

As we sat down, I noticed the wooden tables were sticky to the touch and the ceiling canopies were rife with dust bunnies. I felt like the place needed a good spring cleaning. BUT, once we started to dine, all my concerns faded away.

My wife and I tried the Erbe Taglioni but found the seasoning somewhat unbalanced. Too much sage?
The Northern Style Risotto on the other hand was fantastic. It had a
nice, creamy texture without being heavy.
The Lobster Ravioli was also excellent, but I felt the restaurant skimped on the lobster part.

And finally, the dessert: Tiramisu. This was one of the few rare moments when I had wished I had Kobayashi's super elastic stomach (the 6 year champ of Nathan's Hot Dog eating contest). It was so delectable I didn't want to stop eating it despite being on the verge of explosion. YUMMY!

I can't wait til I go there again and try some other dishes.

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2

21

William K.

Honolulu, HI

Just spectacular.  A casual, relaxed atmosphere and absolutely ono food.  I had the carbonara, she got the homemade sausage, both were really flavorful.

Parking can be tight, but that's pretty much anywhere in Honolulu.

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186

183

Joshua C.

Mililani, HI

I'll always look forward to eating at Mediterraneo. A friend introduced me to this place back when we were in college and I've been returning ever since. Eight years now and not one bad meal. I love dining here Italian style, where we just sit for a few hours enjoying good wine, awesome food, and occasionally inspired conversation.

Located on King street (right side just after crossing Piikoi) there's street parking or if you drive through the building a tiny lot in the back. The restaurant maintains a great hole in the wall vibe without being ghetto. The interior isn't unlike a ristorante you'd find in Roma (where the cook/owner Fabrizio is from).  

Starting with the Vegetali and the Bruschetta is always a great way to begin. For wine the Sangiovese or Pinot Grigio are always good (dependant of course on what you order). Among the entrees; the Ravioli Aragosta (Lobster), Risotto Pescatore, Puttanesca, and Carbonara are flavorful, freshly made, and delicious. For dessert I love the Tiramisu and the Chocolate gelato here.

If you're looking for Italia you'll be hard pressed to find it here in Hawaii, but if you're looking a for a fun little place that serves up a handful of excellent Italian dishes then pull up a chair and linger with some friends over a nice long meal here.

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6

50

Ruth D.

Midland, TX

I have lived near the restaurant for years hoping that I would have the time to go in and enjoy it. Then a month ago I made it a priority to check it out with my family. My bfren and I loved the atmosphere and my baby loved the beautiful earthy colors of the place. The food was delicious! the bruschetta was done wonderfully. My bfren is a very picky eater (refuses to eat veggies.. what a sad life to live) and found something for his palate.He was ecstatic and said he wants to go back again. We loved the wine selection and the dessert. It  was hard getting the baby stroller into the restaurant. But the staff was very accommodating to our situation.

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1

63

Javier C.

Honolulu, HI

I've just visited this restaurant last night with my wife and let me tell you, they serve the best italian food in Oahu. If you been to Italy you'll know what I mean.  The Insalata Milanese was so delicious, the Gnocchi Amatriciana was fantastic, and the lamb was out of this world.  Great selection of wines, we had a bottle of white and sweet wine:  Allegro, The service was wonderful and fast.  I Highly recommend this nice italian restaurant. The place is small but really worth it. Parking might be a problem.

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Elite '08

22

114

Blake Y.

Honolulu, HI

After passing it by over the years, now I lament my procrastination.

The interior is modeled after the nostalgic reflection of Italian decor.  There are little homages to Italian, specifically Roman, art history.  It is also surprisingly private.  Each table is comfortably set aside from one another, and each table is its own little microcosm of conversation.  I like that factor a lot.

The food here is so good.  In a town sorely lacking, this place delivers great traditional Italian food.  There is so much soul in each of the dishes.  The food does have a bit of an Ugly Duckling complex.  Though the dishes may not look like much on the plate, they taste so good.  The presentation of the dishes may not be the best, or prettiest, but that isn't too much of an issue here.  We started off the meal with an Eggplant Melanzane.  It is such a rich and flavorful.  You need bread to go with this dish.  I did have a problem that the bread was a little hard, and that the olive oil/balsamic vinegar was served in a bowl that didn't mix.  Despite that, the bread with the Melanzane is seductively delicious.  On that note, I fought the urge to get a Carbonara.  I love the dish so much, but I Strangola Ferti.  It was a great flavorful meaty dish.  Nice poignant and rustic flavors.  My date got the Erbi Pollo dish w/pasta.  I love this dish; probably my favorite of the meal.  I love herbs, and all of the herbs enhanced the chicken and the entire dish.   As for their wine, I highly suggest getting their Chianti Reserve.  It is so good after you let it breathe a bit.  

A great intimate setting for fantastic food with friends, family, or a date with your siginficant other.

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2

4

Eric S.

Campbell, CA

I love Mediterraneo and have been going there since shortly after they opened.  Tucked away on King Street, between dry cleaners and random appliance stores, the parking lot is easy to miss (it's immediately past the restaurant through an alley) as soon as you step inside, the hand-blown bottles arrayed around the small room and smell of garlic wafting from the back instantly transport you to an Italian state of mind.  

As others have noted, the appetizers are delicious, and the gnocci are indeed excellent, but for me the defining dish here is the Amatriciana - even the sound of it rolls out of the mouth promising delight with every syllable - Ah mah TREE Chi Ah Na!  I am working myself into a salivating frenzy just recalling the last bowl of it I devoured - it's a hearty tomato-based sauce with a deep smoky taste imparted by small, thick squares of high-grade bacon.  As with all Mediterraneo's pasta dishes, you can have your choice of noodles from thin (capellini) to thick (linguini), all fresh and perfectly cooked until just beyond al-dente.   I choose the linguini (to not get overpowered by the sauce), mix some fresh parmesan in and dig in.

The owner is often present and always waves goodbye to you with a "ciao bella". Just a great, one-of-a-kind place that I hope stays in business forever.

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24

99

Brooke M.

Honolulu, HI

Someone told me about this place a loooong time ago, and for whatever reason, I never made it there, til about a year ago.  It is now one of my favorite Italian restaurants!  Try the tagliolini herbe- basically linguine with tomato sauce and TONS of fresh herbs.  It's delicious!  And there is a small parking lot behind the restaurant- pull in immediately after the restaurant.

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Elite '08

254

336

Cynthia A.

HI

Been here twice.  Both times I it wasn't crowded (nice!).  It's a small restaurant (maybe can seat 10 tables of 4?).    It's hard to tell it's an italian restaurant from outside.  Look for a big sun picture and you've found it.  Metered street parking is available, and is free after 6 or 6:30 p.m.

Mediterraneo has a good Italian wine list and AWESOME appetizers.  In fact, I think I could eat 3 orders of the sauteed mushroom bruschetta by myself.  OMG, sooo good.

I liked the carbonara (maybe best I've had, but not saying much since I've only had it a handful of times...).  Also liked the gnocchi, though it was a little on the soft side for my preference.  But better soft than chewy.

Open Mon - Sat 5:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.

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