Bringing a Taste of Italy to the Islands

Nestled in the shadows of the Koolau Mountains, Zia’s Caffe continues to deliver delectable Italian cuisine with a touch of island flair as a Kaneohe mainstay.

Chef Jesse Kila and his heart-of-thehouse team bring a wealth of experience to each expertly prepared dish. The culinary wizard emphasizes fresh products — including locally sourced options like greens from ’Nalo Farms when available — and continually updates the menu to feature seasonal flavors.

“The menu is constantly changing with freshness in mind, and we continue to add new items as well as bring back classic selections from the past,” Kila says. “Nothing’s ever off the table. We recently reintroduced our Pear & Bleu Cheese Salad ($14),” a popular favorite that Kila refreshed by replacing walnuts with house-made candied macadamia nuts.

The restaurant is situated conveniently on Kamehameha Highway near the entrance to Kaneohe town and offers a warm, inviting atmosphere with open-air seating and the perfect ambiance fit for any occasion. Zia’s Caffe features an assortment of Italianthemed cuisine as well as local favorites, such as 10-ounce Rib-Eye Steak ($19). The dish is sliced to enjoy pupu-style and is accompanied by a zesty garlic-and-herb sauce infused with olive oil, fresh parsley, rosemary and thyme.

Loyal guests rave about Zia’s Chopped Salad ($14.50), a refreshing blend of salami, tomato, garbanzos, apples, olives, peperonata and romaine lettuce. This number is dressed with a house-made balsamic vinaigrette and gorgonzola cheese.

Pasta also reigns supreme at Zia’s, with show-stoppers like Cedar Shoals ($15). The clam dish is served with tomatoes in a savory garlic sauce atop a bed of linguini. Kila also recommends Chicken Picatta ($16), a boldly flavored classic featuring lemon-and-caper butter sauce.

Zia’s Caffe serves lunch (11 a.m. to 3 p.m.) and dinner daily, offers breakfast selections on Saturday and Sunday (9 a.m. to 3 p.m.) and also features daily happy hour specials (3 to 6 p.m.). Diners are encouraged to sign up for Zia’s email list — simply log on to ZiasKa neohe.com, sign up and receive a confirmation message with a special offer.

Kila notes that guests can look forward to summer-themed items and specials coming to the menu soon.

Zia’s Caffe

W H E R E
45-620 Kamehameha Hwy., Kaneohe

C A L L
235-ZIAS (9427)

H O U R S
Monday-Thursday, 11 a.m.-9 p.m.
Friday, 11 a.m.-9:30 p.m.
Saturday, 9 a.m.-9:30 p.m.
Sunday, 9 a.m.-9 p.m.

W E B
ZiasKaneohe.com