The key to success for Paesano Ristorante Italiano is the eatery’s ability to infuse local, home-grown products with traditional Italian recipes.
Fresh Clams with Hamakua Mushrooms ($15.90)
Carpaccio, Thin-Sliced Filet Mignon ($11.90)
Kahuku Shrimp in Shell ($13.90)
Much like its celebrity wall — that includes photos of stars who have dined at the restaurant, including action-film star Steven Seagal, NFL quarterback Boomer Esiason, and local actors Jason Scott Lee and Stacy Kamano — Paesano’s menu features a wide range of dishes geared toward pleasing multiple tastes.
The appetizers at Paesano are hearty, and can serve as a quick meal, or the perfect segue to a multi-course dinner. The Kahuku Shrimp in Shell ($13.90) features large, juicy crustaceans from Oahu’s North Shore served with a spicy dipping sauce containing cayenne pepper, paprika and, of course, plenty of butter.
Sticking with the fresh catch, Pupu Picks readers should ask for the Fresh Clams with Hamakua Mushrooms ($15.90). This dish is actually not listed on the menu, but the friendly staff at Paesano will be happy to make it for you as they do daily for regulars who demand the dish. The clams and Alii mushrooms — which are harvested from a farm in Hamakua on the Big Island — come in a white wine sauce that incorporates garlic and chili flakes. As the name of the special mushrooms suggests, it’s truly a dish fit for royalty.
Paesano Ristorante Italiano
- Where
- Waimalu Plaza Shopping Center
- 98-1277 Kaahumanu Street
- Aiea, HI 96701
- Manoa Marketplace
- 2752 Woodlawn Drive
- Honolulu, HI 96822
- Call
- (808) 485-8883 (Aiea)
- (808) 988-5923 (Manoa)
- Hours
- Lunch served Monday through Friday
- 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.
- Dinner served daily from
- 5 a.m. – 9 p.m.
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