A few years ago, Niraj Maskey was a regular customer at Formaggio Wine Bar. He loved it for its Italianand French-inspired eats, vast wine selection and cozy, intimate setting. So when the opportunity to purchase the restaurant came about, Maskey — who had been working as a manager at an Indian restaurant — jumped at the chance.
“We have a little bit of everything,” says Maskey, explaining that in addition to the Italian and French dishes, there also is a wide-reaching selection of items that include tacos, macand-cheese and curry.
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- Formaggio Egg Salad ($9.99) NATHALIE WALKER PHOTO
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- Garlic Seafood Pasta ($16.99)
And right now, customers can take advantage of Formaggio’s September specials, which include Garlic Seafood Pasta ($16.99), filled with shrimp, squid, baby scallops and mussels — all in a garlic butter sauce and topped with parsley.
Another special for the month is Formaggio Egg Salad ($9.99), which features the classic egg mixture served on crostini with fresh red bell peppers and black olives. “This dish is so refreshing,” Maskey says. “Plus, it’s good for sharing.”
As Maskey explains, the restaurant creates different specials each month as a way to give customers a chance to try something new.
“Our chef will come up with something, and then give it to our employees and all of our regulars,” Maskey explains. “If they like it, then we put it on the menu.”
Apart from the monthly specials, there’s also Boneless Short Ribs in Red Wine ($16.99). “This is our number one seller,” Maskey says. “It’s very tender, and it goes really well with heavy-bodied wines.”
The ribs are slow-cooked until tender, then served with a Cabernet Bordelaise sauce on a bed of grilled vegetables.
Formaggio also has a collection of 80 wines.
“There are all different kinds from all different regions,” Maskey says.
Plus, the restaurant recently revamped its wine list to include a number of new selections. Maskey’s favorite from the new batch is a Roth State Cabernet, and new wines also hail from Argentina and Italy, among other places.
FORMAGGIO WINE BAR
Market City Shopping Center
2919 Kapiolani Blvd., Honolulu
739-7719
Monday-Thursday, 5:30-midnight;
Friday-Saturday, 5:30 p.m.-1 a.m.;
Sunday, 5-11 p.m.
Honolulu, HI 96826
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