Italian restaurant serves fantastico meals

Osso Bucco ($28.95)

BY LIANNA MCCURDY

What’s the best way to start the New Year? With new food, of course!

Ring in Jan. 1 with a meal at Romano’s Macaroni Grill, a staple Italian eatery located at Ala Moana Center’s Hookipa Terrace. Those looking to gather the family for a celebratory meal can rejoice at Romano’s latest menu additions and the restaurant’s ability to easily accommodate large parties.

Prosciutto and Cheese Board ($13.95 regular, $8.95 happy hour)

Visitors may be familiar with Romano’s abundance of antipasti dishes, so assistant general manager Eva Thiim recommends taking a bite out of the restaurant’s new creation Crispy Brussels Sprouts with Prosciutto ($11.95 regular, $7.95 happy hour).

This plate features Brussels sprout halves fried to perfection and drizzled with a sweet balsamic glaze. To balance out the nutty taste of these leafy, cabbage-esque greens, salt-cured crispy prosciutto is sprinkled on the dish.

Crispy Brussels Sprouts with Prosciutto ($11.95 regular, $7.95 happy hour)

For those who can’t get enough of appetizers, or who’d rather opt for a smaller plate to munch on, place an order for Romano’s Prosciutto and Cheese Board ($13.95 regular, $8.95 happy hour). This delectable assortment of savory antipasto includes imported prosciutto, sun-dried tomato herbed goat cheese, grana padano cheese, rosemary crackers, and guava jam.

“Our prosciutto and cheese is imported from Italy,” notes Thiim. “We are doing a local twist with the jam — instead of fig jam, we use guava jam.”

A meal is never complete without an entree, and Osso Bucco ($28.95) is a stand-out course on the menu. A helping of beef is braised to tender “melt in your mouth” perfection and topped with Italian brown onion gravy. Roasted butternut squash garlic mashed potatoes garnished with crispy sage are served on the side. The Osso Bucco’s flavor is reminiscent of Thanksgiving delights.