There’s something about that drive through the Likelike tunnel over to Kaneohe that makes me hungry.
Maybe it’s the stunning views of the Koolau Mountains and Kaneohe Bay from the highway. Maybe it’s that feeling of leaving Honolulu’s crowded urban core to a place where I can actually breathe.
Or maybe it’s because I know that there are dozens of great eateries on the Windward side — and I can’t wait to try some of my favorites.
There’s H&T Burgers — best teriyaki fries around — and Maruki Tei at Windward Mall. (It’s the only mall where you can get hot dogs on a stick, too, by the way.) There’s Formaggio Grill in Kailua, with an mouthwatering lobster bisque. And Boots & Kimo’s Homestyle Kitchen and Cinnamon’s Restaurant, which boast the kind of pancakes that make the trek to Kailua so worthwhile. My all-time favorite malassadas are made at Agnes Portuguese Bake Shop. And you can’t forget Masa & Joyce Okazuya.
The possibilities make me salivate.
But on my last visit to Kaneohe, I decided to retry a great little Italian eatery in Kaneohe town: Zia’s Caffe. (There’s another one in Kailua.)
The restaurant has been serving its brand of Italian cuisine since 1998. And it’s already got its own legion of followers, folks who eat here often enough to know the bread pudding flavor rotation. (Or at least claim to.)
Here’s what we ate on a recent dinner there:
no images were found
Zia’s Caffe, 45-620 Kamehameha Highway. Phone: (808) 235-9427, www.ziascaffe.com
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8 Comments
CAT: Aaaiiiyyyaaahhh! Fuud Pix! Tenks! Never been there but it looks like I’ll give it a shot! The pasta looks rich,
Wow that linguine does look lick the plate awesome. Thanks for all the mentions of other places to eat on the Windward side too, gotta take more advantage of the H-3 and check out the food there!
Hello Cat!
Fuud Pixs Friday!
I been there once awhile ago. I don’t remember what I ate but I remember I wasn’t disappointed.
Have a Great weekend!
i always need an italian restaurant to fall back on when the world ain’t going right. it’s good to learn about Zia’s. i know less about Kaneohe than any community on Oahu, so thanks for the shortcut.
fuud pix!! bonus Kaneohe pics, too!!
I’ve never been to Zia’s, oddly, but it looks good. how does it compare to the italian food you had in Chicago? (or SF or, if you’ve been there, NYC/Boston)
is the thin crust pizza crispy or chewy (NY style)?
so many questions. I’ve been disappointed with Italian food in Hawaii, so finding a good one is good news, indeed. now I have to try it my next trip home, to see if it lives up to expectations.
Zia’s is definitely one of the best restaurants in Kaneohe. It’s also the only Italian restaurant in K-town!
Quite sadly I was drooling over the Birra Moretti pic more so than the other pics. Glad I continued to view the rest of the fuu pr0m though.
I hardly venture to the Windward side for dinner. Maybe if you do more food reviews, *hint* *hint*, it might be worth my while to drive over the Ko`olau.
When going windward side my stops always include Agnes, Haleiwa Joe’s, Buzz’s, Zia’s, and Kalapawai. But that is just me. Love the food pics, nice dishes all. My son used to love those hot dogs on a stick at the mall followed by that righteous lemonade you can buy there. And me, had to hit the Cinnabon for desert.