Oh My!!! While the wife was on her way home one evening, she said that she wanted some Italian food. We have lived in this area for many years so I mentioned this Italian restaurant and suggested we give it a try. Lo and behold , we were both very pleasantly surprised! The ambience was awesome and the food was the best Italian that we've had in a long while.... The service was impeccable. We had three or four guys always checking us and not in an inconvenient; the timing was perfect. I had their amazing lasagna and my wife had a delicious fettuccine pasta. We were very impressed, so decided to try a dessert (or two) and they were equally amazing. We opted to try as an appetizer, the side of sausage and peppers.... OMG Needless to say, we had a great evening & already planning our return... We can't wait to be back. read more

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Food: We got the chicken parm and an Italian Sausage/Meatball combo with Alfredo sauce. The chicken parm was pretty standard with a nice tomato sauce. The crust on the chicken could've been more crispy. The Italian sausage tasted good with the Alfredo sauce and the meatball was nice and soft. Maybe even too soft from extra filler bread crumbs. Service: We went early on a Tuesday so it wasn't too crowded and the servers were very attentive. Ambiance: it felt like an old school Italian restaurant that used to be fancy. Price: I haven't been here for years so prices have definitely gone up quite high since then. The large portions range from $30-$45 depending on the protein. I'd say its worth it to come here on special occasions for decent Italian food with large portions. read more

Paesano - Italian Near Me - Aiea, Hawaii

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I came here for a bridal shower luncheon, and it was a great venue for the celebration! We were even able to arrive a little before opening to surprise the special guests. Our group was seated in a spacious section towards the back that comfortably accommodated everyone. For lunch, I ordered the eggplant alla parmigiana, and it was delish! The eggplant was nicely coated and topped with melted cheese. It came with linguine in a classic red sauce, which was simple but a great side to the eggplant. I ordered the small portion and it was just enough. The complimentary bread with butter was yummy too! The service was friendly and attentive, and the staff did a pleasant job accommodating our large party. read more

Paesano - Eggplant alla parmigiana - Italian Near Me - Aiea, Hawaii

Food is still very good here. Place is popular even at lunch on weekdays. Their complimentary fresh bread is divine. So soft inside, nice and crusty outside, served warm with a side of butter. (Would be nice if the butter were not so cold because it smashes the bread.) so yummy! Friend got Shrimp Scampi and added snow peas for $3. They will add any veggie they have at a cost of $3 per veggie added, so it can get expensive to add more. She was happy with her meal and enjoyed it. (After we ordered, she mentioned she thinks she got shrimp with assorted veggies before in a scampi sauce and wondered if it was a special since the only shrimp dish on the menu with assorted veggies wasn't a shrimp scampi.) I got the Veal Scaloppine Piccata. Asked if they could not overcook the veal (which happened to both hubby's and my veal last time). Server said they could cook it medium or medium rare. I asked for medium rare. Now that's not really possible with the veal pounded so thin, but my dish came and the meat was not overcooked, it was nice and tender. It could have been browned a tad more, but that would probably have meant turning the heat up a bit and flash frying/browning the veal so I was satisfied. Tender veal is more important to me than nicely browned and crisped breading. The pasta (linguine) and capers with the lemony sauce was delicious in mine. We both ordered the regular size, which is very pricey but for both of us it meant we got another meal out of it. Paesano also provides dinner with a spoon To twirl your pasta in, which was helpful since it's hard to be sure to get some capers with each bite. I've noticed not all Italian restaurants do this now days. We also ordered sorbet, lychee for her, mango for me and we were both happy. As we were leaving I saw a couple using chopsticks to eat their pasta, and I thought, "Why didn't I think of that? I do that when I order a salad!" Will try it next time. We were able to have a leisurely lunch and catch up without being rushed out of the restaurant, which was nice. They also split the check for us. We were going to just half the bill but it just so happens our meals cost exactly the same so that made it very easy. read more

Paesano - Shrimp Scampi with add on snow peas for $3 - Italian Near Me - Aiea, Hawaii

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It has been a long time since I've been here for some Italian food. Tried the chicken parm and meatball fettuccine Alfredo. The Alfredo was really solid and delicious but the chicken was a little dry and I wished the crust was more crisp since it was like mush. Staff friendly and attentive, frequently refilling water glasses. Location is easy to find and a ton on parking which is a plus! read more

My mom wanted to eat here for her 71st birthday. Making reservations was easy and simple. All my years in passing this restaurant and I have never been inside. As we walked in, the decor brought me into a different realm. Because they are located in the Waimalu Shopping Center, I didn't expect it to be that nice on the inside. I expected a casual paper napkin type of place. I walked in and immediately felt that "Italian Restaurant" feel Service was amazing here, wine was delicious, dessert and appetizer were delicious too. I only have it 4 starts bc I wasn't a fan of their pasta. Just my personal opinion but I wasn't a fan of their sauce and their pasta. I think I ordered the Veal Scallopine Alla Sorrentino, my boyfriend had the New York steak and shrimp scampi.... He enjoyed his. So it could've been the dish I ordered. I really really really enjoyed Paesano Crab Cakes, tiramisu, and tartufo coffee ice cream..... oh ya and the bottle of Reisling... When I come back, I'll definitely do a different dish read more

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We celebrated our sister in law's birthday at one of our favorite Italian restaurants Paesano's in the Waimalu Shopping Center. Good thing we made reservations a month ago, they were very busy last night. We especially loved the House Salad with pickled vegetables, chunks of Parmesan cheese, and a wonderful vinaigrette. For entrees most of us ordered the Special of the Day a Ribeye Steak accompanied by Shrimp Ala Bolla. We also ordered the Chicken Saltimbocca and the Scallops alla Scampi. Everything was perfectly prepared and tasted wonderful. I have to mention that our server was a bit overwhelmed with the amount of tables he had. Service was not up to their standards last night. read more

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I've always liked. Paesano until now. I am 67 and was on a date and I figured a dinner date at Paesano, I cannot go wrong, the food is always good. Until now.. We shared a house salad, which is always good. She had the shrimp and vegetable pasta, her favorite because it is always good. My problem was my carbonara. The last time I had carbonara was at Assagio Kailua. It was also my first time trying the dish. It was so good that I had to order it again at another restaurant, Paesano. It was not good. The sauce was way too thick. I was so sad because I am recently widowed, so it was difficult read more

The portions here are insane in the best way. They are extremely generous with both meat and seafood, so you definitely leave full. The complimentary bread is warm, soft, and fluffy, served with butter, and honestly hard to stop eating. My favorite dish was the Linguine Chicken Anchovy Olio. It is a dry pasta with olive oil and garlic, and the large portion was massive. There was so much chicken, and it was perfectly cooked, crispy, and full of flavor. They also had a seafood special, which ended up being my second favorite. The seafood was cooked perfectly and tasted very fresh. The restaurant is simple, clean, and spacious, making it great for large groups. Service was friendly and attentive throughout the meal. This is easily becoming one of my go-to pasta spots! read more

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Great hospitality and attentive to our large group. The meatballs, chicken with portobello mushrooms, and eggplant parm with chicken cacciatore were great. Enjoyed the sorbet too. Delicious bruschetta on toast and house salad. The calamari scampi style and chicken piccata was only decent. The wine butter sauce was off. Can't figure out what was wrong. Not enough butter, wine not cooked off? Added red pepper and lots of Parmesan cheese but it still was off. read more

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No reservation? No problem! Service is always attentive and on point. Place is very spacious although, feels a bit dated. Server was efficient and order placed promptly. Cold Antipasto ordered and portion very generous. Love the cheese and anchovy placed on a mountain of lettuce and picked veggies. The dressing always does it for me. A tangy vinegrette that's not to overwhelming but, compliments the salad well. Did I mention the bread? Fresh, hot and so moist! Yum! P Scallops with snow peas and pasta... yes please. Buttery and lots of snap in the peas. My only want? Is to sear the scallops. They were however cooked well. Very tender. It was a very good meal and would definitely return. read more

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The service is quick, polite, and professional. Everything is so clean and it smells SO good with the Italian food cooking. I even love the sounds of glasses coming out wine getting opened and people chatting without it being too loud. read more

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So, Waimalu Paesano is related to the former Paesano from Manoa. Same owners, same menu, same friendly atmosphere, same, same, same. Paesano is located in the Waimalu Shopping Center, south side parking lot across from Safeway Stores. Why would you go here? Especially if you're from downtown Honolulu? Because it's a good half way point if you're dining with others from the west or north side of the island. Because the Establishment is nice, clean and local. Because the food is decent. Because, because, because. We each had different entrees but shared the roasted pepper appetizer and we were blessed with a complimentary bruschetta platter for us. Price point comparable to there Italian flairs in the area, let alone the island. Parking plentiful (well, it's a shopping center so would expect nothing less) Best part of dining here? The camaraderie! And we weren't rushed.... Our waiter was the greatest. Left us alone, stopped by only when asked to stop by. Another visit? Yup! (and those who know me would ask why am I going west passing the Airport Viaduct? ... because!) Nuf said read more

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7-18-2025 Big mahalo for Terry K who generously rounded us up for lunch in Waimalu. As soon as you enter the heavenly smell of garlic hits you in a good way arousing your taste buds and heightening your choice of selection. I almost wanted to ask our server what's the most garlicky item you have. Parking is no problem in the shared lot. The restaurant is a nice choice for friends, family,business associates or even couples to dine in. The roasted red pepper appetizer was moist, tender and delicious especially placed on a buttered slice of bread that was brought to our table in a white napkin covered basket. Our server also brought a nice tasty surprise, on the house bruschetta for each of us topped with a calamari ring over something liked a good pickled salsa- it was excellent but eat it fast cuz the juices soak into the middle of the toasted crusty slice. Ooh, if that was on the menu I'd select that. Some of us wanted to try something different from our regular choices of Italian food. We each had a doggy take home container for our left overs. Unfortunately The garlic on two of our entrees were a bit overcooked giving the dish a bitter taste. Another had pretty much the entire shrimp and vegetable untouched. The fourth person and host had the best looking dish out of the four. Our male server was professional, very patient as we practically closed down the restaurant for their lunch service. He refilled our waters and even the female runner that brought out our food was cute when she asked if anyone wanted cheese to top their dish. Very popular restaurant as many tables were occupied as two of us entered at 11:15 a.m. Leave room for dessert cuz the menu looked very tempting but no takers today. Maybe another time. read more

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My wife's auntie invited us to have dinner with her family while we were in Oahu. Paesano is located in a medium sized strip mall so finding parking wasn't a problem. I was surprised to see it looked more upscale inside than you would think based on the outside businesses surrounding it. We were seated promptly and service was very good. They came by frequently to make sure everything was ok. I wasn't overly thrilled with my chicken parmigiana due to its bland tomato sauce. My wife and daughter kept telling me to put more parmesan cheese in it but I already had and it couldn't salvage it. The chicken itself was fine and the portion for a small order was extremely generous though. My wife thought her chicken marsala was quite good so I'll give them the benefit of the doubt and give them 4 stars. My daughter also liked her dinner so maybe I just made the wrong choice. They wouldn't mind coming back but I'm still a bit iffy. It will be a while before I return to Hawaii so it doesn't matter much. They will be returning to the islands before I do. read more

Paesano - Chicken parmigiana. Generous serving for a small order. - Italian Near Me - Aiea, Hawaii

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Really enjoyed Paesano for lunch! Appreciated the smaller portion options that were perfect for us for lunch. Service was great, and it's a nice place and decor in an unassuming strip mall read more

Paesano - Eggplant Parmesan - Italian Near Me - Aiea, Hawaii

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My wife's favorite place on Oahu for Italian food. Chilled ambiance with friendly helpful service. Even the owners will come by to make sure everything is alright with your meal. They have a full bar with wine and spirits if you enjoy a cocktail with your meal. Lots of free parking. So call, make your reservation and enjoy this dining experience for yourself. Support local read more

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It was a busy night, we were able to grab a last minute reservation for 5. The kitchen was backed up, but we enjoyed a comped fried mozzarella while we waited. Chicken Bella was the winner on this visit, my Calamari piccata was a bit underwhelming (it's my fav and order often) but again, I think it was due to how slammed the kitchen got. This is our go-to Italian in the Aiea/Pearl City area...a great place outside of the hustle in town. Service is always stellar, if you haven't been, go! read more

Paesano - Calamari piccata - Italian Near Me - Aiea, Hawaii

5 stars for the service. 4 stars for the food. We had a lovely evening at Paesano's last night. Once you step inside, the restaurant feels much more intimate and inviting than its exterior suggests. The warm ambiance and beautiful decor were a pleasant surprise - especially since I've driven past this spot countless times over the years! I'd definitely return to explore more of the menu, but here's what we tried this time: - Tossed Green Salad - Bruschetta - on the house (a nice touch!) - Veal Scallopine Alla Sorrentino - Linguine Chicken Anchovy Olio (add capers) Each dish was beautifully presented, but the flavors were a bit hit-or-miss. My veal pasta, while well-cooked, was quite bland, even after adding extra cheese in hopes of bringing out more saltiness. My wife enjoyed her chicken olio, but we both found it unfortunate that the crispy skin was plated face-down, causing it to soften before she could fully enjoy its texture. That said, the service was truly exceptional - prompt, friendly, and incredibly attentive to the table service. The hospitality alone makes this place worth a visit. Overall, a great experience, and we'll be back to try more! read more

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Came here for a birthday dinner & it was nice!! Food was great. Service was nice & ambience was actually peaceful. Couldn't get pics of our foods cause we were starving but I managed to get one of my cannoli. read more

Paesano - Cannoli Alla Siciliana - Italian Near Me - Aiea, Hawaii

Food, service and ambiance hit the mark. The only downside is the steak which was small and more fat than meat. I'll return just won't order steak. read more

The food was great! but the Service was severely lacking. We had to ask for water numerous times and waited for the cups to be refilled. My Aunty ordered hot coffee at the beginning of the meal when the server took our drink order and didn't bring it to us until she asked again, at the end of the meal. He didn't even apologize to her. When we asked for refills on soda or more water, he didn't acknowledge us, he would just turn on his heel and disappear. But he was able to service the tables next to us in a more timely fashion. I watched our table and we weren't asking for much. He really ruined that meal and now makes us rethink eating there and maybe taking our celebrations to another restaurant. read more

We have been going to Paesano for many years, when they were located in the Manoa Shopping Mall. We found the service and food worth going back and bringing guests. This Father's Day things changed. Appetizers were good. Ordered spaghetti carbonara and Sicilian chicken. I was served what was spaghetti Alfredo and Sicilian chicken - vegetables were near raw. Brought this to attention of waiter. He took away "carbonara" and "nuked" the Sicilian chicken. Due to no gall bladder, I can't eat rich sauces, especially heavy cream. I was left watching my wife eat, no offering to order something else. So we had mango gelato and I had a cup of coffee. I asked the waiter for cream. I use a small amount of cream to cut the caffeine edge. As he put the cream on the table, his comment was, "thought you can't have cream." I was a waiter once. You, as a waiter, don't make a negative comment to your customer, unless you don't want a tip or don't want them back or BOTH. That will be the last time I visit Paesano. After all these years of frequenting your restaurant, your waiters conduct was absolutely unacceptable, ABSOLUTELY. I hope your chef better understands his dishes and your waiters learns how to be the gracious host and waiter. G. Shishido read more

Set a reservation for 9 and got seated really quick. Restaurant presentation is really nice and simple but somehow pretty elegant. Waiters refill water at a good timing! Food: - mozzarella sticks give a good cheese pull and they don't serve it too hot which is perfect. Batter is nice and crispy with a nice flavor, came with pickled vegetables (carrots, celery, bell peppers). Good flavor! - Complementary bread and butter is served nice and warm! Very simple but delicious - Ordered the large Chicken Alla Marsala, good size chicken cutlets, good amount of mushroom served with it and just the right amount of sauce. I don't eat Italian that often but this dish felt like it could've been better somehow!?!? But overall 6.5/10, if I came back I would definitely try something else but its honestly not that bad. read more

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We had the chicken parmagiana and veal scallopine. Ambiance was nice. Corkage $25 a bottle. read more

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Haven't been here in a while. The staff are very friendly and attentive. The food was awesome. Nice place for a get together. Parking was great. I would definitely recommend my friends and family here. read more

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Loud atmosphere and not your traditional Italian restaurant. Service was ok. Food-just ok read more

Really good food. Everything was cooked perfectly. But i still asked for al dente pasta..and that was perfecto!! The deserts are good too!The service is superb. They even have a party room. read more

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Our car club once again experienced a great dinner. A few of us have been here before and few haven't. The whole experience was great. Staff took good care of us, good and wine awesome. Which allowed us to have great conversation with one another. read more

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My family and I came here for an early Mother's day dinner. We were luckily seated as soon as we got to the restaurant. With so many options on the menu, it was hard for us to decide what to order. The waiter was patient and kind in answering our questions. I got the rigatoni alla ricotta which was alright, probably wouldn't get it again. My dad got the chicken picatta and said there wasn't too much flavor. My mom got the seafood My sister got the eggplant alla parmigiana and said it was good but wouldn't get it again. My mom got the seafood combination and said there wasn't too much flavor. We were disappointed since the food used to be really good. The atmosphere was really nice and clean though! read more

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Always a pleasant experience each time I have dined here. The service is always great and the servers are always attentive. We ordered the crab cakes and shrimp salad appetizers. My main dish was the New York steak, small size option with sautéed vegetables. The coffee here is also a favorite of mine. I have to have it whenever I'm here. The dining area is pretty large and the lighting is dim and comfortable. We didn't have any reservations and was able to get a seat as soon as we walked in. read more

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Perfectly prepared meals and incredible service. Easy parking, call for reservations.

Located at the same plaza as Safeway and City Mill near the Aiea/Waimalu area Paesano is a sorta fancy Asian Fusion Italian Restaurant. PARKING No problem finding parking here. Abundance of stalls. They're located on the Waikiki end of the plaza so there's not too much foot traffic there. RESTAURANT Everything looks fancy here. There's an Asian motif with fancy dressed waiters. The decor is elegant and doesn't feel like a typical Italian restaurant. Parsanos is very clean and well lit. It can get noisy at times. As far as price it's not that affordable for what you're getting. There are other reasonably priced better tasting pasta places FOOD Food seemed pretty basic here. My saltimbuca didn't really have much taste. I added quite a bit of salt to get it to where it tasted decent. Marsala could have been better. Even with all the grated cheese it still tasted under seasoned. Granted the portions here are huge. I ordered a regular and my wife got the "smaller" portion and she still couldn't finish it. That was probably the best thing about this place. This is similar to Assagio. It has that sort of feel. Could be the same owners. Not sure. Would I come back to Parsano? Probably not. I just feel like for the amount I paid for my entree I could've gone to another Italian restaurant and got 2 items for that price and probably wouldn't have to add salt to my dish. Would I recommend it? Yes come and try it out. Maybe I just had a bad time. There seems to be a loyal following for Paesanos as some of the waiters are on first name basis with their customers read more

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Always good consistent quality. It's an expectation when visiting this restaurant. Bring your wallet as it's not cheap, but it's worth the visit. The service is excellent and the complete staff is knowledgeable and can easily adjust to your needs and create anything you wish. The ambiance here is very nice and most wear aloha attire, but dress shorts and a golf shirt would be fine too. The homemade salad dressing for their garden salad is delicious. I also love their spumone ice cream too. A seafood dish can run you $50 and higher and a dessert can run between $7.95-$12. We enjoyed their free hot bread and dinner for four with a tip was about $280. We visit here about once every 6 weeks. I'll continue to be a repeat customer but maybe once every 8 weeks in the future. read more

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Dinner with friends. Nice open atmosphere here. Well lit and great service here. They let us stay there for a very long time to talk with each other and enjoy our meal here. A bit noisy with large groups tonight. We just needed to speak a bit louder to hear each other. Appetizers were delicious and tasty. Wine choices were very nice. One fruity and light, while the other red, was rich and smooth. I ordered the small clam garlic sauce Farinacca. The pasta was covered with chopped clams and three shelled clams. The sauce was light and garlicky. Fresh hot bread was provided with butter. A nice touch, but don't eat too much! Your appetite will be spoiled. See pictures for the yummy dishes we enjoyed here. Restrooms are available inside the restaurant. Service : 5/5 stars Ambiance: 4/5 stars Good: 4/5 stars read more

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Right across from the safeway in Waimalu plaza. Was craving italian, so came to try. bread and butter was amazing. Might've been short staffed so we didn't get a refill until we asked. Got mozzarella sticks as an appetizer - was good but the sauce was not my cup of tea. I prefer cold marinara sauce and this was warm and tasted too wine-like? bitter? can't quite figure it out but i didn't like it. When the pasta came, I had high hopes because the bread was so good but was sorely disappointed... I didnt know my shrimp and portobello pasta came with so many vegetables... and the other two pastas had the same tart liquidy sauce base. Chicken was super dry too. would not come again unless i just wanted bread and appetizers read more

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Excellent Italian. Love the Osso Buco and veal. Terrific seafood pasta. Large rib eye that night grilled perfectly. Calamari great and soft. Good wine list. Nice ambiance that's comfortable for talking to your group. Excellent service. Definitely neighborhood gem. read more

First time here with the wife, and she loves Italian food. Friend of hers recommended it! Service was fast and everyone was super friendly. The place is clean and has the Italian vibe! read more

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The food comes in large and small portions based on preference. Amazing taste and the service is excellent. We have gone here for years. The owner is kind and accommodating. Great place for date night or celebrations read more

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Celebrated a wedding anniversary dinner a few days ago. The bread and butter wet our appetite and we ordered a bottle of Cab. Had my fav chicken puttanesca, still excellent as always. Spouse had the Sicilian chicken with assorted vegetables. The deliciously seasoned Chicken medallions brought smiles. Seated by the owner, served by the manager and our server Wilson. Our wine glasses were kept filled by the manager and server with the appropriate amount of attention. Surprised us with a candled slice of cheesecake with raspberry drizzle. The floor staff pampered us to create a warm ambiance so we could celebrate our anniversary. That's rare nowadays. We've been dining here a few times annually with friends for decades and it remains a gem. read more