Antonio's New York Pizzeria

Hawaii's pizza options are basically limited to the big guys, the national chain restaurants -- Domino's, Papa Johns, Pizza Hut, Chuck E. Cheese (for the kids), and California Pizza Kitchen (gourmet).  Of the smaller independent pizza joints, one of my favorites is Antonio's, which is located right across Waialae Avenue from Kahala Mall.  Antonio's serves New York-style pizzas, pasta dishes, calzones, salads, hoagies and Philly cheesesteaks as well as New York cheesecakes and cannoli.

There are many options on the menu here, with most pizzas averaging between $10 and $18 depending on the size of the pie and the number of toppings.  When I stopped by for lunch one recent afternoon, I found the pizzeria mostly empty.

There was just one couple and their two children enjoying some garlic rolls and a large pizza at a table in the corner of the dining area.  After looking over the menu, I decided NOT to order a pizza, but instead decided on having a hoagie.  You're in a pizzeria and you're having a hoagie?  That's just as bad as having a burger at a seafood joint (sound familiar?). 

So to save myself some frustration from having to explain myself, I'm going to start by saying that I did have the pizza here many, many times before.  My favorite is the white pizza, which substitutes olive oil and sweet basil for the usual tomato sauce.  More specifically, though, I usually order the Manhattan Supreme (white sauce, garlic, spinach, tomato, mushroom and Parmesan) or the Antonio's Special (white sauce, garlic, mushroom, pepperoni, black olives, Italian sausage and Parmesan). 

Today, I chose the deluxe hoagie (US$5.99).

A freshly baked 9" Italian roll is stuffed with ham, Genoa salami, pepperoni, lettuce, tomato and cheese, then topped with some tangy Italian dressing.  To me, this hoagie was better than any sandwich from Subway.  Filled with lots of meat and veggies, it almost seemed like I ordered a sandwich and a salad.  After the first few bites, I was confident that I had made the right choice.

How's about another look at the hoagie before I take the first bite?

After I was done with the hoagie, I made my way to the counter for a slice of the homemade NY cheesecake (US$2.99).

I had heard great things about this cheesecake so I was really anxious to try it.  The cheesecake is baked in-house by one of the owners' wives and the recipe for the cheesecake comes from said owner's mother.  Dense, moist, and creamy this cheesecake was perfect.  It was served plain and it was complimented by a thin, slightly sweet crust.  It's been years since I've had cheesecake this good, so I'm really glad that I decided to have this for dessert.

Antonio's New York Pizzeria
4210 Waialae Avenue
Telephone:  808.737.3333

Comments

[marney]

Reid,
I love their pizza, so now I will have to try the hoagie. Reminds me of subs in South Florida.

[Reid]

Hi Marney,

I love the pizza so I decided to try something different this time around. The hoagie was great, it's a definite must try.

[KIrk]

Hey Reid - The Sandwich looks pretty good - I rather have Italian style sandwiches. So the pizza is good here too, huh? Good to see plain old Cheesecake - I think they put too much stuff on cheesecake nowadays (i.e. why does everybody like Cheesecake factory???).

[Big BoK]

I love the cheesecake Reid.. ! yums..!!

[AugustusGloop]

Hoagies? Chuck E. Cheese? It's like a whole different planet! lol...

So exactly what is a hoagie?

And that cheesecake looks mighty fine. Baked cuisine definitely reigns supreme...

[Garrett]

Hi Reid,
I really enjoy your site. Round Table Pizza is my favorite on the island.

[A]

Hi, Reid!

I've never heard of Antonio's before, but now you've convinced me to go. That white pizza sounds interesting! Have you ever been to Big Kahuna's Pizza in Mapunapuna?

By the way, you said in the comments for the Nico's post that Big City Diner doesn't make its own burger patties. Actually, they do! They grind their own meat and everything :)

[clare eats]

I would love a slice of that cheesecake right now! YUM!!!!!

[Reid]

Hi Kirk,

The pizzas here are really good. You should try them when you're here. I also like plain cheesecakes for some reason. The ones from Cheesecake Factory are good, but not as good as this.

Hi Big BoK,

Nice to see you! *wink*

I love cheesecake too, especially when it's prepared like this.

Hi AG,

A hoagie is another name for a sub sandwich, or you can just think of it as a sandwich made from a roll such as this one.

The cheesecake does look good, doesn't it? =P

Hi Garrett,

Thanks for dropping by and thanks for the compliment on the blog.

I haven't been to Round Table in years. Maybe I'll stop by the one at the Sheraton sometime soon.

Hi A,

Nice to see you again.

The white pizza here is really good, especially if you cannot handle the acidity of the usual tomato sauce or if you like your pizza a little "sweet".

I don't think I said that BCD doesn't make their own patties, I believe I said "that these were better if only because of the homemade patties". What I should have specified is that the ones at BCD could pass for mass produced because of the uniformity of each patty.

Thanks for bringing that to my attention. Next time I'm in Kailua, I'll have a visit with Laine and talk to him about his burgers. =)

[boo_licious]

Reid, can we exchange food? I'll send you some mangosteens in exchange for that yummy NY Cheesecake. It definitely looks yummier than the ones we get here.

[Big BoK]

*wink*

[Jo]

MILLS: ::smacking lips:: mangosteens, I'm totally a fruit person man. Totally fruity.

JO: ::rolls eyes & hits the post button::

[Colette]

Hi Reid,

I'm glad you covered Antonios, it's definitely one of the better pizza places on the island, if not the best. Boston's is good, but they've done something to their crust. It's too thin and the sauce always breaks through the bottom on my slices. Can't beat their vegetarian slice, though.

Oh, and by the by, that Korean place that replaced Teddy's on Alakea? They've started running specials. Four bucks, any plate. One main item, and choice of three vegetables/sides. The line is usually out the door by noon, so go early!

[lance]

All these years, whenever I'm in the Kahala area, I've always wondered about Antonio's as I drive by. Now I know. The hoagie and cheesecake looks really good. And the white pizza sounds delicious. Thanks to you, it's on my list of "must try".

[tara]

I love a slice of quality cheesecake, served simply. If it is made well, you don't need a ton of other stuff on top. It's one of those cases where the simplest preperation truly denotes the greatest skill. Dense, rich yet light, and with a good crust. That is my idea of perfection.

[jupiter]

Reid,

Hoagie @ a pizza place?!? haha jk. Haven't had their white pizzas but I had their "margherita" and it was ok. I just wished they had used fresh basil instead of the dried up bottled stuff. Honolulu magazine rated this as the best in the state and I kinda disagree but I guess when I think about it I can't really name a better place.

[Reid]

Hi boo_licious,

Mangosteens for cheesecake? Hmmmm, that's one that I really would have to consider. This cheesecake was delicious, but from what I've heard, mangosteens are great too. Almost as good as durian.

Hi Jo,

I didn't quite get that! LOL! =P

Hi Colette,

I'm glad you like Antonio's. Not very many people that I know are really familiar with it. I haven't been to Boston's in a while, but the last time I was there (maybe a year ago), the food was the about the same. The one thing about that place is that the slices are huge!

As far as Sun's, I was there just a short time ago. I thought the food was OK, but now that they have the specials going on, I think I'll visit again.

Hi Lance,

If you do visit Antonio's, let me know how you like it. The white pizza is my favorite and I just found out that you can substitute the sauce on any of the pizzas with it.

So far, the cheesecake here was one of the best that I've had.

Hi Tara,

I couldn't agree with you more. That's really why I don't like the cheesecakes from places like the Cheesecake Factory too much. I like 'em plain and simple. I also love cheesecake that is really creamy and dense.

Hi Jup,

Har, har! =)

Do they used basil flakes? Hmmm. I didn't know that. I'll have to check it out the next time I'm there. In the past, I know they used to use fresh basil, so that may have changed. Thanks for the info.

BTW...as far as pizza is concerned, there aren't very many really good pizzerias here in Hawaii. Shame isn't it?

[Jo]

::laughing:: Not to worry Reid, I didn't get it either.

[Colette]

Oops, never mind, Reid. The $4 special is gone - I guess it was last week only. They've got some other special on which isn't nearly as good as last week. The store has gone back to being fairly empty.

[lance]

Went this past weekend. Tried the deluxe hoagie. Great stuff!!!! Having it on a french roll really makes a different. As you mentioned, it's like having a salad as well. The fresh romaine lettuce and tomatoes topped with parmesan cheese and dressing surely added. It makes Subway's sandwiches look very commercial (an option only). Got to try the white sauce pizza and cheesecake next. Thanks for informing us about Antonio's. This is a keeper for sure. Plus the person at the counter was very nice and friendly. A nice gentleman, like a big teddy bear, who looks like he rides a harley.

[Reid]

Hi Jo,

LOL! =P

Hi Lance,

I'm glad you visited Antonio's and got to try the hoagie. It was really good right? As long as I'm in the area, I don't think I'll be eating at Subways again!

I'm not sure who you saw at the counter, but if it was a kinda stocky guy with an unusual haircut, he is one of the owners and a semi-pro (or pro, I don't remember) wrestler.

Let me know what you think of the cheesecake after you've tried it.

[Reid]

Hi Colette,

I actually should have done a review on the place as I ate there about 3 or 4 times. I wasn't really impressed.

[Shyenne]

The cheesecake is to die for!!!!!!! Thanks for making me hungry.

[Reid]

Hi Shyenne,

Thank you for stopping by and you're welcome!

I agree that the cheesecake is to die for. In fact, now that I think about it, I'm craving a slice. *sigh*

[Rob]

you have to get the brooklyn pizza on thin crust. can't be beat. taste even better as leftovers.