Assaggio Ristorante Italiano

Ask me to name my favorite Italian restaurant, and I'd probably tell you that it was Assaggio.  Located at the Ala Moana Shopping Center, Assaggio is probably the Italian restaurant that I have visited the most in recent years. 

Several days ago, I stopped in after a long day of shopping for an early dinner.  Although this is a mid-priced restaurant, the food served here is first rate.  Besides the convenient location, this place is casual and romantic.  (Sorry, no pictures of the interior are available.)

I decided on starting with a salad (insalate).  Of the all salads that were on the menu, I chose the calamari vinaigrette (US$5.90)

Fresh calamari rings atop a bed of romaine lettuce, along with tomato wedges and marinated peppers, carrots and olives, this salad was really delicious.  The dressing was tasty with just the right amount of tanginess to it.  The calamari rings were fresh and perfectly cooked.  They had just the right amount of tender chewiness to them.

I followed the delicious salad with a half order of my favorite dish of all, the linguine chicken anchovy olio (US$15.90, full order US$17.90).

Five succulent pieces of boneless chicken thighs were seasoned with salt, pepper and garlic, then pan-fried until the skin was nice and crunchy.  It was served along with a plateful of linguine that had been topped with tons of crispy bits of chopped garlic and anchovies that had been sautéed in olive oil.  The saltiness of the anchovies and the sweetness of the garlic prove to be a match made in heaven. 

For a mid-priced restaurant, Assaggio offers value and more.  The food is superb and the service here is always prompt and efficient.  Whenever I'm in the mood for some good Italian food, this is the place that I always come to.  Highly recommended.

Assaggio Ristorante Italiano
Ala Moana Shopping Center
1450 Ala Moana Boulevard Space 1259
Telephone:  808.942.3446

Comments

[MBS]

Assagio...on the site of the former Byron II steakhouse, where I had my first (and only) restaurant job (bus boy)as a college student.

The food looks great. How's the rest of the menu? I might want to stop there later this month. How's their lunch menu?

[MBS]

Btw, the exterior looks marvelous! They really did a nice job.

[Cathy]

Hi Reid - wow, that chicken looks delicious. That's a HALF order? Are all the entree's that generous?

[Clinton]

Reid,

That's funny that you are mentioning Assaggio's...My wife and I had gift certificates to dine at Assaggio's in Torrance and decided to finally use them. Much to our surprise and great disappointment, it was closed down for business. Is Assaggio's a chain like Calim Jumpers's or Stuart Anderson's? This restaurant was the former site of Pietro's which also went under several years ago. I know there is another Pietro's in Hawaii which sells their special brand of salad dressings which I liked. What a bummer on having these worthless gift certificates which we can't use anymore. Anyway, I hope we still can use them in Hawaii if we ever do go back.

[MrsT]

The exterior looks really good .. :)
The food also looks awfully good too.. ;) Yum.. yum.. :)

[MBS]

Clinton:

I don't know if an Assagio in Torrance is associated with the owner(s) in Hawaii. I could be a coincidence. I did a web search and found an "Assagio" in Birmingham, Alabama!

If you want some clarification re: your gift certificates, however, you can give the Assagio in Ala Moana a call. Their phone number is: 808.942.3446

[Clinton]

Thanks MBS,

I think I'll call the place in Hawaii to see if they are affiliated with the one in Torrance. Can't hurt. The former tenants called Pietro's went out of business and they have outlets in Hawaii, so I thought they may be very similar. Thanks for the research.

[Lisa]

Oh wow, looking at this post made me so hungry! I loved going to Assagio's when we lived in Hawaii. We usually went to the one in Mililani. I always tell people about the Caesar salad there, how they make it right at your tableside. I'm getting nostaglic!!

[babe_kl]

wow entree portion is so generous!

[Reid]

Hi MBS,

They did a wonderful job with both the interior and the exterior of the place. Don't mention Byron's...I used to go there quite often. The food was quite good too.

The rest of the menu is good and reasonably priced. I've also had the clams casino and the chicken sorrentino among other things. Both were equally good. The menu is reasonably priced, about US$12-17 per entree. If you have a chance, you should really check it out.

Hi Cathy,

Yes, all of the portions are huge. In fact, I'd be surprised if anyone could actually finish a full order. Normally, if I go with friends, we could possibly split 3 full orders (for 4 people) and have a bit left over. That's after a salad and an appetizer as well.

Hi Clinton,

I don't believe that this Assaggio is connected with the one that was located in California. The owners (I believe they are Vietnamese or Chinese, can't remember which) have 3 other Assaggio locations in the state (Hawaii Kai, Kailua and Mililani) as well as Paesano's in the Manoa Marketplace. The owner learned to cook Italian food at Castagnola (which was also in the Manoa Marketplace years ago), then I think moved to Salerno which was at the McCully Shopping Center before opening Assaggio.

BTW...Pietro's is still here near Ala Moana. The location in Kapahulu is now a Genki Sushi.

Hi MrsTweety,

If I could afford it, I'd probably eat here more often. =)

The food here is probably my favorite of any Italian food restaurant that I have been to in the state.

Hi Lisa,

Welcome to my blog! Yes, the food here is so good. I've only been to the Mililani location once before, but the service, like at all the other locations is exceptional. The Caesar salad is great. I love how they mix the dressing in the large bowl at the table and toss in the romaine lettuce. It's probably one of the only places that I know that uses anchovy paste in the Caesar salad dressing.

Hi babe_kl,

Long time no hear! Yes, the portions are huge. In fact, by the time I finish this and my salad, I'm too full for dessert. =(

[jupiter]

That linguine chicken anchovy olio is my favorite dish also. I don't think I have ordered anything but the linguine chicken anchovy olio for an entree when I have gone to Assaggio. I have tried other entrees but I always order the linguine chicken anchovy olio for myself. I also enjoy having their ceasar salad prepared table side. Although last time I had it, which was at the Ala Moana location, there was too much dressing and I had a hard time eating it. I also like the carpaccio. The best carpaccio I had on island though, was at Donato's when it was located at Kahala Mall. I haven't gone to Donato's since it moved to Manoa. I should add that to my 'places to visit' list.

At Pietro I like to order the Natto and Crispy Bacon Spaghetti (http://www.angelopietro.com/Menu/menu.html). I haven't been to Pietro's in a while also. I should add them to the list also.

Ttyl,
Jupiter @ http://nattokun.blogspot.com/

[lance]

For those interested, I found this off one of the local newspaper's website or one of the local cooking show's website (I forget where).

Linguine Chicken Anchovy Olio and Sautéed Opah
by Luong Nghiem Nguyen, Buono Pasto Assaggio
Ristorante, Honolulu, HI

2 chicken thighs
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons chopped garlic
3 to 4 tablespoons chopped anchovies
Pinch dried basil
Salt and pepper, to taste
3 ounces cooked linguine noodles (a little more than 1/2 cup)
Chopped Italian parsley, for garnish

>> Sautéed opah:
1 7-ounce opah fillet
1 large egg, beaten
1/2 cup flour
Salt and pepper, to taste
Pinch dried basil
2 teaspoons olive oil

>> Sauce for fish:
1 teaspoon olive oil
1 teaspoon chopped garlic
Salt and pepper, to taste
Pinch dried basil
1/2 teaspoon butter

Preheat oven to 550 degrees. Cut chicken thighs into five pieces.

Heat oil in oven-proof sauté pan. Add chicken, skin-side down. Add garlic,
anchovies and basil; cook until chicken is browned

Place pan in oven and bake 2-1/2 minutes, until skin is brown and crisp.
Turn chicken and cook another 2-1/2 minutes.

To prepare fish: Dip fish in beaten egg, then coat with flour. Sprinkle with
salt, pepper and basil.

Heat olive oil in frying pan. Add a pinch of salt to keep fish from sticking
to pan). Sauté fish 2-1/2 minutes; turn and cook another 2 minutes.

To make sauce: Heat oil in a pan. Sauté garlic lightly, then add salt,
pepper and basil. Add butter and stir to incorporate.

Serve chicken and fish over linguine. Top fish with sauce; garnish with
parsley. Serves 1.

[Reid]

Hi jupiter,

The linguine chicken anchovy olio is definitely my favorite as well. The Caesar salad is good. I ask for less dressing and no egg yolks. I haven't been to Pietro's in a while. I'll add it to my "to visit soon" list as well.

BTW...the last time I ate carpaccio was when I was in New York about 10 years ago. The restaurant was in Soho near Bagutta Life.

Hi lance,

Glad you were able to post the recipe here. I think a lot of people would like to try it! Thanks... =)

[Coco]

I love assagio's!! My friend's dad is Thomas Ky, the owner. I remember going there once. The portions were huge. I had flan for dessert and it was AMAZING. The salads are really good too. Best of all, MY DINNER DIDN'T COST ME A PENNY!! WHOOO~

[Rachel]

OMG, Assagio's has the best Italian food on the planet in my humble opinion. :) I love their Caesar salad and linguine chicken anchovy olio as well. I remember eating it almost every week when I was still living in Hawaii. When I saw the recipe posted, I told my mom and we are all grins and we are going to try it this week. Mahalo:)

[coco]

hi! i went again with my friends for the 4th of july and we ate at assagios again (didnt cost us a cent) we had the chicken arrabiata and i SWEAR THAT WAS THE BESTEST THING I EVER ATE IN MY WHOLE ENTIRE LIFE. IM SERIOUS. we got to sit on the bar table thing and the nice lady kept on refilling our drinks. and we got to watch tv. omgosh u guys have to try the chicken arrabiata its the best