4. Restaurants

Verbano Pastaria

98-151 Pali Momi St,Ste A2, Aiea, HI, 96701
  • (808) 487-1118
  • Store is closed

Verbano Pastaria Menu

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  • Joey e.

    we stop there for lunch today around 130pm and they close at 230.. went to get seated and didn't get our water till 10mins later, didn't get our bread till 20mins later, which we had to ask for, then 30mins later she brings out my husbands food, where the heck is mine!! why would you bring out one dish but not the other! then my dish comes out, and i had to ask for cheese and hot pepper flakes. i had to ask for more water and more bread because she only gave us one. then i eat my chicken Marsala, and the chicken is dry and the food wasn't even hot, like it was sitting there. but the funny thing is that it tasted exactly like my husbands dish which was chicken saltimbocca. wtf!!! i sat there for 35 mins waiting for our food, with no water, no bread, then the food was shity!!!!!!! i will never go back to this place, service is crap!! and the waitress never even said sorry for the long wait. no wonder they were slow, and no wonder everyone goes to the king street one!! dont go here to eat... go to the king st one.. we love that Verbano way better!!!!!!!!

    (1)

  • Royce T.

    It was my first time to Verbano Pastaria. At first I was not expecting much, but I was pleasantly surprised. The restaurant is small and almost empty at lunch time. We sat down and our waiter arrived. He was very attentive and pleasant. We ordered our food and it came right away, but before that we got the house bread. It was a little small, but really good and you can ask for refills. The bread came straight out of the oven, warm and soft just the way I like it and the butter. The butter was the good soft butter, not the hard frozen ones. I hate that when restaurants serve hard butter and you can't even spread it on the bread, it just destroys it. I had trouble deciding between the combination pasta and the carbonara. I decided to go with the carbonara because I didn't feel like red sauce today and I'm glad I did. I'm sure the combination is great also. From the reviews I've read seems like all of the food is good and all the ones we ordered today were good too. The carbonara though was one of the best I've tasted and I ate some in Italy that wasn't as good. Maybe I just didn't go to the right places in Italy, but still it was really good at Verbano. The waiter came around several times to do check backs and always kept our waters full, which is one of the things I consider important in good customer service. The portion sizes were just right not too big and not too small. The prices are well worth it for the portion size, quality of food and service. I'd say it is now one of my favorite Italian restaurants on the island. Check out my blog in my profile for other restaurant reviews with pictures and travel deals, tips and stories.

    (5)

  • Karen K.

    Normally a big fan. This last visit was not so good. Air conditioning was out. Poor server was short handed. Apparently, bus help didn't show or never made it. Food was still excellent. As we are water drinkers, we normally consume a lot but was not refilled adequately due to lack of help. Did notice the hostess' refilling water but only in close vicinity of their post. Only the two or three closest to the bar. Would have appreciated the hostess walking throughout the restaurant.

    (3)

  • Christine D.

    My hubby and I frequent Verbano on our date nights. Quiet peaceful atmosphere. AMAZING food, great prices! The staff is pleasant and friendly. I always get the Shrimp scampi mmmm delicious!

    (5)

  • Juan N.

    This has to be the best Italian restaurant I have been in Oahu. The place looks clean, the service is great, and the two times I went there, I went home very happy. The food is simply great and it puzzles me why it always seem so slow, but junk places nearby like Bravo seem to get a lot of business. I don't even remember what I ordered but I do remember how yummy it was! I will be visiting this place again very soon!

    (4)

  • Hiwa C.

    Food: Simply the best Itallian food on the island! I LOVE Verbano Pastaria! I'm totally addicted to their chicken fetuccini alfredo, fried mozarella (marinara sauce is delish), and Itallian Cream Soda. The fetuccini sauce is creamy, dense, cheesy, and full of flavor. The pasta is a mixture of spinach and wheat fetuccini for color contrast, and the chicken is tender-perfecto! The marinara sauce is the best I've ever had and I dip the house bread in the sauce. Mmm. The itallian cream soda is more creamy than fizzy-just the way I like it. I've tried their canelloni, carbonarra, seafood lasagne, and lobster ravioli and loved every one of their dishes. Ambiance: Romantic candle-lit dining, cloth napkins, fresh flowers, and classical itallian opera playing in the background. Parking: Tons of free parking at garage makai of Toys-R-Us Bonus: Verbano Pastaria participates in the ID card program which saves us $5-$10 each time we're here.

    (5)

  • Sandy P.

    The grossest thing happened today. On the cover of container of strawberry sauce for cheesecake were cockroach feces. Disgusting! My job orders this place for lunch and I will never eat there! I've never been to the restaurant but now I will never go there after this crap! Health code violation and I'm getting ready to file a complaint with the health dept.

    (1)

  • Tiani B.

    I am really really REALLY enjoying this place!!! I couldnt really judge my liking to it the very first time I ate here so of course I brought another group of friends here for dinner and guess what?! IT WAS STILL AWESOME!!! The food is GREAT!!! The place is really cute, prices are really good, and the staff is awesome! Im telling you, if you havent tried this place out, you need to get here! I want to eat there right now just thinking about their pastas! I hope to visit again soon!

    (5)

  • Paulina M.

    Went there yesterday because it had good yelp reviews. We ordered the bruschetta and that was really good.my brother had a pasta with mushrooms and what not. I had a vegetarian pasta. It was all really good at first then he starting feeling sick. I couldn't sleep at all and have been throwing up all day. Coincidence I think not, it was good but I probably will not be going back.

    (2)

  • Charmaine R.

    Idk if it was just what we ordered that sucked but I don't think I'll be coming here again. I ordered something from the house special and so did my boyfriend. We got it with the lobster sauce. While we waiting we ate the complimentary bread which tasted good because it was crunchy and soft in the inside! The guy came to give our order, it was in a tiny plate!!! I was shocked. I thought to myself, don't get mad because it might taste good! I took a bite and boy was I wrong. I thought it was supposed to be lobster sauce? It tasted nothing like a lobster sauce. It was a bit bland to me and it tasted more like cheese than anything else. And the fact that it was in such a small plate discouraged me even more. I took just two bites and gave up. My bf didn't even like his order either. The seafood ravioli with lobster sauce. This was our first time here, and definitely probably our last. Bad first experience for us leads to us never returning.

    (1)

  • Kristen C.

    Came here because my friend really wanted to eat some italian food plus I had a coupon that I wanted to use, but come to find out its only valid at night...LAME! i mean, why would it matter, the prices are the same?! Anyway, we came around 12 and the place was fairly empty with probably only 4 tables being used and no one even came in while we dined. There did seem to be a few take out orders though, as we saw one of the workers carrying bags of take out containers to the front. The menu is very extensive and the prices are pretty reasonable for the amount of food you get, we got some bruschetta for $6.90, it came with 2 long slices of grilled bread topped with eggplant, ricotta cheese, tomato, basil, olive oil and balsamic vinegar. As for entrees I got the pollo puttanesca for $9.90 and my friend got the steak verde that came with potatoes for $15.90. Entrees come with a small loaf of bread that came warm, the inside is soft and fluffy but the outside is not crispy and kind of "wrinkly" looking. As we waited our waters were filled accordingly. When I plates came the food was nice and hot and came with about 3 good pieces of chicken thighs that were cooked nice and moist. I would have given this place 4 stars but the penne pasta that came with it was really undercooked. I did like that it came loaded with mushrooms and there were a few eggplant slices. The flavor was also good and the saltiness of the anchovies and the "briny-ness" of the capers really stood out. For dessert we got the hawaiian ice cream cake for $6, the description stated oreo cookie, coffee, macadamia nut, chocolate and coconut sprinkles. This dessert was a disappointment as it was not what we expected from the description and it looked like it was a bit freezer burnt, also why I didnt give it 4 stars. Overall, the food was pretty good and a big portion for the price. Theres a lot of things to choose from so i'd probably come back.

    (3)

  • Claire M.

    The older I get, the pickier I get. This quaint, yet modern place was PERFECT! As my husband and I walked in the door, we were immediately greeted by the staff behind the bar. Our waiter was very polite and friendly, yet he didn't bug us by stopping at the table every other minute. I ordered the Veal Piccatta, while my husband had the Lasagna. My mouth is even beginning to water now, as I think of how to describe just how wonderful it was. So here goes: it rocked! Every single thing about our dinner was excellent. Oh, and even though I was full, I found room for their Lilikoi Ice Cream Pie. Just the right complement to end our meal. I really wish I could give this place an extra star!

    (5)

  • Anson G.

    Bottom Line: Among the best house salads and bread places you can find - along with good Italian food. They bake their bread fresh for you. You always get fresh bread, because it takes them 5 minutes to bake it. How can you beat that? Their house salad dressing is second to none. All of their dishes are solid choices. Their service is usually spot on. Today was a hiccup in that the waiter wasn't as helpful - but he seems new. Weird - I was considering raising their stars today until I got mediocre service from our waiter. Anyway, this is place is still a favorite of mine.

    (4)

  • Trish P.

    2 and 1/2 stars...... i'm not sure which came first, this location, or the one on king street (or that other one they have), but this one is not as shitty as the one on king - but not by much, i gave king street 2 stars. a grungy old man that i wasnt totally sure worked there, leads us to our table. our party of 6 and a couple having dinner were the only ones in the whole restaurant. not screaming popular to me.... the eats: - bruschetta - Clams Casino - fried ravioli - escargot - pasta dish i cant remember the name to.... the bruschetta, which came out last, and took the longest to make for some reason, was soggy - which tells me it was sitting around for who knows how long. clams casino were disappointing - very small clams, drowned in sauce and the best part about this app was the bacon. fried ravioli had barely any filling, but was nice and crispy... for empty dough pockets. escargot. really, i should have known better. this was drowning in sauce as well, and were very small. it wasnt bad, but it wasnt good either... hard to explain. it was, confusing. the pasta dish i got actually was decent. it was pasta with scallops and spinach in a lobster cream sauce. the scallops were a little over-cooked, but not so much that it was terrible. i also tried some Tuttobene Sangiovese wine.... it smelled spoiled and tasted rancid.... so we sent it back. really, where the hell are the good italian restaurants in hawaii?! it cant possibly be this hard to find one.......

    (2)

  • Marc L.

    What a pleasant surprise! Food is excellent and prices are great. Very authentic northern Italian fare which is a surprise coming from an Asian chef. Well done.

    (4)

  • Prokhor Z.

    Had an eggplant stuff sausage special - was very good. Would avoid the fried mozzarella. Excellent service.

    (4)

  • Rebecca C.

    first time back in a long long time, in all it was just ok... the warm fresh bread is winnas here, and that you can request more for free. ordered the antipasto salad and although it was delicious, it was lacking on presentation. bf ordered the veal saltimbocca loaded with mushrooms. yum! I had the the eggplant parmigiana and a bit watery but was still ok. lastly tip to waiter #21, please work on your eye contact, speaking, and physical skills... maybe then I'll tip you more :)

    (2)

  • Karl K.

    Brought the "boss" here for her birthday and the two kids "tagged along." The kids like the near-by Bravo Restaurant, but I feel the food is better at Verbano. The menu is a bit more extensive than the two in town, which is why I prefer the Aiea location. Parking was a breeze as we went roof-top and found a stall next to the stairway. I didn't need it that evening, but my disability parking placard is handy from time to time. Our preferences vary: the kids like chicken-based entrees; the "boss" likes veggies such as eggplant; I'm the meat-eater (Steak Verde is my usual, although I went a bit lighter that night with veal). The salads and bread were tasty, and we all had room for dessert. The "boss" even had a couple of glasses of white wine. It was good to enjoy dinner in a much quieter atmosphere than the noisier Bravo. Very reasonable bill for the four of us. It remains an under-rated "hidden gem." And I'm OK with that. A solid 4-1/2 stars.

    (4)

  • Sky S.

    WOW! Cheap and GOOD Italian food. When I first visit, I didn't expect this place to be this good. Because of the price. Portion is just right, though. Have an appetizer, salad or soup then main dish. You'll be taking left over home. I love their seafood ravioli with lobster cream. You don't have to spend fortune to enjoy good dining out... Or you can enjoy their food at home because they're listed with delivery service as well. (delivery is NOT by restaurant!)

    (4)

  • Elle V.

    Ate here with my boyfriend on a weekday and it was empty. There was one server and he was very nice and attentive. The food was pretty good but not a place I would come back to all the time.

    (3)

  • D. A.

    I've passed this place a few times and since it had good Yelp reviews, figured I'd give it a try tonight. I had the House Salad; its dressing was creamy sweet and mixed well with the (red wine?) vinegar they used. If I remember the name right, my chosen entree was the (SF10) Chef Seafood Piatta. It had 3 shrimp and 5 scallops with pasta, spinach, mushrooms, and olive oil. The flavors blended nicely, though the spinach was a bit thicker in texture than I'd prefer. I looked at dessert menu but decided against having any. Some of the ice cream cake/pie items looked interesting, though.

    (3)

  • Lilian N.

    I gave this place five stars because it is the best Italian food I've had in the Aiea area. Not only are the entrees delicious and affordable, but the service is always great. Visited twice with my boyfriend and we were pleased with the dishes we've ordered. I usually opt for the famous Pollo Puttanesca, but the last time I ordered the Seafood special (can't remember the entree name) which consisted of shrimp, scallop, spinach, and mushroom tossed with bacon, garlic, and olive oil over pasta. It was soooo good!!!!! The portions are very generous considering the prices, and they also have a decent wine/beer selection.

    (5)

  • Richard Y.

    I agree with those who say Verbano Aiea is an undiscovered gem and underrated. I like it better than Assagios and Paesano for quality Italian good at more reasonable prices than the others including Bravo near by. the portions are very generous and the service is fine. I have always wondered like many other reviewers why there seem to be so few patrons in the restaurant. Makes yo wonder if you do not know something (negative) about the place. Such fears are unfounded, it is a great value, great food, reasonable prices. Those searching for great Italian food at a reasonable price ind a place that is not crowded....do yourself a favor and give it a try!

    (4)

  • Teo S.

    I always considered this place a hidden gem. The Italian food here is pretty damn good, and their complimentary bread comes warm and delicious. I normally start with their escargot, which comes swimming in a pool of garlicky, buttery goodness. I usually follow with their steak fromage. Two words: holy cow. I never have room for desert but I will update this review if I ever get the chance. Now, you're probably wondering.. Why only 3 stars? For those of you who have come here before, I'm sure you can agree with me here.. This place kinda stinks. There's a really odd stench when you enter. It's a cross between spoiled milk and vomit. If it wasn't for their good food, I'd probably take my business elsewhere.

    (3)

  • Shy K.

    Amazing food. Used to be a regular a Ricado's across the street. Ever since a friend told me about this place I been going ever since. The price is so reasonable and the service is good. I wish they had a wine called Roscatto. Love the food and I'm a customer for life. Can't wait to go back.

    (5)

  • Roy Y.

    Just another excellent meal at Verbano's Pearlridge! Now with a wait-staff of four, your food comes out right on-time. I had to have the Clams Florentine for an appetizer again and the Chicken Casino, with a side of chili pepper flakes, were awesome! Wifey loved her Seafood Combination, with shrimp, scallops, clams and calamari on a bed of pasta. Our server, Jerome was right on point! He brought us a second basket of warm bread after only few minutes of finishing the first, without being asked. He checked-up on us enough, without being a pest...perfect 10! Verbano's Pearlridge is actually getting better every time I dine there; check it out!

    (5)

  • Victoria R.

    I can use one word to describe this place...GARLIC!!! They definitely load every dish with garlic. I'm a garlic lover myself, but my seafood pasta that I ordered was overwhelming. I would've enjoyed the dish a bit more if they cut down on the garlic. Other than that the seafood was cooked perfectly and the marinara sauce was delicious. However, I would stay away from the escargot appetizer. The presentation and flavor get a big thumbs down.

    (3)

  • Niniau S.

    First off, Ill admit up front that weve been going to Verbanos in Aiea for the past 10 years or so. My children are 9, 6 & 4 and theyve practically been to this restaurant at least once a month since they were born! We usually go for dinner - but have been there for lunch as well on occasion - and every time, the service/food was excellent. My food faves, Appetizers: the clam florentina (hold the bacon bits) - delicately steamed fresh clams with spinach in a tasty butter garlic sauce; escargot - deliciously topped with fresh garlic bits, butter and white wine sauce; steak carpaccio - the current kiddie favorite, thinly sliced raw meat served on a bed of romaine with a tasty balsamic/olive oil/caper dipping sauce; the cold anitpasto - iceburg lettuce with pickled red peppers, proscuitto, salami, cheese & other veggies in a vinegarette. Dinner faves: anything with lobster sauce. Seafood combination, pasta ravioli, scallops, whatever you can think of that would taste good with a butter white wine sauce, change it up and get the lobster sauce. Just plain delicious. Another winner (at $15) a plate of Gamberoni Scampi - fat, steamed just right shrimp over your choice of pasta in a white wine butter sauce. Ive also ordered their specials from time to time: grilled ulua or mahimahi or chicken breast done up with either eggplant or mushrooms or fresh spinach. Most recently, I tried something new and had the veal - what a treat and done perfectly tender! Dessert faves: mud pie, Mexican coffee, lilikoi cheesecake Service: after going there for ten years, the owner knows us and service is stellar. Recently, with the bad economy, weve been going on week nights when we are usually the only patrons for the evening. Weekends tend to be busy and we figure by going on an offnight, newbies can have our table on weekends. :-) Wine: it took us a while to get over the % increase (I could buy the same bottle of chardonnay for $15 instead of $30) but then I realized they need to make money, too. So now, we just order two bottles if we need to and think of it as growing a local economy. After seeing Bandidos and Dennys close in the past few months, I would certainly lament Verbanos Aieas demise if they went out of business. Ive tried Assagios (crappy clams and scampi) and other Italian restaurants I cant even remember the name of and all pale in comparison. We live on the west side so the convenience of not having to drive the kids to town is a big plus too!

    (5)

  • Tina T.

    We stumbled across this restaurant when we saw how long the lines at Chillies and CPK were. The restaurant was quaint, clean, welcoming. It had a big pasta menu. We received great service, bread was warm when served, the waiter was courteous, pleasant; unfortunately the food was just not appetizing at all. My boyfriend ordered the mixed seafood with bacon pasta, and I ordered the eggplant parmigiana with a side Oder of meatballs. - The pasta were over-cooked on both dishes, a bit soggy and no texture. - The marinara sauce was rather pathetic, watery tomatoes sauce that was worse than the jar sauces from supermarkets. - The prawns were over cooked. - Meatballs were lukewarm and under seasoned (too much breadcrumbs and not much meat flavor) - eggplant was depressingly thin and soggy. - the salad on the other hand was fresh. Perhaps the usual chef was not around because I seriously don't understand how others could have rated it so highly. The 2 stars are all for our waiter.

    (2)

  • Peter Y.

    It was 6 on a Sunday and they were dead, service was fine, minus running out of my drink. Food wasn't anything to write home about. Basic Italian

    (2)

  • Janice S.

    The food is consistently good and rich. Jeff almost always orders the chicken saltimbocca. I usually order some type of seafood pasta in white wine butter sauce.

    (4)

  • Nadia K.

    We came here for lunch during the work week. Although we called in our order ahead of time, it still took a little while to be seated and get our food. Don't order the Neapolitan Lasagne (Layered lasagne pasta with ricotta and, mozzarella cheese, grilled chicken breast, and meat sauce). It's just okay. On the other hand, my friends loved the lobster sauce and marinara sauce on their pasta dishes. The house bread was delicious and the prices are reasonable.

    (3)

  • James C.

    I want to preface this by saying that the manager was a very nice gentleman and worked hard and was accommodating... Upon walking into verbana pastaria there are a couple things one will notice...1 that there is a moldy wet smell possibly due to years of poor sanitation practices...2 that you might be the only person in the restaurant... The marinara is pretty much as good as a marinara can get...The complimentary bread was old and crumbly...My friend ordered the Sicilian sausage...His only comment was the sausage tasted like johnsonville and the potatoes were grossly undercooked...My wife ordered the seafood Alfredo and had zero complaints in fact it was quite delicious which sparked ideas within her to make some similar dish at the house...I ordered chicken parm...The chicken was grisely and had the texture of alligator or shrimp...Didn't eat very well at all...the 5 dollar cannolis were severely lacking...when we got home it looked like a couple of lumpia with chocolate and cream on the side... All and all a 2 star review...I feel bad for the owner and manager as they were nice I would have liked to fall in love with this place but the sanitation, price point, lack of parking all make this place fall short of a place I would give a second chance... Also a key red flag with restaurants like this is the fact the menu is too large to be fresh...And any foodie or chef knows that

    (2)

  • Nat W.

    Verbano Pastaria is tucked in between buildings in short distance from the Pearl ridge Center. When my friend and I arrived, it was past 9:30pm and their closing time is 10:00pm. But the owner? gladly took us in and never rushed us. The interior....they try to create the romantic atmosphere but the lighting was way too dark for me and the tables and chairs etc were just too old. Now the food. Not bad but everything was just at Olive Garden level. The portion is just right for guys I think. I wish the food was bit better than what I experienced. I have noticed it is hard to find a good Italian restaurant in Hawaii, but it is gonna take a little more than this for me to come back.

    (3)

  • Juliet M.

    Surprise!!!! I was a lil bitsy scurrrred coming here after reading some of the reviews. There is one a out the smell in the place, which is not the case any longer. So my man and me went in kind of reluctantly! We sat down and the place was completely empty. It was a Saturday which is never a good sign. I ordered the special with the eggplant and penne. I'm not a big clam fan so I was able to sub out the clans for shrimp. Happy. Happy. Happy. Customer service rating just improved. My handsome companion ordered the neo lasagne. It was a tasty treat. I would say that my dish was the win! Hehe. He would disagree with me. I personally enjoyed my dish a bit more bc it was balanced and tapped into all the taste buds...sweet, salty, sassy....oh wait that is a taste, but is there any other way to describe capers? Didn't think so. We had the tiramisu and a bottle of chianti! All and all, this was a solid four stars! I am always pleased to have things that totally prove my assumptions wrong! Looking forward to another Italian dinner here pronto.

    (4)

  • Lia M.

    My beau and i came here last sunday (superbowl) and it was empty-- restaurant completely to ourselves. The manager there is so friendly and accomodating! Food is good- loved the warm bread and butter. We ordered calamari (nice and crispy), the cheese ravioli (added mushrooms), and the chicken cacciatore. Everything was delicious- but i have to admit- i am a garlic fan- but the cook diced up at least 5 cloves of garlic for my dish and i just ended up trying to pick it all out of the lobster cream sauce of my ravioli... it was overpoowering and distracting from the creamy consistency of the sauce. i will come back, but will either order something else or just be Bold and tell the cook to ease up on the garlic!!

    (3)

  • Janice S.

    We had a really nice Mothers Day at this restaurant. Service was attentive and food was really good. It was a nice restaurant. We come here and are regulars even though we live in Mililani.

    (5)

  • Tatiana W.

    I haven't had better Italian food on island! The service is always impeccable, food delicious, and ambiance beautiful and romantic. My beau and I enjoy coming her for special occasions or when we've got some extra dough to spend on carbs. Love this place. It doesn't get the attention it deserves!

    (5)

  • E S.

    The only Italian food worthy on this rock! Bread is off the charts! We always go for the specials and they never disappoint! Their house salad is so Ono we always bring some home! For sure it's the family favorite!

    (5)

  • Aaron N.

    Tonight 2/14/2015 me and a friend went out for dinner and drinks we ended up at this restaurant us and another party went in at the same time wantedthey want to sit at the bar until a table was available then we got asked wanted if we had a graduation or something we said no we jus wanted to sit at the bar and eat and drink we sat at the bar for about 10 min I had to call over the bartender to get drinks it wasn't even that busy and we still waited for almost 25 min I have to give a rating ok 1.5 I'm not happy I have more to say but it would be to long

    (1)

  • Joanne E.

    On both of our visits here, the food has been good and rich, and the service decent as well. Our only complaint is that both times as soon as we walked in, we were assailed by a stinky, musty bathroom smell, which almost made us walk right back out. Luckily, it is not as noticeable once you move towards the rear of the restaurant. We'll likely return, since we've enjoyed our meals here.

    (3)

  • Mike D.

    For a pastaria, they do not make fresh pasta. Flavor of the arrabiata is ok. No heat. Marinara sauce with ham and bacon is what it's consistency was. Simply put, no pride in ownership. I wouldn't be surprised if there isn't a chef in the building who actually studied or was taught Italian cuisine.

    (2)

  • Becki K.

    This 1 star review is based on the food. The waiter was attentive, knowledgeable and friendly. The atmosphere was pretty and inviting except for the horrifying stench that greeted us when we walked into the restaurant last Friday. I'm not sure if there was a problem with the plumbing or grease trap but the smell was very off putting. Against my better judgement we decided to proceed to the table. The menu had a good variety of choices and we settled on the Chicken Saltimbocca and Chicken Marsala. The Marsala was a flattened chicken breast breaded and pan fried on top of flavorless greasy noodles. Everything was beige in color and flavor. The Saltimbocca was slightly less disappointing yet did not salvage the wreckage of our meal.

    (1)

  • Chevelle D.

    Came here for my sisters birthday since it's her favorite restaurant. I haven't been here in a few years and nothing has really changed. The tables are quite small, there not much elbow room because you have to sit quite close to the person next to you. The food was mediocre, nothing out of this world. Our server was nice, except I think they sent the thee server home in the middle of dinner service because he ended up seeming to forget about our table completely. My sister had to physically get up out of her seat and come to the bar and ask for a dessert menu. Wasn't a fan this time around.

    (3)

  • Marjorie L.

    A pastaria should have home made pasta, right? Not here. I had arabiatta which is supposed to be a spicy marinara, but this had ham and bacon, a play on amitriciana, which is my favorite sauce. But this was very greasy and not freshly made. Complimentary bread was fresh, house Merlot just a little bitter. I'm not sure how much longer this place will last, I was there in the middle of lunch hour and it was practically deserted. They need a chef.

    (1)

  • Chantel C.

    Overall, pretty good place and surprised to be very satisfied (despite the reviews). Location: Convenient for those who don't live in town, and who don't want to wait forever at CPK or Bravo's. Parking: It looks like there's no parking, but there are lots of options. Across the street at Sears/Chili's, in the lot behind the restaurant (entrance by Big City Diner/Toys R Us), or on the second floor (the ramp is across the street by Longs like you're going to the theater). Food: First, I have to give major props when I receive fresh, hot bread. Sadly, not all places give hot bread (CPK's is not always warm and sometimes it's chewy), or even give bread at all. So that put me in a good place right at the beginning. I think we had 3 baskets of bread! Second, they had decent escargot. I love escargot, and it's difficult to find a place that serves it! It's not the best I've had, but great for the cost (under $10)! We ordered 1 Caesar salad, which the server was kind enough to split in 2. Very good for a decent price (under $7)! Last, I ordered the penne pasta and my bf ordered the seafood fettuccine alfredo. Both were very hot (temperature), and quite tasty. Large portions and the pasta was cooked perfectly. Service: Quick and friendly. It was quite empty, so the service was very attentive, always filling our water and making sure we had bread. Will return when I'm craving Italian, especially when other places are so busy!

    (4)

  • Aulii H.

    I give this Verbano's five starts because 1) It's the best Verbano's on the island, and 2) It's the best Italian restaurant in the Aiea area compared to Ricados and Palazzo. I went here with my boyfriend and grandma, expecting it to be slightly less that average like the other Verbano's, but was pleasantly surprised to be proven wrong. We went on a weeknight, and I guess times are hard so there was only one server who may or may not have been the owner. With that said, service was slow but of course it is when one person is trying to do everything. He was very friendly and was doing the best he could. He was constantly moving so it's not like he was ever slacking off. The food all had great flavor and was not oily like other Italian places. The meatballs have good texture and taste, and the marinara sauce isn't bland or overly sweet. The deep fried ravioli appetizer was also good. The selection of wine is not bad for a place like that, and at least they're not charging $30 for a $5 bottle of wine like some other places. I've been to Italian restaurants ranging from classy and expensive to ultra casual, and at this Verbano's you will definitely get a better experience than what you are paying for. Hopefully it doesn't close like the neighboring restaurants, because I want to make this a regular place to eat.

    (5)

  • Justine F.

    If it were possible I wouldn't give this place a single star. My husband and I were in the mood for Italian last night and decided to give Verbano Pastaria a try. I couldn't have been more disappointed. The food was lazily prepared at best. We ordered fried Mozarella and got a slab of fried cheese that we paid $7.90 for. The pasta was undercooked and hard. The sauce was tasteless and I didn't even bother getting past a few bites of my meal. Do yourself a favor and head down the road to Bravos! I will never eat here again!

    (1)

  • Don P.

    Not good Instead of pasta appetiser it was a breaded fried wontons Cannelloni was terrible Bread wand tea was good

    (1)

  • Drew S.

    Great food at a great price. This place is right out of Italy. You have to know it is there to find it. But it is worth it.

    (4)

  • Ryan B.

    Oh Verbano's.... you are quite the conundrum. You walk in and you are greeted by a restaurant that looks like it was designed in the 80's by some one that had heard from a clown what Italy was like. The decor is awful, and the music is SO OVERLY DRAMATIC. The problem with this is it sets people off a little bit. It is however very very clean! Secondly, the Owner? Manager? Greets you and is clearly not designed for front of house, but he is quick and friendly! Despite this hole in the wall looking like a mess of design and sounding like your at an italian opera... the food is AWESOME. Every time I have guests visiting I take them to Verbano's... but I always have to preface it with "keep an open mind". EVERY dish we have tried has been absolutely fantastic... never too much of anything. Last time I brought a party of nine, the service was very quick and everyone loved their dishes. We were passing around our food as quickly as we could. I honestly think that if the owners allowed some one with an eye for style redesign this place and put more emphasis on their bar, this would be a very very happening spot. But PLEASE, don't let the same guy that chose the current color scheme/art/music be in charge of the redesign haha.

    (4)

  • Darren N.

    Parking: Lots of parking in front of Toys R Us. Ambiance: Dimly lit. Standard white-cloth-fancy. Service: Polite and helpful. Water checked and free bread. Food: If you like mushrooms, this place has a lot of dishes with it. That being said, I had the Ossobucco minus mushrooms. Their version of it is different from Assaggios but almost just as good. The smallest details separate it which is slightly chewier and smaller portioned meat. Besides that, they have a wide range of pasta choices for all to enjoy. Verdict & Takeaway: It's hard for me to make any suggestions for these good Italian places. 4 stars for the good food and fair price.

    (4)

  • Jade N.

    It's been a very long time since I been here. My husband and I decided to eat dinner here one day. The portions of their food is perfect. You don't feel overly full after you complete your meal. The service was awesome even though there was only one waiter bussing tables. Place is nice and clean. Recommended if you are in the area. Go and check it out :)

    (4)

  • Eric M.

    First visit here mostly because of the restaurant's inclusion in the Entertainment book. It's a pretty small place but was nearly empty on a Wednesday evening. The waiter was very attentive and spent some time making menu suggestions. Carbonated drinks are not refilled but coffee and iced tea are. So we ordered the iced tea. Nothing special but our glasses were refilled regularly. Started the meal with an appetizer: deep fried ravioli with marinara dipping sauce. Was like eating very small wontun with cheese except the ravioli pasta is kind of tough when it's fried. Not ordering this one again. The Italian bread was served warm with butter. Yummy even though I usually dislike eating white bread. The Mrs. ordered veal parmigiana and liked it. The veal was very tender and the marinara wasn't overpowering. It's served, of course, with a more-than-half-order of pasta with more marinara sauce. Too much food for her so I got to try some of the veal. I agreed, pretty good. I ordered the mushrooms on pasta with butter white wine sauce. Very, very good. A bit pricey compared to many nearby Italian restaurants but I was much happier with this dish than I've been with pasta from those other places. I will be ordering this again when we get around to a repeat visit.

    (3)

  • Kristel Y.

    I think this place is definitely underrated. It's an easy restaurant to dismiss, after all, it's wedged between some huge Mexican restaurant and Denny's. But when you're on your way to Denny's next time, think about the diarrhea you'll get from their food later, and maybe you should stop at Verbano's instead. This is probably my favorite affordable Italian restaurant in the area. They have a good sized menu selection and their dishes (like the steak fromage, which is my favorite) are consistently good each time. The restaurant itself is pretty small, so it feels like an intimate (and yet casual) place for dinner. Perfect for a non-expensive date or just a lowkey dinner with friends.

    (4)

  • Nat N.

    Verbanos is one of my favorite Italian eateries on the island. Their bread is always fresh and served warm. Every time I come here I order the antipasto salad - it's enough for two people to share. For the main course, I always order the Pollo & Melanzane di casino: sauteed chicken, bacon, spinach, garlic, eggplant, served on a bed of linguine. The staff is very friendly, attentive, and professional.

    (5)

  • Tamra P.

    When I'm feeling Italian takeout, Verbano's is the place that always seems to pop in my head. Prices are good, they sub veggies instead of the pasta (which allows me to eat more of their delicious bread), and service is generally pretty quick. I've gone here for work lunches before and I like the fact that you can always get a table and it's fairly conducive to conducting business. We shared the sautéed mushroom appetizer - YUM! Garlicky, button mushrooms with crispy onion slivers. I ordered the gratin penne pollo anchovies with a sub of the veggies for penne pasta. Generous portion: this was my dinner and lunch the next day. It was garlicky and delicious, albeit a bit on the salty side. Hubby got the seafood ravioli florentini which he enjoyed. It was a little bland for me, but I'm more into the spicy red sauce than the creme sauces. Then again, I could eat their bread all day and be happy. Little baby loaves that are crusty on the outside, soft and warm on the inside. Now the 4 stars are for what it was---affordable Italian takeout. Probably more like 3.5 stars but I think it deserved the extra bump up rather than a bump down. Good bang for the buck. At a little over $40, it's a great value. Lots of free parking and I had NO problem finding a stall.

    (4)

  • Brad B.

    Fantastic food and service. Loved the beer selection and Veal Saltimbocca and garlic bread. Served hot fresh bread with melting butter and parmesan cheese that left you wanting more. The server kept the drinks filled and ice to the brim. Can't think of a better place in the area with a fantastic atmosphere. Also, they offer a 15% discount with the Island ID discount card.

    (5)

  • Jamie L.

    Okay, so the one-man-show thing is true. This guy does it all, host, bartender, food-runner, waiter, busser.. He deservesn this one, lonely star. Just him. The restaurant is clean, & it's nice inside.. But seriously.. Why does all Italian food in Hawaii suck?! I get it, this isn't New York, but when did covering everything in red sauce become 'Italian'? & as long as we're playing stereotypes, where was the olive oil in this meal? As far as the food goes, I'd rather have Chef Boyardee from a can. Everything is under-seasoned, over sauced, & there's something fishy going on with the seafood.. Were my clams & snails sandy? Noodles are soggy, blanching water wasn't seasoned. All the pasta is the same. No interesting shapes. No taglatelle, no cavatelli, not even bow-tie. Just like EVERYWHERE else on the island. So this bash isn't for Verbano's alone. It seems like if you want anything semi interesting on the island, you have to pay an arm & a leg for it (See: Asagio's Mililani) & it's still not that great, or remotely authentic. Okay, so you want to eat here anyway? Yea, if you want a nice quiet spot to take the kids, this is your jam. & the wine list isn't half bad & glasses are cheap. (White were about $6-7 & reds were about the same, for an 8oz pour.) I agree with Niniau S. about holding the bacon on the clams. But I'd hold back on calling anything we had here excellent, or amazing. ''Gross'', ''WTF'', & ''Did I just pay for/eat that?!'' sum things up a little better. Common people! We can't be spreading the aloha with our starts so easily...

    (1)

  • Claudia C.

    Cute restaurant. Small and cozy. Food was good and the service was excellent! We didn't feel rushed like some places. I loved the bruschetta! My son loved the steak formage. Will definitely go back again!

    (4)

  • Dan O.

    Verbano's is my go-to Italian restaurant. Conveniently located nearby highway on- & off-ramps, I'll usually stop by after-work on the way home. My usual, the chicken casino!

    (4)

  • Cindy B.

    Haven't eaten at verbanos in awhile and came here for an anniversary dinner few months ago. The food and the service was pretty good. The restaurant is dimly lit and romantic, food came out quick, and waiter was attentive.

    (4)

  • Ira J.

    For Italian food, my lovely wife and I are more likely to go to Verbano Italiano Ristorante in Aiea than anywhere else. The menu is extensive. The food is good. The portion sizes are big enough to produce leftovers. The service is almost always excellent. The atmosphere is intimate and reminiscent of a fine-dining Italian establishment. I'd recommend Verbano Italiano Ristorante for date night for anyone who wants to impress but money is a concern. Tonight for dinner my bride and I had a great meal/date for less than $40 including tip, and I'll be having the leftovers for lunch tomorrow. Oh, one more thing: There is always convenient parking on the roof.

    (4)

  • Gaelen L.

    The stars are for the waiter. This food is terrible. I have been looking EVERYWHERE for a decent Italian meal here in Hawaii, I don't know why I thought this place would be any different from the rest. The waiter was uber nice and was consistent with the drink refills (water only because the restaurant does NOT offer free refills on anything except water). I ordered the traditional lasagna and my wife had the pasta carbonara. The marinara sauce was so soupy that I had to eat the entire dish with a spoon! My wife was equally disappointed in her meal. Maybe I should give up on Italian food until I head back to the mainland :(

    (2)

  • Deebo H.

    Gotta give it a 4* cuz only a one man army running everything himself, but here are the break down I had the fettuccini Alfredo with mushroom came out with a mixture of white and green pasta alfredo sauce was not thick and not to cheesy which came out great for me my wife had the escargot which she also thought I was better then some places What drew me to my meal was the bread they offer u b4 your meal comes out and was a yummy start my brother ordered the chicken pamarsan which he said was not bad and also a side of garlic bread...his garlic bread was good didn't want to stop but I had to finish my dish b4 I get stuff on other stuff. But odd the food is not bad but it's empty for some reason, I guess it might be its location that much can't see or something but I would come here for my Italian fix again when ever I have the time again

    (4)

  • Christina Y.

    Tried this place for a birthday dinner with the women at my church. The ambiance was nice and we had the entire restaurant to ourselves on a Monday night. My friend and I split the seafood special, which was very tasty. We also chowed down on steamed clams for our appetizer. The food wasn't bad, but its not my first choice for Italian food. A decent restaurant that serves decent Italian food at a some-what reasonable price for Hawaii. Would I go back? Probably not.

    (3)

  • Tania L.

    I like this spot for affordable pasta. It's less pricey compared to Assaggio's and Paesano's but it's better quality than, say, the Old Spaghetti Factory or one of those fast food Italian joints, and not all corporate "get in, eat, get out, turn-your-tables-fast" type of spots like Buca di Beppo or Bravo's might feel. It's not that I'm knocking any of them; if you want a nice spot to have a refreshing iced tea with a quiet and intimate setting but not have to dish out crazy money, this is the place to go. Of course, it may be at the cost of consistency and somewhat in quality, but idk if you should ever have to spend $25+ for a decent plate of pasta anyhow... I ALWAYS start with a salad, either their house or the antipasto and sometimes both when I am really craving the salad. It's all about their dressing, which is a combination of a vinaigrette and some creamy thing? I ask for it on the side so I can control the amount, but that's just how I do. I have come to Verbano ONLY because I have craved the salads... It's not just romaine lettuce, it's also got cheese, celery, olives, carrots, and prosciutto (for the Verbano salad or whatever it's called). I mean, it's only $3.90?? or maybe $4.90?? C'mon. You won't get a deal like that at Zippy's or even Jack in the Box or McD's! That said, they have two portion sizes: the regular and the large, which is I think a $2 difference between the two. Regular is enough to feed one person; two if you want some leftovers for lunch the next day. Some of the apps that I've tried are pretty standard (clams casino, soup of the day, fried mozzarella, carpaccio), though I really like the escargot - which is a good price and TASTES good too. I must have tried about 10 of the dishes (piccata, chicken, eggplant, lasagna, alfredo, seafood, steak fromage, vegetarian, ravioli, parmigiana, carbonara, etc), which is a very small percentage of what they offer, but they've all been appetizing. Nothing crazy, nothing fancy and over-the-top, but all pretty standard. The reason I liked this PARTICULAR location is that they were the only ones who offered steak... well, that's how it was for years. I think I went back to the King St one (cuz that's where my mom likes to go) and they started offering steak as well though I have yet to try it there... But yeah. They have a pretty decent wine selection (but sometimes their bottles have oxidized so it tastes stale) and their prices are modest, but you get the ambiance. And even on a night when they are pretty full, somehow the place encourages people to speak demurely and so it never gets loud, so that's nice too. Btw - for parking, I just go across the street by Chili's in the Pearlridge parking lot, though I think there's a parking lot upstairs of it that you get into via Toys R Us/Big City Diner.

    (4)

  • Barbara G.

    Love the cozy, quiet atmosphere. I found my quiet place, its a great place for my friend and I to just sit and catch up while enjoying out favorite pastas.

    (4)

  • Alyssa M.

    This Verbano's is located next to Denny's across from Pearl Ridge. It is different from the one in town...only because i know that this Verbano's has Steak Fromage & the downtown was doesnt :) I only eat their steak fromage with extra mushrooms, potatos & onions. I know i know...it's an Italian restaurant...SO WHAT!? they're steak is AMAZING.. OH! & did i mention their complimentary bread?? TO DIE FOR. Very basic, simple...but idk what it is...i could eat rolls & rolls of it. Also, a must try is their Vanilla Italian Soda :) The owner is a really nice guy, i go so often he knows my order. Very personable guy!!

    (4)

  • Reuben R.

    My friend wanted to treat me for my birthday, so we revisited and I'm just gonna say that I'm rounding down to a 2.5 from my previous review. I wasn't paying attention to what my friend ordered, but I had the seafood ravioli for about ~$14, which seemed to be the general median price. The lobster sauce was full of flavor, but I think it was a bit too oily. I really had to buy a soda to burp it all out after dinner. The ravioli itself was good at the center because the filling was savory and not too fishy smelling, although tough for some pieces which I'm assuming was clams. Some of the pasta's edges felt uncooked and dry almost. maybe they need to use less heat and let it cook longer. It wasn't so bad... I just kinda wished I ordered something else. Oh and they don't accept the entertainment book at this location, so go to the other one if you're gonna use it.

    (2)

  • Mishima O.

    Been wanting to try here for a long time and I'm glad to say I wasn't dissappointed. I had the veal marsala, my wife had chicken marsala, my son had spaghetti and meatballs and my two daughters shared a veggie ravioli. We all enjoyed it greatly. The service was terrific. The only problem was that the place is small and our table was in the center of the place so the walkway around our table was narrow and people walking past our table was almost looking over our shoulders as we dined. Looking forward to dining there again. Hoping to get a corner table next time.

    (4)

  • Leilani F.

    We just left this restaurant because we didn't receive service. We were seated and water glasses were brought to our table. They brought one menu for a table of 3. Within a span 10 minutes 2 hostesses, and 3 waiters walked by and serviced the 2 tables next to us. But no one bothered to stop by our table to take our order. Very disappointed with their service. We left after we waited for 10 minutes.

    (1)

  • Manda S.

    Went for lunch with some coworkers. (+) No wait! PLENTY of parking in the lot above the restaurant. We went on a Friday, around 11:30AM. Super friendly waiter seated us instantly (with no reservations) We got our drinks and our bread quickly too. (+) Food was sooo goood. I'm really picky about my Italian. Really picky. I got the special, which was something with chicken breast, spinach & mushrooms in a white wine sauce? If they ever have it, GET IT. I promise you won't regret it. The chicken was tasty and the wine sauce was flavorful yet light. Not overly oily at all. (I think I ilke this place better then Assagios!) (+/-) It was kind of dark inside the restaurant. Really dark. Our table was just past the bar but it felt like most of the lighting came from door. I really liked this place! I can't believe no one has ever recommended this place to me (they always say Bravos! This place is way better.) and I live in Aiea. The food was excellent and it came out quick, our server was nice, and we didn't have to wait. If I could eat pasta every day and not get fat, I'd come here really often. :)

    (4)

  • Demeatrie F.

    Okay, I would have to say that this is by far one of the better Italian restaurants I have frequented on the Aiea homefront. I randomly ended up here after I had to convince my partner in crime that I don't care how good the garlic knots are at Bravo, the food is atrocious. The one thing that has always scared me away from Verbano is the fact that on the outside the restaurant either looked closed or as if it was going out of business. However, I sucked up that notion and entered......to an absolutely empty space. Apparently, I wasn't the only one that thought this place was closed. The lighting is very, very dim and the decor isn't much to look at. We were greeted at the door and seated all the way in the back....away from the small glimmers of sunlight in the front. The server came to the table with menus, poured us water, brought the bread basket....all typical things. The menu is huge, but when you take the time to read through it, its pretty much the same ingredients, just change sauce and type of starch. We ordered the fried calamari as a starter, eggplant parm & Chef Seafood Piatto as the mains. Calamari - Not too much batter, Not tough, well seasoned. Marinara sauce was a bit runny for my taste, but all in all a solid dish. Chef Seafood Piatto - Scallops & Shrimp were sauteed perfectly. Generous portion of pasta but dish still felt light with the addition of mushrooms, garlic & spinach. It was quite tasty honestly. Eggplant Parm - Eggplant was tender, not soggy as some places make it. The pasta however contained a massive amount of tomato sauce. Too much for me, but again, the partner in crime was well pleased and even requested an extra basket of bread to finish the sauce. Overall Take On The Place: Cleanliness: 4 Service: 4 Food: 3.5 (only because I need to taste more dishes and possibly a dessert first) I give this place an overall 3.5 stars. Its not much to look at, but if you're in Aiea and you want decent Italian food for a reasonable price, skip the garlic knots and drive over here instead.

    (3)

  • Mari A.

    I had lunch here today and I was surprised on the prices, menu choices and service. I had the house side salad and it had a great house dressing. Then I ordered the seafood vegetable lasagna w/ a cream lobster sauce....yum! The service was great and friendly. I will be visiting again.

    (4)

  • Tyrell M.

    I enjoyed my experience at Verbano. The food and service were both very good. I started with the house salad because of the recommendations from other reviews. They were right in that the dressing was unique and delicious. Next I had the bruschetta which was ok. I would try a different appetizer next time if I did go again. Then came the alfredo which was very satisfying and everything I expected. The amaretto ice cream was my desert of choice-- it tasted just like amaretto. I also got to try my friend's desert which was a lilikoi ice cream pie-- that was delicious!

    (3)

  • Jamie R.

    My wife and I went on a whim for Valentines day. Since we spent so much money on each other, for gifts, we wanted a Casual dining experience so our expectations were not that high to begin with. How we got here? Well, knowing most places were going to be slammed we just thought we would drive around randomly until we found somewhere that didn't have a line. We drove around the Pearl Ridge shopping center for a while. Everywhere was packed. It started to get discouraging but our fault for not making reservations. Then we came across Verbano. No line but a few stragglers out front. My wife decides to check out the reviews on yelp. Seems interesting enough so we give them a call. We are told that they do not takes reservations but we can come on in as they are on a small wait. COOL.... Let's do it. Yes, a huge positive is plenty of parking. Your options are across the street or above the restaurant itself. No charge which is great. Ok, we are told 10 minutes and are sat right on time. We have our 16 month old with us so we will need a high chair. One of the first things I always notice before eating is how clean a restaurant keeps their high chairs. This is usually an indication of how clean the rest of the restaurant will be, including the kitchen. What A MAJOR FAIL! This was the most disgusting high chair of all time. If it was any other day I would have made a big deal out of it but considering it was Valentines day, I didn't want to make my wife uncomfortable, so I decided to clean it myself. Seriously, the high chair had crumbs, sauce and other unnamed objects. So, here I am out for a casual dinner and find myself cleaning my area before I even sit down. Not good. Next, I open my menu... Are you kidding me? This is as gross as the high chair. It seems like yesterday's special is still inside it. Now I am starting to think this might have been a bad idea. As I have already been introduced to incredibly unsanitary conditions I start to observe my surroundings. We got sat next to the bar area. Half of the bar was littered with dirty glasses, paperwork, Menu's and notebooks. Let's give them 5 Star's for consistency... The bar stools haven't been cleaned in so long they have black soot all over the legs. This is how our dinner starts, before we even get greeted by their Bartender/Server. The Bartender/Server came over to greet us in about 5 minutes. 5 Minutes is a long time not being acknowledged. He was nice enough to apologize for the wait and ask us if we would like a drink to start off. We ordered a bottle of Red Wine. He doesn't make any recommendations nor does he ask us if we want to order any food, at that time. He comes back in about 4 minutes with the bottle. I ask him to open and pour as we will not need a fancy presentation. Good thing because he decided to put the bottle off and on the table, while opening, which is a no-no. No big deal to me but reinforces how amateur the restaurant is. Oh yeah.... The glasses were not very clean as well. We went ahead and ordered the Minestrone soup and the Fried Mozzarella app. Soup came out rather quickly as did the Mozzarella. The soup, however, was very bland and the Mozzarella, although tasty, came out room temperature to the table. For Entrees, I ordered the Chicken Parm and my wife ordered a spicy Steak. This is where the biggest fail of all comes in. Needless to say, women should always be served first but on Valentines day that should never have to be explained, but that is exactly what did not happen. My chix parm came out 4 minutes before my wife's steak! I sat there, upset, staring at my chix parm for 4 minutes waiting for my wife's dinner to arrive. There wasn't even an acknowledgement or apology. Unreal !! At this point I am ready to ask for a manager. I look around and notice, what appears to be a Chinese family running the restaurant. Funny thing, I am eating at an Italian restaurant without any Italians. Imagine eating at a Chinese restaurant with a bunch of Italians running it?? No big deal but odd to see, especially as an entire Management/Host staff in street clothes and Jeans while your staff is wearing White shirt and Ties. How to lead by example! How this place ever got a positive review is beyond me. Also, as we were finishing this dreadful dinner, the Air conditioner gets shut off and then they decide to start playing with the lights. Looked like an older Chinese gentleman walked in and wasn't happy with the mood lighting so decided to put the lights on higher. Must have been too cold? With all this aggravation I am about to leave with a sweat. I decide not to speak to a manager as NOTHING about this place makes me believe that anyone pretending to be a manager would care. Almost forgot that there was no music. Ambiance was as bland as the food. The best part was their sauce. It tasted fresh. Other than that this whole experience was horrible. Don't waste your time.

    (1)

  • Paulina M.

    Went there yesterday because it had good yelp reviews. We ordered the bruschetta and that was really good.my brother had a pasta with mushrooms and what not. I had a vegetarian pasta. It was all really good at first then he starting feeling sick. I couldn't sleep at all and have been throwing up all day. Coincidence I think not, it was good but I probably will not be going back.

    (2)

  • Charmaine R.

    Idk if it was just what we ordered that sucked but I don't think I'll be coming here again. I ordered something from the house special and so did my boyfriend. We got it with the lobster sauce. While we waiting we ate the complimentary bread which tasted good because it was crunchy and soft in the inside! The guy came to give our order, it was in a tiny plate!!! I was shocked. I thought to myself, don't get mad because it might taste good! I took a bite and boy was I wrong. I thought it was supposed to be lobster sauce? It tasted nothing like a lobster sauce. It was a bit bland to me and it tasted more like cheese than anything else. And the fact that it was in such a small plate discouraged me even more. I took just two bites and gave up. My bf didn't even like his order either. The seafood ravioli with lobster sauce. This was our first time here, and definitely probably our last. Bad first experience for us leads to us never returning.

    (1)

  • Sky S.

    WOW! Cheap and GOOD Italian food. When I first visit, I didn't expect this place to be this good. Because of the price. Portion is just right, though. Have an appetizer, salad or soup then main dish. You'll be taking left over home. I love their seafood ravioli with lobster cream. You don't have to spend fortune to enjoy good dining out... Or you can enjoy their food at home because they're listed with delivery service as well. (delivery is NOT by restaurant!)

    (4)

  • Elle V.

    Ate here with my boyfriend on a weekday and it was empty. There was one server and he was very nice and attentive. The food was pretty good but not a place I would come back to all the time.

    (3)

  • D. A.

    I've passed this place a few times and since it had good Yelp reviews, figured I'd give it a try tonight. I had the House Salad; its dressing was creamy sweet and mixed well with the (red wine?) vinegar they used. If I remember the name right, my chosen entree was the (SF10) Chef Seafood Piatta. It had 3 shrimp and 5 scallops with pasta, spinach, mushrooms, and olive oil. The flavors blended nicely, though the spinach was a bit thicker in texture than I'd prefer. I looked at dessert menu but decided against having any. Some of the ice cream cake/pie items looked interesting, though.

    (3)

  • Lilian N.

    I gave this place five stars because it is the best Italian food I've had in the Aiea area. Not only are the entrees delicious and affordable, but the service is always great. Visited twice with my boyfriend and we were pleased with the dishes we've ordered. I usually opt for the famous Pollo Puttanesca, but the last time I ordered the Seafood special (can't remember the entree name) which consisted of shrimp, scallop, spinach, and mushroom tossed with bacon, garlic, and olive oil over pasta. It was soooo good!!!!! The portions are very generous considering the prices, and they also have a decent wine/beer selection.

    (5)

  • Richard Y.

    I agree with those who say Verbano Aiea is an undiscovered gem and underrated. I like it better than Assagios and Paesano for quality Italian good at more reasonable prices than the others including Bravo near by. the portions are very generous and the service is fine. I have always wondered like many other reviewers why there seem to be so few patrons in the restaurant. Makes yo wonder if you do not know something (negative) about the place. Such fears are unfounded, it is a great value, great food, reasonable prices. Those searching for great Italian food at a reasonable price ind a place that is not crowded....do yourself a favor and give it a try!

    (4)

  • Joey e.

    we stop there for lunch today around 130pm and they close at 230.. went to get seated and didn't get our water till 10mins later, didn't get our bread till 20mins later, which we had to ask for, then 30mins later she brings out my husbands food, where the heck is mine!! why would you bring out one dish but not the other! then my dish comes out, and i had to ask for cheese and hot pepper flakes. i had to ask for more water and more bread because she only gave us one. then i eat my chicken Marsala, and the chicken is dry and the food wasn't even hot, like it was sitting there. but the funny thing is that it tasted exactly like my husbands dish which was chicken saltimbocca. wtf!!! i sat there for 35 mins waiting for our food, with no water, no bread, then the food was shity!!!!!!! i will never go back to this place, service is crap!! and the waitress never even said sorry for the long wait. no wonder they were slow, and no wonder everyone goes to the king street one!! dont go here to eat... go to the king st one.. we love that Verbano way better!!!!!!!!

    (1)

  • Demeatrie F.

    Okay, I would have to say that this is by far one of the better Italian restaurants I have frequented on the Aiea homefront. I randomly ended up here after I had to convince my partner in crime that I don't care how good the garlic knots are at Bravo, the food is atrocious. The one thing that has always scared me away from Verbano is the fact that on the outside the restaurant either looked closed or as if it was going out of business. However, I sucked up that notion and entered......to an absolutely empty space. Apparently, I wasn't the only one that thought this place was closed. The lighting is very, very dim and the decor isn't much to look at. We were greeted at the door and seated all the way in the back....away from the small glimmers of sunlight in the front. The server came to the table with menus, poured us water, brought the bread basket....all typical things. The menu is huge, but when you take the time to read through it, its pretty much the same ingredients, just change sauce and type of starch. We ordered the fried calamari as a starter, eggplant parm & Chef Seafood Piatto as the mains. Calamari - Not too much batter, Not tough, well seasoned. Marinara sauce was a bit runny for my taste, but all in all a solid dish. Chef Seafood Piatto - Scallops & Shrimp were sauteed perfectly. Generous portion of pasta but dish still felt light with the addition of mushrooms, garlic & spinach. It was quite tasty honestly. Eggplant Parm - Eggplant was tender, not soggy as some places make it. The pasta however contained a massive amount of tomato sauce. Too much for me, but again, the partner in crime was well pleased and even requested an extra basket of bread to finish the sauce. Overall Take On The Place: Cleanliness: 4 Service: 4 Food: 3.5 (only because I need to taste more dishes and possibly a dessert first) I give this place an overall 3.5 stars. Its not much to look at, but if you're in Aiea and you want decent Italian food for a reasonable price, skip the garlic knots and drive over here instead.

    (3)

  • Mari A.

    I had lunch here today and I was surprised on the prices, menu choices and service. I had the house side salad and it had a great house dressing. Then I ordered the seafood vegetable lasagna w/ a cream lobster sauce....yum! The service was great and friendly. I will be visiting again.

    (4)

  • Tyrell M.

    I enjoyed my experience at Verbano. The food and service were both very good. I started with the house salad because of the recommendations from other reviews. They were right in that the dressing was unique and delicious. Next I had the bruschetta which was ok. I would try a different appetizer next time if I did go again. Then came the alfredo which was very satisfying and everything I expected. The amaretto ice cream was my desert of choice-- it tasted just like amaretto. I also got to try my friend's desert which was a lilikoi ice cream pie-- that was delicious!

    (3)

  • Joanne E.

    On both of our visits here, the food has been good and rich, and the service decent as well. Our only complaint is that both times as soon as we walked in, we were assailed by a stinky, musty bathroom smell, which almost made us walk right back out. Luckily, it is not as noticeable once you move towards the rear of the restaurant. We'll likely return, since we've enjoyed our meals here.

    (3)

  • Mike D.

    For a pastaria, they do not make fresh pasta. Flavor of the arrabiata is ok. No heat. Marinara sauce with ham and bacon is what it's consistency was. Simply put, no pride in ownership. I wouldn't be surprised if there isn't a chef in the building who actually studied or was taught Italian cuisine.

    (2)

  • Shy K.

    Amazing food. Used to be a regular a Ricado's across the street. Ever since a friend told me about this place I been going ever since. The price is so reasonable and the service is good. I wish they had a wine called Roscatto. Love the food and I'm a customer for life. Can't wait to go back.

    (5)

  • Teo S.

    I always considered this place a hidden gem. The Italian food here is pretty damn good, and their complimentary bread comes warm and delicious. I normally start with their escargot, which comes swimming in a pool of garlicky, buttery goodness. I usually follow with their steak fromage. Two words: holy cow. I never have room for desert but I will update this review if I ever get the chance. Now, you're probably wondering.. Why only 3 stars? For those of you who have come here before, I'm sure you can agree with me here.. This place kinda stinks. There's a really odd stench when you enter. It's a cross between spoiled milk and vomit. If it wasn't for their good food, I'd probably take my business elsewhere.

    (3)

  • James C.

    I want to preface this by saying that the manager was a very nice gentleman and worked hard and was accommodating... Upon walking into verbana pastaria there are a couple things one will notice...1 that there is a moldy wet smell possibly due to years of poor sanitation practices...2 that you might be the only person in the restaurant... The marinara is pretty much as good as a marinara can get...The complimentary bread was old and crumbly...My friend ordered the Sicilian sausage...His only comment was the sausage tasted like johnsonville and the potatoes were grossly undercooked...My wife ordered the seafood Alfredo and had zero complaints in fact it was quite delicious which sparked ideas within her to make some similar dish at the house...I ordered chicken parm...The chicken was grisely and had the texture of alligator or shrimp...Didn't eat very well at all...the 5 dollar cannolis were severely lacking...when we got home it looked like a couple of lumpia with chocolate and cream on the side... All and all a 2 star review...I feel bad for the owner and manager as they were nice I would have liked to fall in love with this place but the sanitation, price point, lack of parking all make this place fall short of a place I would give a second chance... Also a key red flag with restaurants like this is the fact the menu is too large to be fresh...And any foodie or chef knows that

    (2)

  • Nat W.

    Verbano Pastaria is tucked in between buildings in short distance from the Pearl ridge Center. When my friend and I arrived, it was past 9:30pm and their closing time is 10:00pm. But the owner? gladly took us in and never rushed us. The interior....they try to create the romantic atmosphere but the lighting was way too dark for me and the tables and chairs etc were just too old. Now the food. Not bad but everything was just at Olive Garden level. The portion is just right for guys I think. I wish the food was bit better than what I experienced. I have noticed it is hard to find a good Italian restaurant in Hawaii, but it is gonna take a little more than this for me to come back.

    (3)

  • Aaron N.

    Tonight 2/14/2015 me and a friend went out for dinner and drinks we ended up at this restaurant us and another party went in at the same time wantedthey want to sit at the bar until a table was available then we got asked wanted if we had a graduation or something we said no we jus wanted to sit at the bar and eat and drink we sat at the bar for about 10 min I had to call over the bartender to get drinks it wasn't even that busy and we still waited for almost 25 min I have to give a rating ok 1.5 I'm not happy I have more to say but it would be to long

    (1)

  • Roy Y.

    Just another excellent meal at Verbano's Pearlridge! Now with a wait-staff of four, your food comes out right on-time. I had to have the Clams Florentine for an appetizer again and the Chicken Casino, with a side of chili pepper flakes, were awesome! Wifey loved her Seafood Combination, with shrimp, scallops, clams and calamari on a bed of pasta. Our server, Jerome was right on point! He brought us a second basket of warm bread after only few minutes of finishing the first, without being asked. He checked-up on us enough, without being a pest...perfect 10! Verbano's Pearlridge is actually getting better every time I dine there; check it out!

    (5)

  • Juliet M.

    Surprise!!!! I was a lil bitsy scurrrred coming here after reading some of the reviews. There is one a out the smell in the place, which is not the case any longer. So my man and me went in kind of reluctantly! We sat down and the place was completely empty. It was a Saturday which is never a good sign. I ordered the special with the eggplant and penne. I'm not a big clam fan so I was able to sub out the clans for shrimp. Happy. Happy. Happy. Customer service rating just improved. My handsome companion ordered the neo lasagne. It was a tasty treat. I would say that my dish was the win! Hehe. He would disagree with me. I personally enjoyed my dish a bit more bc it was balanced and tapped into all the taste buds...sweet, salty, sassy....oh wait that is a taste, but is there any other way to describe capers? Didn't think so. We had the tiramisu and a bottle of chianti! All and all, this was a solid four stars! I am always pleased to have things that totally prove my assumptions wrong! Looking forward to another Italian dinner here pronto.

    (4)

  • Victoria R.

    I can use one word to describe this place...GARLIC!!! They definitely load every dish with garlic. I'm a garlic lover myself, but my seafood pasta that I ordered was overwhelming. I would've enjoyed the dish a bit more if they cut down on the garlic. Other than that the seafood was cooked perfectly and the marinara sauce was delicious. However, I would stay away from the escargot appetizer. The presentation and flavor get a big thumbs down.

    (3)

  • Lia M.

    My beau and i came here last sunday (superbowl) and it was empty-- restaurant completely to ourselves. The manager there is so friendly and accomodating! Food is good- loved the warm bread and butter. We ordered calamari (nice and crispy), the cheese ravioli (added mushrooms), and the chicken cacciatore. Everything was delicious- but i have to admit- i am a garlic fan- but the cook diced up at least 5 cloves of garlic for my dish and i just ended up trying to pick it all out of the lobster cream sauce of my ravioli... it was overpoowering and distracting from the creamy consistency of the sauce. i will come back, but will either order something else or just be Bold and tell the cook to ease up on the garlic!!

    (3)

  • Janice S.

    We had a really nice Mothers Day at this restaurant. Service was attentive and food was really good. It was a nice restaurant. We come here and are regulars even though we live in Mililani.

    (5)

  • Tatiana W.

    I haven't had better Italian food on island! The service is always impeccable, food delicious, and ambiance beautiful and romantic. My beau and I enjoy coming her for special occasions or when we've got some extra dough to spend on carbs. Love this place. It doesn't get the attention it deserves!

    (5)

  • E S.

    The only Italian food worthy on this rock! Bread is off the charts! We always go for the specials and they never disappoint! Their house salad is so Ono we always bring some home! For sure it's the family favorite!

    (5)

  • Becki K.

    This 1 star review is based on the food. The waiter was attentive, knowledgeable and friendly. The atmosphere was pretty and inviting except for the horrifying stench that greeted us when we walked into the restaurant last Friday. I'm not sure if there was a problem with the plumbing or grease trap but the smell was very off putting. Against my better judgement we decided to proceed to the table. The menu had a good variety of choices and we settled on the Chicken Saltimbocca and Chicken Marsala. The Marsala was a flattened chicken breast breaded and pan fried on top of flavorless greasy noodles. Everything was beige in color and flavor. The Saltimbocca was slightly less disappointing yet did not salvage the wreckage of our meal.

    (1)

  • Chevelle D.

    Came here for my sisters birthday since it's her favorite restaurant. I haven't been here in a few years and nothing has really changed. The tables are quite small, there not much elbow room because you have to sit quite close to the person next to you. The food was mediocre, nothing out of this world. Our server was nice, except I think they sent the thee server home in the middle of dinner service because he ended up seeming to forget about our table completely. My sister had to physically get up out of her seat and come to the bar and ask for a dessert menu. Wasn't a fan this time around.

    (3)

  • Karl K.

    Brought the "boss" here for her birthday and the two kids "tagged along." The kids like the near-by Bravo Restaurant, but I feel the food is better at Verbano. The menu is a bit more extensive than the two in town, which is why I prefer the Aiea location. Parking was a breeze as we went roof-top and found a stall next to the stairway. I didn't need it that evening, but my disability parking placard is handy from time to time. Our preferences vary: the kids like chicken-based entrees; the "boss" likes veggies such as eggplant; I'm the meat-eater (Steak Verde is my usual, although I went a bit lighter that night with veal). The salads and bread were tasty, and we all had room for dessert. The "boss" even had a couple of glasses of white wine. It was good to enjoy dinner in a much quieter atmosphere than the noisier Bravo. Very reasonable bill for the four of us. It remains an under-rated "hidden gem." And I'm OK with that. A solid 4-1/2 stars.

    (4)

  • Marjorie L.

    A pastaria should have home made pasta, right? Not here. I had arabiatta which is supposed to be a spicy marinara, but this had ham and bacon, a play on amitriciana, which is my favorite sauce. But this was very greasy and not freshly made. Complimentary bread was fresh, house Merlot just a little bitter. I'm not sure how much longer this place will last, I was there in the middle of lunch hour and it was practically deserted. They need a chef.

    (1)

  • Chantel C.

    Overall, pretty good place and surprised to be very satisfied (despite the reviews). Location: Convenient for those who don't live in town, and who don't want to wait forever at CPK or Bravo's. Parking: It looks like there's no parking, but there are lots of options. Across the street at Sears/Chili's, in the lot behind the restaurant (entrance by Big City Diner/Toys R Us), or on the second floor (the ramp is across the street by Longs like you're going to the theater). Food: First, I have to give major props when I receive fresh, hot bread. Sadly, not all places give hot bread (CPK's is not always warm and sometimes it's chewy), or even give bread at all. So that put me in a good place right at the beginning. I think we had 3 baskets of bread! Second, they had decent escargot. I love escargot, and it's difficult to find a place that serves it! It's not the best I've had, but great for the cost (under $10)! We ordered 1 Caesar salad, which the server was kind enough to split in 2. Very good for a decent price (under $7)! Last, I ordered the penne pasta and my bf ordered the seafood fettuccine alfredo. Both were very hot (temperature), and quite tasty. Large portions and the pasta was cooked perfectly. Service: Quick and friendly. It was quite empty, so the service was very attentive, always filling our water and making sure we had bread. Will return when I'm craving Italian, especially when other places are so busy!

    (4)

  • Royce T.

    It was my first time to Verbano Pastaria. At first I was not expecting much, but I was pleasantly surprised. The restaurant is small and almost empty at lunch time. We sat down and our waiter arrived. He was very attentive and pleasant. We ordered our food and it came right away, but before that we got the house bread. It was a little small, but really good and you can ask for refills. The bread came straight out of the oven, warm and soft just the way I like it and the butter. The butter was the good soft butter, not the hard frozen ones. I hate that when restaurants serve hard butter and you can't even spread it on the bread, it just destroys it. I had trouble deciding between the combination pasta and the carbonara. I decided to go with the carbonara because I didn't feel like red sauce today and I'm glad I did. I'm sure the combination is great also. From the reviews I've read seems like all of the food is good and all the ones we ordered today were good too. The carbonara though was one of the best I've tasted and I ate some in Italy that wasn't as good. Maybe I just didn't go to the right places in Italy, but still it was really good at Verbano. The waiter came around several times to do check backs and always kept our waters full, which is one of the things I consider important in good customer service. The portion sizes were just right not too big and not too small. The prices are well worth it for the portion size, quality of food and service. I'd say it is now one of my favorite Italian restaurants on the island. Check out my blog in my profile for other restaurant reviews with pictures and travel deals, tips and stories.

    (5)

  • Karen K.

    Normally a big fan. This last visit was not so good. Air conditioning was out. Poor server was short handed. Apparently, bus help didn't show or never made it. Food was still excellent. As we are water drinkers, we normally consume a lot but was not refilled adequately due to lack of help. Did notice the hostess' refilling water but only in close vicinity of their post. Only the two or three closest to the bar. Would have appreciated the hostess walking throughout the restaurant.

    (3)

  • Reuben R.

    My friend wanted to treat me for my birthday, so we revisited and I'm just gonna say that I'm rounding down to a 2.5 from my previous review. I wasn't paying attention to what my friend ordered, but I had the seafood ravioli for about ~$14, which seemed to be the general median price. The lobster sauce was full of flavor, but I think it was a bit too oily. I really had to buy a soda to burp it all out after dinner. The ravioli itself was good at the center because the filling was savory and not too fishy smelling, although tough for some pieces which I'm assuming was clams. Some of the pasta's edges felt uncooked and dry almost. maybe they need to use less heat and let it cook longer. It wasn't so bad... I just kinda wished I ordered something else. Oh and they don't accept the entertainment book at this location, so go to the other one if you're gonna use it.

    (2)

  • Janice S.

    The food is consistently good and rich. Jeff almost always orders the chicken saltimbocca. I usually order some type of seafood pasta in white wine butter sauce.

    (4)

  • Nadia K.

    We came here for lunch during the work week. Although we called in our order ahead of time, it still took a little while to be seated and get our food. Don't order the Neapolitan Lasagne (Layered lasagne pasta with ricotta and, mozzarella cheese, grilled chicken breast, and meat sauce). It's just okay. On the other hand, my friends loved the lobster sauce and marinara sauce on their pasta dishes. The house bread was delicious and the prices are reasonable.

    (3)

  • Don P.

    Not good Instead of pasta appetiser it was a breaded fried wontons Cannelloni was terrible Bread wand tea was good

    (1)

  • Drew S.

    Great food at a great price. This place is right out of Italy. You have to know it is there to find it. But it is worth it.

    (4)

  • Aulii H.

    I give this Verbano's five starts because 1) It's the best Verbano's on the island, and 2) It's the best Italian restaurant in the Aiea area compared to Ricados and Palazzo. I went here with my boyfriend and grandma, expecting it to be slightly less that average like the other Verbano's, but was pleasantly surprised to be proven wrong. We went on a weeknight, and I guess times are hard so there was only one server who may or may not have been the owner. With that said, service was slow but of course it is when one person is trying to do everything. He was very friendly and was doing the best he could. He was constantly moving so it's not like he was ever slacking off. The food all had great flavor and was not oily like other Italian places. The meatballs have good texture and taste, and the marinara sauce isn't bland or overly sweet. The deep fried ravioli appetizer was also good. The selection of wine is not bad for a place like that, and at least they're not charging $30 for a $5 bottle of wine like some other places. I've been to Italian restaurants ranging from classy and expensive to ultra casual, and at this Verbano's you will definitely get a better experience than what you are paying for. Hopefully it doesn't close like the neighboring restaurants, because I want to make this a regular place to eat.

    (5)

  • Justine F.

    If it were possible I wouldn't give this place a single star. My husband and I were in the mood for Italian last night and decided to give Verbano Pastaria a try. I couldn't have been more disappointed. The food was lazily prepared at best. We ordered fried Mozarella and got a slab of fried cheese that we paid $7.90 for. The pasta was undercooked and hard. The sauce was tasteless and I didn't even bother getting past a few bites of my meal. Do yourself a favor and head down the road to Bravos! I will never eat here again!

    (1)

  • Ryan B.

    Oh Verbano's.... you are quite the conundrum. You walk in and you are greeted by a restaurant that looks like it was designed in the 80's by some one that had heard from a clown what Italy was like. The decor is awful, and the music is SO OVERLY DRAMATIC. The problem with this is it sets people off a little bit. It is however very very clean! Secondly, the Owner? Manager? Greets you and is clearly not designed for front of house, but he is quick and friendly! Despite this hole in the wall looking like a mess of design and sounding like your at an italian opera... the food is AWESOME. Every time I have guests visiting I take them to Verbano's... but I always have to preface it with "keep an open mind". EVERY dish we have tried has been absolutely fantastic... never too much of anything. Last time I brought a party of nine, the service was very quick and everyone loved their dishes. We were passing around our food as quickly as we could. I honestly think that if the owners allowed some one with an eye for style redesign this place and put more emphasis on their bar, this would be a very very happening spot. But PLEASE, don't let the same guy that chose the current color scheme/art/music be in charge of the redesign haha.

    (4)

  • Darren N.

    Parking: Lots of parking in front of Toys R Us. Ambiance: Dimly lit. Standard white-cloth-fancy. Service: Polite and helpful. Water checked and free bread. Food: If you like mushrooms, this place has a lot of dishes with it. That being said, I had the Ossobucco minus mushrooms. Their version of it is different from Assaggios but almost just as good. The smallest details separate it which is slightly chewier and smaller portioned meat. Besides that, they have a wide range of pasta choices for all to enjoy. Verdict & Takeaway: It's hard for me to make any suggestions for these good Italian places. 4 stars for the good food and fair price.

    (4)

  • Jade N.

    It's been a very long time since I been here. My husband and I decided to eat dinner here one day. The portions of their food is perfect. You don't feel overly full after you complete your meal. The service was awesome even though there was only one waiter bussing tables. Place is nice and clean. Recommended if you are in the area. Go and check it out :)

    (4)

  • Ira J.

    For Italian food, my lovely wife and I are more likely to go to Verbano Italiano Ristorante in Aiea than anywhere else. The menu is extensive. The food is good. The portion sizes are big enough to produce leftovers. The service is almost always excellent. The atmosphere is intimate and reminiscent of a fine-dining Italian establishment. I'd recommend Verbano Italiano Ristorante for date night for anyone who wants to impress but money is a concern. Tonight for dinner my bride and I had a great meal/date for less than $40 including tip, and I'll be having the leftovers for lunch tomorrow. Oh, one more thing: There is always convenient parking on the roof.

    (4)

  • Eric M.

    First visit here mostly because of the restaurant's inclusion in the Entertainment book. It's a pretty small place but was nearly empty on a Wednesday evening. The waiter was very attentive and spent some time making menu suggestions. Carbonated drinks are not refilled but coffee and iced tea are. So we ordered the iced tea. Nothing special but our glasses were refilled regularly. Started the meal with an appetizer: deep fried ravioli with marinara dipping sauce. Was like eating very small wontun with cheese except the ravioli pasta is kind of tough when it's fried. Not ordering this one again. The Italian bread was served warm with butter. Yummy even though I usually dislike eating white bread. The Mrs. ordered veal parmigiana and liked it. The veal was very tender and the marinara wasn't overpowering. It's served, of course, with a more-than-half-order of pasta with more marinara sauce. Too much food for her so I got to try some of the veal. I agreed, pretty good. I ordered the mushrooms on pasta with butter white wine sauce. Very, very good. A bit pricey compared to many nearby Italian restaurants but I was much happier with this dish than I've been with pasta from those other places. I will be ordering this again when we get around to a repeat visit.

    (3)

  • Kristel Y.

    I think this place is definitely underrated. It's an easy restaurant to dismiss, after all, it's wedged between some huge Mexican restaurant and Denny's. But when you're on your way to Denny's next time, think about the diarrhea you'll get from their food later, and maybe you should stop at Verbano's instead. This is probably my favorite affordable Italian restaurant in the area. They have a good sized menu selection and their dishes (like the steak fromage, which is my favorite) are consistently good each time. The restaurant itself is pretty small, so it feels like an intimate (and yet casual) place for dinner. Perfect for a non-expensive date or just a lowkey dinner with friends.

    (4)

  • Nat N.

    Verbanos is one of my favorite Italian eateries on the island. Their bread is always fresh and served warm. Every time I come here I order the antipasto salad - it's enough for two people to share. For the main course, I always order the Pollo & Melanzane di casino: sauteed chicken, bacon, spinach, garlic, eggplant, served on a bed of linguine. The staff is very friendly, attentive, and professional.

    (5)

  • Dan O.

    Verbano's is my go-to Italian restaurant. Conveniently located nearby highway on- & off-ramps, I'll usually stop by after-work on the way home. My usual, the chicken casino!

    (4)

  • Cindy B.

    Haven't eaten at verbanos in awhile and came here for an anniversary dinner few months ago. The food and the service was pretty good. The restaurant is dimly lit and romantic, food came out quick, and waiter was attentive.

    (4)

  • Mishima O.

    Been wanting to try here for a long time and I'm glad to say I wasn't dissappointed. I had the veal marsala, my wife had chicken marsala, my son had spaghetti and meatballs and my two daughters shared a veggie ravioli. We all enjoyed it greatly. The service was terrific. The only problem was that the place is small and our table was in the center of the place so the walkway around our table was narrow and people walking past our table was almost looking over our shoulders as we dined. Looking forward to dining there again. Hoping to get a corner table next time.

    (4)

  • Leilani F.

    We just left this restaurant because we didn't receive service. We were seated and water glasses were brought to our table. They brought one menu for a table of 3. Within a span 10 minutes 2 hostesses, and 3 waiters walked by and serviced the 2 tables next to us. But no one bothered to stop by our table to take our order. Very disappointed with their service. We left after we waited for 10 minutes.

    (1)

  • Tiani B.

    I am really really REALLY enjoying this place!!! I couldnt really judge my liking to it the very first time I ate here so of course I brought another group of friends here for dinner and guess what?! IT WAS STILL AWESOME!!! The food is GREAT!!! The place is really cute, prices are really good, and the staff is awesome! Im telling you, if you havent tried this place out, you need to get here! I want to eat there right now just thinking about their pastas! I hope to visit again soon!

    (5)

  • Tamra P.

    When I'm feeling Italian takeout, Verbano's is the place that always seems to pop in my head. Prices are good, they sub veggies instead of the pasta (which allows me to eat more of their delicious bread), and service is generally pretty quick. I've gone here for work lunches before and I like the fact that you can always get a table and it's fairly conducive to conducting business. We shared the sautéed mushroom appetizer - YUM! Garlicky, button mushrooms with crispy onion slivers. I ordered the gratin penne pollo anchovies with a sub of the veggies for penne pasta. Generous portion: this was my dinner and lunch the next day. It was garlicky and delicious, albeit a bit on the salty side. Hubby got the seafood ravioli florentini which he enjoyed. It was a little bland for me, but I'm more into the spicy red sauce than the creme sauces. Then again, I could eat their bread all day and be happy. Little baby loaves that are crusty on the outside, soft and warm on the inside. Now the 4 stars are for what it was---affordable Italian takeout. Probably more like 3.5 stars but I think it deserved the extra bump up rather than a bump down. Good bang for the buck. At a little over $40, it's a great value. Lots of free parking and I had NO problem finding a stall.

    (4)

  • Brad B.

    Fantastic food and service. Loved the beer selection and Veal Saltimbocca and garlic bread. Served hot fresh bread with melting butter and parmesan cheese that left you wanting more. The server kept the drinks filled and ice to the brim. Can't think of a better place in the area with a fantastic atmosphere. Also, they offer a 15% discount with the Island ID discount card.

    (5)

  • Jamie L.

    Okay, so the one-man-show thing is true. This guy does it all, host, bartender, food-runner, waiter, busser.. He deservesn this one, lonely star. Just him. The restaurant is clean, & it's nice inside.. But seriously.. Why does all Italian food in Hawaii suck?! I get it, this isn't New York, but when did covering everything in red sauce become 'Italian'? & as long as we're playing stereotypes, where was the olive oil in this meal? As far as the food goes, I'd rather have Chef Boyardee from a can. Everything is under-seasoned, over sauced, & there's something fishy going on with the seafood.. Were my clams & snails sandy? Noodles are soggy, blanching water wasn't seasoned. All the pasta is the same. No interesting shapes. No taglatelle, no cavatelli, not even bow-tie. Just like EVERYWHERE else on the island. So this bash isn't for Verbano's alone. It seems like if you want anything semi interesting on the island, you have to pay an arm & a leg for it (See: Asagio's Mililani) & it's still not that great, or remotely authentic. Okay, so you want to eat here anyway? Yea, if you want a nice quiet spot to take the kids, this is your jam. & the wine list isn't half bad & glasses are cheap. (White were about $6-7 & reds were about the same, for an 8oz pour.) I agree with Niniau S. about holding the bacon on the clams. But I'd hold back on calling anything we had here excellent, or amazing. ''Gross'', ''WTF'', & ''Did I just pay for/eat that?!'' sum things up a little better. Common people! We can't be spreading the aloha with our starts so easily...

    (1)

  • Claudia C.

    Cute restaurant. Small and cozy. Food was good and the service was excellent! We didn't feel rushed like some places. I loved the bruschetta! My son loved the steak formage. Will definitely go back again!

    (4)

  • Gaelen L.

    The stars are for the waiter. This food is terrible. I have been looking EVERYWHERE for a decent Italian meal here in Hawaii, I don't know why I thought this place would be any different from the rest. The waiter was uber nice and was consistent with the drink refills (water only because the restaurant does NOT offer free refills on anything except water). I ordered the traditional lasagna and my wife had the pasta carbonara. The marinara sauce was so soupy that I had to eat the entire dish with a spoon! My wife was equally disappointed in her meal. Maybe I should give up on Italian food until I head back to the mainland :(

    (2)

  • Deebo H.

    Gotta give it a 4* cuz only a one man army running everything himself, but here are the break down I had the fettuccini Alfredo with mushroom came out with a mixture of white and green pasta alfredo sauce was not thick and not to cheesy which came out great for me my wife had the escargot which she also thought I was better then some places What drew me to my meal was the bread they offer u b4 your meal comes out and was a yummy start my brother ordered the chicken pamarsan which he said was not bad and also a side of garlic bread...his garlic bread was good didn't want to stop but I had to finish my dish b4 I get stuff on other stuff. But odd the food is not bad but it's empty for some reason, I guess it might be its location that much can't see or something but I would come here for my Italian fix again when ever I have the time again

    (4)

  • Niniau S.

    First off, Ill admit up front that weve been going to Verbanos in Aiea for the past 10 years or so. My children are 9, 6 & 4 and theyve practically been to this restaurant at least once a month since they were born! We usually go for dinner - but have been there for lunch as well on occasion - and every time, the service/food was excellent. My food faves, Appetizers: the clam florentina (hold the bacon bits) - delicately steamed fresh clams with spinach in a tasty butter garlic sauce; escargot - deliciously topped with fresh garlic bits, butter and white wine sauce; steak carpaccio - the current kiddie favorite, thinly sliced raw meat served on a bed of romaine with a tasty balsamic/olive oil/caper dipping sauce; the cold anitpasto - iceburg lettuce with pickled red peppers, proscuitto, salami, cheese & other veggies in a vinegarette. Dinner faves: anything with lobster sauce. Seafood combination, pasta ravioli, scallops, whatever you can think of that would taste good with a butter white wine sauce, change it up and get the lobster sauce. Just plain delicious. Another winner (at $15) a plate of Gamberoni Scampi - fat, steamed just right shrimp over your choice of pasta in a white wine butter sauce. Ive also ordered their specials from time to time: grilled ulua or mahimahi or chicken breast done up with either eggplant or mushrooms or fresh spinach. Most recently, I tried something new and had the veal - what a treat and done perfectly tender! Dessert faves: mud pie, Mexican coffee, lilikoi cheesecake Service: after going there for ten years, the owner knows us and service is stellar. Recently, with the bad economy, weve been going on week nights when we are usually the only patrons for the evening. Weekends tend to be busy and we figure by going on an offnight, newbies can have our table on weekends. :-) Wine: it took us a while to get over the % increase (I could buy the same bottle of chardonnay for $15 instead of $30) but then I realized they need to make money, too. So now, we just order two bottles if we need to and think of it as growing a local economy. After seeing Bandidos and Dennys close in the past few months, I would certainly lament Verbanos Aieas demise if they went out of business. Ive tried Assagios (crappy clams and scampi) and other Italian restaurants I cant even remember the name of and all pale in comparison. We live on the west side so the convenience of not having to drive the kids to town is a big plus too!

    (5)

  • Tina T.

    We stumbled across this restaurant when we saw how long the lines at Chillies and CPK were. The restaurant was quaint, clean, welcoming. It had a big pasta menu. We received great service, bread was warm when served, the waiter was courteous, pleasant; unfortunately the food was just not appetizing at all. My boyfriend ordered the mixed seafood with bacon pasta, and I ordered the eggplant parmigiana with a side Oder of meatballs. - The pasta were over-cooked on both dishes, a bit soggy and no texture. - The marinara sauce was rather pathetic, watery tomatoes sauce that was worse than the jar sauces from supermarkets. - The prawns were over cooked. - Meatballs were lukewarm and under seasoned (too much breadcrumbs and not much meat flavor) - eggplant was depressingly thin and soggy. - the salad on the other hand was fresh. Perhaps the usual chef was not around because I seriously don't understand how others could have rated it so highly. The 2 stars are all for our waiter.

    (2)

  • Peter Y.

    It was 6 on a Sunday and they were dead, service was fine, minus running out of my drink. Food wasn't anything to write home about. Basic Italian

    (2)

  • Tania L.

    I like this spot for affordable pasta. It's less pricey compared to Assaggio's and Paesano's but it's better quality than, say, the Old Spaghetti Factory or one of those fast food Italian joints, and not all corporate "get in, eat, get out, turn-your-tables-fast" type of spots like Buca di Beppo or Bravo's might feel. It's not that I'm knocking any of them; if you want a nice spot to have a refreshing iced tea with a quiet and intimate setting but not have to dish out crazy money, this is the place to go. Of course, it may be at the cost of consistency and somewhat in quality, but idk if you should ever have to spend $25+ for a decent plate of pasta anyhow... I ALWAYS start with a salad, either their house or the antipasto and sometimes both when I am really craving the salad. It's all about their dressing, which is a combination of a vinaigrette and some creamy thing? I ask for it on the side so I can control the amount, but that's just how I do. I have come to Verbano ONLY because I have craved the salads... It's not just romaine lettuce, it's also got cheese, celery, olives, carrots, and prosciutto (for the Verbano salad or whatever it's called). I mean, it's only $3.90?? or maybe $4.90?? C'mon. You won't get a deal like that at Zippy's or even Jack in the Box or McD's! That said, they have two portion sizes: the regular and the large, which is I think a $2 difference between the two. Regular is enough to feed one person; two if you want some leftovers for lunch the next day. Some of the apps that I've tried are pretty standard (clams casino, soup of the day, fried mozzarella, carpaccio), though I really like the escargot - which is a good price and TASTES good too. I must have tried about 10 of the dishes (piccata, chicken, eggplant, lasagna, alfredo, seafood, steak fromage, vegetarian, ravioli, parmigiana, carbonara, etc), which is a very small percentage of what they offer, but they've all been appetizing. Nothing crazy, nothing fancy and over-the-top, but all pretty standard. The reason I liked this PARTICULAR location is that they were the only ones who offered steak... well, that's how it was for years. I think I went back to the King St one (cuz that's where my mom likes to go) and they started offering steak as well though I have yet to try it there... But yeah. They have a pretty decent wine selection (but sometimes their bottles have oxidized so it tastes stale) and their prices are modest, but you get the ambiance. And even on a night when they are pretty full, somehow the place encourages people to speak demurely and so it never gets loud, so that's nice too. Btw - for parking, I just go across the street by Chili's in the Pearlridge parking lot, though I think there's a parking lot upstairs of it that you get into via Toys R Us/Big City Diner.

    (4)

  • Barbara G.

    Love the cozy, quiet atmosphere. I found my quiet place, its a great place for my friend and I to just sit and catch up while enjoying out favorite pastas.

    (4)

  • Alyssa M.

    This Verbano's is located next to Denny's across from Pearl Ridge. It is different from the one in town...only because i know that this Verbano's has Steak Fromage & the downtown was doesnt :) I only eat their steak fromage with extra mushrooms, potatos & onions. I know i know...it's an Italian restaurant...SO WHAT!? they're steak is AMAZING.. OH! & did i mention their complimentary bread?? TO DIE FOR. Very basic, simple...but idk what it is...i could eat rolls & rolls of it. Also, a must try is their Vanilla Italian Soda :) The owner is a really nice guy, i go so often he knows my order. Very personable guy!!

    (4)

  • Manda S.

    Went for lunch with some coworkers. (+) No wait! PLENTY of parking in the lot above the restaurant. We went on a Friday, around 11:30AM. Super friendly waiter seated us instantly (with no reservations) We got our drinks and our bread quickly too. (+) Food was sooo goood. I'm really picky about my Italian. Really picky. I got the special, which was something with chicken breast, spinach & mushrooms in a white wine sauce? If they ever have it, GET IT. I promise you won't regret it. The chicken was tasty and the wine sauce was flavorful yet light. Not overly oily at all. (I think I ilke this place better then Assagios!) (+/-) It was kind of dark inside the restaurant. Really dark. Our table was just past the bar but it felt like most of the lighting came from door. I really liked this place! I can't believe no one has ever recommended this place to me (they always say Bravos! This place is way better.) and I live in Aiea. The food was excellent and it came out quick, our server was nice, and we didn't have to wait. If I could eat pasta every day and not get fat, I'd come here really often. :)

    (4)

  • Christina Y.

    Tried this place for a birthday dinner with the women at my church. The ambiance was nice and we had the entire restaurant to ourselves on a Monday night. My friend and I split the seafood special, which was very tasty. We also chowed down on steamed clams for our appetizer. The food wasn't bad, but its not my first choice for Italian food. A decent restaurant that serves decent Italian food at a some-what reasonable price for Hawaii. Would I go back? Probably not.

    (3)

  • Christine D.

    My hubby and I frequent Verbano on our date nights. Quiet peaceful atmosphere. AMAZING food, great prices! The staff is pleasant and friendly. I always get the Shrimp scampi mmmm delicious!

    (5)

  • Hiwa C.

    Food: Simply the best Itallian food on the island! I LOVE Verbano Pastaria! I'm totally addicted to their chicken fetuccini alfredo, fried mozarella (marinara sauce is delish), and Itallian Cream Soda. The fetuccini sauce is creamy, dense, cheesy, and full of flavor. The pasta is a mixture of spinach and wheat fetuccini for color contrast, and the chicken is tender-perfecto! The marinara sauce is the best I've ever had and I dip the house bread in the sauce. Mmm. The itallian cream soda is more creamy than fizzy-just the way I like it. I've tried their canelloni, carbonarra, seafood lasagne, and lobster ravioli and loved every one of their dishes. Ambiance: Romantic candle-lit dining, cloth napkins, fresh flowers, and classical itallian opera playing in the background. Parking: Tons of free parking at garage makai of Toys-R-Us Bonus: Verbano Pastaria participates in the ID card program which saves us $5-$10 each time we're here.

    (5)

  • Sandy P.

    The grossest thing happened today. On the cover of container of strawberry sauce for cheesecake were cockroach feces. Disgusting! My job orders this place for lunch and I will never eat there! I've never been to the restaurant but now I will never go there after this crap! Health code violation and I'm getting ready to file a complaint with the health dept.

    (1)

  • Kristen C.

    Came here because my friend really wanted to eat some italian food plus I had a coupon that I wanted to use, but come to find out its only valid at night...LAME! i mean, why would it matter, the prices are the same?! Anyway, we came around 12 and the place was fairly empty with probably only 4 tables being used and no one even came in while we dined. There did seem to be a few take out orders though, as we saw one of the workers carrying bags of take out containers to the front. The menu is very extensive and the prices are pretty reasonable for the amount of food you get, we got some bruschetta for $6.90, it came with 2 long slices of grilled bread topped with eggplant, ricotta cheese, tomato, basil, olive oil and balsamic vinegar. As for entrees I got the pollo puttanesca for $9.90 and my friend got the steak verde that came with potatoes for $15.90. Entrees come with a small loaf of bread that came warm, the inside is soft and fluffy but the outside is not crispy and kind of "wrinkly" looking. As we waited our waters were filled accordingly. When I plates came the food was nice and hot and came with about 3 good pieces of chicken thighs that were cooked nice and moist. I would have given this place 4 stars but the penne pasta that came with it was really undercooked. I did like that it came loaded with mushrooms and there were a few eggplant slices. The flavor was also good and the saltiness of the anchovies and the "briny-ness" of the capers really stood out. For dessert we got the hawaiian ice cream cake for $6, the description stated oreo cookie, coffee, macadamia nut, chocolate and coconut sprinkles. This dessert was a disappointment as it was not what we expected from the description and it looked like it was a bit freezer burnt, also why I didnt give it 4 stars. Overall, the food was pretty good and a big portion for the price. Theres a lot of things to choose from so i'd probably come back.

    (3)

  • Claire M.

    The older I get, the pickier I get. This quaint, yet modern place was PERFECT! As my husband and I walked in the door, we were immediately greeted by the staff behind the bar. Our waiter was very polite and friendly, yet he didn't bug us by stopping at the table every other minute. I ordered the Veal Piccatta, while my husband had the Lasagna. My mouth is even beginning to water now, as I think of how to describe just how wonderful it was. So here goes: it rocked! Every single thing about our dinner was excellent. Oh, and even though I was full, I found room for their Lilikoi Ice Cream Pie. Just the right complement to end our meal. I really wish I could give this place an extra star!

    (5)

  • Anson G.

    Bottom Line: Among the best house salads and bread places you can find - along with good Italian food. They bake their bread fresh for you. You always get fresh bread, because it takes them 5 minutes to bake it. How can you beat that? Their house salad dressing is second to none. All of their dishes are solid choices. Their service is usually spot on. Today was a hiccup in that the waiter wasn't as helpful - but he seems new. Weird - I was considering raising their stars today until I got mediocre service from our waiter. Anyway, this is place is still a favorite of mine.

    (4)

  • Juan N.

    This has to be the best Italian restaurant I have been in Oahu. The place looks clean, the service is great, and the two times I went there, I went home very happy. The food is simply great and it puzzles me why it always seem so slow, but junk places nearby like Bravo seem to get a lot of business. I don't even remember what I ordered but I do remember how yummy it was! I will be visiting this place again very soon!

    (4)

  • Trish P.

    2 and 1/2 stars...... i'm not sure which came first, this location, or the one on king street (or that other one they have), but this one is not as shitty as the one on king - but not by much, i gave king street 2 stars. a grungy old man that i wasnt totally sure worked there, leads us to our table. our party of 6 and a couple having dinner were the only ones in the whole restaurant. not screaming popular to me.... the eats: - bruschetta - Clams Casino - fried ravioli - escargot - pasta dish i cant remember the name to.... the bruschetta, which came out last, and took the longest to make for some reason, was soggy - which tells me it was sitting around for who knows how long. clams casino were disappointing - very small clams, drowned in sauce and the best part about this app was the bacon. fried ravioli had barely any filling, but was nice and crispy... for empty dough pockets. escargot. really, i should have known better. this was drowning in sauce as well, and were very small. it wasnt bad, but it wasnt good either... hard to explain. it was, confusing. the pasta dish i got actually was decent. it was pasta with scallops and spinach in a lobster cream sauce. the scallops were a little over-cooked, but not so much that it was terrible. i also tried some Tuttobene Sangiovese wine.... it smelled spoiled and tasted rancid.... so we sent it back. really, where the hell are the good italian restaurants in hawaii?! it cant possibly be this hard to find one.......

    (2)

  • Marc L.

    What a pleasant surprise! Food is excellent and prices are great. Very authentic northern Italian fare which is a surprise coming from an Asian chef. Well done.

    (4)

  • Prokhor Z.

    Had an eggplant stuff sausage special - was very good. Would avoid the fried mozzarella. Excellent service.

    (4)

  • Rebecca C.

    first time back in a long long time, in all it was just ok... the warm fresh bread is winnas here, and that you can request more for free. ordered the antipasto salad and although it was delicious, it was lacking on presentation. bf ordered the veal saltimbocca loaded with mushrooms. yum! I had the the eggplant parmigiana and a bit watery but was still ok. lastly tip to waiter #21, please work on your eye contact, speaking, and physical skills... maybe then I'll tip you more :)

    (2)

  • Jamie R.

    My wife and I went on a whim for Valentines day. Since we spent so much money on each other, for gifts, we wanted a Casual dining experience so our expectations were not that high to begin with. How we got here? Well, knowing most places were going to be slammed we just thought we would drive around randomly until we found somewhere that didn't have a line. We drove around the Pearl Ridge shopping center for a while. Everywhere was packed. It started to get discouraging but our fault for not making reservations. Then we came across Verbano. No line but a few stragglers out front. My wife decides to check out the reviews on yelp. Seems interesting enough so we give them a call. We are told that they do not takes reservations but we can come on in as they are on a small wait. COOL.... Let's do it. Yes, a huge positive is plenty of parking. Your options are across the street or above the restaurant itself. No charge which is great. Ok, we are told 10 minutes and are sat right on time. We have our 16 month old with us so we will need a high chair. One of the first things I always notice before eating is how clean a restaurant keeps their high chairs. This is usually an indication of how clean the rest of the restaurant will be, including the kitchen. What A MAJOR FAIL! This was the most disgusting high chair of all time. If it was any other day I would have made a big deal out of it but considering it was Valentines day, I didn't want to make my wife uncomfortable, so I decided to clean it myself. Seriously, the high chair had crumbs, sauce and other unnamed objects. So, here I am out for a casual dinner and find myself cleaning my area before I even sit down. Not good. Next, I open my menu... Are you kidding me? This is as gross as the high chair. It seems like yesterday's special is still inside it. Now I am starting to think this might have been a bad idea. As I have already been introduced to incredibly unsanitary conditions I start to observe my surroundings. We got sat next to the bar area. Half of the bar was littered with dirty glasses, paperwork, Menu's and notebooks. Let's give them 5 Star's for consistency... The bar stools haven't been cleaned in so long they have black soot all over the legs. This is how our dinner starts, before we even get greeted by their Bartender/Server. The Bartender/Server came over to greet us in about 5 minutes. 5 Minutes is a long time not being acknowledged. He was nice enough to apologize for the wait and ask us if we would like a drink to start off. We ordered a bottle of Red Wine. He doesn't make any recommendations nor does he ask us if we want to order any food, at that time. He comes back in about 4 minutes with the bottle. I ask him to open and pour as we will not need a fancy presentation. Good thing because he decided to put the bottle off and on the table, while opening, which is a no-no. No big deal to me but reinforces how amateur the restaurant is. Oh yeah.... The glasses were not very clean as well. We went ahead and ordered the Minestrone soup and the Fried Mozzarella app. Soup came out rather quickly as did the Mozzarella. The soup, however, was very bland and the Mozzarella, although tasty, came out room temperature to the table. For Entrees, I ordered the Chicken Parm and my wife ordered a spicy Steak. This is where the biggest fail of all comes in. Needless to say, women should always be served first but on Valentines day that should never have to be explained, but that is exactly what did not happen. My chix parm came out 4 minutes before my wife's steak! I sat there, upset, staring at my chix parm for 4 minutes waiting for my wife's dinner to arrive. There wasn't even an acknowledgement or apology. Unreal !! At this point I am ready to ask for a manager. I look around and notice, what appears to be a Chinese family running the restaurant. Funny thing, I am eating at an Italian restaurant without any Italians. Imagine eating at a Chinese restaurant with a bunch of Italians running it?? No big deal but odd to see, especially as an entire Management/Host staff in street clothes and Jeans while your staff is wearing White shirt and Ties. How to lead by example! How this place ever got a positive review is beyond me. Also, as we were finishing this dreadful dinner, the Air conditioner gets shut off and then they decide to start playing with the lights. Looked like an older Chinese gentleman walked in and wasn't happy with the mood lighting so decided to put the lights on higher. Must have been too cold? With all this aggravation I am about to leave with a sweat. I decide not to speak to a manager as NOTHING about this place makes me believe that anyone pretending to be a manager would care. Almost forgot that there was no music. Ambiance was as bland as the food. The best part was their sauce. It tasted fresh. Other than that this whole experience was horrible. Don't waste your time.

    (1)

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Map

Opening Hours

  • Mon :11:00 am - 10

Specialities

  • Takes Reservations : Yes
    Delivery : No
    Take-out : Yes
    Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
    Good For : Lunch
    Parking : Garage, Private Lot
    Bike Parking : Yes
    Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
    Good for Kids : Yes
    Good for Groups : Yes
    Attire : Casual
    Ambience : Casual
    Noise Level : Quiet
    Alcohol : Full Bar
    Outdoor Seating : No
    Wi-Fi : No
    Has TV : No
    Waiter Service : Yes
    Caters : No

Categories

Italian Cuisine

The immense popularity of Italian cuisine globally isn't unknown. You can find an Italian Pizzeria around every corner of almost every city in the United States. Not to forget that in every house, people enjoy mac and cheese as comfort food. But it would be wrong to believe that Italian food starts with pizza and ends with good pasta as this Mediterranean country has much more to offer other than these two dishes. In Italian Cuisine, there is a high use of fresh tomatoes, all kinds of herbs, great quality of cheese, all types of meat, seafood and fresh handmade pasta. Many find it hard to believe that Italians have been making noodles long back.

Italian and Greek cuisines are always mistaken to be same, but they are poles apart. The primary difference between the two cuisines is the use of cheese in most of the Italian dishes. Italians love to cultivate their own cheese and process them as per their food requirement. It is believed that some cheese is so expensive that cheese producers secure them in lockers.

If you are bored eating the same old pasta or pizza, you can try some of the authentic Italian dishes like Risotto, Polenta, Ribollita, Lasagna, Fiorentina Steak, Bottarga, Ossobuco, Carbonara, Focaccia, Arancini and Supplì. Another item which Italians love to relish every morning is a good cup of Italian Coffee. Once you taste a freshly brewed cup of Italian Coffee, you might not visit Starbucks ever again. Authentic Italian food is made with heart and soul, so go find a restaurant where you can relish Italian cuisine in your city.

Verbano Pastaria

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