AUNTIE PASTO'S - HONOLULU, HAWAII

AUNTIE PASTO'S

HONOLULU, HI

Over 15 years ago I used to frequent Auntie Pasto's quite often because the prices were low and the food was good. Why I stayed away from the place for the past 10 years is crazy. Perhaps I thought it was better to pay $20 or more for a plate of pasta at more hip and trendy places. Well, we made it back last night and I am so glad we did. Once again I found the food to be good and the prices very reasonable. The kicker was that the service was great too. Auntie Pasto's has been somewhat of a Honolulu tradition going on 25 years now. They are in the same location and serving the same basic menu items. I remember going here week after week because you could take a date here and get out the door for under $20 total. The portions are large and the prices are still really low compared to other Italian restaurants. The fresh baked bread and basil/olive oil is free and delicious. We started with the Red Pepper Calamari ($9.50). I liked this dish because the Calamari was not fried. Large whole pieces of Calamari cleaned and stuffed with mozzarella cheese and then topped with tomato, onion and peppers. The dish is not too heavy and the onions and peppers really compliment the Calamari. The Caesar Salad ($6.75) was basic and covered in too much bland dressing. I ordered the Meat Sauce Bolognese with Spaghetti ($8.50). This is a steal. You get a huge plate of pasta covered in a rich and very meaty sauce. There was enough here for two people. At $8.50 this is the deal of the day. We also tried the Shrimp Scampi Pasta ($12.95). Large shrimp in a fairly bland sauce served with pasta. This dish just needed more garlic or something to make the flavor pop. The service on this visit was perfect for a Friday night. We were seated and quickly served our drinks, then appetizers and our entree. The employees were professional and pleasant. I am glad that we re-discovered Auntie Pasto's and will be back again soon.