Vino

Great food and service. The owners even took the time to chat with us! Awesome place for food and drinks !

I don’t know how I only discovered Vino very recently, but it has easily become my favorite restaurant for wine, tapas, and amazing Italian food in Hawai’i. Vino was recommended to me by a friend and further reinforced by the great reviews I read on Unilocal.I lucked out and was able to make last-​minute same day dinner reservations for a party of 3. I would definitely recommend making reservations ahead of time because this place fills up to capacity for dinner. Also, definitely park in the building because it’s free with validation. Below is a list of what we ordered to share, in my ranking of most favorite to least favorite dish:
1. Grilled Spanish Octopus Starter with ham hock ragu & white cannellini beans — whenever I see grilled octopus on a menu, I always have to get it. This was probably one of the best octopus dishes I’ve ever had! The octopus was so tender, and this stew-​like dish was unlike anything I’ve ever had. It almost tasted like Portuguese Bean Soup but with octopus.
2. Kabocha Pumpkin Ravioli with Jumbo Pesto Marinated prawns, sliced almonds and sage brown butter — the ingredients alone speak for the dish. Every bite was full of rich flavor and the prawns were definitely jumbo!
3. Truffle Mac & Cheese — like octopus, if I ever see truffle mac & cheese on the menu, I have to get it. This was a huge plate, and I’m so glad we shared all the dishes. I don’t know if I would’ve been able to eat this on my own.
4. Burrata — we loved this so much that our server had to keep refilling our bread basket because we kept spreading that burrata on every slice of bread. So fresh!
5. Banana and chocolate tiramisu — I love tiramisu, but this take on tiramisu was unlike anything I’ve ever had!
6. Warm apple tart — recommended by our server and did not disappoint!
7. Crispy Brussels sprouts — don’t recommend. I love Brussel sprouts, but these were overcooked and so dry.
8. Cheese and Salumi Platter — I’m a huge fan of cheese and charcuterie, but I didn’t care much for the selections on the platter.
I don’t know how we ordered 8 dishes (not including the amuse bouche) for 3 people and finished everything, but I would definitely try to get the first 6 on my list! You will not regret it. Our server was so friendly and recommended most of these dishes to us.
I would also highly recommend getting a bottle of the 2012 Ballard Lane Cabernet Sauvignon, «Paso Robles». It paired so perfectly with all of our dishes and is one of my new favorite cabs after discovering it here.
I can’t wait to come back and from what I read on Unilocal,I definitely need to come during happy hour for half-​off food at the bar!

Great staff that are friendly! A couple dishes that stood out were the Foie Gras and Bone Marrow, but besides these unfortunately this place fell to average and had nothing special to put then above the rest. Had a salad that the waitress couldn’t even tell me what was in it after she gave it to me. The pastas were plain and mediocre. Spent a lot of money here and left unsatisfied.

I really had high hopes for this place. Unfortunately it was only average. My husband had the hand cut crab pasta that was undercooked and chewy. I had the sea bass which was very good but a little salty because of the capers and olives in the sauce. Best thing about our meal was the wine. Maybe we will give it another try when they have special events.
This is an edit to my previous review. We ate here again with friends and loved it. I’m not sure if it was the people we were with or that we ordered different food. Everything was good and the wine recommendation was excellent. I would definitely recommend this restaurant. It was also nice that we had the same waitress and she remembered us from a few weeks prior.

Ate here with some friends for the 1^st time. Had the bone marrow appetizer which was ok. It came with a side crock-​pot type of roast beef to go with it. The brussels sprouts were delicious, but was slightly undercooked so the bite was a little tough. My wife had the organic chicken breast which was pretty expensive in my opinion and slightly dry. The tiramisu dessert was awesome. The service from our waiter, Storm was awesome too.

Chuck Furuya and his restaurant have serious Mojo!
I would rather dine here than just about anywhere else.
Chuck is a real craftsman and his attention to detail and vast knowledge are sensational as is his unpretentious little restaurant. Upstairs is more quiet than downstairs.
Crackerjack service. Great value

Food, phenomenal, wine listing, impressive, service, mediocre… at best. Let me explain.
Days leading up to my birthday, my co worker asks me, where is your husband taking you. Vino, I replied and she said, it’s great place… I’m assuming she meant the food…
We made reservations, granted the reservation was late in the evening (8:30P) got there, checked in, hostess said to wait because our table wasn’t ready and by the looks of the restaurant, they were busy. We waited… 20 minutes at this point I look over at my husband and I tell him if they don’t seat us, let’s go to Chef Chais. It’s a little before 9 and were seated. I’m thinking, finally.
We’re placed in a corner table, for two. Over to my right. A party of 20, «stay already drunk». They were loud, swearing, and I just couldn’t believe it. I couldn’t take it anymore, it was difficult to have a conversation with my husband about our day without having to yell across the table. I ask the server if we can get another table. He turns around, takes a quick glance, says no. OKAY got you chief. You’re swamped and the restaurant is busy. I get you, then he walks away. My husband pulls his phone out ready to call Chef Chais, when the manager arranged to get a more quieter table down below.
Our food comes to us and suddenly all of the problems disappear. My husband gets the deep fried sea bass and I get the Dungeness crab alla chitarra, which I highly recommend. My pasta dish was cooked to al dente perfection, savory, with a little kick. Perfect. My husbands sea bass was fried crispy and delicious. We both took our time enjoying our meal, as it was the best part of our whole dining experience
For birthday dessert, we shared an apple tart paired with a moscato d’ Asti. It was perfection!
Time for the check, for the amount of food we ordered, calamari, two full entrees, and two drinks each, it was reasonably priced. My husband pays, server asks if we need change, my husband replies yes and we wait, and we wait, and we wait. We’d probably still be waiting if my husband didn’t say, I’ll leave it as tip. It was a little under, but I don’t think I’m getting money back. As we’re leaving our server, who takes our money says good bye to us.
15 minutes later we arrive home to get a phone call from the manager. You forgot your change, I can mail it to you. There was a miscommunication between servers. One of them said they were going to give your money back, etc… My husband politely replies, it’s fine. I’ll leave it as tip.
Don’t get me wrong, the food here is amazing. You should try it, but I would suggest you come maybe on a weekday, when it’s not as busy and the wait staff can be more attentive. I wanted so hard to like this place, but it’s hard when you were poorly treated. Maybe it was because we were young and everyone else is older, popping wine bottles, but I thought we should all be treated the same. You’ll never know who knows who.

My first experience at Vino was a very nice one. The atmosphere is welcoming and great for groups to wine and dine. Their food was awesome, only down side would be their portions because they are tapas. Can’t wait to visit this place again.

Great food, really nothing to complain about. I had the kabocha ravioli, awesome! It does get a little noisy but that may be a good sign. Chuck recommended a great Italian bottle of wine and along with his recommendations came many jokes and fun stories. We enjoyed the food, ambience, wine, and company. Will be back!

Wow! What can I say! Celebrated my anniversary here and we were not disappointed at all!
I highly recommend this spot.

It’s rare that we revisited a $$/​$$$ restaurant more than once, especially since there are so many new restaurants for consideration. The self proclaimed foodie that we are always incline to try something new. Hence, revisiting Vino again made it special. This time we opted to order a bottle of wine as the price seems more reasonable than sampling. Our waiter offered an excellent French wine to us. The dishes never failed to disappoint us. There are many wine /​tapas restaurants in town, but what made Vino stand out is that the food are never over powering. It compliments the wine very well and makes the farm-​to-​table experience complete. We will definitely be back again since Chuck was out of town this time. We missed his jokes!
P. S. stop by the bathroom. It’s toto toilet with tushy warmer and bidet guarantees happy ending!

We went for dinner. Food was good but portions are small for what it costs. They are home made. I’m offended that they charge $ 2 after the first complimentary bread and $ 4 for it to take out. It wasn’t anything special. It was good but not «I’ll pay $ 2 for more of that» good. They did bring out a miniscule taste of a Fritata which was excellent w/​the strand of Arugula.
We had:
Ligurian Style «Trofie» Pasta
Country-​style house-​made pasta, Hamakua mushrooms, sun-​dried tomato & Genovese pesto
$ 16.95
Mini Veal Osso Buco
Slow braised & served with a veal-​red wine reduction & mashed potatoes
$ 16.95
Alfredo
Roasted garlic cream. fresh English peas, crispy prosciutto and fried sage
$ 14.95
Trofie Pasta was good and maybe a little bit too salty for my taste but that is the nature of Pesto. The Veal was fall off the bone tender. I didn’t try to Alfredo but there was no complaints. Well, other than the small servings. They are like kiddy or lunch sized portions.
Sorry, we didn’t come here for the wine, just came here because it was the only dinner spot besides Ruth Chris and Aka Kitchen at Restaurant Row and I needed to be there at that time.
So as far as the food goes, tastes great, less filling = over priced.
Service is 5 stars. The receptionist could have been more cordial. I see the draw of this place as a replacement for Spada and a good «I’m a professional in downtown and want nice things» kind of place.

They relocated into a multi tiered restaurant, which is kinda cool!
I haven’t been here in a long time, and to be honest, I thought this place closed. So… I was surprised it wasn’t. I’ve tried the Vino’s in Maui and I’ve tried the old Restaurant Row location.
This Vino’s restaurant layout was pretty neat. There were a lot of level changes, which separated the restaurant nicely. The restrooms are on the second floor.
The menu had several breakdowns, but the one that interested me was the dry pasta and homemade pasta. Dry does not mean little to no sauce, its referring to the dehydrated pastas compared to fresh made pasta. I got the shrimp scampi, but I also tried the truffle mac n cheese and the osso buco from other people in my group… it’s not like I went to other tables and stuck my fork in other people’s plates.
The shrimp scampi was good, but it was very buttery. I know, I know, I know… shrimp scampi is supposed to be buttery, but there is a such thing as too much butter. My tongue had a funny texture by the end of it. The portions were perfect though and there were 3 huge shrimps in the dish. Overall, it was a good dish.
The mac n cheese was way too rich for my taste. I think the mac n cheese will appeal to those with a love for truffle. Why get the mac n cheese when you can order the grown up version… fettuccine alfredo? I think this will please a lot of people, but there is no way I could eat the whole thing myself. It would be a good tapa to share.
Their osso buco was amazing. I will be back and it will be for that osso bucco. The veal was so tender. The portion was perfect as well. It was just enough for that night, but the next day you want more. It’s like a drug, a damn good drug. This is a plate for you to have all to yourself.
Panna Cotta desert was really tasty. It had a more jello texture, but it had a nice light flavor. The desert really was a nice end to my buttery pasta. It comes with a little scoop of sorbet on the side and it was a welcomed addition to offer up a highlight to the panna cotta.
It’s a shame I can’t review the wine, since this place is called Vino, but wine really isn’t my thing. Wine isn’t any more special than any other drink and having someone who knows a lot about it isn’t important IMO. It’s all personal preference just like anything you eat or drink. I don’t need a soft drink expert to help me pair it with my cheeseburger. Know what you like and drink that. Also read my review and feel free to disagree with it. It’s all subjective.
The service is good here. The servers are knowledgeable, friendly, and attentive. They validate your parking ticket.
I’d like to welcome Vino back into my life.

Hooray for the new Vino location, haha, sure it is right across the walkway but somehow the vibe seems more intimate and like a proper «wine cave» where you know you’re getting the good stuff.
For me, its all about service. On this particular night we sat at the bar because we didn’t make a reservation and the place was pumping! I’m so glad we sat there, we were flying blind and the bartender was friendly and patient as we asked all kinds of questions about the wines. Honestly, I’m not super knowledgable about wine so I’m very curious and often enjoy when people have details to share (without being huffy about it). And even when you get all this information, it really comes down to what tastes good to you…
It was really great that we were able to do several small flights until we found one that we really liked! Then we went for a bigger pour. Perfect!
Then the food — oh, lah, la! We were focused on pupus for the night. I think any chef that can make brussel sprouts and kale taste good is a magical master in my book! I couldn’t get enough of both! Aside from those dishes, we also had the calamari which was also great.
Next time, I’m making a reservation and coming for dinner!

This tiny restaurant has moved to the pinnacle of my list of places for cocktails or wine, appetizers and absolutely the best steak this carnivore has eaten in years in Hawaii!
My «little» friend Lien said she wanted to bring me here after watching The Revenant at Consolidated Theaters. Needless to day I was surprised. Why not Ruth’s? Same parking and I love their Martinis. «Just wait» remarks my patient friend, you’ll be happy… and there begins my love affair with Vino!
First: on the list of wines by the glass (you can order a bottle also) is my fav Amarone Classico. A big red, gorgeous legs, wonderful bouquet! Five ounces of happy for Mui! Amuse Bruse delivered, a tasty morsel, promising fantastic things to come. Warm bread with a tasty olive oil infused with herbs and garlic set on the table by a very attentive server.
Grilled Spanish Octopus, Si Si, it looked awesome and tasted even more so. Served hot off the grill, tender, flavorful in a bed of white beans that had been simmered in a light tomato sauce with ham hocks. Nice chunk of pork included. On to the Burrata. A unique rendition, not a true Burrata but very nice, creamy with mascarpone nestled in a small pool of pesto oil and Hamakua tomatoes served with toasted, buttered baguette slices.
Next on the appetizer list, Scallops. Two morsels that were, IMHO, the best I’ve had in years. Beautifully browned topside and so tender inside I wanted to cry when the first slice laid on my tongue. Truth be told… I wish there were half a dozen but then I would have not ordered the next plate… Crispy Fried Cauliflower. Yep, that was a great find too. Loved the seasonings. Salt, white pepper, cumin… so yummy.
At Ms Lien’s suggestion we ordered the one and only steak on the menu. Did I say the only steak? Having low expectations I was blown away! The feral carnivore seeped out when that wonderful piece of beef hit the table. Resting on a bed of creamy mashed potatoes, neatly placed Fiddle Ferns and baby carrots was an exquisite sliced NY steak, medium rare. OMG I swear I heard a chorus singing Hallelujah in the background. This is what steak should be. As far as the only steak on the menu… when you do it this well there is no need to offer more.
The ambiance is welcoming and cozy, it’s not crazy noisy so you can enjoy the conversation of your dinner companions. The servers are excellent, constantly refilling glasses of water and wine. Removing and replacing plates as you and your companions are done. We shared all the dishes so we could sample more, a great way to explore the menu. There are many choices on Vino’s regular menu and many more on their daily specials. Our server explained there is not a lot of refrigerator space so what is fresh at the market is what there offerings on that day will be. Nice sourcing. There was no «push» to finish and vacate your table and most diners were enjoying the restaurant as we were. Amazing. Parking is free with validation. I will be back and soon.

Oh VINO…. Tell me you love me so :-)
Now located just a hop skid and jump away from their original location at Restaurant Row, they’ve got a new and better location. Reminds me of a romantic nook that couples of all ages can enjoy. With Chuck Furuya walking the floor and making sure his guests are enjoying the food and wine takes me back to watching «Wise Guy» with all it’s glamour and VIP feeling– minus the broken bones and black eyes hahahahaha.
So far I’ve eaten at the bar and at a large table with other guests and I’m in love with the ambiance. With slightly dim lights and a warm welcoming feeling all you need is a few of your favorite friends to toast and share a whole lot of laughters with. The food and appetizers are great. Go in with an open mind and don’t have any expectations then you won’t disappoint your self. Appreciate the flavors each dish has to offer and never mind what the «expert» or the very savy foodie says. For those who are well traveled and know what authentic «tapas» are will tell you how amazing the flavors are. I will not argue with their expectations, but we are in Hawaii so like many places Vino’s do their very best to bring the best. It won’t be the same, but by gollie I love many of the dishes Vino has on their menu. Sometimes if you over critique something it doesn’t taste as good as it really is. So remember to do what I said. Go in with an open mind to enjoy your night. Trust me your dinner will be more pleasurable and your glass of wine will be even more delicious
Reservations are highly recommended and if you’re flying by the seat of your pants, the bar is always open. Don’t worry — - Chuck Furuya also visits his guests sitting at the bar with a smile as always. Remember — Drink responsibly and have a DD or call Über.
Happy Tapas!

The only good thing I could really say about the food is that the foie gras, scallops, and the truffle Mac and cheese was really good. Everything else we ordered after wasn’t that spectacular. I tried a little bit of my tables entrees. The bass fish, steak, and I ordered the kabocha ravioli. Bass fishing was tender but it was difficult to eat with all the bones and the sauce just tasted like alcohol. The steak was good but the mashed potato on the bottom tasted old. The kabocha ravioli with prawns was okay. The prawns were good but the kabocha tasted old also. I was warned by our nice waiter that the plate was small and only came with 3 pieces of ravioli and prawns. If I didn’t have eaten the starters and sampled the other dishes, I would’ve been starving. The desserts weren’t all that great either. We ordered the banana tiramisu and bread pudding.
The service was great. We sat upstairs although it was pretty noisy. If I do ever come back, I’d stick with ordering a bunch of starters and the mac and cheese.

The new and reinvented VINO is better than ever.
The menu keeps evolving and is really good.
Some of the favorites are Bone Marrow, Gnocchi w/​Crab, Burrata Cheese.
The wine selection is eclectic and interesting.
Service is always dependable…

I always enjoy the food and wine at Vino, and other people do too. When they have a full house it’s so noisy you have to strain to hear the people at your table, so even though the interior, service and menu make it appropriate for a business meal, date night, or reconnecting with good friends, you can’t, it’s unpleasant to talk.
So forget talking and go for the food, cuz the food is good! The least wow for me was their Charcuterie sampler and Fried Calamari appetizers. Both were fine, but you could find similar in a lot of places. Instead of the Charcuterie, go with the Bresaola Poke which is full of flavor, the Duck Foie Gras which is perfectly indulgent, just the way it should be, and the Crispy Brussels Sprouts which are charred, tasty nuggets of goodness.
For pastas go with the Shrimp Scampi, the prawns are jumbo and nicely cooked, and the sauce has hits of lemon and wine. The Truffled Mac and Cheese really is a must. Its sauce is a bit on the loose side, but it’s rich and earthy and tempts you to lick the plate when no one is looking. My least favorite pasta was the Dungeness Crab, it’s a nice dish with chunks of crab, but I like the other two pastas better.
If you like whole fish, the Branzino is perfect to share with Mediterranean flavors of tomatoe, capers, and Kalamata olives.
And you have to save room for the Warm Apple Tart served with caramel and vanilla ice cream. It’s perfect, and even through it’s big enough to share, you’ll want your own. Don’t say I didn’t warn you!

Vino is located in Restaurant Row and parking is really easy with their big parking lot. The best part about Vino is their daily happy hour from 5:30 to 6:30pm. Food is half off during this time… no you didn’t read that wrong it’s 50% off all of the items on their regular menu. The only catch is that you have to sit at the bar and there is limited seating.
My favorites things to order here:
Seared Hudson Valley Foie Gras
Three Cheese Gnocchi & Jumbo Lump Crab
Veal Osso Buco
Honey Saffron Panna Cotta

I had dinner in their private room upstairs which can accommodate about 3 tables. It’s a lovely space perfect for showers or other intimate celebrations.
The kabocha ravioli with prawns sounded amazing so I ordered that for dinner along with a glass of moscato. The dish was delicious but quite small. I suggest ordering it with a starter, soup or salad.
I was still hungry so I ordered the margarita pizza which was very yummy. I have to return and experience dinner in a regular setting. I look forward to it!
Located in restaurant row.

I’m a pasta-​fanatic and had not yet tried this place before (Vino recently reopened in the old Bonsai spot at Restaurant Row).
My boyfriend and i didn’t have a reservation for a Friday night however, being just the two of us, we were able to be seated right away. The dining area is a bit small yet fits the ambiance is very intimate with low lighting, and warm colors.
Our server was very attentive in helping us order and recommending a good dish for the evening. The house bread with a side of oil and rosemary was very delicious. We ordered the calamari for appetizer and for entrees I had the Dungeness crab «alla chitara» while my boyfriend went with the Three Cheese Gnocchi dish. I thought both dishes tasted very good! And I just couldn’t enjoy my pasta without ordering a glass of their red cab! That was just the cherry on top.
I had a good first experience here. Next time I’d like to try their homemade pizzas and truffle mac n cheese!

Vino reopened in the old Bonsai spot at the Waterfront (Restaurant Row).
I really like this new spot. It seems smaller but the interior has more lighting and the color tones are cozy.
The food menu is relatively unchanged. They do have a new pizza oven and technique of first light baking the dough then baking it again for the finish.
Still a nice spot for italian fare and wine!

Vino at Restaurant Row has always held a special place in my heart. So when the news of their recent closure hit the streets, I felt sad and was actually bummed knowing such a gem of a restaurant was going to be gone forever. Well, rejoice Vino fans! Vino is back and they quietly re-​opened today (October 1^st). And I was so lucky to have made it to their grand re-​opening. The food, the service and ambiance were fantastic! The décor is overall classy, warm and the place feels comfortable and «homey». Chuck Furuya was on hand to refill wine glasses and he went around to check and talk to the patrons all night long. Reservations are currently not handled through Open Table, that is an option planned for later. You can contact the restaurant directly to make reservations.
Vino is now opened six nights a week, Tuesday through Sunday. They are located right across the hall from the old Vino. Their new space (formerly the Bonsai Restaurant and Bar) is better; they have more room to accommodate for larger parties. The addition of the lower room offers privacy while the room above the central bar is almost hidden away, practically almost out of sight. Speaking of the bar, it is a really nicely «stocked bar». Bartenders were super friendly, helpful and very knowledgeable with the menu.
We arrived a little past the official opening time but we were still anxious to see if the new Vino (and food) would differ from the «much beloved» old Vino. I’m glad to report they didn’t miss a beat at all. As a matter of fact, their house bread tasted even better than before; they think it is due to their new oven. Perfectly good with us as we keep dipping our house bread in that delicious, high quality olive oil.lol. It was quite addicting. My friend and I were impressed with the food we ordered. All in all, we just had a blast sitting there at the bar drinking and happily «chomping away» at the wonderful tapas.
There was one tapas dish that really stood out. The «burrata» mozzarella dish with the mascarpone cheese, pesto and fresh grown concasse was incredible! Wow wow wow! I loved the beautiful farmers’ market salad too because the sweet Kahuku corn, yellow beets and sherry vinaigrette complimented the Kula farmed greens nicely. Crispy calamari dish, on the other hand, wasn’t as crispy as I’d like it but the accompanying pepperoncini balsamic aioli was yummy. We thoroughly enjoyed the great wines and amazing tapas food. Hana hou!

Great hidden gem. Excellent Fois Gras.