Taormina Sicilian Cuisine image

Taormina Sicilian Cuisine

Restaurant Italian restaurant Sicilian restaurant

Elegant, modern restaurant serving Southern Sicilian fare & an extensive wine selection. People often mention pasta, good, ordered, service, great, menu, Italian, experience, Taormina, truffle,


Address

227 Lewers St, Honolulu, HI 96815

Website

taorminarestaurant.com

Contact

(808) 926-5050

Price rating

$$$ $

Rating on Google Maps

4.40 (797 reviews)

Open on Google Maps

Working Hours

  • Thursday: 11 AM to 2 PM, 5 to 9 PM
  • Friday: (Good Friday), 11 AM to 2 PM, 5 to 9 PM, Hours might differ
  • Saturday: 11 AM to 2 PM, 5 to 9 PM
  • Sunday: (Easter), 11 AM to 2 PM, 5 to 9 PM, Hours might differ
  • Monday: 11 AM to 2 PM, 5 to 9 PM
  • Tuesday: 11 AM to 2 PM, 5 to 9 PM
  • Wednesday: 11 AM to 2 PM, 5 to 9 PM

Featured Reviews


Frequently mentioned in reviews: pasta (20) good (18) ordered (13) service (13) great (10) menu (10) Italian (9) experience (9) Taormina (9) truffle (8)
Reviews are sorted by relevance, prioritizing the most helpful and insightful feedback at the top for easier reference.
  • 5/5 C H. 8 months ago on Google
    Authentic Italian cuisine at a good value - a must try for visitors and locals alike. Isami our server was the highlight of our experience. You can’t go wrong with the sea food bruschetta as a starter. We ordered the squid ink pasta and truffle carbonara as our main dishes. The table-side black truffle shaving directly onto the carbonara was a nice touch. Both dishes were well balanced and incredibly flavorful. Try the gluten-free hot chocolate cake for desert. Outside seating is noisy but provides a great opportunity for people-watching.
    3 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 3/5 • E & A �. 2 years ago on Google
    I honestly think this restaurant it's a hit or miss. Some dishes can be delicious but some lack of care. For example I ordered the Caponata di melanzane, very good, but it came out cold from the fridge, a dish that in Italy it's served warm or at least room temperature. The entré I ordered, Spaghetti di pommodoro, the pasta was not "Al dente" but definitely uncooked. Also came out warm, that by the third bite, everything was cold. My husband ordered the Steamed Clamps and he said they were really good. And his entré, Spaghetti di Ricci di mare had great flavors but uncooked pasta and also warm. We left the feedback and they were great in taking care of us by removing the pasta dish and a drink from the check. Left the restaurant hungry though.
    3 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Graff C. 2 years ago on Google
    Chef Hiro, manager Miss Saki, and server Gabriel, effortlessly float around to the smooth cool jazz playing through the sound system, working together to bring some of the best pasta and other dishes to customers. The sea urchin pasta is one of the best pasta dishes I have ever tasted. The food and service was perfect.
    3 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Gigi L. 2 years ago on Google
    Went here for our anniversary. It's a little small and cramped but still a nice atmosphere. We ordered the pear salad, truffle pasta, lamb and creme brule for dessert. Everything was delicious. Service is excellent. Would definitely come back again.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Edith H. 1 year ago on Google
    I‘ve came since the first year they opened. One of the top fine Italian restaurants in town 🎖 Although I’m not a frequent customer, every time I come, their taste, quality, service, atmosphere never never get disappointed! Love it 😋 Locals will get discount on lunch menu.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Zaribel H. 2 years ago on Google
    Absolutely lovely place. My husband and I have been wanting to try this place out for a while now and glad we did. The prix fixe menu is worth more than its $45 price tag. Even the ala carte menu is worth every single penny. The only thing I didn't like is the server. I think he can be a little bit more trained on fine dining service and have more menu and beverage knowledge.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Bree M. 2 years ago on Google
    They have gluten-free pasta and cake and can prepare it to avoid cc. We were able to walk in on Sunday at 5:30pm without a reservation. The food was good. The wine was great. I was disappointed that they were out of crab claws. It's too bad they don't have gluten free noted on their menu outside because we walked by before and didn't try to reserve here because we didn't see gf. This time, my husband went in and asked, and they said yes, they have it.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Keith W. 9 months ago on Google
    An excellent choice for Italian food in Waikiki. The executive chef is Japanese but with long experience working in Italy. One note - they have both indoor and outdoor seating. Outdoors is nice but will occasionally be interrupted by loud traffic noises. And the air circulation could be better. Definitely on my permanent ‘must visit’ list
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Wes L. 1 year ago on Google
    First, let me start by saying the service was excellent. However, I was left underwhelmed by the food. I did order the prix fixe menu, which included an appetizer, pasta, entrée, and dessert. The appetizer was a seafood carpaccio which was a mix of salty and bitter. I think the fishiness was a little overwhelming. The pasta was the crab Granchio, which was very good with lots of crab. The filet was well cooked and good. The dessert was the homemade tiramisu which I enjoyed. It was a good balance of cheese/cream, cake, and espresso flavor. But after all of it, I still felt a little hungry. My wife had the Seafood Pescatore which had a good amount of seafood. Her only complaint was that the pasta was too al dente. We enjoyed lunch there. Validated parking is available at the Wyndham hotel (access via Helumoa Rd).
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Jennifer L. 1 year ago on Google
    Service is the best part. We are late. All of them are very to us. Drink is able to be adjusted. Food is great. Decorating Performance is awesome. Reminder: the Kamaaina discount is only for lunch time. Price is even better too!!
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Ronnie N. 1 year ago on Google
    Would highly recommend this Italian Restaurant! I know Italian isn’t the first food that comes to mind when you are visiting Hawaii but this place has an excellent selection of fresh seafood pasta dishes along with the standard fare. My wife and I visited celebrating our honeymoon and they even gave us a beautiful dessert on the house! The service was excellent and their meat sauce is made with a touch of balsamic vinegar which took it to a whole new level!
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Ismail S. 2 years ago on Google
    Very good food. The fix menu was quite excellent in particular. The ambiance is quite decent as well. Overall the dining experience was nice. Only two issues here. First getting a reservation here is quite hard (expected for good places) no real complaint in this one. The second is service, although they were polite I would say they are on the very business like and not what I call "friendly". The prices do match the overall quality. I will eat here again.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Brietta S. 2 years ago on Google
    So close to 5 stars but the risotto was so poorly cooked it was heartbreaking. I never send food back unless it’s an easy fix or if it’s inedible… this wad inedible. The risotto was so undercooked it was unbearable! When they brought me back a second plate it had barely changed… whoever was back there had their timing way off? Not even al Dante! Just chewing grainy pieced of rice. If it had been cooked properly then it would have been a perfect meal. Did the tasting menu. My friend got the black ink pasta option rather than the risotto and it was insanely good. Tiramisu was one of the best I’ve ever tried. I’d recommend but make sure to pass on the risotto or tell them to cook it longer!
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Karoline M. 2 years ago on Google
    The place is nice and the pastas are great (truffle carbonara and crab). We got an amazing dessert as a gift for our anniversary.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Llewellyn S. 9 months ago on Google
    Outdoor seating was the perfect choice for a dinner with friends. Good range of entrees and main meals at typical pricing for the area. Service was excellent and even though it wasn't a problem the manager apologised for the delay because it was so busy. My Spaghetti Pescatore was very tasty with scallops, prawns and an abundance of clams. Teamed with an Oregon Pinot it was a lovely evening made even more special when the birthday cake and candle arrived.

  • 4/5 Joving K. 2 years ago on Google
    It was a nice experience having lunch in this lovely restaurant. My friend ordered calamari for our appy, then I ordered seafood pasta with tomato souce, my friend had the clams pasta. It was good! Really good service.

  • 4/5 Allen M. 8 months ago on Google
    food was good. service was good as well. I made reservations and was seated immediately. only downside is that on the reservation I told them I was celebrating my girlfriends birthday but they didn't even acknowledge it.

  • 4/5 Max S. 6 months ago on Google
    Our romantic evening at Taormina Sicilian Cuisine, was a true celebration of love and laughter. This charming Italian restaurant exceeded our expectations in every way, offering us an unforgettable night filled with exceptional food, warm service, and an ambiance that oozed romance. As we settled into our cozy corner, our culinary journey began with the Beef Carpaccio, a dish that instantly became a favorite. It's safe to say that Taormina serves the best beef carpaccio in town. The delicate slices of beef practically melted in our mouths, and the presentation was a work of art in itself. The Seafood Bruschetta was a delightful surprise. This unique take on bruschetta featured a medley of fresh seafood that tantalized our taste buds. It's an absolute must-try, offering a perfect blend of flavors and textures that left us craving for more. However, the star of the evening was undoubtedly the Nero Frutti Di Mare. This linguine dish, adorned with squid ink and a spicy garlic sauce, was as visually stunning as it was delicious. Loaded with shrimp, scallop, crabmeat, clams, and sun-dried tomatoes, each bite was a burst of flavors. It's the kind of dish that's not only delectable but also incredibly Instagram-worthy. The romantic atmosphere of Taormina added an extra layer of enchantment to our evening. Soft lighting, intimate seating, and a charming ambiance created the perfect backdrop for our special date night. It truly felt like a fairy tale setting. We owe a special thanks to Shige Sang for always going above and beyond to secure us a reservation. His dedication ensured that our perfect date night at Taormina Sicilian Cuisine was possible. In conclusion, Taormina Sicilian Cuisine is a hidden gem in Hawaii, offering a romantic and unforgettable dining experience. The Beef Carpaccio, Seafood Bruschetta, and Nero Frutti Di Mare are absolute highlights that showcase the culinary excellence of this restaurant. If you're looking for a place to celebrate love, laughter, and exceptional Italian cuisine, Taormina is the place to be. It's a dining experience that we will cherish forever.

  • 5/5 Aneulena C. 2 years ago on Google
    The food is excellent and service is prompt! The atmosphere is cozy. Servers are friendly and personable. We had the four course tasting menu and everything was wonderful. I forgot the photo of my mushroom risotto, it was delicious though!

  • 5/5 Rafael G. 2 years ago on Google
    I can't stress enough how much I like this place. Everything was so good since the very first moment we were served some focaccia all the way until the dessert. The truffle carbonara is magnific, carpaccio is so flavorful. Even the burrata was great. Came in with very decent expectations and left with them not only fulfilled but also with the certainty I will be back every single time I fly to Oahu again.

  • 5/5 Ashly Y. 5 months ago on Google
    First time eating here and wow, what an experience! We were seated outside at street level with noise level that was surprisingly low even though it was a Friday night. Justin our server was professional, courteous and extremely knowledgeable. We had the prix-fixe menu and chose the Nero Fruity di Mare for our second. The squid ink linguine was made just right allowing the tomato sauce to infuse its flavor and gave the seafood an extra brilliant boost of garlicky goodness. It was the highlight of our dinner. To top off the outstanding service, they surprised us with a special treat for our anniversary and a 60th birthday. Amazing! We will definitely eat here again as this is highly recommended.

  • 3/5 Rob F. 4 months ago on Google
    First time visit here. The bread and olive oil was delicious. The first appetizer with burrata and prosciutto was great and we ordered the seafood bruschetta which was not at all what we thought. It wasn’t good, barely touch it. The waiter asked if we liked it and we told him no it had way too much spinach and cream on it and two pieces of sun dried tomato that we could see. Very bland and lacked flavour drowning in cream sauce. He removed it but didn’t take it off the bill. We both ordered the spaghetti bolognese which was also heavy on the balsamic vinegar. Overall disappointing experience!

  • 5/5 JB C. 1 year ago on Google
    Made an early reservation during our stay in Waikiki to ensure we had no problems and we didn't. First off, allow me to tell you that this is some of the best Sicilian dishes I have ever had, short of going to Sicily. Our waiter was Yuki and he was an attentive, fine young man who can converse with you in Japanese if need be. HIs suggestions for our dinner were spot on and we ordered the Veal for our main course, which by the way IS enough for two people. The wine selection can range by glass or bottles up to $700 if you like and they have a fully stocked bar. The restaurant itself is clean, crisp and elegant. Plus, you sit inside our out as the have a covered patio. On the way to the clean restroom, you will pass the chefs working their magic in the kitchen and the aromas are to die for! From start to finish, eating here was an amazing experience and on our next trip I want to try the 4 course meal.

  • 5/5 Gerard L. 2 years ago on Google
    A dear friend and I continued our tour of the world; this stop to Sicily, at Taormina on Lewers. This is such an elegant space with tables overlooking the street, seating upstairs and al fresco, adjacent to the road leading to the Sheraton Waikiki. We began with a bottle of 2018 Kenzo Estate Rindo, one of my favorite wines. Our starters were the Taste of Italy and the Beef Carpaccio. The former featured very ripe and delicious tomatoes, fresh Mozzarella, prosciutto and Arugula. The carpaccio was so flavorful and was topped with a generous heaping of Arugula and a caper vinaigrette. We ordered the Truffle Carbonara “Tartufo Fresco”, Porcini Risotto with sautéed Foie Gras, and the pan roasted Duck Breast. The gorgeous scent of truffles, freshly shaved over the pasta, was heavenly! The risotto was a feast for the eyes and our palates and the duck breast was a work of art and so savory. Each entrée was a visual, olfactory and gustatory delight. Dessert was Tiramisu and Affogato … the Tiramisu was served on a black sheet of stone with fresh fruits and a berry coulis. The affogato was so delicious but I needed a double espresso to cap a wonderful meal. Taormina is a delight; great food and superlative service. Recommended!

  • 5/5 Mark S. 1 year ago on Google
    One of my favorite restaurants in the world (literally; we've travelled all over Europe and eaten at many Michelin-starred restaurants in America and abroad. Outstanding Italian food at reasonable prices. It is very friendly and unpretentious. I think it's quite underrated.

  • 5/5 charles b. 1 year ago on Google
    We needed an Italian restaurant with non pasta options for some of the party. This place had amazing fresh fish. The waitress was amazing, knew the wine, cleared the table in one trip, brought birthday dessert. It is also in a great location for people watching.

  • 5/5 Laurent Y. 2 years ago on Google
    My favorite place to pair a glass of champagne with truffle pasta. Their wine list is fancy enough to please your picky taste. The raw plate and grilled dishes are quite alright, too. Service is good. Cosy vibe.

  • 5/5 Olga G. 2 years ago on Google
    We had a anniversary dinner! Course of 4 and seafood plate. Da Vinci Cabaret.Everything is outstanding! Food melting in your mouth,service is perfect 👍🏻! Highly recommend them! Will be back for sure!!

  • 5/5 Jon S. 2 years ago on Google
    Wow.. Taormina delivered in every way. The staff each greeted my wife and I as we walked in. The hostess found us a quite table upstairs, after noticing the area we were to be seated in was loud. For our appetizer, we ordered the beef carpaccio. It was truly phenomenal. The best we have ever had. For our entrees, my wife had the truffle carbonara and it amazed us both. A gentleman presented her dish with an enormous truffle, which he then shaved generously into her pasta. I ordered the risotto with foie gras. It was both rich and spectacular. We couldn’t help but finish every dish. For dessert, my wife had the chocolate cake and I had the tiramisu. Both truly delicious. We were blown away by the food. This was truly a 10. It would be a mistake not to eat here. Book with confidence.


Call (808) 926-5050 Open on Google Maps

Amenities


  • Parking
    • ✓️ Paid parking lot
    • ✓️ Plenty of parking
  • Payments
    • ✓️ Debit cards
    • ✓️ Credit cards
    • ✓️ NFC mobile payments
  • Offerings
    • ✓️ Beer
    • ✓️ Wine
    • ✓️ Coffee
    • ✓️ Alcohol
    • ✓️ Cocktails
    • ✓️ Hard liquor
    • ✓️ Comfort food
    • ✓️ Vegetarian options
  • Popular for
    • ✓️ Lunch
    • ✓️ Dinner
    • ✓️ Solo dining
  • Accessibility
    • ✓️ Wheelchair accessible entrance
    • ✓️ Wheelchair accessible restroom
  • Dining options
    • ✓️ Lunch
    • ✓️ Dinner
    • ✓️ Dessert
    • ✓️ Seating
    • ✓️ Catering
  • Service options
    • ✓️ Dine-in
    • ✓️ Takeout
    • ✓️ Delivery
    • ✓️ Curbside pickup
    • ✓️ Outdoor seating

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