Cafe Concerto
Thursday, March 5th, 2009I’ve been meaning to post about this place since my first visit in 2005 and can’t put it off no longer!
Really, I think this is the only “real” italian restaurant in Hilo. Chef Lando Landi, a native Italian, puts so much love and passion into his food that it creates a wonderfully warm family style atmosphere in his little restaurant. Cafe Pescatore has nothing on this place.
The food here is so fresh, homestyle, affordable and unpretentious. Perfect for a fun romantic date or even a get-together with friends over wine (BYOB!). There is even a great wine store next door (Grapes) if you need to get a bottle (closes at 6pm).
Fresh Caprese Salad
Super juicy tomatoes with fresh mozzarella and fresh salad. Good stuff.
Penne with Pesto.
Best pesto I’ve ever tasted. Fresh, bright, rich and full of flavor. Pasta was cooked perfectly al-dente. I highly recommend trying any of their dishes with the wonderful pesto!
4-cheese Ravioli w/spinach.
This practically melts in your mouth and is soooo delicious. I could eat 2 (or 4) plates of this! Nothing beats freshly made ravioli — you gotta try it.
Cappellini w/meatballs
Refreshingly light and bright sauce with freshly made meatballs. I love how they keep their pastas fresh, light and flavorful.
Pasta with clam sauce (Pasta al vongole)
Very nice with a kick of spiciness. I appreciate that the chef was not afraid to make this spicy!
I can’t forget to mention the bread! The chef actually brought out fresh loafs and cutted them up for the guests. The bread was so wonderfully yummy straight out of the oven. We couldn’t have enough!
Creme Brule
Soooooo so good! Highly recommended!
Tiramisu
Light, refreshing and swimming in rum 
— not too rich like many other Tiramisu’s.
The chef also serves a free homemade “digestive”, sorta like a limoncello, but with his own flavors. He makes different flavors all the time. Tonight it was fresh ginger. Don’t turn down the opportunity to try it! It’s a perfect ending to the meal.
If you haven’t yet tried this place, you are missing out. Definitely one of Hilo’s gems. A meal for two is well under $40 yet tastes like a $100 meal.
Cafe Concerto
808 Kilauea Ave., Hilo, HI 96720
Phone: (808) 934-0312 (call to check their hours/days open)
