La Cucina Ristorante Italiana!
Chef Don Truong, formerly of Mediterraneo, is now the chef/owner of this tiny new restaurant in the Imperial Plaza on Kapiolani and Cooke. A practically 2 person operation, this restaurant is making waves in the local Italian food community.
La Cucina takes reservations for parties of 4 of more (four is the BEST number, double date, share each dish as it comes out). I would strongly recommend taking advantage of the BYOB (one bottle of wine per person is a good ratio, with only two staff, dishes come when they come). The timing of each dish gives the table quality time to share, laugh, and drink. Surround yourself with people you absolutely love and enjoy their company. Wind down after a long week, celebrate a birthday, stop and smell the roses (and truffle oil).
Fresh pasta made daily.
Fresh Bread and Oil
Antipasti
Mushroom Crostini – Fresh mozzarella, truffle oil, fragrant!
Homemade Italian Sausage – hearty and spicy!
Trenette Norcina – Spicy homemade sausage with ruffled edge trenette pasta. My favorite pasta dish!
Carbonara Roman Style – Light, savory, delicious!
Bolognese – Rich and creamy.
Osso Bucco – Meaty, tender, served over risotto. Great dish to share!
Seafood Risotto – also comes in mushroom and norcina form. Each different, tasty, delicious. Each takes on a different flavor profile and pick the appropriate one for the heaviness you want.
Lobster Ravioli – always a huge hit, squid ink pasta, lobster including the claw, excellent sauce, worthy of bread moppage.
Lamb Lollipops – Excellent sauce, dip, drench, soak to your heart’s content.
@Melissa808 and a Creme Brulee Cheesecake – love the shell from the brulee, decadent cheesecake.
Heaven on a plate – Tiramisu. Painstakingly crafted, I could eat a sheet, easily. I even inquired about purchasing a sheet. Life-changing. I order this as takeout some days. It’s THAT GOOD.
Enjoy!
(Grappa – rocket fuel)
La Cucina Ristorante Italiana
Imperial Plaza
725 Kapiolani Boulevard
Chuggy Bear 