I needed a break from all the Hawaiian and seafood we'd been eating during our stay. A quick search for nearby alternatives brought us to Pomodoro as Keith said, "I could go for some Italian." About 15 minutes from our hotel, we headed out to try this place for dinner. The dining room was a little small but we were immediately greeted by Gerry who escorted us to a lovely sweetheart table in the corner by the window. The savory smells emanating from the kitchen were just the kick to get my appetite going. Our server, who I did not catch his name, was super energetic and entertaining all night. He was very attentive in pouring our wine and reciting the night's specials. He explained that the restaurant's cannelloni and manicotti are entirely made on the premises.
After choosing a bottle of Sangiovese wine, we settled upon one of the specials to share as an appetizer. The eggplant cannelloni were surprisingly hearty from the shredded eggplant filling, and delicious with the Gorgonzola cheese cream sauce. We mopped up the extra sauce with their homemade foccacia rolls. I was really craving a classic, Italian dish for my main entree so I went with the other fresh crepes filled with cheese known as manicottis. The marinara sauce was perfectly seasoned and not too sour as some tomato sauces can be. The mixture of cheeses was a nice ooey-gooey delight. Keith enjoyed the lasagne, the house specialty, but felt his portion was a bit too small and left him wanting more. His sauce was a bit darker red than mine and had different flavor from the sausage. Both entrees were traditional and hit the spot. I left room for dessert, so we settled on Gerry's homemade double chocolate cake, which was more like a big hunk of fudge since it was so thick. There were a couple pieces of macadamia nuts baked inside the pyramid, but I wish it had more. The Frangelico sauce gave a nice hint of hazelnut that balanced well with the dark chocolate. Although the interior ambience is nothing fancy, the hospitality and great food reminded me of being with family. Overall, we had a great meal at Pomodoro with super friendly and courteous service that rivals other 4 and 5 star establishments.
Total Rating: 3.9
Food: 4, Price: 4, Service: 5, Ambience: 2, Accessibility: 4
What I ate:
Eggplant Cannelloni
thin crepes filled with roasted eggplant
topped with a creamy Gorgonzola cheese sauce with almonds
Manicotti
crepes with a blend of cheeses
topped with marinara sauce and mozzarella cheese
Double Chocolate Cake
with Frangelico sauce
Plus Keith ate:
Lasagne
blend of cheeses, layered in noodles with Italian sausage and beef
topped with marinara sauce and mozzarella cheese
