One of the things we always do when we travel is to talk to locals (preferably not in the hospitality trade) and ask about their favorite places to eat. We have found some really great places with this simple question, so we asked one of the Hawaiian Fire owners (he himself a Honolulu firefighter) where he liked to eat when he wasn't working. His reply came without a minute’s hestitation: "Angelo Pietro's." He explained to us that it was a very unique fusion of Japanese and Italian and that we had to try it, as nothing else really could compare to it.
We took his word and headed out to find Angelo Pietro's. It's located in a very uninteresting area between Waikiki and downtown, a few blocks behind the Ala Moana Shopping Center. It's on the ground floor of a large office building. The location does not draw many tourists, but instead mostly locals and folks in the know.
When you walk up, you notice display cases with plastic food, just like in any restaurant in Japan. However, these dishes were pizzas and pasta dishes. The toppings, however, were strictly Japanese, with sliced eggs, fish, and other Japanese favorites.
We did not have reservations, and the wait was about 40 minutes for a table. This was a popular choice, and from the conversations, you could tell a vast majority of patrons were locals. We learned Angelo Pietro's started in Japan, and they now have locations all over Japan. This is their first venture outside of Asia.
The restaurant is brightly light and has a distinct Italian feel to the decor. The wait staff is young and extremely helpful. Our waitress offers us suggestions of her favorites. The service is friendly and efficient, and the vibe is fun and lively.
We started out with the Japanese mushroom pizza, and it was outrageously good. The small pizza was gone in seconds, and we didn't have the "please take the last piece" fight. We all ordered pasta dishes; I had clams and pasta. The pasta is a cross between an Italian pasta and a thicker soba noodle. Fusions can make strange bedfellows, and Pietro's is no exception. I have eaten at a lot of Japanese/French fusion places, but the Italian fusion seems to work a lot better for me. Everything was truly delicious and unique.
Once again, my asking a local paid off. We found a place that is not in any of the guide books and was a little off-the-beaten-track. If you want a unique dining experience in Honolulu, I would point you in the direction of Angelo Pietro's. This is fusion at its best!