Saturday, January 07, 2012

Prima


I'd been anxious to try Prima after reading this review in Biting Commentary. It's the newest project from Alejandro Briceño (Nobu) and Lindsey Ozawa (Melt). Found in Kailua right in between Foodland and Baskin & Robbins, it's a casual Italian spot specializing in wood fired pizzas and pasta dishes.

Cute menu: small plates (about a dozen), pasta (3) and pizza (6 choices). Pizzas run about $15.

The pizza oven

Ambience

Gotta love a place that serves Sierra Nevada as the American beer selection (other options from Italy, Czech Republich, a Maui Brewing, and a few others)
First starter: fennel panna cotta (read Martha Cheng's review here). Loved the coffee salt

Sauteed greens

Spicy meatball stuffed with cheese

Brussel sprouts
Papperdelle with Big Island lamb ragu
Pizza
The desserts are much fancier and more creative than you would expect for a casual place like this. I unfortunately can't find the menu online so dont' remember exactly what went into each of these, but this was the "spiced apple" with a crispy toast, cinnamon (?) gelato, a foam of something, and a crumble topping.
This was called "froyo" and had to do with white chocolate, black sesame, yogurt and a bunch of other flavors I can't quite remember but all went really well together.

Prima, 108 Hekili St; 888-8933; primahawaii.com

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