Restaurant Highlight: Arancino di Mare
Arancino di Mare is a popular Italian restaurant located in Waikiki at the Waikiki Beach Marriott Resort serving their famous Spaghetti Ai Ricci di Mare or Sea Urchin Pasta with their sweet garlic wine cream sauce and Spaghetti Alla Pescatora or Seafood Pasta tossed in their wine and olive oil sauce.
Their extremely fresh appetizer (pictured above), the Carpaccio di Capesante or Scallop Sashimi with Sea Asparagus and Tobiko topped off with a Champagne dressing was a great start to our meal. The balance between sweet and tart, crunchy and soft, was a party in my mouth!
The Spaghetti Ai Ricci di Mare is truly unique. The fresh Sea Urchin that is generously used in the pasta creates a creamy, umami flavor that is out of this world. Pair it with some wine, garlic, and cream and you’ve got one of the best pasta dishes in Waikiki! As for the Spaghetti Alla Pescatora, it is truly spectacular how much fresh seafood they piled on! From large prawns to mussels, it’s all there. The pasta along with the seafood is also tossed in a wine and olive oil sauce for a fresh, light taste.
For dessert, we chose their Panna Cotta, a cream custard topped with fruits. The Panna Cotta, although it was a custard, was very light and not too sweet, for those without a sweet tooth. The fruit provided a tang to the lightly sweetened custard, while the vanilla bean hugged our tastebuds. A truly great, light dessert that won’t make you feel too bad was a perfect ending to our Italian meal.
The atmosphere is warm and inviting with their open concept. Orange walls with paintings and pictures of Italy offer a warm factor to the atmosphere that tie into their authentic Italian theme. Guests can enjoy a nice glass of wine and crispy, buttery bread all the while watching the chefs prepare their meal from the exposed kitchen or even watching the waves crash onto the shore across the street. A view of the chefs perfecting pasta dishes and the waiters carving fresh cheese from the ancient cheese wheel really does transform the place and takes you to Italy. If you want to be transported to Italy, remember, it comes with a price that is so worth it! You’ll definitely enjoy your meal in the heart of Waikiki with a great view of the beach, too.
Price Rating: $$ out of $$$
Find out more about them, their menu, and even book online at their website! http://www.arancino.com/arancino-di-mare