Lyla D.
Yelp
We returned to San Paolo Pizzeria after first trying them during a Yelp Elite Week Event held in mid-March of this year. We enjoyed our first experience at San Paolo's Pizzeria, vowed to return, and waited for the "right moment." After being away for the past month while eating at gourmet non-Asian restaurants on board a cruise ship or at local East Asian restaurants during shore excursions, we yearned for the flavors at San Paolo's Brazilian-Italian Pizzeria.
Because we were returning from our afternoon urban hike along Ala Moana Boulevard, we timed our early dinner to the pizzeria's opening hour at 4 pm. We were slightly embarrassed to show up at their doorstep just as the hostess/server was unlocking the door, or, as my husband put it, "We were scratching at the door like two hungry dogs." We recognized the cheerful and friendly hostess/server, Adriana, who made our first visit memorable as she escorted us into the restaurant. She recognized us, too.
FOOD:
-Burrata Salad: a whole pouch of creamy, stringy, and soft buttery cheese topped with fresh arugula leaves and sweet cherry tomatoes. The refreshing salad was dressed with olive oil, salt, and black pepper with a lemon wedge on the side to add an acidic touch to the dressing. The salad is large enough to be shared between 2 to 4 people as we managed to split the salad into four portions. $18.90
-Half-Calabresa (Brazilian smoked sausage) Paulistana + Half-Portugese Pizza = San Paolo Size: We remembered the flavorful calabresa (Brazilian smoked sausage) and Portuguese-style pizzas from our first try and chose the same combination. Both halves of pizzas have thin, crisp, soft crusts topped with just enough tomato sauce to hold the toppings on and drizzled with olive oil. The pizzeria is generous with its calabresa topping, which we've not found anywhere else in Honolulu. The Portuguese pizza's half pie featured generous thin slices of smoked ham, egg, and mozzarella. Half Calabresa Paulistana: $19.50 + Half Portuguese: $22.50
We wolfed down the salad and beers but could only eat half (4 slices) of the San Paolo-sized pie. We reasoned that we could eat the leftovers for another meal (breakfast?) at home and continued our urban hike was home.
While we were eating, the restaurant was filled with more people who started to enjoy this business' Happy Hour specials and watched the staff set up the stage for their live music entertainment to begin. Perhaps we could have listened to and watched the festivities if we had dined in later.
We'll be back!