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We have been coming to Cafe 8-1/2 for lunch ever since my husband accidentally found it back in 1994 while walking between his two jobs. The restaurant is easy to miss because it is located on the bottom floor of a small building tucked between the Alii Place building and The Mandalay Restaurant. The menu has been tweaked a bit with the most popular dishes still on the daily menu and still made with the freshest ingredients. Chef Robert also offers creative daily specials, depending on what inspires him at the time.
Today's special was braised pork back ribs with campanelle pasta in a Pomodoro sauce ($16). Chef told us that he added coffee to the marinade to give the pork a smoky flavor. He also added his homemade mozzarella cheese to the Pomodoro sauce to give it a creamy texture. Nestor absolutely loved it! You can't go wrong ordering the daily special. I ordered a popular dish from the regular menu, Radiatore Verde, which included juicy, tender pieces of NY steak served on a bed of penne pasta and homemade pesto ($15). Our other favorites are Stufato Manzo (rosemary-scented beef stew) and Panzanella (bread salad). The "sandwiches" come with a unique potato salad, chips, and a small green salad. You have a choice of either the Manzo (grilled NY strip steak) or Pollo (tender and juicy chicken breast), with the bread served separately. (Chef said he got tired of watching people pulling out the meat and throwing away the bread.) All entrees come with a choice of como bread or focaccia, both homemade. We chose the como bread this time, which is a classic, thick-crusted Italian bread.
If you haven't figured it out yet, this place is eclectic, very casual, and not your usual restaurant. The emphasis is on the food, not the decor. If you find yourself dining at Cafe 8-1/2 one day and think that you hear a pan sliding across the kitchen floor, you're not imagining it. Oh, and do not ask for substitutions! I've heard people say that they are not coming back because they didn't like it when they asked for Parmesan cheese only to be told that the dish they ordered was "not a cheese dish." However, we think following a few "rules" is a small price to pay for this one-of-a-kind culinary experience. The restaurant is also open Saturday nights offering live music and a special prix fixe dinner menu. The menu changes weekly and again depends on what inspires Chef Robert. Saturday dinner reservations are highly recommended (by Thursday or Friday).
Fortunately, this mom-and-pop San Francisco-style restaurant has changed very little over the years. Chef Robert's wife, Jali, is gracious and friendly as she runs the front of the restaurant all by herself. If you've dined here before, you may remember their son, Pablo, who used to help out when he was younger. Now that he's away at college, its just Robert and Jali, living the dream.
Cafe 8-1/2
1067 Alakea Street
Honolulu, HI 96814
Ph: (808) 524-4064
www.cafe8half.com
Hours:
Monday to Friday: Lunch - 11:30A to 2:00P
Saturday: Dinner - call for hours and reservations
Sunday: Closed
Campanelle Pasta in Pomodoro Sauce (special item)
Radiatore Verde
Como Bread
Stufato Manzo with mashed potatoes
Pollo in Potaccio with mashed potatoes
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