Arrivederci Mediterraneo, for now

Nadine Kam photos
Fabrizio Favale’s homemade sausage, onions, mushrooms and Parmesan with rigatoni.

After more than 20 years of operation, Mediterraneo will be closing its doors at the end of the month.

It’s one of the few “Italian” restaurants in town helmed by an individual of Italian ancestry, and owner Fabrizio Favale will be taking some time off to revisit the Motherland and Rome, where he grew up.

The chef-owner has a loose plan to return to Hawaii and establish another restaurant in a more heavily trafficked spot, and I’d like to hold him to that, but he has no specific time frame in mind.

So, until then, if you want to catch the last bites of his home-style dishes, you’d better make those reservations now.

There were generous chunks of lobster in these ravioli in creamy pink sauce.

I recently stopped in for a last meal, and while there, Favale reminded me of a review I wrote upon his opening. I don’t remember it and it’s not searchable online because my column preceded the Star-Bulletin’s Internet launch on March 18, 1996, but according to him, it was rude but changed his life for the better.

Arrivederci Fabrizio, and hope to see you soon in a new location.
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Mediterraneo is at 1279 S. King St. between Birch and Cedar streets. Call 593-1466.

Mediterraneo’s seafood pasta comes with several pasta options: spagetti, cappellini, rigatoni, fettuccine and pappardelle.

For those who haven’t been there, Mediterraneo’s oxtail osso buco is not to be missed.

Old World ambience.
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Nadine Kam is Style Editor and staff restaurant critic at the Honolulu Star-Advertiser; her coverage in print on Wednesdays and Thursdays. Contact her via email at nkam@staradvertiser.com and follow her on Twitter, Instagram and Rebel Mouse.