Formaggio Wine Bar | Formaggio Grill

Formaggio Grill is opening on January 4th

So we’re really going to open, Santa???
Formaggio Grill menus will be posted today!!!

Apply online at www.formaggio808.com or email drink@formaggio808.com for more information.

A milestone was reached today for Formaggio Grill - our permit was FINALLY issued!
We’ll be posting more pictures of the remodeling so you can follow the “birth of a restaurant.”
Others have asked what our menus will feature, so I’ll post that here shortly as well.

Mahalo for your support!

With many rumors floating out there regarding our delay in opening Formaggio Grill, I thought I’d take the time to put a few of them to rest.

First and foremost, we are still looking forward to an opening sometime this year. It’s not our liquor license that is holding us back, as that was approved a year ago. I haven’t decided to trek through the mountains of Tibet in search of the meaning of life, I have already found that here at home in Kailua with family and friends.

The top ten reasons why Formaggio Grill is delayed . . . . drum roll please . . . .

10. Permit reviewers drink beer, not wine.
9. Contractors are too busy golfing.
8. Remains of Jimmy Hoffa found in the grease trap.
7. Structural beam found held together by krazy glue.
6. Extreme Home Makeover one week permit process takes its toll on the department, supervisor approves three month paid vacation for staff.
5. Dyslectics untie with foie gras activists.
4. Permit officials refuse to drive over the Pali, cites Kailua as being too far away.
3. Public cries fowl (pun intended), “not another Italian restaurant!”
2. Elections still a few years away.
1. Department of Permitting and Planning wants us to widen Kailua Road.

All sounds too crazy, right? Nope, city officials actually want us to widen Kailua Road at the corner, citing ordinance 2412, an archaic and poorly written law that is randomly enforced. Despite being aware of two U.S. Supreme Court case rulings (Nolan and Dolan) of a similar situation in which local government had enforced ‘unreasonable and un-proportional’ demands, and thus in violation of the U.S. Constitution, we still have not received the green light to resume construction.

Thank you for your continued interest and support. Stay tuned for further updates!

Aloha, and I hope to see you all soon.

At the Kailua Town Party we held a fun little contest, the prize being dinner for two at our private pre-opening party. Entrants had to guess how many corks were in a vase and guesses ranged from 47 to 4004. How the range could be so wide is beyond me, with the correct answer being 323 corks. It represents about two days worth of wine sales at our Formaggio Wine Bar in town. Thanks to all those who participated!!

It was hard work and fun all at the same time. The “I Love Kailua Town Party” was quite a blast as we served a sampling of good things to come. The Rack of Lamb with Roasted Garlic Cream Sauce was a big hit as was the Lobster Bisque to Live For. We enjoyed meeting the friendly town folk and getting to see familiar faces from the other side of the Koolaus. A big MAHALO goes out to all those who participated to make this event a success. Thanks for stopping by our booth and we look forward to next year when we can just roll things out 75 yards down the street.