Tucked into a corner of Kawaihae on Hawai‘i Island, Cipriano’s Kitchen (ciprianoskitchenhawaii.com) is a hidden gem and easily one of the best restaurants on the island.
PHOTO BY BY IJFKE RIDGLEY
Husband-and-wife owners Gino Cipriano and Claudia Quiroga hail from Italy and Peru, respectively, and have opened an eatery that celebrates the two countries’ venerated cuisines. Open for breakfast and lunch from Monday through Saturday, Cipriano’s Kitchen aims to maximize the use of fresh and locally-sourced produce and seafood from Hawai‘i and twist them with Italian and Peruvian flavors. Standout dishes include fresh fish and octopus ceviche, and gnocchi with lobster, and the menu will soon feature squid ink pasta with calamari and Kaua‘i shrimp. Once a month, they host a not-to-be-missed, family-style six-course dinner. The housemade focaccia bread takes a stunning 96 hours to make and is baked fresh daily, while their signature cocktails use fresh fruit (no syrups) and Hawaiian, Italian and Peruvian liquors.
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