Having a large family to feed, dining out is a challenge. Not only can it be hard on the wallet but finding a place that all 7 of us can find something to like, is an even greater feat. Pizza seems to be something that we can all connect on, it’s an affordable option for large groups, they can be customized to suit a variety of tastes, and it’s one of the best junk foods known to mankind.

Pizza at Auntie Pastos’ in Honolulu, HI. (photo by HawaiianEdge.com)

Pizza at Auntie Pastos’ in Honolulu, HI. (photo by HawaiianEdge.com)

That said, we decided to begin our dining quest by searching for our favorite pizza in Honolulu. Auntie Pasto’s on Beretania & Pensacola was our first stop. Specializing in standard Italian cuisine, pizza has a section all to itself on the menu. They have several unique flavor combinations to choose from and of course you can build your own with whatever you want and you get the choice between thin or pan crust.

n our opinion, it wasn’t the best pizza we’ve ever had (they could have been a little more generous on the toppings) but the staff and ambiance of the place was perfect for us. Nicely lit and open, old style jazz tunes play above the clatter and sizzle of a bustling kitchen giving the feeling of privacy even in a full room. Casual dining and very kid friendly, they provided crayons and kid menus with activities. The kids especially enjoyed the supply of toothpicks they so graciously allowed them to dip into more than a few times. As their dad so eloquently put it, “Because the kids were comfortable, we were comfortable.”

We adored our waitress even before she treated us to a special dessert for my birthday which was, in my opinion, the star of the meal.  Creme brulee cheesecake drizzled with dark chocolate sauce… wow, crispy on the top rich and creamy, graham crust – one of the best cheesecakes I’ve had.  We also loved that they have craft beer on tap being the beer snobs that we have become.  If you order before 7pm or after 8pm you also get a discount on select beers.  Auntie Pasto’s is a great middle of the road choice. Not amazing cuisine but it’s got great atmosphere to enjoy with family and friends, the food could be more flavorful but the servings are good and we were able to feed a family of 7 for under $100!

Pizza at Auntie Pastos’ in Honolulu, HI. (photo by HawaiianEdge.com)

Creme brulee cheesecake made in-house at Auntie Pasto’s in Honolulu, HI. (Hawaiian Edge photo by Ronen Caspi)

So how did they rate with the kids? Read on…

Pizza at Auntie Pastos’ in Honolulu, HI. (photo by HawaiianEdge.com)

ZOHAR (11 yrs.):  Auntie Pasto’s pizza was a good experience for me (especially their pepperoni pizza).  I gave the pizza there an 8/10 rating because on the positive side it was cooked very well and the cheese powder gave it a nice flavor.  Some points were deducted because of the fact that the cheese was a little bit undercooked but the pepperoni was fine and delicious and that is why I gave Aunty Pasto’s pizza that rating.

Pizza at Auntie Pastos’ in Honolulu, HI. (photo by HawaiianEdge.com)

LEO (8 yrs.):  Let me tell you the life I had eating pizza at Auntie Pasto’s. The first thing I’m going to tell you is that it was the some of the best pizza I had and that is why I had four pieces of it. My brother who is eleven years old ate five slices of it and it was really fantastic!

After that, since it was my Mom’s birthday we got free cheesecake that was the best I ever had and that is what I call one of the best times ever. At the end we were all so sleepy from being up so late and our Mom forgot her phone, but it was the best!

Pizza at Auntie Pastos’ in Honolulu, HI. (photo by HawaiianEdge.com)

TAMAR ( 8 yrs.): When I went to Auntie Pasto’s it was one of the best pizza places I’ve been to. I loved the pepperoni pizza. I had two pieces but gave one to my brother. From a rating of 1/10 I would give it a 7 because I liked all the pizzas but the sausage was weird with peppers.

KAMEA (13 YRS):  I actually don’t really care for pizza.  This pizza was cr*p and there wasn’t enough crust. I like Costco pizza better.  (side note from mom: he didn’t even come with us due to an episode of bad attitude so, this opinion was based on cold, left-over, after-the-fact pizza. However, if Costco pizza is your kid’s favorite than you may be better off getting a 15 minute pie to go and leaving your moody teen at home…)

MK (20 yrs): For pizza I probably wouldn’t go there again but there are other options I’d prefer to try next time.  The atmosphere was very comfortable

Pizza at Auntie Pastos’ in Honolulu, HI. (photo by HawaiianEdge.com)

and I enjoyed the overall feeling of the place.