Stopped in just before going to Waipio, only had a few minutes to grab a bite. The young waitress was extremely friendly and accommodating with our time crunch. We ordered the big island pizza, grabbed some water, she put our pie in a box and we were out.
Pizza is a bit pricy, but it was worth it. Sauce was great and lots of toppings. Also bring cash like many mom and pop shops they don't take credit cards.
While backpacking in Hawaii, my boyfriend and I came across Cafe II Mondo when we just so happened to be craving pizza. Luckily, this place was in the unexpected town of Honoka'a.
At a glance, the place seems like a typical hole-in-the-wall restaurant. A couple places to sit outside and several tables inside. It was a very intimate setting, which actually I tend to like when eating out.
Service was fantastic. The waitress was attentive and on the ball. We noticed when other people came in they were able to bring their own bottles of wine. We thought that was very cool.
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The prices were intimidating at first, but we were adamant about getting pizza before spending a few days in Waipio Valley. Good thing that was the case.
Like I said, we were at first a little weary of spending ~$10.00 on pizza, but when the food was served we were pleased, BIG-TIME. I forgot what we ordered because we actually ate here a few months ago, but the experience was timeless. It was definitely a vegetarian pizza.
When the waitress brought our pizza to the table, she sat it down and the aroma filled our nostrils with sweet, rich flavors. To our surprise, it was obvious that the pizza had been made completely fresh and from scratch. I'm not kidding when I say that I had never tasted pizza this good in my entire life. Talk about a rush for your taste buds.
A few weeks or so later, we were riding on the hele-on bus coming from Kona to Hilo. As the bus passed through Honoka'a, we saw Cafe II Mondo and were instantly brought back to the unforgettable quality of the pizza there. In a split second, we looked at each other and decided to forget about Hilo for the night. We got off the bus purely for the sake of eating at this place. We had no idea where we would sleep that night, but it was totally worth it to experience the kind of quality food this place offers.
We ended up ordering the veggie calzone the second time and loved it just as much as the pizza. I still think about this pizza from time-to-time, and my boyfriend and I have found that no pizza can compare, unless, of course, we make it fresh ourselves ;)
I recommend this place as something someone must experience when visiting the island. Really guys, it's just that good.
This little Italian restaurant was just what we needed after hiking to Hi'ilawe waterfall in Waipi'o Valley. I always love restaurants where you get to walk through the kitchen. It has a giant table when you first walk in for large groups or a bunch of small ones. I had the veggie calzone ($12) and my husband had the bowl of clam chowder with 2 slices of foccacia ($5). I can't say enough how fresh it was. They garnished my calzone with fresh tomato that was one of the most flavorful tomatoes I've had in a long time. It was as if they picked in from their own garden. If you're in the area, it's well worth the stop. Oh! And they only take cash.
Review Source:Finding this restaurant in the middle of nowhere is another example of why I love Yelp. While checking out the Waipioo lookout point with my family, we realized it was 1pm and we were starving. Pulled out the iPhone Yelp app and this place came up with 24reviews and 4.5 stars so why even bother looking at other places.
We ordered the pastrami sandwich and turkey sandwich which were terrific! The sandwich was toasted which was a nice touch and it was big and only 7.50. We held the mayo and it was still very moist and the bread was super fresh.
We also ordered the big island pizza for the boys (cheese, ham (great smoked flavor) and fresh sweet pineapple. They make the thin crust dough fresh and a hefty portion of cheese (which I liked) that had a nice flavor. I could wait to eat the leftovers for dinner:)
The staff was super friendly, even after my 5 yo dumped water everywhere. I loved the small town charm of this place. We will def be back if ever in the area again.
Stopped by this little Italian restaurant while driving around the Big Island. Small but cozy place. We were craving pizza that night and we got lucky. We ordered the "Italian" pizza, which was sooo goooood!! It is basically a margherita pizza, thin crust, I requested it be well baked and they did a great job.
NOTE: They only accept cash
Split lasagna it was more than enuf. Â Focaccia bread was extremely wonderful, crust was like an aa field of lava, all bumpy and crunchy with hidden herb treasures, and the dough had just the right amount of fight to it: chewy yet crumbly and yeasty heaven! Â The lasagna sauce was a minefield of chunky flavorful tomatoes: perfect acidity vs sweet, meaty and not runny. Â Oh yes, we were impressed - planning on many more visits, especially when we spotted the calzone being served at the next table! Â Yowza!
Review Source:This is the place to hit either before or after going to Waipio Valley. Â Service is leisurely because everything is made to order and it's a small place, so keep that in mind if you are trying to make a tour. Â Cafe Il Mondo's 4.5 star rating is right on the money. Â I'll bump them up to 5 because, it's a long way to New York's Little Italy from here. Â
When researching this place on Yelp, Eric C.'s glowing review sealed the deal.  What's more when I sent him a thank you compliment, he was quick to get back with a "get the sausage calzone, I just had it again two weeks ago!"  Ok sold!  And yes he's right it's a great calzone.  Stuffed with tons of mozzarella cheese, chunks of mild but flavorful sausage, diced onions, and fresh mushrooms, this was a beautiful thing.  I actually would call it a stromboli rather than a calzone since it doesn't have any ricotta cheese.  However Cafe Il Mondo has decided to replace the ricotta cheese with even more Mozzarella, so no complaints here.  The marinara sauce had a nice tomato and fresh basil flavor to it.  The folded dough crust was pefectly crispy on the outside without being over done.  While one review here said they are "humongous", I didn't think so.  They are still individual size calzones, a little too small to share unless you are a light eater.  <a href="http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/Tei3Dnp7rfODt8COZwncIA?select=tK1_BSlne97bEU06zCfn0w#_RanGIabAi3btJEk4N8Pmw">http://www.yelp.com/biz_…</a>
My wife had a daily special of spinach and cheese stuffed ravioli topped with sausage, mushrooms, and marinara sauce.  This was the same mix that was in the calzone but was also delicious with the raviolil.  The ravioli filling was excellent as well.  I can highly recommend this dish if you happen to see it on the daily specials list.  <a href="http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/Tei3Dnp7rfODt8COZwncIA?select=tK1_BSlne97bEU06zCfn0w#BfOwalM3v0SzntE2p1jcfQ">http://www.yelp.com/biz_…</a>
Thinking we were ordering too much food, we ordered a Canta Napoli Pizza and had them leave a few slices plain cheese for my daughter which they were happy to do.  You be surprised the problems I've had with other places, when I request a 1/4 pie plain cheese.  This had lots of toppings of pepperoni, sausage, onions, bell peppers, and black olives.  The thin crust held up well even with all the weight of the toppings.  The crust is cooked on a stone slab so it gets nice and firm but not overcooked.  They only sell small pizzas if you are dining in and this is a personal size.  We had no problem finishing it along with our other meals.  4 star pizza, we enjoyed the calzone and ravioli more.  <a href="http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/Tei3Dnp7rfODt8COZwncIA?select=tK1_BSlne97bEU06zCfn0w#6Q6ETgAAh6caPC3v6T3K6A">http://www.yelp.com/biz_…</a>
CASH ONLY!!!
Found this place by accident but I'm glad we did. Everything is fresh and made to order. My boyfriend and I had The Big Island Pizza which was ham and pineapple and the kona coffee ice cream for dessert.
This was our first time having stone oven baked pizza and it was absolutely delicious. Can't wait to come back here again!
We ate often at Cafe Il mondo and enjoyed it each time. it isn't fancy food but it is fresh and delicious and reasonably priced. the pizzas, calzones, ravioli, lasagna are all very good. the island-made ice cream is, too. It is usually crowded and it is a great place to meet people. friendly service.
Review Source:I had lunch here and it was really good. I had a french dip sandwich, coffee, and Tahitian Vanilla ice cream. The food tastes fresh and is very rich in taste. We also sat with the owners whom were very friendly. I would highly recommend stopping here for a very good meal if you're driving through or staying in the area.
Review Source:We stopped by Cafe Il Mondo after several locals recommended it to us. We got the chef salad with tofu, a Hawaiian pizza and the tofu sandwich. The salad came with bread soaked in butter. When I asked for a piece without they happily obliged. My dad loved the pizza saying that everything was fresh (which it certainly is.. we watched them make it in the open kitchen). Our one vice was the sandwich which was loaded with mayo despite failing to mention that it was included in the sandwich. We had already waited quite some time for our food so by that point my sister just tried to scrape it off and eat it. Overall it was a nice place to eat lunch on the way back from the waterfalls.
Review Source:Considering Honoka'a is a small town and most shops close early and are geared towards local flavors this is a good option. I have only been here once while visiting family and I must say I will probably not go back, unless i was starving. If you want pizza or a quick bite to eat and find yourself in an unfamiliar part of the island then yea this works. Friendly staff and it wasn't busy so no complaints there. I only had a pizza which was about as good as something from Dominos or Pizza Hut or any other chain. Though it is important to note that I've actually been to Italy and had authentic Italian pizza so I am a bit spoiled now but like I said you could do worse but don't go expecting something amazing. If you're tired and hungry it'll do the trick but don't expect the best thing ever and you won't be disappointed.
Review Source:We were  excited to eat here, given the rave reviews and pretty photos posted by other Yelpers.  After a long day, we were also looking forward to having a beer with dinner.  Because I'm pregnant, I don't really need more than a sip, so my husband brought one 12 ounce bottled beer into the restaurant after we read that it was BYOB. The waitress promptly brought us a bottle opener and 2 glasses.
The calzones were okay. Â Just okay. Â Pretty to look at but kind of light and doughy, and not particularly substantial. Â We shared a decent salad that was on the very spendy side for some greenery. Â An order of cheesy potatoes was just that - spears of potatoes with some cheese slapped upon them.
Then came the bill.  We were charged, without warning, $3.75 corkage fee for sharing the bottle of beer.  After protesting, she told us it would've been $2.00 but because the pregnant lady (me) took a sip, it cost $3.75.  Apparently the corkage fee is listed on the back side of the menu on the beverage side, where you wouldn't look if there was no beer to order!  A simple apology, or waiver of the fee (in a cash-only establishment where they clearly weren't going to report this) would have remedied the situation.  Instead, we were left feeling grumpy and pissed off on our otherwise stellar vacation.  And of course, it would've helped sooth our annoyance if the  calzones were better.
After an exhausting hike down to Waipi'o Valliey, we were starving on our way back to Kona. We saw this place was open and took a chance on it! It was killer delicious! The calzones were amazing! I had the Italian sausage and devoured it in minutes... I think I might have licked the plate! The most amazing thing happened after we finished eating: the one and only Miss Roseanne Barr walked in and sat down to eat. She agreed to take a picture with us. (She ordered the Greek Calzone so I'm sure it must be delish). I will never forget this place definitely the best meal I've had on any of the islands!
Review Source:Good calzone. After Waipio beach, I was powerful hungry and this place was close and delicious. Service was friendly and the food was terrific. There were unique tables made of an old sewing machine base and one about 12 feet long made of solid rosewood. Cozy and convenient. Will be back.
Review Source:A definate stop when passing by Honokaa!! Â Since I was doing some business there, I knew I had to try this place again. Â This time I ordered their Italian Sausage Calzone and with the cheese and pepper flakes provided, this was really really good. Â I think this place is the best non-pasta Italian place in Hawaii. Â If this place was on Oahu, it'll be packed. Â But I guess being secluded in a little town makes this place so great.
Review Source:Read all the reviews on yelp, and since this town only had so many restaurants to choose from, we planned to eat at Cafe il Mondo - and are we glad we did. We had a GREAT meal here. When we first walked in, I was a little skeptical about the food, but when our waitress came over we completely fell in love with her and the place. She was adorable. We ordered the antipasto salad and a calzone. They were both DELCIOUS. And their pesto??!!! OMG - to die for. Â The night we were there, there were 3 people running the place and I think they were all under 21 yrs. They were all very nice, very helpful and working their butts off. Â My husband and I were really impressed. Don't forgot that you can go across the street to grab a bottle of wine.
A must stop for anyone traveling through Honokaa.
This is the place to go after visiting one the most beautiful places in the world - Waipio Valley on the Big Island. Â It is only 5 minutes down the road from the Valley, and is the perfect place to finish off a perfect day. Â Great food, wonderful family owners, and good service. Â The owner, Sergio (Chilean who plays the flamenco guitar), lived in Italy for a number of years, and brought back all the tools to make great Italian food. Â His wife, Dena, knows the history of the Island, and works there with the two boys. Â
Top it off with the best ice cream on the Island (Tropical Dreams). Â You might even catch a celeb there or two. Â I hear they will be opening up a larger restaurant down the street in a few months - Â check it out!
Don M.
We've had a lots of pizzas, but this one was right up there on the top! The chef understood what exactly we wanted and made sure we got the best. I would really recommend anyone visiting the Big Island to pay these guys a visit.
The service was a little slow, but in their defense, they are a very small restaurant. They do not accept credit/debit cards, so remember to take enough cash. The pizzas were about 13 bucks apiece.
To summarize, these pizzas are the best we've EVER had. We wouldn't mind going back to Hawaii just to eat here :)
Great little spot. Â We had a great time eating here, even with our little ones, which is saying a lot. Â Casual, great homemade food (the calzone with pesto and artichokes was outstanding). Â You can tell they care about the food and your experience, and it shows. Â no alcohol served, so BYOB. Â One of our best meals on the island.
Review Source:Let's start with the basics. Â We were in the middle of NO WHERE. Â Seriously I couldn't pronounce the name of the town as a mainlander and felt like I had gone back in time 20 years as we drove through the streets (which in many ways was very nice). Â We had been out on a drive and was about an hour from our condo. Â So what do you do in a foreign land with nothing but your wit, devilishly handsome good looks, and your iPhone? Â You pull up Yelp that's what you do given the other two are more fiction than fact! Â So we did and since we wanted pizza this place sounded like a fit. Â As I was reading about it, my wife says there's a place and funny enough it was the same Il Mondo that I was reading about.
We walk in and I'm going, what did we get ourselves into? Â The place is alright looking, but I'm in the middle of the mountains of Hawaii...(seriously Hawaii and looking for pizza!!! are you kidding). Â We sit down and the place is okay, nothing fancy and kind of small yet then again it's kind of cool and obviously not a chain which is good (support your local economy and all). Â
I read about the calzone on yelp so being a fan by nature I order my stand by the italian sausage while my wife orders the Greek. Â We wait and take in the scenes of the restaurant for what felt like a good amount of time, but the waitress was nice and we weren't in a rush so all is good. Â Finally after a while the waitress comes around the corner with our food and HOLY COW! Â This is not a calzone...it's art! Â I'm mean seriously check out the pics I took they look ridiculous. Â No wonder we had to wait, they literally made it from scratch and it looked good. Â
I took the first bite and man was I hooked. Â It was possibly the best calzone I have ever experienced and I travel a LOT (NYC, Chicago, etc...) and this little hole in the wall had the audacity to create this! Â What did I do to get so lucky. Â We ooh'd and ahh'd for what seemed like forever as we devoured what had once been a Picasso of italian inspired perfection. Â
Note: Cash Only. Â Does not accept credit cards, but Amazing Food!!!
In the words of the Governator...I'll be back!
Who would guess that you could get outstanding pizza and calzones in downtown Honokaa! Â Fresh ingredients and attention to the little things makes for great food. The spinach calzone was packed with greens; the greek calzone full of artichokes, mushrooms, greek olives, and feta. Â The place is small, with a few outside tables.
Don't forget to bring your own beer or wine (if you forget, just walk half a block to the TKS store to get some) and cash since they don't take credit cards!
This is a total gem! Â Honokaa is a small town before you reach the Waipio Valley, a favorite spot of Hawaiian royalty back in the day. Â This little cafe is on the quaint main stretch of Honokaa. Â It has fresh ingredients and homey feel. Â We had a garden salad with their homemade vingarette and veggie Waipio pizza. Â Really nice folks there and they take good care of you!
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