I grew up 20 minutes from one of the most glorious places to buy fresh seafood - Pillar Point, in rustic Half Moon Bay California. My parents would take us there when we were kids to buy straight-off-the-boat seafood. We would watch as my dad would call put his order to the deck hands below the pier, put his money in the fishing net, and then receive newspaper wrapped treasures of the ocean. The food was so fresh and delicious, it was usually eaten raw and with very little enhancement to distort the incredible flavors. To say I'm a seafood spoiled is an understatement.
It was purely by accident did I stumble into Formaggio's, or maybe it was a matter of time - the dining selections in Kailua are great, but very limited. Anyway, I've had a few friends who've been to Formaggio's for both their lunch and dinner services, and the reviews were just 'ok'. After spending my day off, and half my paycheck, shopping with Jenny, we decided were hungry and needed a late lunch. It was a Monday and it was only 4:30 in the afternoon - sadly most of our restaurants are closed on Monday's, or don't open for dinner until 6 - however, Formaggio's is open from early lunch thru dinner, seven days a week.
The hostess greeted us and sat us at a table, and we started to analyze the menu - their wine list is pretty good, so we placed our drink orders and started looking at the food choices. Jenny ordered the escargot bleu and the warm spinach salad. I was scanning the choices, I saw it - LOBSTER BISQUE!! Are you kidding me?? The impossible to make, uber luxurious, rarely ever offered, Lobster bisque? I LOVE LOBSTER BISQUE!! I eagerly ordered a bowl and a house salad.
Jenny's Escargot Bleu smelled incredible, the familiar escargot ramekin was crusted over with bubbling butter and blue cheese, holding the yummy nuggets below this delicious blanket of fatty goodness. It came with a sliced demi baguette for dipping, and was so good it rendered her speechless. My bowl of bisque was beautiful, a swirl of cream and a generous chunk of claw meat was sitting on top inviting me to sink my spoon into it's velvety goodness. Sadly, my soup was cold - really really cold. I asked for it to be taken back and re warmed. When I got it back, it was great! Smooth, rich, full of lobster! SO FREAKING GREAT!!! The salads were good too - Jenny said her warm spinach salad was very good and she ate every bit of it. My house salad had greens, sundried tomatoes, lots of goats cheese, and balsamic vinaigrette. Very delicious.
I've been back several times since - each time the service is half assed, half the appetizer menu is missing, and my soup always comes slightly cooler than room temperature - but after it is sent back and it is returned to me hot and steaming, it is soooo worth the aggravation! My next step will be to recreate nirvana in a bowl, wish me luck! I'll let you know how it goes.
THB
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