WAILUA — Armed with six new owners behind it and a local brand name to boot, Brick Oven Pizza has been working to make a name for itself on the Eastside. The longtime fixture of Kalaheo and now Wailua has
WAILUA — Armed with six new owners behind it and a local brand name to boot, Brick Oven Pizza has been working to make a name for itself on the Eastside.
The longtime fixture of Kalaheo and now Wailua has honed in on how to set up ambiance that’s both inviting and family-friendly. Both spots prove ideal for watching football or just chowing down on the kind of pizza that is reminiscent of the simple genius of “Old Country” Italian pie, with a little Americana mixed in.
Co-owner Nalani Aguano said part of what makes their version of pizza unique is somewhat obvious — the brick oven itself.
“All of our ovens have brick hearths inside,” she said. “Essential for our crust to be where we want it to be.”
The restaurant has had time to perfect its crust method, having been in the business for more than 30 years in Kalaheo.
Though its original owners were bought out by three couples in 2008 who run both operations now, they’ve worked to capitalize on the reputation it took so long to build, working to “maintain quality and reputation,” Aguano said.
As for what to eat when there, the signature dish isn’t one to miss: the Super Pizza, a combination of salami, pepperoni, mushrooms, black olives, Italian sausage, lean beef, Portuguese sausage, smoked ham, green onion and bell peppers.
“(The Super Pizza) has everything you need in a pizza. …an array of meats and vegetables,” Aguano said. “This is the most popular among our customers for good reason. You definitely cannot go wrong with this one.”
Other menu highlights are the Hawaiian BBQ Pizza, a twist on the traditional pineapple-and-ham version, boasting a smoky sauce, chicken and white onions, and the “Pupu Pizza,” saturated by three melted cheeses, which is ideal for whetting one’s appetite.
For Nalani, her favorites are the Super Pizza, as it “has everything you need on a pizza,” and the Shrimp, Garlic and Mushroom pizza, which comes with a light, homemade pizza sauce.
But the longtime, traditional Italian staples aren’t the only menu items that are noteworthy, as owners haven’t merely relied on what’s worked in the past, but have worked to keep options rejuvenated.
“We try to introduce one to two items each year,” Aguano said. Their most recent change? Dessert pizzas.
Two that you’ll want to leave room for are the Snickers pizza, made with cream cheese, chocolate chips, nuts and caramel, and the cream cheese cinnamon and sugar pizza (ingredients of which are pretty self-explanatory).
“(Dessert pizzas) will satisfy any sweet tooth,” Aguano said. “I love the (Snickers pizza) with a cup of coffee or a scoop of vanilla ice cream.”
Aguano said inspiration for the menu came in part from the previous owners, but also from favorite dishes made in their own kitchens.
“Brick Oven Pizza has been here since 1977,” she said. “Truth be told, the previous owners (Demas and Demas) had a lot to do with this menu. However in 2008, we introduced new items, and the inspiration comes from dishes we make at home — but now, we put it on top of our pizza dough.”
Though restaurants have come and gone on the Eastside, Brick Oven Pizza doesn’t plan on going anywhere, and its owners intend on it becoming as much a mainstay in Wailua as it has been in Kalaheo.
“Brick Oven Pizza has been a staple of Kalaheo for over 33 years,” Aguano said. “We love what we do and we do what we love. Brick Oven Pizza will continue to put out homemade pizzas, Kaua‘i-style.”
As far as what that means for locals, it’s enjoying great pizza and stellar service, according to Aguano, but that’s something she wants people to realize through experience.
“The best way to learn about us would be to come into either one of our restaurants,” she said.
