“We get to be the local Italian restaurant,” said Kristen Valenti, Bobby Valenti’s (Bobby V’s) wife. Both owners were born in Massachusetts and have Italian descent. However, they met on Kauai and came to share their lives and love for Italian food. The Valenti family opened their restaurant in 2009.
The atmosphere of Bobby V’s is casual, family oriented and comfortable. The dynamic between staff and owner was more like that of family members than of a staff-boss relationship.
The restaurant, 4-788 Kuhio Highway in Kapaa, occupies what used to be a plantation house. You can’t tell from the road, but behind the restaurant there is a lovely, decorated garden with tables and umbrellas for customers to enjoy their food outdoors. Christmas lights surround the entire place, giving it a festive look.
The pizza I had was the Mediterranean: pesto sauce topped with mozzarella, kalamata olives, capers, sun dried tomatoes and feta cheese ($27.99, 15 inches).
I must say that I have not had a better pizza in a long time. The pesto was phenomenal and the thin crust made all the difference. Their pizzas are homemade with their own pesto and sauces. They serve only authentic Italian thin crust pizza. Even my cold leftovers tasted great the next day.
True to their family spirit, the Valentis take care of their ohana. Their cooks have been with them since they opened, and most of their servers as well.
“One of my servers was the very person that trained me 18 years ago on my first job on Kauai, and now she works for me,” Kristen said.
In an attempt to serve their community, the family offers a 10 percent kamaaina discount for locals. Bobby V’s owners also try to stay local with the produce they use.
Besides pizzas, the restaurant offers salads, appetizers, pastas, entrees (spinach manicotti, eggplant parmigiana, etc.), sandwiches and calzones. Nonalcoholic drinks are available (sodas, water, coffee, etc.). If you want to bring your own alcoholic beverages, they will provide the glasses and openers if needed.
Keiki meals for children under 12 are available. If you are looking to celebrate your little one’s event, the restaurant organizes custom kids” parties where the children can make their own pizzas.
On Tuesdays you can enjoy “Pasta Family Style” with spaghetti and meatballs (small bowl feeds three, $16.99; large bowl feeds six, $29.99).
Wednesdays are all you can eat days, serving penne marinara for $8.99. The restaurant is open daily from 3 to 9 p.m. Sunday to Thursday and 3 to 10 p.m. Friday. They also deliver.
“The best way to someone’s heart is through their stomach,” says the restaurant slogan.
Love and passion for Italian food and heritage and sharing traditional home-cooked meals with family and friends is their vision.
“Lovely people and great food on beautiful Kauai,” server Michelle Domincil said, describing the restaurant.
