About Us

Welcome to Café Che Pasta!

When you step into this very familiar kind of space at 1001 Bishop Street, it exudes a rather well-worn charm that matches the Italian – Mediterranean food.  For any comfort-loving diner this is like… going home.  The tables are covered in white linen and butcher paper, the walls and banquettes are hues of faded brick, mauve, and tan; and on the walls hangs a show of contemporary local artists’ works.  There is osso bucco, fresh island fish, their very popular brined then grilled breast of chicken in italian herbs, handmade Milanese style pizzas, an array of salads available daily, and any pasta you select will have been freshly made by hand in the back kitchen. The bread is baked in-house and at one of their evening events you’ll be offered a contemporary Tapas Menu… no doubt accompanied by live music where celebrity guests often sit in on Thursdays and Fridays “pau hana”.

Cohen, a Ph.D. in Ancient Chinese Philosophy, somehow made the transition (noodles to pasta perhaps?) with his love of Italian and Mediterranean cuisine to opening restaurants.  His reputation for designing restaurants and menus for the original Cafe Che Pasta in Kaimuki, one of the first restaurants in the neighborhood back in the 1980s, the Honolulu Museum (Contemporary Museum of Art) Cafe, and the State Museum’s now popular downtown cafe is evidence of his know-how.  For years he’s been serving farm-to-table Italian and Mediterranean dishes using fresh local products, imported cheeses & meats, island grown chicken, hand made pasta, and only the best ingredients.  Cafe Che Pasta is famous for its’ lunches and the salads are delicious works of food art.

If you survey the selection of pastas and entrees, know that in the kitchen you’ll notice some pretty pricey ingredients used in contemporary stylizations of old-world recipes. The seafood is fresh daily as are the pasta and breads. Great wines at very affordable prices, desserts are all made in house.

Che Pasta Catering is happy to assist you with venue locations, design, and full production from beginning to end. The restaurant is also available for private parties with authentic contemporary Italian, Mediterranean and Island cuisine to match any budget and any sized event.  Menus are developed with an emphasis on simple, fresh, local ingredients and classic and contemporary cooking methods. No doubt they serve Hawaii’s finest authentic Milanese handmade pizzas, fresh pastas made in-house daily and their dried pastas are imported from Italy.  Call to find out more about their catered breakfast, lunch and dinner (meals and buffet) menus, as well as Hors D’Oeuvers, Antipasti and full bar and beverage set-up.  Tel 808. 524.0004 Pedro.  Buon Appetito!