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TheBuzz
Erika Engle
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New C&C owners retain diners' faves
THE new owners of the former C&C Pasta Co. have good news for folks who have been loyal followers of Wendy Magziar and Steven Sakai since 1999.
The restaurant at 3605 Waialae Ave., renamed Buon Amici Ristorante, will be serving many of C&C's house favorites -- in addition to new dishes.
C&C Pasta had racked up many local dining awards, not to mention loyal followers, in its years of operation. Big shoes to step into.
Given C&C's accolades, it is either crazy or genius for new owners to retain any element that would remind clientele of what used to be.
"The popular ones are so tasty, and so many people are happy with those dishes. I don't want to lose those original customers because I changed the whole menu," said co-owner Chu Sun Hendricks.
Genius it is, then.
Something else that will not change, is that breads, pastas and mozzarella cheese will be made fresh daily -- and the restaurant will operate seven days a week serving lunch and dinner.
The parking situation will change for patrons -- as valet service will accommodate diners dreading the dearth of parking in Kaimuki.
Buon Amici -- good friends, in Italian -- will have more fresh fish dishes and more meats, such as pork tenderloin and specialty steaks on its menu.
For busy lunch-folk on-the-go, some lighter fare will be added to dining choices, such as Italian-style sandwiches, salads and a fresh daily soup.
Chef Aron Gonsalves, culinarily educated in New York, will helm the kitchen.
Veteran restaurateur Hendricks came to Hawaii via a steakhouse in Florida and a Japanese restaurant in South Carolina. She had been retired but wanted to get back into the business and loves Italian food, she said.
The other owner is Dennis Furutani, who serves as managing partner.
There is seating for 50 diners downstairs, with room for 16 to 20 more upstairs. The upstairs will be available for private meetings and functions, Hendricks said.
The partners, as DC Restaurants LLC, bought the restaurant in December and have been preparing for its grand-opening week, starting Feb. 12.
That week, the restaurant will only accept reservations for Wednesday, Valentine's Day. It will be open for lunch from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and will close until it opens for dinner service, from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m.
After week one, reservations will be accepted at 732-5999.
Erika Engle is a reporter with the Star-Bulletin. Call 529-4747, fax 529-4750 or write to Erika Engle, Honolulu Star-Bulletin, 500 Ala Moana Blvd., No. 7-210, Honolulu, HI 96813. She can also be reached at:
eengle@starbulletin.com