You're more likely to taste garlic for days after a visit to Assaggio's than here. A few small slices of garlic accompany red chilies, clams, shrimp, calamari and scallops. There's enough for two. My favorite is the creamy Peruvian, spiced with Hawaiian chile peppers and containing plenty of cilantro. This dish was a great complement to the prime steak, which was topped with pesto and roasted garlic, and came with garlic mashed potatoes.
Desserts follow through on the theme.
Kona coffee cheesecake and coconut-lemongrass sorbet are drizzled with light garlic cream sauce. The warm roasted flavor of the garlic and sweetness make a pleasant match. It's amazing that we don't see this combination more often. 3196 Waialae Ave. See a listing of past restaurants reviewed in the section online.