True Hawaiian Pizza at V-Lounge

If you think a “Hawaiian Pizza” is one with pineapples and ham, then you’ve been fooling your taste buds all along. Pizza at V-Lounge is the definition of a true Hawaiian pizza. It’s made with ingredients grown and raised locally on our island soil. But what gives it that extra kick of authenticity is the pizza baking method. At 800-degrees Fahrenheit, the oven comes to life with each poppin’ sizzle of Molokai kiawe wood.

V-Lounge is known for its smokey-flavored pizza.

You’ll see kiawe trees all over the islands, and although introduced, the trees provide ample shade and serve as a popular firewood for heating or cooking. Just be careful not to step on their thorny branches! Some say it’s a little sweeter than its mainland version (mesquite), which is noticeably apparent in the juicy kalua pig and smoked meats found at popular luau festivities.

That’s why the first bite into a V-Lounge pizza immediately screams “Hawaiian.” The hand-mixed dough marinates in the smokey flavors of kiawe while firing up the locally-grown Hamakua mushrooms, macadamia nuts and eggs. Actually, eggs on the Prima pizza don’t get cooked at all; they’re cracked directly onto the pizza and served in its purest form. I haven’t tried this one yet, but my friends swear by it. They say it’s almost like a dipping sauce. I guess I’ll have to get over my raw egg phobia and try it next time I go to V-Lounge.

Raw egg is a key ingredient to the Prima.

Our usual order is the Sopressatta – made with san marzano tomato sauce, fresh mozzarella, parmigiano reggiano and sopressatta. Can you tell I wrote that verbatim from V-Lounge’s website? I’d take days figuring out how to spell that; even worse, pronouncing it. For me, it’s simple. The fresh mozzarella is what does the trick in melding the flavors together. If you still can’t decide on what to order, you can always resort to building your own pizza.

The pizzas are a little on the pricier side, ranging from $13 to $16 for what’s considered a medium-sized pizza at, say, Pizza Hut. But in their defense, it’s quality artisan pizza made to perfection. Don’t worry, V-Lounge doesn’t come anywhere near a Pizza Hut. They’ve got a full bar and stay open till 4 a.m. for those in search of some satisfyingly sober-me-up snacks. From the outside, it looks like a hole-in-the-wall but inside, it’s quite classy. Just don’t get freaked out when you see the worker with the shark-fin hairdo. He’s actually really nice, always standing firm in their pizzas (and the fashion statement he makes).

V-LOUNGE • 1344 Kona St., Honolulu, HI 96814 • Opens Mon-Sat 5pm-4am • 808-953-0007 • www.vloungehawaii.com • Street parking; near bus route

Posted by: Bruce Fisher on Aug 11, 2012