Wine smoothies at Il Lupino

Left: white wine smoothie at Il Lupino, right: meatball sandwich.

Kombucha smoothies not your thing? How about wine smoothies then? Il Lupino just introduced wine smoothies, more like wine milkshakes, really: red wine  blended with blueberries, raspberries and ice cream; and a more tropical white wine one combining mango, pineapple, strawberries and ice cream ($12 each). The latter is my pick: the wine is barely noticeable at first, but gives a lightly acidic finish to each sip, like the finishing touch to an ice cream sundae. The red wine smoothie is the shade of a red violet Crayola crayon, and tastes about the same: oddly waxy and a little too watery.

Il Lupino also introduced some specials: a meatball sandwich for lunch ($10) and a loco moco ($15), which at first seems odd for an Italian restaurant, but when it arrives, it makes sense. The loco moco patty is the same mix as the meatball—a blend of veal, pork and beef—which works for the meatball (which could use some marinara sauce in the sandwich), but not so much for the loco moco, which we're left wanting for a beefier patty. The rich and savory mushroom Marsala gravy is terrific, though.

Il Lupino, Royal Hawaiian Center, 922-3400