Happy-hour deals join Prima’s new liquor offerings

Prima in Kailua is one of those places that made a little buzz when it opened about six years ago, but it’s proven to have staying power in a town undergoing transformation. It has marched on as a BYOB while other places came and went in the small beach town, now a prime tourist destination.

The small eatery serving up wood-fired pizzas, salads and other simple appetizers highlighting local produce and meats has built a good following among residents. And now it’s time to celebrate pau hana: Prima, with liquor license recently in hand, now offers a selection of beers, wines and cocktails and has a brand-new happy hour to call its own.

The experience

The reality is that retail spaces in Kailua town, which is bursting at its seams, are small. So you have a compact interior outfitted in a hip, contemporary way, with a special Stefano Ferrara pizza oven and an eight-seater bar, tucked between Foodland’s R. Field Wine Company and Baskin Robbins. A few small tables — three, to be precise — are available on the sidewalk outside for European-style al fresco dining.

The configuration in the Foodland parking lot is awkwardly tight, at 90-degree angles, but free. If you sit outdoors, you’ll be watching Foodland shoppers pulling up to park along the sidewalk, and passing by with bags of groceries. But it’s still enjoyable to sit out there. The friendly service, which includes a carafe of water and little glasses before your order, helps make up for the squeeze.

The food

Prima’s menu offers two simple categories: No Pizza and Pizza, created by chef Andrew Pressler from Grondin and Chavez Canite, who run the kitchen.

During happy hour, pizzas, which range from $16 for a simple Margherita made with tomato and mozzarella to $22 for Prosciutto Rucola with arugula and San Daniele prosciutto di parma from Italy, are $4 off. We went for the Kona Street: tomato, mozzarella, truffle oil and pancetta, topped with a soft poached egg in the center. The pizza did not disappoint — this is a tasty, thin crust, with the egg yolk adding a richness as it dripped off the tip. Our dog, who is also named Kona, sat upright and got excited when she got a whiff, after having settled down for slumber under the table.

Though not discounted, the strawberry macadamia nut salad ($12) made a nice accompaniment. The local greens were fresh, and the vinaigrette worked well with the tart strawberries, pungent blue cheese and toasted mac nuts.

A side dish of shishito peppers ($11) with lemon zest and sea salt was also intriguing — not spicy, as you might expect — with a nice roasted flavor and herby freshness. Before we knew it, they were gone.

The drink

A small selection of wines is offered: three reds and three whites, from New Zealand, California and Italy. During pau hana, at $5 for a glass, the discount is pretty attractive, considering the normal price range is $8 to $11.

Beers offered at happy hour prices include an international selection, at $3 for a Tecate from Mexico or Peroni from Italy (regular $5 to $6). Unfortunately, the local selections from Lanikai Brewing just a block away are not discounted for happy hour, but they are still delicious, at $14 to $19 for 750-ml servings.

On the next trip I’d try a cocktail, perhaps the Jalapeno Marg with jalapeno simple syrup and Waimanalo honey. All cocktails are a great deal at $5 during happy hour.

The verdict

Overall, Prima provided. I had a good time on my happy hour visit, enjoying the tasty bites and positive vibe, even if in a supermarket-anchored strip mall. The eatery is small and charming, and sometimes you want places to stay that way, even with improvements.

The kiawe wood-fired pizza is a main draw. Note, though, that it can be easy to go over budget here, so keep an eye on what you order.