B-Day dinner @ Zia's Caffe

This year, Mom actually chose a restaurant for her birthday dinner. I usually have to prod her to decide on a restaurant every year... for both Mother's Day and her birthday. She doesn't like to "dress up" anymore so she usually selects either Chili's or Ruby Tuesday since she has a penchant for salty, fried foods. But several weeks ago, Zia's Caffe was highlighted in the Dining Out section of the StarAdvertiser and one of the photos caught her eye... It was one of these...

At Zia's Caffe, you get their bread basket with both butter and olive tapenade

Of course, we start with cocktails including the Mrs' Bourbon and Zia's Ice Tea ($8) with muddled mint...

And the Eggplant Involtini ($11) with garlic bread

The Chop Salad ($14.75) which is always good and hearty with garbanzo and salami and a hunk of bleu cheese...

Along with the Roasted Mushrooms ($11) with goat cheese and toasted pita wedges...

When I first saw the photos in the Dining Out section, I assumed Mom wanted either the Molokai Sweet Potato Ravioli (top photo) or the Orzo and Chicken Salad (next photo) but low and behold, she simply had the onos for the Chicken Scallopini Parmesan ($16.00) and did an admirable job of finishing one of the large chicken breasts (it comes with 2 breasts)...

The Mrs selected the Chicken Pomodoro ($16) with San Marzano tomato and red pepper sauce with spinach on linguini...

While I selected the Orzo and Shrimp Salad ($18.75) which was a very good dinner salad with perfectly cooked shrimp...

I enjoyed the Mrs Bourbon and Ice Tea that I ordered one for my "dessert"...

While the Mrs selected the Apple Crisp ($7). Zia's Caffe does very good desserts and actually won the top award for their blueberry bread pudding at the Taste of Kailua several years ago.

Well, Happy Birthday Mom and it seemed like you did enjoy your meal as you normally don't consume that much food at one sitting. And it was great to re-visit Zia's Caffe as we last were there well over a year ago... and we'll be back...