Spaghetti Bolognese in Side: Hawaii's Meat Sauce Pasta

Spaghetti Bolognese is on the menu at Hawaii Restaurant & Bar in Side old town, open daily 10:00–02:00. A classic Bolognese is spaghetti with a slow-cooked sauce of minced meat and tomato. The menu gives no recipe, so ask your server how Hawaii makes it. Children can order spaghetti with minced-meat sauce too.

Bolognese on the Hawaii menu

Spaghetti Bolognese is one of five dishes in the Pastas section, next to Carbonara, Napolitan, Fettuccine Alfredo and Fettuccine Pesto. The menu lists it by name only, so this page sticks to what a Bolognese generally is and leaves the house recipe to the people who cook it. If you want to know exactly what goes into the sauce, your server will tell you. Current prices are always on the live menu.

What a classic Bolognese usually is

The dish takes its name from Bologna in northern Italy, where the original is a meat ragù rather than a tomato sauce with a little meat in it. A typical version is built in layers:

• A soft base of finely chopped onion, often with carrot and celery, cooked gently in fat.
• Minced meat, browned and then simmered.
• Tomato, as purée, paste or chopped tomatoes, plus liquid such as wine, stock or milk depending on the cook.
• Time: the sauce is usually simmered long enough for the meat to turn tender and the flavours to deepen.

In Bologna the ragù is traditionally served with flat tagliatelle, not spaghetti. Spaghetti Bolognese is the international version that most travellers know, and it is the one you will find on the Hawaii menu.

What to ask your server

Because the menu has no description for this dish, it is worth a quick question if any of these matter to you:

• Which meat is used in the sauce. All meat and chicken at Hawaii is halal-slaughtered, and pork is served only on request and prepared separately; see the halal guide.
• Whether cheese is added on top, if you prefer it without.
• Any allergies or ingredients you avoid.

Kids' spaghetti with minced-meat sauce

For younger diners there is a separate Spaghetti on the children's menu, listed with a choice of tomato sauce or minced-meat sauce. It is a smaller, simpler plate and a reliable choice for fussy eaters. You can pair it with one of the alcohol-free children's cocktails: Barbie, Spider Man, Redkiss or the Hawaii Cocktail. The full list of children's dishes is in the kids' menu guide.

Bolognese or another pasta?

Bolognese sits in the middle of the pasta range: heartier than the tomato-based Napolitan, but without the creaminess of the fettuccine dishes or a cream-style carbonara. A quick way to decide:

• Meat sauce, tomato base, no cream: Bolognese.
• Rich and creamy: Spaghetti Carbonara or Fettuccine Alfredo.
• Lighter, meat-free: Napolitan or the Vegetarian spaghetti, ask your server to confirm.

The carbonara vs alfredo vs bolognese comparison sets out the differences in a table.

A good family dinner option

Bolognese works well when a group wants different things: adults can order the main-menu pasta while children have the kids' spaghetti, and others at the table can choose from pizzas, grills or Turkish dishes. Meat and chicken grills at Hawaii are cooked over wood fire and charcoal, so there is plenty of choice for those not in a pasta mood. Hawaii is also a bar, so drinks for the grown-ups are easy, and Happy Hour runs daily from 19:00 to 20:00.

Why Bolognese travels so well

Bolognese is one of the few dishes that tastes familiar to almost every visitor, whether you come from Britain, Germany, Poland or Russia. That makes it a safe choice on the first night of a holiday, when you are tired from travelling and simply want a good, filling plate. It also reheats well, so it is a sensible pick if you are ordering takeaway to eat back at your hotel. If you like a little heat, ask whether chilli can be added.

Plan your visit

Hawaii Restaurant & Bar has been in Side old town since 2000 and is open daily from 10:00 to 02:00. Free round-trip hotel pickup is offered from selected hotels, with a paid two-way transfer from areas further away. You can also order takeaway, or delivery nearby. Message WhatsApp +90 533 930 12 83 with questions, or reserve a table.