Fettuccine Pesto in Side: Chicken, Sundried Tomato and Cream

Fettuccine Pesto at Hawaii Restaurant & Bar in Side old town is fettuccine with pieces of chicken and sundried tomatoes, served with a pesto and cream sauce. It is a creamy, herby chicken pasta rather than the plain Genoese pesto pasta. Hawaii is open daily 10:00–02:00; current prices are on the live menu.

What the menu says

Hawaii's menu describes the dish as fettuccine with pieces of chicken and sundried tomatoes served with pesto and cream sauce. That gives you four main elements:

• Fettuccine, the flat ribbon pasta also used for the Alfredo.
• Chicken pieces, making it a full main course.
• Sundried tomatoes, which add a concentrated, slightly sweet and tangy note.
• Pesto and cream sauce, combining the green herb sauce with cream for a softer, richer coating.

The menu does not list the pesto's own ingredients, so if you have a nut allergy or another concern, ask your server before ordering. Prices are on the live menu.

What pesto usually is

Pesto comes from Genoa in Liguria, north-west Italy. The classic pesto alla genovese is an uncooked sauce, traditionally pounded in a mortar, made from basil leaves, garlic, pine nuts, hard cheese such as Parmesan or Pecorino, salt and olive oil. In Liguria it is typically tossed with trofie or trenette pasta, sometimes with potato and green beans, and there is no cream or meat in it.

Recipes vary widely around the world. Some cooks swap pine nuts for other nuts, and many restaurants loosen pesto with cream to make a milder, more even sauce that clings to wide ribbons like fettuccine. Hawaii's dish belongs to this creamy style, with chicken and sundried tomatoes added to make it a hearty plate.

How it tastes compared with the Alfredo

Hawaii's two fettuccine dishes share a pasta shape, chicken and cream, so the difference lies in the extras:

• Fettuccine Alfredo brings in paprika and keeps things mild and rounded.
• Fettuccine Pesto brings in pesto and sundried tomatoes, so it tends to taste more aromatic and tangier.

If you like herby flavours, pesto is the natural pick. If you prefer a gentle, plain creamy sauce, the Alfredo is closer to what you want. The carbonara vs alfredo vs bolognese guide puts the main sauces side by side.

Is it vegetarian?

No. Fettuccine Pesto at Hawaii contains chicken, so it is not suitable for vegetarians as listed. Pesto on its own is often vegetarian-friendly in spirit, but traditional hard cheeses can be made with animal rennet, so strict vegetarians should always ask. If you are eating meat-free, the menu's Vegetarian spaghetti and Spaghetti Napolitan are the pastas to ask about; the vegetarian pasta guide explains the options honestly.

Who will enjoy it

• Herb lovers who want more flavour than a plain cream sauce.
• Chicken eaters looking for a pasta rather than a grill. All chicken at Hawaii is halal-slaughtered.
• Diners who like a tang: the sundried tomatoes cut through the cream.

On a hot evening it can be generous, so some couples share one pasta and a pizza or salad. Hawaii's pizzas are thin-crust, 33 cm and Italian style, which makes sharing easy; see the Italian food guide for the wider picture.

Ordering tips

If you are unsure whether you will enjoy pesto, ask your server to describe the sauce before you order; it is a distinctive flavour that people tend to love or skip. Let the team know about any allergies, particularly nuts, and whether you would like the dish with or without extra cheese. The sundried tomatoes are part of the menu description, so if you dislike them, ask whether they can be left out rather than assuming.

Drinks and timing

As a restaurant and bar, Hawaii serves wine, beer and cocktails, and Happy Hour runs daily from 19:00 to 20:00. A white wine or a light cocktail suits a creamy, herby pasta. The kitchen is open daily from 10:00 to 02:00, so a late pasta after an evening out is possible.

Getting there

Hawaii Restaurant & Bar has been in Side old town since 2000. Free round-trip hotel pickup runs from selected hotels, with a paid two-way transfer from areas further away. Takeaway is available, and delivery nearby. Message WhatsApp +90 533 930 12 83 or book online.