Prego

One late Thursday night after a few drinks in Ponsonby we headed to Prego, a small, unpretentious, long-time resident of Ponsonby Road.

Still alive and well after 20 years, Prego had a reputation to live up to. And it more than met our expectations after a long dinner under the stars on the tree covered courtyard. It was a surprisingly balmy evening as we relaxed over a few glasses of sav and basked in the more than flattering candlelight.

While the outside was calm and charming, inside it was a different affair. It was filled with noise, and organised chaos as the chefs and waiters bantered which contrasted with the simple and rustic decor. The interior has no choice but to play second fiddle to the celebrated menu and it's vibrant tastes.

It was busy, a reflection of its popularity with locals who know the menu back to front to those who come from Auckland wide. However the service is still quick and the handsome waiters with cheeky grins are more than happy to have a chat.

With a large menu full of tasty pizzas and pastas it's hard to choose just one, always a good sign! The Calamari Fritti ($18) served on rocket with home made garlic aioli were cooked to perfection and made for an excellent start. We followed with a selection of pizzas ranging from the classic woodfired margherita ($21.50) to the spicier alla salsiccia ($23.50) - an Italian classic with tomato, pepperoni, black olives & chilli.

Ordering a selection meant there were no cases of meal envy. Serving sizes were generous and we only just made it through the pizzas. Which sadly meant no room for dessert-  Although the ones I spied looked frighteningly delicious.

Diners continued to drift in and out despite the late hour and as we finally made a decision to leave, there were still customers lingering over one last glass of wine, which speaks volumes. One of Ponsonby's long time players looks set to continue to live up to the hype long into the future.


  By Erin Hogan - Auckland