Review Prego Restaurant - Auckland Central

We went for team lunch and the place was buzzing and had a great vibe. The staff are nice and attentive, no complains on service, even though they were busy we didn't feel rushed. The food was delicious and we were lucky to squeeze in some shared desserts. Definitely a place is come back to.

Went today for hubby's Christmas do. Ihh what a day. Lovely company we had and great food. From thw wine to the dessert. Thoroughly enjoyed the food. Mind you they take booking of 10 people . It was so lovely and l enjoyed my time there. Thank you so much.

I've had one of, if not the most amazing dining experience in Auckland, here in Prego. Everything is perfect, the ambiance is intimate but not too formal. The food is amazing!! We had the calzone, risotto, eye fillet, and tiramisu as dessert. It's so tasty and not pretentious like other fancy restaurants. Their staff is also super attentive and friendly. They also open till late (around 1 AM). Safe to say we'll be going back soon! 👌

One of the best restaurant in Auckland. As they don’t accept reservations and have very limited on site parking, we have been put off to come. This is a massive pain but we did it. We finally made it here. Wow! This place is awesome from good to service. No wonder they are always busy. Absolutely top notch. For those who live near this place…. Lucky.

Parking: 2/5 It's Ponsonby Rd, you can't really expect much parking besides street parking Food was amazing and comparable to the pasta I've had in Italy. Food ordered: petto di wagyu, spaghetti alla stracciatella, risotto all'anatra, spaghetti allla bolognese, fettuccine Alfredo, can't remember what the loaf sticks are called It has a laid back casual vibe, so it's family friendly, but also suitable for couples. I'm not sure it's a good place for special occasions since there are nicer places IMO. I definitely recommend coming here, but they don't tale reservations so make sure you plan appropriately

4 dishes for $104 for 2 people, both me and my friend are quite full. My favorite is the entrée, different layers of flavors combine together and exploded on your tongue. Rest are okay, better than plain.

We had the most scrumptious food and service. Definitely going back, didnt even have to wait that long

Walked by on a Monday afternoon looking some where for lunch with my partner and saw they were almost full on 1:00 pm Monday LOL. So we decided to have a try. We were told no table available but lucky some customer finished their meal and went to pay at counter just before we were going to leave. I had Spaghette alla bolognese(main size) and my partner had Linguine alla marinara(the seafood pasta). Both of them are excellent taste. Not like many other places, the bolognese I had was well seasoning with herb and the Linguine also provides different layers of flavor, the mix of seafood, white wine and garlic. The desert after main brought even more surprise to us. We had sticky date pudding and black doris plum cake. All above made me DID come back for another lunch on the second day. Sadly they do not take booking so people who want to go there need to be arrive a little earlier.

You have to wait for 30-40 minutes if you choose to sit inside, but it's worth your wait. The last time I visited was a crazy rainy run, and the "true" fireplace warmed up not only my body but also my heart. Alfredo is fantastic, and the pizza as well. Prego provides around 8 free parking spaces for the customer but I think it is non reservable.

Loved the food here! Pasta is one of the best in Auckland. Ordered the seafood linguini- really fresh and great combination of seafood. Pizza was really good. Entries were great as well! Loved the roast lamb rib

Thank you Prego ! We were a large group of handful girls and usually not easy to keep all happy. But I can say everything was great. Lovely yummy food, and all of the 12 orders arrived at the same time and hot. The space has a great vibe and is warm and cozy perfect for winterish night out. Well and fair priced. And quantities of good were well planned and you can actually choose different portions for most foods. They also have some parking on the side available which is usually a hassle in Ponsonby. We sure go back.

Ambience is great. Food was fantastic. Service was excellent. What else can I say? Highly Recommended

The best Italian food in Ponsonby! Extremely busy place but food was great!! Excellent customer care, waitress was very caring and efficient, and food didn't take that long to come to our table in that busy Saturday lunch time. And those risotto balls are worth dying for!!! AAA+++

Will come back every time. They are not cheap, but the food is heavenly, and the staff is super friendly.

Amazing food well priced and the staff were really friendly and happy. Will definitely return again

I had an amazing dinner date at the popular restaurant "Prego." It was a Tuesday evening, and despite the day, it was a bit challenging to secure a table. Our choices for the night included a delightful white prawn pizza called "Gamberi" (which means shrimps in Italian), a creamy pasta infused with mushrooms and chicken, and to start, we ordered the PANE CIABATTA (daily bread loaf) along with two glasses of red wine. Everything we ordered was absolutely delicious. I must say, the pizza stood out the most, perfectly balancing the flavors of tomatoes and the delicate white prawns. The service was prompt and friendly, which added to our overall dining experience. Inside the restaurant, it was cozy and welcoming, a perfect escape from the heavy rain and cold outside. I highly recommend Prego to anyone seeking a memorable dining experience. I would advise making a reservation in advance, as it tends to get quite busy.

It was such a great dinner we had here. The food was amazing, and so were the staff. Super friendly, very attentive and very professional. The restaurant was fully packed which makes it feel really nice. The choice of music was great and not too loud. Located in a very handy location in Ponsonby. It does have parking, but for a limited number of cars of course. Prices are very reasonable comparing to the top quality food you get.

This restaurant is a MUST! The best food I ate in Auckland. Everything we tried was wonderful and delicious. It has gluten free options. Try to book before you go or be ready to wait for a long time. But it really worth to try it!

Dinner here was an absolute feast! Extremely busy for a Monday night but everything was worth the wait. The cocktails were also extremely tasty and a great way to start the night. The service was efficient despite the hustle of the restaurant. Will definitely come again.

My husband and I love Prego! Every time we have been here we have never been disappointed. The pizza and pasta is delicious and the sticky date pudding is divine 😍

Haven't been to Prego for a couple of years now, but nothing has changed - the quality here is top notch - both food and service. Perfect place for an anniversary dinner. The meatballs, fettuccine alfredo and tiramisu was the stand outs of the night! We also has the Bianco pizza, seasonal vegetables, and hot chocolates - all yummm. Definitely remains our favourite Italian restaurant in Auckland! One critique - they use anchor milk. I'm a meadow fresh fanboy.... LMAO

Came here for lunch on a weekend. Was happy to see a fullhouse. Staff was very attentive, service was excellent. Beautiful food as we have expected. Although the flavours were gastronomical, I am being a little picky that the portions for each dish were slightly inconsistent. Secondly, the wait time was a little off putting but I would let that go considering it was extremely busy. <br/><br/>As, arguably, one of Auckland's best restaurants it is a very decent price overall for the flavours and the experience in return. Would recommend to anyone who is in a semi-casual mood but is craving for rich, poshe flavours. Happy to come back again.

Love love love! One of my favorite restaurants in Auckland! Food, drinks, prices, service. Amazing at everything.

After so long, we finally came to Prego for a late lunch.<br/>We ordered the surf&turf and the pappardelle for mains and the bruschette as entry.<br/>Everything was top of shelf...well balanced of flavours in the dishes, good seasoning.<br/>The service was attentive and helpful.<br/>The only reason for me notto award a 5 🌟 rating is because I felt that the portions should be a little bit bigger

Was expecting this to be a casual dining experience based on what I had read and the prices but wow I was amazed this place is fine dining with affordable prices to the max! We had Kina as our waitress and she was so attentive and welcoming made the night so much more enjoyable. Food was delicious and blew me out of the water! 10/10 recommended this place

Absolutely tasty Pizza. Worth it.

I've already lost count of how many times I've come here. I live and breathe for their duck risotto. All their dishes are superb. I recommend ALL their pasta dishes.<br/>Downside:can get busy and crowded. Service is also meh. If I took into account service I would give a 4 but this place holds such great memories I must give it a 5. Wish they would just hire more energetic waiters.<br/>Note: the peroni battered oysters are a must.

Loved the surf and turf, pizza is always amazing, wonderful spot to celebrate a birthday or anniversary! Staff are also super on to it :)

The first time I visited prego was on my birthday. We ordered pizza pasta and market fish risotto. Serving sizes were great and the staff were quite friendly, checking up on us every now and then. My all time fav was the risotto. The texture was so creamy and spices were just right. Even the fish was cooked on point which made the whole dish absolutely perfect. <br/>We then decided to go again (mostly because of the spendid risotto) and ordered similar dishes such as pizza and risotto. Every time we go, we get served different market fish with our risotto which is spendid making us crave for more each time.<br/>I dare say prego has the BEST RISOTTOs in all of Auckland City. Will definitely go again soon! <br/>Plus the interior is cute as well.

Amazing pastas! Everything was so delicious. Their belini is heaven! Definitely coming back

Consistently delicious food here. Their pizzas are amazing and the service is impeccable. Great tasting Italian cuisine

Had a last minute dinner here when our initial dinner venue choice closed early. We didn’t have too long of a wait for a table but the restaurant was surprisingly busy for a Monday night - so definitely pays to book in advance. <br/><br/>Between 4 of us we ordered two pizzas (funghi and margharita) the chicken and fish mains and the vegetarian spaghetti. All the portion sizings were amazing considering it is a high end restaurant and the food was extremely filling. I ordered the market fish which was a great serving size and very delicious. I personally wasn’t the biggest fan of the pizzas in terms of the dough (more thin based rather than airy dough) but the actual toppings were generous and nice tasting. <br/><br/>Service was polite but there was a bit of a wait for food - however the servers came around to check up on drinks and whether we were happy often. Our waiter did forget to give us water at the beginning of our meal after we had asked, but when we later mentioned he looked genuinely shocked that he had forgotten so no issues. Didn’t affect my rating whatsoever. Owner/main manager was great and really charismatic and gave off a great vibe as well. <br/><br/>Will be back at some point to try some of the other pasta dishes.

Dined here with a group of five friends. Since Prego doesn’t do reservations I was a bit concerned there would a long wait time, we arrived around 7:30pm and were advised we’d have a table in 45 minutes. <br/><br/>We were seated by 8:10pm which was nice! <br/>I personally ordered the scallops and linguine alla mariana. <br/><br/>I enjoyed my scallops, seared well and complimented well with the chutney and purée on the plate. <br/> My linguine was a bit on the bland side, although I appreciated the abundance of seafood. I did have to flavour it with chilli oil which was additional to pay? I was under the impression that condiments would be complimentary but oh well.<br/><br/>Our table also ordered a dozen oysters, garlic bread for the table. <br/>I enjoyed the oysters, I love oysters haha. The bread was delicious. <br/><br/>I felt like the food here although being good, wasn’t worth the price. It definitely fits the Ponsonby profile, that’s all I will say. <br/>I found the staff attentive and catered to our needs. Restaurant itself was nice, definitely a popular choice considering all the tables were filled and a bit of a wait list to dine. <br/>Not sure if I’ll be back considering the price point, but would recommend if you’re interested in trying.

The Zuppa di Pesci soup tasted amazing! Every else very good.

Being an new runner on Metro Top 50, I was very excited to try out Prego.<br/><br/>Arriving at the courtyard, I was surrounded by an energetic atmosphere with the option to dine outdoors. Contrast to the courtyard, the dark furnishing and worn tables made the interior very dull. If I would revisit the restaurant, I would definitely go for the courtyard seats.<br/><br/>Prego only accept walk-ins for small group of dining. So be prepared for a long wait visiting on a weekend. We waited at the bar for 45 minutes before a table was available.<br/><br/>The restaurant offers a range of traditional Italian dishes. Between three of us, we shared some Natural Oysters, a Pizza and two Pastas.<br/><br/>Despite the initial wait time, the dishes were served reasonably quickly. The Oysters were fresh and reasonably sized.<br/><br/>The Margherita Pizza was delicious. The dough was crusty topped with mozzarella and a tangy tomato sauce.<br/><br/>The Spaghetti Agioli was light and fresh with a taste of garlic. The noodles however were undercooked and a little hard to bite.<br/><br/>The Fettuccine Alfredo was rich and creamy, but the noodles were overcooked, tasting a little soft.<br/><br/>Overall, the dining experience was average. Despite some good flavourings, I was a little disappointed with their pasta. And with food priced at medium high, I would have expected a more daintier interior.<br/><br/>Taste: 8/10<br/>Presentation: 7.5/10<br/>Service: 8.5/10<br/>Ambience: 7/10<br/>Value for money: 7/10<br/><br/>Price $45 per person (excl alcohol)

Everything just perfect. It was so relaxed.

I make my review based off what you get in the same price point and in the location. Good food and service, which is what you'd expect from this high-end restaurant. However the decor is dated, really quite a contrast to anywhere else on Ponsonby Road. Kinda messes with the exclusive experience. Polenta is yum - must try if you've got a group.

I came to Prego for lunch with my brother and my boyfriend. The man who was at the front of the house was extremely considerate and a lovely person in general. He suggested we sit at the booth because the table he also suggested had a breeze of wind every time the door opened. Between the three of us, we got the garlic pizza bread to share, my brother got the fettuccine alfredo, my boyfriend got the spaghetti bolognese and I got the duck risotto. <br/><br/>Firstly, the garlic pizza bread was great! They give you aioli but you don't even need to dip the bread in it because the garlic pizza bread itself was garlicky enough to be enjoyed by itself. It was hot and crunchy when it arrived at our table and definitely a great starter dish to get! When my duck and mushroom risotto arrived, I couldn't control myself. It is one of the best risotto dishes I have had. Prego was extremely generous with their portion of shredded duck, which mixed so well with the creamy and truffle tasting risotto. Since the rice was extremely hot, the cheese on top melted quickly, adding more creaminess to the dish. The mushrooms were cooked perfectly and I have read reviews where people have said the dish was extremely salty but I think the seasoning was perfect! The only downside is that you get full quickly from the richness of the risotto. I highly recommend getting this because it is addicting and it will make you return to Prego to crave this dish. I tried a bit of my boyfriend's spaghetti bolognese and it could have been more al dente in my opinion but still delicious.<br/><br/>I will definitely be back to try the pizzas and tiramisu, which I heard is fantastic as well!

Damn came here for dinner with a couple mates and had an average experience. When we walked up to Prego the staff just looked over us and didn't even attend us they went straight to the people behind us and seated them a whole family and there was literally 3 of us!!! Then we carried on standing outside for a further 7-9 ish mins and they ignored us then told us to wait at the bar until they find a table for us even though there were free tables inside and outside. They ended up seating us outside cramped in a corner which was just lovely of them. I ordered the Spaghetti Bolognese and my mates both got the Spaghetti Aglio E OI IO. I loved my Bolognese it was so tasty and yum love love love, my friends hated there meals as they were way too spicy and had chunks of garlic all through it. During our meals we needed more water and we had to ask about 4 times for the lady to fill our glasses up and she was very snarky about it. Overall my food was good but service was horrible absolutely horrendous. x

Popped in for dinner with some friends and sadly the service was very slow and rude as we stood around for over 10 minutes and none of the staff even acknowledged us and would let in other people and when we finally got attention from a waitress we then had to wait in the bar for 10 mins for them to rearrange the seating. To eat one of my friends & I both had the 'SPAGHETTI AGLIO E OL IO which is ' Spaghetti, chilli, garlic, parsley, parmesan  off the 'contorini menu'. It was way spicier than we expected and we found it so hard to eat, it also had chunks of garlic which wasn't a vibe. However our friend that got the 'classic spaghetti bolognese' really enjoyed hers so I guess we just ordered wrong. We also had to keep asking for water to be brought to the table which it should have been brought around consistently. The vibe is usually really nice and fun though and the food is usually delish so I think this time round just wasn't the best experience. Will be back to give it another go though.

Our favourite local spot, great service, never fall in standard, except one time, I think she is a intern last Saturday lunch time. It's not that busy as the place used to be, but the waitress punched our back a few times without apologize, as she tried to squeeze in and out for service another table. I would give the food and service a 5 star based on the previous experiences.

Had the pie it was amazing! My partner had the calzone, such a generous portion. Great food & atmosphere

Prego is an Auckland instituion. It's reliable and consistently delivers outstanding food and service. I've always had a 10/10 experience at Prego on the numerous occasions I've been there.

If you love italian food, this one is a must! Beside food is amazing, the service is spectacular and you just feel like in heaven! I loved the experience here, will definitively go back!

Great service and environment. Food is great, but quite salty for me and friend as well. In terms of price, it is a bit pricey for it's amount. For those who enjoy heavy taste and Italian food, it is recommended.

Valentines day dinner @prego_restaurant_nz 😊 ordered the fettuccine alfredo, roasted duck risotto and a garlic bread on the side. Hands down the best risotto I've had. There was so much succulent meat in it, while the entire dish was enveloped in the rich flavour of mushrooms. For the fettuccine, it was so creamy and cheesy, plus you can't find a single piece of dry chicken. The garlic bread is also recommened as well if you like really garlicy stuff 😍

Was invited to dinner at Prego with a group of friends and we all absolutely loved it! The calamari is delicious and the calzone is a must try!<br/>Excellent staff, BEAUTIFUL decor and food to match and complete the experience.<br/>Will be back!

All too often when you order Italian in NZ you get a balls up that is often no where near what you would get in Italy. Not at Prego in Ponsonby. I was a late night diner and ordered fettuccine Alfredo. <br/>Have to say it was the best I had eaten outside Italy. The pasta was obviously fresh and al dente. The chicken was fresh and beautifully cooked. Mushrooms tasted as if they had come straight from the field and the creamy sauce was other worldly. Absolutely excellent meal. Highly recommended

Prego never disappoints. Returned for my birthday and the servicing was amazing. They even came out with a candle on my dessert which I thought was really cute. Food was delicious as always and came to the table within a reasonable time even when it was very busy. If you love Oysters would definitely recommend to get them from Prego. I also had the gnocchi which was a 10/10.

After waiting over 50 minutes for my food to arrive I was finally confronted with a chicken cooked perfectly if you enjoy your chicken to have the same density as a rubber. The sauce to try and cover the bland chicken was too rich, and despite picking one of limited options on the menu which had a meat option not complemented by pork I was surprised to see bacon at the side of my chicken. I believe this goes above and beyond proof that the chef's bland flavours are due to the fact that the only flavour they know is that of pork.<br/><br/>Having called a waitress over to discuss why the dish comes with pork, as I do not eat pork I discovered the main reason for this was because I do not speak Italian and the name of the dish meant that it came with pork. I asked her why the description of the dish was English but left out the pork content and she hurried to get the bill.<br/><br/>The food and service was well overpriced and hope I never have to go back to a restaurant lacking in options of food which were not based around a single flavour.

Had the squid and duck risotto and my partner had the pizza. Partner absolutely loves the pizza from here and I can say the exact same about my risotto and squid. Best risotto I’ve ever had🤤 and squid was definitely up there also!

Not outstanding and pretty much overpriced. The place is forgettable, nothing to remember. Service was fine, but food really expensive and lack of flavour... I wouldn’t come back.

Went to Prego for lunch.<br/><br/>The food was amazing! I had the chefs special, grilled Kingfish risotto with a pear and parmesan salad.<br/><br/>I could not fault the Kingfish risotto. A perfect 10.<br/><br/>I also had the Tiramisu. I travelled around Italy a few years ago only to find the best Tiramisu in Switzerland.<br/><br/>I can now say that the best Tiramisu I’ve now had..... I here at Prego! Who would have thought??<br/><br/>Highly recommend Prego

Where do I begin? Had a lovely evening, and it only kept getting better here! The bartender was very friendly and recommended the right drinks to cater to our taste. My phone was running out of charge and lo and behold, they had power packs to give out to their customers!!! Was very impressed with this.<br/>The food here is to die for. The vegetarian dishes, albeit limited, are mouth wateringly yummy. I'm a huge dessert person, and their creme brulee met my expectations and more! The staff is very friendly and the service was perfect. Prego is now easily my favourite Italian outlet in Auckland.

came here for the first time a few months ago and was highly impressed. amazing atmosphere, staff are very friendly and food comes out pretty fast.<br/><br/>You can't book a table in advance which is a bit of a shame but it is worth the wait! I would recommend going around 6 or even on a weekday when it's a little less busy!

Was a little disappointed when we got there to find out there was an hour wait on a table, however this place is definitely worth it! If I am back in Auckland any time soon I will be there for dinner every night. I had the fettuccini Alfredo and it was the best pasta I have ever eaten. The garlic bread pizza was amazing too! I have never been so happy with a restaurant, could nearly class it as one of my favourite restaurants ever! Not only was the food amazing, but there was a lovely man serving us. Great service from all staff and overall great food.

Best risotto in town! Melted Parmesan mixed with duck and mushroom created a godly taste, damn yummy. Their oysters, meatballs and Italian wines were also impressive. Very friendly staff, fast serving speed. Average $70pp including drinks. Note they don’t take reservations and you may need to wait outside over peak hours.

Amazing food and amazing service!<br/><br/>We weren’t too sure what to get when we came but the staff were really nice and helped us with our decision.<br/><br/>Atmosphere was lovely. <br/><br/>Will be back

Prego in ponsonby is always super busy and we were quite lucky to get a table without a reservation. <br/><br/>I always enjoy coming to Prego as they make the best fresh bruschetta, perfectly topped with little cherry tomatoes, yum!<br/><br/>We ordered the market fish, pumpkin soup and a pasta to share. Which was perfect for three people, the dishes are well presented, but we found the pasta to be quite heavy on oils. <br/><br/>Overall the restaurant has a nice atmosphere for dates and the service is always great!

Amazing food and service. Such a beautiful place.<br/><br/>The food was a little bit salty (my own doing) but still delicious.<br/><br/>Will be back to try out more of the menu

I was sceptical about Prego. I heard so much hype that I wasn’t too sure why. But I can now understand why! The staff at Prego are lovely and accomodating, helping you choose the right meal. And the food is delicious and the sauces used in the pasta are nice and creamy! I was worried we hadn’t ordered enough food but we left feeling happily full. Highly recommend!

Looking for authentic Italian? This is the place! Would definitely say their pasta is better than the pizza even though both were really good. The pizza had a good base but the prosciutto was a bit hard to chew apart. The pasta was amazing !! The seafood linguine was 👌 it was fresh with lovely texture the light sauce was the perfect compliment.<br/>The steak was slightly overcooked but was still very tasty! The polenta was an absolute gem!<br/>Service was alright and the atmosphere was a bit dark but their outdoor area is nice and breezy especially in the hot summer!<br/><br/>Food 8.5/10<br/>Ambience 6.5/10<br/>Service 7/10<br/>Price 7/10

Food: 4/5<br/>Ambience: 3/5<br/>Staff: 4/5<br/>Service: 4/5<br/><br/>Went on a week day for a quiet dinner after being referred by a friend who is a regular.<br/><br/>Enjoyed the meal but had to shoo away quite a lot of flies (sitting indoors) which was a bit disappointing to otherwise a great meal. <br/><br/>Would definitely revisit and hope the fly situation is better.<br/>

Came here in a group of around 10, I had the Seafood Linguini. The photo doesn’t give the dish enough credit, it was generously packed with fatty tuna, mussels and cockles. The portion size was generous and the pasta was cooked perfectly. The Tiramisu desert was also of a generous size and some of the best Tiramisu I’ve ever tried. The restaurant was really noisy, almost to the extent where you’d have to nearly yell to talk. We were seated by the kitchen, which didn’t help with noise levels. Our waitress was friendly, helpful and attentive. :)<br/><br/>Food - 4/5<br/>Service - 4/5<br/>Price - 3.5/5<br/>Ambience - 4/5

We came early to grab a spot and it was a good thing we did. The restaurant became busy very fast as the night arrived. The food is top notch quality with lovely flavours. We had one pizza with two pasta dishes. The pasta literally melted in the mouth. I had relatives overseas with me and thoroughly enjoyed the experience. Service was fantastic they explained the food to us in detail and made great recommendations. Normally we skip desserts at restaurants but we couldn’t do that here. The desserts were a wonderful end to a fantastic meal.

Came by for dinner. We didn't book but it wasn't too full since we were able to get a table outside. Really interesting items on the menu which made it hard to choose.<br/><br/>We picked a bottle of the Saracco Muscato d'asti to share since we both liked muscatos. Best choice ever. One of the best mucatos I've had and it is so easy to drink. Nice flavour and mouth feel with the light bubbles. They served it by the half bottle (375ml).<br/><br/>We started with the guanciale and the Spaghetti al Grancho (Squid Ink spaghetti with crab). That was the only pasta that came as dinner sized and thought the portion wasn't that big. It was however very delicious. The al dente pasta and the crab meat was very moreish. Had the Agnello as a main. The lamb was cooked nicely and the zucchini flower was light and crispy. Also tried the Cervo but found the sauce a bit too sour. Had the chocolate marquis for dessert and that was delicious. The sticky date pudding was also nice.<br/><br/>Really good food and service which is reflected in the price.

loved the oven baked fish. My old time fav. place is busy and bit crowdy. Early bookings would be good. Place is well set up, clean and got good service.

Heard really great things about this Italian but felt it was so sub par! A bit of a snobby joint but that’s not due to the staff, just the other diners. Ordered the seafood pasta and had to pack some salt on there, the others seemed to really enjoy it though. Took a while for everything to arrive.

Delicious Italian food and a nice wine list. Went here with a friend of mine and we shared some mains. Our stake was cooked perfectly and melted in the mouth. The Cloudy Bay cab sav was also beautifully floral and ‘melony’, loved it. Unfortunately I didn’t take any photos, but good reason to come back!

My friend and I went in during lunch break and it was a full house! Just managed to get a table inside this day.<br/> <br/>We didn’t plan to get pizza but I’m glad we did as the Bianco Pizza was delicious with a fluffy yet crispy-on-the-outside crust. The fettucine alfredo was average but still yum. I strongly recommend to all seafood lovers the linguini alla marinara pasta which comes out with fat prawn, mussels and fish with bits of chilli.<br/> <br/>Service was great, there was a bit of a wait for the food but I did expect this as it was peak lunch time. Also with so many people here it got loud inside, I felt like I was yelling across to my friend but there were a lot of other people talking/yelling as well so all good. <br/>

With the lively atmosphere at Prego, stepping inside instantly calls for a lovely dining experience. All the staff were extremely polite and friendly. The service was top notch! There was a good variety of meals to select from. The food took a while to come but it was well worth the wait! Would definitely be back again! <br/><br/>Food: 8/10<br/>Ambience: 7/10<br/>Service: 10/10<br/>

Great food and service! Request a table outside, as inside gets very loud.<br/>Plenty of vegetarian options which was great, not much vegan for my friend. <br/>I would return again, although it does get a little pricey

But, like, have you had the duck risotto? You should. Like, 100%. You should definitely try the duck risotto. Have you been to Prego? ‘Cause I don’t know if you know but, the duck risotto is amazing. Phenomenal. I saw Jesus.

Love this place because it's relaiable. Open from 12 till late so good for late lunches! Parking is good. They don't take reservations.<br/>Predictable great quality italian food and exceptional service . No surprises ever for me maybe for 17 years. You go there and you know it will be honest good food. Reasonably sized portions and definetly friesh ingridients.Clean bar, kitchen, tables and not to mention the bathroom - says a lot. I usually go for fish on risotto and lots of side dishes to share. I believe they are reasonably priced for food and beverage. Attentive service for sure - if you d get cold they will give you a blanket. Kids friendly.

Best place for the Alfredo chicken pasta, it’s yum. Good service and also good place for dining. One of my favorite spots on Ponsonby. Casual and comfortable environment.

Popped into Prego to see what the fuss is about. Ordered garlic pizza bread with aioli. Alot of alioli.... but the best i have ever had. Polpette meatball was amazing luckily our server suggested an even amount so no fighting over the last one. Both pasta dishes were superb carbonara and some americana type dish. Super happy with this place. Great food

Went out with family one night for my brother's birthday, so good!<br/>Food was great, had the gnocchi and it tasted perfect! Lovely ambience and loving the fine dining :)

Great place for some delicious Italian food! Great atmosphere, friendly staff and excellent food, really enjoyed the fetuccine and bianco pizza.

We went for my birthday lunch today at Prego and we were a large loud group. The food was okay but the staff member serving us looked stressed which was fine as it was busy and we were a huge group. We caught her rolling her eyes at us a couple times which was simply rude and a sarcastic "happy birthday" as we left. The eftpos machine also suddenly stopped working when we got to the counter so instead of using a manual card reader our card details were written down on paper and apparently the payment would be processed later. When questioned about security about writing down our card details no response was given. We asked if there was an ATM machine nearby but apparently there wasn't so we had no choice but to give over credit card details for our whole group. Someone was meant to call us after the payment was processed but noone did so now we have had to put a block on our card incase the card number wasn't disposed off properly. The service just ruined my first experience of Prego which i had been looking forward to a long time.

I hadn’t been here for a long time. Prego impressively has never changed the quality of food and service. We all had pasta and they were delicious. I wished my dish was twice bigger but it allowed me to have dessert afterwards 😊

Absolutely love this place - by far one of the best Italian restaurants in Auckland. The place is always packed but their service is consistently great. Their mushroom pizza and duck risotto are our all time favourite!!! This is one of the places that we will always go back.

The Duck All'Anatra will change your life<br/><br/>The Duck All'Anatra will change your life<br/><br/>The Duck All'Anatra will change your life<br/><br/>The Duck All'Anatra will change your life

Service : Firstly you don’t need to call for a booking, found this out when we called and got hung up on. Went here last night for dinner along with my partner, and we felt as if we weren’t treated as well as the other customers because my partner and I are quiet young. First, it was a cold night and we were seated outside, which is fine, however all the other diners were asked if they wanted a blanket and had regular check ups, as for us we ordered our food and had to keep asking the waitress/ waiter to take the order for our next meal. We had a total of four different servers and only one of them were lovely but it felt as though it was all over the place. <br/><br/>Food: The wait for food wasn’t too bad, the entree was pretty average to the point I don’t even remember what I ate. The Fettuccine Alfredo was good but I felt as though I have tried nicer Fettuccine or similar from cheaper restaurants, one word to describe it would be underwhelming. Lastly we had a Crème Brûlée, I have traveled the world and tried many Crème Brûlée’s, in fact I try one at every restaurant I visit in order to find the perfect one, last night I had high hopes but was let down. The caramelised sugar glaze was thick and hard and there was a very overwhelming taste of egg, the food was yum, but was it worth the money? <br/><br/>Overall: Overall if I wanted a dining experience like that I wouldn’t want to spend that much money, probably won’t go back there again, the service was average except that one person and the food was overpriced for the lack of tastes. <br/><br/>2 stars & 1wish:<br/>Stars: Nice environment, nice decoration, liked that there was outdoor heaters.<br/>Wish: Attentive staff that looked happy to serve.

I'd put more rating just because the food was good but our experience was so unpleasant that it made the food taste bitter. We had to wait for quite a while because the maître d forgot about us, after getting a table it took ages to get some food and they even forgot our starter. When I complained to the manager and maître d, it was really hard to get a humble apology, they blamed the delayed on being busy... Man I've been to busier restaurants, they just handle it better.

Nice restaurant but I was pretty annoyed that I was told via Facebook message by one of their staff that I could make a large booking but then when I called and spoke to someone (manager) I believe, I was then told that they won't take my booking as they are a walk in restaurant.. and I would definitely be able to get a large table by 5:30pm. However when we arrived at 5:15pm, we were told that we will have to wait for an hour to an hour and a half at least to be seated. The bar area wasn't even spacious for 10 of us to be standing around too. When we decided to go to another restaurant, we were told we can have one of the table. (That was after 40 mins of waiting)<br/>Portion of the food was just ok and we all felt very thirsty afterwards. Probably cause of the msg added to the pizza / pasta .. <br/>The girl who served us was really nice but we won't be back again.. <br/>

Prego has been a Ponsonby staple for quality Italian for at least 2 decades and never fail to deliver . A friend of ours from overseas decided to catch up here with others last night . <br/><br/>We arrived around 8pm and we believe there’s no prior reservations on the phone or online so we waited at the bar with our drinks before being seated on a table about an hour later . It’s ok because we were busy catching up and not in a big hurry although it’s definitely building our appetite for dinner ! <br/><br/>We had the usual steaks , pasta , starters etc.. but was told the lamb could not be cooked well done so one of our guest got the pie instead which was massive ! More drink top ups and deserts / coffees to end the night which was top quality indeed. <br/><br/>They should have a larger area or have a booking system in place but hey it’s prego after all and worth the wait !

We went there last night for my birthday first time dining there due to all the great reviews ! <br/>They don’t take small group bookings wish they did bar was packed no place to wait .<br/>Waited in the car for 30 minutes till hostess informed us they have a table ready .<br/> they were packed but didn’t stop the great service and plates from coming .<br/>Food was delicious place was pumping with busy atmosphere if you like quite dining it’s not the place for you .<br/>Over all we were happy with food atmosphere and service will go back again.

Be far one of the best Italian restaurants in Auckland! The service was amazing and the ambiance was 10/10 (strongly recommend sitting outside for dinner- there's really good music, a heater and fairy lights on the tree). We went on a Saturday night and of course Prego was packed. The wait time was actually only around 30 minutes and it went by pretty fast while we had a drink at the bar.<br/><br/>To kick the evening off, we had some apero spritz (which was off the menu). It was very delicious and refreshing and definitely brought me back to Italy. We then shared the Cavatelli with chicken, mushrooms and bacon. Oh my, what a winning combo- the chicken was super tender, the pasta can be a bit more firm but the creamy sauce made this dish a killer and I almost licked the plate after finishing up the pasta. We also shared a Bianco pizza and again the mushrooms and white mozzarella was just perfect. I also asked for extra Parmesan and chili flakes and the experience couldn't have been made better. We finished off the night the Italian way- by ordering two limoncello shots. Unfortunately those were quite light and too sweet. Overall, I'd strongly recommend Prego and I'd definitely return again and again!

Anyone who knows me knows that I live to eat Italian food. I will eat it, drink it, snort it, and ingest it pretty much any way I can. I have eaten more Italian meals than I can count. And I can honestly say that one of the if not the best Italian meal I've ever had was at this restaurant last night.<br/><br/>To celebrate my 29th my friends took me here. They bought a cake and we arrived there early. The place was buzzing despite the horrendous weather we'd been having all weekend. We were promptly greeted and sat at the bar with drinks in our hands waiting on our table to open up.<br/><br/>The staff took the cake we brought in, to the kitchen right away and wished me a happy birthday. Restaurant managers and owners don't realise this, but patrons like myself don't judge restaurants based solely on their meals or their own experiences at a place. We also notice the little things. We were seated at the bar when I noticed that the manager/owner kept giving her staff encouraging pats on the back and touched their hands briefly to thank them for doing something. This was great to watch because they were so busy and it was apparent by how quickly and efficiently the staff moved and the  manager was equally busy.<br/><br/>Anyway finally we got seated within 15 min (exactly when our reservation was made) and someone from our party cancelled. The setting and chair was cleared promptly. One of us ordered the lamb, so one else ordered the calamari and two if us ordered the Saltimbocca di Pollo. <br/><br/>Creamy, light, decadent, satisfying are all the words that come to mind when I think of the dish. It was two pieces of scaloppini with the skin off (so pleased with that). And a rich buttery lemon sage cream with roast<br/><br/>Potatoes and a bit of prosciutto wedged between the two buts if chicken breast. Perfection. <br/><br/>I can honestly say that it was the coup de grâce in the whole experience that was Prego and I mean that in the best way possible. I was blown away because everything from the service to the demeanour of the waiting staff was just a buildup to a great meal. <br/><br/>Would happily go back. 

Most flavourful italian food ive ever had in New Zealand. The location it great, service is Amazing, and just the food was good! everything on the plate went well with everything else. Some may say its pricy but the quality of food and service your getting is absolutely worth it.

We came here last night for hens dinner and truly enjoyed our experience .<br/><br/>I would say the highlight is their super wait staff. In particular our waiter who was a young guy super bubbly and had knowledge on everything on the menu and where to go afterwards . Basically 12 of us asked him for his opinion on what to eat and he gave us a full run down. Possibly the best service we have ever received so thank you! Prego don’t let this star go<br/><br/>Food was great , nice big portions and at a very fair price for the quality. I loved my Bianco pizza the crust and base were delicious and garlicky. The prawn pasta was good not as flavour full though. <br/><br/>Most definitely will return

It is one of my favourite italian resturant. Every time I visit here they don’t dissapoint me with the quality of their food. Love their creamy pasta and fresh seafood wood fire pizza they taste phenomenal.

I have been going to Prego for over 20 years and I would have had over 250+ meals there in my time....<br/><br/>The service is exceptional... the food has always been great... and the Espresso Martinis are legendary!!!!<br/><br/>Over this time I have gotten to know all the staff so when coming back for a meal at home!! I look forward to many more years of dining!!!

Had a work dinner there. Was a decent place, gets very crowded. I enjoyed their garlic bread. Was very soft and fresh. I ordered the Spaghetti Agaloi with chicken. It was good pasta for sure. For being an oil based pasta, it wasn’t overly oily which made the dish more enjoyable. For the dessert, I ordered the tiramisu which I was very disappointed in. I tried the trio sherbet my colleague had ordered, which was sooo much more better. The flavours they serve was very refreshing and tasty. Wouldn’t mind going again to try a few more dishes as they have so many options. I felt that their portions was decent but still a bit pricy. But quantity was overall was nice and fresh for sure.

Prego is a long time favourite. We went today for a leisurely ladies lunch and catch up. The food and service was amazing as usual. The weather wasn’t quite up to it today but when it’s sunny nothing can beat an afternoon spent in the courtyard!

Went here last night for my friend's birthday. The service was great, the place is very busy and the food was amazing. Takes me back to Italy! Prices are quite high and top notch. But the ambience and the service makes up for it. I ordered the Linguine all marinara and Bellini for drink. Loved both very much!

Always busy place but always top service and amazing food there. Their pizza is one of the best in Auckland and their pasta and linguine always die for! You could feel you always are looked after very well.

I'm always on the look out for a good pasta.<br/><br/>Service here is your usual standard and the ambience is nice and modern. We had the pesce, spaghetti agioli and fettuccine alfredo. They were all very delicious and brought out in a timely manner. I will say though it is a tad on the expensive side and the portions are a tad small as well but other wise it's a nice place.

We arrived at 7.30 on a Saturday night and it was full , told we would expect a hour wait we left our number and headed up to Mekong baby . Well I was so greatful for the call from prego the food was amazing the service was like I have never experienced perfect !!!

Very pricy but delicious, but i still dont really remember what I ordered... I can't find it on the menu but it was a pasta which had potato and beef inside. I came here for my best friend's bday party and we had cake and everything. Great atmosphere and lots of people!

My go to Italian restaurant. The food here is absolutely delicious and the service is always really good. Their garlic pizza bread is a good bargain and is always delicious. Their food is reasonably priced too. <br/>We've had their pizza, their pastas, calamari and two desserts and they've always impressed. <br/>Full of flavour and expertly made. <br/>Recommended!!

Absolute favourite. We go here regularly and always love the food. The staff are fabulous and always attentive. Good selection of wines and a menu full of old favourites and new things to try. My favourite place to spend a weekend lunch.

Took a while to find seating, and it was quite busy when we visited there.  The service was friendly and the cuisine fine.  But it did take quite a while for the kai to arrive.  We've walked in off the road in many places in Rome and the service, and cuisine was always excellent! :)

Really enjoyed my meal last night, first visit to this institution in maybe 3 or 4 years and pleased to say the standard hasn't dipped.<br/>First of all, bonus parking next door (arrived 530pm so guess I was lucky..).<br/>Met a mate and we were seated quickly, however even at this early stage of the evening the room was filling quickly (no reservations taken for groups less than 10).<br/>Menu still has its "classic" dishes and I started with the duck risotto (delicious, perhaps slightly over seasoned) followed by the gnocchi (braised goat ragu- yum but very rich). Friend started with the beef cheeks and main of roasted (whole) snapper, which looked sensational - no complaints from him, so I guess he enjoyed it. Glass of Domain Rd Pinot washed it all down, followed by espresso coffees. Service was attentive for a busy night. Total cost around $130 which I thought was good value for what we had.<br/>The place was chocker when we left and really good to see a few families with young kids dining.<br/>Won't wait another 3 years to visit...<br/><br/>Well, yup, only 13 days this time..visited last Sunday and had the Osso Bucco - wow! Yum..awesome service too. Arrived at 5.30pm and it was packed, so we took an outdoor table (a little cold despite the heaters) however still enjoyed it - quality doesn't go out of style and Prego knows this.

One of my absolute favourite restaurants in Auckland. Not only are the staff constantly helpful and friendly, but the food is amazing. I've never had a poor experience here, after visiting many times. Could not rate them highly enough, esp. the duck risotto!

Great ambience, amazing food and great service (special mention to Jason). Loved the garlic pizza bread, duck risotto and the pizzas. One of the must try restaurant on Ponsonby road.

Prego <br/><br/>The service seemed to start out shaky. We walked in and stood in a lost manner without being greeted until we happen to see the rest of our party and seat ourselves. We then had to really work to get someone to take our initial drink orders. The staff we flagged down said "I'll go get your waiter". Once he came over things were good and the rest of the meal service was fine. Entree was a shared bread style thing which was nice. I can't say the mains blew me away though. I ordered the seafood linguine (marinara) and the people around me the steak. The mussels all still had beards in them and my lemon slice was the end of the lemon-mostly lemon peel. I would have thought that part would not go to the table. Flavour was okay but the pasta a tad slimy and cooked a bit long. The steak was cooked fine for the rare but the person who ordered medium steak felt it was overdone. Pretty basic fare for the price and if food is simple then one expects a really high level of technique. I'd have rated that course a 4/10. The dessert was totally amazing though. We ordered the "marquise de chocolate" and the rhubarb tart. My chocolate desert was totally dreamy and very much to die for.

I had soup of the day. It was delicious. My partner had spaggetti bol. We also ordered the garlic bread it was so flaverful! The service waa great and staff were friendly.

Prego was on my list of restaurants to go and I finally tried it out today. Maybe I had a high expectation after reading positive reviews on the restaurant. I was actually quite disappointed at their food. <br/><br/>First of all, It took almost half an hour for the food to be served despite the fact that it was not busy when I ordered them. <br/><br/>Steak was perfectly cooked but nothing special. Everything on the place had no flavour. Potato gratin had nice texture but no flavour no season. Steak was cooked to perfect medium rare but I somehow felt that the meat was rather not fresh and the steak almost tasted like a good rump steak, not eye fillet. Red wine jus was plain too. I had to put quite a lot of salt and pepper. <br/><br/>Pasta was yummy but again it wasn't surprisingly good. It was just okay. Only a bit better than other places because they use fresh pasta. <br/><br/>I was mostly disappointed at their pizza. I ordered mushroom and ham pizza (bianco) it was not the taste i was expecting. I didn't personally like this pizza. <br/><br/>Service was good. All staff were prompt and attentive although the place got quite busy later on. <br/><br/>I think I would come back to try different menu but since it is quite pricy and it didn't worth the price this time. It will take me sometime to visit her again.<br/><br/><br/><br/>

Having visited this lovely restaurant for two valentines days in a row now, I can safely say I enjoy the experience each time. <br/>A wonderful place to tantalise your taste buds and experience some classy and authentic Italian cuisine. <br/>I absolutely love the fettuccine here that swims in a gracious white sauce. Very memorable. <br/>I'd certainly recommend a visit if in Auckland 👌🏾

Very busy place but the staff dont forget to serve you. The waiter was awesome. Very entertaining and knew everything about the menu. Delicious food. Love the service. The manager offered blankets to everyone sitting outside. Would definately be going there again.

Yummo!!! We came on Saturday night which was really busy. Got a seat after a half hour and ordered our food. I had the lamb ragu tagliatelle - delicious! The pasta was the perfect texture and the ragu beautiful and rich. My partner had pork cutlets which were a bit plain but was still quite tasty. Unfortunately, because we had to wait an hour after we had ordered our food, we didnt bother with dessert this time.

I am so sad I forgot to take photos. Just amazing proper Italian food with beautiful flavours and not so rich that it makes you feel sick. I had the duck and mushroom risotto which was from the favourites bit of the menu - AMAZING. My friends had the spaghetti bolognese, the eye fillet and one of the creamy pastas, I can't remember which. Everyone was super happy with their meals. The only reason I didn't give a 5 is because we were by the window which was closed and everything but it was cold and the water from the rain leaked under the window/door to under our table which was just mildly annoying. The food was so excellent though that it didn't matter!

It was busy when I went there and the food came to me less than 20 minutes which is very good for how much staff were working the people in it. Very good and it's got a really nice environment where you can feel comfortable in.

Went here for lunch. It is an experience I will never forget. The wait staff were amazing. Very friendly and attentive. The food was to die for! The best Italian food I have ever had.

Luv pregos pizzas but if your always left with pizza left over order a kids size if you are a fussy eater like myself, pro tip. Noise level can be prettyyY high but the piiZZAa is worth

The last time I went to Prego it was not a bad experience. Packed fill of people, for me personally a little too busy but that obviously just shows that people love the food. Which I can agree with. I had the caprese bruschetta to start & beef ragu pasta as my main. The service was great, the man who served was very helpful and informative about the menu if we needed any help. Would recommended to anyone who doesn't mind a loud, busy environment and loves Italian food.

Pregos very popular so get in quick if your hungry. Very lucky to have got a table at 6pm on a Sunday night...yes a Sunday! But it's easy to see why - the food speaks for itself. That duck risotto was enough to leave me wanting more; rich but not overpowering - just the perfect condiment of flavours and sooooooooo gooooood! However, the 5 star rating has been given on food alone. On the negative, I don't like how noisy the restaurant is. Music was too loud and basey - put that alongside chat from other tables, and I could hardly hear the person sitting next to me. I kind of expected a more classical and relaxed vibe but instead I felt slightly rushed to eat and get out the door. Also, the Waitress was okay but not overly friendly or attentive.

Yum ! <br/>Service 10/10<br/>Food 10/10<br/>Atmosphere 8/10<br/><br/>Delicious food and great service. What more could you ask for ?<br/>I had a taste of two mains (sharing with another) <br/>I had the Parpadelle Ragu , it was Devine ! Definitely recommend getting the main size as it is quite small, so I'm not sure how small the entree size would have been. <br/>The pie was delicious , best pie I have every tried. The pastry was just as perfect as the filling with the yummy garlic mash ! <br/>Atmosphere only got rated down because of the very dim lighting which made me feel tired very quick . <br/><br/>Overall definitely worth trying this place out ! You will leave wanting more

We visited Prego for the first time on Saturday August 13th. We've been local for more years than we care to count so couldn't believe it's taken us an age to get here and what an amazing experience it was. We were warned when we arrived (6. 30pm) we would need to wait for a table. No problem. We were taken through to the bar area, found seats and ordered drinks and Pizza Al Aglio for starters. Both arrived promptly and we sat and talked until a table was available which was in less time than we'd been warned to expect. Two samplings from our menu order - one of our mains was the Prego classic dish Saltimbocca Di Pollo. Simply brilliant. If my stomach was big enough I'd have ordered a second helping. My dessert, Dolce Di Datteri, was an inspired combination of taste and flavours. Now the bit I really want to talk about is the service. Prego is busy. Really busy. But the standard of service didn't drop a notch from the time we arrived. The greeting on our arrival, looking after us while we waited for a table and the attentive and considerate attention shown by the waitress who looked after us once seated made the whole experience one we look forward to repeating and soon. Well done Prego, we'll be back! 44<br/>

Wasn't as good as I had hoped ... Not terrible just not exactly anything special, in other words I could have made this myself.. Salmon and steak were very very average and I know it's Italian but the menu has these options .. risotto wasn't edible! Ponsonby Let down

Would have to be the best Spicy Prawn Risotto I have ever experienced. Service was great, quick and clear. Had a yummy glass of cloudy bay sav to finish my dinner off. Had an entree size of the risotto which was a great amount. The pork belly with parsnip purée looked really delicious as well. Overall a yummy place to have a great dinner on a rainy evening 😊 go Prego.

Consistently delicious. Great service - the staff seem to know whether you're in a hurry or on a casual business lunch and adjust their service and speed accordingly, which is a real skill to have in hospitality. Not too intrusive, but helpful. The food is awesome and so is the atmosphere.

Have visited this place a handful of times now, definitely one of the best Italian restaurant in Auckland. Everything from the cocktails, to the mains and desserts were flawless. <br/><br/>Really enjoyed their 'funghi pizza' which uses 3 kinds of mushroom. Their ravioli is heavenly, although would definitely suggest going for 6 pieces rather than 3 which was far from enough. If you are a seafood lover I would recommend their 'marinara linguine' which uses top quality seafood, the pasta is lightly flavoured with white wine which really heros the freshness of the ingredients. However my absolute favourite dish is their 'spaghetti aglio e olio'. Although it is considered a side dish, the serving size is huge enough to be a main by itself. It only has 4 ingredients - chilli, garlic olive oil, and parmesan, but all the flavours really come through.<br/>We have tried all the items on the desserts menu. If you have sweet tooth like me, then you will no doubt enjoy their sticky date pudding served with ginger ice cream, and chocolate & salted caramel terrine. The menu does change from time to time though.<br/><br/>Remember to make a booking if you have a group of more than 8 people, as we (group of 7) had to wait at the bar for nearly an hour! The fireplace kept us warm though, and the food was worth the wait :p When I come with just my husband we normally get seated pretty quickly.

Little place in Tuscany (sort of) in Ponsonby,<br/>.<br/>Great food, Gnocchi was amazing and being a total duck obsessed freak the duck was perfect and rich! Cocktails and the crab croquette where a perfect starter!

Desperately disappointed, spent $30 dollars on a main that I ate in 3 mins. The plate weighted more than the portion in it. Me and my partner were so disappointed, specially when we ordered the larger size pasta mains.

My visit to Prego was disappointing in terms of food as I was expecting much more for that price. The presentation was good but the food was plain, lack of flavor. However the service was good, the staff is friendly.

I've been to Prego twice now and I am going again. Of the Italian staples Auckland has I would keep this in my book for a long time. It's a strong competitor to Ponsonby institution, SPQR (of which I am well indoctrinated) and I would say offers a slightly more classic vibe for somone looking for something more low-key.<br/><br/>I've ejoyed the Crab ravioli with Kale and I devoured the famous Prego Pie. Both did not disappoint.<br/><br/>The pie was generous and truly felt like a high end winter warmer, comforting and delicious. The ravioli was the best cooked I've ever had. Flavoursome and delightful. I just wish there was more of it. Although I am prone to gluttony. Overall I'm looking forward to my next visit.<br/><br/>The Atmosphere: I've dined inside and outside and both weren't a hassle. As with all large restaurants sometimes seating can be cramped and at peak hours busy busy busy. Summer was quiet and outside was pleasant. Winter was packed and tight knit but the tables and seating were fine. A little dimly lit though as most places are. It can feel overwhelming but timing is everything.<br/><br/>Room For Improvement: nothings perfect and my sister who dined with me both times mentioned her favourite, the Papardelle was slightly undercooked. Which resulted in her eating half my pie. A small gripe but the outside decor needs a revamp and the seating could be updated. For comfort of course.<br/><br/>Prego is a generous restaurant both in food and service. Their staff are so friendly and beyond attentive and helpful and most of all they're polite. The attitude is relaxed and unpretentious. It might be placed in Ponsonby but looks can be deceiving.<br/><br/>

Last weekend I had a bit to celebrate, so we had to choose a special place to go to. We chose Prego based on a dish offered on their menu, which was greatly recommended by a friend: duck risotto. Of course we had to go. And what better occasion than to celebrate: my birthday, and the start of a new job?

I absolutely love Prego. 5/5 always for me.<br/><br/>Despite its aesthetic, it's actually a casual family friendly restaurant. You feel at home and so welcome every time. <br/><br/>Make sure you either come early or late otherwise you will definitely be waiting for a table, even on a week night. Prego is always super packed. Good sign!! <br/><br/>Highly recommend the bruschetta, the fettuccine Alfredo, seafood linguini and the chicken. All so amazing! <br/><br/>Thanks guys!

I have travelled in Italy and to be honest Prego's food was better then a lot of food I tried in Italy. The service was excellent we went for a friends birthday there was quite a few of us and we all got amazing service by the friendly staff. I had the Fettuccine which was bloody brilliant! all my friends loved their food. I would recommend to book though as it was super busy (Saturday Night). I will defiantly be coming back here!

The food is ALWAYS great at Prego, dinner or lunch we have never had a less than perfect meal. Love going here, there is a lovely welcoming family atmosphere. The pasta dishes (especially the classic Alfredo) are absolutely delicious and so many great options for pizzas. Service is always warm and friendly EVERY time we visit - very family friendly too. They are fab - a Ponsonby Rd institution.

Went on a Saturday night and got a table and served straight away. The waiter was really helpful and explained the menu as required. Ordered the garlic bread as an entree - came with aioli which I wasn't the biggest fan of. For a main ordered the fettuccine alfredo - honestly I think this is the best fettuccine alfredo I've ever had.

I wasn't blown away by Prego the way I expected to be.<br/>After reading the rave reviews I definitely thought the food would be tastier.<br/><br/>I went with my fiancé - he had the fish and I had a spaghetti bolognese. He really enjoyed his dish - it looked beautiful and was served elegantly. I wasn't amazed - it wasn't terrible, but also wasn't particularly delicious. Just an average bolo.<br/><br/>The wait staff were very attentive, and the setting is lovely. We were inundated with flies at our table, as were the other patrons. I understand that it's difficult to control them at this time of the year, but there must be something one can do?<br/><br/>I probably won't be back any time soon, as I prefer Pane and Vino, just down the street from them.

Enter Prego, one of the finest Italian bistros located on the Posonby strip in Auckland since 1986. We arrived around 8pm on a Friday, the music was pumping and the entire place was packed. The place itself was pretty big with tables both inside and out in the courtyard. We waited for a good 45 minutes at the bar, before getting a really spacious table of five all to ourselves as the crowds started to clear out towards the end.

Prego had been my go to resturaunt ever since my parents took me here as a kid. The place is always buzzing, great atmosphere and the staff are very efficent and great at those job.<br/><br/>The food is exceptional the only thing is with the new menu they left my favoruite pizza off the menu "portifino". Also the dough has had a change but it's still great. <br/><br/>

Just a great place to go we sat in the courtyard and it was fantastic.<br/>Food quality is very high , the waiting staff are enthusiastic , fun , very professional .<br/>Cocktails were great , meals superb .

An institution on Ponsonby Rd, what more can I say. This place has old school style, friendly waiters who introduce themselves by name, a classic Italian menu, and also very kid friendly. We have friends who swear by this place, but we usually end up further along the road at one of the new places. However even an amateur diner will feel at home here with delicious well presented dishes that can be eaten in an outside courtyard under a giant tree, with the classy P Rd diners set. There is plenty of Italian flavour here, and if you have kids come around 5pm, we did and never saw a restaurant so full of kids before... which actually made it more relaxing and fun!

Prego is one of my favourite restaurants in Auckland with an awesome variety of wines and spirits. The food is absolutely delicious and fresh. Is always busy so be patient to wait a table on weekends.

I noticed today the date on Pregos menu - established 1986 - so they will celebrate 30 years this year & I can see why! This can't be said for many restaurants these days.<br/>Prego has been one of my absolute fave spots for many years & it was good today to experience all that I love about it - great location, great service & delicious food. With a 'recipe' like that, delivered with consistency, what's not to love.<br/>Prego have a system where you can't book - each to their own, but as long as you know that you can plan accordingly. I've never found it a problem. <br/>We arrived at midday on a Sunday when they open along with a dozen other customers & easily found a table outside in the courtyard. It's such a beautiful spot either under the canopy or the shade of a very beautiful tree which has lights in it (great at nighttime). <br/>Here comes the only disappointment of the visit - there are some smoking tables amongst others in the courtyard, so as soon as one lady lit up, we had smoke blowing our way. Lucky we were able to move to a non smoky area. I get that people do smoke, but in a semi-enclosed courtyard it would be great to have this non-smoking so that other patrons aren't covered in smoke.<br/>On to the drinks - a great wine & beer list & the staff are great at recommending good options to match your food. We chose 2 glasses of prosecco & an espresso martini which they are well known for. All were delicious but their cocktails are really something special. We all had to try it!<br/>We shared an entree of calamari which is well cooked & tender. <br/>For mains we had the steak with horseradish cream & dauphinois potatoes, panzanella salad, fettuccine, & fish of the day - hapuka with a herbed risotto. All were devine, well cooked, good portion size & good quality ingredients (i.e. The fragrance of the tomatoes was mouthwatering). The waitress came back after my first bite of steak just to check it was cooked to my request of medium which it was. <br/>We had no room for dessert on this visit, but I have tried most of the menu before & never been disappointed. Faves are the sticky date pudding, tiramisu, & the valrhona chocolate dessert is to die for!<br/>We finished off with coffees which were to their usual great standard.<br/>Prego, although thankfully keeping fave dishes as regulars on their menu, also have seasonal faves which come back from time to time such as their winter pie, chicken saltimbocca, & bread & butter pudding. Great to have these seasonally which also gives variety.<br/>Overall another great visit to Prego - whether you feel like a lazy weekend lunch, after work dinner or boozy celebration I've never been disappointed. If only they could sort the smokers out 😊<br/>Will be back ...& very soon!

One of the best Italian restaurants in Auckland - we couldn't find a fault in our experiences here.<br/><br/>Last time we visited we got a table straight away.  We ordered some Bruschetta to start with then ordered our mains - bolognese and the linguine alla marinara. We loved the bolognese and found the marinara to be filled with seafood - which is nice.<br/><br/>We'd also recommend the pizzas which are full of flavour with the perfect combination of toppings.  We should also mention the service here is always great.<br/><br/>We'll definitely be revisiting soon.

Obsessed with this place. The garlic bread with aioli spread is to die for. Then the pizza. So much great pizza. I don't even look at non pizza options although there are quite a few.

We made a reservation for a company lunch days in advance, the staff took our number and confirmes the booking. Yet ,when we rang up to doublecheck on due date. The person who is a manager claims of no such booking been found, after a brief negotiation, we were peomised a table when we show up.<br/><br/>You guessed it , when we show up, NO TABLE. Waiting time estimated to be at least one hour we were told. The manager who we speak to on the phone act like he made no such garentee. We were then offered outside table with no cover which we are still willing to take except for the fact it was bloody raining again.<br/><br/>Eight of us end up standing out side the resturant for 20 mins before we finally gave up and went else where.<br/><br/>Not a plesant experience. Sincerely hope this is a one off mistake ,wouldn't wish this upon any one else whos going there. We were acturally looking forward to the food there which only made the feeling worse.<br/><br/>

We booked on Monday for 8 ppl but when we called this morning, the booking was not confirmed! And the manager told us to come anyway and he will find somewhere for us. But when we finally get there the 8 of us had to wait for 1 hr! So disappointed

I ordered the main and my friend ordered the entrée and they were the exact same size on different plates. WHat was there, was nice. Prices don't include service fee which they don't tell you till they serve the bill.

Have been here twice. First time we went the food was amazing so we ended up going again. The wait staff the first time we went seemed very boring like robots with no emotion or any kind of sincerity or even a mere smile. The food however was flawless. The second time we went the staff were extremely cheerful and great to talk to - even managed to upsell me on the craft beer of the month just purely on the enthusiasm the man behind the bar had for it. The food again was really tasty and well presented. Only one thing stopping me from clocking 5 stars and that is one of our meals (the tortellini) was really small and I would have rather called it an entree than a main. Other then that, great atmosphere, great staff and great tasting food. Will definitely be back!

I come here often with my family. Food is good every time but I would never come on my own or with my partner as its slightly pricey but that's the target market however as its a classy Ponsonby restaurant. The chicken pizza is delicious I will say. Tried it for the first time the other night and was great. Loved it. Also the sticky date pudding was 👌🏻👌🏻 garlic pizza bread is just like anywhere else. The bread and dips is a little boring to be honest, I'd choose pizza bread over that any day. The snapper croquettes where very nice.

Wow! Had dinner two weeks ago with my parents :-) lovely service ammmmaaazing meal. I had the oven baked snapper - wow simply wow! So Devine a little bit noisy inside so outside is the way to go! Delish!

My partner and I came here tonight for dinner and drinks are we were very impressed! We sat outside under the heat lamps with fairy lights above us ect. Really nice modern/cosy atmosphere. We were seated fast and given water and informed of the specials. Our waiter was great! 10/10 service, extremley attentive and was very friendly. For starter we ordered garlic pizza bread, schnapper croquettes and caprese bruschetta. The garlic bread pizza was still hot from the oven, thick, soft, light and had a nice mild garlic flavour. The croquettes had a nice flavour to them and were also nice and light and my favourite was the bruschetta. The tomatoes and basil were fresh and the mozerella was creamy and full of flavour. For main my partner ordered the surf and turf with a side of calamari and I ordered the eye fillet. Both steaks were cooked to absolute perfection! They were so soft, juicy and seasoned niceley. The parmesean crusted polenta was really nice and light on the side. The calamari was a little soggy and bland though. We were planning on ordering dessert because the dessert menu looked quite appealing and there was a decent variety but unfortunately by the time we had finished our mains we were past the point of full! I definitely recommend Prego, and we're planning to go back very soon!

Prego is located in central Ponsonby and is definitely a place people in the area should try! Normally very busy, we managed to grab a table straight away. Our waiter (Nick) was amazing!! he had the most amazing customer service i've ever experienced (so thank you so much to him!) he explained everything in the right amount of detail! I ordered the Spaghetti Bolognese, and it was incredible!! everything you need and wish for, for a Spaghetti Bolognese! the flavours balanced each other out nicely and nothing was too over powering! My friend on the other hand actually got the wrong dish (which he didn't even realise because he forgot what he ordered, but i remembered!) nevertheless the ate what he received because he didnt remember what he ordered and luckily he loved it! besides this one mishap, everything else was amazing!! I also love how they offer you more parmesan cheese and grate it in this really cool looking cheese grater device!!<br/><br/>This is definitely a place i recommend people visiting, the customer service is impeccable and the food is good too!

Located in the heart of Ponsonby, Prego is an Italian fine dining restaurant serving authentic, traditional Italian cuisine. Last week I was lucky enough to dine here with my girlfriends, which made for an absolutely amazing dining experience!<br/><br/>With a romantic, dimly lit courtyard, bar by the fire and large variety of indoor seating, Prego offers choice & comfort in style. It was full at 6:30pm when we arrived, so we waited at the bar while ordering some cocktails. The Honey Plum Mojito was a favourite while my friend loved her Espresso Martini! While I thought the Honey Plum Mojito was fruity, fresh and sweet, it wasn’t something I would especially return for.<br/><br/>The mains more than made up for this. We ordered something different each to share, and I got to try the Linguine Alla Marinara, Funghi Pizza and Spaghetti Agioli. They were all perfectly created, cooked and flavoured – all three were my favourite! I loved the fresh, succulent seafood in the linguine marinara, especially the big prawns. The Funghi Pizza had just the right soft (but not too soft) texture, topped with a generous mix of juicy mushrooms and cheese. And the Spaghetti Agioli had a garlic flavour that was delicious yet mild.<br/><br/>For dessert, we ordered every dessert on the menu to share – seven desserts amongst the seven of us! I loved the Creme Brulee, which had the most decadent, creamy texture and rich caramel aftertaste. The Marquise al Cioccolato was another favourite – the rich, sweet chocolate mousse is heaven for chocolate lovers. I also loved the Cannoli Alla Ricotta and its blend of crispy & creamy textures complemented by candied orange and white peace gelato. Though these were my top three, all the desserts were absolutely incredible!<br/><br/>Altogether, it was an unforgettable fine dining experience and definitely one of the best Italian restaurants I have ever been to. I can see why it is constantly named as one of the top restaurants in Auckland! The mains, desserts, and customer service all made for a fantastic night, as well as the ambience (I especially loved the fairy light balls in the courtyard). I’d highly recommend Prego if you love Italian cuisine!<br/><br/>(Photos taken by me and last two photos from my friend’s Instagram)<br/><br/>Mains<br/><br/>SPAGHETTI AGIOLI Garlic, olive oil, salvagno olives, parsley, chilli, feta $22.5<br/><br/>LINGUINE ALLA MARINARA Scampi, prawn, mussels, cockles, tuna, white wine, garlic, chilli flakes $29<br/><br/>TORTELLINI Spinach & ricotta tortellini, butternut pumpkin puree, crispy sage, walnuts $26.50<br/><br/>SPAGHETTI BOLOGNESE Beef, pork & pancetta, red wine & tomato ragu, grana padano $25.50<br/><br/>FUNGHI Portobello, Swiss brown & button mushroom, gorgonzola $26.50<br/><br/>RISOTTO ALL’ANATRA Roast duck, mixed mushrooms, aged balsamic, grana padano $32<br/><br/>Cocktails<br/><br/>ESPRESSO MARTINI Finlandia Vodka, Tia Maria, Kahlua, Espresso Coffee $17.50<br/><br/>HONEY PLUM MOJITO Mt. Gay Silver, Black Doris Plums, Honey, Muddled Limes, Sugar, Mint $16<br/><br/>Desserts<br/><br/>CRÈME BRÛLÉE Anise berry compote, cinnamon crisp $14.50<br/><br/>TIRAMISÚ Traditional espresso dessert $14.50<br/><br/>DOLCE DI DATTERI Sticky date pudding, vanilla poached pears, ginger ice cream, hot caramel, pistachio crumb $14.50<br/><br/>MARQUISE AL CIOCCOLATO Valrhona caramel chocolate marquise, salted peanuts, caramel sauce, chocolate pearls $14.50<br/><br/>CANNOLI ALLA RICOTTA Ricotta, pistachio, chocolate, hazelnut, candied orange, white peach gelato $14.50<br/><br/>GELATI GF Mixed gelato & sorbet, sesame seed wafer $14.50<br/><br/>RABITOS ROYALE BON BON Chocolate & brandy fig bon bon $14.50

Consistently good food, ambience and service. Thanks for a yummy lunch yesterday. Snapper and risotto was delicious! Date pudding and ginger ice cream were fabulous also!

Came a couple months ago. The whole not taking bookings thing is a little annoying but that seems to be quite common among restaurants now. Garlic bread to start, steak for main with a side of potatoes and the broccoli. The food was really nice, and service was excellent. The only qualm I had was with the broccoli - it tasted like it had been bathed in lavender oil. Maybe I'm just sensitive to it, but I love broccoli and it was inedible for me at Prego. Highly recommend the steak though, it was perfectly cooked :)

Lucky enough to be able have been here a few times. Service was warm and welcoming. Calamari is a big YES! ! so tasty and perfectly seasoned. Steak was cooked perfectly.

Great lunch and service even with little Thomas in tow. Kids menu, colouring in and including in all without hassle. Food amazing as usual had to finish every bite. Thanks for making Friday lunch enjoyable for mum, poppa and little man.

Four of us went to Prego on Thursday evening.  At the start it was ok, but then we got surrounded by tables of families with young noisy kids.  This was rather annoying.  It would have been more peaceful at McDonalds!  I didn't realise that Prego is a family and child friendly restaurant.  I guess the Ponsonby families go there instead of McDonalds!  But, the food was good and the service was good.  The question is - Would we go back? The answer is NO.

Always love dining at Prego! Service is top notch and food is always delish. The waiter got my drink order wrong but it was quickly remedied. I had the chicken saltimbocca, the most amazing cheesy sauce. Definitely recommend this dish! My friend had the tortellini which was also yummy but if you are hungry, best not to order as the dish was very little.

The pasta had way too much cheese but desert was pretty good. But the service was terrible got the order wrong twice on two different occasions. I ordered a loaf of bread and got garlic bread then order pasta and was given the wrong type of pasta. Wait times were also very long for the amount of people that were in the restaurant.

Came here for a family lunch- <br/>Great spot food was very rich but I ordered something out of the ordinary for me. Will be back was pretty good 👍🏻

Celebrating a friends graduation dinner, Prego was chosen and I felt quite biased considering I lacked enthusiasm from the beginning but I went as open minded as possible. <br/><br/>Unfortunately it idled on my predisposed expectations. <br/><br/>The service was really good. Very formal. At times I felt it was trying a little too hard but apologies are always good when the food takes a while. <br/><br/>The food itself wasn't exciting at all. <br/>Typical 'fancy Italian food' for the masses. <br/>I got the lasagne - because nothing else caught my eye, so I felt inclined for some home styled simple food.<br/>It was alright, it lacked a lot of flavour and funnily enough triggered a little nostalgia for days when Pizza Hut used to do lasagnes. But at 5x the price, it was embarrassing that it tasted so similar! <br/><br/>The atmosphere was a little bland. A lot of loud people wanting to be seen in Ponsonby can be a bit of a drag...

Amazing Italian food ! Best in Auckland by far! Had an original margarita pizza! Yum ! Also went and had the special pie they had on their winter menu! Ammmmmazing! GideonMarisa MasterchefNz2015 #g1

Legendary dining spot! Great Italian done right! Good for a good summers evening ! Top selection of wine and still has the best pizzas by farSarah Forsyth #g7

One of those places you can always depend on! Great ambience and good service. It's constantly busy at Prego so don't be surprised if you have to wait for a table. This restaurant is ideal for a date or group outing! <br/><br/>With so many appealing dishes on the menu we decided to go with the fettuccine Alfredo and the Vegetariana pizza. Both were full of flavour and authentic Italian. Portion sizes were just right and this was plenty for the two of us. The prices are mid ranged, most mains are $25+<br/><br/>Will definitely be back to try out more dishes! Keep up the good work guys <br/>

Prego is a long time family favourite and home to the worlds greatest lasagne. We've tried most of the menu and have never been disappointed with our plates, the pizzas and pastas are authentic and the ingredients taste fresh every time. Visit here for quality Italian dishes and top service!

My friend and I decided to dine here tonight as we wanted to know what the hype was about. Prego is arguably one of the best Italian restaurants in Auckland as voted by consumers. However, I beg to differ.<br/><br/>I ordered the lasagne and expected to be blown away, unfortunately I was let down. The dish immensely lacked seasoning... I had to season the dish after every 2 spoonfuls I ate. Meanwhile, my friends dish (the gnocchi) tasted rich and authentic so I'm happy about that. Our waiter was very nice, he was also attentive. When it came to pay, the lady at the counter was a bit snobby. <br/><br/>Overall, average experience for us... This place is preferably suited best for families, so if you're looking for a good venue for a family get together, this is the place! (They also provide colouring in books for children - cute and clever tactic)

I had rather high hopes for Prego which unfortunately fell short due to an incident. I dined with my 4 friends, and we had a 'funny' waiter who sadly let down my experience. I am left handed, and apparently he didn't like the fact that I had moved my serviette and cutlery to the left. He picked it up, and walked away saying "you're on your own". I could not believe he had the audacity to do this at a restaurant. I understand he was trying to be funny but the 'joke' was just so tasteless in my opinion. I ordered spaghetti bolognese, which was quite delizioso. I enjoyed the ambience and can see why it is a popular Ponsonby pick - just a shame that I felt rather awkward during my time there.

Good place for lunch. Nice looking restaurant in a great location. I had the duck risotto which was delectable even if a tad too salty. The staff are very attentive and friendly without being overbearing. Overall pretty good dining experience.

I went to Prego with a friend who was visiting from overseas. We decided on prego after searching for a place we hadn't been to before. The service was great, staff were attentive and friendly. We sat outside as it was a nice warm summer day. The food was good however not the best. I felt that it was slightly over priced for what it was. My pizza was a bit soggy however my friends steak was very good. Dessert was absolutely delicious. Best sticky date pudding I have ever had!

Amazing! The atmosphere hits you as soon as you walk in. Buzzing with people, you're pretty much ensured immediately you're going to have a good time. We were a party of nine so we were able to make a reservation. There was someone near the entrance that directed us straight to our table, semi private at the back of the restaurant. Perfect! <br/><br/>The service was awesome. Our waiter was very attentive and entertaining. He was also very informative about what Prego had to offer. Unfortunately I didn't get a name, but he made us all feel welcome and comfortable. Additionally - I was super impressed that our waiter got all nine orders correct without writing it down, even with the noise level! I can't count the amount of times my order has been wrong when a wait person tried to memorise it instead of writing it! <br/><br/>Everyone enjoyed their meals, which is petty rare when there's a larger group. The duck risotto and fettuccine were rich and flavourful, the carne dishes were generous and well cooked, while the snapper meal was huge and perfectly cooked! My only complaint would be that the pizza lacked a bit of flavour, but based on the rest of my night it didn't take away from the experience at all. <br/>Two people got desserts - the sticky date pudding and chocolate fondant. Both were insanely good I regretted not getting a whole one for myself! <br/><br/>I really can't wait to go back to Prego! No joke I was planning my return on my way out.

LOVE LOVE LOVE! This place is an absolute gem, I have never in my whole life in New Zealand, had Italian food this amazing. I had the spaghetti bolonegse and I can honestly say it brought me back to my visits to Venice. The pasta is extremely well made and fresh as well as the meat sauce. I also tried the tiramisu and oh my gosh!! It melted in the mouth and the coffee to cream to cake balance was just right. An extra gold star is added on to the staff, absolutely loved the cheeky waiter we had, made the evening even more enjoyable. Lastly, be sure to try an espresso martini from here if you're heading out for the night - strong but full of caffeine

I had been wanting to go to Prego for some time after hearing really good feedback from colleagues and friends.<br/><br/>My partner and I decided to go for lunch 1st of August joined with another couple.<br/><br/>We were seated in the courtyard, I immediately felt at ease - the staff were very relaxed and professional. I have to say this is the best service I have experienced in a long time. The staff were bubbly, professional and extremely knowledgeable about the food and wine (wine I enjoy but know little about). <br/><br/>Food came out efficiently and was delicious. We are vegetarians and the offering was very good. The pizza was the best we had ever had.<br/><br/>The service alone would be worth coming back for however our food was exceptional. See you again!

This is a favourite 'Go to' spot for our family Birthdays. Love the Fettuccine Alfredo! Never had a bad meal here! Sometimes there's quite a wait and you can't book but the food and service makes up for it.

I've dined here over 10 times and it's great every single time. Also get takeaway since it's just a small walk from my place. Pepperoni pizza and spag Bol are my go to dishes. Absolute treat !

Hopped over to prego after dinner at Blue breeze Inn just cause I heard rave reviews about their desserts...and they do live up to it. The ambience and set up is really average for such an establishment I felt. Nothinf special but I guess the food does the talking here. We had a creme Brulee, stick dates pudding that was staff recommendation and a I was a bit adventurous to get a tiramisu. Traditionally it's not my go to dessert but since everyone went for staff recommendations I chose to be different. And boy I was glad that it was perfect. Lovely really. Soft and at the right temperature. Tried a little creme Brulee too ans perfect temp. This is where lots of place get it wrong. A cold creme Brulee is just boring. This one was just right. Tiramisu was nice n rich n beautiful texture with the coco powder on top to cut through the richness. Massive portion size too. Gotto try the sticky date pudding next time as I could really smell the slightly burnt Caramel and that made me salivate but my stomach gave up and the wines caught up lol. So gonna go back for sticky date pudding

Ponsonby has so many new eateries that its easy to overlook the old ones. Prego is an example (It started in the 80’s). I went many years ago and on the weekend decided it was time to reaquaint myself. We went, as a group, for dessert and a glass of sticky. <br/><br/>In the evening the exterior is quite beautiful, the big sparkling balls of light are special and the entrance seems solidly established. But, when you enter, the ambiance isn’t brilliant. The walls and furniture are black and the lights are not sparkly halogens. The feel is basically very dim and to my mind not particularly cosy - slightly depressing in fact- I think it needs colour and some sparkle somewhere in the main dining area. In contrast, a large table past the bar area does have a good feel, and basically that comes from lighter walls, paler wood and red/amber lighting. Quite possibly the feel is totally different in natural light during the day.<br/><br/>The service was great, very helpful, lovely waitress who clearly knew her job backwards.<br/><br/>The sticky was a glass of Noble 1, which I always enjoy and, from the Dolci selection, a Tiramisu, Dolce de Datteri (sticky date pudding), and a bread and butter pudding with a rum soaked raisin ice cream and a creme anglaise. <br/><br/>The others felt that the desserts were delicious. <br/><br/>The sticky date pudding was reasonably light and the flavours were good, but was there an edge? - not really - its a classic so you could argue thats how it should be with no twist - don’t mess with it - fair enough I guess.<br/><br/>Same with the Tiramisu. Not edgy or interesting, just a nice plain Tiramisu. <br/><br/>I was more disappointed with the bread and butter pudding. The ice cream was pleasant, but the pudding lacked richness or any real interest. Perhaps I’m spoilt with bread and puddings at home full of raisins and the bread slathered in butter and jam, and stuffed with raisins - the Prego pudding was just bread and a few raisins.<br/><br/>Prego is clearly a Ponsonby institution, perhaps its been there so long that it can rest on its laurels, serving dependable classics with no need to move closer to the edge - and probably no desire from a fan base of loyal, reactionary, comfort food diners. In so saying the demographic was quite young on the evening we went.<br/><br/>Date night: The ambiance and lighting to be honest gives me reservations. He and she may not look their best - at least the wrinkles won’t be visible.<br/>Foodies - if you havent been, go once.<br/>Birthdays etc - I’m sure its seen plenty.<br/>Kids and families: Yes.<br/>OK for an older age groups?: Yes<br/>Groups?: Yes<br/>Value for Money?: OK for Ponsonby<br/>Service?: Brilliant<br/>Go back?: I heard the steaks are good.

After dinner at Ponsonby's new Street Food Collective we headed to Prego for dessert.<br/>As usual they were busy, & there was a 30 minute wait for an inside table, so we sat outside. <br/><br/>It was a cold night, but they have heaters & blankets, so it wasn't too bad. <br/><br/>Parking can be tricky in Ponsonby, but this isn't an issue at Prego - they have a carpark next door to the restaurant.<br/><br/>In terms of service, our waiter was great. He helped us with the menu & was patient & courteous.<br/><br/>We ordered the tiramisu, sticky date pudding, creme brulee & chocolate brownie. The tiramisu was delicious, I've had it before & it's always great. Master 9 loved his creme brulee (& also enjoyed the spoonful of tiramisu he tried) & the sticky date pudding was a hit also. Miss 10 found the brownie a bit rich - she isn't a big fan of dark chocolate & it was covered in a dark chocolate sauce. Lovers of dark chocolate would be in heaven though.

Friendly service, quick to make and a good atmosphere, a fav place of mine to go! Calamari is done really good and their desserts are super yum

Going to Prego is like going to an Italian house on a Sunday afternoon. Busy and loud, warm and cozy, comfortable and friendly and full of every yummy Italian food imaginable. Even the cheeky waiter looks just like one of your relatives.

Went here last night with one of my cousins. We ordered the Spaghetti Bolognese, Fettuccine Alfredo and bruschetta (can't remember which bruschetta). <br/><br/>The bruschetta arrived shortly after and was delicious. There were 2 pieces and they tasted fresh and flavourful!<br/>Pasta came a while after but were definitely worth it. The Alfredo had a rich sauce and thin ham topped with many mushrooms. The pasta was cooked perfectly and it was probably the best white sauce pasta i've had!<br/>The Bolognese was nice but could get quite salty after a few bites. There was also lots and lots of mince throughout the dish. <br/><br/>Overall a good place to dine and I would probably come back here again! :)

A great atmosphere here, with exceptional food and service. Last time it was incredibly busy, so we ordered takeaway pizzas. We ordered the pollo arrosto and a plain Margarita. Highly recommend both, not heavy in the stomach yet filling. Every single ingredient tastes like it's been hand selected and gives it that special "je ne sais quio." <br/>

If your after something more than mainstream Italian this is the place for you. Good fast fresh food that consistently impresses. I love any version of mushroom pasta they make it always impresses. No bookings but they seem to turn tables around pretty quickly.

Delicious Italian food!! Came here a while back to celebrate my anniversary and it was a lovely evening. The lasagne was delicious - quite easily the best lasagne I've had. The waiter was awesome with a sense of humour which made the night very enjoyable!! A must-go if you love Italian food!! 🍝

Nice food and atmosphere, think will come and sit outside in summer. Most importantly, really enjoy the service! Recommend Italian foodies to come!<br/>

So cold / windy! My 3rd time at Prego. The entrée (Salmon ?? Forgot the name) was a bit salty for me. The main lamb loin and steak were quite nice but not super good. I really didn't want to have sweet food at night time.. But as soon as the waitress brought us the dessert menu •_• I... Haha, overall:<br/>Food: 3.5<br/>Service: 5+ <br/>Total: 4! Heheh.

The service and food we received at the restaurant were great. Our waiter was quick with his service and he constantly made sure everything was going good for us. He accommodated to our every request with a warm, friendly manner. Really enjoyed my dining experience here, will definitely go back again!

Prego is the closest thing to an Institution of the Auckland Dining scene having been in business at the same site since 1986! Consistency of service, food, standards is what makes this place so special and the sort of place you end up taking family, friends, and meetings along for a meal, drink and laughter.<br/><br/>Staff are wonderful, friendly but totally professional, the food is always of great consistency and the quality of the food is across the menu.

Prego, one of the finest Italian bistro in Auckland, has been a long standing eatery on the Ponsonby stretch since 1986 and it is still a popular joint for a spectacular Italian feast. I’ve eaten here on several occasions and it has proven to be a great restaurant time and time again. Our meal started with their popular Pane della Casa which is a delectable house-made bread loaf with butter, olive oil and balsamic vinegar. Served warm, it had a crispy crust and a soft fluffy center. I love freshly baked bread and it was a pleasing start to our meal. With plenty of different options for lunch including pizzas, pastas, salads and assorted meats, we both decided to get seafood. My Linguine alla Marinara was bigger than anticipated and it was packed with mussels, clams, seared tuna, prawn and scampi. The linguine was perfectly al dente with a little bit of bite and the white wine sauce had a tangy hint of lemon. Appetizing and I managed to d

I can't think of anything to fault them on. My wife and I went on a busy Saturday night for her birthday and even though it was fully packed and loud, the Matre D' gave us his full attention when we told him what we were there for. We had to wait 45 minutes for a table but that was fine as we sat at the bar and had a couple drinks.<br/><br/>When we got seated, the lady who served us gave us thorough answers to all of our questions. I had the eye fillet which was amazing and cooked perfectly. I like my steak rare and its as if they had used a ruler to cook is because it was evenly cooked around the whole steak. My wife had the John Dory on risotto which was also nice. The risotto didn't overpower the fish but still had a nice herby taste to it.<br/><br/>Service was amazing.<br/>Food was amazing.<br/>Just wish they'd take bookings, damn :(

We had a wonderful experience here! Waitstaff were all very onto it; our waiter, an American, was very helpful in explaining to us the dishes we were curious about and was very attentive and confident. All the food was amazing. I loved our date pudding. Prego is also very child-friendly and not too pricey, so would definitely, definitely recommend this restaurant for anyone!

Prego is my all-time favourite restaurant. It has the best wait staff I have experienced in Auckland, the most delicious food, generous portions and a homely feel. I order the Saltimbocca nearly every time, and it always tastes just as good as the last time. If I was to fault one thing it would be that the decor needs a spruce, but if ain't broke don't fix it, right?

We had a delicious marinara pizza - my partner raved on and on,  ...pressure on for me to make one at home..nope we will just come back to pregos i think...we managed to get a courtyard table on peak night, on peak time, which was nice.    Enjoyable relaxing evening and good service.   Tracee

Best Italian restaurant in Auckland. My family and I come here a lot and the food and service has always been so consistent. The calamari is to die for!! Prego is always our first choice to bring any of our friends that are staying with us from overseas. Never let down! I couldn't recommend enough.

After seeing all the lovely reviews on here me and my friends decided to go there for lunch. We were very happy with our meals! Will definitely go back there again!

I'm always so excited to come back to Prego. It's my go to Italian restaurant and this will probably sound weird but I kinda love the fact that they don't take bookings because I hate planning where I'm going to eat, i think my dinners usually depend on cravings.... <br/><br/>Food is always amazing... The calamari starter is actually to die for. I'm drooling just thinking about it. We were both happy with all of our dishes and we were satisfied - as always - with the cocktails. $24 cocktails are pretty steep usually, but prego doesn't use mixers so it's pretty satisfying ;) <br/><br/>Service and staff were all wonderful - especially Tom. Couldn't fault him.

Staff are so friendly, and really seem to enjoy their job, great energy about the place, Risotto was a bit bland, but cooked well, and the soup was a bit overpowering, my wife loved the margherita pizza and the Calamari.

Extremely good service and great food! Received a gift voucher for this place from a family friend, and was beyond impressed! Such a great atmosphere and really great food, with decent prices!!

We went there a few months ago with my sister and her family and myself, the new looked compared with the old Prego was surprisingly nice. The staff were incredible and nice with is always a positive for any restaurant to have and a waitress we had was very polite and nice enough to explain the menu with us and finally we had the home made bread and I had ordered a  pizza to share with the family and linguine for myself and my nephew to share. All of the food especially the bread with the dips was amazing and it felt and tasted as it came out an oven instead of a packet! <br/><br/>But the downfall for us during our night was that one of the other dishes that my sister and her daughter had shared had a small bit of goldie locks (the steel sponge used to wash frying pans and pots) was in their dish and my niece had bit into it and started to choke. She is 5 years old and this experience had made her uncomfortable which was such a shame with the food I had was good. It was good that they apologized for it but to have a such thing in a dish for anyone to experience is poor.

Amazing service great wines I only had pizza and salad but still pretty top notch

Up to Prego tonight with the kids for a quick dinner. Calamari entree for the adults; ham & cheese pizza for the kids; fish with lightly herbed risotto for the adults. Kids ice cream. Bottle of wine. In and out in 75 mins. Food and atmosphere all fantastic. As usual. Reliably outstanding! Every time.

One of the best dining experiences we had. The semifreddo is amazing. Also well priced meals and drinks for the area.

Went here to celebrate mum's birthday as she loves italian food. Every one enjoyed our experience here although my broadbill fish was not very nice, the pasta and pizza's were very yummy! Staff were very attentive and helpful so A+ to them

Prego has been around for a long time and I can see why. The food is consistently good and can always be depended on for a delicious Italian meal. The pasta is fresh, desserts uniquely Italian and there is an extensive wine list. I would recommend for a weekday evening meal or long weekend lunch to fully savour the atmosphere and take your time with the food on offer.

After seeing many good reviews and happening upon the area, the boyfriend and I decided to have our shared birthday lunch at Prego.<br/><br/>We managed to get a table outside blissfully close to a heater and set about ordering the home-made loaf of bread served with olive oil and balsamic vinegar - one of the best life choices I have made. The bread is crusty yet soft, and just so tantalising with its fresh-out-of-the-oven aroma.<br/><br/>He followed the bread with the linguine marinara and I opted for the risotto. Both incredibly delicious though unfortunately I was unable to finish mine due to the discovery of a hair. The waiter was very gracious and quickly set about removing the dish from the bill.<br/><br/>Accidents aside, Prego is a very lovely restaurant with excellent service, a well-sized menu, and superb food.

I've walked past Prego many times, but haven't actually eaten there before.  Zomato were kind enough to send me a voucher so we went along for lunch in the weekend.<br/>Inside was warm, dark and noisy (not in a bad way though).  We had been a little surprised to see online that it considered itself a family restaurant (not many places in Ponsonby are family friendly), but they were more than happy to accommodate our pram.  There were many other families there with young children too.<br/>We ordered the prosiutto pizza (mozzarella, rocket, truffle oil and prosciutto) and the linguine alla marinara (seafood pasta with white wine, garlic and chilli flakes).  Both were delicious and next time we find ourselves there, I would be sorely tempted to order the same things again.  The linguine looked amazing and they were generous with the seafood too (tuna, cockles, mussels, prawn and scampi) - really worth it for under $30 in my opinion.<br/>We were very impressed with our meal here and found the service to be polite and efficient.  It was quite a pricey lunch once we ordered drinks as well, so it's a pity they don't have lunch specials (the menu is the same for lunch and dinner).  However, I guess the popularity of this place speaks to the fact that they don't really need to entice people to come in with deals.

So very disappointed.just back from taking our 20 year old daughter with us for an evening out.our entree platter fine,the pizzas my daughter and I had terrible( could have made better with bases from food town)my husbands pie so so.the service was sooo slow.we sat out side and did mention to the maître de if inside table came up we would move inside.people were dispersing as we arrived so. Many spare indoor tables ,but no movement.i guess when you hope a restaurant will be forever consistent Prego was not.we constantly get disappointed by eating out and realizing we would have done better staying in.i guess when it seems staff etc are more concerned with tending the supposed noters in auckland society something misses out.i have been to Prego a number of of times over the years but tonight sooo disappointing.

Brilliant. Best place in Auckland for lunch on a fine day when one can sit with friends in the spectacular courtyard.<br/>Inside can get a bit cramped and noisy, especially if there are babies or young children.<br/>Great food, great wines and great service, great Brandon.

Awesome lunch again today Prego ! I would eat the Seared Tuna and Veal with mayo and crispy capers on a weekly basis if I could !! Always a fab atmosphere and excellent service , but for me , Prego would not be Prego without you Brandon !

I really wish I could rate this place higher. Maybe it was an off night? Not sure but either way I found it noisy and disorganized. <br/>We approached the till to be seated. Very odd as it looked like we were trying to pay!<br/>We were seated next to several noisy tables. Not my idea of fun when I was expecting a cozy intimate dinner with my partner. <br/>We were brought water immediately and given our menus to order.<br/>We settled on the garlic pizza bread with aioli. Odd combination but crisp and tasty. <br/>Next came our pizza. Capricossa a firm favorite of mine I've eaten all over Europe. This one very sparse with the fillings and a bit dry to be honest.<br/>Trying to get our bill at the end seemed a mammoth task. The once attentive waitress constantly refilling our water glasses suddenly seemed oblivious to our flapping arms and excuse me as she swanned past!<br/>Not sure I would give this place another go. People rave on about it yet it was pretty average. <br/>I'm sure there are much better trattoria type restaurants to try.

Wonderful service from our waitress and delicious variety of food. Highly recommend for a catch up with friends over good wine and atmosphere. Had the calamari salad, fresh bread, and cabonara Alfredo which were all wonderful portion sizes and cooked to perfection.

Surroundings - fun, bustly, lots of waiting staff running round, polite, quick, attentive. Lots of tables squeezed in which I don't mind it can add atmosphere.. Food came on time. <br/><br/>Food unfortunately was very small portions, as others have pointed out portion sizes can be small. I finished my $25 pappardelle in 3 forks half full and looking at the kids meals which were larger. Pasta costs nothing to bulk up nor the veggies that it came with so no excuses from management. Taste was quite nice but the one thing you want is to feel you've had enough. It's not like it was caviar to be rationed. <br/>Kids food reasonable standard pizzas. <br/>Vegetarian / vegan options quite limited and waiter was unsure as to what to advise when I asked. <br/>Also only ice cream for kids desert no other options. And yes they should have options. <br/>I think Italian food has to be really good, or at least be enough of it if you are going to eat out as you can make it pretty easily just about as nice at home. Overall impression, expensive for what I ordered.

Prego: A CLASSIC<br/><br/>To quote fashion designer Ingrid Starnes “with so many new restaurants opening in town we are spoilt for choice, but the classics are worth remembering”.<br/><br/>And that’s exactly what I thought as we sat down for lunch at Prego recently. We went for lunch as it was the only time we could get most of the family together for Ben’s birthday lunch!<br/>Prego has long been a “go to” restaurant for us. We have been many times and it never fails to deliver.<br/><br/>As we went at lunchtime we were seated straight away. As an aside I still haven’t quite come to terms with so many of the restaurants not taking bookings. At times this doesn’t bother me but for special occasions I still like the certainty of being able to book.<br/><br/>Anyway getting a table was no problem on this occasion.<br/>As always we started with the Pizza all Aglio (garlic pizza bread w divine garlic aioli) and a large Calamari Fritti for the 6 of us. You really can’t go past these two delicious offerings.<br/>Being lunch I think we all went light for the main (well light-ish)!<br/><br/>I’ve always loved Prego’s pizzas so it was the Capricciosa (Ham, mushroom, tomato, artichoke, anchovy, caper) for me – as always. I especially enjoy the artichoke, anchovy and caper part. Deb had the Insalate Caesar (Cos, egg, pancetta, crouton, Grana Padano, anchovy mayo) which she declared as excellent. I’d like to be able to comment on this but wasn’t allowed a taste!<br/><br/>Rebecca had the Pesce (Market fish, coriander, dill &amp; chervil risotto), birthday boy Ben &amp; KLowe had the Fettucine Alfredo (Ham, mushroom, black pepper, parmesan, cream) and Dan, being another great fan of their pizzas, had the Pollo Arrosto (Chicken, pumpkin, pinenuts, pear relish &amp; rocket).<br/><br/>It was one of those meals where I could have eaten any of the selections. Everyone was very satisfied with their choices. I managed to snag a little bit of fish (lovely and moist) and a spoonful of the pasta sauce (sooo good). The CLASSIC Prego had struck again.<br/><br/>Being lunch we didn’t have dessert but, in need of a birthday “cake”, Brandon arrived with one helping of their excellent Budino di Datteri (Sticky date pudding, vanilla poached pear, ginger ice cream, hot caramel, pistachio crumb) with one lit candle and 6 spoons – perfect. That is a stand out dish and my attempt to sneak a second spoonful was met by a stern frown from Rebecca,….and Deb. <br/><br/>I don’t normally talk about the drinks side but ever since I was in the UK last year I have developed a strong taste for cider. Such an under-rated drink but perfect for a lovely summer’s day – and of course for a cold winter’s day. So I had the Monteiths Crushed Apple Cider and it was sensational.<br/><br/>And the other thing I love about Prego is the service. Brandon, the maître d, was very friendly and attentive and our waitress Emilia from Argentina was a sweetheart. <br/><br/>It’s easy to get caught up in the hype of all these new places opening up. Sometimes though it’s so comforting to go places like Prego which has stood the test of time and delivers every time. You know the food will be great. You know the service will be prompt and attentive. You know you will have a good time. CLASSIC

Got a table outside and it was very dark. Could hardly see what we were eating. We ordered one pasta dish, one rissotto dish and pizza. All lacked flavour and the portion size was very small except for the pizza. For the price we paid here we expected at least flavour packed dishes. But we left disappointed and ripped off. Guess this place is like a pair of Levi's jeans. You buy it for the brand name, but really it's just a pair of jeans you can buy from the warehouse.

The world's best Tiramisu in my opinion! <br/>I have been here several times and had many dishes. They food is more or less a hit and a miss but I will be coming back for deserts regardless of how my mains taste. <br/>Service is amazing, professional and personal. The waiters even remember your names and know what you like!

Food is amazing with a very reasonable price, had the Lamb shank and was cooked perfectly with a side of pumpkin and feta salad, unique yet pulled off quite well.

Went for a dinner on Sunday night, had Garlic bread, pan fried John dory fish and glass of wine.<br/>Fish was cooked perfect, very moist, just what I needed !!<br/>Impressive wine list as well .<br/><br/>Thanks guys!

Have been coming here since I was a kid, must be almost 20 years now. It was a treat then, and still is to this day. Always a lively place, have never once had a bad meal there. Drinks list has everything you could want. The courtyard is fantastic in summer. Great menu with lots of choices, both mains and pizzas. have spent many happy afternoons in the courtyard on business lunches.

Went with a group of committee members for lunch on Saturday 10-8-2013. Understandably it took a while for the meals to arrive - however once they did - everyone loved it. Waiter / Waitress / Chef came to our table and were very obliging. Prices are somewhat high - however it is true value for money.<br/>One problem we experienced when a few of us sat outside, we were approached several times (including other customers sitting outside) by an old ragged woman wanting money and cigarettes. We noticed she went to other establishments as well along Ponsonby Road. No staff member told her to leave - and she came back several times. This experience kind of destroyed our visit. Ban all beggars.

Decided to come as we were in the area and my partner had had a good experience here before. We arrived and the maitre'd (we assume as she was in a red dress rather than the uniform) asked if we wanted to sit in the one table for two available inside or one outside, we choose inside. She offered to take my coat which was nice, and asked us if we wanted water. The water, nor a waiter ever arrived, even though we watched a couple of tables around us being served water and drinks. After 20 or so minutes we gave up and approached the maitre'd to get my coat back. I asked if she'd forgotten us, she denied this and blamed our absent service on the waiter whose section we were in even though she was the one to take the water order! We would have been fine if she had acknowledged her mistake and apologized, but the fact that tried to shaft it off on someone else really annoyed me. I'm sure the food would have been amazing, and I have nothing against Prego as a whole, but on this night, it definitely needed better management. Instead we went to a new establishment down the road and had a lovely dinner.

My partner and I went to Prego on Saturday last week for the second time in three years as we were going to an event later the same evening and had previously been to this restaurant when we were in the area.<br/><br/>We had been dreaming about having their calamari and seared tuna again since we last visited, because we have not found anywhere else that does calamari better, and we were not disappointed. The seared tuna is served with crispy capers and beautifully delicate veal, which goes perfectly together.<br/><br/>We told our waiter upon arrival that we would be sharing these two dishes, so we were brought two small plates and, and the portions of the dishes themselves seemed to be bigger than average, which was great.<br/><br/>For the main, we shared a pepperoni, kalamata olive and chilli pizza, which was crispy, hot and oh so very tasty! Perfect for sharing on a romantic date.<br/><br/>Even though we were pretty satisfied by that point, because we had some time to spare and were feeling quite contented with the restaurant, we ordered one portion of tiramisu to share, with the matching sherry. One of the best tiramisus around, for sure! Perfectly balanced and wickedly tempting, you just wanted to keep it all to yourself! <br/><br/>The wine list offered by Prego is quite comprehensive and would impress many wine connoisseurs. We recommend the Jules Taylor Merlot Rose and the Grasshopper Rock Central Otago Pinot Noir – lovely accompaniments to a wonderful meal!<br/><br/>We will definitely be back to Prego and wholeheartedly recommend it to everyone!

Visited for a work lunch with a large group and overall had a really enjoyable experience. My main was the lamb dish which was easily one of the best I've eaten, only left wishing there was a bit more of it! I did like the extensiveness of the menu as it could suit everyones' tastes without the quality of the dishes suffering. <br/><br/>The wait time was considerable on this particular visit, but it was a big group and the staff were friendly so they are somewhat excused. I finished with the chocolate marquis which was enjoyably rich, the Tiramisu I tried of someone else also seemed like a good bet. I also really liked the heated seating.

There are usually only two reasons I would write a review. One is to say how good a restaurant is and the other is to say how bad it is, hoping to warn others away so that they don't waste their money. Welcome to my Third category - mediocre. <br/>We were seated in about 10 minutes, the staff at Prego are professional and unaffected. We started with garlic bread and garlic aioli and this was quite nice, it helps when you are really hungry! This was lunch so I ordered Cacciucco and my partner had market fish, which I think was king fish on a lemony(? ) risotto. I had a side salad of rocket, pear and Parmesan. I have to say that this is really basic fare, fish and rice - and broth and seafood. The fish was over cooked in both dishes, but worse, it tasted old. My broth was ... I can't find the words, it had no depth of flavour, nor was it hearty, it wasn't bad, too thin or too salty, it was just too boring. My rocket salad was the high light for me, my partner enjoyed the tiramisu I found it too wet and soggy. My suggestion - get an Italian chef in the kitchen and start trying to impress!

Prego is the most consistently fantastic restaurant that I know of. I have been coming here for years. I can never go past the calamari, it truely is the best I have ever tasted. We went last week. Everything was great as usual; great service, delicious non-alcoholic mojitos for the sober driver, (me), fantastic seafood pizza with proper seafood such as scallops and prawns, etc.. I cannot fault this place and I recommend it to everyone. Oh and very reasonably priced for the quality of food they serve.

My partner and I ate here for dinner and were unfortunately disappointed. I had smoked salmon which was about the size of the palm of my hand, there was some kind of mash with celery and that was it for my dinner, this was apparently the main course dish, it certainly wasn't enough to fill me for dinner! It tasted really nice but it wasn't enough, I had some of the salami pizza my partner had as well! It too tasted nice but nothing fab. It was completely packed and we couldn't have a proper chat! The tables were too packed together, felt like I was dining with the table next to us. Staff were really nice and attentive.

Prego deserves its reputation as an institution in Auckland. Long a feature on the strip in Ponsonby this pace is always consistent and always meets expectations. <br/><br/>The woodfire pizzas are always a good start, but it's the rotisserie chicken that always wins me and my family over.<br/><br/>To finish definitely tiramisu with an illy coffee on the side.

I have been going to Prego for 15 years now and it has never failed, either in how wonderful the food is or how knowledgable and helpful the staff are. This is, was, and probably, always will be, the best restaurant in Auckland.

I went to Prego for the first time in July 2011 with my family for a leaving dinner. There were 5 of us, including a 12 years old boy. Prego is always so busy and we had to wait for a table to open up. Not wanting to wait at the squashed bar with a 12 year old we went next door for some drinks. The Prego staff gave us a call on our mobile when a table opened up which I thought was great of them. It is incredibly busy in there. There are children running around everywhere upstairs, it’s so loud and the staff are rushed off their feet. However, if you can overcome this busy atmosphere, it really is a fantastic place! The 5 of us ordered a calzone, a beef and fish special of the day, a lasagna dish and a pasta dish. They were all exquisite. We had a friendly chat to some of the staff and they allowed us to move to another table outside for dessert where it was quieter and where some of out party could smoke. I would definitely go back here, but perhaps not for a romantic first or special date.

After dining at Prego a few times, we were impressed by their food (mainly pizza and tiramisu). However, our last visit was so awful I don't think we will ever go back there again. <br/><br/>The restaurant was quite busy when we walked in, but there were a few tables free. Three or four waitresses walked past us without guiding us to a table; not knowing what to do, we sat down at one of the free tables inside, and we managed to get a waitress to take our order.<br/><br/>We remembered from previous experience that the pizzas took a long time to arrive at the table, so we decided to order a pizza first, before choosing what else we were getting.<br/><br/>I was looking through the menu when a man who looked like the manager walked over to our table and rudely told us to leave, as apparently there was a long waiting list of people who wanted to get a table, and we did not put our name down. This would have been understandable (although it still doesn't justify the rudeness), had it not been for the empty seats we could see around us. It was also very strange that the manager (?) didn't even try to put our name down on the waiting list, and simply walked away, leaving us feeling very embarrassed and awkward, since other diners were trying to see what was happening. <br/><br/>It was clear that they just wanted to kick us out because they thought we weren't ordering enough food. This was a terrible experience, especially since all the good restaurants in Ponsonby were fully booked for dinner by this time, and we had to go back to the CBD. <br/><br/>It's such a shame, as good Italian restaurants are rare in Auckland... We will not be going back since a restaurant that is so obsessed with making money can't be providing you with the best food possible for the price. <br/><br/>I recommend Toto, Barolo (in the Langham) or Da Vinci if you are looking for an Italian restaurant for dinner in/near the CBD with good food AND great service.

Had a nice time at Prego. Still an institution in Auckland. A bit disappointed about my main as the pork was a bit dry and also they were changing the wines so ran out of 7 in the list, just bad luck I guess. Still good thought.

I had my birthday here recently with a group of 13. The restaurant was humming, they don't normally take bookings but reserved a table for us for 15 people. The atmoshere wa electric, the food was fantastic and the waitress that looked after our table was a real laugh and gave fantastic service. I couldn't compalin about the evening at all and thankyou prego's for making my birthday celebration such a fantastc night. Would highly recommend and would definitely return

I've only had the pleasure of dining here twice, the second time 2 weeks ago. The food is always fresh, well presented and very tasty. The pizza's are a treat, the calamari entree delicious. <br/><br/>The service is friendly, professional and as helpful as can possibly be. <br/><br/>This place is fantastic for catching up with friends for a lunch outside in the garden with a few wines.

Such a great place! I always know that the food will be perfect and the specials are always to be tried! (love the pies! Fish and beef both great!) <br/>Quick service and always attentive. <br/>Not ideal for a romantic date but great for friends and families. <br/>The addition of blankets at the outside tables on winter evenings is a cute touch.

The food was absoutley awesome - probably the best I've had! and the service to match was awesome too!<br/>Go here for a dining experience!!

Always a favourite, service has always been fantastic and we have never had to wait as long as we are advised. Food is great and so reasonably priced for such a good restaurant. Agree with the cold breeze, have sat by the fire on one occasion and it was lovely on a cold winter day, but the most recent time we came we were seated by the door and had to keep our jackets on which was a shame, food, wine and the fabulous Allpress coffee made up for this though.

Attentive service and a humming vibe, not really the place to go for an intimate dinner date but good for groups. Watch out for the cold breeze if you are seated near the doors, we kept our jackets on for most of this night which was a shame. There's a lovely open fire in the middle of the restaurant but it didn't heat the room too much. Beautiful food (our entrees: vitello tonnato, mussels, mains: lamb and the linguine marinara). The tuna in the linguine marinara was horribly overcooked though which was really the only let-down of the night - staff were apologetic and offered to get a new one but there was not much point (I just avoided it). All else considered, a nice restaurant.

Went a couple of weekends ago with some friends for dinner. We didn't have to wait the advised hour for a table, and the food was excellent. OUr waitress was a little manic, but had a good knowledge of the menu.<br/>I had wood roasted hapuka on dill risotto with orange hollandaise which was delicious. The dessert of a cassis sorbet and passionfruit semi freddo was also to die for. I tried a friends pizza and it was yummy too. <br/>Good value and a good night out. Only criticism is the tables and chairs aren't that comfortable, but hey who cares when the food is that good?

You can't fault the service and the is food excellent. <br/><br/>There was a group of six of us including two kids who ate off the kids menu. Our pizza, steak and pasta could not be faulted.<br/><br/>Great Place.

I have been eating at Prego since about 1986. We have been there at least two or three times a year ever since. We have celebrated numerous special occasions there, from engagements, birthdays, anniversaries, graduations, you name it.<br/>Most recently we had the big table at the back for a birthday, which I had always wanted to do, and it was so worth it.<br/>It has never, ever disappointed, and always been of a very high standard.

Good quality and authentic Italian menu , much much better than your "typical" tried and tested worn out Italian cliche menu.<br/>Very good service , good presentation . Quality of ingredients really good too.<br/>Best Indian - Oh Calcutta in Parnell,<br/>Best Italian - Prego in Ponsonby,<br/>What else do we need

Love Prego! Service great, Food delicious but unpretentious. Can be a little loud during peak times tho but i think this adds to the "vibe". Also very reasonably priced.

Have been slowly working my way through Prego's wine list every week for the last year. Have just finished the stickies.Starting on the menu next year as haven't remembered leaving yet. Prego is the best place in Auckland, go there, eat drink and be merry because they just love it when you do.

Was lucky enough to go to Prego on Saturday night, enjoyed every minute from the funny bartender to every last drop of the Grasshopper Rock Pinot Noir. The food was excellent also, I could have shared the mussels for the entree, but still had room for the crispy skinned snapper on a lovely risotto - even though I was about to pop I couldn't miss out on the ice-cream for dessert. Can't wait to go back next time we're in Auckland.

Prego is about as old as my wife's car and still continues to achieve a level of excellence day after day.<br/><br/>Having eaten there at least 4 times in the past year usually going for the pasta or stone oven pizza which are always great. I have to tell you about the beetroot carpaccio I had there last year - one of the best first course of the year for me! And I am fortunate enough to eat out a lot and in different countries. So big pat on the back for being so good at what you do and thank you!<br/><br/>After more than 20 years most of Auckland will have already been at least once, but if you haven't then give it try. Service, price and great energy will work their magic and make you even happier.

Absolutely delightful!<br/><br/>I went to Prego for lunch with my boyfriend yesterday and took the only free table for two in the courtyard. The waitresses were all very efficient and friendly. We could tell that they were properly trained from the way they handled the dishes.<br/><br/>We had garlic bread, seafood pizza and calamari, which were all very delicious. The garlic bread and seafood pizza had a nice crisp, while the calamari was very tender with a beautiful light golden yellow finish. The calamari was the best that I have ever had!<br/><br/>The bill for our lunch was of great value considering the high quality of food that we had and their fantastic service.<br/><br/>I would have loved to order dessert but was very full. I will just have to go back!

the best italian restaurant <br/>in Auckland is Portofino <br/>working 30 years great

The best Italian place in Auckland.<br/>Me and my bf are a regular.<br/>Never had a bad meal.<br/>Always excellent service.<br/>Georgous fish dish.<br/>Beautiful pasta and really yummy pizza's.<br/>Calamari with aioli is always great.<br/>Highly recommended.<br/>Always busy

I went to Prego with my family last year. It was a fairly cold night, and because it was so incredibly busy (you are not allowed to book), we had to sit outside. It was freezing! However, our table was surrounded by fire burners and our waiter gave us warm cuddly blankets to have for the night.<br/><br/>The food was amazing – all five of us shared the Wood fired Garlic Pizza Bread, the Wood fired Mussels and the Calamari for starters. The flavours are outstanding and there was plenty to go around. For the main course, I had the Lasagna Prego which was very good. Another main which was delicious was Linguine Marinara with a plentiful amount of seafood.<br/><br/>As for desserts, “WOW” is all I can say. Make sure you try the Budino di Datteri (sticky date pudding, poached pears, ginger ice cream, hot caramel……) melt in your mouth sort of thing!<br/><br/>Overall the food is delicious, the atmosphere perfect and service was very attentive. A must visit if you are in Auckland!

Prego, one of the finest Italian bistro in Auckland, has been a long standing eatery on the Ponsonby stretch since 1986 and it is still a popular joint for a spectacular Italian feast. I’ve eaten here on several occasions and it has proven to be a great restaurant time and time again.<br/><br/>Our meal started with their popular Pane della Casa which is a delectable house-made bread loaf with butter, olive oil and balsamic vinegar. Served warm, it had a crispy crust and a soft fluffy center. I love freshly baked bread and it was a pleasing start to our meal.<br/><br/>With plenty of different options for lunch including pizzas, pastas, salads and assorted meats, we both decided to get seafood. My Linguine alla Marinara was bigger than anticipated and it was packed with mussels, clams, seared tuna, prawn and scampi. The linguine was perfectly al dente with a little bit of bite and the white wine sauce had a tangy hint of lemon. Appetizing and I managed to devour most of it.<br/><br/>My friend ordered the Cacciucco which is an Italian seafood stew which used ingredients such as fish, mussels, clams and scampi. The saffron broth has savory and rich flavours and it was a hearty dish.<br/><br/>We were very proud of ourselves because we managed to nearly finish our meals. I’ve walked past Prego on several occasions during dinner time and they are always full with customers nested throughout the large dining room and their secluded courtyard. They have a few allocated parking and if you are lucky, you wouldn’t need to circle the residential streets for a carpark. Prego rarely disappoints and with great food and attentive service, you could see why they are still striving in Ponsonby.<br/><br/>For more reviews, please check out my blog at mydiningjourney.wordpress.com

Best meal I have had in Auckland! Got the chicken scallopini dish and ordered a side of beans with feta and almond. Little bit noisy but the food is amazing!!!

I never thought too much of Italian food, I always believed it to be rustic home cooking, but Prego definitely shows you how great Italian cuisine can really be. I highly recommend all their pasta dishes which are full of deep and rich flavours.<br/><br/>The decor is modern and slick, and the wait staff are some of the best in Auckland.<br/><br/>It's definitely more on the expensive side, and unfortunately can be overun by pretentious clientele with unruly children from time to time, but it's definitely a great relaxed lunch option.

With all the distractions of the new and exciting restaurant openings, I had forgotten about an old favourite. A voucher from Zomato was the perfect incentive when a blogger friend came to town. While you can choose to sit indoors, dining in the courtyard under the fairy light spheres on a balmy evening is an idyllic way to catch up with friends. Prego’s longevity is not only built on the rustic Italian food they serve but also on the attentive and friendly (if slightly cheeky) service. <br/><br/>We shared a antipasto misto with a selection of caprese insalata, salmon lasagne, duck liver parfait, olives, crumbed artichokes, cotechino sausage, truffle & white bean dip and flatbreads. Each morsel was a delight and it was the perfect way to segue into the main meal. <br/><br/>For the mains, we shared a risotto ai Gamberi (with prawns), a snapper with Mediterranean vegetables and a side dish of polenta. The risotto was creamy and light. The snapper was perfectly cooked and well flavoured by the herbs, but my favourite was the polenta. Crispy on the outside, so buttery, cheesy and light on the inside. The texture was superb. <br/><br/>For dessert, we managed the crème brulee, a nice sweet end to the meal. For the 3 of us, with non-alcoholic drinks, the total came to ~$150 which was excellent value.

I came here for lunch with a friend and we ordered the Vitello Tonnato- seared tuna, roasted veal, crispy caper and mayonnaise, and the Buccatini all Amatriciana- chili smoked bacon, garlic, red wine, tomato ragu. Vitello Tonnato- the tuna was fatty and silky smooth, melted in my mouth and was superbly fresh and crispy capers gave a nice textural crunch to the dish. Eating all the components of the dish seperately, then together was like a scene from Rataouille where different mini firework combinations started popping up in your head- they all matched each other beautifully. The Buccatini all Amatraciana was on the other hand, rather average. The pasta was cooked al dente, the sauce had nice flavour (although it had rather copious amounts of oil) but my friend and I were both were searching for the extra pizazz. I like how they have pink himalayan salt on the tables for you, and this was a type of salt that accompanied the dishes well. Overall, Prego seems to be a popular, local restaurant with a loyal customer base.

I had a good dining experience at Prego - well presented Italian food, the restaurant was very tastefully decorated and the service was excellent. <br/><br/>Having said that, I found the food quite overpriced and the portion size less than generous. I can recall a number of places in the city and Ponsonby, where I can get better Italian for less. I ordered the oven baked snapper and my friend ordered a risotto. Both were good, but left us strangely unsatisfied.<br/><br/>If you're looking to take someone to a restaurant where appearances are everything, Prego would be a great choice. Just don't be surprised if you find the food somewhat lacking.

Stunning starter of fresh whitebait on diced potato and capers. Extremely tasty and a more generous portion size which when eating those little wriggles is a great thing. Crispy skinned snapper on risotto with hollandaise added to a perfect sea- food lunch... Unfortunately no time for dessert