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.

The woodfire pizzas are always a good start, but it’s the rotisserie chicken that always wins me and my family over.

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 with my family last July. 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. The food is 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. As for the mains, I had the Lasagna Prego which was very good. Another main which was delicious was Linguine Marinara with a plentiful amount of seafood. 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!

Overall the food is delicious, the atmosphere perfect and service was very attentive. A must visit if you are 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

The service is friendly, professional and as helpful as can possibly be.

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!)
Quick service and always attentive.
Not ideal for a romantic date but great for friends and families.
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!
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.
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.
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.

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.

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.
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.
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.
Very good service , good presentation . Quality of ingredients really good too.
Best Indian – Oh Calcutta in Parnell,
Best Italian – Prego in Ponsonby,
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.

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!

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!

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.

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!

The bill for our lunch was of great value considering the high quality of food that we had and their fantastic service.

I would have loved to order dessert but was very full. I will just have to go back!

the best italian restaurant
in Auckland is Portofino
working 30 years great

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