Prego Restaurant

About Prego Restaurant

Established in October 1986, Prego Restaurant is a long-standing Auckland dining institution situated on vibrant Ponsonby Road. Across four decades of changing dining scenes, recessions, and renovations, Prego has remained a steadfast neighbourhood favourite, celebrated for its warm, familiar hospitality and classic Italian cuisine.

The restaurant provides versatile dining environments tailored to any occasion. Guests can settle into comfortable booth seating within the energetic indoor dining room or unwind in the heated outdoor courtyard, which offers a quieter setting well suited for leisurely lunches or business gatherings. Prego also features a dedicated banquet table that seats up to 15 people for celebrations and group events.

Prego takes pride in its community-first dining philosophy, offering a comprehensive all-day menu designed to welcome every guest. With all meats prepared halal, extensive gluten-free modifications for pasta and pizza, a dedicated vegan menu, and thoughtful options for children, the kitchen delivers classic Italian flavours with contemporary care and consideration.

Prego: Four Decades of Classic Italian Dining on Ponsonby Road

When Prego opened its doors in October 1986, Ponsonby Road was embarking on a culinary transformation. Over the past four decades, the strip outside has continuously evolved, with eateries opening and closing across fluctuating dining fads and economic shifts. Throughout it all, Prego has stood as a welcoming constant, maturing into a beloved Auckland institution that has hosted four generations of loyal diners.

The secret behind Prego's enduring reputation is straightforward: consistent, classic Italian dishes paired with friendly, professional service. Whether visiting for a celebratory milestone, a long lunch, after-work drinks, or a relaxed evening meal, diners find a restaurant passionate about good food, fine wine, and genuine hospitality.

Spaces for Every Occasion

Prego accommodates a variety of dining moods across its thoughtfully laid out spaces. For those seeking the electric energy of a bustling inner-city trattoria, the indoor dining room with its leather booth seating puts guests right in the center of the action. It is lively, fast-paced, and filled with the warmth of convivial conversation.

Guests looking for a quieter, more relaxed ambiance can step out into the heated outdoor courtyard. Shielded from the street noise, the courtyard provides an idyllic setting for sunny business meetings, peaceful family lunches, or romantic evening dinners year-round. For larger private gatherings, celebrations, and baby showers, Prego offers a substantial banquet table capable of seating up to 15 guests.

Classic Italian Flavours and Thoughtful Hospitality

The kitchen crafts an all-day menu rooted in regional Italian tradition while spotlighting top-tier New Zealand produce. Starting with aperitivi and primi, diners can share freshly baked artisan sourdough with whipped sea salt butter, scorched Sicilian olives, or crisp black truffle arancini dressed with date mayonnaise. Starters like the Clevedon Valley buffalo mozzarella Caprese salad and delicate kingfish crudo highlight fresh, clean flavours.

Pasta and risotto have anchored the menu for decades. Standout dishes include the rich Risotto all’Anatra featuring roast duck and mushroom medley, hearty Fettuccine Alfredo, and the celebrated Linguine alla Marinara tossed with prawns, mussels, cockles, and seared rare tuna. Mains balance tradition and indulgence, ranging from tender Saltimbocca di Pollo and coastal Hawkes Bay lamb loin to prime chargrilled beef fillet with potato au gratin and port wine jus.

Inclusive hospitality is central to Prego's ethos. The kitchen accommodates a wide spectrum of dietary requirements: all meats served are halal, dedicated vegan selections are available upon request, and gluten-free penne pasta can be substituted across most pasta preparations. Finishing the meal is an essential Italian ritual, anchored by time-tested desserts like espresso-soaked tiramisù and sticky date pudding with ginger ice cream.

Signature items

• Linguine Alla Marinara
• Arancini
• Risotto All’Anatra
• Agnello
• Tiramisù

Menu

Dolci

• Dolce Di Datteri — Sticky date pudding, hot caramel sauce, ginger ice cream, walnut crumble
• Torta Di Formaggio — New York Baked cheesecake (lemon, orange) raspberry coulis, whipped cream
• Tiramisù — Classic Italian layered dessert, espresso and marsala soaked savoiardi biscuit, whipped egg and mascarpone cream, valrhona cocoa
• Crème Brûlée — Vanilla bean crème brûlée with biscotti

Pasta

• Spaghetti Agioli — Salvagno olives, fresh chilli, garlic, olive oil, italian parsley, feta
• Linguine Alla Marinara — Prawns, mussels, cockles, seared rare tuna, white wine, chilli, garlic, parsley
• Spaghetti Alla Bolognese — Beef, pork and pancetta, red wine and tomato ragù, grana padano
• Fettuccine Alfredo — Chicken, bacon, mushroom, sage, cream
• Risotto All’Anatra — Roast duck, mushroom medley, aged balsamic, grana padano

Primi

• Arancini — Black truffle, pine nuts, white mozzarella, grana padano, date mayonnaise
• Vitello Tonnato — Seared tuna, roast rose veal, crispy fried capers, tuna mayonnaise, basil oil
• Calamari Fritti — Fried calamari, aioli, rocket, lemon
• Caprese Salad — Clevedon Valley buffalo mozzarella, heirloom tomato, basil, Modena aged balsamic, river estate E.V.O, grilled bruschetta
• Fegatini Di Pollo — Chicken liver parfait, grilled sourdough, pickled mustard seed and shishito peppers
• Crudo — Market fish, green chilli, coriander, orange and lime juice, Colonna lemon olive oil dressing, green chilli, salted lemon salsa
• Caesar — Romaine cos lettuce, garlic anchovy caesar dressing, egg, croutons, parmigiano reggiano, bacon lardons

Contorni

• Verdure — Daily seasonal vegetable ensemble
• Polenta — Crispy fried, truffle salted parmesan polenta, grana padano
• Patate Al Rosmarino — Cubed roasted potatoes, rosemary and garlic
• Puré Di Patate — Garlic, parmesan, potato mash

Insalate

• Rucola — Rocket, pear, grana padano, white balsamic, river estate evo
• Insalata — Crunchita lettuce, merlot mustard vinaigrette, toasted hazelnuts

Aperitivi

• Pane Di Lievito Madre — Hand crafted artisan sourdough, sea salt whipped butter
• Pizza All' Aglio — Confit garlic pizza bread, aioli
• Olive Miste — Scorched Sicilian style mixed olives
• Cheeseboard Selection — A selection of three cheeses, accompanied by truffle honeycomb, quince paste, breads, crackers, lavosh and crostini

Pesce And Carne

• Pesce — Market fish, herb risotto
• Saltimbocca Di Pollo — Chicken scaloppine, prosciutto, white mozzarella, lemon sage cream, rosemary garlic cubed potatoes
• Agnello — Coastal Hawkes Bay lamb loin, potato au gratin, sheep milk labneh & feta, chargrilled slender stems, salsa verde, lamb jus
• Filetto — Chargrilled prime beef eye fillet steak, chicken liver parfait, potato au gratin, port wine jus
• Surf and Turf — Chargrilled prime beef eye fillet, prawns, crispy fried polenta, sauce béarnaise
• Zuppa Di Pesce — Classic Italian seafood, pernod, tomato broth with mussels, cockles, prawns, fresh fish, dill, grilled bruschetta

Frequently asked questions

Do you take reservations?

Prego accepts limited bookings for Monday to Thursday lunch, as well as reservations for their large banquet table which seats up to 15 guests. Otherwise, walk-ins are welcomed throughout the day.

Are halal dietary requirements catered for?

Yes, all meats served at Prego are halal.

Can pasta and pizza dishes be made gluten-free?

Most pasta dishes can be made gluten-free using gluten-free penne pasta, and most pizza items can also be made gluten-free. Meals are prepared using clean surfaces and utensils, though airborne flour is present in the kitchen.

Do you offer vegan or vegetarian options?

Yes, Prego caters to vegetarian diets on the main menu and has a dedicated vegan menu available upon request.

Is there outdoor seating available?

Yes, Prego features a heated outdoor courtyard that provides a quieter dining space suitable for work lunches or casual gatherings.

Can Prego accommodate large groups?

Yes, Prego has a large banquet table that seats up to 15 people, ideal for birthday celebrations, baby showers, and family gatherings.

Is takeaway food available?

Yes, Prego offers a takeaway menu with take-out options available.

Tips

• {"body":"Opt for the heated courtyard if you prefer a quieter meal or business discussion, or choose the indoor booths to immerse yourself in the lively dining room energy.","title":"Choose your dining atmosphere"}
• {"body":"If organizing a celebration with up to 15 guests, reserve the dedicated large banquet table in advance.","title":"Planning for large groups"}
• {"body":"Ask your server about the dedicated vegan menu or request gluten-free penne pasta substitutions for pasta courses.","title":"Inquire about dietary alternatives"}

Good to know

• {"family":"Children's menu available, including meals served with ice cream.","dietary":"All meats are halal. Dedicated vegan menu on request. Gluten-free pasta available."}