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Prego Ristorante Restaurant Review

Irvine Towers
18420 Von Karman Ave. (Michelson Dr.) Send to Phone
IrvineCA 92612
949-553-1333 | Make Restaurant Reservations | Menu
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Italy-born chef Ugo Allesina has breathed new life into this Irvine business district eatery. Prego Ristorante Restaurant is one of our 2012 | Top 10 Orange County (CA) Italian Restaurants | Top 10 Orange County (CA) Pizza Restaurants | Top 10 Orange County (CA) Small Plates Restaurants |

Cuisine

Open

Lunch & Dinner daily, Brunch Sat.-Sun.

Features

Wine

Great Wine List

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Although Prego is located in Irvine’s business district at the bottom of the all-glass Irvine Towers, it is definitely worth a visit. And now more than ever since effervescent chef Ugo Allesina took over the kitchens. In contrast to the modern building looming over this space, the restaurant looks like a tiny Tuscan villa from the outside. Inside, the open kitchen---complete with huge wood-burning pizza ovens---is one attraction in this sparse but comfortable old-world environment. Chef Allesina, who was born and raised in Tuscany, has raised the bar at Prego. Yes, Italy’s best culinary hits are on the menu and the preparations are authentic. Start with a classic like bruschetta or black mussels and Manila clams in a spicy white wine lemon broth. Or, try a salad of baby spinach, green lentils, leeks, crispy prosciutto, Parmesan and mustard vinaigrette. Napoli-style thin crust pizzas come with toppings like mozzarella, basil, oregano, salami, ham and sun-dried tomatoes. Pasta dishes arrive in big flat bowls, full of ingredients like Italian sausage, mushrooms and ricotta, and a variety of sauces from tomato to pesto thyme to lobster cream. For something truly hearty, chef Allesina cooks up entrées like mesquite-grilled chicken breast, veal scaloppine, sautéed pork loin or a rib-eye steak with white beans. At meal’s end, order a treat like tiramisu or lemon tart.

User Ratings & Reviews for Prego Ristorante
Average rating    1
Reviews 1 - 1 of 11
Prego-Irvine
by alty48 on 06/30/2011
 
Last night my wife and I had our 38th wedding anniversary dinner at Prego-Irvine. For our first course I had Tonno Bellavista and my wife had Funghi Trifolati. So far so good.

Next we had Linguine Aragosta and Risotto with truffles. From our point of view the truffles were waved over the dish before it was served. The risotto was hard as nails and we sent it back. When our waiter came by our table to check up on us, by the scowl on his face I had to asked him if her were stressing out for some reason.

For our main course my wife had Bauletto di Pollo and I had the Grigliata di Pesce. My wife's chicken was rolled up and stuffed with over cooked spinach. The chicken itself was overcooked drying it out and rendering it shoe leather like. My grilled fish had a vinegar reduction poured over it. The vinegar reduction was so sour in made the fish inedible. We also sent those plates back. At that point we decided against dessert and payed our bill leaving exceptionally disappointed. Sad
 
Reviews 1 - 1 of 11



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