Sometimes you’re craving a big bowl of pasta without all the frills or fancy table service. Sure, you could whip something up at home, but maybe your sugo still needs some work or you’re low on groceries. So where do you go in the height of a code red saucy carb craving emergency?
That’s where Pasta Prego comes in, a new kid to South Yarra’s Chapel Street block, plating up fast, comforting bowls of the good stuff at a refreshingly low cost. Most of the dishes hover around only $15 to $20 a pop, and you can even build your own pasta bowl if you’re the sort with unusual tastes. Want your spirals slathered in a garlic prawn rosé sauce and a side of bacon? No problemo. Curious about what chicken alla vodka would taste like with gnocchi? You got it. There’s no judgement here.
Just choose a sauce, a pasta shape and a style, and then pick from 26 add-ons to customise your dish. Sauces include Napoletana, bolognese, cream, rosé, carbonara and pesto. On the pasta front, you’ve got penne, spaghetti, fettuccine, gnocchi, spinach and ricotta ravioli and beef tortellini – even rice. All are sourced from local suppliers and you can either perch on a stool in front of the window or under the verandah to eat, or take it away to enjoy at home.
The fuss-free pasta project from friends Lorenzo Fantarela and Isaac Varano is exactly what the strip needed, judging by the long queues all throughout the week. If you want to try Pasta Prego at its best, opt for the housemade Italian pork and fennel sausage. It’s one of the shop’s most popular dishes, made using Varano’s family recipe.
Plenty of options for vegetarians and the gluten-averse abound, and you can also upgrade your meal with two slices of sourdough Vienna, housemade garlic butter and a drink for only an extra six buckaroos. Score!
