Prego is an Italian restaurant in Negombo. It’s a bit on the expensive side, and the food seemed quite authentic on our visit. In case you’re wondering about the place’s name like we did, ‘Prego’ means ‘You’re welcome’ in Italian.
The Food
We got a plate of tortellini and a chicken and salami pizza. The tortellini (Rs. 1600) was smothered in very thick creamy tomato sauce and peas, and the pasta centers were hard like they were stuffed with something indistinct, possibly parmesan cheese. We liked the tomato cream, which tasted great with the mushrooms in the dish, but weren’t huge fans of the hard stuffed pasta.
The chicken and salami pizza (Rs. 1400) was pretty good and authentic – thin crust, plenty of topping and a consistent layer of cheese. So for dinner, our experience here was alright though we weren’t blown away – having said that, we haven’t yet tried the ravioli, risotto or wines here.
Personally, I have zero faith when I order dessert at any dine-in restaurant, especially the fancy ones. They rarely ever do a very good job at it. So it was on a whim that we got the crème brûlée at Prego. It’s basically just custard topped with a thin sugary hard layer of caramel, but this dish was plain amazing – creamy, sugary and left us wanting more. If you visit this restaurant, you can’t go wrong ordering plenty of crème brûlée.
Service & Ambience
The restaurant is tastefully done, with plain wooden furniture and a few photographs on the walls. The outside space that flows from the interior is visually pleasant, with tables set up on a paved floor, and little lanterns at every table – but you might catch a bad smell on the street there or meet a street urchin and feel like giving up your creme brulee.
Service was pretty good, with dishes arriving soon and the manager himself attentive to every table. The Italian soap-opera style music can grate on your nerves a bit though.
Conclusion
Prego is a good Italian restaurant that seems authentic – the food on our visit was alright, though the prices are on the high end (Rs. 4500 for two). If you stop here when you’re in Negombo, have faith in the desserts and take a seat indoors.
