Prego Ristorante

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Lilian Lee

Joined 5 years ago

Citysearch Editorial Review. The makeover at this one-time OC favorite just might bring the 25-year-old Italian restaurant back into Irvine’s escalating dining scene. The revamped interior succeeds in feeling upscale and modern but not stodgy. Still, the restaurant’s office park location translates into more suit-clad diners in "employee mode" than foodies swooning over to-die-for pasta. In an effort to change this, first-time restaurateurs Tony and Ruth Bedi host occasional events (read: club nights) to liven up the atmosphere, pull in a younger crowd and show Irvine that this restaurant can still rock. The standard Italian menu itself hasn’t changed much under new ownership. Straightforward dishes like homemade lobster ravioli, seafood spaghetti, mushroom risotto, mesquite-grilled rack of lamb and calamari fritti cover the compact, two-page menu. Desserts include homemade mint chocolate chip cheesecake, an Italian-style tres leches cake and a white chocolate ganache berry pie. Prices are not outrageous ($14-$21 for pasta, $21-$35 for meat dishes), but they do reflect the income bracket of the restaurant’s clientele.