April 30, 2025

Prego Trattoria in BGC: A Cozy Italian Dining Experience

If you happen to pass by SM Aura Skypark and find this restaurant along the way, you’d ask, what is this restaurant and what does Prego means?

Prego Trattoria is as simple as its name—a casual Italian restaurant from L’Opera Group, the great minds behind L’Opera Ristorante Italiano and Prego Express. And yes, we finally found an Italian restaurant that’s not an intimidating one—it’s more of a homey and casual Italian dining experience.

IMAGE from Prego

This Italian word often causes confusion but there are three definitions of prego that this restaurant fully embodies. Prego can be either ‘You’re welcome’, ‘Can I help you?’, and ‘Please come in’, all of which describes what Prego Trattoria and Cicchitteria is all about—an accommodating and cozy dining place perfect for intimate family gatherings. While most Italian restaurants are the fancy ones with over the top menus and dishes, here in Prego, it’s more of Italian home-style meals that are served either for sharing or small plates (cicchitteria).

Contemporary Italian dining is the game Prego, where diners are given a delicious tour of traditional Italian flavors. Would-be diners can start their meal with Bruschetta (Php 320), which is two grilled homemade bread topped with fresh tomato salsa and basil, or they can go for the heartier Cheese & Salami Platter (Php 650) made for sharing. Add something healthy with Insalata di Frutta e Verdure (Php 410), a mix of greens, mango, grapes, and walnuts, or Insalata Caprese (Php 590) made in true Italian style with fresh mozzarella, tomato, and basil. And to end with something savory to kick off an appetizer: Gambas (Php 590), which consists of sautéed prawns in garlic and EVOO with tomato sauce and mixed greens.

The pasta section makes this place shine. Spaghetti alla Pescatora (Php 590) is a generous medley of prawns, mussels, clams, and squid submerged in a bold tomato sauce. But if one is in the mood for something more herbaceous, try Spaghetti Seafood with Pesto Sauce (Php 550), which is fresh seafood thrown into a vibrant homemade pesto-the result being deeply aromatic and savory every single bite.

Spaghetti alla Pescatora

Spaghetti Seafood with Pesto Sauce / IMAGES from Prego

Another must-try is Spaghetti Aglio Olio (Php 420), which is garlicky, mildly spicy, and mixed with juicy shrimp and olive oil for a simple yet flavorsome experience.

Spaghetti Aglio Olio / IMAGES from Prego

For mains, Prego offers an excellent collection among meat and seafood entrees. Their Black Angus Tenderloin Porchetta (Php 1500) is one of the restaurant’s marquee dishes made with a hefty slab of the aforementioned cut of beef smothered with porcini mushroom sauce, with sauteed veggies on the side. For seafood, there is the Grigliata Mista di Pesce (Php 1100), a mixed plate of grilled seafood, and the Filetto di Salmone alla Spumante (Php 890), a fresh Norwegian salmon fillet poached in sparkling wine. For heavy-duty meat eaters, there is Carre D’Agnelo (Php 1,400), a grilled rack of lamb in red wine sauce with vegetables, or even be extreme with the Grilled U.S. Tomahawk Steak (Php 4,500/kg).

Black Angus Tenderloin / IMAGE from Prego

Of course, what’s an Italian dining experience without a slice of pizza? Get yourself some different taste with their Pizza Rustica (Php 450), topped with mozzarella, Italian sausage, onions, and fresh rosemary.

If you’re in the mood for something greasy and comfort-laden, you might want to check out Prego’s variety of Italian street food. The crisp-coated Arancini (Php 590) are richly filled risotto balls stuffed by cheese and meat sauce that are very creamy inside as they are served with salad and dip salsa. The Mozzarella Sticks (Php 490), on the other hand, are long golden sticks of fried cheesy goodness. Pizza Fritta (Php 490) is a fried pizza stuffed with mozzarella, mushrooms, and spinach. Other treats include Calamari (Php 550) with lemon and aioli, and Tuscan Meatballs (Php 490) served with a spicy arrabbiata sauce for a little kick.

Arancini / IMAGE from Prego

Prego also has mouthwatering Italian platter of cold cuts and home-made ravioli pasta, plus a wide selection of wines and spirits that are perfect pairs for your meals.

You can also choose to either dine in at the al fresco side and just across it is the casual dining place of Prego.

IMAGE from Prego