Presto’s Restaurant
Presto’s Restaurant
Takes Reservations: Yes
Take-out: Yes
Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
Bike Parking: Yes
Good for Kids: Yes
Outdoor Seating: Yes
Waiter Service: Yes
Caters: Yes
PokéStop Nearby: Yes
Price range.
$$ Price range $11-30
6 reviews
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We've lived a block from Presto's since September. Heard and read good things. Tonight was our first go 'round. You have to appreciate this place for what it is: solid, traditional Italian comfort food. Nothing fancy here. Minimal decor & a casual crowd of locals eating and drinking through lively conversation (yes, it gets a little loud). Just as a neighborhood Italian joint should be.
I've had many a veal parmigiano in my lifetime, and Presto's does it right. Tender veal, smothered in cheese and a bright marinara sauce. My wife got a HUGE plate of pasta. Add the BYOB and it's a good value.
I would recommend they spruce up the bathrooms a bit. Simple, dated decor is one thing. A neglected bathroom (albeit acceptably clean) is something else…
There is not much decor and it's BYOB, but it was a comfortable family run sort of place. The food tastes like home-cooking, so if you're in the mood for that then this is great. We got the mussels with garlic sauce, and it was so very delicious. The bread was just toast, but it worked well to soak up the sauce and we ate two baskets. I got shrimp scampi with angel hair and my friend got penne with meatballs. The pasta was good, though I can't say it's the best ever. The prices aren't low, but you get large portions. If I had a craving for home-y Italian cooking, I'd definitely come here again.
This place is mediocre at best. We were really looking fwd to a small authenticate Italian restaurant but unfortunately were disappointed. We got tomato mozzarella and calamari to start. The mozzarella was not the fresh creamy kind you would expect , also not enough basil for my taste. For the main dish my bf got pasta w bolognese sauce which he said was average. I ordered one of the specials, pasta with seafood and marinara sauce. Sauce was really mediocre and the seafood was very overcooked. Worst part was that my dish was $30 which i found out after i got the check-manhattan prices for a JC restaurant with mediocre food, no charm, very dated decor (if any) and although good service, waiters that are wearing jeans and military jackets. We won't be going back.
The reviews were good and the wisdom was that parking would be a bear in NYC, so we decided to drop in at Presto in Jersey City for a weekend family dinner. The conventional wisdom was wrong! Parking was bear around Presto and the food was quite ordinary as well.
We were the last patrons served (they close at 10:00 pm), but we were still early enough that the kitchen did not have to rush the preparations. While the staff was pleasant and friendly, the food was the most unimaginative. Ok we did not expect food innovation here folks – just something which would taste better than Pasta cooked out of the Barilla boxes.
There were lots of vegetarian options – but the four we ordered were below par. Cheese Tortellini was boring and the baked Ziti was quite ordinary – just like the taste of a dorm cafeteria cooked pasta. I think Presto's pasta is boxed and not freshly made – it certainly tasted that way. Ziti serving was HUGE – but quantity can't make for taste on this one ;(
Eggplant parmigiana was decent. For our fourth entree we thought we were ordering a nice healthy salad but their Mozzarella (with basil and sun dried tomatoes) was more of a appetizer than salad. I personally don't like cheese served straight out of the refrigerator and with this one, the cheese was cold and with no character. Had to force our way through with this dish.
And yes, it's BYOB so make sure you bring a good wine – that may be the best part of your meal!
I've eaten here several times as it is typically a neighborhood favorite, but the quality is hit or miss. I've had nearly every appetizer, chicken parm, linguini w/ white clam sauce, and recently a special that had both chicken and broccoli rabe with pasta (super overpriced – double the price of a regular entree just because they add chicken – not happy). It's just ok. Stick with the basics here.
The best Italian food I have had in a long time. Reasonably priced BYOB with a long wait, but well worth it. Get there early on Saturdays. We got there around 6:30 and didn't have to wait for a table. Their red sauce is the best I ever had, which is huge for me to say, having been to dozens of restaurants in NJ, NY and abroad looking for the best. My husband's red sauce was the best up until yesterday. 🙂