Pasta Fresca — Restaurant in Prague

Pasta Fresca is one of the finest restaurants my wife and I have been to in Prague. It's so fine it hurts (your wallet especially). First of all, make a reservation. We were on a flexible schedule, so we just called around noon to ask at what time we could get a reservation (3PM or later), but for a fixed time you should call at least 2 days ahead. We reserved for 16:30 and came at around 16:45. The entrance is just a small door with a long hallway. The line was already getting out of the place, some people simply stop by spontaneously and try to get seated. Either way, the queue is getting handled pretty quickly, usually the receptionist instructs people without reservation to wait (there are a couple seats for waitees), so skipping the line is not necessary. The receptionist was very kind, offered to store our coats in the wardrobe and even joked a bit with our 3 year old - the welcome was very warm. He escorted us to the staircase and instructed us to find his colleagues downstairs. In the sublevel, we were seated at a corner table with a comfy bench. The lighting was just right (not too bright or dim), the music volume was also not distracting, but of course the place being crowded (every table was taken) causes a lot of noise, and given it was a smaller room with some interesting acoustics, it was at the edge between OK and annoying. It was still good enough for casual conversation and I definitely appreciate whoever designed the layout not cramming more tables into the room. The temperature was a bit on the higher side - we just came from the outside and felt kinda hot in the beginning, but adapted eventually. Also, be prepared to have no cell reception, however, there's Wi-Fi and the staff is kind enough to provide the password on demand. Right away we were handed the menu and our kid received a sketch with crayons to draw. We managed to order within 10 minutes - 1 shared appetizer (shrimps), 2 main courses (Spaghetti alla carbonara and Steak tartare) and a kids meal (half Bolognese ragout with rigatoni). We got a small bowl of delicious focaccia and the drinks quickly afterwards and waited another 25 minutes or so for the meal. The steak tartare was heavenly - certainly the best I've ever had (from about 10-15 occasions, but never in such an upscale place). The truffle sauce flavored the meat just right to lift it up, without diminishing the taste of the meat, and the bread on the side was fascinatingly crispy yet soft, and I couldn't quite figure out how it was prepared, possibly fried or baked. My wife's spaghetti was tasty too, not too salty and plenty creamy. It didn't feel as heavy on the stomach and even after chilling out after 15 minutes it didn't dry out into a big lump of pasta (as the egg in carbonara tends to do), it was still moist but not slimy. I'd still recommend the steak tartare though. The ragout smelled very good and tasted even better, too, our little one (as picky as he is) definitely did find his appetite for that dish. Not sure if it was really a kid's portion though (the waitress said something about half an adult's portion), as it seemed roughly the same size as the spaghetti carbonara. We also visited the restroom in the restaurant and I'm happy to report it's all clean and stylish. There's room for improvement in design in my opinion. We paid half with a gift card (which the staff doesn't forget to ask for) and half with a credit card, asked to pack the rest of the ragout to go, and left after about 80 minutes. The receptionist kindly returned the coats while amusing our son again, and gave us a proper goodbye to remember him by. Where's the catch? Of course the price. The appetizers start at CZK 100 and usually are listed between 300-400, the main courses are usually around CZK 500 ± 200 I believe. Our order, 4 drinks included, was about CZK 1700 in total. It's definitely not for everyday dining, but then again, that too is why it's memorable. If you can spend the money, definitely consider this place, at least for an anniversary, a birthday or a serious...

tl;dr The food is nice, though rather average, but the service needs to be improved.

Pros: • The food was adequate, but not out of the ordinary • The place looks nice and somewhat classy • Good wine • large portions

Cons: • Long waiting times, can easily reach the 30 minutes mark, without being able to even sit down at available tables • Service is very slow • Not all waitresses know English to a degree where you can have explain what a customer wants

Now for the longer version. We arrived at the restaurant at around 20:30 and there were two free tables, which required cleaning, plus another table that was about to be vacated.

At first glance, there were only two waitresses, so we asked one of them if we could sit.

Her English wasn’t good and she tried to explain to us that the estaurant was very busy, and that we’d have to wait around 30 minutes to get service.

While the restaurant seemed to have a fair amount of customers, it wasn’t full, but we told her that we didn’t mind waiting as long as we could get a place to sit, even if the table wasn’t clean yet.

She didn’t accomodate us, and repeated the same 30 minute mantra every time I told her that there were three empty tables and that we just wanted to sit. She left us standing and suggested that we should maybe go, but we decided to stay since we saw all the positive reviews on Google Maps.

After more than 20 minutes, we were told that we could sit down.

My wife ordered the tortiloni, while I ordered the tagliatelle with bolognese ragu, and we also ordered the bruschetta as an apetizer, and a glass of red wine.

The bruscheta arrived after 15 minutes and it was OK.

It took another 20 minutes for the main dishes to arrive.

While waiting, more customers kept on entering the restaurant and got the same “we’re very busy, we will only be available for you in 30 minutes” and were left standing next to the entrance, all the while at least two tables were available.

As for the main courses: my wife liked the tortiloni, but was left unimpressed, since she came with high hopes after reading the restaurant’s reviews.

The tagliatelle was nice, but it was a bit undercooked. I like pasta al dente, but this was a bit less cooked than that. The bolognese was tasty, but

The red wine was tasty and was perfect for the bolognese ragu.

The bottom line is that first impression is the most important factor in a restaurant, or any business, for that matter, and my first impression of Pasta Fresca wasn’t a good one.

The reviews praise this retaurant, so maybe I came at the wrong hour, or during the shift of a less professional team, but the truth of the matter is that the next time I’m in Prague I won’t make Pasta Fresca my first choice for...

I recently had the pleasure of dining at an Italian restaurant in Prague, and I must say, it was an exceptional experience. From the moment we walked in, the warm and inviting ambiance set the stage for a memorable evening.

To start, we indulged in the bruschetta, which was a delightful combination of crispy bread topped with fresh tomatoes, garlic, and basil. The flavors were vibrant and perfectly balanced, leaving us eager for what was to come.

Next, we sampled both the spaghetti carbonara and tagliatelle bolognese, and both dishes were outstanding. The spaghetti carbonara was rich and creamy, with perfectly cooked pasta and generous portions of crispy bacon. The tagliatelle bolognese was equally impressive, with a hearty meat sauce that clung to the pasta, creating a mouthwatering combination of flavors.

For dessert, we couldn’t resist the classic tiramisu. It was a dreamy concoction of layers of ladyfingers soaked in espresso and rum, creamy mascarpone cheese, and a dusting of cocoa powder. Each bite was pure bliss, and it was the perfect ending to our meal.

To accompany our meal, we enjoyed a selection of fine wines that perfectly complemented each course. The staff was knowledgeable and attentive, offering excellent recommendations that enhanced our dining experience. We also indulged in limoncello, a zesty and refreshing digestif, as well as a rich and aromatic espresso to conclude our evening.

Overall, our experience at this Italian restaurant in Prague was nothing short of exceptional. The quality of the food, the attentive service, and the inviting atmosphere all contributed to a truly memorable dining experience. I highly recommend this restaurant to anyone seeking an authentic taste of Italy in the...