Pronto Cucinino is the next in the line of fast-casual restaurant concepts that have popped up in the Montrose area and are becoming exceedingly popular (Little Big’s, by Bryan Caswell, who runs REEF, and Café Express, created by Café Annie top gun Robert Del Grande are both right around the corner). Unlike the other two, however, Pronto Cucinino offers essentially the same menu as its big brothers, Café Vincent and Café Hugo, which are also owned by the Mandola family. We had never been to the more upscale Vincent and Hugo’s but we might have to see what the difference truly is between pasta at 8$ a plate and the same thing for 14$.

We were eating dinner on a Sunday evening, so it was notably less crowded than the typical lunch crowds that overflow the place during the week. When we walked in, we made it really obvious that we hadn’t been there before, because we walked right past the line of people waiting under the sign that said “to-go” to the second register, which wasn’t marked, and so we assumed it was for dine-in orders. This separation of lines must only apply during peak hours, because an awkward management type, after staring at us for a few seconds from behind the register, whispered for us to go to the other line. So be warned, if it’s not busy, get in the To Go line, even if you’re eating in.

Once we finally got to the right line, we looked over the menu, and it was pretty standard fare. Nothing too outrageous, just pretty standard Italian dishes.

Whenever there’s lasagna available, it’s a must have on a first visit, because any self-respecting Italian prides themselves on the quality of their Lasagna. If the Lasagna is awful, an Italian restaurant is automatically a failure. So we ordered the lasagna, and another Italian staple, Chicken Parmigiano. Both came with a small roll, and the chicken parmagiano came with a side of my choice, which was, as usual, garlic mashed potatoes. We like to choose basic staples our first time around, because if they can’t do the regular stuff right, then the fancy, original concoctions will probably be a disaster.

When our food first arrived, we were thrown for a loop. The Pomodoro sauce that covered both main dishes (effectively a thicker, smoother marinara sauce), was of an orange hue that we had never seen before. It was also thinner than Pomodoro sauce usually is, and we were concerned that the thin sauce would cause our dishes to be bland and dry.

Despite all of our initial concerns over the sauce, the food was very good. The Lasagna was perfect, in that if you really focused on it, you could discern all of the different flavors, but they still all melded into a singular, delicious flavor. The Chicken Parmagiano was very lightly breaded, still crispy but not fried or fatty. It was great. The Pomodoro sauce’s taste didn’t match its thin appearance. The food really was wonderful.

I also really liked the garlic mashed potatoes. The potatoes themselves weren’t very garlicky, but on top sat caramelized pieces garlic. These delicious morsels had a chewy texture to them, and although that sounds like it might be off-putting, it was strangely pleasurable. I’m going to play around on my stove this week, and see if I can match it. If anyone has any tips, please email me at htownfoodreviews@gmail.com

The portion sizes were adequate, but don’t expect to take home any leftovers. The décor was comfortable without being stuffy. I can imagine from the setup that when this place is busy, it’s a zoo. The prices were good, and you save a lot of money by not having to tip. It’s never going to replace the Vincent’s and Hugo’s of the world, but it’s a great family alternative that I would choose over Carino’s or Olive Garden any day.

Montrose Location:
Rice Village Location:
Spring Branch Location: