Being being a food hunter is my passion and looking at the F&B industries in Penang had certainly grown to another new level, with more concept restaurant are pumping up. One of the latest restaurant that had hit the shores of Penang that started operating about 2 months back is this newly Authentic Italian Restaurant at Via Pre that I can say operate and own by expatriate Italians.
The shops are easily to be located as its opposite QE2 or next to British Council building. Painted in white like heritage building and at night, its well light up. Just beware that they do not have a big signage on the building and you have to drive slowly to locate the place as its at a small corner turning.
Via Pre had attracted many people to visit this place and I think this would be the first Italian restaurant that offer Authentic Italian Cuisine. For those who have not tried the actual Italian food, this definitely would be one of the place to visit!
Love the interior design . . as the whole design is pretty much reflect on the typical Italian design and as Italian restaurant I am amaze of their wine range that they are offering and I am very keen to try out Italian wine.
Love their cake counter that it had been a while since I have last enter this kind of restaurant, the last one was during my study period in Melbourne and definitely enjoy it here now.
One of my friend told me that, these restaurant imported most of the ingredients as what they are trying to cook are unable to source locally.
One advice, as Penang people do not like to do reservation, it is highly advise to do your reservation as its always full during dinner and it is gaining its popularity.
Price are very reasonable that its not too expensive.
I look at the beer range and find that the waiter recommend me to try on Birra Menabrea an Italian beer, and my my, its one of a true great beer that I enjoy and beats down many beer out there. Very easy to drink, smooth and bubbly need to drink it while its chill, and after taste its sweet and hint of barley oak can be tasted. – Recommended! @RM25
Then we were serve with a portion of bread which is usual that in Italian dining they will serve you a basket of home made bread with plain and oak of course their traditional eating is dipping the bread along with olive oil and vinegar. Its not like those serve with butter. Find it weird? hehe, learn to enjoy oh~
After looking at the food menu, I do not know what to order as its pretty much in bombastic Italian words and ask the owner to introduce. Then he introduce me special of the day which is not in the menu that they often change it to get the best ingredient and create 2-3 best dishes out for you to enjoy.
As we were pretty full from snacks just now, so decided to leave our order to the hands of the owner by ordering 3 dishes to share.
For a soup we start off with Zuppa Toscana which is soup of the day with mixture of various types of beans. The taste is light, lean towards a bit sourish from tomato I believe and finely chop beans that bring the taste up. Some of you might not like the taste and texture of it as I find it pretty good. Learn to eat it when I was oversea. @ RM 16
Since he know we love to try out food, then he recommend us to try out Special Starter that consist of Quiche, Pie and smoked beef slice with special sauce. @ RM 78
Spinach Quiche is superbly good, soft with hint of egg taste and spinach been blended and the crust is warm and crispy. Dip along with the sauce makes it event perfect with a slight sweetness at the end.
Pie is fluffy and cutting it, the tuna base mixture flow out and just enjoy every bite of it.
Star of the 3 is the smoked beef that is sweet in taste and fresh, yet they pair it with salmon sauce as what we believe it as we were confuse that looking at it is smoked beef and tasting it had a after taste of salmon. A perfect combination!
To eat back something authentic that I have pretty miss is Tortellini Special for the night, as usually these cant be eaten much as it is pretty filling and the ingredient they stuff in are with some mushrooms and meat. Pretty simple and flavourful.
As a food lover, I surely enjoy my meal tonight and looking forward to go back to try out their other range like spaghetti, pizza and specialty. I believe many of you would not enjoy the taste of it as this is pretty much towards Authentic Italian taste which the taste is not localize. Therefore, for those of you love are looking for authentic Italian Cuisine, Via – Pre certainly is the place I am highly recommending in Penang.
Service is very attentive even though its super busy for the night, staff are very friendly even though they are foreigners, and if you do encounter bad service experience, just give them a break as they just operating just for 2 months. Alot of things to fine tune and I believe they never expect it to be fully house most of the night.
*NON-HALAL
-= Ka Ching =-
Food Rating 8/10, pretty good for a small town operator~-Stamped-
–Warning– This is based on my individual taste. Try it at your own risk-
Locations:
Via Pre – Italians on the Harbour
5, Weld Quay, Georgetown
10300 PENANG, MALAYSIA
Contact: 604 – 2619 800 / 604-2620 560
Website: http://www.via-pre.com/
View VIA.PRE: Authentic Italian Dining Experience in a larger map
