It’s no surprise! Entice one of the finest Italian chefs over to Samui. Serve world-class Italian cuisine in a stylish, informal atmosphere. Keep the prices extremely reasonable. And what do you have? The answer’s simple – a great place to enjoy a terrific night out. Or, more precisely – Prego!

That’s the name of the outstanding new restaurant that opened its doors – not that it has many – to the public in August 2003. It’s opposite Amari Palm Reef Resort and Blue Lagoon, on the northern part of Chaweng Beach Road, making it very easy to find – and you certainly wouldn’t want to miss it!

Prego is open on 3  of its 4 sides, giving it a cool, airy feel. And this ‘al fresco’ atmosphere is accentuated by the spacious lay-out and subtle lighting of the tables and lounge area. There’s even a completely open terrace at the entrance surrounded by one of the restaurant’s numerous water features, in this case a pond that runs the entire length of its frontage.

And it’s through this terrace that the wide, black and white marble walkway leads you into the terra-cotta tiled restaurant itself. Again it’s the water, plants, lighting and space that you’re immediately aware of as you select a table. There’s seating for 110 here, but even when full, it doesn’t feel crowded.

Whether to sit alongside one of the interior stone walls, with its waterfall cascading down beside you, or to sit at one of the central tables where a glass-enclosed stream passes down the middle? The choices are many. And if you’re just here to soak up the atmosphere while enjoying a drink, and maybe a pizza, you’re welcome to do that too in the lounge section with its comfortable sofas, or on one of the bar stools surrounding the bar and ‘show’ pizza-oven.

And it’s this authentic, wood-fired pizza-oven that’s the main focus of Prego. That, and the Italian chef himself – Marco Boscaini. He’s an enigmatic 38 year-old from Milan. And when he’s not magically producing pizzas – before your very eyes – he’s either circulating around the restaurant chatting with diners, or back in the main kitchen overseeing the operation there too. For that’s where some of his other specialities come to life.

“...making Prego very easy to find – and you certainly
wouldn’t want to miss it!”

Here are some of the dishes that he personally recommends: Focaccia con Bresaola e Rucola – pizza bread with beef bresaola and arugola salad; Risotto con Gamberi e asparagi profumato al rosemarino – risotto with prawns and asparagus with a hint of rosemary; Fettuccine con Aragosta ed Erbette – egg fettuccine with Phuket lobster, tomato and fresh herbs; Medaglione di Branzino Padellato servito con caponata di verdure – pan-fried snow fish medallion with a vegetable caponata. And, like Marco, most of the herbs are specially imported from Italy too!

There’s a wide range of desserts available, but Marco particularly prides himself on a unique Tiramisu al Caffe made from his own special recipe, plus a delicious Cassata alla Siciliana with candied fruits.

And as you’d expect from a top Italian restaurant, most of the wines at Prego are Italian, but there are also selected bottles from other countries too, should you have a preference.

Another thing that you can be sure of at this restaurant is warm and friendly service. Quite fitting then that the Italian  ‘Prego’ translates into English as ‘Welcome’ !