Pronto Cucinino

 

20

59

Monica S.

Houston, TX

I can't believe I just recently went to this place! It was soooooo good. My family and I went Saturday evening and had a very fulfilling and delicious meal for a very reasonable price. The atmosphere is a bit hectic since thet're trying to get your food out quick and staff are constantly walking around dropping off food to table or cleaning one up but for the price and quality it's easy to forget...

I highly recommend trying the 1/4 lb. lemon pepper roasted chicken breast with garlic mashed potatoes and fresh sauted green beans.... very yum!

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5

30

Justus P.

Houston, TX

Jack-in-the-Box for Yuppies.

I dunno if I'm anywhere near yuppy status yet, but since I live and work nearby, we end up eating here quite a bit.  These guys do pull off Counter service with style (I think its because you only order/pay at the counter up front and then they bring the food out to you).  And they are very, very fast.

I normally get their Pasta Primavera or their Fettuccine Pronto.  Their rolls are great and their Rotisserie Chicken is also quite good.  Everything comes out HOT.

I've also had their stuff at the office (takeout) and I must say the food is not AS good -- I think their stuff is really good right out from the kitchen and so its a bit disappointing when its not piping hot....Still good tho.

Only major reason they don't get 5 stars is the restaurant is a bit noisy and the seating not very comfortable (I find a real Jack in the Box more comfortable even if though it wouldn't have as many fancy cars in the parking lot).

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10

59

Anthony B.

Houston, TX

I went to Pronto on Thursday, my first visit, during lunchtime for a networking lunch. This is Italian American sit-down fast food. You place your order up front, collect your drink cup and after filling, take your flatware, breadsticks and number to a table in the nicely decorated albeit borderline cutsey Italian dining area. Your order is brought out promptly and hot. When done, roving staff clear your plate.

The food is excellent for a fast food Italian-American place. I had a chicken breast flattened, grilled with a crusty outside and a sweet sauce. The chicken was moist and cooked well; I had sauteed spinach which was done correctly but oddly on the side of flavorless. My lunch companion had a traditional chicken parm which he pronounced excellent and the garlic mashed potatoes had that distinct flavor that says "not powdered"! . The price for this was quite reasonable, and it was obvious the place is popular as it filled up quickly and a constant stream of to-go orders moved thru the door.

If you are looking for authentic Italian, I don't think this is your place. But if you want a tastey sit-down meal served promptly at a reasonable price this is your ticket.

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0

14

Jennifer B.

Houston, TX

Had lasagna and a cesar...and I've had better meals at Olive garden. Lasagna lacked cheese and a good bolognese sauce.  The cesar was just not very flavorful. I will go back once more to try the rotisserie chicken.

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Elite '08

11

46

Jeff R.

Houston, TX

Yesterday, some friends of mine from Palmer Episcopal church and I took lunch here, and we had a very pleasant time.  Pronto Cucinino is American-Italian in scope, and while the look of the place is un poco gentrifed, it's not bad (except for the ordering counters), the food is made fresh each day.

As I wanted comfort food that day, it was fettuccine alfredo with chicken for me with garlic bread made fresh on the premises - fluffy in a good way, tasty, though with not quite enough garlic for my taste.  But still, who cares when the food is very good indeed.  Everyone's meals looked appetizing, and when they say "Pronto", they mean *pronto*: our food came to us very quickly.  

Getting served in the ordering line was not a big deal, and the staff there are friendly and efficient.  We were well-served and well-fed.

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Elite '08

54

243

May N.

Cambridge, MA

If you're in the mood for a quick, casual Italian meal, this is a great option.  Like the previous posters have said, there are menus at the entrance, you decide what you want, and then go to the counter to place your order, and pay.  You can get Italian beer, wine, Orangina, or soft drinks and water which you get yourself at the beverage station.  Then, you choose your table, place your little numbered ticket on top of the rooster stand, and wait.  It's kinda like Cafe Express except without the salad station and you have a wait service that brings food to your table and takes away empty plates while you're still there.  

The food comes pretty quickly.  Almost every entree is under $10 and they don't even have a line in your receipt to add a tip.  The portion sizes are reasonable, as in you won't be served gigantic servings of fatty Italian food.  I had the Italian sausage sauteed with tomatoes, red peppers, and onions with garlic mashed potatoes and my friend had the ravioli, which wasn't too cheesy.  There are a good number of vegetarian options.  

They also have coffee and desserts like a cafe.  They sell some food products and have take-out available.  There's an outdoor patio with a fountain which would be nice to sit on in warmer, less rainy weather...but then you'd inhale noxious fumes from the Montrose traffic.  I'll bet this place gets busy during lunch.  All in all, a good bet for quick, cheap Italian food.

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