Presto Pasta

Decided to give presto pasta a try as the reviews seemed good, but I was very disappointed. We got the 6.99 lunch special with a caesar salad and personal pepperoni pizza and a side of garlic knots. The salad was not fresh and really only had a few bites of it. The pizza tasted like a microwaved pizza and undercooked. The garlic knots were so undercooked that we thought there was melted cheese in the middle, but it was raw dough. Even our soda tasted funny like the ice was made with tap water or perhaps something was up with the fountain machine. After it was all said and done I was bummed that I thought for a second that a drive thru italian restaurant was a good idea. They do have good prices, but it definitely comes at a cost of quality.

This may very well be the best quality of food that I’ve ever had from a place that has a drive-​thru. When I first saw this place and saw that it was «fast-​food Italian», I thought the sauce was probably going to be low quality, too much cheese and grease, or it just wasn’t going to be very good Italian food. I used to work as a waiter at a very upscale mom and pop owned Italian restaurant so I really know good Italian food, but this place is definitely up to par. The food was WAY above what I expected it to be. I’ve been here twice and had the chicken marsala and the chicken piccata (my two favorite Italian dishes) and I was not disappointed at all. they have great side dishes as well. I think I had the fried zucchini. Everything was delicious. Don’t let the label fool you, this place has great Italian food! The service was excellent as well. And on top of all that, they serve alcohol if you wanna dine in! the dining area was probably the nicest fast food dining area I’ve ever seen as well. it was kinda dimly lit and very spread out with booths. I definitely was not expecting this. it’s gotta be the nicest fast food restaurant there is.

For those that have food allergies — avoid this restaurant at all costs! My husband and I have eaten at the Newbury Park establishment and never had a problem, but here it was different. I have Celiac disease so I have to be careful. For me it is not a choice. We went to the Camarillo restaurant on Sunday the 20^th and I ordered the Gluten-​Free Fusilli along with Pesto (which is on the gluten-​free menu) and the chicken and artichoke hearts. I have ordered this time and again at the Newbury Park restaurant — it is my favorite. When I received my meal the pasta was not cooked right and was clumpy. They offered to cook a new dish and I said «yes» as the pasta was not edible. When they delivered the new dish, I started eating it and then noticed there was «regular» penne pasta as well. Oh my — this was not a good thing. I went up to tell them and asked if they didn’t remember that I had ordered «gluten-​free» — they said «yes» that probably some of the other pasta was still in the pot. I asked them if they didn’t know that the Gluten-​free pasta had to be cooked in a clean pot and not in the same water that they cooked «wheat» pasta in and they looked shocked! What a red flag! One of the other employees said «yes» they knew that and she would make sure that the «remake» dish was done correctly. It took practically no time at all before they gave me this new dish — which concerned me as well. We asked for it to go at this point as my husband had already been done eating for some time. My husband checked the «to go» dish to make sure it was ok and it was missing the chicken and the pine nuts! I wanted to just leave, but he was adamant that since we paid for the chicken and pine nuts that it needed to be added. So they added it and we took it home. I was too worried to eat it and gave it to a neighbor that does not have any issues with gluten. From what I had eaten at the restaurant I was sick for 1 and ½ days. Needless to say we will not be back at this restaurant and what a waste — one pays more for gluten-​free so it was a bummer. That said, my husbands meal was good. But since I am rating this on their food prep for gluten-​free I am giving them the lowest that is allowed.
Update on this Presto Pasta. I contacted the owner Jeff and he kindly responded and apologized and explained that they are usually very careful about cooking the gluten-​free pasta in a separate pot with clean water as well as cooking their sauces and chicken, etc in separate pans. He said he has talked to his employees to re-​educate them on the problems with food allergies and asked if I would give him another chance. We will go again and once we do I will re-​post the results. Jeff has gone the extra mile by contacting me a few times to assure me that they have never had an issue like this before and it will not happen again. Stand by…
Update on 2−19−16: It took us a while but we finally went back to Presto Pasta in Camarillo. Amy helped us when we ordered and was very friendly and helpful. When I told her I was a little hesitant she knew immediately who I was. This means that Jeff was true to his word and let the staff know. And they were very understanding and were apologetic. This time they got It right — thank you Jeff for taking the time to care. My pesto chicken with artichoke hearts and Fusilli Pasta was delicious. My husband enjoyed his meal again as well. We will be back!

Love their food
Most plates are for less than $ 10
Kids love the food
Its easy on the budget

Ive been to this restaurant 5 times and never wrote a review but finally had the time. The first time I went was to try it out and i was really hoping it would be great because I loved the idea of fast food Italian. I thought the food was okay. I wouldn’t have gone so many times but then I went 3 more times a few years later because it’s really close and I just had surgery and for some reason all I wanted was spaghetti.
The last time I went to see if it got better and only bought food for two. The food was just okay but I couldn’t believe how expensive it was for fast food pasta that isn’t anything special. Everything they make you can make better at home for 80% or more less. The garlic bread is probably the best thing. I’m just really shocked how many people go here. my spaghetti and sauce is so much better. maybe I should open a fast food Italian restaurant lol. I’d rather spend a couple dollars more on a restaurant and getter better food.