If you want to experience exciting new flavors in an elegant setting, Via Pre Penang has authentic Italian food you will love.
Via Pre Penang Italian restaurant is where you can expect the freshest, most flavorful dishes possible.
While most people think of Italian food as pizza and pasta, there’s much more to Italian dining than Italian fast food.
Italian fine dining can be a fantastic experience for a date night, a celebration, or the whole family.
With a birthday or celebration coming up, you will want to look for an Italian dining experience that makes you feel special.
Look no further than Via Pre Penang in George Town.
Their authentic Italian cuisine, cooked by an Italian Chef, will transport you to the streets of Rome and Florence.
Via Pre’s enthusiastic culinary team is dedicated to ensuring your meal is nothing short of perfection.
For a restaurant in Penang, the wait staff is the most friendly and welcoming.
You hear a bright and cheery ‘Ciao’ as you walk in.
Ciao, pronounced ‘chow,’ is a casual Italian salutation that can mean ‘hello’ and ‘goodbye’ (most English speakers understand it)
Via Pre Penang
Established in 2012, Via Pre has become one of Penang’s premier Italian dining destination.
Its enduring success is attributed to authentic Italian cooking and a robust menu that caters to loyal patrons.
The exterior and interior aesthetics stand in striking contrast.
While the outside may seem unassuming, the interior reveals a captivating charm with soft lighting, Italian music, and a long bar.
Via Pre Menu
Via Pre Penang has an extensive menu, spanning Antipastos, Entrees, Pasta, Mains, Pizzas, and Desserts, ensuring an option for every palate.
While prices lean towards the higher end, they align with using top-notch imported ingredients.
If you’re unsure what to order, the articulate staff readily offers recommendations to guide your selection.
Authentic Italian Food At Via Pre Penang
Via Pre Location
Via Pre Penang is located at Penang Street, a stone’s throw from the Esplanade, bordered by Light Street and Bishop Street.
Authentic Italian Food Dinner
Here is a three-course dinner I ate on a night out with authentic Italian food in Penang.
Many Italian meals begin with a basket of bread, olive oil, and balsamic vinegar.
I got a small basket with two slices of multi-grain bread and a nice Focacio, which I instantly devoured (hence the lack of photo).
Chef Luca recommended Iberico Pork Meatballs, Squid Ink Risotto Mix Seafood, and Dark Chocolate Flan.
I decided that having a main course for dinner would be too much, so I decided to end the night on a high note with dessert and coffee.
Iberico Pork Polpette With Pistachio Crumble Served On Cheese Sauce And Farinata RM 32
The Fresh Homemade Iberico Pork Meatballs are a delicious ‘Antipasto’ starter dish.
The Farinata is a crispy and flaky Italian Chickpea Pancake that is intriguing and tasty.
I did a quick Google search and found that its origins can be traced to Roman times.
Still, according to legend, Farinata, as we know it today, was invented in August of 1284, when the Republic of Genoa defeated Pisa in the battle of Meloria in the Ligurian Sea.
Amazing.
If you’re wondering why the starter dish is costly – it is because the meatballs are made from imported Iberico Pork.
Again, Google told me that Iberico Pork originates from an exclusive pig breed solely on the Iberian peninsula with a distinctive primary acorn diet.
Due to their diet and genetic makeup, Iberian pigs accumulate substantial fat within their muscle tissues, yielding pork with an intensified taste.
The revolutionary aspect of Iberico pork lies within its fat content.
Notably, some of this fat is unsaturated oleic fat, akin to the beneficial fat found in olive oil.
This particular fat type is reputed for its potential to lower cholesterol and is a cornerstone of the Mediterranean diet.
Due to its exceptional qualities, Iberico pork commands higher prices than standard pork, rendering it an indulgence inaccessible to many.
I was pleased to savor a distinctive nutty undertone in the Iberico pork meatballs, which elevated this dish to an authentic Italian food experience.
Iberico Pork Meatballs
Squid Ink Risotto with Prawns, Squid, Scallops, Mussels, and Lemon Zest RM 78
I’ve always been eager to try an authentic Risotto prepared by an Italian Chef, as there’s something truly special about experiencing genuine Italian flavors.
Risotto, a traditional Italian dish crafted from the starchy Arborio rice variety, captures the essence of authentic Italian cuisine.
However, my intrigue was piqued when Chef Luca suggested I explore their Squid Ink Risotto.
This exquisite dish, from the southern regions of Italy, boasts the striking, moody dark ink of an abundant squid, which lends the dish its renowned hue and distinctive color.
The magic of Risotto lies in its preparation.
The creamiest rendition of Risotto uses the stickier Arborio rice, which maintains its structure while turning wonderfully creamy through a slow and meticulous cooking process.
This authentic Italian food is a culinary treasure cooked to perfection.
It yields a creamy, porridge-like consistency adored by risotto aficionados.
Achieving a soft and velvety mound on a plate is the hallmark of a restaurant-worthy risotto.
Squid ink, often underestimated due to its dark appearance, is remarkably versatile in the kitchen and can be used in diverse cuisines.
Its captivating flavor and unique visual appeal never fail to captivate.
Despite its ominous black appearance, squid ink harbors a robust salty and earthy fish flavor while maintaining a neutral taste.
As I encountered this dark beauty, memories of the ocean’s aroma—briny and salty, with a hint of the sea’s essence—came flooding back.
In this beautiful dish, no additional salt or pepper was necessary; the flavors were impeccably balanced.
The rich, creamy dish, subtly infused with Lemon Zest, exhibited a hearty and savory profile, coupled with the striking visual allure of its blackish-blue hue.
The flavors were balanced, ensuring a harmonious palate experience.
As I savored every Arborio rice grain, an undertone of gentle Umami enveloped my senses.
The Prawns, Squid, Scallops, and Mussels are perfectly cooked, their sweetness and juiciness shining through each bite.
Squid Ink Risotto Mix Seafood
Dark Chocco Flan with plain and sour cream, salted caramel, and gelato in a glass RM 22
A Via Pre Penang signature dessert, the Dark Chocco Flan comes in a glass with an elongated spoon.
As you dig in, each spoonful layer of joy.
The dessert features gelato, dark chocolate cake, and plain and tangy sour cream drizzled with salted caramel, crafting an unforgettable decadent delight.
Dark Chocolate Flan.
Coffee
I always conclude my meals with coffee, although I avoid having it after 3 PM to ensure restful sleep.
Italian coffee, in particular, aids digestion by expediting food movement through the system.
This acceleration reduces calorie absorption, promoting potential fat loss and increased energy expenditure.
To be effective, though, I omitted sugar and added a dash of milk to your coffee.
Conclusion
Via Pre Penang Italian Restaurant is perfectly satisfied with authentic cooking, great taste, and a great menu.
The restaurant consistently delivers impeccable experiences and impresses with attentive service.
The convenient location makes it our great choice for authentic Italian food for lunch or dinner with friends and colleagues!
If you ask me what’s next on my bucket list – that would be Pasta with the Black Summer Truffle of Piedmont, Italy.
Via Pre Penang Italian Restaurant (NON-HALAL)
Address: 20e, Lebuh Penang, 10300 George Town, Pulau Pinang
Phone: 04-261 9800
Hours: Daily 11:30 AM – 10:30 PM, Sunday 12 PM – 10:30 PM
(Closed on Tuesdays)
Google: https://g.co/kgs/rgu8bJ8
Blog Disclosure: This is a sponsored blog post, but all opinions are mine. Thank you, Via Pre Penang, for the dinner invitation.
