A Taste of Italian Charm

This charming and intimate Italian restaurant is located in the heart of Vale de Parra, Guia and just 10 minutes drive from Galé beach. What a delightful dining option for families and friends with Prima Pasta delivering traditional Italian cuisine to a high standard.

My daughter, partner and I, arrived at opening time and were made to feel welcomed by the friendly waiter and owners. The atmosphere was relaxing and inviting with rustic charm.

The inside was Italian-themed with bold reds and greens and vintage-style photography of Italy as well as bulb lighting hanging above us, which added to the charm of the place, creating a warm backdrop. The outside terrace was also a haven, I can imagine it being the perfect place to spend warm summer evenings, as all the tables are surrounded by greenery with plenty of flower pots and again, gorgeous lighting which added to the comfortable feel the restaurant gave us.

Food with passion

Prima Pasta was acquired two years ago by new owners Iryna and Didier, who are experienced and passionate about authentic Italian food and have been making positive changes to the beloved restaurant. Their high standards are reflected throughout their new menu to reflect their love for great Italian dishes and they have not stopped there with the addition of Italian wines and plans to expand on Italian favourites in their dessert menu. They also shared that dishes are made with real Italian ingredients sourced from Italian suppliers. Iryna and Didier explained that the community has really welcomed them and that Prima Pasta has become a favourite of young Portuguese people.

To start, we shared a delicious Prosciutto and Mozzarella, topped on a crisp Bruschetta and drizzled with green olive oil. For the main course, the Spaghetti Bolognese was a hit with my daughter, which I stole a bite from and it was equally delicious. You could tell that everything had been made with a lot of care and all using fresh Italian ingredients which added to its richness.

I opted for the Spaghetti Calamari e Gamberetti which was honestly delicious with a beautiful rich tomato and garlic sauce along with plenty of tender squid and shrimp and a generous sprinkling of parsley. The seafood pasta dish was creamy with the perfect blend of traditional flavours. Every bite was addictive. What I really enjoyed was the fact that the tomato sauce was not too sharp, it had the perfect balance so it had a caramelised flavour to the dish.

My partner decided to try the Pugliese Pizza from the Gourmet Pizza section, when it arrived, the pizza was of the traditional style and it had a light and fluffy base, topped with spicy salami, mozzarella, red onion and basil as well as being generously topped with a gorgeous burrata which was soon spread across the entire pizza. This pizza was a success and my partner thought it had great flavour balance.

Sweet treats

The homemade desserts were phenomenal and really were the best way to end the meal. Despite being full my daughter chose vanilla ice cream with chocolate sauce. Expecting a scoop with sauce, to our daughter’s delight, it was a sundae glass with ice cream, sweet chocolate sauce and sprinkles as well so her night was truly made.

I followed our daughter's lead and was tempted by the Raspberry pavlova which I must say was the best pavlova I have had in the Algarve, trust me on this one because it is my firm favourite go for this dessert at any restaurant that has it on the menu but this really was a showstopper. It was the perfect balance between tangy and sweet, a crisp meringue filled with vanilla ice cream with a dollop of whipped cream with forest fruits and a raspberry sauce.

My partner had key lime pie which was a delightful treat for those who prefer more citrus desserts, it was a frozen slice which was light creamy lime topping over a buttery biscuit base. He described it as being not too tart and not too sweet so it was balanced really spectacularly.

Prima Pasta also have a wide selection of Portuguese wines and they also promote Italian wines. In terms of wine, we were offered an Italian wine which was a Fratelli Giulias Amarone della Valpolicella from 2018. It seemed an excellent red wine as it beautifully brought out the Italian flavours of the dishes.

To wrap the experience up, we thanked the chef for her wonderful dishes. It was a pleasure to meet the incredible chef behind the dishes we had enjoyed so much, she has 7 years experience working in Italian cuisine and being taught by Italian chefs of high esteem and her experience and enthusiasm for authenticity really showed.

Prima Pasta are open every day except for Sundays, from 6pm until 10pm, with takeaway also available but please check their Facebook “Prima Pasta” and Instagram page ristorante.primapasta to keep up to date with the restaurant.

Following undertaking her university degree in English with American Literature in the UK, Cristina da Costa Brookes moved back to Portugal to pursue a career in Journalism, where she has worked at The Portugal News for 3 years. Cristina’s passion lies with Arts & Culture as well as sharing all important community-related news.

Cristina da Costa Brookes