Each time a new Italian restaurant pops up in town, it creates such a buzz and expectations are always set high as Jakartans love their pasta. At Pesto Autentico, it is evident that they know their market, as their venue features a grand and elaborate setting, while at the same time they offer a simple dining experience. The venue is very spacious and industrial and could possibly fit 200 pax and it has also 2 private dining rooms that would be perfect for special occasions.

Looking at their menu and their featured items, you know that at Pesto they are confident in dishes that include seafood and pork dishes. There is an abundance of choices for vegetarian and non pork and hot & spicy dishes as well. For starters, a very good selection of salads are available at Pesto, which is quite refreshing at an Italian restaurant, as it is not often that you see more than five choices available to you. How does Insalata con Futta e Pinoli sound to you? To translate, it is fresh salad with pear, pine nuts and pecorino cheese drizzled with honey and olive oil. Divine right?

The basic Pizza favorites are more than ample at Pesto and certainly very tempting. But we recommend you flip your menu over to the opposite side and go straight to the sublime Pasta and Risotto selection. The Spaghetti Vittorio comes with fresh baby cherry tomatoes, prawns and squid and the taste combination of tomato paired with the Martell Cognac and hint of chilli is just divine. Another pasta hit is listed on their blackboard display (which changes on a weekly basis) which is the Fettucine Con Pesto Anchovies or Fettucine in pesto sauce with anchovies.

If you are looking for a place that serves a wide variety of Italian cuisine, especially pasta dishes, we recommend you give Pesto a try.