Nonna's Pasta & Pizzeria
G/F, Solenad 3, Nuvali, Sta Rosa, Laguna
(Near Robinsons Supermarket)

We saw a teaser video for the Magical Field of Lights in Nuvali, so we decided to go for a drive and watch the lights display. The first thing that came to my mind when I thought of Nuvali? Nonna's. I've read a lot about this place and I never got the chance to try it since we don't really go to this area. But since we're here, Nonna's, here we come!

We arrived the restaurant at around 1:45pm and the place wasn't really full that we still got to choose where to sit. I thought maybe it's because it's way past lunch time, but just after we sat down, families started coming in.

I came from a food tasting for our Christmas Party, so I wasn't really that hungry, so we just ordered their Mushroom Chicharon and Prosciutto Arugula.

Mushroom Chicharon P160

It's not what I expected, but in a good way. I wouldn't have guessed that this was made of mushrooms. It was soft, but not chewy, and had a little crisp on the outside. I was able to appreciate the dish better when dipped in their vinaigrette. This was a good starter.

Prosciutto Arugula P450

Brick oven pizza with pomodoro, prosciutto, some parmesan cheese and arugula. We were told to use their special honey chili sauce and it was divine! I loved how I was able to taste a lot of elements in this dish. The saltiness coming from the prosciutto, the bitterness from the arugula, and both the sweetness and a hint of spice from their honey sauce.

Serving size is quite okay. There were two of us who shared the food and it was really heavy. Pricing is a bit cheaper than other Italian places. It's reasonable.

The place has a simple yet positive vibe, perhaps because it feels like home. Service is outstanding, kudos to the staff.

I'd love to try more of Nonna's dishes, starting with their pastas. I'm also looking forward to visiting their sister restaurant Mama Lou's Italian Kitchen!

My score:

Pricing – 4/5

Service – 5/5

 Ambiance – 5/5  

     Taste – 4/5