Popular Modesto Italian eatery expands with new restaurant in Ceres

They may be called Pastas Pronto, but they’re fast becoming Pastas Prolific.

This week, the family-owned Italian restaurant opened its third location in Ceres. The Zamora family own and operate two other Pastas Pronto in Modesto, one on H Street and another on Coffee Road.

Their new spot, on Fourth Street in downtown Ceres, is the largest to date and took a year to renovate. The result is an open and inviting space that serves the family’s signature dishes and a few new offerings.

Co-owner Sergio Zamora Jr., who runs the restaurants with his father Sergio Sr., said they weren’t necessarily looking for another location when the Ceres site was suggested to them. The space on the newly redeveloped Fourth Street was the former site of the U.S. Post Office, and still bears an American eagle seal on its facade. Zamora Jr. said they got to know the building owner and things just fell into place.

“We weren’t so much looking for it, but it found us,” he said.

The new restaurant is about twice the size of its other two existing eateries. Inside, large murals of Italian village scenes are painted on its walls. The original wood floors have been refinished and a commercial kitchen was built into the space. The dining room seats just under 100 and includes a small built-in bar in the back.

The family moved to Modesto in 2001 has been cooking for years. They started with a small taqueria, which they owned for a few years. And then five years ago, they opened Pastas Pronto on H Street. Two years later they opened their second Pastas Pronto on Coffee Road.

The menu includes Italian favorites like eggplant parmigiana, chicken cacciatore and veal marsala, which it serves at its other locations. But with more spaces comes more options, including an assortment of steaks, rack of lamb and brick-oven pizza.

Zamora Jr. said they plan to partner with Ceres’ new Blaker Brewing and other local beer makers to serve craft brews on tap. They also plan to start offering happy hour specials.

“We want to be a local hub for people hanging around. Come catch a drink or appetizer with us,” he said. “It’s still the same food, same recipes, just a bigger locale and more extensive menu.”

Pastas Pronto is at 2930 Fourth St., Ceres. Its hours are 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday to Thursday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday and 2 to 9 p.m. Saturday. For more information call 209-248-5444.

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While a large “For Lease” has gone up on the marquee above its entrance on J Street, General Manager Alex Aguilar said that is for the unused space on the downtown building’s second and third floors. After opening last August, the downtown Modesto restaurant and bar shut down operations around the New Year. Aguilar said they are still revamping the concept and will begin hiring new staff. He hopes to open again in about a month.

This story was originally published February 24, 2018 at 3:42 PM with the headline "Popular Modesto Italian eatery expands with new restaurant in Ceres."