Presto! Pastaworks

this place is consistently good for the price you pay. they have fanatic selection of somewhat healthy options everyday. as well they have fresh made pasta during lunch hours. the fettuccine is amazing. I find the soups a bit salty but the sandwiches and salads are consistently good. it’s a great gem at Sunnyside.

When it comes to exciting lunch time options in Bedford, Sunnyside Mall is where it’s at. Occasionally you want to branch out from the safety of Pete’s. Occasionally this is a great idea, sometimes, not so much.
I was feeling like a sandwich for lunch and a nice toasty panini seemed like it might do the trick. I went with the tomato, mozzarella and basil panini to go. Price wise, I think I paid around $ 7 which is average. The disappointing thing was that when I got back to the office, my Caprese sandwich was actually cheddar cheese, tomato and pesto. All of this would have been fine except the cheese was actually just a processed Kraft style cheese slice.
Needless to say, I was pretty disappointed.
I’ve had some of their other stuff before and was impressed with the quality and how delicious it all was, so I was kind of baffled about the fake cheese happening on my sandwich…
Next time I’ll probably just stick to the safe path.

If you want a hearty combo at a reasonable price ~12 $ incl drink, this is always a good option.
The main combo items you will find are panini sandwiches, salads & soups. You can also look at their fresh pasta & sauce if you want to take it home. A pasta bundle will usually be enough for a couple.
Some of the salads are hit & miss, but overall I never had a bad combo. The staff have been great.

I have eaten here many, many times over the years, mainly because it was (and still is) the healthiest option in Sunnyside Mall.
Being from Sackville originally (something I don’t announce often), I have spent a lot of time in Bedford, considering it was the closest place to shop. Also, I worked in Sunnyside Mall years ago, and now, I find myself working in the mall once again on Sunday afternoons.
Presto! — I give you props for making a lot of your food from scratch, I really do. To be honest, the food here HAS gotten better over the years, but I still feel like it is missing something.
Here is the main problem: a lot of the food is decent, but I don’t find the flavour or quality consistent. Sometimes the food is really flavourful, and other times, it’s not so great. Also, the fact that everything is kept cold and is heated in a microwave, takes away from the overall appeal and presentation of the food.
Something I will point out, is their impressive selection of hot soups. There are always dairy-​free, gluten-​free and vegetarian options available, which is always a plus.
(TRY: The Maple, Carrot and Sweet Potato Soup. If nothing else, you MUST try this if they have it. It is delicious, and I find it usually tastes similar every time I order it.)

When working in Bedford every day, sometimes you need to explore new options when it comes to finding great lunches. Unfortunately, most of these new options are all found at good olé Sunnyside Mall*. While Pete’s salads are usually a safe bet, sometimes I’m just in the mood for something that is a little closer to home-​cooking, and I tend to have found it at Presto.
This standalone booth makes fresh soups, salads, paninis and pastas daily, while also bringing in (I assume) perogies, samosas, and other treats. Most of the menu is standard from day-​to-​day but the soups tend to change up. The staff is super friendly, helpful, and totally helps sell the experience of getting a hearty meal to-​go.
I’ve never had a meal here that blew me away but it always did the trick. Filling and healthy-​adjacent, it was a great quick option in a pick. That said, the prices are a little steep for what you get. Nonetheless, you’ll always be the envy of the office when you show up with one of their delicious soups and flatbread!
*Unless you’re a Bedford Place kind of person in which case your judgment is already suspect.