Primitivo Wine Bistro
Categories: Wine Bars, Caterers, Tapas Bars [Edit]
Neighborhood: Venice1025 Abbot Kinney Blvd
Venice, CA 90291 (310) 396-5353
- Price Range: $$$
- Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
- Parking: Street, Valet
- Attire: Casual
- Good for Groups: Yes
- Good for Kids: No
- Takes Reservations: Yes
- Delivers: No
- Take-out: No
- Waiter Service: Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
- Outdoor Seating: Yes
- Good for: Dinner
- Best Nights: Wed, Thu, Sat
- Happy Hour: Yes
- Alcohol: Beer & Wine Only
- Smoking: Outdoor Area/Patio Only
- Coat Check: No
46 reviews
Neighborhood: West Los Angeles
"This place is AWESOME! The selection is huge and the staff is so helpful and they do not make you feel stupid for asking questions. This…" read more »
100 Reviews for Primitivo Wine Bistro
Zoiks! We didn't realize how expensive the tapas were. I don't believe you should pay a premium price for good authentic tapas, but being on Abbot Kinney, you don't have a choice for either.
For a light snack, I had the kanpachi, which sounded like it was on a good amount of salad. Wrong. It was pretty pathetic in terms of quantity, but it did taste good. Your taste buds have to be extra sharp to pick up the subtle lime flavors. I got to taste the prawn soup and that was pretty killer.
If you want a nice meal with a hip setting, Primitivo is the place to go.
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First a shout out to hot waiter Aaron!!! You're hot.
Now, I only gave it 3 stars because I'm not accounting for the company! The people I was with were awesome, we had a great time. Maybe 3.5 stars because the service and ambience played a pretty key role as well, but I mostly judge on food and I have had the same or better at much lower prices.
The Malbec blend that we had though, was to die for. Spanish wines a bit pricey, Argentinian wines a nice price.
SO...the gnocchi was gnocchi, the shrimp, shrimp. The mozzerella on the caprese was uber fresh, that was nice. The short ribs were extremely tender and tasty and the bacon wrapped dates fabulous. Don't order the spanish tortilla potato thing--it was tasteless and dry. The chicken was dumb since it couldn't really be shared. The paella was full of meat so that was a good buy. All in all, decent food, great wine, nice setting. I just want to be blown away by taste after a $400 bill.
Best part of the night: gay-o-meters, lightweights, snob connoissuers and staying still for the damn slow shutter. Oh yeah, and we're all going to hell for the bacon bits!
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I was there just once but I loved it.
It is a little noisy and busy inside, but the seats facing the garden are really good.
The gnocchi is sooo good! we ordered it twice, because we loved it. The fried calamari is very good too. The sangria is very tasty. I would definitely go back!
definitely a good spot for a group. eight of us dined out on the patio which was so charming. our very hot waiter--Aaron--took very good care of us. this place is really more three-star for food. but the ambiance and hot waiter earn it that extra star in my book.
the food is solid if not amazing. loved the bacon wrapped dates here. and was also a fan of the shrimp. the paella was ok, i feel like it may have been too creamy. tho it is packed with seafood. and the heirloom tomato and mozzarella salad was fabulous. the gnocci was super rich and full of cheesy delishousness. chicken was a lil dry and hard to share. we got tons of stuff, but i don't remember anything else. the wine kicked in...the tapas were a bit on the pricey side, but they were also heartier servings. still i think they were all about $2 overpriced.
my favorite thing about the meal was the wine. we had a cabernet/malbec blend that was fantastic. and only about $32 a bottle. so, we had three bottles--and half the people were drinkin beers.
speaking of, who drinks beer at a wine bar? seriously. oh wait, i know who, people who say gayometer instead of gaydar. wait where are you from? texas?
oooohhhh, ok. i get it.
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Holy crap, mine is the 90th review of Primitivo! So I will no doubt be repeating things that have been said before. Oh well....here goes nothin'.....
Their biz card bears this quote:
"In victory, you deserve Champagne, in defeat, you need it."
- Napoleon Bonaparte
I forgot how much I like Abbot Kinney. I haven't been going there nearly often enough lately.
I happened to be passing through at 5:30pm yesterday, starving as usual from almost no food all day.
I decided to look for happy hour food and boy did I ever find the right place. On Monday thru Thursday HH at Primitivo is from 5:30 to 6:30 so my timing was perfect. I found street parking a few doors away.
I'm not into wine, so the HH beer of the day (Stella, $4) worked for me. It's my fave girly beer, haha.
And the HH menu.....wow! It must be eaten at the bar (which was very comfortable seating), except on Sundays. Sunday HH goes from 4 to 6:30 & you can sit anywhere in the restaurant.
Anyways, my food: At bartender's recommendation I got Chipotle BBQ Shortribs with Firecracker Coleslaw, $9 (see photo). I accompanied the ribs with Tortilla Espana, $6, a Spanish potato & onion omelet with sour cream. It's like a souffle/baked potato combo, very light. It's baked casserole-style using eggs, then sliced into wedges. I neglected to take a photo, dangit! I was too busy eating.
The shortribs were melt-in-your-mouth, so damn good. It was essentially a balanced dinner - meat, potato, veggie.
I saw various HH menu selections being served to other patrons - like the romaine salad, the calamari, the pulled pork, the empanadas. All looked fantastic.
I had more than I could eat & ended up bringing home half the omelet (today's breakfast).
So.....all total, without tip, for food dishes & the beer: 20 bucks & change. Pretty good deal for such fine quality.
Primitivo is a very cozy, attractive place.....Abbot Kinney chic. I loved it. The patrons were typical AK people: unpretentious & interesting professional types.
The hostess at Primitivo was a doll, so welcoming. Best of all was the bartender, my server. I didn't get his name, but he is just about the coolest bartender I've met. There is no 'tude at Primitivo - it's a true treasure. They've been around for 6 years.
Their regular menu looks awesome, btw, especially one dessert which I didn't have room for: Cherry Clafoutis (French custard cake) with chocolate sorbet, $8. Oh lordy lordy......
I plan to spend a Sunday afternoon in Abbot Kinney very soon. It's been awhile since I've trekked around there, and there are many new shops. I will cap off the day with Sunday happy hour at Primitivo, can't wait!
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3 glasses of sangrias and i was done!!
they def. don't hold back on the alcohol making these things!
they start tasting like coconut / pineapple sangrias!
the food was good, I would have to say the dates were good, but the lamb patties were de~lish!
the shortribs were kinda overcooked and dry, and i LOVE shortribs...
overally i would definetely come back to try out some of the other goodies!
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Inspired food.
Great art.
Good for date.
Good for friends from out of town.
Good for getting blasted drunk at the bar on their sangria.
Valet only.
Make a reservation.
Don't half step. Drink as much sangria as your gullet can handle.
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The sangria is delish. You must try it.
Being a pescatarian, I was limited at menu choices, but the Sauteed Tiger Shrimp and the Paella minus the chicken and the chorizo worked out quite well. My friend was praising the bacon wrapped dates. I was praised the spinach and strawberry salad.
Service was great, they didn't mind taking the chicken/chorizo out of the paella even though my friend ordered half a chicken!
It wasn't hard to find street parking. Good ambiance, good art, good food.
Ever arrive early to dinner and wait around awkwardly for the rest of your crew to get there? Hooray for a restaurant that provides preventative measures. Stack of magazines to grab one to bury your head in? Check. Cushioned bench so you don't have to hover around the door or bar? Check.
Primitivo has heavenly, melt in your mouth braised short ribs. Although this charming bistro was bustling, my friends and I felt like the service was attentive. Also, it was reasonably priced for what you get. I wish I could describe the essence of the amazing desert we had. The finale had notes of ginger with complex flavors of a dash of fruit and spice, warm crust, and hints of cold cream - essentially what added up to be so much more than just another end to a meal.
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Great food, awesome atmosphere! The wine list is very good, especially if you like European wines. Make sure to make a reservation in advance..
Primitivo is an intimate restaurant to bring a date, especially within the first few dates. It is romantic and neighborly that sets intentions in the right direction without making them blatantly obvious providing enough mystery and buildup for after dinner. In other words, a place that says I thought about it but not too much even though I probably did think about it too much leading up to the actual date.
It has a tapas style menu so a small variety of dishes available to order throughout the meal for those accidental (or purposeful) awkward moments when hands touch while sharing the dish. The bar has a nice assortment of wine but also, good sangria for a light cocktail to smooth things out and maintain the buildup.
Also, the restaurant is tucked away at the far end of the Abbot Kinney neighborhood for a nice stroll pass small shops to a nearby bar for more wine. Yes, on occasion I still get nervous depending on the date so lots of liquor consumption helps.
Overall, decent food, romantically light venue, and good location. However, does it really matter as long as you take someone who can charm you enough to forget all the rest except for her?
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Preface: I went here on a date with a gentleman friend. I liked this place overall. I would come back. Not for the reggaeton.. which will be explained below.
Tapas: Tasty. We ordered a few different plates. We got the bacon wrapped dates. They were tasty. Anything wrapped in bacon is fine by me. We ordered the shrimp and that was good as well. The lamb chops with the taboulis/israeli couscous was delicious. We got the mixed olives, which my date thought tasted like old dirty socks, but I enjoyed them with our wine. (Sometimes the taste of cumin is not so tasty to some). I am sure we ordered other stuff, but I can't remember at this point, since the date took place a few weeks ago. To cap it off, I ordered their creme brulee which was just okay. The top part of the custard wasn't crispy enough. The actual custard itself was nice and rich to me, but a little lukewarm in temperature. (My date prefers creme brulee to be crispy on top and cold and rich below).
Atmosphere: I ate outside and it was romantic (maybe a little too romantic for my taste) There is a garden right next to where we sat and it was nice. The lighting was low and added to the romantic atmosphere. The music they played at first fit the mood, but for some strange reason they started playing reggaeton?!?! WTF. So one star was taken off for that one. (The worst part is that the same songs were playing over and over again!)
Service: Right from where we entered the hostess were very accomodating and polite. They sat us and made sure we were warm enough and settled. Our server was good as well. She was very helpful and paid just enough attention without being over bearing.
I had to travel to LA for business, and the folks that I met brought us here. We had a party of 6, and were seated outdoors on their patio. Though it was a pretty nice night, I found it strange that the patio was surrounded in plastic ... it kinda reminded me of my grandmother's couch, back in the 70's. I felt very hermetically sealed! :)
Upon first glance, it seemed like this was the place to "see and be seen", as there were a lot of "beautiful people" here, doing their thing. The busboy was prompt, and poured water for us and continued to be very attentive throughout the night. The waitress, not so attentive. She brought the menus and took our order, but didn't really feel to enthralled to be there. We ordered all kinds of things - scallops, bacon wrapped dates, lamb chops, couscous, little BBQ riblets, paella and a bunch of other stuff that I'm failing to remember, including 4 bottles of wine (2 reds and 2 whites), and dessert and a glass of 20 year old port for everyone at the table. As the evening wore on, the waitress softened, and became a bit more friendly, but I think it's because she saw how much money we were spending.
I recall the food being pretty good and tasty, and a decent variety of things on the menu, though I wouldn't classify much of it as Spanish. It also seemed a bit pricey.
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This was a yelp meal for us! We followed the reviews and ordered the dates with prosciutto, seared scallops, & followed with the bread pudding. We also ordered the "rock fruit" salad which was a salad with plums and peaches or nectarines (anything with a pit or rock basically) ceviche and garlic shrimp and a few other things I can't remember now...but everything was good and we ordered a few basket of bread to soak up the sauces!
The sangria was good although a bit pricey. Actually, all in all, I thought this place was a bit on the pricey side but you pay for ambiance. I mean, it's Abbott Kinney so it's gonna be a bit pricier! But if you love tapas and love trying a little bit of everything (you can order quite a few dishes if you go even with a small group!), it's worth it.
It was busy on the Friday night we went and parking is tough but we managed to find a spot on a side street.
Lastly, I agree the service as not stellar but it wouldn't stop me from returning. Salud!
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tapas hot and cold
bottles and bottles of wine
festive atmosphere
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One star to me is Generous.
I thought from start to finish the service was bad, the hostness thought she was god's gift to the world and the waiter horrible. I have been before I know the service is MARGINAL but it was so, so, so BAD the last time.
It is VERY costly for what you get. The hoochie mama's and the men that love them are gross.
I love Venice/Abbott Kinney area and the relaxed sense there, I go there specifically for that. It hurts me to slam this restaurant but they need it. I stay away for Hollywood because of the attitude and type of people that go out there.
Beware of wannabe hoochies and the men that love them!!!
Do not waste your hard earned $$$
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I would eat here every night if I could afford it. Primitivo has become the place we take out of town guests. To take a page out of another review (Enjella)
Pros:
amazing food
service
wine list (should be obvious by the name but you never know)
overall atmosphere
Cons:
A little cramped
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This is a really cute and romantic place with a lot of culture. It has a really nice atmosphere and the food was INCREDIBLE!! I'd give 5 stars for the food.
The only reason I gave it 4 stars it that it is not really "tapas" what they serve....so if you're looking for the traditional Spanish and Portuguese tapas food this is not your place.
It is a bit pricey but the food and the ambiance are definitely worth it! =)
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I can't say enough good things about the ambiance. Energetic yet cozy. Great date spot. Enough light to see the food and menu but enough dark where it'll hide her/his blemishes.
We made last minute reservations and they were SOOO accomodating. Tip: Make reservations!
I love places that can support my antics. I dined with 4 of my friends...and each one of them were lushes. The service was on point....they brought a new bottle of wine before we can even finsih our current ones! Perfect for bottoms up! The food was were hits or misses. The short ribs lollipops stood out...mmm..so tender and moist (get your mind outta the gutter).
Ooh..and my friends were from the midwest and wanted to see celebrities. Coincidentally, Sandra Oh sat right behind us! Don't worry, my LA yelp friend....I checked them from snapping shots and being celebrity shocked.
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I got confused because the first time I went to this place was on a Sunday and the tapas were so cheap. When I went again last night.. not so cheap! I was like okay whatever, we drove all the way here, I give up. The food was amazing! I ate my arugula salad so fast, but I wasn't done with it when the busser (busboy, busman?) pulled the plate out under me nanoseconds after I had scooped up a bite with my fork. I hadn't even put the bite in my mouth yet! I wasn't even finished! There were still pieces of lettuce and nuts on the plate! I wanted to eat those!
Moving on. Some weird old guys were seated next to us and then our server disappeared for the rest of the night. I guess we didn't really need any more to eat, we already ordered 5 tapas total and I guess that is enough! But it kind of annoyed me that she disappeared but was all over the guys next to us. We weren't sure if one of them was famous, maybe that was it. They were extra special creepy though, grabbing her arm and stuff - I bet she was really grossed out.
The gnocchi with cheese sauce was, as our server put it, the "best mac and cheese you've ever had" - YES, it is. It was so rich that we couldn't finish it.. and mixed in with several kinds of gooey cheeses and bacon brioche.
You might ask me why I'm four-starring instead of three-starring, with the quickly disappearing salad plate and creepy men stealing our server away. Because the food is amazing! And here's the kicker - I, being the dummie-dum that I am sometimes, recently lost my entire wallet and had to reorder all of my credit cards. I did not realize that you need to re-active the new card when you get it (again, dummie-dum) because it has already been activated once! Well let me just tell you, you NEED to activate you new card. If you don't, you will be SO embarrassed when your server brings it back to you, tells you she tried it three times and it didn't go through. She probably thought I was some poor person! So not only did she have to deal with that.. but then after I paid with my other card (that strangely worked even though I never activated the new one), I accidentally left the card behind. The restaurant called me right away! I was annoyed that I had to go back (at myself, not them), but I appreciated that they called.
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Since discovering Primitivo a couple years ago, it has been my girlfriends' and I's go to place before a night on the town. The food is delicious, tons of wine selections (Even by the half glass). After 7, it's always WAY too crowded though, and way loud. One star off for snooty hostesses, when we had been waiting over 15 minutes past our reservation time (oh and MAKE reservations!) tried to give our table away to some DD's in fur, before remember we were sitting less than a foot away from her, and could HEAR her telling the other hostess to sit them before us.
Otherwise, the bacon wrapped dates are TO DIE FOR. Everything I've had there has been scrumptious from the kalamari, to the jumbo shrimp to the salads to some leek soup. But don't forget the BACON WRAPPED DATES!
This place was amazing!
I was starving late on monday night driving trying to find food. This was the only thing which looked open and lucky for me it was! i believe everything happens for a reason. This is my new favorite place. I was so satisfied with dinner. It was wonderful food. I had the ceaser salad, shrimp with wine sauce and chili flakes, and some other dishes. We also had the bread pudding which was sooo amazing!
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I didn't really eat here, so I can't attest to the quality of the food - though the bacon-wrapped dates were pretty good (but a little goat cheese would make them heavenly) - but I really liked the ambiance of this place and can't wait to go back for dinner sometime.
The sign for Sangria Sunday was all it took to reel us in for some $4 glasses of sangria at the bar. I think they might offer slightly cheaper tapas specials from 4-6:30 on Sundays if you're trying to save some cash.
The crowd seemed very local and very close-knit. I loved the varied chandeliers/light fixtures and the very cool paintings from Natalia Fabia. Oh, and did I mention the bartender was a hottie? (And nice, too!)
So...my advice? Go on a late Sunday afternoon and enjoy a glass of sangria without all the crowds/attitude.
The food here is delicious.
I've been meaning to come back
In fact, I did but then ended up at Hal's Bar & Grill down the street
because they were fully booked - even tho we came before the dinner rush arrived. So it loses one star for that.
PROS
Yummy food - reminds me of food I would eat in the east coast.
Bread basket is yummy.
Cozy & Intimate (glass half full)
CONS
(glass half empty) Crowded & Cramped so it does get loud - and sometimes you feel like you are barking instead of talking with your friends.
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Few restaurants can survive and thrive like Primitivo does. A mix of exotic, yet well portioned dishes provide a reason to stay, and the pitchers of sangria make you want to stay until close.
It's not cheap, but it is always amazing to splurge.
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BACON WRAPPED DATES. One of the best creations by man. And at Primitivo, they're the best of the best.
Love, love, love this place! I've been to Primitivo for lunch and dinner, and it's one of my LA faves. Love the ambiance, the food, the wine...it's a great place for any kind of special occasion. Romantic lighting with upscale casual atmosphere - this place is always buzzing! Great prix fixe for lunch.
I went with my friend and her family for dinner - there were about 12 of us and had a long table outside. The service couldn't have been more friendly and prompt. The fresh bread kept coming, along with the delicious olive tapenade and ailoi on the side...mmmmm bread.
The menu consists of about 10 cold/10 hot "tapas" and a few daily specials. The dishes range from modern twists on traditional Spanish dishes (tortilla espana, paella with chicken, mussels, shrimp and chorizo, etc), to delicious meat and cheese plates, salads, fish, chicken, meat, etc. The Stone Fruit salad is amazing. Other standouts include the braised shortribs and steak frites. The flavors of all the dishes are complex and the food is incredibly fresh. Warm bread pudding for dessert is pretty kick ass. The wine list is extensive and the sommelier offers suggestions for pairings with each dish.
The place is definitely a bit pricey, but well worth the indulgence!
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Wow, who doesn't like Primitivo!? After seeing everyone else's reviews, no wonder this place is poppin'! It's seriously packed here, no matter what night of the week. Parking is kind of a pain, but then again, so is everywhere else on Abbot Kinney. There is, however valet, which makes everything easier.
Went here last Friday night, and it was packed. Luckily, we had reservations. However, they wouldn't seat us until everyone in our party arrived. We ate inside, and there was definitely not a lot of wiggle room. The tables are so close together, you can feel people trying to inch around your chair, just to get around.
It is certainly a great date spot. Ambiance is great, and the food was delicious. Everything we ordered was great! Oh, and the yummy Sangria to complliment it all! This is definitely a place I will frequent!
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I was so sure I had reviewed this place....I guess not. I've been here about 3 times now and loved it each time. Atmosphere is super cute. I like the back patio area to sit at --the one time I sat inside, it was way too dark! Staff is generally friendly and service was great each time. Good wine list, and amazing food.
My favorites have been: the bacon wraped dates, the oxtail, and the desserts! The pistachio creme brule was so rich and delicious! I wasn't a very big fan of the cheese/meats platter, I've had better a way better platter at Shade Hotel in Manhattan Beach.
This is a great melow romantic restaurant where you can enjoy nibbling off the same plates, drink some great wines, and have great conversation (it's usually not ridiculously loud)
Parking on the street sucks a bit, but just make it easy and valet. Great bars within walking distance to stroll to for more after dinner drinks too =]
This place is fun with a group of friends.
Food: Sharable tapas fare. Nothing too innovative, and the menu options for tapas are kind of limited. But you get good quality execution, so you can't go wrong. Delicious salad options like the Stone Fruit.
Wine List: They've got a lengthy wine list with some interesting offerings from around the world. If an entire bottle doesn't suit your table, they do offer the wines, recommended by the sommelier for pairing with the evening's dishes, by the glass. However, this could easily add up to more than the price of a several bottles.
Vibe and decorum: This place is fun. Bigger than it looks from the outside. I agree about the poor lighting. Can't see shit. But it is conducive to hushed conversation that pairs well with the intimate vibe of the place, since you have to learn over to talk to the person across from you. Classy-looking paintings with wide brush strokes adorn the walls.
Price: Dinner for 3 with 5 shared plates, corkage fee for a bottle from home, and a California Syrah came out to roughly forty bucks a person. Not too bad.
Not cool: $5 valet parking, even with validation. Pretty cheap of them not to comp. Tented seating in the back works in summer, but not so much on cold, rainy winter nights. Too cramped and drafty.
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Wow. This place is excellence in dining with a relaxed atmosphere. First, the wine list is impressive. On the last outing, we were seated quickly (had reservations!) our waitress was fantastic with suggestions on my wine choices, general service and a great attitude to compliment the evening. She was so enjoyable, she would have been welcome to join our table. The food, tapas, as you no doubt know all about by now, were simple, tasty and just perfect to share over bottles of wine. We were seated outside on the patio and talked the night away over much wine. That was not my first time, nor will it be my last.
We usually park with the valet for simplicity. You can try to find street parking with varying degrees of difficulty, but for $5, it's worth it. The place was packed with well dressed people and it was lively, but not too loud. I do like Sunday here as well. This place is not cheap, but it is worth it. Our table had more than its share of wine, so when the tab was over $300, it was hardly unexpected.
I LOVE this place. There is nothing better than having a few small plates and great wine on this back patio. Inside the restaurant can get loud, but sitting at the bar, you must try all kinds of wines poured by the very handsome bartenders.
Skirt steak is fantastic. I even like that they have great flights of wine and the bartenders are really adventurous. They will give you tastes if you ask of course. The recommendations are always spot on.
The back patio or the bar. Outstanding atmosphere for sure. I take every visitor from out of town here.
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Fun place to go! For a weeknight, every table in the house was taken, the bar was packed, people were drinking, eating, conversing, and having a good time. With that said, make a reservation.
The place is small and very dark. I had a hard time reading the menu and probably looked stupid when I held the menu up high in the air to be able to get some lighting. Our waiter did not check in with us during the meal. We asked for the dessert menu when he cleared our plates, and then he forgot to bring us the dessert menu. Just completely forgot us. When we reminded him for the dessert menu, he was apologetic and said dessert was on the house.
Primitivo has hot and cold tapas and a variety of wines from around the world. It's not your traditional Spanish tapas, but it is fun to try many small dishes.
Now onto the food...
Fried Calamari with Lemon Garlic Aioli - Typical well-made, crispy calamari. The rings were cut thick. The aioli was delicious and I ended up dunking my calamari into it to get as much as I can.
Sauteed Tiger Shrimp with Garlic, Lemon, White Wine, Chilies - Six shrimp came in a little bowl topped with chucks of garlic and chilies. All the flavor were in the topping and sauce - not enough flavor in the shrimp.
Steak Fritties, Grilled NY Steak with Shoestring Fries - Disappointing. Ordered the steak medium and it was pink in the middle, but they managed to really char the outside. All I tasted was the bitterness of the charred meat and none of the sauce flavors came through. The fries were good.
Bacon Wrapped Medjool Dates - The SUPERSTAR of the night. Wow. These things are amazing and I would come back just to eat these babies. Thick cut of bacon wrapped around a warm date - an amazing dance in your mouth of savory and sweet. I'm drooling. Six to a plate.
Paella with Chicken, Tiger Shrimp, Mussels, Chorizo - A little disappointing. The paella was too wet and reminded me more of a risotto. Good paella should have dry, separate, and flavorful rice.
Warm Bread Pudding - I liked the bread pudding - not too wet and not too dry. It comes out topped with a crispy cinnamon phyllo sheet and scoop of vanilla ice cream. Very happy w/the dessert.
Valet parking or street parking.
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A local's favorite. Garlic Shrimp is a MUST - just don't kiss your sig-O anytime in the next 24 hours afterwards. Jimmy, the Manager - RULES. AHHH - the Sangria!
Primativo has been on the 'A' list ever since it opened on the Westide mecca of Abbott Kinney. It's a great place for a social meal or group dinner, and its always lively with lots of wine & sangria flowing.
The food is average, however. Good tapas is impossible to find in LA, and Primativo is not your place if you're looking for authentic spanish style tapas. There is a great variety of small plates, each of which is decent, so it will definitely fit the bill for family style sharing and big group dinners. Just don't expect to be blown away.
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My friends and I landed here on a Saturday evening without a reservation and instead of having snotty service, we were seated promptly under the condition that we free the table 1.5 hours later. Since the entire party of 3 wasn't that hungry, we agreed. Due to of our imposed time limit, we had incredibly fast service.
We had the tortillas, steak frites and paella. Also, the bread and what looked like an aioli was great too. And because we did not have a long dinner there, I will keep this short and simple.
Met with my good friends KK and Iniko for dinner pre-Lenny Kravitz at the Santa Monica Civic Center.
Uhmm...it's REALLY Dark in there. I mean it's cute and everything but our server had to give us little flashlights to read the menu.
Maybe they should splurge a little bit more on votives.
For the food...
We did it family style so everyone could have a little taste..
Ceviche- it came with home made potato chips and nice big pieces of shrimp in the Ceviche. The Ceviche was nice and fresh with some bite to it.
Calamari - A little bit soggy but good for the most part.
Bacon Wrapped Dates - I LOVE THIS
Scallops- Tender, right amount of flavoring and not over powering
Rock Shrimp - I could've just had this for dinner...but a little bit too garlicy just to munch on..
Seared Rack of Lamb- Unfortunately, Pookie doesn't eat lamb but my friends said it was good.I trust them to be.
I'd go back but maybe in the middle of the week. It was kinda loud in there. I don't like having to shout across the table...
Kisses,
Pooks
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I love Primitivo as well. They have the best happy hour specials for the food and wine. Matt, the bartender is so nice and witty and he aint bad to look at either. They serve this basket of sliced sourdough with olive tapenade an this spicy mayonnaise...delish!
Try the croque monsieur sandwich which is basically a monte cristo with black forest ham and cheese. MAN! The tiger prawns as well. Ambience is dark, but I wouldn't say it is uncomfortably dark..just sexy dark :) The inside is kinda small, but I never see it completetly crowded, probably because I never stay so late. This place specializes in tapas (not the OG Spanish tapas), so I try a few small plates when I go.
I like to go early on the weeknights, when all the wait staff isn't there, standing around, twittling their thumbs and waiting for the dinner crowd. Kinda annoying.
All in all, a good place to stop for drinks and have fun convo and share plates.
Till next time.
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Used to be my favorite restaurant in LA, based on the food, ambience and location. Now the food is awful. I ordered 9 dishes the last time I was there and ONE was decent. Not sure if they're going through some chef or supply problems but try elsewhere. If they get their act back together, I'll come back, but until then...
Very Good! However, I would give it more than 2 dollar signs. These small plates add up quickly.
Lets be brief and concise shall we? bacon-wrapped date - outstanding!
Lamb (bobs of some sort) tremendous (but wanted like 5 more)!
Wine selection and assistance - pretty dang good.
And very cute hostess to boot.