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- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street, Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Music:
- Juke Box
- Best Nights:
- Fri, Wed, Sun
- Happy Hour:
- Yes
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Smoking:
- Outdoor Area/ Patio Only
- Coat Check:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
About This Business:
We pride ourselves in creating authentic Italian cuisine. From our thin crust, hand tossed, New York style pizza, to our fresh cooked pasta. We use only… read more »
106 reviews for Primizie Osteria Italian Cafe And Wine Bar
Review Highlights
"Try the Spaghettonio alla e Olio con Gamberi, seriously."
(in 4 reviews)
"I now have dreams of savory little gnocchi pillows."
(in 24 reviews)
"The lemon basil mojito is the best drink ever."
(in 3 reviews)
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106 reviews in English
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Review from Ron Y.
12/24/2009
I've been there 4-5 times and I love their food. It's definitely good tasting and I just love the bread that comes with the entree portions. Their chef specials are pricey and maybe I should ask before ordering. The cost goes into the presentation so beware. The food portions are also smaller than usual.
They have a large glass display case of tarts and other desserts. Very good. -
Review from Mike B.
Austin, TX
2/26/2008 ROTD 10/17/2008
***THIS IS AN AMMENDMENT***
Let's talk a bit about customer appreciation a bit. I know that I've talked a bit about this before (Longhorn Glass) but I have to get this out there.....I really appreciate what these people do. I worked in the restraunt business and the lack of customer appreciation from the time I left to now amazes me. Primizie is a giant exception to the last sentance. They have been very grateful for my comments and business. In a time when businesses have forgotten just who it is that pays their bills, Primizie goes out of their way to let you know that you are appreciated. I just want to thank them for bringing back my confidence in man, mainly the business owner. THANKS PRIMIZIE!
**THIS IS THE ORIGINAL COMMENT**
Ok people, really one, two stars. What the hell are you expecting? This place hasn't even been open a year yet, give it some time for settling in before you yank it out!! Look at my other review for "Primizie Osteria," without the whole long name and you will see.
When I go here I tend to order from the special board. I've had them all, and they all fail to compare to the one I had last Friday night. It was a lamb shank sorta Osso Bucco style. It has to be the best dish of food I have EVER had, anywhere, hands down. The reduced sauce was a perfect complement to the meat. The portion was generous and filling.
This is one of my favorite places to eat. Hell, I got engaged here I like it so much. They have made some improvements in the place as well. Like the curtains to help with the acoustics. Absolutely the best move because it no longer echos, echos, echos...The staff that has been there since the place has opened has dwindled. I only recognize about 3 in front of the house, but the kitchen looks the same. I love this place!Listed in: Top Restaurants
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Review from veek n.
3/27/2008
Went for dinner with 3 friends last night. Nice location on east 11th. The cafe is modern and spacious. There were only about 5 tables filled, out of maybe 20. Service was friendly and helpful. Good wine selection, and knowledgeable staff helped us pick a nice moderately priced wine that suited us just fine.
We shared the Carciofi Ripieni (stuffed artichoke) for an appetizer. The artichoke was nice and tender. The cheese stuffing was a little bland. The appetizer was ok - but did not wow me.
For dinner we had four entrees that we shared. The Panzanella Primizie was a nice arugula salad with grilled peaches (not butternut squash as the menu posted on their website states), canellini and green beans, and light shavings of parmesan - dressed with a light balsamic viniagrette. Very good, fresh and light. I am really picky about salad dressings and use them sparingly - this was perfectly applied, for my taste.
The Insalata Misto had greens, grilled avocado, and pancetta - it looked as inviting as the Panzanella Primizie but I personally did not have any of it. Suffice it to say the plate was empty when my friends and I had finished.
We had the Caprini e Balsamico pizza - it was awesome. Nice thin crust - generous application of goat cheese, greens, and carmelized onions. Perfectly cooked and delicious.
The fourth entree we tried was the Gnocchi di patata con finferlo e mais. This was a potato gnocchi sauteed in a brown butter sauce with chanterelle mushrooms and corn. Very tasty, and still managing to feel "light" despite the fact that it was gnocchi. In brown butter. Yum.
For dessert we shared a fruit tart. My kind of dessert - not overly sweet, and with a delicious crust. I can't tell you what kind of fruit was in the tart - it did not last long enough.
Though this may sound like a 4-star review, I'm giving 3 stars because I felt the place is a bit overpriced. So the service is really quite fine, and the food is very good, but I felt it was pricey. The stuffed artichoke app, for example, was $11. That was just too much for what we actually got. And there is a bakery case at the front of the cafe with all sorts of tempting confections - I thought of bringing an assortment of cookies home for my family - but a single italian wedding cookie was $1. A decent sized chocolate chip cookie was $1.50. Too much.
Dinner for four with a bottle of wine (plus 3 glasses of wine and a cocktail before dinner) all came to about $160 with tip. While I was glad to try Primizie, for $160 we'll try someplace else next time. -
Review from Michelle C.
Austin, TX
10/15/2007
Where, oh where has Primizie been my whole life? I discovered this place just last week, thanks to you Yelpers in the know, and my first outing was enough to convince me to bring my parents back with me during one of their rare visits to Austin. My hubby and Liz C., who is not only game for new food quests, but also for challenges such as keeping one's parents entertained, accompanied us, as well. My second outing was just as good, if not better.
The Spaghettoni Aglio e Olio con Gamberi (spaghetti-like pasta with shrimp, red chile, carmelized garlic, and parsley) inspires me to swear off Atkins forever. Now THIS is some good pasta. The Gnocchi is perfectly tender, and that sage brown butter it is served in makes me swoon. I've also tried the Antipasti Misto and the Caesar salad, both of which were outstanding. And that appetizer with the fried calamari, shrimp, artichoke, and lemon slices in basil aioli? Fantastic. I especially loved the unexpected addition of the fried lemon in the mix. We also sampled one of their desserts, a tart with macadamia nuts and white chocolate that was to die for. There was not a single thing I put in my mouth during either of the two meals (and I was poaching off everyone's plates) that I didn't think was truly fantastic.
The decor is modern and beautifully done - whoever likened it to the Galaxy Cafe hit the nail on the head. Clean lines, dark wood furniture, all complimented by a healthy dose of natural light from the large windows looking out onto 11th Street. It does get a little loud in here, though, due to the concrete floors and lack of any kind of sound-absorbing material anywhere.
You order at the counter, but the service is still extremely attentive; they bring your food to your table and are prompt about refilling your drinks and clearing away plates. All the employees are cheerful, helpful, and all seem genuinely happy to be there. I am not normally inclined to tip heavily when I order at the counter, but this place inspires me to leave the usual 20%-plus.
Didn't have trouble getting a table on either visit, and parking is plentiful in this area.
Primizie has instantly catapulted itself to the top of my restaurant rotation. Check it out - you WILL love it!
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EDIT 11/11/07: On my third visit here, I ordered the spaghettoni, and it was overpoweringly lemony. Our server apologized profusely, explaining that they make the sauces fresh daily, so they vary somewhat from day to day and from chef to chef. She very cheerfully and quickly brought me something else, the fettucine alfredo, which somehow managed to be light (the sauce is not very creamy, but I loved it) and the texture of the fettucine was absolutely perfect. Then, as if that weren't enough (and it was, in my book), she comped my meal.
I'll be a customer of Primizie's for life! -
Review from Steve B.
Austin, TX
2/7/2009
Fresh, original and stylish. Tasty too.
A recent third visit to this near-East Side osteria prompted me to finally write a quick review. Each visit has been pleasant, and delivered well-prepared food served promptly at a reasonable price. There is a small wine list, a small bar, a reasonable selection of draft & bottled beers and a specials menu that is always worth checking out.
The decor is a bit spare, all stained concrete and modern light wood, but a pleasant chatter develops in the full restaurant and the overall effect is pleasing. I was not at all bothered by the noise level some reviewers have mentioned, nor the lack of a host/hostess. You could hit every table in the place from the door with a lightly tossed breadstick, so a host seems kind of superfluous.
The Insalata Caprese featured tasty dried tomato and fresh mozzarella and a flat bread that is like crack. I opted for the beer-braised beef short ribs that were on special, and they did not disappoint. They fell from the bone with a bare nudge of my fork, and melted into beefy beery goodness in my mouth. Companion once again started with the Roasted Beet Bruschetta, (a dish that tastes much better than it sounded to this non-beet lover) and chose a Pork Scallopine special for his entree, which he pronounced nothing less than marvelous.
We were on our way to a show at the Bass so were a bit pressed for time, and the service was prompt, attentive and pleasant--we had plenty of time to eat and make it in comfortable time.
Just about 500 feet East of I-35 on newly resurgent East 11th Street, Primizie is worth a trip before a show, or for a pleasant lunch or dinner out. They have a pretty simple formula, executed well. -
Review from Jaye J.
Austin, TX
10/2/2007
Everyone used to complain that there was no Italian food in Austin. Lately however, that's changed. I can't attest to the quality of all of these new places, but I can attest to Primizie.
A friend and I popped in here the other night for a late dinner and a bottle of wine. First, they have a really decent bottle of wine (variety of which I can't remember, but it was a long Italian name that started with an M) for $13. Hey! That's friggin' cheap!
My friend started with the beet bruschetta which was amazing, and I didn't think I was a fan of beets. Of course, the fact that the beets were on top of goat cheese and bread might have helped in making me a fan.
I started with the small spinach salad. This salad is what the spinach salad at Enoteca wants to be. The gorgonzola dolce isn't over powering like the Enoteca version, but matches in size and amount perfectly with the sweet nuts. The dressing is light and balanced rather than overly tangy too. I really love that salad!
For an entre my friend had the Panzanella, which I thought about getting and decided against. I'll try it next time though if I can stray from the spinach salad. It was butternut squash, white beans and bread with greens and the bite I had was yummy.
My entre was the taglitelle with bolognese. The pasta was so perfectly cooked, and I wonder if it was homemade pasta. I'm not sure because I did see boxes of pasta in the kitchen, but I do remember seeing that something was handmade on the menu. Anyway, it was so good. I can never eat an entire serving of pasta in a restaurant, but not only was this so good that I did, it was also a normal human being sized serving and not that which looked fit for a giant.
For dessert we shared the Panna Cotta with caramel. The caramel was a really light syrup that tasted super buttery and rich, but not in an icky, greasy way.
The ambiance of the place is great too. I love the way it looks and the layout. It's casual but cool without being super pretentious. The only drawback is that it can get a little on the loud side since it's all hard surfaces and open space.
Still, I can tell that this will be a regular splurge for me in the future. And I say splurge because I think I consumed enough calories to last me a week during this meal, but it was so worth it. Right down to the Jolly-Rancher-like mints on the way out. -
Review from A S.
Austin, TX
4/27/2008
Called to make reservations Friday at 5pm.. They told me they don't take reservations and there should be ample seating at 715..
So Kimberly and I made the trip over to east 11th to try it out. Upon arrival it said seat yourself, as approx 8 employees appeared to be standing around waiting for the customers to show up,, This concerned me. So we took the table in the far right hand corner which was quite comfortable and allowed us both to watch the flow.
I ordered the stuffed artichoke, with a wedge salad for starters. It was excellent. The wedge had a balsamic cream dressing, and the artichoke was perfectly stuffed with light bread crumbs and cheese.
For my entree I ordered the fish of the day, it was trout and perfectly cooked on a bed of potato wedges and spinach. Kimberly ordered the pork chops and she loved them,, Pleasing her palate isn't easy. Looking at the smile on her face was worth the cost of the meal tripled.
as for the dessert, hm mm well the lemon tart was average,, the brownie was the same,, and Kimberly didn't care for the tiramisu,, SO,, without the dessert it was unequivocally 5 star,, had to settle for 4,,, We will be going back.
Overall, and excellent experience,,, I have to say I love the corner table on the right. Great view. -
Review from Angela R.
Austin, TX
12/13/2007
I now have dreams of savory little gnocchi pillows... Mmm, Mmm goodness.
On my first visit to Primizie, I ran in rather quickly to pick up a lunch order and when I entered through the front doors I was delightfully surprised to see what I found. The vibe in this place is quite charming in an urban, uptown kind of way. And I must point out that parking at this building is super easy with a lot situated right behind the building... thank you building architect/engineer, thank you. With my to go order in tote, I headed back to my office and enjoyed my warm steak and potato wrap and grilled veggies. The food was great, although it lacked seasoning but I let that go since my order was to go and it was a wrap. But I looked forward in returning for a sit down, dine in experience.
On my second visit, dinner service, I noticed the vibe is a tiny bit more formal... maybe like one to one and a half more notches from lunch. Although, I wish it felt a little warmer in there, literally... maybe it was because of the cold snap we were having but with the windows and concrete floors, brrr! I would love to go on and on about the wine list and say they have an extensive amount of choices for beer but i really didn't pay much attention. There is a happy hour menu from 4-7pm consisting of their appiteasers and pizzas. I chose a glass of pinot and an order of gnocchi and I'm having daydreams about then both right now. Again, I was a little disappointed that the food was bland But with the help of good old salt and pepper, the level of flavor was right where it needed to be.
The service was par with a smile ... Our server was so very patient with us while a friend and I talked for about an hour before ordering. She didn't keep coming by to pester us but was always there when we needed her.
I look forward to returning to try the many dishes that tempted my taste buds! -
Review from Meredith D.
Somerville, MA
10/10/2007
This place is surprising. In true Austin fashion, it is casual meets formal. The presentation of the food and the manner in which it is prepared is very formal. But you order at the counter, seat yourself, and the servers wear jeans. If you want fancy, good-tasting food but don't want to get all gussied up, this is the place for you.
Vegetarian friendly. Medium pricing. Friendly staff. Limited tap selection, but relatively good bottle selection. Didn't try the wine, but the brands I saw were good. -
Review from Jaime M.
11/19/2008
Six women met for lunch. Two vegetarians; four meat eaters; one pregnant; one a diabetic. Thus we had a wide range of appetites, tastes and needs to fulfill. Primizie did not fail us.
We began with a caesar salad for one person, a frito misto plate (fried seafood and a few veggies) for the meat eaters, and roasted golden and red beets on goat cheesy bruchetta for the others. I had never had roasted beets before and while I wasn't blown away by the veggies themselves (guess I'm not a beet lover, alas), they were well matched by the cheese and bread.
For entrees, we had two people trying pasta (both vegetarian entrees -- a mushroom gnocchi and a tomato and mozzarella oricchette), two trying salads (the one with pancetta); and two trying sandwiches (one with chicken, the other a caprese). No one was left hungry, disappointed or wishing they'd ordered something else; everyone, within their own limits, was interested in everyone else's dishes!
My entree was the caprese sandwich with mozzarella, tomatoes, basil and vinaigrette. At first I was disappointed that the tomatoes were sundried instead of fresh -- I got one small hunk of tomato stem -- but I think the flavor was better suited to the rest of the ingredients than fresh would have been. I don't know why, but I also assumed that the bread on a panini sandwich would be of the crusty loaf variety, not a wrap, but the soft, floury outside worked nicely with the innards. My roasted seasonal vegetables (potatoes, carrots and green beans) were nicely cooked to al dente with a sauce that complemented all three flavors.
I wasn't overly impressed by the service or atmosphere, though it was perfectly adequate and the waitress was very nice about splitting our check six ways.
I won't go out of my way for a $9 sandwich every week, but given the sides and the size and quality of the sandwich, even a cheapskate like me has to admit it's not an outrageous charge!
Next time, I'm definitely getting some pasta and wine. That looked best. -
Review from Jarod N.
Austin, TX
9/25/2007
I knew about Primizie catering previously and I was excited to hear that they were opening up a restaurant near my office called Osteria Primizie Cafe. Other than Vespaio and La Traviatta, I have found no other good Italian food in my fair city and I was very excited to see the restaurant finally open. The space is really nice with comfortable tables, great lighting and a very friendly staff. They only offer counter service for the time being, but informed us that they will be starting full table service next week.
The menu has a few options: appetizers, salads, pizzas, paninis and pasta. We started off with the soup of the day which was a cannelloni bean puree topped with a herb oil. It was a really good soup with a great texture and very nice flavor. And from there I tried the most amazing pasta dish I have ever had in Austin and it was only $10! It was the Bucatini All'Amatriciana. The dish was simple, full of flavor and the sauce is otherworldly with fresh herbs, caramelized garlic and guanciale. The bucatini (long hollow spaghetti noodles) was a great choice for the dish and was cooked al dente. Since we went for lunch we didn't get coffee or dessert, but they are all homemade and look really good.
Primizie is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner and I can't wait to sample more of their menu. We just sat there thinking "Oh my god, there is finally some decent, reasonably priced Italian food in Austin." If they keep up the good work and keep pumping out this level of food, this place is gonna blow up.
(cross posted at http://tacojournalism.com) -
Review from Shannon R.
Austin, TX
10/11/2007
The lasagna was flavorful; I could even tell from the flavor that the tomatoes might have been roasted. Delicious pesto on top, pasta perfectly cooked. They also said that all their pasta is handmade, which is pretty darn impressive. Can't wait to go back and try everything else on the menu.
UPDATE:
I took away a star since I was unimpressed the last couple times I've gone here. The last evening I went with some friends, I ordered the gnocchi with chanterelle mushrooms, specifically because I'm a mushroom lover, and specifically because it is worth it to pay more for really good mushrooms. The dish came out and tasted delicious, but I noticed they had substituted cheap cremini mushrooms for the chanterelles without mentioning it.
I'm not sure how substitutions usually work in restaurants, but it seems that you'd want to let your customer know if an important/expensive/flavorful part of a dish would be omitted. I pointed this out, hoping that they might have just made a mistake, but the waitress said that they were out of the mushrooms. I ordered another dish to replace it: the goat cheese ravioli, but it was pretty flavorless and was swimming in oil.
It seems like Primizie Osteria's has a lot of great dishes, and it's impressive that they make their pasta, but because I've found its quality to be inconsistent, I only think I'm going to go on unimportant evenings when I'm open for possible disappointment. -
Review from Natalia B.
Austin, TX
1/27/2008
This place is okay. We had a pleasurable enough evening, but it will not stand out in my memory as anything special.
The location is pretty cool and convenient. Parking is not a problem because there is a free, ample lot located right behind the restaurant.
We arrived at prime time on a Saturday night, and we were delighted to be seated immediately.
The ambiance was cool, urban, and well light. Although, it was incredibly LOUD. This is not a place to share an intimate, romantic meal.
The server was polite enough, and she did her job to a perfunctory level but by no means went above or beyond her duties.
The food was decent. Our appetizer was a little too salty (I think another review had the same experience with the same dish), but all of our meals were good. I got the lasagna, and I was pleased with it. It had a bit a pesto sauce on top which added a surprisingly delicious element to the meal.
I was quite surprised by the bill. For the four of us, it amounted to approximately $200 (20% tip included). I knew we got two bottles of wine with the meal, but I didn't expect to pay that much for what we got.
I won't spend that kind of money there again. There are plenty of other restaurants in Austin that I would rather spend $200.00 at, and it would be a much better meal. -
Review from Lisa A.
Austin, TX
1/2/2008
I can't believe all the two star reviews for this place! I will say I've had much better bolognese elsewhere but it didn't stop me from eating all of the generous portion and it won't keep me from going back and trying something else next time. The noodles were good but the italian sausage didn't stand out enough for me (seemed like it was all finely-ground beef) and the sauce was a little weak from other robust bolognese I've had before. Regardless, both times I've been in the waitstaff has been incredibly nice and helpful. Neither times was it very crowded there wasn't an issue with noise or poor service.
Overall I'd give Primizie three stars for food but I think it deserves an extra star for the atmosphere, diverse menu, alcohol selection AND because they started out as a catering company and they served the best wedding food I've ever eaten at my friend's wedding in 2006. They actually might deserve five stars for making my mouth water at the thought of wedding food almost two years later. -
Review from Dennis C.
Austin, TX
9/4/2009
Man, I actually deliberated over the 3 vs 2 star rating...for a good 5 minutes. As a disclaimer, please, don't get the impression that I fail to deliberate about the ratings on my reviews. I handcraft those masterpieces as if my life depended on it, sure.
Back to the review on Primzie, which is based only on their Sunday Brunch. I had the spaghetti carbonara (yeah, I know it was supposed to brunch, but it was one of only two or three choices with any meat in it...so I ordered spaghetti, sue me). The variety of pancetta and homemade sausages tasted good, but the pasta did not. It was undercooked, well short of al dente, and chewy. Portion to price ratio was also a downer, as I wasn't getting much for the money or for my efforts to get to this East Austin location on a Sunday morning.
The decor was nice, although the tables were a bit crowded together and on an evening when the place is actually filled, I can only imagine the effort of trying to have a cozy, intimate dinner date in such an environment. Then again, I am not sure if the place gets crowded or not, so it may be a non-issue. -
Review from Kevin N.
9/28/2007 1 photo
Try the Spaghettonio alla e Olio con Gamberi, seriously. It's outstanding: pasta, some chili flakes, olive oil, some buttery goodness...an unexpected pleasure. Just a smidgen of spicy basking in all that flavor. Joy.
So too the same can be said about Primizie, an elegant new Cafe alive and crackling in East Austin. Pricing appears to be pretty reasonable, they carry most of your in-the-know Austin brews on tap, and as you'd figure in a wine bar, carry a varied and nuanced selection of vintages.
The architecture lines are clean in here, and so is the presentation: clean, sophisticated, but as easy as ordering at the counter might suggest. I'll definitely be back to experiment further.Listed in: Austin East Side
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Review from Catherine T.
Austin, TX
11/22/2009 1 photo
I don't have too much to say about this place because it simply wasn't that fabulous.
A group of twelve of us went here for brunch today. I was very excited to try it.
Food: I got the Spaghetti Carbonara ("House made Italian sausage folded with farm eggs, cream, and Italian bacon finished with parmigian cheese and fried basil"). I didn't eat much of the Italian sausage because it had fennel seeds in it. I despise fennel seeds, I could not, for the life of me, find any eggs or bacon in this dish. Did they chop them up so fine that I couldn't see them? Were they in the sausage meatballs? I didn't see or taste eggs or bacon in the sausage. The dish was just okay. I can't figure out why it was spicy. Had I known it would be spicy, I would have ordered something else. I don't completely dislike spicy stuff, but I didn't want anything spicy for brunch. Everyone else's food looked much better than mine.
Service: Was almost nonexistent. It took the waiter five minutes to see that I was there and take my drink order. He wasn't an especially friendly fellow, either. Once he delivered our food, he only came back to clear away plates; he never came during the meal to ask if everything tasted okay.
Ambiance: They were playing blues music when we were there. It made me want to go down the street to Gene's for a shrimp po'boy rather than stay put and eat Italian food.
I wanted to try some dessert, but each dessert item was $8. Yikes!
Somebody at the other end of the table got Sfingi (Italian doughnuts). I wanted to try one, but the plate never made it to my part of the table, unfortunately. I was told they were good. I originally thought about ordering some, but my ticket was already $16.
The "Blue Crab Risotto Cake, Parma Prosciutto, Poached Egg" and the "Scrambled Eggs, Spinach, Fonduta, Apple Bacon", which I almost ordered, looked good. There's a possibility I may hit them up again to try one of those dishes. -
Review from Allison P.
Fort Worth, TX
9/27/2007
I went here tonight totally based on Laurie C's review. The space is great! It's like if the Galaxy Cafe served Italian food, mashed up with this little place I went to in NYC for brunch that is owned by the same people as Eatery (anyone know what I am talking about? I am too lazy to look it up). Primizie is on 11th Street, so that up's the cool factor, plus it is complete with a wine bar and a variety of local beers on tap.
I had the Antipasti Misto, which was good, not outstanding, but my dining companion's Spaghettonio alla e Olio con Gamberi (shrimp, garlic, oil and pasta) was outstanding!! I had total food envy.
We finished off with tiramisu and vanilla gelato with espresso shot. I kept going back and forth on which one I liked better.
I highly recommend this place, maybe not for a romantic date, but for a night out with the girls or a place to grab some good food before heading out to a concert or movie.Listed in: New Favorite Finds
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Review from Stephanie S.
Austin, TX
1/1/2008
I know folks love this place, but maybe this will help people in their ordering. We stopped by for a very late lunch and the place was pretty vacant. We just ordered a pizza, a ceasar salad and some tomato soup. The salad was small for the price, I thought -- I expected more. It came with the Primzie flat bread instead of croutons - that was ok.
While I love some thin crust pizza, this tiny little pizza came on that same flat bread. This is not thin pizza crust, its more like a little cracker and wasn't very filling nor flavorful.
The soup was kinda boring and a little salty. Did it come with that damn "Primzie bread" too? Do all of their dishes involve that damned bread? To make things worse, it was a hot day and I needed some serious water. The water tasted horrible. I think it must have been the algae bloom thing, but I hadn't heard about it and I didn't know what was wrong and the server didn't help. I tried ice tea - same thing. I wish someone would have clued me in so I could have had some bottled water.
Hate to say it, but I couldn't wait to get out of that place and have a real meal. Seeing the other reviews, I clearly needed to try the pasta, but if it is served with that damn bread, I think I'd walk out. -
Review from Deji M.
1/5/2010
Primizie is closed, and I'm surprised it's not updated here yet. I just called and the number has been disconnected.
Primizie was not bad. I went three times with very different groups, and the general consensus was: good, depending on your order. The flavor combinations were sometimes interesting, but the deliverables could be inconsistent (sometimes too salty, overcooked gnocchi, etc).
So while it wasn't my *favorite* spot for dinner, I will miss the concepts behind some of the offerings. There isn't a place in town that serves some of what Primizie did. -
Review from Debbie R.
Austin, TX
9/25/2009
I started to write a review earlier this morning but was amazed by the one- and two-star reviews. Are you kidding? Did we go to the same restaurant? I decided maybe I should check it out a second time before writing a review. Maybe I went on an unusually good night. Maybe the regular chef was kidnapped and replaced by someone with magical cooking skills. For just one night. The night I happened to go. Maybe.
Then I heated up my leftovers for lunch. Pure deliciousness. Screw it--maybe y'all are just a bunch of haters.
I got the Orecchiette Alla Checca con Scamorza with chicken, which is pasta with smoked mozzarella, basil, garlic, tomatoes and olive oil. Simple...and awesome. Please note: If you are able to refrain from inhaling the entire plate of yumminess and take home leftovers, do remember to remove the mozzarella chunks before reheating. Otherwise, you'll be left with melted globs of cheese stuck to your plate, which may or may not result in tears forming in the corner of your eyes as you stare at your once-masterpiece and think about what might have been.
The lemon basil mojito is the best drink ever. Seriously. Ever. I would go back for the drink alone.
So why not five stars after all my gushing? Well, when I crave Italian, it means I am craving one thing: bread. And yes, I did get a thin slice of something resembling pita bread with my meal. Let me repeat: with my meal. Noooooo! That is not the way you do it. You serve a basket full of thick, fresh, steaming bread alongside a plate of olive oil or some fancy butter before our meals arrive. Period. No exceptions. I think that's like in the Bible or something. So hop to it, Primizie. Many thanks. -
Review from Amy C.
Austin, TX
11/9/2009
I really, really wanted to like this place. It's near my home, friends have said good things about it, and in general I prefer to have good meals rather than bad ones.
First, let's talk strengths:
1. Cute interior-- really clean and spare
2. Parking lot behind the building/row-- nice and convenient, especially in this burgeoning area
3. Polite waitstaff-- very pleasant folks
However, there are some problems:
1. SLOW service-- our server seemed harried and distracted, even though she was nice (this is what took this place from a three-star to a two star)-- there were two points during the meal I had an empty glass for well over 10 minutes
2. Loud room-- probably wouldn't have noticed if we hadn't been dying of thirst, but... we were, so I did
3. A bit crammed-- every time I turned to get up, I felt like I was joining the meal at the table next to us
And here's some ambiguity:
1. I had the "opportunity" to watch several people almost eat concrete before coming into the restaurant, due to the awkward arrangement of the sidewalk in front-- whether that is a plus or a minus depends on how much your personal sense of humor hinges upon schadenfreude. You'll want to sit on the west side of the restaurant (preferably in the first row of tables by the window) in order to view this spectacle
"But, Amy," you're thinking. "What about the food?"
Glad you asked!
The meal had some distinct high-points. The Fritto Misto was OUTSTANDING! Oh, my golly, it was good. Be sure to try one of the fried lemon slices-- I ate it for science this time around, but in the future it will be all about pleasure. The calamari was also quite fresh, and everything on the plate was flavorful. We also had a very nice cheese plate, with honey, fruit, and flatbread.
For my entree, I had the lasagna bolognese. It was only so-so. Not bad, just not great. Nothing to really distinguish it from frozen lasagna, beyond the presentation. The top layer, which I generally expect to be chewy, cheesy, and flavorful, was just rubbery.
My friend had the bistecca, which she seemed to enjoy. One of the nice things about this place is that they box your leftovers nicely when you leave, and she took part of hers home in a cute little box when we ended the meal. I, on the other hand, did not. The online menu indicates that there is a $.50 for packing leftovers, so just keep that in mind.
The last thing we ordered here was a dessert to share. We had the torta di limone, which is basically a lemon cheesecake. The filling and sauce had a nice flavor, but the crust was a bit... resistant. A nice dessert, not a great dessert.
My friends who have spoken well of this place have mostly been going to brunch, not dinner. Maybe that was my mistake. Anyway, I'll give this place one or two more tries before making a final decision, but for now, I'm afraid this was an overall "Meh," despite the bright spots.Listed in: My Neighborhood
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Review from Jackie A.
New Orleans, LA
11/22/2007
I think this place is great. Me and the bf went on a Friday night and it was packed, but we sat at the bar and had no problem. Our food was great- the fettuccine alfredo was good. I had some sort of pasta with meat sauce and it was truly outstanding. The pumpkin bread pudding was amazing!
The bartender was really cool and gave my boyfriend a free extra beer because he didn't want it to go to waste. All of the staff were really cool.
My only complaint is the neighborhood. I felt like a real jerk looking for parking at the "hot new restaurant", completely out of place. We parked in front of someone's house and the owner asked us to move, saying that she was sick of people parking in front of her house. Primizie is a real example of how shitty gentrification is. No one from the neighborhood eats there, that's for sure.Listed in: Bougie List
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Review from Katrina T.
Austin, TX
10/11/2007
My bf grew up in the northeast where good italian food is found at every corner. Now that I've spent a lot of time in Connecticut and Boston, satisfying my craving for Italian food in Austin has been unsuccessful and always leaves me with a pang that I can't fill. . . . till now. Imagine an Italian eatery that doesn't overcook it's pasta. In Austin, this is a novelty.
The restaurant decor is clean, simple, but there are small details that
make the ambiance enjoyable. The food is the same way. I ordered the rigatoni with fennel sausage expecting to receive a giant bowl of heavy fare, but what was brought to me was a surprisingly well portioned, uncluttered bowl. The pasta was really really well cooked, the sauce was light but the flavor hearty with garlic and pecorino, and the dish wasn't oily from the sausage. This, by the way, was split by 2 people. We also indulged in some dessert (macaroons) and coffee. By the time we left, 2 hours had passed.
Overall, I really liked this place. Great ambiance, great place to share a meal/coffee/wine, very friendly staff, and fantastic menu. I'm going back for dinner so I can try something else, and since they have free wifi and Peroni, I may never make it to the office tomorrow.
EDIT: So I went back again and tried a sandwich with chicken, panccetta, avocado, basil, and mozzarella, all wrapped in a flat bread. Damn this sandwich was good. . . and huge! I was really hungry from training but I only ate half, decided to take the rest home, undecided that decision, and open faced the other half. . . I couldn't help myself. Several cups of coffee, a couple Peroni, and a shared (no really, I shared something) pizza later, I finally rolled my roly poly self out of there. And yea, I finally managed to make it to the office around 2.
Oh, don't get the veggies for a side, not that it's bad or anything, it's just that you'll miss out on chips and roasted balsamic-y tomato goodness. Seriously.
FYI - happy hour from 4-7 -
Review from Kimberly J.
Austin, TX
4/27/2008
Primizie is a great little restaurant.
It's a very casual, low-impact atmosphere restaurant. Seat yourself. Bright lights (they did dim them a bit as the evening wore on) - everyone and thing is in full view. Nothing really Italian about the ambiance - visual or auditory.
But the food...
We started with the stuffed artichoke, which was good.
I had to ask for bread, which, in my opinion, is an odd thing to have to ask for at an Italian restaurant. We also had to ask for olive oil, again, seems like an odd thing to have to ask for at an Italian restaurant.
The "bread" was interesting - more like a thick flour tortilla crossed with a thin, flat-bread (naan) rather than traditional bread.
The ceasar was very good. The right amount of dressing - not dowsed and not lacking. The "croutons" (aka primizie crisps) appear to be the "bread", fried.
The Scaloppine Di Maiale (pork medallions) was fantastic!!! Incredibly unique and flavorful. One of my very favorite new dishes. All of the flavors worked so well together! The pork was a little dry but so easy to forgive because of all of the other flavors going on - the sweet mascarpone with the grilled peaches, salt of the prosciutto, balsamic drizzle with the spinach - oh my gawd! It was so, so, so good.
The dessert (*sigh*), was the only let down. I told the waitress I'm very particular about tiramisu and she assured me their chocolate tiramisu is the best ever. Well, sadly, it wasn't. It was very mousse-esque and didn't have the espresso/coffee flavor I was anticipating. :~(
The service, I might add, was great. We were never for want of anything.
We will definitely go back and I certainly recommend it. -
Review from Kyle S.
Austin, TX
6/28/2008
After many meals here since they opened last year, I can safely say we've finally got the high quality spot I've been waiting for to accompany the yuppification of our little 'hood. It ain't cheap, but it's fair because the food is consistently very good to excellent, the space is big and roomy with a bright trattoria vibe, and it's one of the top three real Italian joints in town, to my palette.
ALL the pasta is homemade, every little bit. Prego! To me any "Italian" restaurant that serves packaged pasta is not really an Italian restaurant...yet few take the time to do it right. Primizie does and it pays off in spades, as the pasta is perhaps the best in town. Frankly, this place is damn close to Vespaio in quality, at about half the price. They'll probably do a Vespaio/Uchi and jack the prices once the crowds are constant (almost there now), but in the meantime there is value to be had in many dishes here, especially the pastas. The fettucine, ravioli and daily specials tend to be the highlights.
The pizzas are very fine indeed, and I love how they're cut. Top ten 'za in town, easy.
Here's the fifth star: they've started daily "local menus", with Texas ingredients (hope it's a trend that continues spreading). Yesterday was the first day for the mango snapper appetizer. Yowsa, 'twas perhaps the best thing I've eaten in town this year. The fish was perfectly cooked, plump and moist, and the candied plum and candied bacon salsa complemented it to perfection. It was close the eyes and savor for thirty seconds good. That's what I want from food, and I'll pay for it. This dish was 15 bucks, damn expensive for an app, but I'll eat it again in the next few daze; I want that taste soon before it goes off the menu. Maybe it'll stay...
The trout on black risotto on the normal menu is pricey but well worth it; if anyone knows of a better risotto in Austin please let me know. This one is splendid.
Good wine list, prices only ok. The booze margins are high in most all restaurants; if you spend on food instead of drink, your annual food bill is a lot friendlier.
Very very good desserts from the new pastry chef; great panna cotta, for seven bucks I'd like more but it is killer. The cookies and pastries are yum plus; one of them was, on a recent visit, the best example of its sort I've ever had (last night's was weaker). Won't say what it is as I can't encourage a run on that particular item for fear of delirium tremens. Kudos to both the main and pastry chefs; you guys get it, and my taste buds thank you. Your consistency is much appreciated, to which the line-ups most nights attest.
Haven't had a bad meal at Primizie, at its weakest it's still decent, and that's pretty rare.
The fact that we can walk here is pure gravy. We usually feel cramped when eating at the middle tables; last night we got a wall seat and it helped muffle the din. It's crowded and loud but that only enhances the real Italian vibe; trattorias in Napoli are not quiet! The crowd is a bit cell phony, but that goes for most everywhere these days. Sigh.
The service is generally good, mostly younger folks who aren't quite hip to what perfectly crisp waiting entails but are on the way. Last night we had a guy covered in tattoos; when he put the fish on the table its bright colors were overshadowed by the big letters on his hand and fist. I couldn't make them out before the flashy appendage was whisked away. But next course my peepers were poised and as the trout came down it was delivered by four fingers that said, with one letter to a digit and in no uncertain terms: S T U D.
It felt good to know that we were being served by a guy who was getting all he needed. Makes for a more relaxed feeling all around.
One of the owners told me when they opened that they'd been testing the dishes for years with their catering biz, which explains why everything is so reliably tasty. They are to be applauded for running this place well.
Here's hoping for more Primizie-quality spots on the eastside; the crowds are waiting. It took only a few months to get crowded because it's good. True quality is always welcome in any neighborhood. Plus, we have some real characters over here; if you sit on the Primizie patio you're likely to be treated to a joke or two from the locals who've lived down the block for generations. I've heard rumors that Primize may start a free pasta night for the homeless just like Queen Lola down the street; that would be most neighbourly indeed!
It's a treat to have truly fine food in the 'hood.Listed in: Top Restaurants
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Review from Shanna P.
12/2/2007
My boyfriend and I ventured to Primizie Osteria after reading all the glowing Yelp reviews. It was a ugly, rainy Friday night, and I was craving some pasta, but Austin doesn't have a whole lot of options in terms of Italian. So we were excited to try something new.
Primizie Osteria is very European, from the layout and design, to the multiple courses. I really didn't feel like I was dining in Austin, especially East Austin... The only complaint about the ambiance is the modern look makes for bad acoustics--no material to soften the sound bouncing off concrete and metal and glass...
As for the food, it was fantastic! We started out with the Insalata di Caesare, which was an interesting take on the Caesar with flat bread on the side and some sort of crisp instead of crouton. I ordered the Spaghettoni Aglio e Olio con Gamberi, which was delicious and full of flavor, albeit a little spicy from the red pepper. My boyfriend ordered the special with scallops, and his was delicious, too, with a sweet corn glaze, and the texture was really nice. The entrees are from $11+ (I noticed the website seemed outdated), and the wine menu offered some reasonable choices. We opted for the Tortoise Creek Pinot Noir, which complimented the seafood and my spicy dish. And we split the tiramisu with some espresso for dessert, and it was soooo good.Listed in: Eat, Take me here...
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Review from Amy C.
Austin, TX
5/27/2008
Super food!! I like this place because although it's a little uptown, it's also pretty kid friendly. They have wonderful gnocchi (one of my favorite old time Italian dishes that granny used to make) with herb butter, corn, and mushrooms.
The caesar salad is also very crunchy and yummy...add Primizie crisps to anything and you've got yourself a winner!! The desserts are rather expensive ($7 for one), but they're yummy. Get yourself a whole bottle of wine because you'll just spend too much on a glass for everyone at the table.
Check their hours before you go because they have some strange ones (to accommodate their catering schedules).Listed in: My Neighborhood
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Review from Dixie R.
Austin, TX
12/17/2008
I absolutely love this place. The sage brown butter gnocchi is so damn buttery and melts in your mouth. I thought about this dish for days afterward. I also liked the beet bruschetta. If you are into beets, you would like it. It's different.
Also, the service is fabulous here. Both times we've dined here, it seemed like the waitstaff knew just when to come back and check on us, and not too annoyingly often. I love that.
They have a seasonal menu insert as well. I should add that they do get many of their seasonal items (meat and veggies) from local organic farms, which is currently my favorite quality in a restaurant. And if you're already on the East side, it couldn't be more convenient to get to. -
Review from Meagan M.
Austin, TX
11/23/2007
Ok, I'll admit it, I really bitch about Austin's lack of Italian food. Don't hold it against me - I originally hail from a part of the country that has good, hearty, authentic Italian.
After many a lackluster Italian meal here in town, a friend took me here for lunch, and DANG! It's actually good Italian food. Yummy Italian food. In Austin. All the dishes were exceptionally fresh-tasting and flavorful, and the pasta was handmade. Most fare is on the lighter side - no spaghetti and meatballs smothered in meat sauce here. Which is great - you leave without your gut busting out of your pants. The wine list was good, there are small tarlet scale desserts, and the interior is simple and modern. Get the crisps if you have an appetizer. -
Review from Angelita R.
Austin, TX
11/29/2007
I just moved back to my hometown and have been trying new places to eat all over the city. This place was hip and trendy, well suited for the city professional or UT grad student. The bruschetta,wine, mojito and Happy Hour prices were fantastic!
But,the main course lacked that perfect italian sauce yumminess (e.g. bland). In addition, the service was okay and the place was loud due to the concrete floors and high ceilings. Overall, I would return to enjoy the Happy Hour, but I would go somewhere else for dinner. -
Review from Christa S.
Austin, TX
8/31/2009
I really enjoy this restaurant. Went for the second time last night (my first visit was about a year ago)...I have to say I'm sorry I haven't been back before now!
My new favorite drink of choice is their lemonade sangria - it was refreshing and had a good flavor - not too sweet, in my opinion. I started with the small insalata di spinaci, which was an ample size and just enough for what I wanted for a starter salad. I then had the quattro formaggi pizza (after the waiter told me, when asked, that if I didn't like or didn't want a strong olive flavor, I shouldn't go for the ravioli di caprino con burro di oliva). The pizza had a good blend of flavors and I had enough to take home some leftovers.
All in all, I enjoy the atmosphere - it's slightly off the beaten path downtown, with free convenient parking right behind it, and a menu full of fresh and innovative food choices. -
Review from Travis S.
Austin, TX
4/22/2009
This is a friend of mines "favorite italian restaurant!" and he had his birthday dinner their. I was actually very excited to check this place out because I've yet to find an amazing "traditional" italian restaurant.
The atmosphere was relaxed, then again it was pretty dead when I went. It was our party of about 16 or so people and 2 other tables and that was it, not much going on. The decor is...forgettable, I say that because I can hardly remember what the inside looked like lol.
The waitstaff was adequate and helpful. The menu was a little on the short side for me, I like having lots of options, this place has an adequate menu, basically you should be able to find at least 1 thing you're interested in.
I had their Primizie Crisps as an appetizer and it was quite good, the basil pesto sauce was delicious. It had a very fresh flavor to it.
I got their fettuccine alfredo with chicken as my entree. It came out it was alright, I expected more for $16 to be honest. The sauce was a bit too thin for alfredo and though the portion was fairly large, the amount of chicken in it was disappointing and to top it off the parmigianao reggiano cheese overpowered the rest of the dish.
Though I wasn't happy with -my- dish, I did try a couple other peoples and they were actually VERY good, which is why I'm giving this place 3 stars instead of just 2. I'll just chalk it up to bad luck or maybe I just don't like the way they do their alfredo dish.
Overall the place is definitely worth checking out at least once to see if it's for you. The ingredients are definitely fresh, the freshest I've ever had at an italian restaurant, I would just suggest staying away from the fettucini alfredo dish. -
Review from Robert P.
Austin, TX
8/4/2008
We were on our way to Blue Dahlia when we looked in the window and realized half of the East Side was in there eating. So, we gave it a try.
It was my own fault. My girlfriend told me not to order a mojito at an Italian place and she was right - yuck. I've never had a worse mojito; I hope they fix this or take it off the menu before it spoils someone else's drinking plans. Her Italian margarita made her happy, though, and everyone around (it was completely packed) seemed to be enjoying their wine.
The place was ridiculously loud due to the packed house. I'll forgive them that, since all the noise was happy people enjoying some tasty food and probably too much wine.
The food itself was quite good. Of special note was the Gnocchi, there aren't too many places around to get this, so this place is a find just for that. They were out of the desert we wanted (fruit tart), so we had the chocolate torte and it was very good -
Review from Niki A.
Austin, TX
2/24/2009
I really REALLY wanted to like this place, and perhaps they'll get another shot. The menu was diverse and full of hard to pronounce items, but at least for our large party, the quality of the food was sub-par.
I started with the calamari/artichoke/shrimp appetizer. The aioli was good, and had a good texture and the flavor of the fried items was good, but it was really greasy, like it hadn't been completely drained or the oil wasn't hot enough when stuff when into the fryer.
As a main course, I ordered the pork cutlet marsala with sweet potatoes and mascarpone dollop'd on top. The flavor was good, and the dish was delicious, but again, it was heavy on oil.
The service from our tattoo'd waiter (his name escapes me) was spectacular. Even for a large party, he was prompt with beverages and took time to recommend menu items.
If I could give this place 3.5 stars, I would. Due to the price (marsala was $21) I might make another visit during a lunch shift. -
Review from Mason A.
Austin, TX
4/12/2009
We really dug this place. As we venture into only eating meat from sources we know are humane & natural it's downright hard to find a large variety of places to eat. We're happy to have found this place.
Ambiance is a little confusing, didn't get any one feel from the place. Part modern decor, part deli/pastry counter, party wine bar, part upscale restaurant. Seemed like they were trying to mesh some things together cause they didn't want to commit to just one identity. In my mind it makes it harder for them to stand out when I have several vague ideas of what they are.
Food was fabulous! There's really only one thing I'm a snob about - Calamari. I spent a year in Spain on the Mediterranean coast and had Calamari almost daily. I had it so much, in fact, that I had to make sure I did research on squid and heavy metals to make sure I wasn't over-eating it (I think it's fine). Anyways, theirs was great. Very tender, nice dipping sauce, great flavor. Kudos.
Then we ventured over to their local menu and had some grass-fed beef bruschetta that kinda seemed like a high-end chopped beef with some very soft local mozzarella. Mouth-watering, indeed.
We were already stuffed, but were dead-set on getting some Loncito Lamb. They had one dish of shredded lamb in crepes with local veggies & goat cheese. So amazing, and very healthy portions, that we ate way too much and just couldn't stop.
Highly recommend stopping by this place on E 11th. I'm worried about their spot. I think it's already cycled through 2 other concepts that were pretty good in their own right. It's just a tough spot. So close to downtown that it competes with all the wonderful choices there, but very few people drive by E 11th to keep it in their mind. We'll try to go regularly. -
Review from Jacob S.
Houston, TX
6/16/2008
I visited Primizie on a trip to Austin after reading its reviews on Yelp. The food was solid, the service was outstanding, and it's definitely a place that I will visit again.
We chose this location because of other reviews that mentioned it was kid friendly. Since the restaurant is loud, we had no problems fitting in, even with my extra-loud 3 year old.
We made reservations, but that wasn't necessary. There were around 10 tables open when we arrived.
Make sure to try the tart with vanilla bean ice cream. It was friggin excellent! -
Review from Rebekah W.
Seattle, WA
4/13/2008
It seems like this is one of the few middle of the road Italian spots in Austin. Even still, it feels like a nicer place. With appetizer, two entrees, drinks and desert you'll be lucky to pay less than $60. But it is good. Really good, actually.
I had the best gnocchi there last night. I didn't know gnocchi could be that delicious. It tasted like Thanksgiving stuffing, sauteed in butter with corn and mushrooms. The caprese salad comes with roasted tomatoes instead of standard freshly sliced tomatoes. The steamed mussels appetizer was killer. It came with buttery, crusty hunks of bread to dip in the wine sauce. They've got a good selection of deserts on the menu and in the case, as well as lots of wine, beer and mixed drinks.
They don't have salt and pepper on the tables. This bugs me. I'm a saltaholic, so I at least like knowing the salt is there if needed. I feel rude asking for it. Maybe that's silly. I also don't like hearing about the specials when there are so many that it takes five minutes to list them. I know that's not the servers fault though.
I like Primizie enough to keep going back, or maybe I'd go back because there really aren't a lot of other choices. -
Review from j v c.
Austin, TX
7/6/2008
Been there twice. The food is a great showing of stateside Italian fare, and that's why it's such a shame about their service.
Both trips left us stranded at a seat-yourself table for ten or so minutes before the staff could decide who was serving us. On our first dinner that might have been forgivable except for the fact that the restaurant was empty, although things did pick up nicely from there. Our second dinner never found its feet, service-wise. Our greeting and waters came late, the waitress got one of our orders wrong, and the entree was cold when it hit the table. Pretty much a three strike bummer. If we go back we're gonna try our luck at the bar. -
Review from Kristi W.
Austin, TX
10/25/2008
My thoughts of Primizie? Meh.
All started well....nice atmosphere, cool spot on the east side, nice waiter, good salad (spinach), great drinks (try the margarita) and then the main dishes arrived.
What we had:
the gnocchi:
OK, I know gnocchi is made from potato but it shouldn't look like an actual potato. My gnocchi looked more like the fried potatoes you can get at any Austin breakfast joint. While they were prepared well, they were over-seasoned and resting upon a layer of sweet corn, crispy onion and barely there porcine mushrooms in a buttery oil. Not to sound snobby, but when you've dined in Italy, it is really really hard to enjoy American Italian food. I feel like this is what it would taste like if you got this dish at Chili's - a bit too awesome blossom for me (the onions).
the chicken parm w/ sausage and spaghetti:
Probably the worst Chicken Parmesan I've ever tasted. I take that back, Lean Cuisine is worse. The chicken was so overcooked that it looked blackened resting a top spaghetti with a side of sausage link (ridiculously spicy) all sitting in a pool of oil.
The bread is good though :) -- a strange flat bread with a spicy flavor - they love to spice it up at Primizie.
Both main dishes (& dessert) were served super hot - like microwave hot. I like my food hot but this was a crazy heat that never went away. Oddly, though my cappuccino was served warm at best. The espresso was nice and steamy - very good.
The dessert - we were advised to try the chocolate torte thing - again, meh. I usually love this dessert at restaurants - you know this is the one they tell you takes a while to prepare due to the cooking time. Well, clearly they just toss theirs in the micro because it was out within minutes of ordering. Again - too freaking hot - microwave hot and my husband and I both agreed that there is a difference in microwave hot and oven hot.
So....I would give it one more shot. Maybe we just had the wrong dishes. Like I said, it's a nice place and the service was good. There were lots of people in the restaurant who seemed to be enjoying their meals. I think we are just harder to impress seeing as we've had the real deal so many times.
I wish there were half star ratings. I had given it 3 when really I want to give it 2.5 but then I saw the "Meh, I've experienced better" and damn, if that doesn't sum up what I've just said!
