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Tue-Fri. 11:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Sat. 5:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Sun. 11:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Sun. 5:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
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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.
I think the overall rating of four stars is too high. Yeah, Italian in Austin sucks, and I give them props for making their own pasta and whatnot. However . . .
The one and probably only time I've been there, the salad was overdressed and the pasta dish was one-dimensional. The espresso and dessert were good.
Am I being picky? Yeah. I hate hype, and this place has mad hype. My salad was drenched; it shouldn't have left the kitchen. I ate half. The pasta-- it's been a while, mushroom ravioli-- with truffle oil, and a green, if I remember correctly (and I probably don't) was "earthy"-- like my ex-girlfriend who didn't believe in monogamy or deodorant. It needed a sweet juxtaposition, like figs or peas. Still, good effort for homemade pasta.
Dessert and espresso were, as noted, solid. But not worth a trip to the other side of 35. For roughly the same price-point, I'd head to Enoteca.
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.
The food is ok. It's nothing to rave about. I tend to sit at the bar, and the service has always been attentive. I prefer to have some wine here with a friend rather than eat a full meal. Besides being bland, the food overpriced. They have some tasty looking desserts but I have yet to try one.
I did have one horrible experience here. Usually, I come here during off times, and I made the mistake of going here for dinner with 3 friends. After seating ourselves, we waited. And waited. And then got up to ask the bartender if we had a server. Then we waited more. 30 minutes after we arrived our waiter wandered by and we grabbed him. He seemed totally surprised and went to get us drinks, which took another 10 minutes. When he came back, I asked to pay for my one drink immediately and left to go eat somewhere else. My friends said the rest of the meal was ok, but very expensive for what they received. Also, drinks run about $10 a piece.
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.
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.
Blue crab risotto cake.
I go to Primizie often for dinner, but today I went for their Sunday brunch and had, you guessed it, blue crab risotto cake with prosciutto and poached egg. It was divine. Hands down the best thing I ever ate. If I'm ever in the unfortunate circumstance of telling a prison guard what I want for my last meal, I would choose the blue crab risotto cake.
This is strictly a dessert and coffee review.
A friend and I went here today for a quick coffee and dessert to talk business. The dessert case wasn't very full - which should have been a clue....
I got a brownie, and she a mudslide cookie. My brownie was totally stale and not fresh - as was her cookie. But the coffee was excellent!
The few entrees I saw served looked delicious and fresh - and a courier service actually hand delivered fresh spinach while we were there!
So all I'm sayin' is - if you take this much pride in your food - make sure the desserts are FRESH! I will definitely go back for a meal.
Please go here to impress a date. The dim lighting and modern decor will provide the perfect ambiance for talking all night over a casually intimate dinner. Plus the dishes are always fresh, flavorful, and just all around delicious. It's great for anyone who's picky about Italiano.
In my experience however, the food has always taken some time to come out, so you should go elsewhere if you're in any hurry. Also, save your trip for a nice evening when you're willing to spend a little extra money. It could get pricey!
Yum! Food was good. Drinks were good.
So I decided to go here because the Yelp reviews seemed pretty great. The parking is a little confusing, it's in the back and you have to walk up to the front of the restaurant.
We started with the stuffed artichoke and it was tasty! It had a sort of cheese and breading in it and they give you a whole artichoke so you just pluck off the leaves and eat it. For my entree I had the gnocchi and it was very rich but goes very well with the roasted corn and onions. The avocado chicken pizza was not bad. And the puttanesca was delicious.
They have a wine menu for everyone, they list "inexpensive wines" for those trying to save a little but still have their wine with their dinner.
The service is slow but they mean well. This place is cute and delicious and I would come here again!
AVOID AT ALL COSTS!!!!!!!!!!!
So we started out with the Affettato which is a antipasto plate with cured meats, olives,nuts and primizie bread. The meats were ok cause they didn't make them. Nuts??? where did that come from? Primizie bread was gross and turned out to be this Pita bread shit.....at a Italian restaurant no less. My girlfriend had the Gnocchi di Patate con Finferlo e Mais ( it had corn and mushrooms with a sage brown butter sauce) OK so gnocchi are supposed to be light little cloud like pillows NOT dense boulders u chain to someones ankles when u make them sleep with the fishes. The sauce was a burnt butter and the overall dish very bland. I had the Tagliatelle Alla Bolognese you know pasta with a simple meat sauce not too difficult WRONG..... Over cooked pasta with chef boyardee sauce and once again that DAMN pita bread served with everything. Service wasnt too bad but the chef was just standing around bullshitting instead of watching what his brigade of dumb shits were sending out to paying customers which pay there salary!!!! YEAH I'll be back..... sure try and hold your breath on that one.
Hopefully this place will improve because it is in one of my favorite neighborhoods. Went with two girl friends. We spent somewhere around $40 (including tip) on two appetizers and three drinks... (non alcoholic)...
Appetizers reminded me of triscuits with pseudo-gourmet toppings. Way too pricey, too "homey" of service for the price (jeans and T's), food wasnt that great. Not trying to be rude, just being honest... would be happy to try again in a few months.
Not only is this place badass, bit they catered my wedding AND wife's 25th birthday party. Both were a smash hit and Primizie was a huge part of it.
I once killed a man who stood in my way of their gnocchi. Try it, even if you don't like mushrooms, leave them in. It also goes perfectly with the castelluccio sangiovese.
And to cap it off, ask for Keith. He LITERALLY has a badass unicorn tattoo on his left hand. He's also the best waiter.
Food:
I had the Lasagna - Bolognese style (its vegetarian on the menu but just ask for bolognese), it was an awesome take on lasagna. The sauce was rich and dark red with a smoky flavor that was really good and accented the meat very well. And the table bread was perfect for soaking up all my extra sauce. Bomb!
I shared the lemon cheesecake for dessert and HOLY SHIT! a must try if youre feeling like youve been extra good lately and could use some good artery clogging. very rich.
Lots of good wines and beer to choose from.
Atmosphere:
Nice, modern, a bit swanky, some outdoor tables but they're on a pertty mean slope so watch your wine. Ive been dressed up and ive been in flipflops and a t-shirt and both are exceptable.
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.
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.
Way overpriced for what you get. I have eaten here twice and both times the food and the service were sub par.
I must say the first time I ate there for dinner over a year ago it was AMAZING.
Nowadays I eat Primizie's catering a lot at my job. I've almost always been happy with their food. So, a friend of mine from work (who is also a fan) and I stopped in for their new brunch on Sunday, and it was pretty darn good. I did not love my bloody mary (probably because I opted out of the vodka due to my hangover), and my gnocchi was a little greasy. But my buddy liked her bloody mary and her crab was awesome. Overall, still very happy with Primizie.
I've never had a service problem there (which is saying a lot since I see their staff working behind the scenes quite a bit). However, I agree that when it's packed it's too loud. Sit outside if you don't wanna scream.
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.
I've only had appetizers here, but after looking at the menu and seeing the food - I'll make a trip back for dinner. The food that I did have was very fresh and well presented. I didn't try the wine flights, but it looks like they have some thoughtful and interesting pairings.
The service was attentive and top notch.
The interior wasn't very inspiring. I've heard some describe it as modern, but was more bland to me. The lines are clean - but almost to the point of looking like a diner - and not in a good way. If the food lives up to its potential - I'll gladly deal with the boring room.
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.
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.
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.
Here's why I love Primizie: I can get a 4 star meal without having to pay $85 for one course AND without having to dine with pretentious yuppie bastards. The atmosphere is perfect: Cool waitstaff, great wine list, and a modern-yet-casual dining room. Its like a real neighborhood joint run by master chefs.
As for the food, when I need carb-laden comfort grub I always go straight for the gnocci. My husband gets the "Woodsman Style" pizza at least once a week. The Fritto Misto calamari is also so, so good. They actually throw in fried lemons which is a first for me, but delicious. We've pretty much devoured everything on the menu and have only found fault with 2 items: The Bucatini didn't do it for me, and the Formaggi tray is pretty small so if you want to get your cheese fix on you might look elsewhere. Other than that, perfect.
Although the dishes I sampled at Primizie were nice, this new restaurant on a tastefully redeveloped strip of E. 11th St failed to wow me.
Given the great location, the reviews, and having read the above average menu items with prices to match, perhaps I had been a bit too optimistic to expect a little class, originality, or luxury in my dining experience.
This restaurant appears to be cutting corners on everything except, perhaps, the food.
Even though it was a strikingly warm evening in January, I opted to forego the outside seating after one glance at its eerie florescent starkness. Once inside though, things did not improve much. I was happily greeted at the entrance by a sign: "Please Seat Yourself." No host. It was a Friday night at 8pm, and after we made our way to the one open table, my dinner partner and I discovered we could barely hear each other.
The noise in this place was a bit overboard, something that could probably be tempered with the addition of just a little fabric somewhere, besides the three meager curtains along the east side of the building. To top it off, one patron, a frat boy type, apparently couldn't restrain some kind of victory scream halfway through dinner.
This brings me to my next point. The whole atmosphere was just lame. The decor was stripped right out of Urban Redevelopment Iz Us: new, plastic, and innocuous. The air conditioning was cranked up to frigid, almost enough to convince my stomach it wasn't hungry after all. This, combined with the absence of a host, the waitstaff with average age of 23 all wearing blue jeans and T-shirts, and the tacky table sign displays advertising happy hour and Primizie T-shirts really cheapened the feel of this potentially classy restaurant.
But it wasn't all bad. Service was prompt and polite, if not a little detached, the wait on the food was long but still reasonable, and the food itself was respectable. I tried the Insalata Mista, the Goat Cheese and Scallion Ravioli, and for dessert, the waitress's pick, Crostata di Mela.
The salad was made with high quality flavorful greens, had an interesting quickly grilled avocado half (done just for show I think), and was topped with a delicious red chile and olive vinaigrette with just the right amount of sweetness. The portion was small but reasonable.
The ravioli dish was a winner with my dinner party, though those 6 lonely ravioli could have used some company on the plate. The goat cheese and scallion was a delicious combination, though I'd recommend a higher ratio of scallion, and worked really well with the black olive butter sauce with sauteed spinach. The ravioli was cooked perfectly: firm and slightly chewy.
Our apple tart dessert was a little dry, but still enjoyable and nicely presented. What was especially interesting about it was the brown butter gelato topping it. I would have liked to try this flavor on its own, but it wasn't able to stand out atop a dessert already composed with butter.
What Primizie does have going for it is its attention to food; they use high quality ingredients and the dishes are competently executed.
Sadly, what it is lacking is atmosphere; it runs low on personality, comfort, and aesthetics. This detracted enough from the value of my experience to make dining here not worth the price.
I don't think I will be back. There is equally as good Italian food to be found elsewhere, where I'll enjoy a much more pleasant experience.
Come on, east side, will you really not emit even a squeak under the boot of gentrification?
I hate giving Primizie only two stars because I want to like it more but I just can't get to the A-Ok of three stars. Close, but not quite.
The service was fine. The atmosphere is fine (though I do have a hard time with the noise level). But mostly the food was kind of hit and miss for me. Nothing tastes bad, but rather than leave me anticipating my next visit, a lot of the food has been too rich or too sweet or too salty--just enough so you're not enthusiastic about finishing. Which may be why Primizie seems better to me at lunch when you tend towards lighter fare than at dinner.
All in all I go if friends are going, but I wouldn't initiate a trip.
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!
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.
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.
Two really great visits, two really great appetizers and entrees(The pizzas are good too!), and two empty (but good while they lasted) bottles of wines. The first visit was a few months ago but I had really good time, so I came back to celebrate an anniversary a few days ago. It was a warm night, so the outdoor seating was great with light breeze that was going on. I will say that we have had some interesting experiences with people walking up and asking us for some bus fare. The people and the staff seemed kind of perturbed, but I'm always down to watch someone shred on his air guitar for whatever reason. We even got some rosemary from him too.
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.
Its pretty had to find decent italian in this town, seeing as though 95% as chain. But the gnocchi I had was the best I have encountered here in the south. I would probably do the lunch next time to keep my wallet intact. The calamari was pretty good too, crispy. I guess it was a good thing that the place we were going to eat at was closed.
***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!
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
Sure... its a little overpriced. Sure the staff looks like a tryout for Road Rules and the service isnt always impeccable. But its on the East Side! AND... their flat bread is so good... you could eat it by itself. The many times I've been in there, I've always had conversations with the staff and they are really nice folks.
I do find the food to be a bit on the bland side sometimes, but they have a great beer selection and salt and pepper, so as long as you go into it not expecting to have your socks blown off... but are just going to have an interesting meal with good company (or alone), you'll grow to really like this place.
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).
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.
great place and i really hope they generate enough business to stay in business - while they are in the up and coming east side business district - it doesn't seem that part of town has very much foot traffic yet - i am crossing my fingers that eventually it will like real cities have.
i normally like going here to their happy hour and their tangerine martini is great reason to go.
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!
We went thinking it was a wine bar. I don't believe that it had enough variety to make it a wine bar.
However - it is a beautiful restaurant so we sat at the bar and watched the crowds come in and the food go out. The food looked fantastic and will make me come back for that alone.
We liked that it had a nice selection of specialty drinks, and the locals menu looked very interesting - but I wish they would put the price of the entrees on that menu. It would make me more comfortable ordering from it if I knew I don't need to rob a bank or something.
Austin, TX
Category: Italian
Neighborhood: Downtown
Category: Italian
Neighborhood: East Austin
Category: Breakfast & Brunch
Neighborhood: 78704 (South Austin)
Category: Italian
Neighborhood: 78704 (South Austin)
Category: Italian
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