Server Lily is the best!!! Made the whole dinner 100x better than it already was 10/10

My friends and I went for dinner the other night on a very busy Wednesday. [[HIGHLIGHT]]We were seated a little early and then the manager came over and facilitated a move to the back room when I had asked the waiter about making a change. The back room was a little quieter so we appreciated that.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] We started off with the green pea dip, which looked beautiful and tasted very fresh. The bread accompanying it was also great. My friends both chose the spaghetti Pomodoro (cleaned their plates) and I had the artichoke and spinach square pizza. I've had it twice now and really like it although they could use a little less cheese. For dessert we had a large slice of Tiramisu (a nice selection and variety of desserts). The prices are pretty comparable to other Italian eateries though maybe a touch higher. Good service (the waiter asked if we wanted our entrees as we were finishing our appetizer, and I thought that was a very thoughtful gesture). A great restaurant in an area with not a lot of inviting food options. read more

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I visited Primi during my trip to NYC, and it did not disappoint. The linguini was absolutely delicious, and the portion was generous. I loved the addition of the breadcrumbs. They added the perfect texture and flavor. Every time I thought I was almost done, I discovered there was even more pasta because the bowl was so deep! The Brussels sprouts were also amazing. The pepperoni added a savory, flavorful touch that took the dish to the next level. The service was friendly and efficient, and [[HIGHLIGHT]]the ambiance was fantastic. The restaurant has both indoor and outdoor bars, creating a fun, lively atmosphere.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] I'd definitely recommend stopping by if you're in NYC. read more

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This place was right next to our hotel, so we decided to have dinner here and it was honestly the best place we've eaten so far. We all ordered different pastas and got to try a little bit of everyone's plates and it did not disappoint. The service there was also TOP NOTCH. There were several waiters who waited on our table to make sure our drinks were always filled and to ask if we needed anything else. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The ambiance was amazing! Great for a little date night or girls night out.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]They had indoor and outdoor seating. We didn't get to sit outdoors because they had already closed it off by the time we got there, which was around 8pm, but the inside was just as beautiful.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] It's a must try if you're visiting or staying in the area! read more

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We loved this place! We were here for a birthday celebration. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The atmosphere is beautiful outside without the noise of the city.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] The Sicilian square artichokes was awesome. The Spegett was fun a delicious. We didn't know how to drink it, but every way was a winner. The food was really delicious and there were a lot of Meat free options. Our waiter was the weak link of the place. He didn't let us order appetizers then our entrees. He was not very attentive on his phone all the time. If not for him it would have been 5 stars. read more

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This new location of Bar Primi exceeded my expectations! We visited on a Tuesday evening and got seated right away with no reservation. [[HIGHLIGHT]]They only had patio seating available and it was quite chilly even with the heaters on, until they rolled out the overhead awning.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] For drinks, I got a glass of Chianti, which was very nice. We also started with the Hot Knots and Grilled Artichokes as appetizers. The Artichokes were well-prepared, but not super memorable. However, I loved the soft, fluffy texture of the Hot Knots! For entrees, my partner and I shared the Pappardelle and Vesuvio Scampi. Both of these were awesome and we couldn't agree on a favorite. The Pappardelle was perfectly al dente with a flavorful ragu bolognese. The Vesuvio Scampi had a nice kick to it and the spicy red shrimp were cooked just right. Service was friendly and quick! Overall, worth the visit. read more

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Came here to celebrate my 30th Birthday! Bar Primi exceeded my expectations! there was a small wait when we got there, but that was okay. It allowed us time to take pictures and greet each other. There were eight of us and we had a nice table tucked away near a small bar. Service felt very intimate our servers were wonderful. I had one of the best caesar salads I've ever had in my my life, and the espresso martini took the cake! Thank you for contributing to my special day and making it that much more special! read more

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Wow just wow. This was one of the best corporate lunches I have ever gone to. They made personalized menu pre fixe cards for the two birthday people in our group and each of the items were fabulous! My favorites were he Caesar salad and the meatball for appetizers - with each having multiple coats of grated cheese. Each of the pastas were also very good but the hot girl salami stole the show for me. Was perfectly savory with crispy pepperoni and a hint of spice. I actually forgot - the Brussels sprouts with the crispy pepperoni was my favorite dish of the restaurant. Very surprised I almost forgot to mention it. Can't wait to request to come back here. read more

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Would not recommend! We reserved this spot for a friend's birthday party as a group of 7 on a Saturday night. As excited as we were to try this spot, we were quickly let down by the service and the food. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The interior is chic and pretty, but it doesn't make up for our rude server, who could not have cared less for the celebration[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] (previously noted on the reservation!) [[HIGHLIGHT]]It's clear this place tries to be modern and trendy from the way their menu and layout is designed but they should work on training their staff and improving the food quality first.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Their menu isn't very comprehensive of the ingredients/sauce bases (literally says pasta has "shrimp and some other stuff") and when I asked our server about the sauce for the chittara and clams, she said it was a white "lemon forward sauce" - well it did taste exactly as bland as it sounds. We tried several different pastas, all of which were either drab, sauce watered down, or just overcooked. Only pasta that was half decent was the one with chickpeas, rabe, and sausage. read more

Bar Primi Penn District - Chitarra & Clams Fusilli Giganti Spaghetti Pomodoro Pappardelle - Italian Near Me - New York, New York

First of all, kudos to the reservation team, because they were so friendly and helpful when I had to change my reservation a couple of times. [[HIGHLIGHT]]I was told in advance by a friend that this restaurant is huge, but I did not realize how huge until I actually arrived. There's a massive outdoor area, which would be incredible in the summer, and the indoor dining area is also huge.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]It is beautifully decorated, and the servers were all really nice.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] For the two of us, we ordered negronis, brussels sprouts, the Fusilli Giganti and the Vesuvio Scampi. The negroni was so smooth, and I loved the presentation. I personally wasn't the biggest fan of the Brussels sprouts, so I would probably go with another vegetable dish next time. In terms of the pasta, I personally loved the Vesuvio Scampi (it wasn't even that spicy). The Fusilli Giganti was not bad, but I just preferred the sauce and pasta shape of the other dish. I can definitely see myself coming back if I'm in the area for dinner! read more

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We were here for an early (6pm) Saturday night dinner. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Intimate setting, the inside decor is modern and classy.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Services were top notch. Waiters were dressed in red jackets with bowties. Felt they were over dressed since most of the customers were casual, not dressy. [[HIGHLIGHT]]There is a good size bar near the entrance, also for the convenience of the folks we chose the outdoor seating.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] We order quit a few appetizers and desserts. Food were delicious. Just to point out a few things: 1. Bucatini was a house popular, it was not as spicy as the waiter portrayed; 2. The squash was tasty; the pappardelle and Vesuvio scampi lacked flavor from the pasta; 3. The endive insalata di Scarola was crisp and excellent; 4. Desserts were all excellent. Can't go wrong with any of them. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Overall the place was not too noisy, we enjoyed the food and the service was excellent.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] I recommend this place. read more

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Came to Bar Primi last night with a group of friends (6 total) and our experience was honestly comical. Food was great, but it's unfortunate that the service was as horrible as it was. The food was fantastic. To start, we got the grilled artichokes, Brussels, fried tomato rice, Sicilian Caesar, arugula salad, calamari, and meatballs in sugo. 10/10 starters, the calamari was fresh, the veg full of flavor, and everything was great. For pastas, the ricotta agnolotti, bucatini, maccheroni pugliesi, vesuvio scampi, and chitarra & clams were fantastic. The scampi was a winner, a true table favorite. The only pasta to disappoint was the fusilli giganti, which wasn't very saucy, a little too al dente, and lacked flavor. And finally, the veal Milanese and the new york strip were prepared perfectly. Again, the food wasn't the problem with our experience. Once we ordered, our server disappeared. Never checked in on us once. We wanted to order drink refills and never got the chance. One of our dishes never arrived and we flagged someone down to ask about it towards the end of the meal-- turns out it just sat there and the kitchen thought they prepared an extra (this was comped and put in a to go bag for us, which was nice). Our server brought the check before the dessert menus. But the strangest thing is that we were going to order dessert, had menus on the table, and the server came by and snatched all the menus up without saying a word, without asking if we wanted to order anything. The GM was super sweet and apologetic, sent out some free drinks and desserts to try and turn around our experience. Desserts were admittedly divine. The Jell-O shots were a kind but odd gesture, considering none of us ordered any alcohol and 5/6 don't drink at all. After all of the apologies for the bad service, it was ultimately comical that we had to flag someone down to get the check, and then ended up waiting 10+ minutes with our credit cards on the table, waiting to be taken, and we had to flag down another server to take payment. Won't be coming back. Good food but horrible service, not worth it. read more

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I tried to get a reservation at Bar Primi last minute when I realized we needed dinner before a show at MSG. Silly me waited too long so I decided to wing it! We couldn't get a table but luckily got a spot at the bar. This was just what I wanted - I didn't want a pub or your typical bar I wanted Italian. I got a great class of Chianti along with the Hot Girl Salami. Service was fast and the bartenders were friendly. Next time, I plan on making a reservation and getting dinner! read more

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[[HIGHLIGHT]]Absolutely stellar outdoor dining vibes in a garden like atmosphere that is off the street.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]I appreciate that they had heaters going on a slightly chilly evening.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Food was hit or miss. Loved the spinach and artichoke square pizza, burrata pockets, and lemon curd zeppole. The pea dip and my mocktail were just average. The buccatini amatriciana was disappointing, oversalted and just meh, which is unfortunate as that was the dish we were most excited about. Service was slow and underwhelming. Wheelchair accessible throughout. read more

We waiting a bit by the bar for our party to arrive. Drinks have creative names. I personally didn't like mine but it was cute. Bar was def moving and not personal which is fine. Once seated we did wait a while to get service. Food was delicious. Not pictured is the salami pizza. We felt the food brought up the stars. Seating was cramped. Since I didn't like my drink at the bar I ordered a lemon drop which as well made. Dessert: absolutely delicious. Affogato was smooth. Strawberry dessert was scrumptious. read more

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Brunch is such a hidden gem here. The menu is extensive! A great balance of sweet and savory. Service was great! Will come back. read more

Bar Primi Penn District - Italian Near Me - New York, New York

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Went back again last week to answer my craving for Bar Primi. I have to say, it didn't disappoint and it was even better than the last time. Don't sleep on this restaurant. It over-delivers and really is a great place to enjoy an amazing meal. Service, atmosphere and holiday spirit was everywhere. And the location, right near Penn Station can't be beat. I added some more photos ... this time capturing the scrumptious Eggplant Pizza ... and holiday decor is beautiful, especially when you enter the venue. read more

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Came for dinner with a group before a show at MSG - which is really the main reason you should come here. It's a giant space with a nice patio full of corporate partial buyouts. I tried: + The original frose + Piazza julep cocktail + meatballs in sugo + Pappardelle + Sicilian Caesar + Burrata pockets + Fusilli giganti with pesto + broccolini with too much garlic The frose was actually meh, but I liked the piazza julep a lot. Fusilli giganti with pesto and meatballs in sugo were both too salty. Pappardelle and burrata pockets were good. Caesar was excellent. Downtown loc is slightly better (and nicer, more intimate vibes) but this did the trick. 3.5 stars. read more

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Excellent! What a beautiful and large restaurant with modern Italian decor and exceptional service! We had the pleasure of dining in the private room and trying so many wonderful wines and dishes. My favorite dishes were the Caesar salad, chickpea dip and bread, and the amazing calamari. I loved the shrimp pasta and my second favorite was the pesto pasta. Linguine was also very good but extra garlicky. The tiramisu is worth the calories! I didn't try the doughnuts but others loved them. read more

Bar Primi Penn District - Italian Near Me - New York, New York

Went for happy hour/ lunch and everything was delicious. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Restaurant is beautiful with both indoor and outdoor seating.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Service was great and really had a good time here. Had a couple Hugo spritz and some light apps. We enjoyed spring pea dip and raviolis. Really loved both items- nice and light. Overall really recommend read more

The service was horrible. I did not feel welcomed. The ambiance was nice, I had the ceasar salad, meatballs, pepperoni pizza, and garlic knots it was okay, I don't know if i didn't enjoy the food because my experience was poor but I will not not be returning. I'm big on customer service and as a black woman i felt unwelcomed read more

Ordered takeout from here the other night. Highly recommend dining on the patio there instead but we just wanted to hang out at home. Ordered: *Pesto Fusilli Giganti + Ricotta Agnolotti *Chitarra (pasta) with clams *Fava Dip *Brussels Sprouts (we always forget to remove the pepperoni) *2 Fried Tomato Rice pockets *Summer Tomatoes w/ anchovies appetizer *Burrata Pockets w/ hot honey dip *Large Format/Sicilian Caesar *Rustic Potatoes side *Broccolini side The chitarra with clams was a huge waste of $34 as it smelled a bit too fishy + should be served in a more shallow takeout plate/bowl. The last time I had it (there), it was served beautifully and I remember friends enjoying it even though I didn't try it. The other pastas were fabulous although I don't think pesto is ever strong enough-- theirs wasn't the exception. But the Summer Tomatoes with Anchovies and the agnolotti were standouts! read more

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Our time in Bar Primi was especially unique. My friends and I were celebrating a birthday and although it wasn't authentic Italian food (in my opinion) the twist of ingredients were very delightful. The place itself is decorated beautifully and gave a hipster feel. Old school New York with a modern twist. My favorite area was the bar which is the center of the place and gives the main vibe. The service was very attentive, our waiter and the rest of the staff made sure to always fill our cups and ask if everything was okay. We loved the vibe of this place because they made us feel very festive. Every single thing we ordered was recommended by our waiter and he was right about EVERYTHING. The appetizer was our favorite because we never thought pizza and honey would be good together but it is!!!! The drinks do the job and are presented nicely. The price was also very reasonable. We will for sure be back here. 100% recommend. PS: They have a cute Photo Booth downstairs which we thought was very unique. If you're here you should definitely make memories there like we did! read more

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Met up with a former colleague for a little "girl dinner" at Bar Primi and it did not disappoint. We shared pizza, salad, and cocktails, and everything was delicious. The pizza was perfectly crispy, the salad was fresh and simple, and the frozen strawberry cocktails were the perfect touch. read more

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We were able to get a table for 2 outside a little after 5pm without a reservation. Service was amazing, she was attentive and very knowledgeable of the menu down to drink recommendations. Food was good and you feel nice with just 1 froze (though we had other drinks as well) There was a light drizzle, but they had a cute covering that opened up for some of us outdoor to protect us and our desserts. This was really appreciated. Their bathrooms are downstairs and across from a quick Polaroid booth that gives you two printed copies and also emails you the raw images and a gif of them. Super cute. Would definitely come back. read more

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This restaurant is like an oasis in the middle of a crappy neighborhood. Seriously, it's hard to find a decent restaurant in a neighborhood full of junk or tourist traps. Bar Primi has a lovely entrance with outdoor seating and greenery. I sat inside at the bar. The restaurant is quite large. My server was Tyshawna who was lovely! I had the ricotta agnolotti for my entree (large agnolotti filled with ricotta with a light vodka sauce) and it was delicious. For dessert I had the excellent and mouth watering strawberry fantasia, which is a spin on a strawberry short cake, but deconstructed. The space was mostly filled with business people on lunch with relatively mild noise. This meal was the perfect way to decompress mid-day after stressful meetings. I'd love to come back and try some other dishes plus some cocktails. read more

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Che bono!, I've eaten here several times as this has been our go to place to get a pre-event meal before going to MSG. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Located just a few minutes walk away it is elegant yet casual.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]With both indoor and outdoor seating and a large bar area the restaurant boasts an exciting vibe that is "NYC hip"[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]]. The service is helpful and attentive. The food is a 10 out of 10 with exciting takes on fresh pastas, salads, and main courses, the only disappointment I'd say was the Hot Knot, at $4, (it was nothing special and very much like the free garlic knots you get at some Italian restaurants), that said everything else was amazing. I especially loved the Vesuvio Scampi described on the menu as spicy red shrimp and some other stuff. We also had the papperdelle ragu bolognese which was a delicious combination of beef and pork slow cooked to perfection in a delicious red cream sauce. Don't leave without trying the strawberry fantasia for dessert it was special. read more

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Food was great! [[HIGHLIGHT]]Loved the ambiance and the service.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] The only thing was that the slushee machine was not working, so I was unable to order their most popular drink. read more

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This place exceeded our expectations for a large group. Music was playing, but was not too loud, it had a lower lighting of an ambience, The drinks were good, and the food was very good. Natti was our waitor and he was fantastic!! read more

Bar Primi Penn District - Italian Near Me - New York, New York

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we have a Caesar salad to start with. Now I'm a fan of salads and I've tried many at many restaurants. This might have been the best Caesar salad I've ever had. I would go there just to have the Caesar. I had the martini special I would say it was OK. Lori ordered the pasta which was OK as well. But the Caesar alone deserves the five stars. read more

Came here the first time for lunch with my coworkers. There wasn't a lot of people and service was great. Food was also good so we decided to comeback for a company dinner. We had issue booking the reservation. We made the reservation via phone but or reservation was somehow deleted and we had to come in person to remake our reservation. We have reserved for a party of 11 and at last minute we had an extra person so we asked if we can add a seat but we were told they couldn't accommodate us there was no available chair. To be honest it was kind of ridiculous for such a large restaurant to tell us they can't get us one chair. The staffs were kinda rude and gave us an attitude. After all the commotion we found unused chairs in the back and they gave us 1 chair. It was pretty busy that night and the restaurant was full but all we asked for was a single chair. Beside this one hiccup the food wasn't bad. Notable appetizers - snap peas, beets, Brussels sprouts, calamari and the best one burrata pocket. Main course: Pappardelle - thick pasta with meat sauce. It is pretty filling Hanger steak- it was okay. It's a little bland for me. I would stick with the pasta Chitarra & clams - pasta and sauce were good but the clams were very fishy Vesuvio Scampi - is a good choice if you want something spicy Dessert: Strawberry fantasia - really nice presentation. The sorbet was really good with the diced strawberries. The cake was a little too soggy. Pistachio ice cream - this was good and creamy Lemon zeppole - this was really good especially when it is fresh and warm read more

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While in New York, we decided to explore some local spots and stumbled upon Bar Primi in the Independence District. We walked up to the host stand and were greeted warmly. We asked for a high top table, and they accommodated us right away. The service was great, and the food was delicious. We also learned that this is where the famous "Frosé" was originally created which was a fun surprise! The ambiance was lovely, with beautiful decor throughout. They even have a patio if you prefer to dine outside, which adds a nice touch. We will definitely be coming back when in New York my girl and I had an amazing time read more

Bar Primi Penn District - Italian Near Me - New York, New York

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This place is great!!!! Decorated nicely with a great ambiance! Hosted was wonderful. Food here is sooooo good. Try the pizza for for one ie rhexsteak. The steak was bursting with flavor. read more

Bar Primi Penn District - Pizza - Italian Near Me - New York, New York

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Came into Bar Primi for dinner with a friend after work. Made a reservation for 7:30 and my friend arrived at 7:15, checked us in and waited for me at the bar. I arrived at 7:35 and attempted to check in and they originally directed me to a large group, to which I had to correct them to my friend. They didn't say anything about our table when I arrived, so together we went to the desk and the staff at the front just starred at us lol and then we let them know who we were again and they said our table would be ready in a few minutes. However we were waiting for over 20 minutes and watched people walk and in and be seated immediately. We tried to get the staff's attention, but they would just ignore us. Finally we were seated around 7:55/8 and we noticed so many seats available. And when we explained it to the person who sat us down they seemed like they didn't care too much, but would try to get everything out as soon as possible. We were given an amazing waiter however that gave us great recommendations and overall the food was great, a bit oily but I think that's just bigger italian chains. They even gave us a complimentary dessert to rectify the situation. I really didn't like how we were treated when we first walked in. Your first 5 minutes really taints your whole experience/first impression of a restaurant. read more

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Really large and beautiful space. Service was good and the food was good! Not my absolute favorite meal but nothing was bad. Good spot right by Penn, so easy to meet anyone coming into the city. read more

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Came here for lunch and has a pleasant experience. My friend and I ordered the hot knots, burrata pockets, rosemary bacon, and two entrees. The knots were yummy and very sizable but the burrata pockets were the highlight of the appetizers. For my entree, I got the Agnolotti which was very yummy, but I do wish the portion size was slightly bigger for the price. Service and ambiance was great. Staff was friendly and consistently checked up and the decor is the place is very nice and very clean. Did enjoy my experience and would recommend. read more

Did not expect to fall in love with this Italian restaurant but the pizzas and pastas blew me AWAY. Came here with a group of 6 and I'm so happy that we were able to try so many things. The pesto pasta is a MUST, so creamy with the stracciatella cheese. And the soppressata pizza was the perfect spice and flavor level. My frose was perfect and came in a really cute glass and then we ended with the strawberry sundae dessert and it was YUM. It's a super fun vibe, definitely loud but you can still easily chat with your table. read more

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Solid meal in a convenient location - the pizza is a must-get! The ambiance is lovely and lively as well - we sat at the bar and easily walked in for the spot. read more

Bar Primi Penn District - Hot Girl Salami Fusilli Giganti - Italian Near Me - New York, New York

Wanted to try this place for a while & finally made my way. The service was great , the waitress was very personable & made great recommendations. All of the food was lukewarm nothing came feeling hot & fresh. The Photo Booth in the basement is a nice touch & don't skip the strawberry dessert that was the best thing I had! read more

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The restaurant is very cute. Service was good. Food was ok. Got a bottle of prosecco to share read more

Bar Primi Penn District - Italian Near Me - New York, New York

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