Came here for dinner while in town for work. It was Valentine's day but I was able to get a seat at the bar right away. Ordered the cacio e pepe which I thought was okay. To be fair, it's a very hard dish to make right and this was just a decent attempt at it. Also got a side dish of the Tagliatelle Funghi and thought it was decent as well. Let me mention that the portions were huge. Prices were reasonable and the service was incredibly friendly and quick. Overall, a very solid place. Wouldn't hesitate returning here. read more

Outstanding!! We didn't really know what to expect so we sat at the bar. Friendly quick service and the food was light years ears ahead of pub grub! Killer aroncini!!! Sausage and peppers was more than an appetizer, it was a dinner. With the best cold ricotta I've ever had. Nice intro to Buffalo. read more

We sat at the bar for a late night dinner and drink. The atmosphere is really nice, a mix between hipster and romantic while still being a dimly-lit Italian restaurant. The menu is difficult to read, unless you know Italian. And even at that, I don't think it's even legitimate Italian phrases, just Italian words jumbled together to give dishes fun, fancy names. I go out to eat a lot and thought myself a seasoned restaurant-connoisseur, but I could hardly decipher any dishes on the menu. Drinks were good -I didn't choose anything off the wine menu but it seemed extensive! The pizzas are full of flavor, albeit too flavorful and not the "correct" mixture of flavors to be enticing. I've been really loving gourmet pizzas lately (my two favorite are at 800 Maple and Elm Street Bakery). So I was excited to give this place a try. We ordered the Uova e Tartufo pizza. I found it to be too salty, though. I think this restaurant is in the right location for what it is! If you're heading out on the town, stop in for a bite to eat but do your drinking at Soho. In fact, if you're on a budget, maybe grab dinner at Prima Pizza a block away! read more

Came in on a Saturday night (restaurant completely packed) they found us a table inside! Started with artichokes, our beautiful waitress dropped of a mistake of their pasta fagoli (omg the best I ever had) so happy it was someone's mistake!! The best lightest Cesar salad, then the entrée tortellini with a full ribeye !! Omg !! Service amazing atmosphere amazing!! Music on spot! Omg our waitress is trying to kill me with a desert menu (just love her) !!! read more

Definitely get the ribeye over tortellini !!!!!! 11/10 great restaurant. Just went for the first time the other night it was amazing. Now I'm going to be a regular. Don't forget to get the Buffalo mozzarella read more

Ordered an awesome Martini with hot pepper juice and a house made blue cheese stuffed olive it was !!! Our server was great, very attentive all night. I ordered the Uova e Tartufo for dinner which came highly recommend by our server. I thought the pizza was tasty but the egg on top was completely raw. Trust me I like a good runny yoke on just about everything but the white part was all sorts of gooey which in turn made the pizza soggy :( On the upside I took the pizza home, heated in the over for a few minutes and it was actual way better! I think maybe it was a busy Saturday night and this just got overlooked. Ill go back and try it again. I will definitely go back for that Martini! read more

Really great and open during the other bars restaurants are closed! Matthew our bartender / server was outstanding! read more

Frankie Primo's +39 - Awesomeness - Italian Near Me - Buffalo, New York

Visiting Buffalo and looking for Italian within walking distance of our hotel. We selected this place based on reviews. Frankly, we were disappointed. I had the gnocchi pasta, with Italian sausage added. It was "sticky" and tasteless. We also had the artichoke appetizer ... again, lacking in taste. Service was adequate, but nothing memorial ... average in all aspects. We dined outdoors (it was a beautiful evening -- weather wise) and my chair was jammed against the heat lamp (which wasn't needed). I thought this placed had nothing, in any way, to offer that could be considered above average. Also, I thought it was extremely expensive for what we received in quality and quantity. read more

I had a reservation and they still sat us at the bar-top tables in the bar area and not the dining room. My party ordered pizza and gnocchi and drinks. The gnocchi were delicious but insanely overpriced the for portion size. It was about half a cup of pasta for 16 bucks. The pizza was average at best. The hostess was a bit rude but our waitress was very nice. Overall, not worth your time. Much better Italian places in Buffalo. read more

The service and food are 4 star...the noise level is incredibly high; you have to yell across the small tables, especially in the bar area. Go during the nice weather and sit on the patio. I had a steak salad and instead of the steak being sliced and placed on top of the greens, it was plopped whole on top of the salad. It was not cooked as requested, medium rare but medium well. The Italian meat sandwich was stacked high with various specialty meats and was very good. The apps we ordered, calamari and rice balls were very good, as well. Cocktails are $10 and up but that seems to be the typical range at Buffalo restaurants these days. read more

Lame that two photo IDs required to buy cocktail for out of state visitors. For the record, I'm well into my 30s. Pretty sure if it's not a law this is considered discrimination. Immediately went somewhere else. read more

Nice option for lunch...both business or pleasure. Sandwich, pizza, salad, and pasta options. I enjoyed the chicken with spicy spinach sandwich with a prosecco/lemon cocktail. Finished off with a complimentary sesame cookie (perfectly toasted) and shot of limoncello. Nice atmosphere and cute patio option. Appreciate the Sinatra style music. read more

Very lovely place depending on the waiter/waitress. I've been here a few times for business travel. Most recently on 9/10 & 9/11. Another coworker ordered for the same group on 9/9. I ordered two Insalata Bistecca medium well. Now, we asked the waitress if she was going to write everything down. She ensured us she would remember the order. The steaks came overcooked. I asked for another steak and the 2nd order came back the same. My coworker who doesn't eat cheese mentioned he has cheese allergies. Well, the plate had cheese. We waited for 15 to 20 for the replacement order. Meanwhile, everyone had just about finished their meal. My coworker refused to send her steak back. I was stunned that the waitress didn't take the meal off the bill because neither of us ate the steak. The drinks were a cap full. After three sips the drinks were gone. I also mentioned that. I went back on 9/10 and asked to speak to the manager, but she refused to see me. Keep in mind, that I was placing an order as well. I told the waitress in training that I was appalled she didn't acknowledge the situation but said she wasn't the manager on duty. Step down and let someone manage. read more

They are stealing from their customers. Ordered over 10 items from the menu, and I was charged a significantly different price than was listed for most. I didn't pay directly, so I called after the fact to explain the situation. The person that answered the phone was rude and hung up on me. Please do not go here. read more

Terrible service. Bar tender was EXTREMELY rude. I am visiting out of town, and he said the bar required TWO FORMS of ID. He didn't believe that I was 28 years old. I luckily had my passport, and after I showed him he condescending said, "Was that really that bad?" We shortly left after the comment. Not good vibes at all. If you're from out of town or visiting to see the touring companies... don't go! read more

Out of towner with my fiancé, found this bar and our bartender Carla was amazing. She made us feel welcome and had great customer service,

Great little place. Had a wonderful date night with my wife. I had the Tortellini Bistecca and my wife had the Pappardelle. Great service food arrived quickly and hot. Price's were good and the complementary Lemon shot with the bill was great. read more

So great! I loved pretty much everything about my dining experience here. The food was delicious and they're willing to make changes to the dishes to suit your specific wants and needs. I ordered the tortellini, I don't eat steak and they easily substituted shrimp, which was exactly what I wanted. The sauce was so good and cheesy and the shrimp was cooked perfectly. One of my favorite pasta dishes I've ever had in Buffalo. I sat inside and it was a bit loud, next time I'll go on a nice day and try to sit outside on the patio. I would recommend Frankie Primos to anyone and I will definitely be back for more. read more

The food was delicious and very authentic! We sat outside which was quite lovely, except for the occasional whiff of sewage which presumably isn't their fault. The lower rating is because the service was abysmal and really detracted from the overall experience. read more

We went here before Sheas, not disappointed! Food was great. Service even better Easy walk to Sheas , Town Ballroom or other venues

I ordered the linguine and I don't think there is any unique skill involved in dropping pasta in a pile of oil; there were exceptionally briny olives in it. My companion ordered zucchini trumpets, which are a lot of oil, breading, cheese. She also ordered prosciutto with melon balls, which is like carpaccio, but that's rare beef, which does NOT make the cantaloupe taste pickled. A lot of Buffalo folks find "oily" and "delicious" to be synonymous, similarly to how ninth graders find "loud" to be the same as "funny." Anyway, the tiramisu was good, and the cocktails were nice and pretty colors. It's a bit pricey for food that's egregiously greasy. Maybe you can digest that in fewer than nine hours, and if so, you have an edge on me, and may find it all yummy. read more

My husband and I along with my in-laws were visiting from California and came to have our last family dinner of the trip. To start, we were greeted at the front by "Primo" himself (the seven year old son of the owner) who told us all about the name of the business and that "Frankie" was his little sister. Too cute, right?! Anyway, out of six of us, only one got something they were less than fond of but when the owner of the business heard of the issue, he did everything in his power to make it right! We were all very impressed with the food other than that and truly valued the hands-on approach of the owner! Please make sure to visit this restaurant while you're in Buffalo, you won't be disappointed. The owner will make sure of it! Haha. read more

We had reservations for dinner and met another couple there on a Friday night.I was kind of disappointed that even though we were all there at the appointed time, the servers failed to notify us, thus, each couple spent time at the bar alone. The bar tenders were good and friendly, however, crafting cocktails with speed and knowledge. Our waitress was friendly but we were told that we could not order appetizers ahead of dinner...odd. So we waited to have time to chat before ordering everything together. When we did, the waitress failed to take the ladies orders first, odd. The appetizers: carciofi romana and sausage with beans and greens were both delicious. Unfortunately, even though you cannot order your courses separately, dinner apparently comes out in waves. It was 10-15 minutes after everyone else received their meals before I got mine, which was probably the simplest dish ordered (tagliatelle funghi). Also, the wait staff unceremoniously dropped the dishes on the table which was kind of startling. By the time mine arrived they were clearing everyone else's plates which was pretty annoying since I had barely eaten 1/4 of my dinner. My pasta was good but I struggled to find evidence of all the mushroom varieties that were described in the menu. In fact, there were only a few tiny pieces of mushroom on the whole plate. I am will to try this place again since the menu is pretty authentic Italian. Hopefully, it will be better next time! read more

First off this is the only review I've written about anything. Alycia the bartender was superb. My drink was never empty as she always checked with me one sip before I was done. Almost brought tears to my eyes when she brought out my Cannoli and black coffee at the same moment without my asking. The littlest of things make for a great experience and she deserves plenty of gratitude for doing her job amazingly. On top of the incredible service the Caeser salad was excellent, not over dressed, the Gnocchi was the best I ever had, light, fluffy with just a bit of heat to the sauce. Even the desert was outstanding an actually tasty cannoli with hot coffee. I'd give this six stars if I could. read more

Wow! The linguini was luscious. I had the stuffed artichoke appetizer as well. Great meal!

the servers were really friendly and the food was delicious! we had the don corrado(?) pizza. most of the ingredients are salty but the potatoes on it balances it out really well. and the mushroom pasta + shrimp was very nice. the sauce didn't drown out the other flavors. the shrimp were huge too. and as a side note, the water was also taste. 6 stars read more

Came here last night for dinner at 6:30 before a 8:00 show at Shea's . Took 10 minutes before our waiter even came over to us to take our drink order. At 7:15 we finally had our soup appetizers and after inquiring about our meals , we decided to cancel the entrees and leave at 7:40. There was another table with the same issue next to us that left and a larger table that also seemed to have the same issue and left . It was disappointing and also frustrating because our waiter didn't even seem concerned or sympathetic that we waited so long. We didn't even get asked if we needed more drinks during this wait. Service was poor. read more

This was one of the best meals I have ever had! The pork rib pasta was so delicious! The drink choices were superb. The calamari and shrimp scampi were also to die for. I was pleasantly surprised. The atmosphere was kind of loud so expect that- but I loved it nonetheless. read more

Five of us went to Frankie Primo's +39 last night for a birthday celebration. We came on a Monday night and the place was empty so the service was prompt. They have a nice selection of wine and specialty cocktails. Most of the table started off with Minestrone soup or Cesar salad that was brought out very quickly and got good reviews. I ordered the Pappardelle, with Pork and Hazelnuts and it was to die for. I am not normally much of a pork orderer, but I'm sure glad I did. My boyfriend and another friend got the Bucatini which they said was good. The other orders were Margarita Pizza and the Gnocchi which is hard to go wrong with and this place didn't disappoint. The birthday boy had some gelato, and we all had some complimentary lemoncello that the owner himself made and that about wrapped it up. All in all glad we checked it out and will be coming back in the future. read more

FantastIc Italian! Fresh pasta, great charcuterie, and fabulous service! Highly recommend.

This is our go to spot when we are going to an event downtown. The food is good and the service is speedy which is perfect. Me and friends went there last weekend for my bday and I wish I could rate this place off the charts! They made my birthday everything and more I could have even imagine. The food and service was great and I felt like such a queen. If you are looking for a great restaurant come here!!! read more

California bass w/ mash and asparagus, coupled w/ prompt/polite service, was outstanding! Will def return.

This place was average at best. We ordered the arincini balls and they were cold. The cacio e pepe tasted like easy mac. The waitress was very friendly, but clearly overworked, as she had the whole restaurant to take care of, and therefore the service was lacking. read more

I have 3 very important words to describe Frankie Primo's: Scratch-made and Authentic. I can extrapolate out from there, but that's really all you need to know. My boss took us out for a nice meal at Frankie Primo's and they exceeded my expectations. The interior, the decor, the plating, the presentation, the service, the food...it's the total Italian package. We ordered their scratch-made slabs of mozzarella with tomatoes for an appetizer and it melted in my mouth. It arrived with a drizzle of balsamic and a drizzle of olive oil. Our server supplied us with fresh olive bread, Italian bread and butter along with old-world-style bottles of water. My boss got wine in a small glass. For our entree, I chose the spaghetti seasoned with olive oil and fresh black pepper with prime rib. They had 3 different size options (8, 12 and 16 ounces, I believe), and since someone else was buying, I went with the modest 12 ounce 'Full Order' choice (around $30). I was expecting spaghetti with diced prime rib. What I got was an entire prime rib cut next to my spaghetti! It was cooked perfectly (medium rare), the flavor was exceptional and the spaghetti was amazing too. Italian music played in the background along with the unavoidable Frank Sinatra tune here and there. The lighting was suitable for a very important date, a classy dinner or large families or banquets. The other gentleman got Rigatoni (house-made) with a spicy sauce that was legitimately spicy and a linguini dish with red sauce and fat, irregular pasta that could only be made on-site. It was one of the quietest meals I've ever had with my co-workers because we were all pleased with our plates. My comrades and I were stuffed, so we passed on dessert. Our server brought complimentary Lemoncello (sp?) shots for the table and, since I don't drink, I gave mine to the gentleman next to me. He's an Italian from LA, and after our server told us she was bringing Lemoncello (sp?), he slapped the table and said 'Hot damn! This is a real Italian restaurant!. My boss (who's Italian) couldn't help but mention the chain-style latrine ala 'The Godfather' in the Men's Room. Across from our table we spied a brick oven for their pizzas along with either a mock or genuine deli counter with exotic meats and cheeses. Frankie Primo's is the real deal. They earned every single star out of five and you can't deliver that kind of full service dining experience without consistency, quality and attention to detail. I was truly impressed and look forward to trying the rest of the menu. read more

Incredible food. Sincerely one of the best Italian meals I have had. Great service and ambience.

Absolutely delicious, I highly recommend!!! The bread they give you is so yummy, has chunks of roasted garlic inside. I ordered a panini sandwich which was wonderful and so juicy. The side they give you are fingerling potatoes and a green bean salad, how unique! They bring you limoncello with the check which is such a nice touch. Will definitely be returning to try their pastas and pizzas!! read more

Great though my wife ordered a half order of pasta, so I guess the waitress thought that's what I must have wanted too. Coupled with the fact we were not offered any bread, I left still very hungry! read more

Went here on a whim with my brother for dinner. The sun hit the patio perfectly during our meal. Classics from Frank Sinatra, Etta James and company played in the background. The patio has a similar European feel to that of the late La Tea Da on Allen. We split a citrus salad and pizza. Portions were generous. The meal ended with complimentary giuggiulani cookies, which made my day. Our server was very attentive, splitting our dishes without having been asked. The owner, who was dining at a nearby table, graciously checked in with us throughout our meal. Will be back this week with the fam! read more

This place was very good, the host was wonderful and the ambiance was perfect. I love my food to be super hot and this place did not disappoint. Our food was delicious and HOT. They even served us lemon shots at the end of our meal. The tiramisu was a great way to end the meal. The only complaint is that my wine was served in a kid sized juice glass. I felt like I was drinking OJ at the Cracker Barrel. read more

What a great atmosphere! This bar is a must visit as it should be in New York City! The food is a 10. Try the pork pappardelle pasta- it's won't disappoint! read more