I came to Primo for the kickoff dinner of the Eat Local event in Jan. The dinner was amazing, and perfectly paired with Primo, as that restaurant makes a point of utilizing local farms and gardens for their menu. We got to tour the herb and vegetable garden located on the grounds of the JW Marriot. Before each meal, a representative from the grower\farmer spoke about their operation followed by a run down from Chef Kelly about how they used the ingredients for each dish. It was an amazing event, and the food... the FOOD was DELICIOUS! My favorite dish of the night came from locally caught shrimp over artichoke and white bean filled agnolotti. It was heavenly. I really can't wait to come back to Primo to try items from their regular menu! For more info on the dinner and pictures, check out my blog post http://burgersandbarolo.blogspot.com/ read more

Wow. The ambiance and service are impeccable. And the food is delicious! Such a wonderful win-win situation! The premise of this restaurant is that they serve organically, freshly grown vegetables from their garden right on the property of the resort! We were seated in a cozy booth and ordered drinks. A complimentary appetizer came along with our order of the grilled assortment seafood appetizer. I immensely dislike it when seafood is over cooked BUT Primo grilled their seafood to perfection. For entrees, my boyfriend had the duck. The meat was succulent and savory. The portion was just enough to be comfortably full (so he says!). I had the lamb which was cooked to my liking. It was not a lamb chop - they were served in medallions. And the service was amazing. Without even asking, we had our soft drinks refilled (yes, soft drinks bc we gave up alcohol for Lent!) and our were plates cleared very inconspicuously. Too full for dessert, we were given a complimentary 'sweet plate' with a pair of chocolate covered hazelnuts, jellied lemon rinds, and 2 other sweet treats that escape my memory. A fun side note: there was a decorative red meat cutter on the floor and they actually used it to slice prosciutto - just a cute touch. read more

We enjoyed our meal here...because we live in Gainesville and have very slim pickings. We had higher expectations for this restaurant though, especially for the price. Some things were better than others. They serve really nice olive oil with their freshly made bread. I really liked the Primo Salad, the lettuce was fresh and the dressing was good. I got the snapper as my entree, it was cooked perfectly and I loved all the components on the dish, although the fish could have been fresher. My fiance got the fois gras torchon to start, the torchon itself was good, but the other components on the dish didn't really go well with the fois gras. The chef was trying too hard with the fois gras, gingerbread just doesn't go with it. He got the duck breast for his entree and he liked it, but he thought my fish dish was better. They are trying to be a 5 star place with the amuse bouche, but things could be improved. If this restaurant were cheaper I would have given it a 4 star, but for the price its really a 3 star. read more

Yum! We visited Primo for a company dinner, and we were not disappointed! The mussels were fresh with tasty broth. I ordered the arugula fettuccine for my entree and loved it. It was very rich without being "heavy". My colleagues enjoyed their meals as well. (I believe many of them ordered the duck and a few ordered the steak.) The lowlights of the night were the s'more desserts and mojitos. My group really disliked the s'more dish, and we were later told that it's being taken off the menu due to poor reviews. (This would have been nice to know earlier, right?) The mojitos were inconsistently made and a little too sweet at times. I really like how intimate the space felt while still accommodating large groups. The prices are a bit steep, and if you're a "true" foodie you might not fall in love, but it's a nice place for a treat. read more

We recently ate at Primo for dinner while staying on property. AMAZING dining experience. We each had different salads - very unique ingredients used in both and delicious. We were treated to a small pasta, shrimp scampi style and not on menu that was out of this world. Dinner was Pork Saltimbocca and Salmon - the pork could have passed for VEAL - pounded super thin and very tender in a wonderful sauce. Salmon was very well prepared also. For dessert we splurged and ordered zeppolis - super fresh and piping hot with cinnamon sugar sprinkled on top. Nice wine menu selection - helpful staff and very attentive management! Would absolutely look forward to next chance we can dine there. Highly recommend. read more

Great food and excellent service. On a business trip thought we would get some dinner at this place. The service was impeccable. Restaurant in at the JW Marriott- read more

Primo - Italian Near Me - Orlando, Florida

Very enjoyable food... I normally avoid hotel restaurants ... but went to Primo with a conference group. Well worth it ... I had the pork medallions and they were done perfectly. My wife had the strip steak and it too was excellent. Good selection of wines, and the fresh herbs make a big difference. Probably the best restaurant in the Marriott / Ritz Carlton complex. read more

Our food this evening was over the top amazing! Last night we let the waiter, Jodi order and do the pairing because he seemed like an expert. Chef Michelle Kelly's organic restaurant is definitely worth a visit. We came back tonight because we were craving the gnocchi (homemade duck...)today. This evening Jodi raised the bar surprising us with exceptionalism. He had no idea we are celebrating 29 years of marriage and made Paul's favorite dish, lamb. Out of this world! read more

Primo - Our treat at the end - Italian Near Me - Orlando, Florida

This was one of the worst experiences we've had in awhile. We had reservations, the restaurant was pretty empty, yet we waited... and waited. It took forever for water, then drink menus, 20 min later we get our drinks, we waited and waited to put our food order in, etc. It was a 2 hour event, the waitor could not answer questions about the cocktails, they ran out of bread, etc. If we were not so tired and guests onsite of the Ritz, we would have definitely left. Lastly, the wall was covered in old splattered food. So gross. read more

I'd rate this one 4 if not for the tough lobster (see below) At the JW Marriott Orlando Grande Lakes. Melissa Kelly's "Primo" is the sister to her Rockland, Maine restaurant known for organic ingredients and support of sustainable agriculture. The Orlando Primo outpost includes an organic garden supplying much of the produce and herbs for the restaurant. The decor is upscale, comfortable and feels surprisingly intimate for its size. There are several dining areas with widely spaced tables that, while they are not shut off from each other, help create a romantic, intimate space. We both started with the Hammock Hollow Organic Seasonal Greens dressed with an aged red wine vinaigrette. The combination of greens was delicious and packed with flavor. It had that 'just picked' taste and didn't need anything more than the vinaigrette. I had the Sweet Pea Ravioli & Maine Lobster (English pea and mascarpone stuffed ravioli with pea tendrils & buttery lobster broth) for my entree. The ravioli and lobster broth was WOW WOW WOW! out of this world, but unfortunately the half-lobster tail and claw was tough and tasteless. My companion had two lamb chops (I'm sorry -- I didn't pay attention to the preparation) but since she wouldn't give me a bite, cleaned her plate and made these little "yum, yum" noises while eating, I know she was pleased. We ended the meal with dessert. L had the Warm Chocolate "Budino" Cake with coffee gelato and warm caramel (excellent!) and I had a panna cotta with pineapple mousse that was accompanied by a tiny coconut macaroon and a small piece of peanut brittle. The wee macaroon was kind of weird and too sticky, but both the panna cotta and peanut brittle were brilliant. Service was good and our thoughtful server, while she lacked confidence and was a bit too giggly, was very understanding about that fact that we were taking our time with dinner and didn't want to be rushed in any way. read more

Staff was friendly, food was good. It's not getting five stars, because it just wasn't quite up to that level. Drinks were a bit on the pricey side, but good. I would say it was okay, but if I have the opportunity to return to this location, I will try other places for dinner first before going back. read more

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With our Tot at the Kids Ritz Club, we embraced the evening with an astonishing dinner at Primo. From start to finish the experience was five-star. We started with a salad that was made from fresh ingredients from the garden next door. Tasty!! For our main courses we shared the bolognese and Chianti chicken dishes. We both had red wine....the Chianti and house red, and finished our meal with the chocolate cake. Holy yum! I'm so full as I write this review but every bite was worth it. Also, our waiter Jodi. He was fantastic and a true five-star waiter! He didn't rush us....he just let us enjoy our time. He was also very knowledgable of the menu, the ingredients, flavours, and wines. He truly made our evening very special. The hotel and restaurant are lucky to have him on their team! This has been one of my favourite dining experiences, and I look forward to returning!!!! Get a Primo to Boca Raton.....it would thrive there! read more

We used to love this place but after our most recent meal here, we will not waste any money dining in. (We will still get cannolis Togo) Night started with the host telling us they were 100% booked for the evening, no biggie...we just sat at the bar. We sat at the bar and stared at an almost completely empty dining room (probably reservations that hasn't arrived) the host continued to turn people away. The whole time we sat at the bar , about an hour and half, not one table came in the restaurant. Who ever the host and/or manager that runs the front should probably confirm reservations before sending away multiple tables....either way table would have been nice, but the bar was fine as well. The food was completely off tonight! Unfortunately, paying the price for these items, the food should always be perfect. We ordered the scallops with porkbelly, the lobster pasta, and the snapper. We decided to just share the plates so our party of 3 could try a few different things. The scallops and pork belly were both over cooked. The pork belly was TERRIBLE!!! It was so dry, tasted like it sat in the window for hours...scallops weren't as bad just a bit on the rubbery side, and honestly not sure if the dry, bland potato was a garnish or was supposed to be eaten...hopefully it was there just to be pretty. The lobster pasta unfortunately was not much better. The pasta itself was decent in the sauce, but again the lobster and prawns were killed and so over done we could not eat it. The snapper again over cooked, to the point we sent it away after a quick taste. It was quickly brought back and we were asked to try the middle of the fish. The middle of the fish was cooked properly, but completely lacked any flavor! It was inexcusably bland. We decided to send it away since the center was the only edible part and it was not that good. Not really sure what happened with the kitchen tonight but plain and simple our meal while it was pretty, it was mostly all over cooked and bland as hell. Still not sure how an expo didn't catch the over cooked food, or maybe they did and just didn't care and sent it out anyway...not sure. We did order the cannolis and thankfully they were as good as they always are!!! So sad to see this place has lost its way in the kitchen, busy nights are tough but food should be consistent and not compromised. read more

This restaurant is my favorite at the Ritz / JW Marriott Grand Lakes. Organic ingredients, innovative dishes, accommodating to diners' health-conscious requests, mellow yet sophisticated vibe. My colleague and I made reservations on a Thursday evening and it was pretty busy (without a reservation there's an hour wait). During the earlier months of the year, most of the clientele will be people on business in suits (so make note). It was hard to spot simple vacationers, but I hear it gets better during peak travel months, but note this hotel is a conference center through and through. Anyway, we started off with some mojitos, which were really yummy. For entrees, we had the pappardelle pasta with mushrooms and scallops, as well as the butternut squash ravioli with lobster meat. The first dish was a little lackluster even though I'm a big fan of all three: pappardelle pasta, mushrooms and scallops. I think everything tasted okay, it was just more an issue with texture. The pasta was pretty cold and tasted stale - not what I was expecting at all. The ravioli dish however, which was highly recommended by our awesome waiter Brian, was heavenly! It was absolutely delicious and I highly recommend it. They were incredibly generous with the lobster claw meat as well - there was so much lobster I was pleasantly surprised. If I ever go back to this JW, it'll be my first dinner stop. read more

Mushroom tagliatelle was to die for! Mini scallops and fresh housemate pasta... You can also order 1/2 orders of pasta dishes. Bucatini for the kiddo at $9 not bad, ESP since my picky eater ate most of it! Great service and a must try if you're close to Marriott Property. read more

We had an amazing experience at Primo. The cocktails were great. They're amazing meatball calamari and octopus appetizers were incredible. We love the farmer salad and the herb gnocci as well as the fettuccine. I know it's an Italian restaurant and the steak should not be good but the ribeye is superb. They have a really nice wine list. The staff is very very helpful. We will return in the fall and will be having dinner again at Primo read more

Tucked away on the JW Marriot and Ritz Carlton's beautiful property, Primo promises to deliver the most fresh and healthy menus. I only had the opportunity to have appetizers and drinks but that was enough for my appetite and wallet to handle. We shared crab cakes with an arugula and cucumber salad and a light dressing and I had a few cocktails. Between the two of us we dropped $50 just on appetizers and drinks. I wouldn't frequent Primo but it would be a way to spoil a girlfriend or impress a business partner, other than that its pretty overdone. read more

Fantastic place! Upscale ambiance, refined service, and excellent food. I was staying at the JW Marriott (which, btw, was fabulous) and dined here two nights in a row. The chef, as I I found out, is a past James Beard award winner. Deservedly so. I started with an exquisite glass of wine. Moved on to the foie gras, which was very good. For my main course, I had the grouper, which came on a bed of corn risotto. The combination worked wonders for me. Definitely will be back next time I am in Orlando. read more

LOve this place, great atmosphere. Great service! and a very cool and eclectic menu. The overall experience is worth the trip. No beginners here read more

Hotel food is always a dicey proposition at best. And a Marriott restaurant even dicier. So, with low expectations in hand, I have to say, Primo sailed over them. Some of the highlights were the mushroom pasta with scallops, my favorite thing of the night, and the tilefish entrée. Perfectly cooked and rich with the flavors in its preparation. A few other apps on the table ranged from good to just okay. And the dessert ranged from skip it to... well, skip it. I wouldn't get dessert- not worth the calories or cost. But if you must, the budino was the best of the lot (basically a molten chocolate cake). Service was good. Décor is very nice. And the wine list is very solid. So all in all, while a touch hit and miss, the net net is that Primo is yumo. *Note to Primo, your pastry chef should be firedo. read more

For my last night on vacation, my husband and I decided to eat at Primo since it was nearby (we're staying at the Ritz). We had the Cape Cod oysters, salad of primo lettuces, rabbit cavatelli, and pork chop. Everything was fantastic. My only complaint is the price. $12 for a few pieces of organic lettuce is a little ridiculous... But I'd recommend the restaurant for a special occasion. read more

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Two really terrific meals here while staying in the hotel for a trade show. The first night I had the Beet & Goat Cheese salad to start out, which was really so artfully presented that it was almost a shame to eat it. Almost. The flavors perfectly complemented each other. Really a don't-miss starter. Went with the house recommendation of the pork Saltimboca for the main course. Very rich and delicious, if a touch on the salty side. The second night I had the same salad again (it was just too good to not repeat) and had the braised beef rib for the main course. The beef was unbelievably tender and flavorful. My favorite of the two entrees I had. Our server both nights was Loredana who truly sets the standard for guest service. One of the best servers I've had in just about any restaurant I've been in recently.I highly recommend Primo. read more

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Knowing they have an organic garden outside the door makes this a must try. Straight forward in it's style. Hotel pricing...of course. Enjoyed every bite. The hotel is well healed and it shows! read more

One of the best meals I have had in a very long time! The food, drinks and service were amazing. I wish I would give it more stars.

Primo is incredible, with produce grown behind the restaurant and a focus on locally sourced ingredients this is a place is truly magnificent. Ever since I saw the Rockport location on No Reservations I've wanted to go to this place, so when I was at a conference at the Ritz I jumped on the opportunity. Owned by Melissa Kelly this restaurant serves a combo of new american and italian/french. We had the antipasti first, assorted meats and cheeses were of incredibly high quality, about as good as Italy, and I go there twice a year. Farmers Salad was amazing, and big enough to split, a perfectly poached egg goes on top and adds to the amazing yet simple flavors. The duck was top notch, perfectly prepared as well as the Red Snapper. Anyone who says the price is too high is crazy, you don't get a food experience this good many places, go!!! read more

Awesome place Had the watermelon salad Short rib Donuts for desert . That's not what they are called lol And a side of fresh made Alfredo All great dishes I can't believe I ate almost all the donuts but they were perfect With sauce read more

Great authentic ambiance. Fantastic appetizers and main fare. Service a little "overwhelmed", but it was Saturday night. Can't go wrong here. read more

Melissa Kelly's Primo location in Orlando serves organic produce harvested from their garden which is located just steps from the restaurant, literally. Primo's primary focus when securing produce that's not available from their own farms, is to source locally. All of the seafood on the menu is wild caught including the Mahi Mahi which is caught off the Florida coast. The lamb is 100% grass fed and everything is made in house, including the pasta, bread, and desserts. I ordered The Florida Heirloom Tomato & Burrata Salad. It was beautifully presented with large wedges of tomato topped with freshly harvested arugula. The salad was dressed with chopped pistachios and finished with a smooth and mild pistachio vinaigrette. Housemade fettuccini served as the base for the hearty Lobster Aglio e Olio dish which included wild-caught shrimp, mushrooms, tomatoes, onions, bacon bits, lemon, parmesan, and a dusting of bread crumbs. Finally, Sea Scallops are one of my favorite seafood choices and Primo did not disappoint. The scallops were super moist and arrived seared with a perfect brown coat while the risotto was velvety with simple flavors. Although Primo is a fine dining establishment, the atmosphere is relaxed and welcoming. read more

If I could give this place zero stars I would. Didn't know places like this still existed. I walked in the restaurant at 9:20 pm and went to the hostess stand, another couple came behind me two minutes later. The hostess then comes and ask the gentleman if he needs a table. He says I thinks she was here before me. I said I would like a table please. She then responded I'm terribly sorry we don't have a table for you you should try another venue. I asked if I could wait and she no. Try somewhere else. Then proceeded to ask the guy behind me how many people does he need a table for and seated them. I sat out side the restaurant to see where else I could make a reservation and observed two other groups go in with out reservations and being seated. It's really sad I guess we didn't met the standards of Primo. read more

Wine is expensive and unremarkable. Ordered Primo Salad and it is anything but. Resort food sucks and this place affirms why. Avoid if at all possible. read more

Great dinner with plenty of choices. I had the bolognese and recommend highly the dish. Service was great. And the staff was all about making us happy. Great desserts as well. Will go back. read more

Atmosphere was lacking. Food looked good but tasted average to below average. My husband describes as a person who saw photos of Italian food from Italy but never tried it. Large portions. Sangria was below average. Service was excellent. Would not return. read more

Food is very nice, well thought out and executed....... the only reason for a 3 star and not 4, is based upon very small portions and high price. If you love great food, and have a tiny appetite and deep pockets you will enjoy the experience..... read more

This is a magnificent restaurant. But I have to give this place a HUGE negative review for their treatment of locals. Let me say first that my mother and I were the FIRST customers to walk into this restaurant over 10 years ago. When I say to eat at the bar, the waiter asked me for my room number. I told him I was local, and he said, in order for him to serve me, he had to take a credit card IN ADVANCE , and charge it for $150!!! All this because I am not a guest??? SHAME ON YOU MARRIOTT!!! Its disgusting that you think so little of locals that you do this to people. Well, guess what, you also just ticked off a well known member of the meeting industry. Not only am I going to share this here, but I'm going to share it with 5,000 members of the meeting industry. What a piss poor way to treat people. read more

The best secret restaurant in Orlando. Secret because you don't read much about it from locals and it's hard to find if you don't know where to look. Primo is located in the JW Marriott and though it is super expensive, it's well worth it. It's owned by famous chef, Melissa Kelly and they support organic, local foods. They even have their own garden right at the Marriott and other produce and meats are bought from local farmers. All the food is top notch and the menu changes daily, so there is always something new. We started with the antipasti ($16) and it was out of this world: three italian meats and imported cheeses, marinated veggies, homemade pickles, and eggplant and pepper salad, imported olives, and some crusty breads. My wife and I decided we would come back some night, sit at the bar and just order this. For the main course my wife got grouper and I got an incredible strip steak served with a potato pancake that was stuffed with, get this, short ribs! Now that's creative thinking. I also had a side of fresh steamed veggies. For dessert, we split the cannoli. I grew up eating cannoli from the North End in Boston. While these couldn't compete (and perhaps it's unfair to expect them to) Primo's version was quite good. Service, decor and quality of food were all spectacular. Helpful tip, valet park. Primo will validate your parking so you don't get charged the hotels $16/hr fee. Just be sure to tip the valet. Cheers read more

I'm a local and live all of 10 miles from the JW Marriott/Ritz super complex that houses Primo. One of our FAVORITE things to do is have a "staycation" at this wonderful hotel for a night (I work for Marriott, in full disclosure). An integral part of each staycation is dinner at Primo! I'm a very big fan of this place. The organic/fresh aspect works so well with their dishes, and I've tried almost all of the staples (though the menu changes very frequently) and have loved every one. When family visits, I put them up here and we have dinner at Primo and everyone LOVES it! Service is excellent, the ambiance is very nice, and the food is SO good! They also have a nice wine list with some interesting finds. This is what us locals call an "expense account" place as it's not cheap, and is aimed at business/convention visitors who can expense these "business meals." BUT - don't let that scare you away. It's very very well done in all respects and worth at least one visit. For a fun evening go for an evening stroll around the grounds (beautiful) and then have a cocktail and perhaps a few bites of sushi in the lobby bar. Then head to dinner for your RESERVED table at Primo. After dinner, stroll outdoors to the firepits and enjoy a nightcap or two. You can't go wrong here but bring your wallet! read more

We have been staying at the JW Marriott for the past week and had dinner at Primo last night before heading home. We had the most excellent food, service, and wine of the entire trip. We sat at the bar and William was our bartender/server and he was awesome! He was so friendly and very well informed on wines and ingredients used in the dishes. I have a gluten allergy and they were beyond accommodating to my dietary restrictions and created the most amazing pasta dish I've ever had!!! They even brought my "taste from the chef" on an endive instead of the cracker. My boyfriend was beyond pleased with his meal as well and we will definitely be going back if we are ever in Orlando again. Thank you!!! read more

Amazing CACIO E PEPE! Service was phenomenal. Amazing overall experience, it's a hidden gem to the orlando area

I would never eat or plan an event at Primo ever again. We had our company cocktail reception at Primo. Our final bill for the evening was $8,000 and we did not eat dinner. We had passed appetizers and a pizza station. None of the guests were impressed and almost everyone walked out hungry. I understand that the restaurant is in a hotel, so you end up paying hotel prices, but this was over the top expensive for a bad experience. If you are staying at the JW Marriott or the Ritz, I suggest taking a car to an offsite restaurant! read more

I'm a guest at the hotel and they won't let me order food to bring to my room.