Bar Primi

Bar Primi's cuisine was a treat. The food and drinks were delicious, the service was good, and the atmosphere was lively. We started with espresso martini's, which were enjoyable, but when it came to cocktails, the real stand out was the fellini. It was a delicious amalgam of bitter and sweet; perfect for the fall. My favorite part of our meal was the clams pasta (we did gluten free). It was a delicious and unique sauce, with just the right amount of spice to take it over the top. The ricotta crostino was delicious for an appetizer, too. The chicory salad was just okay, nothing special. The only qualms I have with Bar Primi were the noise level (it was VERY loud), and the server's request to put in our entire order at once. This new custom of NYC restaurants is off-putting to me; encouraging you to put the entire order in so they can turn the table over as soon as possible. The busboys also circled like vultures and very frequently checked our table to see if we were done; it felt pressuring rather than relaxing. This is NO fault on them as I am sure it is a management directive. As a fellow waitress, I encourage management to rethink these directives with staff as it diminishes what should be a very positive, relaxed dining experience.

Charming Italian restaurant in East Village, with a focus on pasta. Would recommend trying the bucatini and squid ink campanelle. Both are very tasty and filling. The latter is a bit spicy. For starters, would recommend getting the stuffed meatballs. You won't have to wait too long to get it, and you also get a serving of bread with olive oil (I believe its complimentary and not specific to the meatball order). To finish, try the tiramisu. The place is quite big and there is a 2nd floor seating area. The lighting is a bit on the darker side, with candles providing some illumination. It would be good to get a reservation, but you may find a seat if you come in before 6:30pm especially on a weekend.

Atmosphere & service 10/10. Portions very small very a pretty penny. Expect about $100 plus a person. Pasta dishes are good not excellent. Loved the clam pasta and agnolotti with vodka sauce. Beet appetizer was not my taste at all, probably least favorite thing I’ve had in a while. Was expecting earthy with fresh yogurt as described except was way off. Drinks and bartender were excellent. Decent Italian! 4 people and we all split 4 apps, 5 dinners and no dessert, everyone had 2 cocktails each.

I came here with a friend on a Wednesday night. The restaurant was not very crowded but the decor, vibe, and service were lovely. The server ignored the growing ridiculous trend of restaurants telling guests the guests that kitchen prefers guests to order all food at once which made me VERY happy. The food isn’t the best Italian I’ve ever had but it’s certainly well above average. We also shared a bottle of wine. I would go back and recommend.