This new location of Bar Primi exceeded my expectations! We visited on a Tuesday evening and got seated right away with no reservation. They only had patio seating available and it was quite chilly even with the heaters on, until they rolled out the overhead awning. 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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Absolutely stellar outdoor dining vibes in a garden like atmosphere that is off the street. I appreciate that they had heaters going on a slightly chilly evening. 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

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. 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 (previously noted on the reservation!) 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. 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. 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. It is beautifully decorated, and the servers were all really nice. 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. Intimate setting, the inside decor is modern and classy. 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. There is a good size bar near the entrance, also for the convenience of the folks we chose the outdoor seating. 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. Overall the place was not too noisy, we enjoyed the food and the service was excellent. I recommend this place. read more

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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

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. Located just a few minutes walk away it is elegant yet casual. With both indoor and outdoor seating and a large bar area the restaurant boasts an exciting vibe that is "NYC hip". 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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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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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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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

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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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 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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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

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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I took my NYC Girls Supper club group of 10 here. I was attracted to the sleek, upscale ambiance, easy menu, and proximity to transit. They were able to take reservation for 10 without a cc or any money up front, which was also a deciding factor. We did have to wait about 15 minutes for our table even though we had a reservation and I figured the table would be ready. But... they poured complimentary prosecco for the table as an apology! Nice! And I got some push back on needing separate checks, despite having made the request and got the ok when making the rez, and also reminding the hostess. Ultimately they accommodated us. Everyone seemed to like their food. I got the papardelle bolognese and enjoyed it! The courtyard is amazing, and the perfect venue for happy hour on a nice day! 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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Food was amazing and so was the decor to the place as well. Prices ranges are decent for city location. Down the block from the garden! 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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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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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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I waited months to see Dua Lipa in concert. This spot is in walking distance to MSG. The night started off with a rude hostess. As soon as we arrived, she didn't bother to look up, greet us or smile. She mumbled under her breath when I was asking if we could be seated earlier than our reservation. She seemed annoyed that I would even ask such a question. I mean you have the easiest job in the entire restaurant and if you don't like to greet patrons then what are you doing here? Some more interactions with her went on but I'm not going to mention it, too long to write. The vibe here is very chic and fashionable. Do get dressed up. Lots of reviews complain about the hostess and staff so be warned that this place comes with a NYC attitude. But luckily for us, we got stellar service after we were seated. Our waiter was nice enough to ask if we were catching a show. I got a kick that there must have been 6-7 different people serving us. Ex: one to take your drink order, another to bring you the drink, another person to bring the apps, etc. Here is what we ordered: - Hot Knots (must order, best garlic knots ever) - Grilled Artichokes (get this) - Vesuvio Scampi (sauce has a kick to it and the shrimp was delish) - Chicken Arrosto (picture on the menu shows a whole chicken, be aware that it is only half) - Strawberry Fantasia (like a strawberry shortcake) We loved the food here but I am docking one star for that unpleasant encounter with the 6' tall hostess. read more

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Our premium as well known, but somewhat hidden as it's about 100 feet off the curb behind a gate near the Penn District in Hudson yards. It's beautifully bright and welcoming with a warm modern retro classic feel! I'm placed for a quick lunch, a hopping and energetic dinner and yet nooks and crannies to still be quiet and romantic if that's what you're looking for. Food here is incredible consistently very good.. service like anything is directly related to the personality of the server, but never bad typically always attentive and prompt but summer better than others, but not notable enough to cast dispersions that's just life in people. I can't really pick anything that's a stand out on the menu cause I've never had anything bad here. Everything is stand out. Appropriate portion sizes based on the time of day incredible flavors that are appropriately rich and bright as the dish requires.! If you come here, you will enjoy it! read more

Bar Primi Penn District is a very pretty place. The back room can accommodate large parties. Things I most enjoyed: -brussels (crispy pepperoni, young pecorino) -burrata pockets (calabrian honey) -linguini (4 cloves of garlic, toasted crumbs) -fusilli giganti (basil pesto, stracciatella) -pappardelle Tiramisu was decent, lemon cream zeppole was, IMHO the only disappointment in an otherwise stellar dining experience. For me personally it was more like some sort of Dunkin donut unless like a Zeppole. It had granulated sugar covering rather than powdered sugar. Otherwise the place was batting a thousand. read more

Bar Primi is a gorgeous modern Italian joint in the ever-so-busy Penn District. I highly recommend making a reservation, as this place gets quite crowded even on a week night. The menu features a variety of pastas, Sicilian square pizzas, and so forth. I wasn't too blown away by our drinks or most of the meal to be honest - I found that the Pesto Pasta in need of a bit more salt and the Brussels sprouts could have been sauced better. I did, however, LOVE the Eggplant Pizza and the Burrata Pockets. The biggest highlight of the evening was definitely the Strawberry Fantasia dessert, which is basically like a strawberry shortcake soft serve sundae. I'm not usually a fruity dessert person, but this was incredible! read more

Bar Primi 349 W. 33rd. St. New York, NY 10001 Brussels Burrata Pockets Tortelloni Al Nero Fusilli Giganti Lemon Cream Zeppole Strawberry Fantasia Appearance: Taste: Conveniently located down the street from Pennsylvania Station is a pasta specialty Italian restaurant offering tasty food in a posh, vibrant atmosphere! The appetizers were definitely a kick start to the meal. The spicy pepperoni was a fantastic supplement to the brussel sprouts. The honey drizzled burrara pockets were packed with Italian cheese. It's just a shame there wasn't more to munch on. The tortelloni was stuffed with crab meat and with a peppery tomato sauce. The fusilli pasta dish was smothered in pesto sauce. While both entrees were definitely pleasurable to the tastebuds, it is also a shame that there wasn't more where it came from. The desserts will put the pleasure in paradise. The doughy, sugary, lemony zeppoles were light yet fulfilling at the same time (even though they had a strong resemblance to a donut). While the zeppoles were really tasty, the strawberry fantasia wins the dessert competition by a mile. This sponge cake dessert was topped with panna cotta and gelato; the appearance was so pleasing to the eyes I almost didn't want to eat it. As saying goes, "You can't have your cake and eat it." This is ironic for me as I usually do not like it when too many dessert entrees are blended together, but the combination of gelatin, ice cream and sponge cake blended perfectly. While the appearance and taste of all three courses were out of this world, my only critique is that the portions were on the smaller side. But, it was still a pleasant experience and I highly recommend this location for a date night or any other special event. #barprimi #penndistrict #pennstation #brussels #burratapocket #tortelloni #fusilli #lemoncream #zeppole #strawberryfantasia #strawberryca read more

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Went here for a friend's birthday. Really fun spot. The place itself is really nice with good lighting, good furniture, and an interesting layout. The servers all have very classy red uniforms which is something I find so fun. The food itself was pretty great too. The salami pizza was delicious, so were the artichokes, and the pasta tasted as good as most other places in the city. Great portion sizes as well--most of my party took home leftovers. The drinks were also really good. The presentations were fun and tasted great. Overall, a great choice for a birthday or social gathering or a dinner date. Had a great time. read more

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Not sure how I found a recommendation for this place, but we were seeing a show at MSG, so it was the close option to try. We were NOT disappointed. We had a reservation for as soon as they opened (5 pm on a Friday), and I definitely recommend making a reservation. We were 4th or 5th in line and the person in front of us was told they could only accommodate them at the bar without a reservation. They have a really nice (and quiet) outdoor area set back from the street which we didn't know when making our reservation. But we were able to ask to be seated outside. They have fun drinks on the menu and we had several frapperol spritz which is just a frozen aperol spritz. They also have frozen rose (frose). I had looked at pictures of the food ahead of time on Yelp, because the menu doesn't do a great job of describing what things are. We wound up ordering almost family style for 4 people and it worked out well. You MUST try the knots, they are delicious. 1 per person is plenty as they are rather large. For apps we got the Sicilian Caesar and the octopus, and enjoyed both. The octopus dish is like a warm salad with pieces of octopus in it. We then had the hot girl salami Sicilian square (basically an 8 piece square pizza). It was not spicy at all, which was fine for us because we had one in our party that doesn't like spicy food- this was probably the highlight of the meal. Then we also had the sea bass and chicken arrosto. The sea bass was really good, the chicken tasted good, but didn't stand out like the rest of the dishes. We finished off the meal with the strawberry fantasia (worth the hype), the lemon zeppole (more like donuts, but still good) and the affogoto. It was the perfect amount of food for 4 people and everyone thoroughly enjoyed the meal. Service throughout was attentive but didn't make us feel rushed. read more

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If you want a casual but quality sit down dinner near Penn Station/Madison Square Garden, this is an excellent option. Just be sure to make a reservation for dinner because they get very busy, and even the bar area can fill up at times. Depending on the weather, they have outdoor seating as well. read more

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

We went on a week day for a work lunch. The place was empty, so they were able to seat us quickly. The staff seemed indecisive about where to seat people. I ordered the Hot Girl Salmi Sicilian Squares (pizza). It was delicious and had a lot of flavor. It was a generous portion, and I ended up taking some of it to-go. The restaurant itself is beautifully decorated. I'd definitely come back here! read more

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

I was a bit apprehensive when we arrived and I saw the menu. However, I was pleasantly surprised as the dishes started coming out. Caesar salad- very good Hanger steak- tender, flavorful Clam pasta- simple, delicious- asked for bread to soak the sauce up, but 'kitchen was closed as of 4 minutes ago' - Anglioti was good, a ricotta ravioli - Strawberry shortcake was delicious and so was the cherry sorbet Service: our service was ok. As mentioned, 'kitchen was closed. I said last call and everything is put away as of 9:30'.. it was 9:34. When we were leaving, the bartender was great and let me try the rose froze Decor: sooo nice, but be beautiful during the day especially their outdoor dining area. read more

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