Our dinner party of 5 landed here spur of the moment and what a great turn of events. We ordered a variety of pasta dishes with shrimp and chicken (pasta Mediterranean, pasta Calabrian, pasta Arrabbiata) and pizza (Hot Brown pizza) and each entree was delicious. Service was great and noise level was mild even with an almost full capacity space. Portions and quality were an excellent value. read more

See all

Whenever I travel to a new city I ask the locals where they eat and they all said Cafe Primo. Nothing fancy inside but great vibes and atmosphere with the most friendly staff. Order: Off the menu item that was highly recommended...carbonara pasta with chicken. Everything you would expect but they recommended penne pasta instead of angel hair pasta. Great flavor, creamy sauce and perfectly cooked pieces of chicken. It was like a warm hug on a cold day. Delicious Primo primo pizza. Great crust and dough flavor. Neapolitan style pizza. It was very good. I love a little more robust sauce flavor personally but this was filled with a fresh tomato flavor. read more

It was a great experience at Cafe Primo. The staff was very friendly. We only picked up a pizza 1/2 pepperoni and a caprese salad. read more

Cafe Primo - Italian Near Me - Bardstown, Kentucky

The atmosphere is not much but the food is excellent and so is the service. My pasta was some of the best I have ever eaten. read more

Cafe Primo - Italian Near Me - Bardstown, Kentucky

See all

I have eaten here before and the service was just OK so I knew what to expect. Nothing has changed there. I've had their pasta before and it was really good. This time my friend and I decided to split a pizza. It was by far the worst pizza I have ever eaten. The toppings were bare minimum, cheese was sparse, and the tomato sauce tasted like a literal can of tomato sauce had been put on it. We had asked for it to be a little more well done so the crust would be crispy. It was so soggy in the middle that we had to eat it with a fork and knife and the edges were burnt, which made the pizza taste terrible. The only reason I gave two stars is because the cocktail was very good. read more

The pizza was decent. The pasta was not good. I would most likely not return unless everyone wanted pizza. Service was ok.

Loved it! Nice little cafe, historical building, great service, and the food was light and refreshing which was perfect for the day walking and touring the area. Highly recommended! read more

Cafe Primo - Lunch Combo, the 3 items are pre-selected, but are very good! - Italian Near Me - Bardstown, Kentucky

We did get to dinner later in the evening and had a 20 minute wait, because they were busy and short staffed. My wine was delicious and went well with my pasta! With the crowd it was loud because it is a smaller restaurant. My husband's pizza he didn't care for, because it needed a little more sauce and meats and the crust was a little burnt too. The waitress was amazing and the space was clean. We understand the hustle and give grace and respect and we will be back for more! Also I felt like the prices were reasonable. read more

See all

This place offers unique pizza options and good pasta options. I absolutely love the cheese sticks! Best place to get Italian in Bardstown! #italian read more

This little gem is well worth the drive! The pizza and Pasta Ramono were ssssooooo good! read more

Cafe Primo - Pasta Romano and pizza - Italian Near Me - Bardstown, Kentucky

Neat little place with great pizza and pasta entrees. We also enjoyed old fashioneds with our meals. Our first visit! Service was friendly. We'll be back! read more

Cafe Primo - Pepperoni pizza with basil - Italian Near Me - Bardstown, Kentucky

See all

Primo is a hit or miss place, this was our second miss in a row. We will leave it to the tourists and not return. 1) Ten minute wait at door before being acknowledged. 2) Fifteen minute wait before a server arrived. I grabbed menus and we had our choices ready when she arrived. 3) Forty minute wait for food. 4) Our primary server did not check back, we flagged down other servers. Our drinks were not refilled until near the end of our meal. Requested parmesan cheese three times before it came. Crushed pepper was requested twice. 5) The pasta was poorly seasoned and pizza crust was soggy in the center...perfect outer crust. Skip the Caesar salad. 6) We remembered that the above experience was also our previous experience and the reason we had not visited for a while. There was a large party near us with similar experience, except they had babies that were tired and crying. It's a very loud restaurant. I wish I could give zero stars. read more

This is the best food we had the entire trip! The pizza and pasta were fantastic. It's in a great location and easily walkable in town.

Nice location in the heart of downtown Bardstown but the service was slow and the pizza was bad. Options for pizza seem limited in town and I'm surprised this passes but it did seem to be fairly busy. read more

This place should be advertised as almost strictly a pizza place -- the other options on the menu, such as pasta and salads, were very limited. There are sadly almost no lactose-free options. The service is fast and helpful, but the ambiance could really do with some tablecloths, candles, and some nice jazz. The spaghetti was nicely cooked, though, and my partner said the pizzas are very good! read more

We happened to walk in to this place and glad we did. The food was great with the service even better. Would definitely east here again when in Bardstown read more

Excellent pizza and salad. The place was busy but the staff were friendly and they waited on us in a timely manner. We had one of the best pizzas that we have have had in quite a while! read more

We usually order for takeout. The pizza is a genuine European-style pizza with a fabulous crust. The Santa Lucia, Primo Primo and Chicken with white sauce are our favourites. The pastas are all excellent, and the tiramisu is delicious. If dining in, the atmosphere is lively and friendly. read more

We stopped into this Italian cafe in between bourbon tasting appointments in Bardstown. It was a good experience. My wife had a mixed green salad with penne pasta in the salad. She really liked it. I had the small Primo Primo pizza with white sauce. The crust was crispy and the toppings flavorful. I ate the whole pizza! Service was prompt, attentive and friendly. I would come back, if I were in the area again. read more

Service is not good. Took forever to get our food after we watched them give later tables the same food we ordered. Talked to the waitress 3 times, to order, to get our food, and pay the check. Food is yummy. Penne Calabrian was our favorite. Also got the Primo Primo which was a little soggy but the crust was good. If you'd like an appetizer that comes out with your meal get the Cheesesticks. I'd give it more starts if the service wasn't awful. read more

See all

Come get what my fiancé called "the best pizza in Kentucky" right here. While I can't say this definitively, since we haven't tried every single pizza in the state, this one was really special. We stopped here for lunch on a Saturday afternoon and it was lovely. We started out with some appetizer-sized Caesar salads. We really enjoyed these, from the lettuce, to the dressing, to the croutons, everything was nicely dispersed and tasted great. Then came the star of the show: the prosciutto di parma pizza. Nicely peppered with oregano, with a sturdy and crispy bottom, this pizza was absolutely delicious. The prosciutto and cheese played well with the other elements in the pizza culminating in a bite that we really couldn't get enough of. We really loved this place. Great spring day to enjoy our lunch outside with a beer. Would definitely recommend, and we can't wait to come back! read more

Cafe Primo - Caesar salads - Italian Near Me - Bardstown, Kentucky

See all

I have never been more offended by staff ever! When I ask about my food I ordered an hour ago, I am told by the server, "Don't come to a restaurant if you can't wait!" Then she slammed my water glass down on my table and walked away. All of the servers were VERY young. When sharing this story with others it seems others have had a negative experience there too. read more

Service staff needs to learn about customer service. Remember you are there to provide an experience for the customers. Not a hard concept to take in and I bet the manager has no idea just how bad some of their staff are. read more

The food was outstanding! We had pasta and pizza, which was perfectly seasoned. The pizza sauce is great. I am not a fan of sweet sauces, and this one was primo! The pasta was rich and delicious. We entered Cafe Primo on a whim, expecting a regular pizza joint. The experience was wonderful!!! read more

Cafe Primo - The Penne Mediterranean & Primo Pizza was great! Sorry the picture was taken at the end. - Italian Near Me - Bardstown, Kentucky

Amazing food! Had Arrabbiata pasta pasta. YUM. Owner Damir was incredible. Hidden speakeasy in the back with patio and upper deck! Carly the server was awesome! When Old Talbot tells you nothing is open in town ... they are so wrong! Hit it at 9pm on a Monday night. Hidden Jewel. Heading back there on Wednesday night for the speakeasy experience. read more

The pizza is fresh and authentic. The cheesy bread is amazing. Just add garlic seasoning. read more

Cafe Primo - Italian Near Me - Bardstown, Kentucky

Great food, wonderful service!! Our waitress was very enthusiastic. We had pepperoni pizza and sweet tea. Pizza was flavourful and had a crispy crust. Would definitely come back. read more

I really enjoy eating on the downstairs patio. It's covered, there are fans and lights, and even in the heat of summer it's nice. The food is always consistent and the servers are friendly. This visit my meal was served on a chipped plate. But overall another great experience. The pasta was perfect and the Hot Brown Pizza was good. Breadsticks are always a good appetizer. read more

See all

The place could be a gem. Great location, nice decor, and clean. BUT, the food was very below average for the price (pizza, salads). Our server was very disinterested in doing a good job. I really wish this place were better, we're local and there are some good places in downtown Bardstown, just not this one unfortunately. Bad enough that it is not a place we'll give a second chance to. read more

The pizza here is so good, small locally owned and operated. I had the buffalo and primo pizza and it did not disappoint. If you are looking for a small place with great pizza this is your spot. Enjoy! read more

Cafe Primo - Primo and Buffalo chicken pizza - Italian Near Me - Bardstown, Kentucky

4/12/23 On a road trip and have lots of cuisine, but not Italian so we hoped to find something local. This place was a winner right in downtown Bardstown. As we waited to be seated, it was obvious that a very small staff hustled to tend to the bar and tables in the front room, just outside the front door, and in the back. We never saw more that 6 and that includes the 3 folks in the kitchen. The place smelled amazing and the orders being brought to the tables looked large and appetizing! We decided it would likely be worth the patience to be seated rather than leave for somewhere else. Our greeting was warm and friendly and we were seated with menus, which we looked at immediately. Seemed like a good idea to be ready when a server would come. We decided on drafts and were glad as one of the staff came by just moments later. The manager/owner came a few moments later asking if we knew what we wanted to order. We'd agreed on a particular pizza and she took our order. The drafts came next and before long the pizza arrived. The ingredients must have been very fresh, and the marinara was sweet and tangy. This was one of the best we've had in quite some time. If we thought the place was busy when we walked in, it was much busier when we were leaving. It's not fancy. Just GREAT food. Great service. Really hard working staff for this locally owned place! read more

My host while in Bardstown decided to order pizza from their favorite pizza spot Cafe Primo. We were able to order two large pizzas and divide each pie into 2 different types of pizza. We ordered the Primo Primo and the St Lucia together and the Primo and the BBQ Chicken together. The pizzas were good. I liked all the flavors we got. The pizza reheats well and is a good amount/ portion. My host ordered togo so I never went to the restaurant but will definitely like to visit next time and try some of their other menu items. Cafe Primo 120 3rd St Bardstown, KY 40004 Friday November 29, 2019 6:30pm read more

Cafe Primo - Half Primo Primo and St. Lucia - Italian Near Me - Bardstown, Kentucky

See all

Hubby and I stopped at Cafe Primo for lunch. Service was fine. Atmosphere was cozy and had a historic feel. Our food was good. We were not disappointed in anything, but also not wow's. I had a lunch trip with a cup of tomato soup, small bit of salad, and a little pile of pasta. Pasta was very good. Hubby had Romano shrimp pasta. He said was good. Both of us felt portions could have been larger or at least had a slice of bread or something. No negatives and we would be fine to eat here again, but also not sure we'd particularly seek it out if visiting Bardstown again. read more

Visited Cafe Primo after an afternoon on Bourbon tasting. Was quickly seated at a 3 top overlooking the busy downtown street. Drinks arrived soon after and we ordered our dinner meals. Angel hair Spaghetti for me and my wife and the small pepperoni pizza for my son. Meals were served timely. Son's pizza was piping hot. He very much enjoyed it. However, a few problems popped up. First, my wife requested grated Parmesan cheese. Our server told us they were out of Parmesan cheese. Out of cheese? How does am Italian restaurant run out of Parmesan cheese? As we were eating, we also realized that the serving size of pasta was generous, but the meat sauce served with the pasta was not as generous, leaving much of the pasta dry and without sauce. Again, we discussed with our server, however extra sauce was $2.00. Overall, the food was ok, the service from the staff was ok, but considering the price, the meal experience was underwhelming. read more

See all

Always nice to find good Italian food in a small midwestern town. We had a family salad and split the pasta Romano. The salad was good and crisp and the Pasta Romano delicious. The kitchen split our pasta for us with at no extra charge. Our waitress was friendly and helpful. Kudos to the chef. Our only suggestion would be to provide serving utensils for the salad - other than that dinner was lovely and we will return if back in the area. read more

Well, I can't say if the food was good or not as we weren't served. First we were told that we couldn't have a table inside because it was just two people. And yes, we did take a shower this morning. They said we could sit outside and she would bring us a menu we'll after some time, we figured that we would not be getting service, so we left to find substance elsewhere. As we were 5 parties waiting behind us were seated and already served drinks. So the food might be good but can't say because you don't get a chance to eat anything. read more

This is best place on the strip! Food amazing 10 out of 10 Absolutely fabulous don't bother with anywhere else read more

We ordered the Hot Brown pizza on the suggestion of a friendly bartender. It had smoked turkey, mushrooms, and bacon with a white sauce. The pizza was delicious and came fresh and hot. The only reason for not 5 stars was the waitress she was grumpy and seemed like she really didn't want to be there. read more

Cafe Primo - Italian Near Me - Bardstown, Kentucky

We were invited for a birthday celebration! The party room upstairs was very nice bartender and servers were attentive to the party! Lots of fun! read more

The sausage and shrimp dish was good. Our server was helpful and friendly, great attention to detail.