In a world of mediocre restaurants, Prima Bistro is a gem. Located in quaint Langley, Prima Bistro has an extensive menu that offers unique twists to established fares. We love the crispy pork belly and olives in warm olive oil. My GF says the fried oysters are the best she's ever had, and I enjoy the steamed clams with chorizo. They have a full bar and happy hour 3-5 daily. This is the best restaurant on Whidbey Island. read more

Prima Bistro - American Near Me - Langley, Washington

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The food and view were both very good, but unfortunately the overall experience was disappointing. The wait was excessively long, and the staff seemed overwhelmed and largely unresponsive throughout our visit. Rather than feeling welcomed, we got the impression that customer service was not a priority. While the quality of the food and the beautiful setting are definite positives, the lack of attentiveness and the long wait made the experience frustrating. With so many dining options available, we would not recommend this place. read more

We spent our Valentine's Day lunch here and it was a great choice with our favorite foods! The upper floor dining area is elegant and spaced out enough not to feel cramped. Service was attentive and friendly as usual. We were quickly seated for our reservations. The tartare and mussels are our go-tos for appetizers. The tartare may be a challenge for some folks but the freshness of the meat with the richness of the egg yolk, on toasted bread, is beyond delightful. I might just have that as my main entree one day! The mussels were perfect and the broth it was boiled in was so tasty we had to bring the remainder home with us! My bride had the hanger steak (rare) which came out gorgeously seared and juicy on the inside. The shoestring fries are addictive! I could not resist having my lamb burger (med-rare). What more can I say? The arugula on some mayonnaise, the bit of salsa, the moist and generously sized burger with a touch of lime(?) and perhaps some ginger(?), on a bun that tasted freshly baked. No sauce needed. We had a pitcher of rose which was delightfully light and fruity, which went well with our meal. A wonderful way to celebrate Love! read more

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Very disappointing visit to Prima Bistro last night. A couple people recommended this place and I made reservations in advance. It was a beautiful sunny evening in Langley and were seated promptly outside. We got there right before 6 pm and ordered a glass of wine and dinner: steak frites and lamb burger. It took almost 1 hr to get our meal. (53 minutes to be exact). I saw a table that came about 10-15 min after us, get their meal first. When we finally get our food, surprise! I ordered my steak medium and it was well done, didn't care to send it back because by then I was pretty hungry and didn't want to risk having to wait for another 53 minutes. The dish itself was not worth the price either ($38). The lamb burger was ok, it had very strong onions that were overpowering. I recommend you go downstairs to Saltwater instead. Much better experience and food. read more

Prima Bistro - American Near Me - Langley, Washington

My partner and I had such a great time at this French inspired restaurant! We stopped by for dinner and luckily were able to get the latter end of a happy hour (3 pm - 5 pm) which had some of the most amazing happy hour drink prices I've seen in a while (ie $8 well drinks). The service was nothing to write home about but it was swift and decent despite the busy rush. The food was phenomenal, I got the vegetarian risotto and my partner received the pan roasted half chicken (which he was very impressed by). I recommend visiting this location for you're ever in Langley! There's fun, funky, French inspired posters and art hanging as well which was fun to peruse. read more

Prima Bistro - Pan roasted half chicken, vegetarian risotto - American Near Me - Langley, Washington

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Excellent location with an amazing level of service and meal selection. Kayle provided superb service during the couple hours we spent enjoying cocktails and salads at the bar. We added some fried oysters which complimented the Caesar salad...location and food selection makes this an ever glowing spot to visit in Langley, WA..... read more

Prima Bistro - American Near Me - Langley, Washington

We had a lovely table overlooking the water for a Saturday evening dinner with friends. The food was tasty. They have heaters out on the deck for those who might be a little chilly. Attentive server, providing everything you requested, and offering even more. read more

Prima Bistro - Birthday celebrant enjoying a very large, delicious dessert. - American Near Me - Langley, Washington

We wanted to go to wander shops and get a nice Saturday night dinner out and we chose to drive down to Langley. We made reservations for two that morning. We enjoy Langley and the lights and shops were great to visit. We showed up just before our 5 PM reservation and the hostess was standing at her computer. My wife asked about sitting on the heated outdoor area because it smelled odd in the dining room. She said it was full (it wasn't) but then still looking at her screen said if we could wait a bit they can make a table available. We gladly waited for a few minutes. There were three to four open tables both inside and outside and she sat us at a two top in the corner next to the door. My wife asked if we could get out of the corner but no go. Then she asked if we could just fit inside then? Now the hostess didn't want to accommodate that and when asked what happened to the table inside she intended to give us originally the hostess, in a rather snotty tone, said to my wife "you only made your reservation today!". That isn't the way to address my wife! She told her that we would just go somewhere else. Crickets from this hostess....no effort to please us so gone we were! We haven't been here for a year since the food was not that great last time and cannot compare at all to other better French restaurants on the east coast and our trips to France. We just thought we'd they it again for a nice holiday weekend meal. We went right across the street to a truly packed Village pizzeria, they kindly fit us in at a great bar seating and we got to watch the LA bowl and Huskies and enjoy our usual Village Pizza, caesar, and a couple of rounds of drinks. Excellent and friendly service! We won't be returning now recommending Prima Bistro again. We often tell guests and friends that it's likely a better choice than Saltwater next door. We are getting tired of the "finer" dining on Whidbey that is often overpriced, unreliable, and un accommodating compared to similar dining elsewhere. This was a good example. And at 7 PB appeared almost empty from our view from the street! read more

Prima Bistro - Sea Biscuit bread and butter (complimentary), beef brochette, burgundy snails ! Could have used more bread for the sauce! - American Near Me - Langley, Washington

Certain menu items are only available one day a week, but since Prima's food is amazing that means you need to try to go there every day of the week at some point in your life, to taste them all. Steak Frites always has the best thin French fries! Outdoor roof top seating available with possible whale sitings. read more

Holy Beast of Gévaudan!!! I'm so glad I decided to go out tonight because I literally had the most delicious meal of my life. I had the hardest time choosing between the risotto with salmon and the Steak frites, as I really wanted the duck breast that they serve on Wednesday night. In the end I decided to go with a nice rare 12oz ribeye steak with pomme frites, bleu cheese aioli, and green peppercorn sauce. The flavors paired so beautifully together and the steak was cooked to perfection. The meat was this beautiful satin texture, juicy and then immediately melted in your mouth. I also ordered the Les fromages and got one cheese that comes with a few bread and cracker pieces. The cheese was delicious and I had the waitress surprise me. The cheese was similar to a manchego and had a beautiful wine colored rind. I couldn't hear my waitress, but that's because I'm basically deaf, but I think she ended up giving me the sheep's milk cheese. As for dessert, there was a little mixup, but I didn't correct it because I ended up having an amazing dessert anyway. I wanted to get the chocolate tart, but I ended up with the seasonal tart and again I could barely hear my waitress so I know it was some sort of pear tart. All I know was that it was fucking delicious, presentation very simple, but also very beautiful with slices of pear on the top fanned out. And confectioners sugar on the top dusted on the edges. I don't know if the tart was a pistachio or marzipan something that was very nutty and had a sweetness, but was not overpowering at all, the flavors complimented each other beautifully. Also I have no idea how, but the crust on the tart tasted like Cinnamon Toast Crunch in the most elevated way without it being sugary sweet, I mean in a European dessert kind of way. When I say this was the most stunning meal, not just by looks, but just how good it was, I am not lying. I've had steaks at some good places, but nothing beats this yet in my book. The ambience of the bar and main restaurant is very cozy & intimate as it is small. There is outdoor seating rooftop seating. My waitress was phenomenal, she knew the assignment for surprising me with the cheese and accidentally surprising me with dessert but again I am not mad. I will definitely be here again, and I will be dreaming of this place, lastly all of the servers were very, very nice and sweet. Thank you for a lovely freaking night. read more

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My experience here felt very "meh." There aren't many restaurants in the area so choices were minimal, but I was drawn here by the picture of the duck leg confit and that did not disappoint. The clams and chorizo were a little saltier than I expected. Clams were decent, but the chorizo felt a bit overcooked and the texture was almost a bit crispy? The risotto was what was a bit shocking here. It tasted a bit undercooked, and my partner and I expected it to be creamy and savory, but it felt more like a weird salad? There were bell peppers and corn in there along with a bunch of parmesan just dropped on top as if it would save the dish somehow. Definitely wouldn't get that again. The duck was good, but likely wouldn't come back. read more

Prima Bistro - Risotto - American Near Me - Langley, Washington

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We celebrated my man's birthday here and had a wonderful experience. With our reservation we secured a beautiful table on the deck looking at the water. The service was a little busy but I can understand why after dining with them. We started off the evening with a delicious pork belly appetizer that was crunchy and crispy and incredibly flavorful. Then, we had amazing gougeres which is a French cheese bread. Delicious! For dinner I had the risotto with corn and arugula and every bite was delectable. Normally it comes with other vegetables but I was happy with my tasty meal. We also shared some bread from the little hen bakery with bread and it was a nice touch as I added risotto on top of my bread and chefs kiss! My lovely man had a shrimp linguini which he loved. Lastly we ended the special dinner with an incredible crème brûlée and that was amazing. Crunchy on top and warm then filled with an amazing custard on the bottom. It was the best experience and we will be back soon to try the burger and other items. read more

Food is good Service is slow but staff is friendly Ambiance is great, awesome little spot in downtown Langley. I won't eat there unless I can sit on the balcony. If you are coming for the food solely, this is not the place read more

We've always loved coming to this town, and this restaurant has a reputation as the nice place to go--so we were really looking forward to it. Unfortunately, it felt like they may be relying a bit too much on that reputation. The food was just okay--not bad, but not memorable either--and the presentation and attention to detail didn't match what you'd expect from a standout dining experience. It lacked that extra care that turns a good meal into something special. We truly want this place to be great because it has so much potential and fills an important role in the area. With a little more focus on execution and detail, it could absolutely live up to what people hope it will be. read more

Great food, really friendly service, great drinks! This place is a gem on the island. As a new local, I totally appreciate the down-home charm of a lot of the Whidbey establishments. But this place also read more

On the weekend without a reservation, this place is usually difficult to get a table. We got in Saturday night purely due to a cancellation. And we're glad we did. Food: 4.5/5 We needed lots of extra bread for the sauces and liquids. - Foie gras terrine: Served cold, melted in your mouth. - Burgundy snails: With melted butter and garlic, tender, chunky, and yummy. - Penn Cove mussels: Served in a small cast iron cauldron with tasty broth made from white wine, shallots, and garlic. - Salade Nicoise: My least favorite order of the meal. More like a veggie plate with albacore tuna in the middle. Expected everything to be mixed? - Pan-fried veal sweetbreads: First time, very good, creamy, but a bit heavy on the greasy side? - Fish frites: Cornmeal encrusted rockfish with a green salad, so good, but we were close to full at this point. - House-made Oreo cookie ice cream: So many cookie crumbs, this ice cream looked darker than any cookies-and-cream version. Not very sweet, and event tasted a hint of salt? Service: 5/5 Our server was great, attentive, and helpful! Ambiance: 4/5 - Cozy and warm, but a little on the noisy side read more

The white Burgundy available by the glass was exceptional. I really enjoyed the matiz sardines (extra virgin olive oil, piquillo pepper, garlic, capers). I came bubbling and sopping up with bread was a highlight. Unfortunately, the fish and chips were not great. The semolina-crusted rockfish seemed fresh and pretty moist but the coating was aggressively salty. Not a winner. read more

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A very casual place. Wouldn't say it's for date night - very bright and lots of families. Service was quick and helpful. Food was good but unfortunately they were out of a lot of things we wanted to order. Also, their french fries are very tiny and skinny! Not my preference. read more

Prima Bistro - The Monday special - American Near Me - Langley, Washington

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Trout dish twice, was so thin hardly worth scraping the meat off. Seriously. Seafood combination dish, first one was delicious second one was less well put together just not up to pare, third time the fish all finely broke up and at least 3 or 4 closed clams. We love the ambience, servers and the owners. But something needs to be brought back to the quality and consistency of food. read more

Went here with some friends who are local. We ate outside where there are views of the water. Cocktails were all delicious and unique. Amazing cheeses for the cheese board. All the food was spot on delicious. They even gave me gluten free crackers for the cheese. The burrata salad with grilled apricots and arugula was yummy. Amazing sauce on the 1/2 chicken. My 12 year old had the trout and absolutely loved it. Removed a star because multiple items we wanted to order were not available and our server was not aware and had to tell us after we ordered - we were also charged for one of the drinks we never received which we were told they no longer could make. read more

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Casual French bistro located above a market. Our party of 7 was seated right away by a lovely hostess. There was a large patio, but it was definitely too cold to sit outside. We had a view of the water from our booth. The portions were huge. If you're ordering a soup appetizer and a sandwich, you can share and still be stuffed. Lunch prices were reasonable. Next time I will try the Penn Cove mussels and a cocktail for dinner. Close to 4, but not quite there read more

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We left Prima Bistro less than impressed. The food was decent, but not amazing. We started with a small plate - les fromages - with three cheeses that were quite good. My wife ordered the Sunday plats du jour - coq au vin (red wine braised chicken hindquarters, which she said was just ok. I had the trout grenobloise - a pan seared rainbow trout. I enjoyed the meal. We finished with an average crème brûlée. The service was slow and less than attentive. The ambiance was average. There was little attention to detail. 3-stars is the best I can do. Let me end with this: cheap salt and pepper shakers that didn't match, a votive candle that wasn't lit, and the server took my silverware from my side plate and placed them directly on the table for my entree. $150 + tip deserves more! read more

Prima Bistro - American Near Me - Langley, Washington

We've been here a number of times and have been quite happy. This most recent visit we brought friends who enjoyed the unique offerings and shareables - especially the raclette. I wish there were more exciting vegetarian options but don't hold that against them. read more

Lovely place to eat outside overlooking the water. My bed and breakfast host recommended this spot, and I'm so glad I took her suggestion. To start I ordered a mock tail, it was kinda grapefruity and came with a house made maraschino cherry. 10/10. Next up I ordered the beet salad. This was absolutely my favorite, stacks of lettuce, topped with freshly cracked pepper, blue cheese, candied nuts and beets of course. I loved this so much. 10/10. Next up the farmer's plate, idk this wasn't my favorite. It was just kinda meh. I saw another table order the olives and the three cheese sampler, I'd definitely order that next time. It looked amazing. For dinner I ordered the risotto, and they were kind enough to make it vegetarian. Honestly, it wasn't cooked properly and it lacked flavor, definite skip for me. read more

Cutest little restaurant with a great rooftop. We took a day trip from Seattle to Langley and really enjoyed our lunch at Prima Bistro. I ordered the fish and chips (can't remember how to spell the French name for it!) and they were delicious! We also had a great wine there as well. We were seated immediately and our server was super friendly. Definitely a great lunch spot! read more

Prima Bistro - Fish and chips - American Near Me - Langley, Washington

Very salty food. Not good for those on low salt diets. Hostess was unfriendly. Waitstaff are kind.

Food was ok. We got the steak and it was very chewy. Service was slow. Would not come back here again.

Under staff. Waitress never came and kitchen is packed. Be prepared to wait for an hour+ for your food to come. read more

Prima Bistro - Nothing - American Near Me - Langley, Washington

Love this place! We sat outside with a big party and were taken care of so well and smoothly by Dennis. Everyone's food and the appetizers looked so good my fork went on quite the journey! The kids also had some fun drawing with the crayons provided. We. Will. Be. Back. read more

Prima Bistro - American Near Me - Langley, Washington

The restaurant was busy, but they found a way to accommodate us walk-ins. Yes, we thought the wait staff was really nice and friendly. Efficient and attentive. My burger was great - very juicy and flavorful. My husband ordered the trout which he felt was too salty as it was topped with a lot of capers. read more

Everything could improve, but mostly the food and exorbitant prices. Nice staff and wine selections, though.

Took ~10+ minutes to get seated even though plenty of seating was available. Once seated, we noticed plenty of flies flying around. We waited another 15 minutes for someone to take our order before deciding to leave (still hadn't even had our drink order taken at that point). The only positive somewhat positive was that someone brought us waters roughly 10 minutes after seating. Place wasn't even that busy, staff just seemed to look down and avoid? read more

Had the wild boar ragout. Not particularly tasty . It seems silly to complain about a portion size being too much but it was really enormous for lunch. The leek soup was good and the bread was good. read more

Food is alright. Waiter not too personable. It felt like he did not want to be there. We won't be eating here again. Disappointment.

Walking in- The artwork is very unique and different, changing the vibe of the restaurant. The botany around the outdoor area was also pretty, also with a nice view of the sound. Service- The drinks took a questionably long time considering they were just drinks but other than that the rest of the food came out pretty fast. Apps/Sides- The chicken caesar salad was perfect and well dressed, and the side salad was fresh and cut well so the rinds weren't in the salad. The fries were more like frites but amazing, salty and flavorful. Meal- The risotto had nice cheesy flavor, and the clams were sweet and very tasty. Primo Bistro is one of the few restaurants around the area, and a great one to go to, so give Primo Bistro a try in Whidbey Island today! read more

Prima Bistro - outside - American Near Me - Langley, Washington

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A welcome, cozy place on a drizzly Monday evening when other restaurants are closed. Tip: Make a reservation if you want to be seated during their busy time between 5:30 and 7. As walk-ins we waited almost 45 minutes for a table, only to see the restaurant nearly empty by 7:30. Maybe you don't consider that especially late, but they had run out of several menu items by then. No ragout, no mousse. The lentils are flavorful and perfectly done. You must try the chickpea fries, with their hint of turmeric and excellent mustard-flavored sauce. Don't be intimidated by the "small" plates: we found the duck confit a perfectly-sized portion. The servers are friendly and professional, and the food is fine. read more

Prima Bistro - Chickpea fries - American Near Me - Langley, Washington

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An update: 12 years later, I now have to eat gluten free and dairy free. I was so glad I was able to put together a wonderful meal! My husband and I shared the Calamar Frit as an appetizer, then I had the mussels with French fries. For dessert, I had a chocolate coconut sorbet that was actually creamy! My husband doesn't have food sensitivities, so he had their Steak Frites, and for dessert an Italian dessert with caramel drizzled on top. Everything was very good, but a definite splurge at ~$80 each for the meal. read more

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This is an Island. Great Restaurants aren't ubiquitous. We learn to tolerate it. But.....Wow Prima Bistro. My wife and her girlfriend went a few times because of their French touch menu. She's been raving about their Trout. We went for lunch Saturday and I was pleased it was full of dinners of all kinds. We were promptly sat and given menus. I perused their extensive choices but landed on the trout. Omg! I've never had trout cooked so well and so tasty. With a touch of lemon and dose of capers the trout is pan fried and finished in the oven, (my guess) in what I assume is first class olive oil. The flavor was incredible and the fish melted in your mouth. The fries served with Duck Fat mayonnaise as an add on is sublime. I wish I would have gotten our servers name. She was excellent from beginning to end including chasing me down the street to return the wallet I left on the table. Whidbey Island has at least one great restaurant. read more

Beginning to end, replete with lovely views, just a great experience. Excellent food, well prepared and presented, great birthday present for my wife. read more

Food: walks the walk. Authentic French. They take plain food and make it very good with sauces, herbs and gravies. The roasted chicken was superb. I had the risotto vegetarian with ham added. Great. Service was outstanding in a full house. Ambiance was what the name says...Bistro. Worth going out of the way for. Price was in line with product. read more