Look elsewhere for good food and service. Management is snotty and if you happen to be Asian you will be lucky if you are served at all. Very poor place read more

Asian people be aware. Our first and last visit to this establishment and we didn't even get a chance to eat. Unless you happen to fit into the Caucasian white pant suit, straw hat and rich tourist written on your forehead, be aware you will be treated badly, embarrassed and probably seated in a closet, or told there are no tables available "for you". On our arrival, my Asian girlfriend and I were told there was no seating in the upper deck area, so, they are busy, but we overheard another couple told they would be seated in a few minutes. (no reservation) Then a girl seated us in the back bar area. As soon as we sat down she came back and told us to get up and see the first (reservation) girl. Then we were seated back in the rear bar area (another table) and received our menu. Within 5 minutes we were told we would have to move again, because that table was reserved. (really) At that point we both looked at each other, looked at all the customers starring at us, embarrassed, we realized an Asian woman was not welcome. We don't drink, we were just hungry, but we obviously didn't fit into their "french elite Bistro". I was told they would seat us elsewhere, We declined and left (my girlfriend cried when we left because she was so embarrassed) but I had to wonder just where we would have been seated, maybe a closet. I am a professional Engineer and my girlfriend a restaurant manager at a seafood bar and we have never been treated so poorly. Enjoy yourself Bill & Melinda, they have "your table ready". read more

Really good service, and I appreciated that they call when the table is ready, since waits can be long! My 6 year old was "STARVING", so we used our wait time to buy him a slice at the pizzeria across the street. The food was great. Mussels were perfectly cooked, which is common (but oh, so very bad when they're overcooked). Everyone at the table liked what they had. The server did oversell the "house made" baguette, which t seemed as though it had been sitting for a day, and had no crunchy crust. Meh. I'd go back again, though, if only for those mussels...yum! read more

Prima is on their game during this pandemic! The to go meals are always spot on and taste oh so good. From calling in the order to picking up the order everyone is helpful and happy. Big shout out to all staff giving it their all under stressful circumstances, masks, cleanings and some not so nice customers. Thank you for being a vital part of the community! read more

Prima has been our go to restaurant on Whidbey for years. The food is delicious and the service and ambience are wonderful. The owners and staff have gone above and beyond preparing the restaurant to be able to reopen in a safe and responsible way. Thank you Jenn and Sieb! read more

We always have such a wonderful time at Prima. If it's summer we may be able to dine on the deck with it's fabulous view of the Salish Sea. During the rest of the year, it fun to be inside that is cozy and warm. My favorite menu choices are the perfectly dressed always Caesar Salad, the Raclette, French onion soup and the always delicious local Brussels Sprouts. It's so fun to yak with the familiar and attentive servers. read more

Love this place. A favorite of locals and visitors alike, and our go to for special dinners.

As a Whidbey Island Local, I know all the good spots. This is my favorite for a casual date night with my wife. The service is usually top-notch with the only hiccups coming when they are very busy. The food is French-centric, with other interesting European influences. (They have a Sausage and potato with house-made saurkraut special which is out of this world.) They also have regular Northwest Salmon and seafood specials. My favorite dishes are their Lamb-Burger, the Coq Au Vin, and the Chickpea Fries. The atmosphere is lively and nice (they have live music some nights) and the decor is top-notch as well. The price range is around $15-$40 for entrees. They have an excellent wine list and full-service bar. Overall, highly recommended to locals and tourists alike. read more

My girlfriend and I visited the Bistro on March 11 2014. We had flown into Washington and decided to visit Langley for her Birthday. I had previously done some research online and read several of the review posted both on Yelp and Trip Advisor for "Prima Bistro", and had decided that the reviews were good enough to check it out. I had made reservations for 8 pm on a Tuesday however we got there a little early around 730pm. That served no issue as we were promptly seated by a window seat next to a party of about 6 people. The place was not overly packed and there were about 4 other tables being occupied as well as some people at the bar. We were greeted by our server Devon (going of the name on receipt) who brought us our menus and some water shortly after. And that was the end of any service worthy of a 4 or 5 star. We are by no means picky customers and this is my first time writing a review, however the lack of service and attention was by far the worst I have ever received specially coming from an establishment so highly rated, thus prompting me to write about it. After asking for suggestions on a good local wine, two samples were brought out and it was assumed by our waiter that we would have chosen to go with the less expansive of the choice which we did not and ended up ordering the a pichet of the "Prima red". Nevertheless I didn't give it too much thought and ordered anyway. We also decided to try the bone marrow plate, so we order that as well along with the "Penne Cove Mussels". After some time our wine and Marrow plate arrived. While the wine was pretty good, the sliced pieces of baguette used for the marrow were completely burnt. It was very obvious that it was not crispy and had actually been toasted way too long. Even so I tried one piece of burnt toast baguette however I was not able to taste the marrow as the taste of the toast was overwhelming. So I asked Devon that "I normally don't do this" and in a polite manner asked if he could bring out some more sliced pieces of baguette that were not as toasty. He returned later with more baguette pieces that were not burnt as well as our mussels. And that was the end we never saw him again, nor did he come back to ask how the meal was or if we would like anything else. Our waters were later refilled by the hostess. We were at "Prima" for over an hour and we had absolutely no contact with our waiter Devon after our mussels were brought to us. I can honestly say that I do not disagree with most reviews of "Prima" and I am sure that it is a great place, however in this case a perfect ending to a romantic trip to Whidbey ended on a sour note as the quality of service provided by our waiter Devon was completely lacking. Not only did Devon charge us extra for the additional bread I asked after they burn the original order, he never asked if we wanted to see a dessert menu. Considering we were celebrating a birthday this would have been a good thing to do however the fact that we had not received service we didn't even feel the want to ask for one. The $2.00 dollar tip you received from us Devon was comparable to your service. I would ask management that they either retrain this server or find him a different position not dealing with guests. I hope other people have and continue to have a better experience. read more

Ask how many shrimp come in the shrimp cocktail. The ten dollar cocktail. I'll tell you, 3. There are three shrimp in the "Shrimp Cocktail". Let's go ahead and bump er up knotch...$$$$. However the food is good, it just might take $150 to feed a couple. read more

Very disappointed. Both the chickpea fries and octopus (recommended by the server) were inedible. Two of the dishes that we ordered they were sold out of along with one of the wines. The lamb burger was decent, the chicken breast very mediocre. Just writing this review so others don't make the same mistake we did. read more

Wow, nice comment by the owner that pretty much sums up the vibe of the restaurant. Thanks, Jen, for driving home my point for fellow Yelpers. And yes, we are foodies and we travel extensively, so of course we would review the places where we spent our time during our month on Whidbey Island. My reviews of your restaurant were very honest, offering both the good and the bad, which is what most people want to know before making their dining decisions. They are things that, as a business owner (which I, myself, am also), you could/should be working to improve upon. Consistency is a big deal for a restaurant. Best of luck! read more

We are happy Prima dining is still going strong. We are decades long island dwellers and have eaten at Prima since opening week. Sieb and Jen are awesome. Dining on the deck is the best spot on the island. We get the fries almost always. The lamb chops with lavender and fried polenta are a great small dish. Last week we had the fried fish with fries and small green salads. Nice garlicky dressing. I always ask bartenders for a Non alcoholic 'mock-tini'. Some waiters look at me funny and say all they can offer is sprite. This bartender got excited and made me a blueberry-lemon-soda concoction that was delicious. That with the flowers, water view, umbrellas, sun, and my husband made a perfect outdoor dining world. read more

Bone Marrow, Sweet breads and truffle prawns. OH MY. Everything was seriously bangin'. I live for sauces and the truffled white prawns sautéed with marcona almonds, honey, sea salt, and truffle were on point. I could have licked the plate. (Okay, I DID lick the plate.) The pan fried veal sweetbreads with apricot and thyme gastrique was equally good. Langley is worth thr trip--just to eat here. read more

Today my husband and I decided to venture to Langley. What a quaint town! My husband spotted the Prima Bistro and we decided to have a late lunch. We got a nice seat next to the window and enjoyed the view. It took only a few minutes before we were greeted by our server (I didn't catch her name) but she had a bright flower in her hair and was wearing a bright fuchsia lip color. I asked her for her recommendations and a few minutes later she was back to take our order. We both ordered the signature burger, my hubby had a brew and I water. She seemed a bit out off by our order. I told her I might order a cocktail later. After a while our server stopped by to drop off menus and so I ordered a cocktail. Just then a couple of women came in for a quick cocktail saying they were in a hurray so they ordered a couple of cosmos and their drinks were served before mine. Then our meals came and we never saw our server until long after the ladies left and she stopped by to get our plates. She never asked how our meal was only if we wanted desert. I have to say my burger was on the cool side and I was not impressed. My husband was not either. Not my cocktail was delightful, classic 77, I think was the name. Anyways, we did leave a 12% tip, which is more then the service we received was worth. We usually leave a 20% tip for good service, but this was not as good as you might get at a buffet. Sorry Prima, but it seems that your servers need some retraining! I don't know why our food was not hot either. Really too bad:-( read more

Devastating start to our meal when the best steak tartare we have had in years was no longer available at 7pm on Saturday night. We ended up ordering the burrata as a back up and it was good but they downgraded the bread from last year. Lamb chops and duck starters were great and the s'more dessert was solid. 3 stars for no tartare, no sorbet for the bubbles drink and lack of any sort of make good offer by the wait staff. We will be back for the tartare. read more

This was my first and last time at the Prima Bistro. For lunch, I ordered a burger and salad, neither of which was good. The salad greens were bitter tasting and virtually devoid of dressing. They asked what dressing I wanted and I said bleu cheese, so they sprinkled some cheese crumbles over the salad. The bun on the burger was so huge that anyone short of a hippo would be unable to get their mouth around it, so I took it apart and ate it with a knife and fork. There were what tasted like pickled onions on the burger, also. *shudder* Very unsatisfactory and expensive ($28) lunch. read more

We came out to Whidbey for a long weekend/mini-honeymoon, and wanted to treat ourselves to a nice meal while we were in town. We're big food people, and after reading a number of very positive reviews about Prima Bistro and checking out the sample menu online, we were excited to make a reservation on our last night in town. First, the positives. 4 stars for the service: attentive, knowledgeable staff; excellent attention to detail (we were out on the patio, and as the sun was setting, a nice young man was handing out blankets and turning on heat lamps so people could still enjoy the view). Our waitress was very knowledgeable about the wine selection, and recommended a few favorites and let me sample a couple to find the right one. Ambiance is just lovely - we had a table outside, and the sunset was fantastic. However, the negatives of Prima Bistro really overwhelm the good things. After looking through the menu, we decided on the famous mussels and the Sunday special, coq au vin. Our waitress promptly informed us that they were completely out of mussels, clams, octopus, and the coq au vin. I realize it was a busy weekend - but it seems that could have been better planned. We ordered the following: - a dozen oysters, Barron Point and Kusshi: the Barron Point oysters were inedible. We love oysters, and frequently order them raw - these were warm, mealy, and oddly creamy. It was the worst texture in an oyster I've ever had. (Kudos to our server, however, who promptly told the kitchen and removed these from our tab) - chicken liver pate: the chicken liver itself was not bad, but it had clearly been sitting out. The fat was hardened and took some elbow grease to dig into the liver. It was served with 4 rock-hard, overly toasted, cold pieces of toast, leaving us with over half our appetizer without mechanism to eat it. - Corn & pancetta risotto (my husband's entree): not bad, but a very odd combination that did not quite go together. Severely under-seasoned and lacking. - Pan-roasted chicken with polenta: the chicken itself was quite good -moist, flavorful, and well-cooked. The rest, however: the sauce had a skin on it (it had clearly been sitting out) and was very salty. The brick of polenta was rock-hard and inedible, as if it too had been sitting out. Nothing in the dish went together. One small, random piece of wilted endive on the polenta brick. We skipped dessert because we weren't willing to gamble. Overall, I'm disappointed that we paid over $100 for a meal that was sub-par. The ingredients are high-quality and the staff is well-trained, but it's almost as if once the food is off the stove, the attention to detail stops. I realize it was an exceptionally busy weekend, but allowing food to sit out is not only a culinary F, it's highly unsafe for raw foods like oysters. We won't be coming back. read more

This restaurant gets high marks for location and their patio with gorgeous views! My husband and I were staying at the Inn at Langley and walked here for dinner. We had a wonderful meal with fantastic service and I couldn't wait to go back. HOWEVER, I went back for lunch today and had the WORST service and TASTELESS meal I've ever eaten. To say I was disappointed is an understatement, especially since my husband and I had eaten such a wonderful dinner last month! My girlfriend's Caesar salad was swimming in overly spiced dressing, my salad had no dressing and dried out chicken, my daughter had tasteless gravlax and my girlfriend's daughter's oysters were not only warm, but tasted "off". The food took 45 minutes to arrive and the waiter never came back to check on us. If you're tempted to go here, go for dinner, but I would recommend staying far away for lunch! read more

Oh come on. How can this place have only 4/5 stars when you can find Denny's and MacDonald's with the same rating. I think people simply have forgotten how good food is supposed to taste like. We ordered from the lunch menu. Our two (8/5y) boys absolutely loved the mussels from kids menu (name another place that has mussels on the kid menu). I finished the sauce from their bowls, it was wonderful. Our youngest one (2.5 y old) had a rice risotto with (real) parmesan cheese, plain but real food from real ingredients. My wife had chickpea fries and Walla Walla (not in the online menu - basically a bruschetta with caramelized onions). I had the mussels with bacon(!) in cider sauce(!) and a small plate of perfectly cooked medium lab chops. The small plates are way big for small plates. I couldn't care how long it would take to serve us because it does takes time to make a dish from scratch but our waiter was very attentive to our needs, brough the kids' food first and knew the items on the list. The place goes to my top three of US restaurants. The food might become more pricey from here but simply does not get any better. After reading some other reviews, I cried a bit after learning they have ossobucco (marrow bone) as starters in the dinner menu. Almost worth flying to Seattle just to eat here. read more

Taking the ferry to Whidbey and going to dinner at Prima Bistro makes for the perfect evening. There are great views of the water from the restaurant and the atmosphere is classy, yet casual. I dream about the pork belly dish here. I had never had pork belly before when I first tried it here, but now I always order pork belly when I see it on the menu and so far none of the other dishes have compared the the time I tried it at Prima Bistro. I've also tried the Confit of Duck Leg here and it was so tender and delicious. I'm fairly positive anything you order here will be amazing. Maybe I'll be brave enough to try the marrow next time! read more

It was my first visit. I came on a Saturday afternoon around 1p.m. and only had to wait about 10 minutes. Granted, it's mid-March and before tourist season, so don't expect such a short wait during spring and summer. I lucked out and got sat at one of the best tables in the house when it comes to the view. My server was Justine, and she was brilliant and attentive. I asked about the cider and she recommended the pear cider, which was delicious and not too sweet just like she said. ($7). I ordered the small Ceasar, which was actually pretty darn big, and I easily could have shared with another person ($8.50). It was fairly authentic, and it was wonderful. It was served with an anchovy on top and a classic anchovy-less dressing (which I was a little disappointed about but I get it, American palates), but still tasty. I got the small order of Penn Cove mussels, without fries. I had looked at the menu ahead of time and was intent on ordering the mussels with the curry sauce, but sadly the menu had changed and the website hadn't been updated. Honestly, the mussels with the bacon and cream I got instead were so delicious I wasn't sad about missing out on the curry mussels. ($12.50) The small order was huge and served in a darling little cast iron kettle, and came with wonderful crusty bread and butter. All in all, the meal came out to a bit over $30, and it was just me. It was worth every penny, and I look forward to coming back and trying an entree and other items, which all sounded amazing and even a bit daring (bone marrow? Sweetbreads? Bring them on!). I'm a bit concerned at the two $$ rating here on the Yelp site, because if I had come in at night and ordered a drink, salad and entree like I would at any other restaurant, I would have spent well over $30. I'm not complaining about the prices, because the food is well worth it, but I noticed other reviews where complaints about the prices were made. I feel if the $$ rating were bumped up to $$$, it would better represent what one would spend here and possibly cut down on the complaints. Overall, I had a decadent, delicious meal in front of an amazing view and received fantastic service. I will definitely visit again and recommend Prima Bistro to anyone. read more

First of all, make sure to have reservations. This place fills up fast and far in advance. So, first of all the service is incredible. Our server Cassidy delivered incredibly friendly and attentive service throughout and despite there being a long wait, we were not remotely rushed through our meal. Our party ordered a lot of different food so I am not going to go through each thing individually, but let me just say that there were several highlights that were "remarkably incredible." Yes, there were a few "merely good" items but nothing bad. Breaking it down I would say atmosphere was 10/10 (right on the water), service was 10/10 (could not have been better in any way), and food was 8/10-9/10 with a few things coming in at 10/10 and a few things coming in at 6/10. So this is your basic "very good outing." It is pricey (it's in the Seattle area and it's on the waterfront in a small village) but definitely worth it for an experience. Would definitely go again next time I'm in Seattle, and they also have a sister restaurant next door that specializes in seafood that I am looking forward to trying in the future. read more

One of the beauties of the island is fresh mussles right from the bay. As others said, a cozy restaurant with local french bistro flaire. Domaine Druhin pinot noir served. Excellent flank steak cooked medium rare. Chanterelle mushroom butterd castiron medley delish. The inside could be updated a bit toward the carpet, but other than that - just plain cozy delish. read more

Whidbey Island is charming already, so a nice place to eat is just icing on the cake. A friend and I split two meals: deep-fried tilapia (they had me at "fried") and the good 'ol fashioned hamburger. Both entrees had shoe string french fries -- which we'd both been craving -- and they were F#$%ing GOOD. (Well, if you like your fries crispy as I do.) Nice beer selection, too, and we all know how a nice cold pint is essential for washing down fried food and grilled meats. Mmmm. read more

Delightful family friendly staff, paired with fantastic service and excellent food at a reasonable price....we'll be back. It is a small town friendly Bistro with a wonderful culinary offering. A must visit if you're down for a snack or a meal! read more

Prima.....a great restaurant in Langley. I go there EVERY time I am Langley. The calamari...excellent. The Prima Bistro burger...excellent. The chicken sandwich...excellent. To make it even better they sell Whidbey Island Sangiovese by the glass. With the friendly staff and amazingly fresh food, Prima has become a must stop for me when I'm on Whidbey! read more

We were seated quickly and in a nice corner. The waiter appeared new. He asked us immediately if we were ready to order, and we were not. Once we did order, our salads came quickly and were well made and tasty. My wife's wine was fantastic, and my beer was cold and delicious. We had both ordered the bistro burger, my wife's was to be well done, and mine medium rare. When our meals came, both were medium rare. Mine was good, but the sharp cheese's flavor overwhelmed the burger. My wife sent hers back to be cooked like she had ordered it. When it returned, it was the same burger, no problem there, except the bun was now hard as a rock. She asked the waiter how they had cooked it, and he said they had used a convection oven. What my wife wanted was a well done burger on a fresh bun. Apparently this was beyond their ability. I finished my meal, but my wife sent hers back for good. The owner came by and sincerely apologized, the meal was free of charge, and we got a gift certificate for another try. This is the reason for the 2 stars, and we will try again. The place was packed and obviously a local favorite. It's a shame, because the whole thing could have been solved so easily. read more

Guided here by the great reviews. Thanks! Went twice in past week for lunch and Happy Hour (after 3) menu items. Everything was very good and some notable items include mussels (both au curry and garlic wine were fabulous and the small order is more than enough for one), chicken liver mousse, lamb chops, beet salad, calamari, and like the reviews say - great burgers, esp the lamb burger. The "go to" place in Langley. read more

My Fiancée and I had went on a little get away together for a night at the inn at Langley, WA. And the bistro was a quick little walk from the hotel. So that was a Plus! I had looked at the menu previously before we had went because my other half has different taste buds than my own... and sure enough he was loving all parts of the five dollars plates the bone marrow of some animal and the beef tar tar and the escargo don't think I spelled that right? The burger I had was way awesome we will definatley come back and not to mention we loved the waitress that served us she was really nice and attentive. read more

I never review, never. Had to give a shout out though. They are making some of the best charcuterie ever. Lots of folks in other places trying and failing to get all the steps, not here. Had the right fermentation and molds, in addition to flavor balances. Great stuff! Whidbey is lucky to have this place. read more

We ate there tonight and really enjoyed ourselves. The service was very good. We ate appetizers and small plates. The snails, brussel sprouts and lamb chops were all fabulous. I highly recommend. read more

Nice menu and a quirky quaint ambiance that works well in this Whidbey Island town. Server was pleasant and wine list was small but well thought out and fairly priced. The challenge with our visit was they were out of mussels, clams, oysters, and fish! Not good guys... The boeuf tartare was good (could use some acid) and portion was generous. However, it only came with 4 toast points and when I asked for 2 more it took 20 mins and they added $1.50 to the bill! We also had the shrimp with Marconna almonds. Inventive dish for sure, but no heat to balance the honey sweetness which was too much in my opinion. The only other criticism was the skimp on the frites basket. It seemed like things were really tight fisted in this great setting with an ambitious menu. It's peak season now so maybe execution improves and nickel and diming slows? read more

I'm a former Langley resident and really miss Prima. Excellent Bistro fare- burgers, salads, sandwiches, light entrees at lunch, a little more semi-fancy-Frenchy-dinner in the evening. They appear to use local seasonal ingredients whenever possible. They have a good set schedule of specials during the week and inventive one-night specials over the weekends. The steak frites and pork belly starter are my go-tos, and I also really enjoy their bouillabaisse and salade nicoise, but pretty much everything is a safe bet, honestly. Their staff is helpful and attentive, and they make excellent specialty cocktails in the bar. The wine list is also large and diverse. Side note- I don't know the chef super well, but his spouse and general manager (I think?) Jen is a total badass. She's a leader in the community, a smart cookie who runs a tight ship-and it shows. I'd only bitch that the prices can be a little steep for a casual meal out, but it's high quality. read more

Steak and mussels are good. Avoid the tuna sandwich. It's really bad. Creme brulee is decent.

Very impressed with food, staff and ambiance. On top of that, they have a one page Vegetarian Menu upon request! Very civilized and vegetarians and carnivores in our group greatly enjoyed our meal. Not fast but worth the wait. read more

I have mixed feelings. The service was great! Friendly, professional, and our server made good suggestions. However, after hearing all the locals rave about how good the food was, we were a bit disappointed. Cold bread and brussel sprouts that were mushy, practically burnt (beyond a typical caramelizing char), and too garlicky. I got the penn cove mussel and the broth was underwhelming. I'm hoping it was just a fluke. read more

We are locals and were invited to dine out by a guest that was staying with us so I did not feel comfortable returning my meal or complaining but I certainly would have had my husband and I been dining out on our own. I ordered their ragout with mushrooms, it was so bland and tasteless, the dish was not seasoned at all, I had to salt it 3 times and even added a squeeze of lemon to try and give it some flavor, the mushrooms were rubbery - in short it was pretty awful. My husband had the same experience with his mushroom starter, the mushrooms were rubbery, unseasoned and anemic in appearance. I started with a salad that was nothing special. The service was good but sadly the food was a MASSIVE disappointment. read more

I dined yesterday at Prima Bistro expecting much better. Service was only adequete, expecting much more. Wine selection was poor. Two pinot noirs by the glass were extremely expensive. Food was mediocre. Won't go back to waste my money on this place. read more

Very popular, so be prepared to wait if you don't call ahead. Good food, although the menu is a bit overwrought, but it's nicely presented. Jasper our server was attentive and helpful despite being, along with the whole staff, extremely busy.Noisy when full. read more