Primavista is genuinely one of my favorite restaurants in Cincinnati, and it never fails to impress. Located on the ground floor of an unassuming high rise in the Incline district - it almost feels like stepping back 30 years in time when you walk in. The service has never not been top-notch, and we always seem to get a table next to the window with an absolutely spectacular view of Cincinnati and the skyline. The food is also excellent as well - from appetizers to salads, to entrees, to desserts. My favorite entree is the shrimp and gnocchi in their amazing saffron cream sauce, and the bruschetta with goat cheese and honey is to die for. For dessert, the only way to go is the bread pudding - trust me on this one. There is a reason its so hard to get reservations to Primavista - don't miss your chance to try them out for yourselves if you haven't been! read more

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pros: gorgeous view. mussels, bread, ,polenta, veal and dessert were all excellent, doting servers. cons: limited wine menu, slightly noisy, tables kind of crowded, green beans undercooked. read more

Been meaning to get my husband here for awhile, and finally made it happen. And now all he talks about is a return visit. Got it booked next week! It is the best view of Cincinnati from a hilltop on the west side. Food focuses on Italian cuisine and I'd good. Very good. Reasonable price on . Love that too. Romantic setting, great food and wine. Desserts worthy of sharing. Life is good. read more

The scenery a 10. Staff 10. Food...11! Of course I had to get the Shrimp Antoinette which was amazing in and of itself. Adding the escarole and hazelnut vinaigrette, you're in a self inflicted foodies dream! Topping it off with a 2019 Amarone--Ahh can it get any better! Absolutely recommend this place and will return. read more

We recently had dinner at Prima Vista and it was fantastic! It had probably been about 7-8 years since our last visit and we left wondering why we had waited so long to return. Beautiful view, superb food and our server was awesome. Will return again very soon. read more

I saw the view from here and decided we had to come here while on vacation. I just expected more yet at the same time I get having a view probably guarantees constant business so ehhh lots of places like that, aren't that great. Service was great though! But my lemonade was horrible and food was just okay. My son and no idea why but a pasta with butter dish for a kid had pepper on it. We've never ever seen that done before and of course he refused to eat it. At least they took it off the bill. Before one might think well why not make them serve a new one without the pepper? The damage was already done and he was not eating pasta, nor did he for awhile after this lol. He does not like to feel tricked :P It was just a really odd thing to do for a child. What kid wants pepper on their pasta? They don't even want sauce half the time lol. read more

The staff provided excellent service from the host doing his best to accommodate our request for a window table (definitely make that request when making a reservation) to the table service featuring s both a primary waitress and an assistant. We appreciated that soft drinks were served in regular glasses and free refills were readily offered (not always the case in fine dining restaurants). Our party ordered bread service (which is enough for 2-3 people per order) and it featured both garlic butter and olive oil, both of which were good. The mixed green salad a couple people in our party ordered were of good size and fresh and looked slightly better than the Caesar salads. It is important to note that the cuisine is Northern Italian (with the focus more on gourmet sauces and veal vs. tomato sauces, breading, and parmesan cheese). Overall, the view, ambience, and service made our dinner excellent while there were slightly mixed reviews within our party on entrees with the Grouper receiving a bit of a critical review and the veal being rated as flavorful but less tender than expected. read more

The view was amazing. I was torn between that and my date all night, wink wink. But seriously, I couldn't stop looking out at the city, you can see so much! Definitely my kind of vibe. Now the experience, my gf and I walked by the valet to the entrance, the transition from front desk/lobby to fancy, candle lit is wild. A big door blocks the way, as you open it you're pulled into a whole new atmosphere. The front desk greets you at the end of a long hallway, as you approach, the lights seem to dim just the slightest. We booked one a day before and got lucky! but reservations are a must if you want the best seats in the house. We were escorted to our seats, and as you walk in, the lights of the city shine in and you're in awe. Big glass windows display the whole city line. We walk past rows of tables until we're seated close to the kitchen. Took the picture of the city right from my seat, no obscure objects blocking anything, perfect view. Would pay $100 dollars just for the view. Now food and service. It was Friday night 8:15. Our server was a nice older woman who was very knowledgeable about the menu. I was pretty impressed until she said her same speal word for word to the table behind us, same joke too about not asking her to recite the menu lol. I knew I wanted pasta it, being an Italian restaurant I had high hopes. And man I was hungry, just then the bread came out. A nice display of garlic and ginger. I was surprised the bread wasn't toasted or anything, just bread. Used the olive oil bottle, that was a must. Looking for some drinks and an app next, I went with the Merlot $12, my gf went with the moscato. We also threw on an order of the calamari. After a little, it came out and I wasn't to impressed. My wine was watery, not much flavor. My gf loved her moscato tho, tasted like an angry orchard to me haha. The calamari felt like it was barley cooked, it was interesting to see the different type of octopus. I like the ones with the legs, but they were thick and hard, slimy, my gf got freaked out. Also not sure where marinara sauce came from with calamari, that is not it. Put in some dinner and we both went with the fettuccine chicken breast pasta recommended to us by our sever. Not sure if that's the name but that's what she called it. Our food arrived reasonably, and the presentation was pretty. As for the taste, better than it looks. The pasta was creamy, but lacked a deep flavor. Definitely not enough cheese, was more like a buttered noodle. The chicken was juicy, and didn't taste too bad, but the skin is kinda separate from the breast, so it was slidin around while I was cutting it up. Our server disappeared after we got our food and a nice food runner poured me some more water. Checked dessert, nothing looked that good. I over heard the crembrule was good but our server even said they didn't like it so. All in all, if you're looking for a romantic view and don't mind spending some money, this is your spot. I think the view compensates a little for the food, but it was late and I only tried a few things, im sure the rest of the menu is worth a try. read more

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Everything we ordered --perfect!! Calamari legit, shrimp app the best sauce ever, my chicken pesto gnocchi amazing, veal marsala great, seasonal fish light and refreshing. Veal saltimbocca so good. We got there at 5 so not extremely busy, maybe that's why it was all perfect, dunno, Tiramisu literally had liquor in it. Also legit. So pleased and surprised at this historic gem. Kudos to Deborah and her daughter. Professional and helpful read more

Primavista - All the things - Italian Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

We were greeted by the owner John which was an excellent touch. The service was ok but the food and price point made up for that. The server was knowledgeable but had a rough attitude. The server assistant could have paid better attention with the water fill up. The didn't matter so much with the quality of the food and the great view. The food was slow out of the kitchen, but the ambiance made up for the shortcomings. Everything was nicely priced except the feature fish. That was $52 and we didn't order it, but seeing it pass by on trays, it didn't look worth the price. We be back. The window facing raised booths for two were sweet. read more

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we had a birthday celebration with 8 people and we have been here before but this time it was much different. For one it was so dark inside you could barely read the menu. The old fashioned and the manhattan on the menu were adverage at best. I had the calamari for an appetizer and it was really good. The shrimp and gnocchi was really disappointing 5 shrimp and only eight pieces of the gnocchi for. 34 bucks seemed lacking. I also had the tiramisu for dessert which was ok. 135 bucks after tipping was a lot for the caliper of the meal there. I could eat much better for less at better places. read more

Wish I could give it 4.3. Service was excellent. Alex was a great waiter. Honestly should give it a 5 for him. Shrimp Antoinette is everything! I got the fettuccine but last 3 times had the gnocchi shrimp. Get the shrimp. My friend licked the plate as I normally do. I did get a bite Fettuccine wasn't bad but doesn't knock your socks of. Same with desert. The chicken though ,was pretty stellar and again, great service. Sometimes you just need the service to elevate. Good views, good food, can't go wrong! read more

Primavista - Shrimp "Antoinette" - Italian Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

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Everything was delicious! Great customer service. The views of the city were amazing. Highly recommend!

Amazing views and the food is awesome. The servers are very pleasant and attentive. I would totally recommend for a date night!!

First time visiting Primavista and it did not disappoint. The entire restaurant is designed to overlook views of the city. Our two-person booth actually faced the windows so we didn't have to turn our heads at all to look out. Such a cool experience! The food was delicious, and for a higher-end restaurant the prices were very reasonable. They specialize in veal and fish, so I recommend getting a dish that focus on that. The veal Marsala is some of the best Marsala I have ever had. The best part of the meal, however, was dessert. Both the tiramisu and bread pudding were equally delicious. I plan to go back in the winter when it is dark out and we can see the city lit up! read more

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My dad, his wife, my husband, and I visited on Saturday night. It was a 5-star experience all the way. Beautiful view, excellent service, and great food. I had the sautéed seasonal fish with crab. It was the perfectly sized portion with a nice presentation. The rest of our group enjoyed their selections as well. The old fashioned was tasty. There was quite a big selection of teas for my husband. We were too full for dessert. Maybe next time! My only minor gripe is the charge for valet parking. I'm of the belief that when you are at a fine dining establishment, valet parking should be free (with a tip, of course). read more

My partner and I chose this restaurant for our Valentine's Day celebration while visiting Cincinnati, reserving a table well in advance and making the two-hour drive with high expectations. Unfortunately, the experience was a complete letdown. From the moment we arrived, the atmosphere was soured by an unwelcoming hostess who, when we checked in just 14 minutes early, curtly informed us, "You'll have to wait; your table will be ready closer to your reservation time." as if we had shown up hours in advance. To give credit where it's due, the restaurant itself is beautiful, and the valet staff was warm and accommodating. Our server was professional but also intensely passive-aggressive. The real disappointment, however, was the food. For a restaurant charging $30-$40 per plate, the execution was shockingly subpar. The bread--stale and nearly refrigerator-cold--was served without butter, only a pile of mashed garlic devoid of salt or oil. Our appetizers were even worse; the shrimp tasted overwhelmingly of alcohol, and the pasta e fagoli soup was bland, with undercooked beans and barely any broth. When ordering my entrée, I made what I assumed was a minor request--to have piccata sauce on my spaghetti, a sauce they already serve on other dishes. I was told they would have to check with the chef because he didn't like "special toppings" and that they were too busy to accommodate substitutions. As if I had asked them to create an entirely new dish from scratch rather than swap one sauce for another. I ultimately settled on the seafood special featuring red snapper, a fish I usually love. My excitement was short-lived. The plate arrived dry, missing the lobster and butter sauce it was supposed to have, and completely devoid of seasoning. The vegetables tasted as though they had been boiled without a single pinch of salt, and the pasta was a sad, flavorless afterthought. To their credit, they offered a complimentary dessert, which was decent, but by then, the evening had already been ruined. The server, who had been scarce for most of the night, made sure to return just in time to deliver a parting remark dripping with insincerity: "I am really sorry you didn't enjoy our food. I hope your night gets better." The condescension was almost impressive. Despite everything, I still tipped nearly 20%, but I left feeling completely frustrated. A night that was meant to be special turned into a regrettable experience, and frankly, I wouldn't recommend this place to anyone looking for a meal worthy of the price--or the trip. read more

The view is unreal! Had some company in town and wanted to show off the city view. Service was top notch, very helpful and informative. Food was outstanding. Specialty drinks were very good also. read more

For our 25th Anniversary?! Yeah it's Cincinnati classic! Great food service and ambience! Wish I took pictures of the food but we were enjoying it to much too. Sad face. read more

Always great service great staff great food, surprised the rating is so low. Best view in town. Their veal is always the best. We had multiple appetizers. I have eaten multiple entrées here and most of the desserts all are delicious. read more

I always like to start with a positive, we were promptly seated, reservation for 4, window table, we were celebrating my son's 21st birthday, nice views of the city. Negatives, horribly sloooooooow service. Once we finally ordered, which that in itself from sitting down to getting our drinks was a solid 20 minutes but we waited amother 50 minutes from there for our food. And it was staight forwardentrees, spaghetti and meatballs, chicken gnocchi, chicken Alfredo, and a small peice of grilled salmon. The most annoying thing was the server acted as if this was completely acceptable, no apologies for anything. The food itself was just ok, the grilled chicken on the two pasta dishes was dry, the 3 veal meatballs were served next to the spaghetti but had no sauce on them, just the 3 gray balls that were pretty dense as well. If you are going to charge $30+ for italian food it better be spectacular, this was franchise quality not premier high end. And you'd think they'd throw us a desert on the house given the terrible wait, they had a built in excuse to try and make up for the poor experience by throwing a candle in a peice of cheesecake, but nope, didnt apparently cross their minds. Go to Rosie's if you're looking for outstanding Italian. read more

Delicious traditional upscale Italian restaurant. Primavista has that old style Italian feel with a great selection of entrees suitable for anyone. Part of the start of a great review of Primavista is the view. Sitting atop of Mt Hope the view encompasses the city scape looking east. Service was second to none as you should expect from a finer restaurant. Friendly, knowledgeable and prompt. The selections are absolutely delicious! I sampled off other family members and all were delicious. Great beer and wine lists, I could have stayed all night sampling. If you have not been or haven't been to Primavista in a while, you should put it on your list. read more

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Great food, Great service, Nice ambiance. Food was fantastic. Arrived quickly. Dessert was tasty. Staff were all friendly and helpful. Even offered to take a picture of us with the nice view in the background at the end of our meal. Highly recommend! read more

One of the most beautiful views in all of cincinnati... While the food was fresh I may of been expecting a more private seat for when coming here for an anniversary. Though a busy night we felt like we were in peoples way with a "middle of the room" kind of seat. While the waitress was very attentive and service was top notch. Though with a view like that and ambiance of the place I still give it 4/5. It was quite delicious and I would recommend it. read more

Primavista - Chef's choice fish! with a side of pasta - Italian Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

View and ambiance are great. Food was not exceptional, but this place is still worth a visit.

Great service and a good view have a good day good spaghetti and Cesar salads great scenery good ice cream read more

Primavista - Good hangout - Italian Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

My boyfriend and I were SO impressed with Primavista. To be honest, I was super unsure when we walked in. They sat us at a table on the corner of a walkway and it was super busy. I was having sensory overload- feeling anxious and overwhelmed from the noise level- and ended up asking the host of there were any other seating options. I really didn't expect anything because it was so packed, but a few minutes later someone came by asking if we wanted to move. We ended up with an amazing table where I was much more comfortable and at ease. Next- the food. Omg. We ordered the veal and spaghetti, chicken formaggio, and a pepperoni pizza. Everything tasted like home. "Comfort food" doesn't even do it justice! Phenomenal flavors in every dish, tasted like it was cooked by my grandmother. The portions were beyond generous. The service (thanks Molly!), the view, and the food made this a standout Cincinnati gem. The view makes it that much better. We will definitely be back! read more

Primavista - The view was amazing! - Italian Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

First time here. Beautiful view. We were across the street at the theatre. Italian restaurant specializing in veal dishes. Good ceasar salads. Very good veal dishes. Surprisingly, they used the same sauce for each dish. Located on the first floor of apartment building. read more

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Food : 9/10 Service : 10/10 Ambiance : 10/10 We visited this location on a Sunday 5/28/23 My partner was immediately sold by the view from our seats which overlook downtown Cincinnati (the window seating is top tier and although they can't guarantee it - you can request it and they will do their best to accommodate) Our server was amazing (which sold me) very efficient and helpful. She gave a good run down of the menu and had plenty of helpful suggestions. The drinks were amazing and the food was good! My partner got the bean soup and chicken formaggio which were both very flavorful (I liked his entree more then my own). I got the Caesar salad and salmon special. The salad was fresh, and the salmon was cooked to perfection but everything else on the dish lacked flavor - I think a sauce on top would have made it perfect - but still a solid entree! We split the calamari which neither of us cared for (we prefer ours fried a bit more). Overall amazing experience! Would highly recommend for an intimate date or to celebrate a big achievement as the atmosphere was giving upscale, classy, and had plenty of space which gave a sense of privacy. read more

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Happy Valentine's Day. We hope you are celebrating in a place as special as Primavista. It's a classic Italian restaurant with excellent service and food and an experience notched up a level by the view. As a vegetarian, I love a restaurant that accommodates me thoughtfully, as this once does, and I appreciate service that attends to details such as water-filling and splitting a salad for us in the kitchen. From my penne with mushrooms, tomatoes and Gorgonzola (and more) and my husband's Seafood Ciopinni, to the bread pudding that's rich but not cloying and a nice champagne with a sunset, we had just the celebration we might hope for. read more

Primavista - Bubbles to start- and finish - Italian Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

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A recent celebration brought us here after Christmas. It was our first visit but for sure not our last. Great atmosphere with great city views, impeccable service and food properly prepared and presented. Very clean restrooms and service areas. The ladies also expressed their appreciation of clean restroom facilities. We were more than pleased and will be returning soon read more

To give a spark notes for this longer review; stellar views, equally stellar service, atmosphere and food. Visited this restaurant after some insistence from a close friend, and to put it plainly, my only gripe is that it took me as long as it did to find this hidden gem. The Cincinnati area is home to many one off unique dining experiences, Primavista no exception. Housed underneath a high end, higher-ish rise apartment complex atop a hill to the West of Cincinnati, its a tad of a drive but well worth the trip. My friends and I attended during the evening after the sun had started to set. Our table gave phenomenal, unobstructed views of the downtown Cinci area, along with a very warm but refined interior. For warning, this is more of a "dress nice" restaurant and the prices reflect the atmosphere. Suits not uncommon but not required. However, with the heightened price and dress code came exceptionally dressed and knowledgeable servers. Very well taken care of. Compared to places you may go where you're questioning how much of a tip the server deserved, I tipped over 30% as the service was so much so, that tipping less would have felt wrong. The Food? Wonderful. I had a veal with a couple sides. My partner, a baked white fish and cream sauce on a bed of vegetables that was superb. Taking a bite of a beef dish my friend ordered was equally as flavorful and enjoyable while, same with the taste I had of his fiancé's dish. 4 different meals, wildly different flavors, all equally delicious in their own way. We finished with some espresso martinis per the demand of my friends, and as someone who generally is not a big drinker, I would go back for that beverage alone. To top of this joyful evening the waiter brought two desserts for the four of us, complimentary and unasked for, "to celebrate friendship and our first time dining with us" (directed at my partner and I as first time Primavista customers). What a cherry on top to an incredible dining experience. To conclude: top tier service, wonderfully unique and delicious meals, and a scenery that is certainly in the top 10 within a 30 minute drive of downtown Cincinnati. Quite frankly, if you've a special occasion coming up for you or a loved one, not taking Primavista into account as an option to dine at is doing your celebration a disservice! Will most certainly be back. read more

My husband and I spent our 19th anniversary at Primavista and really enjoyed ourselves. The view is beautiful. It was especially cool because there was a thunderstorm off in the distance while we were eating. We had excellent service; attentive and friendly. We ordered the calamari appetizer, which was just ok. For our entrees we ordered the Veal Saltimboca and the Seasonal Fish with Crab. The seasonal fish was red snapper and it was delicious!! My husband had the veal, which he had never had before, and he wasn't a big fan. For dessert we had the gelato and tiramisu, which were both good. This restaurant won't be one of our go to places, but I would recommend Primavista for a special occasion. read more

Primavista - Fish and Sauteed Seasonal Fish with Crab Veal Saltimbocca - Italian Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

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We were there on the Saturday night that "Blink" was happening downtown. The food was fantastic and the view matched it! read more

Primavista - Italian Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

Stellar service and the best view in Cincinnati! While the menu is Italian in nature, it's not all pasta. They have chicken, several veal dishes, steak, and seafood. I got the shrimp and gnocchi special and it did not disappoint! Saffron and garlic perfectly melded for a uniquely delicious flavor. Everyone should eat here at least once. TIP: bring some cash for the valet -- you'll thank me later. read more

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My partner and I visited Primavista on a weekend trip to Cincinnati where we celebrated an anniversary. We visited on a Saturday night with a 7:45PM reservation in September. Be aware that you can either pay $5 to park in a small area across the from the restaurant, or $6 for valet parking. The parking areas were backed up with several vehicles when we arrived, so prepare to arrive 5-10 minutes early for time to park and get inside. It had been raining for several hours, but you could still see a great view of the lit city of Cincinnati from the sprawling restaurant windows. The part of the restaurant with views of the city through a wall of large windows is set up similar to a theater: there is an "orchestra" view with tables set up against the large windows; followed by a "balcony" view of tables behind the orchestra; as well as a "mezzanine" view behind the balcony which are booths that face the window allowing for two people per table for more intimate seating. We sat in the "mezzanine" which we actually really enjoyed because we could sit side-by-side on the booth seating and look out at the window. Although there were some tables blocking our view, this was not a big deal and the view was still beautiful. Our waitress (I believe her name was Elle) was very, very kind and attentive. Our meal was taking a bit long to come out, and she was very communicative with us about this. She also found us an area of empty window and took a photo of me and my partner with the view of Cincinnati behind us after we finished our meal. The menu has several dishes with veal and several dishes with seafood. We ended up choosing the Chicken Formaggio (chicken with fettuccine in a rich cheese-based sauce) and the Shrimp and Gnocchi (served in an excellent light, but flavorful, sauce). The restaurant gave us a small complementary dish of unique ice cream for our anniversary. We also ordered tiramisu and brownie with ice cream for dessert, which were tasty (although not as impressive as our actual meal). There is also a large wine, cocktail, and beer selection. Our night went very, very well until we were about to pay our bill and leave the restaurant and we noticed that my partner's cell phone had quite literally disappeared from our enclosed booth seating. Our waitress and other restaurant employees helped us search the small area, but because we had never left our table during dinner, we knew it had been taken by someone. Luckily, the management was able to call the person who had had a reservation in the booth next to us. Management provided us with their name and phone number and it turned out they had "accidentally" taken the cell phone. We had to go out of our way to retrieve the stolen cell phone from this patron, but we were very grateful to the restaurant by helping us obtain the information needed to get it back. Overall, we enjoyed the aesthetic, the view, and the food at Primavista and would recommend it to others. We would recommend a reservation, especially during the weekend. If you are looking for a beautiful restaurant where you can dress a bit more on the formal side and impress your date, this is a great place to do so. read more

Primavista - The view from our table in a front-facing booth, furthest from the window - Italian Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

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We went to Primavista for my birthday dinner again this year. It is in fact still gas. read more

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The service was good and they were fast. Especially for Mother's Day. My steak was overdone and had a charred taste from them not cleaning the cook surface well. My wife's filet was perfectly cooked and we trade half our steaks and there was a noticeable difference The calimari was buttery and tender. Just like it should be. Our tiramisu could have done without the strawberry sauce. That actually ruined it for me but otherwise it was ok. read more

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If i could give it 100 stars I would. My mom and I came for restaurant week. It was my first time here, and I was very impressed! The view is amazing, the service was very nice from the guys parking our car at vallet to our waitress. The food was definitely the best part. It was the best Caesar salad I've ever eaten, the sea bass was melt in your mouth amazing and the dessert was great too! I will definitely be back read more

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Best view of the city. Excellent service. Delicious meal. The view is spectacular. Book for an hour before sunset and watch the city change over. Servers and staff are excellent. Helpful, attentive but not too much that it's distracting. Our meals were delicious. The gnocchi. Yummy!! Veal dish and veal dish were burg excellent. read more