Exquisite. One of the best meals I've ever had and I've had many. :) swordfish w orange limone like sauce over pesto'd (my new word) linguini like pasta. Partner had sea bass n mussels. Full disclosure - He came up w the exquisite word. read more

Primo - This goes w review of swordfish - Mediterranean Near Me - Rockland, Maine

We knew Primo as one of the most highly rated and raved about restaurants in Rockland, so when we decided we were going up to Rockland, Primo was #1 on the list to eat at. Our overall experience was a 3 star one, let me tell you why. Reservations were made 3 weeks in advance for my birthday dinner. The place was very busy on a Saturday night and we had high expectations...perhaps too high. We were seated right away and greeted by our server, who was not as welcoming and attentive as we hoped. He seemed rushed and didn't make us feel welcome. (A stark contrast to the warm and wonderful service we received at Home Kitchen cafe the next day!) The wait time to get our appetizers took a while, so we ended up finishing our bread basket before the app's arrived. When we asked the server for a second, he agreed and then promptly forgot. 10 minutes later, we asked a different waiter for bread. He returned with another basket, stating, "You probably don't want to eat more bread and fill you up before the food arrives". His "advice" was not appreciated. Perhaps if the food didn't take so long to arrive...or perhaps if I was 5 years old, I would have appreciated that advice more. We started with an appetizer each. I ordered a salad with fried oysters and pigs ear to start. Flavors were unique, but the plating screamed "trying too hard" and portions were very small. Order this if you like pretentious fru-fru food that will not fill you up. My fiance ordered the crab claw special. We didn't realize that the crab claw was simply just chilled claw with a dipping sauce. Not exactly unique, but the claw meat was fresh and sweet. For my entree, I ordered the scallops. 3 scallops with some braised beef on top, combined with 3 small buds of cauliflower completed this entree. While it was small, flavors were wonderful and the scallops cooked perfectly. Good thing the scallops saved the night. My fiance went for the Primo pork chop. They used fatty pork chops and cooked the meat to melt-in-your-mouth perfection. Flavors were not unique, but it was one of the classic dishes that was executed perfectly. While we were too full to order dessert, we have perhaps been spoiled as diners and were expecting the restaurant to recognize the celebration of a special occasion, if even a "Happy birthday" or small scoop of complimentary ice cream would have been a really nice gesture. Nope. Our server very happily brought us our checks, more promptly than anything else arriving at our table that night. While the entrees was tasty overall, the appetizers and lackluster service combined with high prices guarantees we won't return again. read more

I need to take back a part of my tough review of Primo, but only a part. The bar is great, including the small plates and oysters which are often on special at $1.00. The sausage-stuffed olives are sensational as is the small serving of pork ribs. My dinner companions framed about the pizza and said the burger was excellent. Okay, Primo, you get clemency but not a total pardon until I try the restaurant again. The suspense should be killing you. read more

It's a sad, sad day. I've had a love affair with Primo since 2007. A group of us travel to Rockland at least once a year and a highlight of our vacation is an over-the-top meal at Primo. Unfortunately this one ended with 8 of us leaving at the suggestion of "manager" Brice who seemed to care nothing about customer service or human decency. Unbeknownst to us, the trouble began on May 7 when my husband made our reservation via Open Table and using the notes section, advised Primo of the size of our party (8) and our request for the private farm table upstairs. When we called the day before to confirm our July 28 reservation, we were told that we were confirmed for 6 and they did not have us at the farm table. The woman graciously told us she would see what she could do and would call us back. We heard from her the following day a few hours before our 6pm reservation to let us know they have secured our desired table. We were thrilled. We showed up a few minutes early and were told our table wasn't ready and we could wait outside "where the air was fresh." My friends got the impression that we were being treated a bit strangely as everyone else was invited up to the bar to have a pre-dinner cocktail. I chalked it off (naively) to a hectic night. I was soon to be proven wrong. We were shown upstairs by a woman in a long skirt (glasses & a bun) who sternly directed other patrons out of her way. Our waitress came and randomly took drink orders 2 or 3 at a time, leaving the table in between for 5 - 10 minute stints. She eventually served all except one of our party, forgetting her completely. The downhill slide continued when we asked to see the counter menu in addition to the dinner menu. Our waitress (short blond hair) told us that was "against the rules," and the manager Brice was the only one who could make an exception. We asked to speak with him and was told he was probably too busy to come to our table. We told her that we've ordered off both menus for the past 5 years and we'd like to speak with Brice when he had time. Brice showed up, guns blazing, wanting not to discuss the menu issue but how he had already accommodated us with the reservation revision. My husband did most of the speaking for our group and began by telling Brice that we were repeat diners with a great respect and appreciation of Primo and of our previous ordering off both menus. Brice's reply: Everybody comes back. I don't care what you do. If you're not happy, you can order off of the dinner menu...Or you can just leave. Jaws hit the floor. We were simply asking to order more food, driving up our check in a big way. What we got instead was a lecture on how we should be appreciative of how he fit us in, even though we had made the reservation almost three months in advance. His "argument" there: "You expect us to read the notes on the thousands of reservations we get?" No matter how much we tried to diffuse the situation and let Brice know that we simply wanted to enjoy a great meal at an amazing restaurant, he kept bringing the conversation back to our "offensive" Open Table reservation and his "heroic" table rearranging. Four times he told us he didn't care and we could just leave. He even pointed at and accused some of the "girls" at our table of "giving him attitude." These women hadn't said one word during the entire exchange. The hostess who sat us even came over to stand behind Brice to smile and nod while Brice continued to berate us. Had he simply told us nicely that he was unable to accommodate us this evening, our tale would have been a much happier one. Although I know the food would have been amazing, this review is strictly based on the appalling treatment our party received and the ineptitude and lack of management skills of Brice. Instead of trying to help the customer, he created and escalated a situation that didn't exist prior to his arrival at our table. To end our experience, our waitress came over to let us know that Brice would take care of our drink tab only if we would leave. I'm pretty sure if we stayed, Brice would have made our experience even more miserable. I am broken-hearted that one of our favorite Maine traditions has come to such an unhappy ending... Congrats to Melissa on her James Beard award! Your culinary expertise is unsurpassed!!! Maybe we'll try to make it down to your Florida establishment some day. read more

I went to Primo with three other friends visiting Maine. I went there with very high expectations. The service was slow, but it was a Friday night so it was fine. Three out of the four of us are vegetarians. There are not many options for vegetarians. A friend and I ordered the "Farm Salad" no bacon. We ate the salad and three bites in.. there was bacon. We sent the salad back with a different waitress and went to tell our waitress. Her remark was not only rude but unprofessional. She stated, " Our philosophy is pork so you are going to be have to flexible" We got our next salad... and yet again there was bacon in the salad. We returned the salad and refused to get anything else from the kitchen. They comped our salad, however that does not make the service and the attitude towards customers acceptable. I would never recommend this place to anyone. read more

Yes. Yes. Yes. Fuck yes. Oh god yes. There is so much to love and nothing to loathe about Primo, a restaurant by which all others should be judged. The service? Humble and precise. The atmosphere? Warm, comfortable, divine. And the food is just, well, perfect. I was here last summer and was able to take everything in from a perfect corner table that was more like a couch pulled up next to a plate of food. Jesus, I barely remember what I ate - there was fish! Pasta! Vegetables from the garden! And there was plenty of wine, I remember that much. It was even more than I could have asked for in a dining experience and it's the restaurant that I will forever use as the measuring stick. Go there. Now. Whatever it takes. Find a way. read more

Once again they Yelp stars rating system lets me down. This is obviously not a 3 star restaurant, but personally I wasn't a fan. Yes, they are doing great work there. Local products. Butchering their own pigs and chickens. Kudos. We need more restaurants like this. Go. It's a handsome restaurant with a professional staff. Comfortable and warm. Great wine list (Krug half bottles!). Take your parents or that special person. But here is why I'd probably not make the trek back to Rockland anytime soon. First, the highlights: like I said, the wine list is superb. Great selection and prices. My lovely wife likes her white Burgundies, so we had a lot to choose from. We split two appetizers to start. The first was an oyster dish. I forget the specifics (the online menu is of course different than the one we had) but it had a great granita (was it cucumber? something green.) on top and "one or two drops" of chili oil. The chili oil was a bit of an issue. Either they put more than one or two drops or their chili oil is nuclear. It was way spicy. Pick up the shell, suck the oyster down, and then madly grab for bread and water when the chili oil hits your palate. I can't imagine it was meant to be that hot. The oil totally overwhelmed... everything. Literally. A bit of annoyance when we very nicely mentioned this to the waiter and we kind of got the feeling that he thought we couldn't handle our spice. OK. Not starting off on the right foot. Our second course was the Hudson Valley foie gras with a some super old balsamic vinegar on it. This was delicious. Kudos on that one. For our main courses, neither of us were feeling very meaty and both went with pasta dishes. My lovely wife had a squid ink pasta with sea urchin (local) and crab meat on top. On paper, this was awesome. In reality, there was an element in there (was it fennel?) that I thought brought a bitterness to the entire dish and overwhelmed the sea urchin and crab. You could have just replaced those elements with tofu or some other neutral protein, because you couldn't taste them. I will add that she thought the dish was better than I did. Am I just grumpy? I had "Hand rolled Ricotta Cavatelli with kale, roasted buttercup squash and sunflower sprouts tossed with a sage~walnut pesto". I love squash. I love sage, walnuts, and kale. I love pesto of any type. The dish was good but a bit one note again. Something was heavy handed here. It was just pasta and walnut pesto. Also, the dish was huge. Crazy large portion. Maybe I'm just used to NYC portions? I was able to eat half and left stuffed. Crazy. So, to summarize. I applaud what they are doing and wish more people would take their same path. Handsome restaurant with great service. I wish them the best of luck. read more

Not really worth the money or expectations. There are better options in the Rockland/Rockport area. The salad was very fresh but the entrees were somewhat bland and super small portions. The ambience is nice and its enjoyable to walk the farm before dinner, but I think the restaurant is over hyped. Even the standard bread was not served warm and tasted a day old. Not sure why the restaurant has such a hype around it. We went in with high expectations, but the meal certainly fell short. read more

A bucket list restaurant. On vacation in Maine. Mom's birthday providing reason to indulge. The stars were aligned. All five of them in fact. Pleasantly greeted at the door. Table for five. Amouse Bouche of lobster bisque with a single bite of lobster cornbread. Perfect start. Fresh cobia over risotto. Devoured. Double cut pork chops from pigs raised the way pigs should be raised to make them taste the way they should taste. So good they will haunt your dreams. Mom's chicken, raised on premises, soars over a bed of beans, sausage, chicory and scapes with lemon pine nut jus. It reminds of Julia Child's quote upon tasting her first chicken in France, "It tastes so chickeny!" These are those chickens. Desserts. Chocolate plates of heaven and creme brulee with blueberries. Perfect ending. read more

Finally made the foodie pilgrimage to Primo Restaurant in Rockland, ME. This top-rated restaurant is the epitome of the local food movement, they grow and raise most of their menu. The chef won the Beard Award for the Northeast in 2013 and was praised by Anthony Bourdain on No Reservations. We were drop-ins and ate in a warm and inviting upstairs room with a bar. The knowledgable staff carefully described each course. You must plan far ahead if you want reservations. Primo raises their own pigs and, as a separate menu, offer up an amazing 7-course meal of parts of the pig. Thank you pig! Snout to tail, appetizer to dessert, I can't believe I ate the whole pig. read more

Man, we REALLY wanted to love Primo. Made a res far in advance, read tons of articles, fantasized menu options. But in the end it was a huge, huge let down. The property itself is stunning. Rockland is super lucky to have a place like this putting so much care and effort into growing and maintaining food. However, once you enter the door, in our case, the magic ceases. We were promptly met by cold service. Since the dining room seemed too stuffy for our taste, we asked to be seated in the upstairs bar area. Not an unreasonable request, seeing as it was 5:30 (old folk dining time!) and there was barely anyone there yet. We figured a shuffle would not hurt anyone. Well, the staff returned a cold stare, murmured to themselves and merely looked at us, expecting to know that, yes, our request has been accepted. Up to the bar area. We begin browsing the menu. It is HUGE. Overwhelmingly huge. In a bad way. I'm really unsure of why an establishment like Primo would extend their menu when they could put their focus into a smaller number of dishes, but c'est la vie. Our waitress is not helpful in guiding us either. She gives two recommendations and stops there. After, she graciously gives us a quick ramble through dish ingredients at such high speed that it is unclear of which ingredient goes to which dish. Next on our list of grievances (which we're still fuming about) is that my partner forgot her ID. We really didn't think it would be a problem since we were in a high end establishment and about to drop serious dough...also, we're both nearing 30. However, when it comes time to order drinks, I place my order - no problem. My partner...? Stopped by the waitress (who must have read my partner's anxiety) and asked for an ID. Once she offered that she had forgetten it the waitress didn't extend any other solutions. Merely turned away and left. Not to mention, hello?! Do I look so old you need not card me?! It would not have been a problem if the request for ID had been consistent. Our dining companions to our left were supremely obnoxious, taking photos of their food (flash on, WHAT?!) at a near constant. The couple behind us at the bar were trying to up each other (loudly) as to who has been to the BEST Maine restaurant. The vibe was not suiting us. We wanted slow food in a relaxed environment. I'm really unsure of who Primo is trying to cater to, customer wise, but from what we sensed, they really just care about the aesthetic and making the money. As for our dishes, two (meat and a pasta) were great! Thank you! One was incredibly lackluster...a veggie dish that truly had no seasoning and zero creativity behind it. My (solo) drink (Negroni) was ok. All in all, we were bummed when we left and have no intention of recommending it. We usually have no problem spending more than average at a restaurant like this. But this experience left us wanting way more in all aspects. You're better off saving your money for three extra lobster rolls and a meal out in Portland. read more

There were some highlights, but overall just a really disappointing meal. We are traveling for vacation and were encouraged to go here, but the food really just didn't meet expectations, the portions were small and overall it was incredibly overpriced. It was fine, but don't go out of your way to go here read more

Delicious food. Comes at a price, but you can tell it's fresh and fabulous. We had a fried green tomatoes appetizer special the night we went, and it was killer. Still dreaming about it. Service was attentive, as expected. The grounds make you remember that you are there to enjoy super fresh, homegrown food. My only complaint? We didn't have enough room for dessert - next time ... read more

Primo - Fried green tomato appetizer. Yesssssss. - Mediterranean Near Me - Rockland, Maine

This was my second time to Primo on a short visit to Maine. I LOVE this restaurant! Everything from the staff, to the combination of ingredients to create amazing offerings, the beautiful and well thought out presentation of the dishes, the ambiance, cocktails, just everything! We had all apps and small plates. We started with the deviled eggs which are so creamy and delicious. I wish there were more than 2 with a serving but it allows you to try multiple items. We then had a delicious salad with Duck Confit and an Onion Tartlet. Delicate small purple flowers scattered on the plate made for a gorgeous presentation.We wanted to try some things we haven't eaten before so my friend suggested the Steak Tartare. This is not something I would ever order! I am so glad we did though. Once of the most flavorful things I have ever eaten. You don't even realize you are eating raw meat. Again, I wanted more! It is served with a fried quail egg and grilled onion. Absolutely my favorite of the night. Next we tried the Salt Cod Fritters which was the only thing I felt lacked. Not a lot of cod or salt. I would honestly skip this offering unless they work on the recipe. For dessert we (meaning mostly me) had the Banana Chouf. OMG! Served in a Pate a Choux with delicious Caramel Gelato, Carmelized Bananas and Salted Peanuts. I love their dessert list as so many places try to hard to be out there and different with the dolce offerings. I am someone who loves my sweets in a more traditional way but with a slight twist if that makes sense. If you ever are in the Camden/Rockland/Rockport area, treat yourself and go. If you go to the lounge, no reservations are needed but get there early. Everyone knows this place fills out early! read more

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We really enjoyed everything about Primo. The food service was attentive and well timed. The wine and service was lovely. Th meals were beautiful, served timely and at a perfect temperature. We ordered several courses and all were perfect. Pricey and worth it. read more

What a mixed disappointment. The food is excellent and priced to match, but the service is haughty and indifferent. As good as the food is, this place wouldn't last two weeks in Manhattan with this service "attitude". I guess without competition you can treat guests as you please. We waited 20 minutes for drinks to arrive, no explanation and no apology. Then waited nearly an hour between appetizer and main course before giving up in disgust. Neither serving staff or management offered any explanation, apology or, perish the thought, a complimentary glass of wine ! Save your money and go to Archer's on the Pier for a lobster, a great view, reasonable prices and a staff who cares ! read more

After many years of visiting the mid coast area, I finally got to Primo last week. It was certainly worth the wait. Without repeating the reviews of everyone else on Yelp, Primo is a farm to table restaurant with James Beard Award-winning Chef Melissa Kelly at the helm. The restaurant is in a beautiful, large, old house, and is beautifully decorated. We sat up in the bar area, and took advantage of both of the menus there. We ordered charcuterie, pig's head torchon, steak tartare, two incredible pasta dishes, and a pizza. Yes, we maybe over-ordered for just two people, but WOW was the food incredible. My advice for everyone: order anything you can with pig in it. The pigs are raised by Primo, and you can taste the freshness and the quality of the meat. We finished the meal with some zeppole, which were hot, fresh, and crispy. The service was also very good. Despite it being a busy Friday night, everything came out in a reasonable amount of time and was spaced quite well. Our server was friendly and knew her stuff when it came to the menu. Primo is an all-around amazing experience, and I would highly recommend it to anyone who is a lover of delicious food. read more

We had very high expectations and I am sad to say we walked away disappointed. Nothing we had was bad per se, but on the other hand nothing really stood out. The service was slow and the head waiter seemed so convinced everything on the menu was phenomenal that he never even took the time to ask us how our food actually tasted. We began with an overly spicy clam pizza and an excellent salad (greens, smoked almonds, manchengo cheese and a lovely cured ham). The salad was the highlight of the meal. For entrees, we ordered halibut and lamb. While the sides were enjoyable, both the fish and the meat were overcooked. The halibut didn't have much flavor as a result and the lamb (despite ordering it medium rare) was tough and chewy. Again, our waiter didn't take the time to even ask how the food was. He stopped only once during the meal and it was literally about 30 seconds after the food arrived so we hadn't actually taken a bite. We sprung for dessert as well. The gelato was very good and we also had a trio of small citrus pastries. Very good, but once again service was lacking. All-in, I think this restaurant has merit, but for the price we've had significantly better meals and much more attentive service elsewhere. read more

I was totally bummed out by my experience at Primo, especially after it being talked up by many of my friends who love food. My husband and I made the drive to Rockland from Portland for our reservation. Upon arriving we were promptly seated in a VERY chilly corner of the upstairs dining room. Fast forward to the food. We got the foie gras served two ways to start. One way was amazing, the other way completely uninteresting. My entree was fine- the duck was cooked well, but the proportions were ridiculously small...here in Maine, if you pay over 30 for your entree, you better be STUFFED. My husband had the shrimp and grits which he was really unhappy with. It was over spiced for the delicate flavors of the fish. Now the experience...oy. We were not drinking, as I said, we had the long haul back to Portland. I feel like because we were not downing bottles of wine, we were not a high priority at all to our waitress. I waited for tea for over 15 minutes, and when I got it, it was over steeped and bitter and gross. The waitress did, however, dote over the table of clearly wasted middle-aged d-bags sitting across from us (who were very loudly making comments about my husband and I), topping off their glasses of wine as the argued about who would drunk drive home and knocking things off the table. By the end of the evening, we were both desperate to leave and get home and scared that a fellow patron of the restaurant might drunkenly run us off the road. read more

A well deserved Beard award. Tonight's tasting menu was fabulous. Nose to Tail from pigs raised on site. Everything was perfection. read more

Primo - Mediterranean Near Me - Rockland, Maine

We were soooo excited, have heard so much about the farm-to-table brilliance. Wedding anniversary. 9:00 seating. Great ambiance. Awesome wine list. Awesome ends there. Watermelon and tomato salad, fine, but not great. Squid spaghetti, el dente was an understatement. Seated at 8:42, by 10:40, still no entrees. No idea what the entrees taste like, sitting in the hotel frig. I guess I forgot, by the end of the night, the kitchens burnt. I assumed with all the rewards it would be different. Its not. read more

Has a different homey atmosphere but also a bit of a modern flare. The food was absolutely amazing. Creative choices, farm fresh produce, homemade pastas,herbs straight from the garden. Best quality of beefs and fish. Most beautiful presentations. This place well deserves every star that gave it. read more

Big city prices, which was a bit of a surprise for the area, but actually big portions of food in return, also a surprise. My wife and I shared the root vegetable salad for an app. She had the duck and I had the scallops for our mains. She loved her duck, and my scallops were perfectly cooked. I just think my plate had too much going on and it didn't really go together though. Lots of garnish on top hid the secret stash of dates until I had only 2 of the 5 scallops left. The whole thing was a bit overly sweet for me, especially after finding the 'date stash.' Overall it was pretty good food for the area. We were visiting family for the holidays and there aren't many nice places to go out. Overall several more positives than negatives, so we will return. read more

The menu at Primo is impressive. There are some really interesting dishes and most of what we had tasted pretty good. I started with the pork belly, that was delicious, and others in my party had the oyster fritter, the Greek salad, and the APPETIZER pizza (which was about 12 inches and I have no idea how one person is supposed to eat that and then an entree), which were also all good. Entrees were pork saltimbuca (delicious), mushroom cavatelli (good), hake (my mom wanted to order a special, but they ran out of it before our 6:30 reservation), and the skate. Food was generally good, although we shared an order of the spicy bolognese that included exactly one hot pepper. The problem was the service. Aside from problems already mentioned, we ordered a 2005 vintage wine and they tried to give us a 2007. The sommelier had no idea that they didn't have the 2005. Our only request to him had been price range and his only recommendation was above that range. Cheese I ordered couldn't come at the same time as everyone else's desserts because "it had to come from a different kitchen." I'm a little confused as to why that's my problem, but apparently they couldn't time it so everything came out at the same time. I would only recommend this place if you've never been and don't have access to really good restaurants in Boston or New York. If you're up here for a short period, there are plenty of restaurants that have much better service and comparable food. read more

Amazing! The food was outstanding. The service was excellent. Whether you live here or are just visiting. Primos should be number one on your list of places to eat! read more

Chef Melissa Kelly is the Real deal. We tried to get a reservation for a month prior to our visit to Maine and were able to finally secure one. Professionalism from the moment we checked in. The energy and enthusiasm of the staff is palpable. Everything was top notch perfection. Amazing meal with the freshest ingredients made for a wonderful meal. We have eaten in many places in the world and we would say this is one of the top 3 ever!!! Get a reservation if you can. You will not be disappointed. read more

Wouldn't change a thing about this experience. We had: Oysters (it was $1 oyster night, hoorah) Zucchini noodles  - excellent Foie gras + polenta - my favorite dish of the night Panzanella - incredible Fried squash blossom - okay but nothing special Pasta - can't recall the name but it was quite lovely Duck breast - my least favorite dish Scallops - very tasty; a little spicy and different than usual I'd come here again and again if I lived nearby. Service was outstanding. Thanks, Primo! read more

Wonderful food. Strange atmosphere. I started with a foie gras appetizer...it was sort of a play on French Toast, absolutely divine. I followed the foie with the roast french pear salad. So fresh. The Muscat vinaigrette and candied hazelnuts were perfect. I split a half portion of the Dayboat Scallops and Procini Tagliatelle with my dining partner, but this should have been my entree. I've never had a scallop prepared so perfectly. Truly seared to perfection. I selected Halibut for my entree, and was disappointed. The fish itself was very dry, especially paired with the pilaf. I ordered a creme brulee trio for dessert that was completely unmemorable. I was seated in a small-ish room with only 4 (3 two tops, 1 four top) other tables in it. I could hear every conversation in the room, not an intimate dining experience. The worst part of the ambiance was the music. Primo is in serious need of a mixed CD or two. It went from Josh Groban-ish really lame corny modern stuff to 90's pop hits. The music was actually awkward. I came back the next morning to check out the farm...very inspiring example of perma-culture farming. I hope more and more restaurants start taking this approach. NOTE: You can order half portions of pasta! Our sever didn't tell us, we had to ask. Excellent option. read more

I have been going to Rockland for a decade now and I always wanted to go here. I have put it off till Frank from the Limerock Inn suggested it. He also gave us a tip, sit at the bar area and order appetizers or tapas to keep cost down. This worked wonderful. They were booked solid the entire week we were in Maine and since we hadn't planned on it we hadn't made reservations. So this plan was also beneficial in that sense. We went at 5:00pm, the bar had only a a few spots for two left and we were lucky to come when we did. It is very popular and fills up very quickly. So onto the food. As stated we ordered the small plates rather than an entree to keep the cost down. We ordered the Arancini of the day which was a rice ball with wild boar ragu and mozzarella, farm fresh deviled eggs, Tuscan style ribs and a quinoa, fig and duck salad. Each was more amazing than the last. My personal favorite was the Tuscan style ribs. My husband loved the quinoa duck salad. We tried ordering what we knew they had on premise, like duck, chicken eggs, pork and salad greens. Now keep in mind, this is a high class restaurant, it is still Maine so attire is casual, but the food is what you would get at a high class chef acclaimed restaurant in NYC. Therefore no this is not family style portions. We were full on the small plates we had, not stuffed but very full. I saw in a review a complaint on this which I thought absurd. If you want just a ton of food go to some where else. If you are looking for quality, local as in on premise food for the discrete Epicurean then here it is. We both had drinks. I had the Spring Tonic which was Housemade Limencello, St. Germain, Garden Mint, lemon and tonic. My husband had the Allagash Dubbel Ale which I have to say was wonderful. The bartender was very busy. As often is the case not only are they serving food, taking orders and getting drinks for people at the bar, but getting drinks for the entire restaurant. And since the restaurant was packed some patience in getting your order taken was needed. Which for us was fine since we were on vacation and sitting at a bar where you can be entertained by all the people and going ons. Once ordered the service was very prompt. Thankfully the bartender who took our order also paced our food so that we didn't have to many plates. She had said she was going to do this and it was very well thought. The only thing from the regular menu we ordered was the quinoa and duck and that was what she put in to come last. I was a bit chilly so my husband left to the car to get a coat for me. While out there he saw a sous chef run out of the restaurant with a knife and into the garden to get some herbs. Talk about fresh. After eating we toured the grounds. Lovely and expansive gardens and of course the turkey, chicken, ducks, pigs and hens were very cool to see. When going to Primo seeing the grounds is something to leave time for. They even have bee hives on location. So fantastic I love this place as do many as from their constantly booked tables and the very popular bar areas. read more

This joint is so good / As the chef prepares the pork / The home gown pigs smile. read more

Excellent, creative, fresh true farm to table, farm is out back! Server listed 10 specials from.memory after learning of menu 20 minutes before opening.....not cheap by any measure, but a dining experience in an old farm house! Large wine list....expect to spend 21/2 hours.... read more

We were there for Halloween, everyone in costume, so fun! The meal was delicious, I had the Tuna and my husband had the "Pork Chop", the food was unbelievable and beautifully presented. All the staff were well versed on the ingredients on each course. We'll have to go back to try more of the different course offerings, it was hard to decide on which to choose, so many wonderful choices! Everyone at the restaurant made us feel special and they appreciated our business! It was a very memorable Birthday dinner for my husband. Thank you to all! Debbie P read more

Over the years I have been here about half dozen times, each meal excellent but never wrote a review. This time I left compelled to do so. We sampled only a few dishes at the bar this time, all specials. The tuna crudo was delicate and delicious. The fried green tomatoes nice crisp, not greasy in the least with a tiny spicy bite. The anchovy escarole salad a tangy salty marvel. But the highlight was the octopus; really the best flavored and most perfectly cooked I ever had in the world. The charred bits crunchy without a burnt flavor and the meat so tender it almost melted. Just wow. Cocktails were well made and strong but only one rose available by glass in summertime was a miss. So glad they still have the walk in bar option. read more

We were terribly disappointed by our visit to Primo two weekends ago. Though the food was, for the most part, fine, we were met with such a poor attitude that I will avoid this restaurant from now on. We showed up at 4:55 pm without a reservation and, when we were seated at the bar, asked if there was a table available, as we brought a visiting friend and wanted to talk over dinner. The gentleman seating us left to ask the hostess who, eventually, came to tell us (smugly? gleefully?) that there were no tables. When we asked what time a table would be available, the hostess replied "9". As in 9pm. There was no "we are terribly sorry, but we are full up tonight", there was no trying to make the experience better (maybe not charge for the mediocre bread basket). There was just a smug smile and a horrible attitude. To rub salt in the wound, there were at least 3 empty tables the duration of our meal. Though this could have been due to staffing challenges, the hostess should have been more transparent. All in all, not worth the price or the time. There are many restaurants with delicious food and delightful service all over Maine. I will spend my money in those that know how to provide a good experience as well as better food. read more

Am I the only person that thinks this place is underwhelming? It was good but not great as the reviews insist. The portions were perfect for me, but most people would find them stingy. They do what they do to be farm to table and locally grown. Which is great and I don't mind paying 38-45 dollars for an entree in that case if it was remarkably good. But it was not, sadly. My duck was cooked well but chewy. My husbands 3 slices of Tuna was cooked well, but nothing great in flavor of the sauce. What they do well is plate their food like an artist arranging small bits of food layered and spread out so your impression of how it should taste starts there. Service was good, but the time between appetizers and entree took forever. read more

We arrived at 530 last night for what we thought was a 530 reservation that we had made on one of the smart phone apps. As it turns out, we did not have a reservation but the staff was incredibly accommodating. They took us right in and sat as at a window seat for 2 on the first level. From that seat we had a view of the people coming into the restaurant. As we watched the people flood in I was wondering how they were all going to fit. My wife and I had an incredible dinner! We have been wanting to make the 3 hr round trip ride from Falmouth for a few years and we are so glad we did, it was well worth it. Our waiters name was Will and he did a terrific job. He was very attentive and calmly and professionally described each plate as though he had made them himself. Some he had to describe 2-3 times because we wanted to make sure we didn't miss anything on the nightly specials. The service was definitely an addition to everything that we loved about this restaurant. The two of us decided to go with three appetizers because they sounded so good. We had the oysters, cold lobster salad and the octopus and they were all perfect! The complimentary warm apple cider top with whipped cream brandy was a tasty treat as well Because we had three apps, we decided against one of the homemade pastas but truly wish that we had ordered one because everything else was so good. For our main plates we went with the tuna and duck. There was a lot of sharing going on because both plates were so delicious! The piece of tuna was incredibly large. Sometimes I walk away very disappointed at restaurants because I feel they have very small portions, not at Primos! I was impressed with the serving size of each course including dessert. For dessert we had a nightly special that was not on the menu as well as crem brûlée. When the desserts arrived I was wondering if we would be able to finish them because they were so big. We usually split one dessert between the two of us but we figured we would get two last night. They were incredible, nothing left on either plate. The crem brûlée was even served with a tarte on the side. It could have easily served as one dessert for two people. After dinner we visited the upstairs bar area and we found out where everyone was. I would recommend making a 600 dinner reservation but arriving no later than 500 in order to get a seat at the bar upstairs to enjoy a drink before dinner. It was a great atmosphere up there but get there early enough to find a seat at the bar. If you prefer a later dinner then still arrive early enough to be able to visit the bar upstairs for a drink though you may end up standing instead. One other recommendation is that they serve $1 oysters on Thursdays and Sundays upstairs in the restaurant/bar. We will be bringing our three teenage boys back for that, we all love oysters. We will be back! In fact, it wasn't her birthday but my wife told me that she only wants one thing for all of her future birthday dinners, dinner at Primos! read more

"Welcome to Primo" is the feeling I got, even though the words themselves were not spoken, when we were greeted at the door of this fine establishment. The place was a lot bigger than I thought it was going to be, almost intimidating in its expansiveness. But it's incredibly cozy once you are seated and settled. My wife and I chose the upstairs lounge instead of the dining room and I think we may have actually gotten the best spot in the house - a table with a very comfortable L bench that was kind of in a corner but in the middle of the room next to the bar with a commanding view of the scene as a whole. It felt almost like dinner theater actually. The bar was lively and the atmosphere was busy and dynamic but not too loud as can be the case with so many popular restaurants of this caliber. The background music was also skillfully chosen - an appealing variety of instrumental pieces from jazz to lounge - something not many restaurants get right in my experience. Our waiter greeted us with just the right balance of cordiality and appropriate casualness. He didn't really have the aura of a waiter though, and I hate to use such a politically correct word like "server" (that is just weak). He came off more as an "artistic director" and scene consultant for our dining experience. I should probably mention at this point that an evening at Primo is a little like being in a film, a good one. The waiter put us at ease right away and acquainted us with the specials in a way that made it seem as if he were effortlessly coming up with them on the spot, as opposed to so many waiters or waitresses that somehow always find a way to make your head spin and feel clueless as to what's going on. OK, so obviously the food, all of it, was top notch. Let's not kid each other here, we knew that coming in; it was just a matter of how amazing the "wow" factor was going to be. It was pretty high, let's put it that way. Let's just skip right by the salads - they were great, sure, but we don't really need to talk about that. On to the entrees.. My wife had the Backyard Chicken and she loved every bite of it (I sampled it and concurred). I enjoyed the Pork Saltimbocca, which, the waiter informed me with apparent pride, was the only item that never leaves the menu since it was Chef Melissa's Italian grandfather Primo's favorite dinner in all the world. I could taste why Primo might have felt that way. This may have been the best pork dinner I have ever had at a restaurant in my life. It was perhaps a little on the salty side for some people, but hey, they had the right audience with me, since I am a salt guy from way back. Nicely done and heartily recommended. Honestly, all of this stuff about the food coming direct from their backyard farm, along with a handful of other local purveyors (a good word for the farmer's market crowd), that's not why we came, that was just a nice icing on the cake. Great food is great food. But yes, the fact that the chef has a very close relationship to all the livestock and vegetables they serve is oddly comforting and would certainly please that crazy obsessive couple played by Fred Armisen and Carrie Brownstein in the pilot episode of "Portlandia". For the dessert, the wow factor was once again in full force. I chose the warm Belgian chocolate cake. OK, so maybe that's not the exact name, but you get the idea. It was amazing, so there, deal with it. Get some yourself. Or you could try the Espresso Bar something or other, which my wife had. This was a devilishly delicious concoction of sweet and rich flavors and it was presented as an actual espresso bar with little chocolate bar stools and everything. Quaint to be sure! Oh, and since we had mentioned to our waiter that we happened to be on our honeymoon, he had clearly passed that information on to the dessert crew, as we were pleasantly surprised to see "Congratulations" written in a delectable chocolate cursive font on each of our plates. Nice touch. All in all, we were extremely satisfied with our dining experience and would definitely put Primo near the top, if not at the top, of the list for places to celebrate special occasions in the future. This is definitely not the kind of restaurant you just casually drop in to for a bite when you have no other ideas, even for someone like Bill Gates, who I understand is actually pretty frugal. That being the case, I would say Primo most certainly lives up to its name and that Primo himself would undoubtedly be proud of his granddaughter for creating such a highly satisfying and memorable dining destination. Brava! read more

Favorite meal during our 3 week Maine vacation. Excellent creative food , welcoming atmosphere and great service .

No question one of the top restaurants in all of Maine. I showed up for my reservation an hour early and they were able to seat me right away which was really appreciated. The menu was awesome, practically wanted to get everything. An amuse was brought out which is always appreciated of lobster bisque with a piece of lobster cornbread on top. Was really delicious, the cornbread didn't really taste like lobster at all but was great. Appetizer was a "BLT," but done the Primo way with boar belly rather than bacon. Also it came with hand fried onion rings, everything was amazing, a real highlight of the dinner, one of the best appetizers that I've ever had, amazingly done. Entree was cobia with a shrimp, some mussels, and some clams, everything was really great, there was one bad mussel, but you can't help that sometimes, so such is life, I'm not going to dock them for not having x-ray vision. The sauce everything was in was delicious. It was my birthday and I told the server I didn't really like dessert (which I don't really), but she brought me out a little canoli, which was likewise incredible. Service was great like this the whole night. Top to bottom a five-star meal, one of the best I've had! read more

Five us had a 5:30 pm seating reservation (made 2 weeks ahead of time!) at this lovely location. Every one of us was totally impressed with the food which was delicious. No one complained about anything (and usually someone has a fuss with something!). We had turnip soup, fruits de mer, pork saltimbocca, garden salad, squash blossom with goat cheese salad, mushroom noodles with scallops, fruit crostate, bottle of wine, the special cocktail, coffees, lime pie, bread, iced water and some other dishes that I can't recall. All served together, on time, hot or cold as appropriate, by a very helpful and friendly waiter. It was expensive and worth every bite. We were there for about two hours as it was such a lovely meal. The menu is fun to read too. While the place is ramped, it is a tight squeeze for a wheelchair user once inside. Bathrooms are accessible. read more

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