I rarely write reviews, but my experience at this restaurant was disappointing enough that I feel obligated to share it. We came as a group of four and spent over $300 per couple, more than $600 total, for dinner and drinks. While the food itself was fine, the service and professionalism were among the worst I've experienced in New York City. Despite the high price point (entrées over $50 each and very expensive drinks), we were scoffed at multiple times by the host to leave, even though we were still enjoying our cocktails. The table next to us, who appeared to be regulars, was not treated this way at all. The attitude toward us felt completely inconsistent and frankly unacceptable. Our waiter was polite but repeatedly forgot our drinks. The host, however, was the main reason this will be my last visit. He stood over our table, muttered under his breath, and rushed us in a way that was both unprofessional and disrespectful. As a doctor, I would never dream of treating a patient or client this way, especially at this price point. This restaurant seems to cater to certain "regulars" while treating others as if they're an inconvenience. For a place that charges luxury prices, there is zero sense of hospitality. After several weekend visits, I've consistently felt rushed, but this most recent visit was by far the worst. There are far better options in the city. You are better off grabbing a seat at Tony DiNapoli on 63rd, where the service actually matches the price. I hope the administration sees this review because the food may be adequate , but the complete lack of warmth, respect, and professionalism ruins the experience. I will not be returning. Edit: I just read the reviews and didn't realize the person who is so awful is the owner! I cannot believe so many people complain about him. PLEASE reconsider this establishment read more

Food is great! Everyone there was so nice and made you feel at home. Very fast on getting to the table. The meal is always delicous!!! The ambiance is fun and you'll def see some celebrities when you visit. Love this place. read more

True classic, old school Italian food on the Upper Easst Side. I have dined at Primola and ordered delivery countless times with my family. It is one of those New York City restaurants, that has become an institution. The food is delicious. The atmosphere is lovely. The selection on the menu are excellent, as are the specials. If you want a particular dish that isn't on the menu, most often it will be made specially for you. I love the Primola salad, the Mozzarella Caprese and the Manila clams and mussels in light aromatic broth for an Antipasti. The Linguine with clams and mussels is my go to pasta dish. The daily chef's selection of fish has always been fresh and delicious. The chicken with balsamic vinegar, fresh rosemary and garlic is another favorite. Primola is pricey and the owner can be friendly or moody. If you want quality Italian food on the Upper East Side, Primola is the place to go. read more

Came here for dinner one night with family. This Italian place is in a good location and draws in a good crowed. The restaurant was your normal Italian type one. Atmosphere was dim lights sort of and family style tables. There were a few large groups while we were there. I must say the chairs were not that comfortable and it did get a bit loud fast. Service was fine. My dinner was just ok nothing special. The chicken had no taste in my opinion. The roasted vegetables that were on top of it though had a punch of taste to it. So, I ended up only really eating the vegetables. I mean nothing wrong with that but did want protein as well. Everyone else at the table enjoyed their meals though. There are plenty of other Italian restaurant's I would much rather go to enjoy a meal at in this city though. I won't be rushing back here. read more

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Great restaurant! Amazing food, service and ambience. I bought 2 gift certificates for friends and made another reservation. Check it out!

Food and service was amazing! I came here with my girlfriend for her birthday...I called the previous Saturday to make a reservation and found out on Monday (looking to confirm) that they did not have our reservation saved...I booked the reservation on Monday at 1:33pm ET and noted my girlfriend's birthday to please be noted... At no point during the reservation was it acknowledged nor did we feel like the note was obtained. We were met with the average walk-in "table for 2?" greeting which frustrated me as someone who had to make the reservation not only once, but twice. The food and service was absolutely amazing which frustrates me to write this review. read more

Very authentic Italian restaurant in New York that we were referred to by a couple different friends. Food was wonderful, service was top notch and the atmosphere is quant and quiet. We arrived early and had show tickets, so we ordered quickly needing to be in and out in about an hour. We were seated immediately, with reservations, and were out in 35-40 minutes. They were so effecient with everything. Would go back if visiting NY again. read more

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So let me start by saying I've eaten here 5-6 times in the last couple months, so this review is not based on a singular experience. The reason we've eaten here so much is b/c we live close by and love Italian food and really enjoy their food. Here's the deal. Primola would be amongst Yelp's highest rated Italian restaurants in all of NYC if not for one thing -- their owner. If you scan the first 15-20 reviews that pop up, you will see wildly inconsistent reviews. Mostly 4 and 5 star reviews which talk about excellent food in a rustic / old school Italian setting -- all true. You will then see a very healthy sprinkling of 1 star reviews -- almost all of which talk about terrible run-ins with a rude owner. Sad to say, but also true. Most owners are doing everything they can to lift the perception and experience of their restaurant. Sadly, this one is taking away from it. The positives -- food is awesome. Better than UES comrades such as Campingola and Elios. Really very good. Waitstaff is great too. All old school guys who've been doing this a while and are great at what they do. (sadly, the owner treats them like sh*t and it's out on display for diners to see. Truly terrible). On top of good food -- the setting is comfortable, old school Italian, which we love. The negatives -- well, we've hit the big one already. The owner leaves an outsized negative vibe wherever he sets foot. You can read many reviews from customers who've been treated rudely. We actually never had this experience, so this is not coming from an upset customer. But, I have seen him almost every time I've been there treat his staff poorly. As somebody who cares about how hardworking humans are treated, and also somebody who worked in F&B for years, it's terrible to see. He's rude, unprofessional, and pretty cruel. On several occasions I've seen him reprimand his waitstaff right in front of a table of diners -- the only thing worse than this is seeing the look on his staff's face after he does this. Embarrassed, crushed, defeated. If you have half a heart, it will ruin your meal. Another takeaway -- the prices are really expensive relative to most high end Italian so be prepared to spend a solid 20-30% more for every dish than you'd expect at the next good Italian spot. (If you want to laugh, we ordered spaghetti garlic and oil off menu, maybe costs $2 to make, they had the nerve to charge us $33!!!) Overall, if you want really good Italian food at an old school Italian joint that's been doing this forever, you probably won't be disappointed. I personally believe the way people act and what people say matters, and it'll be hard moving forward to patronize a restaurant with an owner like this at the helm. Go enjoy -- just be prepared, you've been warned... read more

Last Friday night my husband and I and another couple had yet another wonderful experience at Primola. Hands down our favorite NYC restaurant on the upper east side - not only is the food top notch but the ambiance, generous drinks and personalized service (and quality of their perfectly chilled martini glasses) makes dinner there such a pleasurable experience. And a special shout out to the chef for honoring my husband's special request for freshly made zabaglione with berries for dessert ! read more

Classic Classic and I mean classic old school Italian food on upper east side. Great service. Heavy pours on drinks. Nice wine selection. Great for people watching. But let's talk about the food, thee reason you go to these places. Had the veal and a salad as well as the charcuterie they bring out with olives, hard cheese and Italian meats. All were flavorful and hold you over until the main course, but save space. The meals are large and super flavorful. Veal was tender and ordered it with red sauce and spaghetti. Salad was fresh and just with Italian dressing. To drink...what else but a Manhattan. Made perfect not surpy or too sweet. get reservations if you're not a local because it gets packed during prime times. you won't leave home and you won;t regret coming: Foget boutit! read more

Like others have said, this is a classic old school Italian experience. Very packed on a weeknight and expect a wait even if you've called ahead for reservation. Despite the less than friendly wait staff, the food is superb. I tried the pesto linguini and chicken parmigiana and cleaned my plate on both. read more

OWNER IS AN AWFUL PERSON. Walked in asking if there were any tables available (there visibly were) owner said there weren't any, then asked how long the wait would be and he rudely just said there wouldn't be a table. Very very happy we did not give this owner our money, extremely rude and arrogant man. read more

Excellent service! Pretty room and pleasant atmosphere where tables not on top of each other. Quickly brought out complimentary small bites. Everything we ordered was quite good. Nothing mind blowing but a very solid casual yet upscale neighborhood Italian Restaurant. The negative reviews all seem to be owner related. As it's his business, he watches everything like a hawk to make sure things run smoothly. I noticed only conviviality between him and his seemingly happy staff. If he snaps at staff who are underperforming it's his restaurant and obviously wants things done a certain way. Rather have that than poor service and a disinterested owner!! read more

Truly classic ambiance. Almost stereotypical, classic above casual Italian restaurant. Plenty of indoor seating, some outdoor tables. Exceptional service. Breadsticks, focaccia and antipasti on the table while perusing the menu. Quick with water/drinks. Exceptional service. Kitchen turnaround times border on clairvoyance. Dined with 5 people, 3 made their pounded veal chop parmigiana disappear without a trace. The paillard with light salad of arugula, walnuts and chestnuts was deliciously magical. The chicken pounded so thin you could almost watch television through it, and cut it with a harsh glare. Seasoned with simple precision. A plate of spinach gnocchi for the table. The pasta was light and has a perfect tooth. But, a bit overpowered by tomato sauce and cheese. Simple dessert of berries and fresh unsweetened whipped cream. However repetitive, it's necessary to reaffirm - service is exceptional. read more

I would describe the food here as way below average and the prices way above average. We ordered eggplant as an appetizer. The sauce tasted like it came from a jar at Cosco's and the same sauce was on the table for dipping the celery. The eggplant was cold and the cheese was inferior. I suspect it was FROZEN. I ordered Linguette al peston with pine nuts, garlic and parmesan cheese. To my astonishment the spaghetti was stuck to each other, cold and tasteless. There were no pine nuts, garlic or parmesan cheese and it was FROZEN. I sent it back. This time I chose the Calamerie Ganberotti. This dish cost $28 and looked like an appetizer. There sat 5 Calamerie . The first Calamerie was an inch long and the other Calameries were shorter and shorter. Paprika and SALT was on them. They tasted like rubber, served cold beyond horrible. Absolutely FROZEN. Beyond this awful dining experience I would seriously question why there are reviews praising the food? Could it be that they are bogus reviews? Needless to say, this was my first visit and last visit to this restuarant. read more

We sat outside during the pandemic. We had the end table under the tent. The heat lamp was great. I was able to take my coat off on a 48 degree night. Sweet. We were a party of 6. The food is excellent. So is the service. The wine is an extraordinarily generous pour. Thank you!!! So appreciated. The grilled calamari is fantastic. The caesar salad is so goid. The fried eggplant is fair. The salmon is enough for 2. I finished mine. The pasta with meatballs so good Broccoli sauteed in oil w garlic perfection. The chocolate mousse cake, tiramasu and tartufo were all excellent. Great evening. Great company. Great food. read more

Primola Restaurant - Prawns - Italian Near Me - New York, New York

Food is outstanding,some of the best Italian in NYC ! Try the homemade gnocchi it will melt in your mouth . You can never go wrong with the chicken alba . Great old school Italian neighborhood restaurant. read more

Great food and great service. Old school Italian classic decor. We got the chicken parm and a veal dish. Both delicious. Will definitely come back again. read more

Primola Restaurant - Veal - Italian Near Me - New York, New York

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Had the weirdest experience here. My husband and I were walking by right when they opened at 5pm in the middle of the week so decided we wanted to go in and try it. Every single table was open - literally we were the only ones in the restaurant. The hostess looked us up and down and said there was no room for us but would ask the owner. She made us stand there waiting for 10 minutes and refused to seat us - even at the bar or outdoor tables! We said we'd happily be in and out in an hour but they looked at us like we were crazy. The owner clearly did not care if he got our business or not. read more

Food good ... very welcoming spot .... Easy parking .... Our friends were like family to the staff .... Really nice

We were 6 people, and on time for our reservation. From the moment we were seated we were extremely rushed. The order was wrong for one of our friends. They overbooked and it was crowded. We asked for spinach, they said it would take too long. When we said we would wait, they had it there is 3 minutes. We had things removed from the table before we finished eating, on each course. They never gave us plates and forks for our dessert. Basically, they wanted us out of there so the could turn over the table. Terrible experience, won't go back, Expensive and smaller portions. Tension from the moment we walked in. There were other tables that walked out, we should have!!!!!! read more

Had a great diner at Primola. It is "old school", but (a) the service is fantastic; (b) the food is very good; (c) there is a lot of variety (lots of specials); and they will accommodate any reasonable request. The ambiance and lighting could do with a little sprucing up - but we had a fantastic dinner all in all. read more

It is not a cheap night out, but worth every penny. From the first class service to the delicious food, Primola is a place for fine dining with family or friends. Cocktails, shared appetizers, wine, small pasta plates on request for first course (primi), excellent meats, fish and poultry for main course (secondi), shared sides and of course after dinner aperitif with some dessert. Primola is an experience catered to by excellent staff. read more

Delicious food, ambiance and service. The owner is a lovely and hands on Beautiful tablecloths and fairly quiet during dinner read more

Love this quiet but busy spot on UES. Wonderful and accommodating service. Good menu with nicely prepared dishes. Oysters orregonata, pasta primavera, lobster fra diavalo, coffee and biscotti delicious. read more

Excellent Italian restaurant. Our table had several chicken dishes and an eggplant dish, all were well prepared. The service was patient and friendly. The cappuccino also gets a thumbs-up. The staff did not check for vaccine compliance as required. read more

Hands down one of the best authentic Italian restaurants on the upper east side. It's a Gem! There is not one bad dish,; even down to the bread sticks, everything is exquisite ! The drinks are strong! Great service, excellent bartender! I don't want to tell you the secret but if you like sitting at the bar- you will love the extra TLC. This place is so good you really need to make a reservation, it was packed even on a Monday!!! read more

Primola Restaurant - The bead-sticks are everything - Italian Near Me - New York, New York

Delicious food great ambiance very attentive, good special occasion place. Highly recommended

When there for out door dine in for dinner .' The food was great the service is excellent. My pasta was cook perfectly. Definitely going back. read more

Oh my God unbelievable food unbelievable service. Do you order a big clams was out of this world. I love when a clear off the table even the crumbs very professional. There's always multiple people to help and serve you. read more

Unbelievable service. Great food. An old school mentality of putting the customer first. Classico restaurant and service

Yet another amazing dinner at Primolas! Started the night with a fresh octopus salad that I consumed so quickly and did not photograph. Highly recommend!! Then I decided to order the filet mignon and when I tell you this was the best meal I have ever had I am not kidding. So simple yet cooked absolutely perfectly. Followed by a peach pie with the ripest peaches. Amazing staff, great food and best owner Giuliano who demands excellence and it shows in the food!! Highly recommend not only this meal but restaurant if you want a slice of italian food heaven. read more

Primola Restaurant - Peach pie - Italian Near Me - New York, New York

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I have been to Primola once before and was delighted to see the outdoor space they have during the summer time. While the inside of the restaurant isn't that large, they do have a good amount of tables that fill up quickly. Be sure to make a reservation! Luckily, we were able to sit outside no problem. Complimentary to the meal, each table is given a bread basket a side of a pizza like bread with dipping sauce, and a mini meat and cheese plate. All of which I end up finishing because it taste so fresh! Both times I have been here, I've ended up ordering the special. This time in particular the special was chicken, Italian Sausage mushroom in a extremely flavorful brown buttery wine sauce. If I was thought it through, I would've saved bread from the first course to dip in it. I could put that sauce on a shoe and it's taste good! (Mouthwatering). I usually opt if of dessert as I'm always so full. The service here is great and everything seems to come out fairly quick. A great spot if you're looking for delicious local Italian. read more

Primola Restaurant - Italian Near Me - New York, New York

A wonderful experience. My veal chop was superb. Veal scallopini was perfectly tender. If you know what a "country club" pour is you will certainly appreciate the drinks here. I can't wait to go back and that includes driving to the UES from NJ. Rich J. 12/11/21 read more

food is excellent, we go all the time since we live in neighborhood and totally enjoy the food. However, the only part i dread is the owner, who frolicks around ruining the dining experience. Every time he is screaming at the staff, who happen to be top notch and very polite and patient. Whenever he sees my wife he makes a remark. Last time we were simply sitting, enjoying our drinks and having an appetizer when he loudly said in a packed restaurant "are you going to order or waiting for kitchen to close?!" which we simply smiled and dismissed. 10 minutes later, he comes by our table and looks at my wife and shouts "there is something about that expression - always the same which i don't like" and as i was about to answer him "because i am worried what will come out of your mouth next" he walked away grunting. Yes, Primola is not cheap, but it's in neighborhood and waiters are very nice, food is very good but we simply can't endure the owner's harassment anymore and doubt we'll be going back. read more

Food is good but let the buyer beware of items that do not appear with prices on the menu. I was charged $20 for a bottle of Peroni beer and $65 for a "MP" small piece of "Dover Sole" that did not include any side dish along with it. Unless you are prepared to be price gouged, do not be afraid to ask the waiter prices of food and beverage items that do not appear on the menu, before ordering. read more

Veal Scaloppine was an A plus Covid safety D. No table we're removed thus very tight. Owner not wearing mask. Several of the servers masks were down. I felt very uncomfortable read more

Service great , ambiance old world Italian , my guests loved their fish and pasta , my pesto pasta was not as good as I remembered having many times in the past. read more

Top notch Italian, welcoming staff, and longtime establishment that consistently brings 5 star food and service to Manhattan. The owner is a true gem. If you haven't been, you must! Highly recommend :) read more

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We didn't love the food - many other options in close proximity. Nice atmosphere, friendly and attentive staff, but the food wasn't that good. Red sauce was bland. Spicy fra diavlo wasn't spicy. Chicken and eggplant parm were both meh. Cesear salad was decent as was the grilled calamari. The buratta app special needed seasoning. read more