Primi Piatti
ភោជនីយដ្ឋាន អង្គុយចុះ 2722 Park St, West Jacksonville, ផ្លរីដា, 32205-7608, ស.រ.អ
21 Photos
Amenities
- មានកៅអីខ្ពស់: Yes
Features
- កន្លែងអង្គុយក្រៅ: Yes
- លមយយ: Yes
- សេវាកម្មតារាង: Yes
- ផែរ: Yes
- រទេះរុញអាចចូលដំណើរការបាន: Yes
Contact & Hours
2722 Park St, Jacksonville, FL 32205-7608
Opening Hours
- Sunday: Closed
- Monday: 11:30-14:30
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Tuesday: 11:30-14:30
17:30-21:30
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Wednesday: 11:30-14:30
17:30-21:30
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Thursday: 11:30-14:30
17:30-21:30
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Friday: 11:30-14:30
17:30-21:30
- Saturday: 17:30-21:30
Nearby Attractions
Reviews (102)
Dinner
She crab soup and fried mozzarella appetizers was excellent. Service by Kelly outstanding. Lobster ravioli was good but not great. Angel hair pasta entree was excellent pasta cooked perfectly and sauce was excellent. Will return for sure to try other entrees.. Ambiance was classic Italian with Italian music in background. Decoration very tasteful. Overall a phenomenal experience. I strongly recommend.
Nice people, nice food
Nice people, nice food. Chianti is great with all dishes. Owner is usually there. Good people. Calamari is great.
Call ahead to confirm hours
We checked the hours before making the hour drive to Jacksonville. We arrived for lunch at 12, 15 pm and the place was closed. The posted hours on the door were the same as we had read which were 11:30-2 pm, but despite the posted hours they were closed. Other people came by and were disappointed to find that it was closed as well. Called the restaurant number and the machine said they were busy with customers or something along those lines. It did not state business hours or an explanation to why they were closed on a Friday afternoon. My advice would be to call ahead to confirm that they are open and their hours.
Unbelievably bad experience
Went there with friends. My chicken picatta was tough and overcooked. Still each couple left a 22% tip. Upon presenting the bill, the waiter and part owner, I believe, gave my friend a previous bill that was almost 3 years old and said that he was owed a tip from that service. Who keeps a bill from 3 years ago and demands a tip from regular clients?
OUT-FRIKIN-STANDING!!!
INCREDIBLE dining experience. 15 yrs it's been here and I'm ashamed I've never been here. These 3 guys run the joint. Insane. GET YO A$$ HERE!!!
My husband and I tried the
My husband and I tried the linguine with clams & the cheese ravioli to go, due to Covid. They were both very good but the price online was not what we were charged. We were very surprised with the bill. The bread was nothing special the staff was very friendly. We did order a cannoli which cost a whopping $10. I don't even pay that much in Boston. It was pretty tasty though. Overall, good food but a little pricey.
Not good
Dinner, february 13, the place was packed. No social distancing, no covid " in sight ". Average mussels, average veal and pasta. Suggest look elsewhere for better italian food
Worst Service in a Long Time and Marginal Food
I have eaten at Primi Piatti many times over many years. It was once my go-to place for authentic Italian food. With caring attentive staff and excellent fare you - back then - could almost pretend you were somewhere on the Mediterranean. So it was with great excitement and expectations that I took my new wife and all our kids here this month having told her what an amazing place it was. Boy was I wrong. And boy how times have changed. The service was abysmal. And I mean it. There was one gentleman there, I don't recall his name I think he is Mexican. He was the star of the place, great caring guy who tried hard to rescue an otherwise terrible experience for us. Problem was that he was not our server. So he could only do so much in place of our server. Who absolutely did not care or barely notice we were there. And the manager, the chef... never saw them once come out to the dining room in hours. 45 minutes to get drinks. And when we did the Cokes were bad. 55 minutes for bread. Dry. Hard. Flavorless. Served with packets of butter. Like a fast food joint. Dinner was more time to wait. About another 45 minutes after waiting almost an hour to order. And certainly not worth the wait. Not terrible. But not great. Barely good really. Certainly not helped by the fact that when you wait forever the only thing that can save the experience would be a superb meal. This was far from it. This is not the same restaurant of just a few years ago. The bill was $150. My tip was a well earned zero. I would have tipped the Mexican guy directly for trying but I was so worried to think he would give the useless guy who was our server one penny that I couldn't bring myself to leave anything to anyone. Everything in life has a season. Just the way it is. It's fitting we came here in December. Because Primi Piatti feels like it is in the December of its run.
Lunch date
Haven't been here in a while so I decided to give it another try. My friend and I were quickly seated and we were the only ones in the place. We were given menus and we ordered. Vegetable primavera for my bestie and I ordered a small portion of linguini with house marinara. After about 20 minutes our food came out but the sauce was completely different than previous trips here. I figured out the peeling of the tomatoes was processed in the sauce and it totally ruined the original smooth texture and delicate balance. I was still charged and gracefully paid but I will not return.
I really wanted to love it..
We had been wanting to try this place for a while and I read great reviews on Nextdoor. We went tonight and had reservations for 2 but didn't really need them. It's very small, about 20-25 tables - mostly 2 tops and a few pushed together for groups and a couple of large rounds. There were about 5 tables seated when we arrived. There was 1 main server taking orders and 2 other servers who were assisting. The decor was dated but quaint and the ladies restroom was spotless. We got salads and " italian toast " with a nice oil / balsamic dip prior to our meal. We did not order appetizers. I ordered the " grouper special " and was half way thorough my entree when I noticed that it appeared to be undercooked. I pointed it out to the server and he told me that it was supposed to be that way. We ordered 2 desserts to go and the server was engaging and warm as we chatted. I would not plan to return, based on taste of food alone. There was nothing special about the meal and The final bill did not reflect the quality of the food at all.
Italian perfection
There is nothing to go doing with here. Linguini with clams, exquisite! Any fish special, exquisite! I love this hidden gem!
Authentic and slow pace
The food and wine are very good at Primi Piatti. I was pleasantly surprised at the level of quality. I was there on a Wednesday night with a small handful of other diners. Surprisingly, it seemed to take forever for the server to bring the menu, and the glass of wine. I felt like they were making a trip to a deep, dark cellar to retrieve the bottle! That said, everyone was very pleasant, and the food quality made up for the continual delays.
Great lunch - service nice but slow
We went to Primi Piatti for lunch on a Monday. Not a big crowd and only one waitress working. She was very nice and knew the menu well, but being the only one there meant things were a little slow. Food was excellent - we were in Italy a few months ago, and this was the closest thing to authentic Italian food we have had in a while. We will definitely go back for the food. Service was good, but slow - if not for that, it would have been 5 stars.
Romantic dinner
Wonderful, romantic restaurant. Best Italian in Jacksonville. Food and Ambiance are superb. A violinist supports the romantic mood.
Lovely Dinner
My husband and I had a marvelous dinner at this family owned ITALIAN restaurant. The waiter was very attentive and the owner checked on us through out the evening chatting with us. My diet is limited (no gluten) and the owner and waiter assured me that all meals are prepared to order, which they were. I had the salmon and my husband had the lasagna. We finished off with a dessert on the house! We highly recommend.
Great food fun and ambiance
I ordered the chicken parm with frau diavola sauce. Probably the best chicken parm I've ever had. Pasta fasoil was excellent. Service was fun, friendly and professional. Highly recommended.
Fantastic service, delicious food, cozy atmosphere, and entertaining musicians
We were referred to this place by a local friend and it did not disappoint. I had the fish special (snapper and pasta) and it was sooooo good. I'm not usually a snapper person but they converted me that night. My husband got the linguine and clams and loved it. If you like calamari, then you have to try theirs. It's super fresh and extra large. The service here was fantastic, knowledgeable and friendly. But perhaps the best part of the night was The Super Martin Brothers. These guys are not only fantastic musicians but also fun and friendly. We had a large party and they entertained us time and time again, entertaining our every song request. These violinists know their stuff and made my day by playing Game of Thrones theme, Mario Bros theme, and You've Got a Friend in Me. We couldn't get enough of these guys and even if the food wasn't very good (which it was) we'd be back if only for them. Thx guys for a fantastic time!!
Disappointing
Outdated decor, average quality food, too much sauce so very caloric, loud ambience, very nice waitresses Will not return BAV
Chef untrained and service poor
A very disappointing dinner tonight. Linguine vongole was tasteless, watery. Clams heavily salted and raw, chopped garlic simply dumped on the few clams there were, pasta completely unsalted, overcooked and without oil or crushed red pepper. No oil or white wine to make a creamy sauce with the reserved water and pasta. Although a slow night, the waiter didn't return to see if the dish was being well received. When he returned to pick up largely uneaten plate, he only asked if I wanted to take it home.
Twice in two nights
The food is wonderful. The wait staff is friendly. Lasagne was wonderful. Specials were great. This should be ranked as Jacksonville's beat Italian restaurant. Lives here 18 years and just found it. Now it's our go to place. Friday and Saturday night this week.
Brilliant Gem of a Restaurant!
I adore Primi Piatti. It is a small, intimate Italian restaurant on Park Street. The food is excellent, absolute top quality. I highly recommend the tortellini with a side of the mixed vegetables. My father and I dined here last week and had a great experience. The service was warm, friendly and attentive. The food was to die for! The prices are high, but definitely worth it. Great choice for couples, singles, friends and family dining. The restaurant is very vegetarian friendly, but I'm not certain about vegan.
italian
The service was terrible, and when the food finally came it was cold. The waiter was completely disenterested in his customers.
Dinner
First restaurant I ever went to that the prices on the web site were 5 dollars cheaper than the actual menu. Service slow too overpriced. Won't be back.
Otroligt pris på kaffe
Allt var bra tills vi beställde 2 dubbel exspersso och fick 2 vanliga kaffe till ett pris av 21 usd man undrar hur dom tänkte dumma turister ???
The best and most authentic Italian food in Jax
If you are looking for a NYC style Italian restuarant, with unbelievable service and even better food.... COME HERE! Hands down our favorite restaurant in Jax. The owner, Giorgio, is routinely walking around the dining room making great conversation with guests. Seriously.... eat here!
Real Italian food
Excellent, real, Italian food. Friendly service, uncrowded atmosphere. Great place to eat and talk. Have been there for lunch and dinner, will go again.
Hidden Italian gem
Stopped in for lunch with coworkers at the suggestion of my boss. He's a very picky Italian from New York and will only eat at certain restaurants down here. Walking in we were met by the manager / cook, who gave us a warm welcome and great service for the remainder. I ordered several things to get a taste of it all. Enjoyed the she-crab soup and mozzarella salad, but really loved the portabella pasta. Could tell that it was freshly made and had such a great flavor. Our order did take a while to come out, but it's because each dish was hand prepared instead of premade.
Excellent Traditional Italian resturant
Primi Piatti was a huge pleasant surprise. Only 4 blocks from our new apartment in Jacksonville, we've walked by the place several times. Tonight we decided to try it. A classic upscale Italian restaurant complete with superb service and outstanding food. My wife is gluten intolerant yet, by substituting gluten free pasta for the usual pasta, she could have any dish on the menu save the ravioli. The sauces were outstanding. Primi Piatti is now very high on our list of go to local places.
Incredible Italian Food
When I visit my family in Jacksonville, Primi Piatti is always the top choice of restaurants to enjoy together. The food and service are fantastic! Recently, I tried the chicken picatta which was some of the best I have ever tasted. My mom enjoyed the she crab soup which was rich and delicious. My siblings ordered the lasagna which was also incredible. Eating here is a treat.
Hard to find excellent Italian food in Jacksonville, but I found it with Primi Piatti
This place is perfect! Excellent food and excellent service! We went to Prime Piatti for the first time on a Friday night and after our experience, I couldn't figure out why there wasn't a line out the door. We each had the special, lasagna with meat sauce. It was the best either of us had ever had. The server stated that they try to have lasagna as a special on the weekends. Looks like we will be back on a weekend soon, it was that good! Check it out, you will not be disappointed.
Se justifica ir al downtown!
Es un lugar en que la comida es lo principal. Muy buena calidad. Valio el viaje desde un suburbio al downtown de Jacksonville.
Confirmation
This is our second visit to Primi's and it is better than the first. We enjoyed the fried homemade mozzarella for an appetizer and you can tell the difference. Our main courses were fettuccine carbonara, chicken Marsala, quatro formagge lasagna, and veal parmigiana accompanied by a very nice German Riesling. All these dishes were authentically prepared and presented. No peas in the carbonara. If you want to feel as though you have traveled to Italy try Primi's. It won't disappoint.
Not just dinner but an EXPERIENCE
A lovely small neighborhood restaurant that makes you feel as if you were sitting somewhere in Italy. Our waiter Andrea could not have been more accommodating. And, he loves to sing! They had a young violinist, Bryce, who has been studying since he was 3. He was very talented and played most of the evening. We were celebrating my husband's birthday so he played and they all sang in English and Italian! Very memorable. The food was good. I had the Fetuccine Gamberi. Lots of homemade pasta but not enough shrimp. It was expensive but the experience was worth every dollar!
Great evening
We were in Jacksonville for one night and our niece (a local) wanted Italian. This was a perfect pick. Not crowded, very attentive and friendly waiter, who was actually Italian. The food and atmosphere were perfect. The tiramisu and limoncello cake topped off a delicious meal. So nice to find a place where they still take pride in what they do. Highly recommended.
Excellent
Excellent food and professional service. Reviews are spot-on, the one bad review is obviously an aberration. I did not give the last star due to small printed menu and server did not mention other choices--I had to ask if any fish entree was available and had excellent grouper franchise (a bit " light " on the size of the serving). A culinary asset
Day with grandson
One of my favorites. We ordered the mozzarella cheese appetizer, salads ad chicken Parmesan. The cheese app is the best mozzarella cheese app I have ever had. It was hot, chrinchy and delicious. The salad is heaven sent. Su. Dried tomatoes, -I e nuts, lemon basil dressing and crispy greens. What's not to love! The chicken Parmesan was brought out and I could almost hear angels singing! This is some of the very best Italian food I have ever had the pleasure of eating and this was mutual. Errybody loved it!
Very nice
First time visit and I will return. Let me first say our experience was made superb by our server Ally. To clarify, Ally is Russian with a pleasant accent but definitely not Italian. We enjoyed our food but it has been a few weeks since our visit I don't recall everything we ate. I lost the business card and only recently found it. I do remember I had the catch prepared Florentine, it was great. We had apps and desert and as I recall they were wonderful. It is a bit pricey but worth it. Ask for Ally, she will make your visit very special.
Good meal however pricey for what you get
First time visit to restaurant. Very nice and attentive staff who had a strong Italian dialect so they are not Russian for sure as another review alleged. The bread is unique thinking there is probably allspice in it. Therefore you either love it or hate it. I ordered a chicken pasta meal for $24 and my fiance ordered a veal pasta meal for $31. Her's did not come with mushrooms so she asked, That was going be an additional $2.50. So we passed on that. So walk out price for a glass of wine each and two entrees totaled $92. Meals was good and no complaints with service however the value was simply not there.
A great neighborhood restaurant
The food is always consistent. We have had the Cesar salad, chix parm, fettuccini carbonara, and cod francese. Each dish was fresh, hot and very tasty. Perhaps more expensive than your franchise chains. Those restaurants are not in the park ave high rent district. The service is impeccable. The two servers tonight seemed to enjoy their craft and it showed! We will be regulars. Thanks primi piatti for making food like I make and was raised on. Bene graze!
Overpriced, below-average service, disappointed
We made reservations for 6 pm, which at first the waiter could not find because someone badly mangled the spelling of our simple name. From there the disappointments continued. The restaurant is small, tables near the front were pushed together for a large party such that it meant so getting to our table was a challenge. It seemed that all the tables filled up at the same time, for which the restaurant seemed ill prepared. The waiter filled our glasses with water, offered wine, but never asked about the possibility of other beverages. She rarely returned to see what service we might need. From the time dinner was ordered until it was brought to the table, 50 minutes passed. To some that might not seem a problem. But imagine you are not brought anything else to eat - not bread, or salad, or soup. When we were first seated, we noticed a square plate filled with oil and vinegar. One might have presumed it was for bread. No bread was forthcoming. After 20 minutes we flagged the waiter and asked the purpose of the square plate. It was for bread, we were told, but she was waiting for it to come out of the oven. Better hot, she said. Ten minutes later, or 30 minutes after we were seated, 6 slices of bread, in the shape of 1 inch by 4 inch by 1 / 4 inch rectangles arrived. Cold. As it turns out, the restaurant's name is apt. Primi Piatti could translate into first plate or plate one. And that was all we received. One plate of food. I do not recall going to an Italian restaurant where an expensive meal (for example, bass in Francese finish, $33 with 1 / 2 handful of steamed vegetables and 1 / 2 cup of pasta) was not accompanied by salad or soup or both. None of our 4 orders contained anything beyond the entree. Dry bread and an entree. That was it. On the positive side, three out of four of us enjoyed the flavour and freshness of our meals. One thought hers was only average. Nonetheless, based upon service, value, and overall quality (how hard is it to present decent bread?), we are not planning a return.
Nothing to write home about
The good reviews are wrong. Food is ok, but overpriced. Waitstaff is Russian; hardly giving off Italian vibes. Bread was terrible. It is just spaghetti, folks. At least at Olive Garden you get free salad and breadsticks. Storefront restaurant. Loud, crowded. Poorly managed. Filled up the whole restaurant at opening for dinner. The kitchen obviously couldn't keep up and so service was very slow. No ambiance at all. Really, no reason to go here at all.
Traditional style and old world goodness
Prmi Piatti's reminded me of the neighborhood restaurants of NYC's little Italy. Great atmosphere and staff. The bread was excellent along with the Mozzella Borga and Spinach salad. We enjoyed Chicken Marsala and Fettuccine Carbonara. Highly recommended when near the Five Points area of Jacksonville.
Upscale Italian neighborhood Gem
We were shopping in the antiques stores we came by this little hidden gem. What a pleasant surprise!! Everything about it was wonderful starting with the eclectic romantic decor, friendly service and wonderful food. Who would have known this little place existed? It's an awesome date night place too. They do more of a dinner crown but come for lunch too. The she crab soup was the best I ever had, the linguine shrimp fra diablo and the angel hair pasta with mussels were delightful. The lunch menu was varied and plenty to choose from but not overwhelming. There is outside parking and while you're there, check out the antique stores, they are great. We can't wait to return. I haven't given an excellent score for a long time but this place deserved it. You're going to love it!
Wonderful little ristorante!
We went to this charming ristorante on a whim and are we glad we did! The quality menu is only outdone by the amazing service! The crab bisque is out of this world and the five cheese lasagna and grouper were both excellent choices. We immediately felt like family even though it was our first visit and the ambiance makes for an exceptional dining experience. We will definitely be back!
Great place for business lunch, quiet and spacious
Love Prima Piatti! Food is always great, chef will make special dishes even at lunch. Nice salads, GREAT Pasta Fagioli, service is wonderful. A very friendly local place.
A Restaurant You Have To Eat At
This was a great dinner. The she crab soup was fantastic. The small bowl was a good size bowl. Not sure how you could get a better meal. The scampi was outstanding. Everything is cooked as you order. Had coffee after dinner and it came in a individual coffee press for each person. Great cup of coffee. The service is excellent. They take really good care of you. One of the better meals that I've eaten in Jacksonville and I have been here 40 years. Well worth the stop.
Happy birthday it was a fantastic time
This is my favorite Italian restaurant in Jacksonville. From the moment you walk into the restaurant you feel welcome and know that you are going to have a wonderful experience. We had the sweetest waitress such a kind young lady. We enjoyed a wonderful salad, veal piccata, and extremely good bottle of wine followed with a lemon cello cake. The very end of our meal we were blessed with the presence of the owners son George. We will be back soon to bring the rest of the family. If you want a special experience I suggest you go here. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
69 Lanie Birthday
We were looking for a close dining experience to celebrate Lanie's 69th birthday. After reviewing a long list of great restaurants, we decided to take a chance on Primi Piatti, a local storefront restaurant in Riverside, on which we had heard positive comments. We were not disappointed and were pleasantly surprised! The food was both delicious and plentiful. The salads were large and tasty. I had the special, a delicious lasagna and my wife throughly enjoyed her linguini and clams in olive oil and garlic. We were too stuffed to enjoy dessert. The bread served was homemade and the dipping olive oil was superb. The service was outstanding and the waitress recommended a delightful Chianti. We were also serenaded by staff and a violinist. Fun night and we will be sure to return!
A rare find!
Friendly and attentive staff, serving excellent authentic Italian food. My friend and I both had the house salad which was a good portion. We shared the special: catch of the day, pan seared, lightly breaded grouper and Pasta Puttanesca. We both loved the grouper but not the Puttanesca as much. The tomato sauce was a little heavy. The only improvement I would like: serve the spaghetti that comes on the grouper on a side dish because it absurd most of the sauce that was intended for the grouper. Wine by the glass at $8 was pretty good too. I liked the Chilean Pinot Noir better than the Third Wife California Cab. One of the staff played violin to the adjacent table. It was fabulous!
One of the Best Restaurants in Jacksonville!
I have dined at Primi Piatti on several occasions for both lunch and dinner and have always had an exceptional experience. I recommend this restaurant for couples as well as family and friends. The ambiance is intimate. Our server was very warm and friendly. The vegetables were fresh and full of flavor. The pasta was delicious, a bit rich, but plenty to take home! Yes, the prices are a bit high, but you get what you pay for. The quality of the food and service were exceptional.
Primo Praise
On our first visit to Primi Piatti we were well rewarded with first class service and first class meals. This is a neighborhood gem in Riverside / Avondale that we visited on the last Friday in July. The menu descriptions made choosing difficult, and then our server offered the specials---more delicious sounding choices. I had fettucine with artichokes and shrimp, my wife had shrimp scampi and our guest had pasta puttanesca. All were excellent and more than any of us could consume. We opted for cannolis to take home for a late night snack. We've never had better.
Realistic Italian
I was quite surprised at the authenticity of this Italian restaurant. We were by ourselves for lunch with no other person in the restaurant. I asked the waiter who was excellent and he said if you want a quiet lunch to go there. Dinner is their popular time but I have been told that it is much more expensive at night. I thought the waiter was great and neither of us had to ask for anything. The bread was excellent. I would say that I was a little let down by the linguini. However it was still good just not what I expected. I believe that it was a little expensive however for a private romantic lunch it is worth every penny. Overall I give this restaurant a 5 which I don't usually do. By the way they can have at least one large group up to 16 people. Excellent
As close to authentic as Jax gets
I can be a tough critic after living in Italy for 4.5 years. The name of this place sticks out to me because I love the first course - pasta!! But it is misleading as they also serve meat dishes, which are the secondi. The caprese is fantastic but a bit over priced for what you get. My friend had mussels and they were amazing. I ordered gnocchi because I miss it and I'm too lazy to make it. My friend ordered the veal. With wine our meal was $120 and they gave us a dessert. A bit much - that meal in Italy would have been $50.
Our New Favorite
I think we've found our new favorite place for Italian. Since having grown up with my mom and dad in the Italian restaurant business, my wife and friends look to me for my opinion. Well it's amazing!! The ambiance was as great as the food and service. Can't wait to go back.
Fabulous Northern Italian food!
We have dined at Primi Piatti over 5 years and every visit was great. They offer Italian staples as well as some interesting dishes like Veal Piemontesa. The food is freshly made and the service is impeccable. Highly recommend.
Small Independent Restaurant, Great Food
My idea of an outstanding restaurant is a small, independent Italian or French restaurant with fresh food, a good wine list, and good service. I grew up in a small town in Vermont. Before the USDA and Department of Education became involved in making decisions on what was best for the students, the local school hired a cook who created meals without the interference from the experts in Washington, DC. In this case, Mrs. Cerutti used to cook the meals we had for lunch. Not surprisingly, Italian dishes were not uncommon and Italian is usually my choice when selecting a restaurant for a special celebration or just a great meal. Primi Piatti is one such restaurant. This was my first trip to Jacksonville to actually see any of the city. A friend recommended Primi Piatti. The reviews looked very good, the section of the city looked interesting, the menu looked perfect so as a party of three, we decided to visit. We were not disappointed--other than the fact that the normal selection of several Italian Chianti wines were sold out. I ordered Linguine Vongole in a mariana sauce. The clams were served in the shell and covered with fresh marinara sauce with fresh garlic and fresh crushed tomatoes. My hopes for the restaurant were high and I had envisioned how the marinara sauce would taste after reviewing the menu on the internet, if it was fresh and properly prepared. It met my highest expectations. The linguini was cooked to perfection--not soggy and very slightly chewy (al dente). The marina sauce was filled with garlic and Italian spices. No doubt, my breath smelled like I was a native of Naples by the time the meal was over but it was worth it. I cleaned the plate. For an appetizer, I had fresh tomatoes with mozzarella cheese and olive oil. The tomatoes were very fresh and had been ripened and tasted as good as such a dish can be. The bread was served hot, very fresh and accompanied with olive oil and Italian spices for dipping. A perfect meal. My two companions had a daily special, talapia with capers in a lemon sauce--essentially a talapia piccata. I tasted the dish and it was also cooked perfectly with a well prepared sauce. Unlike many larger restaurants, the wine list was more than adequate but not covering many pages as often happens in the large chains. Since the Chianti was not available, I picked out a La Posada Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve wine from Chile. It was very good, went well with the linguini and clams and relatively inexpensive at $28 a bottle. The server was very good and obviously very experienced and familiar with the entire menu. His recommendations were very good and he provided good service without being in the way of our conversation. All in all, Primi Piatti is worth seeking out for an excellent meal while in Jacksonville. The food is very good, the prices are reasonable, and the atmosphere was relaxing--although some of the tables are too close together, particularly if someone at the next table appears to eat large amounts of Italian food on a regular basis without any regard for the caloric intake.
Quaint Italian Dining in Riverside
My husband was in the mood for Italian last night, so we decided to dine at Primi Piatti since he wasn't impressed with the exterior of our first choice (Carmine's Pie House) which is just around the corner. This was our third visit to this quiet, charming little spot. Even though there was a large party and a few more tables occupied, the service was very good. It was nice to see Primi Piatti busy on a Wednesday evening considering how many times I've driven by and it's been practically empty. There was only one waiter on hand, the owner was very gracious, coming over to our table to personally apologize which wasn't necessary but appreciated! My only true complaint of the evening was the bread, it was stale and dry - tasting like it had just come out of a toaster and was sliced into peculiar strips which just added to the cardboard texture and flavor. It even resembled cardboard! The olive oil dipping sauce served alongside was also extremely bland. We ordered the mussels appetizer; it was plentiful but there wasn't much " wine sauce " for dipping the " bread " and the mussels were a bit chewy and over cooked. The Caesar salad was very fresh with an excellent tangy dressing and freshly shaved parmesan. I had the grilled salmon over spinach which was perfectly seasoned and prepared. My husband ordered the special which was Tilapia Francese. It was also excellent and the pasta it was served with also very fresh and obviously home made. Overall a good dining experience, especially compared to the Italian chains. I'm sure we'll be back in the future.
Romantic dinner
The cozy atmosphere was exquisite as well as the service. I enjoyed being served by all ages. The food was good but the flavor of my chicken Marsala was a little on the bland side. The desert was fantastic! The prices were a bit high for our usual dinner outing but worth a return to try the chicken Parmesan as I heard that was good.
Excellent food at Primi Piatti
A nice place to get excellent Italian Food. Our fish meal was delicious. A good and friendly atmosphere with perfect food gave us a very nice evening in Jacksonville. Een " aanrader " is our expression in Dutch!
Almost like being in Northern Italy
My husband worked for over a year in Northern Italy. Since his return, he has stopped going to Italian Restaurants: they always disappoint him. We tried this based on reviews here and the fact that it promises Northern Italian cuisine. It did not disappoint! The mussels were perfectly cooked, in a delicious lemon / garlic / wine sauce. His crab bisque was out of this world, hands down the best I've ever tasted. My mozzarella caprese, on the other hand, suffered from it not being tomato season. The house-made, buffalo-milk mozzarella was excellent, but the tomatoes, though fresh, were mostly tasteless. We both had fish - he had the salmon with sauteed spinach (a gluten-free choice) and I had a special of grouper in a caper sauce served over angel hair pasta. Both were excellent. The service was impeccable and friendly. My only quibble, as mentioned by others, was that the restaurant does get noisy when full. Other than that, it's a splurge (our bill, including a salad and wine for my husband, came to $75), but well worth it.
More than a red sauce joint!
This small neighborhood spot serves excellent pasta and standard Italian favorites with a couple of gourmet twists. The standards are above average. The twists make it fun. Their house a lasagna was a meaty layered dish with toothy pasta layers and discernible ricotta cheese. The place is kitschy in decor and a throwback to old ma and pa sauce shops but the food is way better.
top notch
wow! a great meal. pretty dining room. excellent food. well made pasta. made to order chicken fra diablo perfect. nothing like challenging the kitchen to create a not-on-the- menu item. best italian food i've had in quite a while. what a pleasure to eat in a local, not-a-chain restaurant! who knew this even existed in jacksonville? hope springs eternal!