(310) 396-5353

1025 Abbot Kinney Blvd
Venice, CA 90291 33.9922 -118.4717

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Neighborhoods: Venice, West LA

PRIMITIVOWINEBISTRO.COM

Price:

$$$

Last updated 6.20.11

Category:

Restaurants, Wine Bars

Payment Methods:

American Express, Visa, Discover, Diners Club, MasterCard

Restaurant Special Features:

Outdoor Dining, People Watching, Family Style Dining, Online Reservations, Date Spot, Group Dining

Cuisine:

Spanish, Tapas / Small Plates

What People Are Saying About Primitivo

Featured Review

Mar Yvette

Contributor

On any weekend night, try getting a table without a reservation at this crammed Mediterranean wine bistro and chances are you'll be waiting a mighty long time. Sure, the boisterous Euro-style shabby chic vibe is a draw, what with the billowy linen curtains, larger-than-life oil paintings, rustic wooden tables and elbow-rubbing crowd. But the real reason the hoardes of yuppies, scenesters, couples on dates and singles on the prowl (usually found at the bar) can't get enough of this place is the food. The seasonally driven tapas menu ranges from cold options like a farmers' market heirloom salad…

Editor's Tips

Save Money:
Happy hour happens Sunday through Thursday from 5:30pm to 7pm with $3 sangria and $3 glasses of red wine.
Where to Sit:
The rear outdoor patio, which takes over the space of the adjacent Meditrina Cafe on weekend/busy evenings, is a good option if you want a little fresh air.
ambiance
94.89999771118164% positive
  1. This makes a great first date place with enough atmosphere to keep conversation flowing.
  2. The experience is complete with trendy but warm decor and good music selections (not too loud).
  3. The atmosphere is full of energy!
  4. this place is very popular and the decor is nice.
  5. Although the portions are smaller, with the yummy bread and fun tapanades in the mix i never leave hungry.
  6. nestled in a cozy spot on trendy abbott-kinney, primitivo bills itself as a tapas restaurant and wine bar.
  7. From local singles at the bar to romantic couples on the back patio.
  8. love the ambiance there!
  9. Overall, the atmosphere is friendly, it doesn?
  10. The restaurant indeed fills up and the atmosphere changed as the sun went down, the music went up, everyone started to "hang out" - like a friends house, even the wait staff was friendly, I almost didn't want a table.
  11. recommend this restaurant to anyone who enjoys great food , great wine selections and a wonderful atmosphere.
  12. Although my group had fun talking about how bad the experience was panning out, I would not recommend Primitivo unless you're looking for a super-L.A. time.
  13. The have wonderful heat lamps outside to keep you cozy as well.
  14. The wait staff always makes great recommendations that allow me to sit back and enjoy the food, wine, and the atmosphere.
  15. The atmosphere at Primitivo was very, very cool, but the service was incredibly slow.
  16. also, this is one of those rare places that's actually more fun because it's crowded.
  17. The menu is fun and has lots of options, from the basics (steak frites) to the more inventive (bacon wrapped dates).
  18. From the hostess to the bar tender to the GM each person works in-sync to make your dining experience both comfortable and incredible.
  19. If you want quiet, romantic, or come in big groups, ask to be seated in the back.
  20. Between two of us, we spent $150 including tip which is more than I expected, but $60 of that was for the wine, so overall value for the great food and ambiance.
  21. yumm yumm this place is fun
  22. One of the things I found most intriguing about Primitivo was the adaptable atmosphere that lended itself to either a romantic dinner by candlelight or a fun, friendly meal made feasible by the colored pencils and paper tablecloth.
  23. Great for a romantic dinner or with a bunch of friends.
  24. Don't know too much about wine, but as some others have said, the staff really did make us feel comfortable w/ that and helped us pair the wine w/ our tapas selections.
  25. Great atmosphere, food and wine.
  26. Great for groups or for romantic dinners.
  27. should first say that I had high hopes for this place because I heard it has a romantic ambience and good food, and I love tapas.
  28. It's a wonderful place to meet some girlfriends for dinner, talk business over a glass of wine, or have a romantic date.
  29. It's a great date place because its dimly lit with candles and has a warm cozy feel to it.
  30. potentially nice ambiance was destroyed by loud music and defective lights.
  31. Great atmosphere, delicious food.
  32. My friends and I really enjoyed our visit here - the place is a bit cozy and small; decorated in inviting, warm tones and candlelight.
  33. have had consistently wonderful service, from the gals at the front door, to the fun bartenders, to the attentive management and servers.
  34. It is fun, yet classy, ritzy but not overpriced, plenty of people to watch but not too much people watching.
  35. This is a great place to have a romantic dinner, family event, or chill evening with friends.
  36. My boyfriend and I went to this restaurant to have a nice, romantic dinner, and instead my boyfriend was apologizing for the bad choice and ruining our evening.
  37. Great food, great ambience, great prices
  38. perfect atmosphere
  39. The tables inside are great for a fun dinner, or the two outside patios will allow you to have a romantic evening over looking the beautiful garden.
  40. Tapas is so fun, and here it's delicious too!
  41. This restaurant has a great atmosphere and energy.
  42. Fantastic servers, great selection, ambience, and location.
  43. The bartenders are fun, food great.
  44. Outstanding food, great wine selection, friendly service, great atmosphere.
  45. If you've lived outside the Westside of LA at some point in your life, you know what a real romantic/relaxing restaurant can be like.
  46. Primitivo's tapas are great and the pitchers of Sangria keeps the fun coming.
  47. The ambiance was unique.
  48. just moved to Venice Beach from London and wanted to take my girlfriend out for a nice romantic evening, so on a recommendation made reservations a Primotivo.
  49. Great food, great ambience, great prices ?
dessert
75.0% positive
  1. for five dishes, dessert & drinks our bill was extremely reasonable.
  2. For dessert, the blueberry-pear cobbler and pear sorbet were very refreshing.
  3. The chocolate bread pudding that we ordered for dessert, which the waiter raved about, was the worst bread pudding I've ever had!
  4. for dessert, i recommend the bread pudding, which was really quite good.
drinks
93.87999534606934% positive
  1. If you want great food, friendly service and an impressive wine selection, I would recommend trying Primitivo.
  2. As a nice complement to the meal, order the sangria, which has just the right amount of fruity flavor yet doesn't overwhelm the taste of the actual wine.
  3. asked "Jimmy" the bartender to pick a pinot noir After describing the flavors I like, he picked an amazing wine that I will look for every time I eat out.
  4. had a sublime experience, educated about world wines, treated to an array of creative tapas, and was pampered by an attentive staff.
  5. Outstanding food, great wine selection, friendly service, great atmosphere.
  6. great place to have a glass of wine and appetizers.
  7. This is a great place to go if you just want a glass of wine and an appetizer.
  8. we were starving but to our surprise we were seated with barely enough time to order sangria from the bar!
  9. love the wine, love the patio, love the little plates fo tasty morsels.
  10. Beautiful food and wine list, and the service is always superb!
  11. the sangria is the best around & makes it difficult to order from the extensive wine list!
  12. isnt it better to go to a restaurant that can chose really interesting wines to reflect the place.
  13. wonderful food, wine, service, night out!
  14. So a big NO to Primitivo unless you go there for their huge wine bar.
  15. shiraz - easy to drink, with pleasant berry tones.
  16. the wine list can be a bit overwhelming and the staff isn't particularly helpful, especially if you already know a thing or two about wine.
  17. From local singles at the bar to romantic couples on the back patio.
  18. And, again as some others have said, the place has such a nice warm feeling to it - like you ARE in a friend's home, or like you're in Madrid on vacation just eating and drinking in a neighborhood bar.
  19. Great wine!
  20. Food was delicious, everything we ordered was fantastic and our waitress recommended a few wines and let me taste a few before deciding on one.
  21. nestled in a cozy spot on trendy abbott-kinney, primitivo bills itself as a tapas restaurant and wine bar.
  22. The wine list is amazing, and the tapas are great.
  23. The wait staff always makes great recommendations that allow me to sit back and enjoy the food, wine, and the atmosphere.
  24. Great atmosphere, food and wine.
  25. Between two of us, we spent $150 including tip which is more than I expected, but $60 of that was for the wine, so overall value for the great food and ambiance.
  26. Sit at the bar - the bartenders are always friendly and helpful happy to give you a sample of most wines before you buy.
  27. My wife and I love to have our friends meet us there for some great wine and delicious food.
  28. great dining experience, friendly casual service with great looking staff, well priced wines and food.
  29. recommend this restaurant to anyone who enjoys great food , great wine selections and a wonderful atmosphere.
  30. From the hostess to the bar tender to the GM each person works in-sync to make your dining experience both comfortable and incredible.
  31. When we had to wait a short time at the bar the bartenders were very friendly and helpful in suggesting wines.
  32. Atmosphere was good and wine was good.
  33. In addition about the service: I am pregnant and did not order any wine.
  34. Primotivo used to be a well-kept Venice secret with its amazing tapas and wine selection.
  35. Don't know too much about wine, but as some others have said, the staff really did make us feel comfortable w/ that and helped us pair the wine w/ our tapas selections.
  36. the wines were quite delicious - we really enjoyed the four sisters (?)
  37. They also have some great wines that won't break the bank.
  38. Did I mention the wine and how well the staff can pick a great bottle?
  39. The patio is perfect for dates, or when single I always enjoy inside by the bar where there are always people to meet.
  40. Really great food and excellent wine selection.
  41. The wines are well presented, with the staff happy to recommend beverages which they prefer, not which they are told to sell.
  42. It's a wonderful place to meet some girlfriends for dinner, talk business over a glass of wine, or have a romantic date.
  43. The bar is full of people tasting, sharing, and loving wine.
  44. have tried some of the most amazing (and hard to find) Spanish wines and really appreciate that they are always willing to make things "veggie" friendly for me.
  45. And the wine prices were amazingly affordable, even for us law students.
  46. The bar was awesome.
  47. for five dishes, dessert & drinks our bill was extremely reasonable.
  48. Just go to a nice restaurant with a decent wine selection and you'll come out way ahead.
  49. We waited 40 minutes for our table, which is fine, and had a glass of wine at the bar, which was also good.
food quality
83.52999687194824% positive
  1. Great food, OK service
  2. Tapas is so fun, and here it's delicious too!
  3. My favorite is the steak carpaccio with fried capers, which is a brilliant addition to the meat.
  4. The Tiger Shrimp failed to growl and appeared to be frozen rather than fresh.
  5. Bad service, mediocre food, will never be back
  6. The tapas we ordered were perfect, but then again, I went with someone who had already tried some of the "inconsistent" dishes.
  7. Tapas are delicious, waiters are honest, Sangria is great.
  8. I've been to Primitivo a few times and enjoyed every meal.
  9. My wife and I love to have our friends meet us there for some great wine and delicious food.
  10. The food was good but considering we were practically thrown out after 90 minutes, would I consider going back here for the $50 a person it cost?
  11. TThe restaurant's standard dishes are always fantastic, and the specials always surprise and delight me.
  12. ..... The food is not the best food.
  13. love the wine, love the patio, love the little plates fo tasty morsels.
  14. Our waitress Amber was great - very helpful and great food recommendations.
  15. The food was soooooo delicious.
  16. Bad quality of food, bad service
  17. We had a lovely assortment of food (foie gras - delicious; salmon on lentils - sweet and plump; charcuterie and mixed greens - good balance of sweet and salty, etc. - the only disappointment was the cheese plate - not very exciting).
  18. The Skirt Steak, Tiger Shrimp, and Paella were also tasty.
  19. The food was average but the Sangria was good.
  20. If you want great food, friendly service and an impressive wine selection, I would recommend trying Primitivo.
  21. Service may be slow but the food and people watching are worth it.
  22. Everything else, including the refreshing citrus ceviche, the calamari and the steak that lay atop a bed of crunchy pomme fritte in an aged balsamic reduction was perfection.
  23. for five dishes, dessert & drinks our bill was extremely reasonable.
  24. The charcuterie & salad, ceviche, and sauteed tiger shrimp were good.
  25. Between two of us, we spent $150 including tip which is more than I expected, but $60 of that was for the wine, so overall value for the great food and ambiance.
  26. We immediately loved the bread and accompaniments, so we decided to try some cold plates and a few hot ones.
  27. The bartenders are fun, food great.
  28. You will feel like you have left LA and are dinning in a remote village with great food.
  29. Between the two of us, we ordered four small dishes, three of which were incredible.
  30. The staff is fantastic, everyone from the hostess to the food runners.
  31. Although the portions are smaller, with the yummy bread and fun tapanades in the mix i never leave hungry.
  32. My boyfriend ordered the skirt steak and the paella, he was thrilled, he said the combination was perfect!
  33. However, they were nicely presented; the two cold tapas were undeniably cold as were the two hot dishes.
  34. The aioli sauce and olive tapanade that was served alongside the fresh sourdough bread is not to be missed.
  35. Great atmosphere, delicious food.
  36. it's a cute spot with great food.
  37. Metro vibe with delectable dishes!
  38. Was this HUGE platter (could barely fit on the table) wih cold meats, cheese, nut, and olive selections!
  39. have to say this is the best restaurant to meet my energy and food desires.
  40. Great food, great ambience, great prices
  41. The tuna tartar and cheese plate got us started, but for the really good stuff we had short ribs, tiger shrimp, scallops, and salmon wrapped in grape leaves.
  42. When I went with a large party we tasted almost every item on the menu and without exception the food was simply delicious.
  43. Great vibe, great food
  44. Their bartenders are helpful, their sangria is amazing (truly the best I have had in LA) and the food has always been great.
  45. Food was delicious, everything we ordered was fantastic and our waitress recommended a few wines and let me taste a few before deciding on one.
  46. As a nice complement to the meal, order the sangria, which has just the right amount of fruity flavor yet doesn't overwhelm the taste of the actual wine.
  47. The food was mediocre at best.
  48. One of the things I found most intriguing about Primitivo was the adaptable atmosphere that lended itself to either a romantic dinner by candlelight or a fun, friendly meal made feasible by the colored pencils and paper tablecloth.
  49. Food was delicious- especially the calamari.
  50. for dessert, i recommend the bread pudding, which was really quite good.
  51. should first say that I had high hopes for this place because I heard it has a romantic ambience and good food, and I love tapas.
  52. we were delighted about the delish tapanade & garlic butter that came with our bread to hold us over.
  53. The menu is fun and has lots of options, from the basics (steak frites) to the more inventive (bacon wrapped dates).
  54. Especially liked the shrimp and calamari.
  55. Beautiful food and wine list, and the service is always superb!
  56. Great food, great ambience, great prices ?
  57. Well, the food has poor quality.
  58. Wonderful Desserts & food + service
  59. love the steak and fries and the paella with mussles chorizo and chicken.
  60. We also had the spinach salad with strawberries which was also wonderful.
  61. Really great food and excellent wine selection.
  62. well, I agree our food is pretty terrible, so you know if I think the food here is shafting, it?
  63. The caesar salad, though creative in the way that they sauted the lettuce, was low on flavor and lacked the crispy texture of a typical salad.
  64. great dining experience, friendly casual service with great looking staff, well priced wines and food.
  65. ... the sangria, the lamb and shrimp were excellent.
  66. the wines were quite delicious - we really enjoyed the four sisters (?)
  67. Great food but very small portions even for a tapas restaurant.
  68. metro vibe with delectable dishes!
  69. Great atmosphere, food and wine.
  70. Also, when we entered the restaurant, there was a terrible smell which we found out later was the food because we ordered it.
  71. Outstanding food, great wine selection, friendly service, great atmosphere.
  72. recommend this restaurant to anyone who enjoys great food , great wine selections and a wonderful atmosphere.
  73. The blackended steak with corn relish and calamari with lemon aioli were amazing.
  74. Not the Best food!
  75. come to Primitivo almost once every month and i have never had a problem with the food or service , it has wonderful tasty food for a price that won't make your wallet cringe and the wait staff are always attentive,always have a good attitude and are ni
  76. Great food and setting for not much out of the walet
  77. the scallops were good, but the steak frittes was tasteless and tough.
  78. Wine was crisp wonderful compliment to the meal.
  79. The wait staff always makes great recommendations that allow me to sit back and enjoy the food, wine, and the atmosphere.
  80. My friend and I had the salmon which was really different in the way it was prepared, but was really good and the potatoes with tomatoes which was very flavorful.
  81. The chocolate bread pudding that we ordered for dessert, which the waiter raved about, was the worst bread pudding I've ever had!
  82. The fried calamari was perfectly prepared, and the sauces were tasty.
  83. The food is great!
  84. My wife who is a vegetarian can't get enough of grilled romaine salad and her new favorite asparagus risotto.
  85. wonderful food, wine, service, night out!
  86. Lamb meatballs with yogurt, patatas bravas, and stuffed zucchini, when available are delicious.
menu variety
91.18000030517578% positive
  1. Really great food and excellent wine selection.
  2. Don't know too much about wine, but as some others have said, the staff really did make us feel comfortable w/ that and helped us pair the wine w/ our tapas selections.
  3. If you want great food, friendly service and an impressive wine selection, I would recommend trying Primitivo.
  4. The menu is fun and has lots of options, from the basics (steak frites) to the more inventive (bacon wrapped dates).
  5. Primotivo used to be a well-kept Venice secret with its amazing tapas and wine selection.
  6. our waiter was a doll, very attentive & helpful when asked for menu advice.
  7. Just go to a nice restaurant with a decent wine selection and you'll come out way ahead.
  8. Was this HUGE platter (could barely fit on the table) wih cold meats, cheese, nut, and olive selections!
  9. The experience is complete with trendy but warm decor and good music selections (not too loud).
  10. Outstanding food, great wine selection, friendly service, great atmosphere.
  11. Fantastic servers, great selection, ambience, and location.
  12. pretty much order almost everything on the menu and share a bunch of thing with.
  13. The way it works is they have a menu full of appitizers ranging from about $10 - $20 and they recommend you order 2 appitizers per person & then all in your party can share a little bit of everything.
  14. the sangria is the best around & makes it difficult to order from the extensive wine list!
  15. The menu has changed a bit (seasonal, new chef) but everything is still so amazing.
  16. recommend this restaurant to anyone who enjoys great food , great wine selections and a wonderful atmosphere.
  17. When I went with a large party we tasted almost every item on the menu and without exception the food was simply delicious.
overall
100.0% positive
  1. have to say this is the best restaurant to meet my energy and food desires.
  2. great place
  3. This makes a great first date place with enough atmosphere to keep conversation flowing.
  4. Its a great place to take friends especially on Friday evenings for happy hour!
  5. However, if you are looking for a really nice place for a special occasion, we recommend it!
  6. It's a great date place because its dimly lit with candles and has a warm cozy feel to it.
  7. This is a great place to go if you just want a glass of wine and an appetizer.
  8. Just go to a nice restaurant with a decent wine selection and you'll come out way ahead.
  9. great place to have a glass of wine and appetizers.
  10. very good friend of mine who used to be a Executive Chef for Dreamworks recommended this place.
  11. This is a great place with an ecletic crowed.
  12. This is a great place to have a romantic dinner, family event, or chill evening with friends.
  13. great place for dinner
return potential
0.0% positive
  1. Bad service, mediocre food, will never be back
service
75.13000011444092% positive
  1. The chocolate bread pudding that we ordered for dessert, which the waiter raved about, was the worst bread pudding I've ever had!
  2. Tapas are delicious, waiters are honest, Sangria is great.
  3. Bad quality of food, bad service
  4. The bartenders are fun, food great.
  5. our waiter was a doll, very attentive & helpful when asked for menu advice.
  6. The servers are friendly but not insincere, a rare combination in LA.
  7. The waiter did not bother to mention the size of the "tapas
  8. have had consistently wonderful service, from the gals at the front door, to the fun bartenders, to the attentive management and servers.
  9. Outstanding food, great wine selection, friendly service, great atmosphere.
  10. From the hostess to the bar tender to the GM each person works in-sync to make your dining experience both comfortable and incredible.
  11. Food was delicious, everything we ordered was fantastic and our waitress recommended a few wines and let me taste a few before deciding on one.
  12. Bad service, mediocre food, will never be back
  13. (after non-stop lousy service in LA, I was ready to cheer) I had two tapas: One quite good; the other mediocre.
  14. The bar is full of people tasting, sharing, and loving wine.
  15. The hostess was rude and unapologetic.
  16. The hostess was unfriendly and the service was slow.
  17. If you want great food, friendly service and an impressive wine selection, I would recommend trying Primitivo.
  18. The bartenders are extremely friendly.
  19. don't think I've ever had such poor service anywhere.
  20. Overall, the atmosphere is friendly, it doesn?
  21. In addition about the service: I am pregnant and did not order any wine.
  22. the wine list can be a bit overwhelming and the staff isn't particularly helpful, especially if you already know a thing or two about wine.
  23. Not knowingly the staff is very professional but work to make your experience one that fits your particular dining experience.
  24. The patio is perfect for dates, or when single I always enjoy inside by the bar where there are always people to meet.
  25. The service was horrible, but I don't think it was the waiter's fault entirely, probably a lack of help and kitchen problem.
  26. had a sublime experience, educated about world wines, treated to an array of creative tapas, and was pampered by an attentive staff.
  27. The wines are well presented, with the staff happy to recommend beverages which they prefer, not which they are told to sell.
  28. The wait staff always makes great recommendations that allow me to sit back and enjoy the food, wine, and the atmosphere.
  29. Did I mention the wine and how well the staff can pick a great bottle?
  30. Great food, OK service
  31. wonderful food, wine, service, night out!
  32. The atmosphere at Primitivo was very, very cool, but the service was incredibly slow.
  33. All recommendations by the servers have been fabulous.
  34. Our waitress Amber was great - very helpful and great food recommendations.
  35. That is the only explaination I have for the worst service I have ever had in Los Angeles.
  36. Service may be slow but the food and people watching are worth it.
  37. The wait staff is awful - rude and inattentive.
  38. keep going back because I feel like they're going to get their act together, but so far it hasn't happened, which is disappointing because if the service was better it would be one of my favorite restaurants.
  39. According to the reviews here, the service must be uneven, but we enjoyed an excellent evening here.
  40. our server was attentive but shared the hostess' disdain for cordiality.
  41. The staff is fantastic, everyone from the hostess to the food runners.
  42. Wonderful Desserts & food + service
  43. Sit at the bar - the bartenders are always friendly and helpful happy to give you a sample of most wines before you buy.
  44. Don't know too much about wine, but as some others have said, the staff really did make us feel comfortable w/ that and helped us pair the wine w/ our tapas selections.
  45. found the waiters helpful with recommendations, but not pushy.
  46. One of the things I found most intriguing about Primitivo was the adaptable atmosphere that lended itself to either a romantic dinner by candlelight or a fun, friendly meal made feasible by the colored pencils and paper tablecloth.
  47. Terrible service at Primitivo - den of thieves!
  48. great dining experience, friendly casual service with great looking staff, well priced wines and food.
  49. The service was attentive, but never intrusive.
  50. Americans are generally known in England for their friendly, fast service.
  51. asked "Jimmy" the bartender to pick a pinot noir After describing the flavors I like, he picked an amazing wine that I will look for every time I eat out.
  52. come to Primitivo almost once every month and i have never had a problem with the food or service , it has wonderful tasty food for a price that won't make your wallet cringe and the wait staff are always attentive,always have a good attitude and are ni
  53. Service, while friendly and well meaning, is grindingly slow and poorly supervised, especially at the busiest times when organization and good management are of paramount importance.
  54. The restaurant indeed fills up and the atmosphere changed as the sun went down, the music went up, everyone started to "hang out" - like a friends house, even the wait staff was friendly, I almost didn't want a table.
  55. Our waitstaff were extremely attentive, yet unobtrusive, which really impressed us.
  56. Super friendly staff and service was very fast.
  57. have tried some of the most amazing (and hard to find) Spanish wines and really appreciate that they are always willing to make things "veggie" friendly for me.
  58. when we showed up at 9, the hostess didn't bother to look me in the eye as she whispered "it'll be a few minutes
  59. Fantastic servers, great selection, ambience, and location.
  60. Beautiful food and wine list, and the service is always superb!
  61. It is fun, yet classy, ritzy but not overpriced, plenty of people to watch but not too much people watching.
  62. When we had to wait a short time at the bar the bartenders were very friendly and helpful in suggesting wines.
  63. Their bartenders are helpful, their sangria is amazing (truly the best I have had in LA) and the food has always been great.
value
92.30999946594238% positive
  1. Although the portions are smaller, with the yummy bread and fun tapanades in the mix i never leave hungry.
  2. good value for very delectable eats.
  3. Great food, great ambience, great prices
  4. .....excellent portions.
  5. Between two of us, we spent $150 including tip which is more than I expected, but $60 of that was for the wine, so overall value for the great food and ambiance.
  6. And the wine prices were amazingly affordable, even for us law students.
  7. Don't forget to check out their great happy hours deals too.
  8. come to Primitivo almost once every month and i have never had a problem with the food or service , it has wonderful tasty food for a price that won't make your wallet cringe and the wait staff are always attentive,always have a good attitude and are ni
  9. Great food but very small portions even for a tapas restaurant.
  10. So a big NO to Primitivo unless you go there for their huge wine bar.
  11. It is fun, yet classy, ritzy but not overpriced, plenty of people to watch but not too much people watching.
  12. Great food, great ambience, great prices ?
  13. Service may be slow but the food and people watching are worth it.
wait time
54.7599983215332% positive
  1. The hostess was unfriendly and the service was slow.
  2. The food was good but considering we were practically thrown out after 90 minutes, would I consider going back here for the $50 a person it cost?
  3. when we showed up at 9, the hostess didn't bother to look me in the eye as she whispered "it'll be a few minutes
  4. Service, while friendly and well meaning, is grindingly slow and poorly supervised, especially at the busiest times when organization and good management are of paramount importance.
  5. We waited 40 minutes for our table, which is fine, and had a glass of wine at the bar, which was also good.
  6. The atmosphere at Primitivo was very, very cool, but the service was incredibly slow.
  7. Service may be slow but the food and people watching are worth it.
5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

05/16/10

Best Tapas in So Cal

by Airblue1 at Citysearch

I have been to the Primitivo on several occasion for many different reason. I have to say this is the best restaurant to meet my energy and food desires. The seasonal menu is one I look forward to, well, every season. For a tapas restaurant the portion sizes are a bit bigger than one would expect, however that does not mean you have to eat your entire meal. The food is always made fresh and brought to the table in a timely manner. One can tell the wine has been carefully selected to pair with the many different tapas options on the menu. The Primitivo also carries a lot of local and international wines to meet the many needs of the wide range of locals and visitors from around the world. Not knowingly the staff is very professional but work to make your experience one that fits your particular dining experience. From the hostess to the bar tender to the GM each person works in-sync to make your dining experience both comfortable and incredible. Please be sure to make a RSVP and use the Valet to park your automobile. Remember one cannot enjoy any experience if one goes into it with a negative disposition!!! Have a great time and go back many times!!!!

  • Pros: Excellent Selection (Food&Wine)
  • Cons: You might have to wait if you do not call ahead!!!!!!
1 Star Rating: Poor

03/30/10

Bad Experience

by heather w at Citysearch

I have never felt the need to write a bad review until now. I went to Primitivo on Saturday night to meet a group of friends. I was carded when I ordered a drink at the bar and couldn’t find my ID because I had been traveling all day and it was lost in my purse within a purse. The bartender said that he couldn’t serve me and I understood. I’m clearly 32 years old so I asked to speak to the manager. I was informed that the manager was on break and that he would be over in a minute. Eventually, the manager sauntered over to me and as I tried to explain the situation, he began speaking to me in a very condescending tone. I wound up leaving to get my ID and when I returned the manager met me at the front. He started belittling me as he yanked the ID from my hand and said that he needed to take it to the back to make sure it wasn’t a fake. He was so unbelievably rude that I wanted to leave but my party had already sat down. Subsequently, my party had waited almost 2 hours for a table on the patio which they haphazardly gave to another group that had arrived after us. The hostess was rude and unapologetic. After being seated, the waitress took everyone’s order except mine. I waited an hour to order food and drink because she ignored me every time she came up to the table. The food was average but the Sangria was good. Overall, this was the worst restaurant experience I have ever had. I have never been treated so poorly at a restaurant. Is customer service dead?

  • Pros: Good Sangrias
  • Cons: Rude Management and Staff
1 Star Rating: Poor

03/15/09

Bad Experience

by JohnnyZee at Citysearch

we told him we had a party of 20. We told her that we were interested in their Thursday night special. However, Primitivo, acted like a used car sales woman and did the bait and switch. They tried to have us each commit to 35 dollars a person and 18 percent tip !! I was shocked. I asked them what about your Thursday night special. She changed the subject. I ask that you do not give your business to these con artists. Honest to God I was going to bring 25 people to that place. ALSO. i did visit the place and the place is a little run down. They have this we don't care attitude

  • Pros: Location is the only pro
  • Cons: Horrible Management....Run Down place
5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

01/01/09

Best bar in LA

by summerair at Citysearch

Last week I was meeting three of my friends here for dinner. I arrived early and the hostess asked if I wanted to be seated or wait for my group to arrive. I choose to sit at the bar and wait and I am so happy I did. The bar was awesome. The bartender was quick to help me find a wine I loved. I am usually a cab drinker, but wanted to try something different. He suggested I try a Rioja and it was wonderful. By the time my friends arrived I was having so much fun we decided pass on our table and eat at the bar. We tasted a bunch of different wines and I was impressed with how large of a selection they had. As for the food things just got better and better. The tuna tartar and cheese plate got us started, but for the really good stuff we had short ribs, tiger shrimp, scallops, and salmon wrapped in grape leaves. This place is a gem for sure!!

  • Pros: service and wine
5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

12/24/08

yumm yumm this place is fun

by guyeatsalot at Citysearch

Let me start off by saying this place has the perfect vibe. The bar is full of people tasting, sharing, and loving wine. The tables inside are great for a fun dinner, or the two outside patios will allow you to have a romantic evening over looking the beautiful garden.

But who cares about all that? lets get to the food! For starters try the endive salad with blue cheese and bacon, need I say more? Follow that with what I call asparagus heaven? its grilled I think with a fried egg, morel mushrooms, bearnaise sauce, prosciutto, and a little bit of manchego cheese. I then had rosemary lamb chops. They come over a barley risotto and lasted all of two seconds on our table. I never can remember which wines I like, but our server was quick to make suggestions with each course and they were spot on. The rest of table must have been just as happy because from the time the first plate landed we didn?t talk until it was time for desert and port. Thanks again and I will be back for the asparagus!

  • Pros: great food, wine and service

The Details on Primitivo

Place Categories:

  • great food
  • great first date place
  • friendly fast service
  • great wine
  • great tapas
  • slow service
  • great dining experience
  • great wonderful atmosphere
  • friendly wait staff
  • love real romanticrelaxing restaurant
  • great sangria
  • helpful bartenders
  • not best food
  • attentive servers
  • nice noattitude vibe
  • fantastic everything
  • romantic evening
  • worst restaurant experience
  • unique ambiance
  • rude hostess
  • good patio
  • delectable small dishes
  • huge wine bar
  • romantic dinner
  • tasty sauteed tiger shrimp

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