Primitivo

Name: Primitivo
Address: Carretera Ensenada Tecate km 89 Col. Valle de Guadalupe, Ensenada, BCN, Mexico, 22766
Telephone: 646 947 8523
Price range: MXN500 and over
Rating: 4.6

4.6 (487)

MXN500 and over

Farm-to-table

Carretera Ensenada Tecate km 89, Col. Valle de Guadalupe, Ensenada, BCN 22766

Make a reservation

2 people

Jul 17, 2025

7:00 PM

Booked 5 times today

About this restaurant

Great for outdoor dining
Charming
Good for special occasions

The Michelin Guide recommends Primitivo for its one-of-a-kind gastronomic experience that celebrates the bounty of local ingredients. Chef Carolina Jiménez has teamed up with local producers to create a menu that celebrates rustic cuisine with a touch of ingenuity and sophistication.

Kick off your evening with some fresh and succulent oysters – the perfect starter for what's in store. Next, you can choose your protein: fish or meat (duck in the autumn/winter season), both of the highest quality.

From there, you'll get to enjoy a series of dishes where each part of the main ingredient is used to the fullest. Be sure to leave room for dessert, too! Think almond tart with apples and sherry, or a soft chocolate cake with candied orange peel and smoked lavender ice cream. And don't forget to check out the seasonal cocktails and wine list!

Dining areas

Additional information

Dining style
Casual Dining
Price
MXN500 and over
Cuisines
Farm-to-table, Country kitchen, Grill
Hours of operation
Tue–Sat 1:00 pm–7:00 pm Sun 12:00 pm–5:00 pm
Phone number
646 947 8523
Website
http://www.primitivorestaurante.com/
Payment options
AMEX, Mastercard, Visa
Dress code
Smart Casual
Executive chef
Carolina Jiménez Castro
Catering
We're here for you and your event! We're delighted to bring our culinary excellence wherever you choose! We're here to make sure you get the best food and drink, in whatever place you like best!
Private party facilities
Come celebrate under the magic of a centennial oak tree! We've got some unique events lined up with the essence of the region, including wood-fired cooking to delight your palate.

Location
Carretera Ensenada Tecate km 89, Col. Valle de Guadalupe, Ensenada, BCN 22766
Neighborhood
Valle de Guadalupe
Parking details
Private Lot
Additional
Beer, BYO Wine, Chef's Table, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Gender Neutral Restroom, Indoor Fireplace, Outdoor Firepit, Outdoor Smoking Area, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Vegan, View, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Ask Concierge
AI Beta

Our AI assistant, Concierge, is here to answer your questions about this restaurant.

Ostiones
Frescos con salsa ponzu ahumada. A las brasas con mantequilla de mariscos y limón amarillo.
Almeja Chione
Al vapor con crema, hongos, pancetta y papas a las brasas.
Pesca
Menú de cinco tiempos, para dos personas: Tiradito con salsa ponzu y alga nori. Ceviche tatemado. Toro confitado con papas al rescoldo y reducción de mariscos. Collar asado con alioli de chile morita. Lomo sellado con col asada.
Res
Menú de tres o cuatro tiempos, para dos personas: Papas fritas con romero y ajo, tripa dorada. Mollejas de res con tortillas hechas a mano y salsa de habanero. Costilla asada y zanahorias glaseadas con chicharrón de New York. New York con papa a la ceniza.

POSTRES

Tarta de almendras con manzanas caramelizadas al Jerez, acompañada de helado de dátiles y nueces.
Bizcocho de calabaza mantequilla con helado de cardamomo y vainilla, pistachos caramelizados

MENÚ VEGETARIANO

Menú de cuatro tiempos, para dos personas.
Garbanzos salteados con chile en polvo y limón. Papas fritas crujientes con romero y ajo. Ceviche de verduras a la parrilla. Cebolla cocida asada con mantequilla de soya. Nuez asada con rúcula y chimichurri. Repollo caramelizado con salsa ponzu y chile morita. Zanahorias caramelizadas con naranja, miel y soya.

EXTRAS

Orden pan
Tortillas
Tostadas

What 487 people are saying

Primitivo reviews from people who’ve dined at this restaurant. Based on recent rating.

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.6

4.6 based on recent ratings

4.5Food
4.6Service
4.7Ambience
4.4Value

Noise • Moderate

Loved For

Baja California
Great for outdoor dining
Ensenada
Good for groups
Ensenada
Neighborhood gem
Ensenada
Great for outdoor dining
Ensenada
Romantic
Ensenada
Most Booked

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews

Primitivo offers a "stunning" outdoor dining experience beneath a majestic oak tree, creating a unique and tranquil atmosphere. Guests praise the "excellent food and service," with highlights including the "incredible" meat courses and delightful seafood options. The attentive staff and romantic setting make it a "highly recommended" destination in VDG.

487 Reviews

M
Mary VIP
Baja California5 reviews
2.0
Dined 5 days ago
1. Overall 2
2. Food 2
3. Service 1
4. Ambience 4
En lo personal no fue una experiencia como esperaba, el servicio intentaba ser bueno pero quedó lejos de serlo, ya conocí el lugar pero dudo regresar, la comida tampoco me resultó buena experiencia.
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H
Hugo
Unspecified1 review
5.0
Dined on July 5, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Todo delicioso, el menú de pesca y ostiones sobresalientes. La carta de vinos y cervezas muy buena. Una gran experiencia.
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L
Lanny
Los Angeles1 review
5.0
Dined on June 28, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Excellent food and service in a tranquil outdoor setting.
Is this helpful?
e
ernesto
Orange County3 reviews
5.0
Dined on June 26, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Dining underneath the canopy of a 150 oak was a wonderful experience. The air can get cool in the summer evenings as the sun sets so dress appropriately. The appetizer clams paired with the in-house sourdough bread was a satisfying combination. The dining options were more than enough for the two of us and we would want to return to sample other creations. The location is a bit out of the way but trust your navigation app to get you to the "big tree".
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S
Samantha
Orange County5 reviews
4.0
Dined on June 21, 2025
1. Overall 4
2. Food 3
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 4
Celebrated a special even at primitivo, the service was magnificent and the food, although it could use a bit of work, was good. The atmosphere is quiet and it’s not too difficult to find with ample parking.
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C
Cristobal
Mexico City3 reviews
5.0
Dined on May 31, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Muy bueno como siempre, les encanto a las personas con las que asistimos.
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M
Mike VIP
New York City13 reviews
1.0
Dined on May 30, 2025
1. Overall 1
2. Food 1
3. Service 3
4. Ambience 5
The only reason I am giving this restaurant more than a zero is because the place is stunning. Sitting outside next to very old trees is quite cool. But unfortunately that is the only redeeming feature of this place. To summarize, the food was terrible. First, we ordered 6 raw oysters. They were served with a sauce already in the shell. Normally, any sauces are served on the side which allows the dinner to add the quantity they desire. I don’t want someone deciding for me how much or what kind of sauce for my raw oysters. That is just a no no. Next, we order the meat tasing menu including the upcharge for the NY steak. We thought that since they cook everything over open wood fires, the meat would be great. First mistake, the waiter never asked us what temperature we wanted our steak cooked to. The first meat course was from the rib. The meat was way overcook, which I mean it was well done. Both my wife and eat our meat cooked to med rare. I made a comment to the waiter that the meat was overcooked and to make sure the NY steak came out med rare. Well, when it came out, it too was cooked to well done. My wife ate one piece of it and left the rest. We just don’t understand how they can hire chefs that don’t know how to cook meat over wood fires. It isn’t that complicated. Especially if you’ve done it a million times. We opted not to go one of our favs, Altozano, to go to this place. This will never happen again because we def will never return. A real shame because the place is beautiful. I have a hard imaging that this restaurant will be open next year.
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OT
OpenTable Diner VIP
San Francisco Bay Area4 reviews
5.0
Dined on May 25, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Todo estuvo delicioso! Excelente servicio! Seguro que volveremos.
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S
Salma
Baja California1 review
4.0
Dined on May 25, 2025
1. Overall 4
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Muy bonita experiencia, y muy buena comida todo estuvo muy rico🫶
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L
Leonardo
Baja California1 review
5.0
Dined on May 24, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Un muy buen lugar con una excelente carta y buenos vinos. Relajado, divertido y muy sabroso!
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FAQs

Primitivo is rated 4.6 stars by 487 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a reservation

2 people

Jul 17, 2025

7:00 PM

Booked 5 times today

Carretera Ensenada Tecate km 89, Col. Valle de Guadalupe, Ensenada, BCN 22766

Dining areas

Additional information

Neighborhood
Valle de Guadalupe
Hours of operation
Tue–Sat 1:00 pm–7:00 pm Sun 12:00 pm–5:00 pm
Price
MXN500 and over
Cuisines
Farm-to-table, Country kitchen, Grill
Dining style
Casual Dining
Dress code
Smart Casual
Parking details
Private Lot
Payment options
AMEX, Mastercard, Visa
Executive chef
Carolina Jiménez Castro
Additional
Beer, BYO Wine, Chef's Table, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Gender Neutral Restroom, Indoor Fireplace, Outdoor Firepit, Outdoor Smoking Area, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Vegan, View, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Website
http://www.primitivorestaurante.com/
Phone number
646 947 8523
Catering
We're here for you and your event! We're delighted to bring our culinary excellence wherever you choose! We're here to make sure you get the best food and drink, in whatever place you like best!
Private party facilities
Come celebrate under the magic of a centennial oak tree! We've got some unique events lined up with the essence of the region, including wood-fired cooking to delight your palate.

Primitivo

Make a reservation

About this restaurant

Dining areas

Additional information

Ask Concierge
AI Beta

Menu

PLATILLOS

Ostiones

Almeja Chione

Pesca

Res

POSTRES

Tarta de almendras con manzanas caramelizadas al Jerez, acompañada de helado de dátiles y nueces.

Bizcocho de calabaza mantequilla con helado de cardamomo y vainilla, pistachos caramelizados

MENÚ VEGETARIANO

Menú de cuatro tiempos, para dos personas.

EXTRAS

Orden pan

Tortillas

Tostadas

What 487 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Loved For

Review summary

FAQs

How is Primitivo restaurant rated?

Is Primitivo currently accepting reservations?

Make a reservation

Dining areas

Additional information