Primitivo Wine Bistro

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1. DL

   DrLN

   Los Angeles

   27 reviews

   vip
   5.0

   27 reviews

   Dined on August 29, 2015

   overall5food5service5ambience5

   This restaurant has been our neighborhood gem for 14 years, when we moved in! Jimmy and Erin, cannot think of a better management team, they took the time to get to know each and every patron, knew our habits, made us feel special every time we came in! They will succeed in any endeavor they take, love and respect conquers all!! Cher, Jenny, Daniela, Anthony (now in SF) and Papa Miguel, you were our family for so many years, will never forget you!! Cher has become an adjective in our life, if it is a "Cher" pour, it was substantial! Thank you Daniel for everything and our wine choices, Merci Beaucoup! Good luck with all! For new owner: Maintain the local vibe!! Linda and Alex!

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2. SB

   SaraB

   Los Angeles

   22 reviews

   4.0

   22 reviews

   Dined on August 23, 2015

   overall4food4service5ambience4

   Booked this reservation for one last visit to Primitivo before they close forever. Waitress was top notch. Food very good. Only complaint was that they had sold the last bottle of the wine we ordered...but then our waitress suggested an alternative that was just right.

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3. BS

   BarryS

   Los Angeles

   8 reviews

   5.0

   8 reviews

   Dined on August 21, 2015

   overall5food5service5ambience5

   A wonderful combination of Spanish, French, California. Been there many times, never had a bad - or even mediocre - meal.

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4. m

   midwestfoodies

   Los Angeles

   11 reviews

   5.0

   11 reviews

   Dined on August 21, 2015

   overall5food5service5ambience4

   Had a fantastic experience here on our first visit. Couldn't wait to return only to find out that the restaurant/menu is changing after 13 years. Our only question "why"? It's a great formula, unique but not pretentious. Go there before it's too late and have the paella or the lamb chops or the bacon wrapped dates or the brie....the list goes on and on

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5. OT

   OpenTable Diner

   Los Angeles

   9 reviews

   4.0

   9 reviews

   Dined on August 7, 2015

   overall4food4service4ambience5

   We have been to this restaurant about half a dozen times. Never disappointed. Tasty food and God wine. One problem with this recent visit. I forgot to take a $5 bill that was in visible from the front seat of the car and, of course, the money was gone when the valet returned our car.

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6. TG

   TommyG

   St. Louis

   46 reviews

   4.0

   46 reviews

   Dined on August 1, 2015

   overall4food5service4ambience4

   Cosy little place with lots of character. Good selection of appetizers. Very good food, I had the Sea Bass. It was very good, lots of flavors going on and was cooked just right.

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7. l

   lecker

   Atlanta

   4 reviews

   vip
   5.0

   4 reviews

   Dined on July 31, 2015

   overall5food5service5ambience5

   Good for sharing and getting a taste of a few different things.

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8. k

   kathe90035

   Los Angeles

   324 reviews

   vip
   2.0

   324 reviews

   Dined on July 19, 2015

   overall2food4service1ambience2

   This was my first time at the restaurant. There were 6 of us and we sat on the patio. The noise level was too high and we had slow, indifferent service. My duck, however, was good.

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9. JT

   JodyT

   Sacramento

   12 reviews

   vip
   5.0

   12 reviews

   Dined on July 10, 2015

   overall5food5service5ambience5

   A nice find while on vacation in LA area. Great service, good was light, fresh and tasty.

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10. OT

    OpenTable Diner

    Los Angeles

    27 reviews

    4.0

    27 reviews

    Dined on June 28, 2015

    overall4food4service3ambience3

    We always enjoy Primitivo. There is great variety of tapas. One of these days I must try the main dishes but so far we always order tapas! It is great to go with a group so you can taste lots of different tapas! The white sangria seemed a little watered down this time, almost like fruit and water....The indoor ambiance is so-so but it was a little chilly outside so we stayed indoors. The service was also a little sketchy this time - everything came at once instead of staged so we were a little overwhelmed! The waitress might have been a little more attentive to that problem; the restaurant wasn't crowded.

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11. t

    theonlycza

    Cincinnati

    4 reviews

    5.0

    4 reviews

    Dined on June 22, 2015

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    Thoroughly enjoyed our experience. Great food and loved the patio. Service was quick, but not intrusive allowing us to enjoy several different tapas dishes. The bacon wrapped dates and beet salad were fantastic.

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12. JD

    JDeez

    Los Angeles

    46 reviews

    4.0

    46 reviews

    Dined on June 21, 2015

    overall4food4service3ambience4

    My fiancee and I chose Primitivo for brunch on Father's Day. Not our first time there so expectations were high. Food was great as usual. I had a lobster roll from the special Father's Day menu. We sat on the outside patio which is always a winner. Only downside this time was our server. They do bottomless mimosa/red sangria/white sangria as a $15 add-on for brunch. We spent A Lot of time staring at empty glasses! Enough said on that.

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13. t

    trickyd

    Los Angeles

    64 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    64 reviews

    Dined on June 8, 2015

    overall5food4service4ambience3

    Primitivo was great. We sat on the outdoor patio and enjoyed the white sangria and many of their delicious tapas dishes. We loved the paella and the croquettes, the bacon wrapped dates are always good too. I will definitely be back soon.

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14. l

    lindalou

    Los Angeles

    16 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    16 reviews

    Dined on June 3, 2015

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    We had one of those Travel Zoo, or some type of deal where we each got a glass of wine, a tapas, salad, and main dish along with desert. The Burrata/Tomato was awesome, as were the shrimp. The scallops were out of this world to die for. I can't think I've ever had better scallops. They can be difficult to cook perfectly, and these were absolutely perfect, and delicious. The desert was also outstanding. Highly recommend. We had a great date night and would be happy to go back

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15. W

    Woolfy

    Orange County

    2 reviews

    3.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on June 2, 2015

    overall3food3service3ambience3

    The culinary part was very old style french cusine with huge portions that make no sense. The Hummus portion was huge, served with mountains of pickled red peppers, artichokes, onions and feta cheese. The presentations on all dishes were outdated and bland. The Chorizo mussels and clams were small all not worth the price with a cost of $2.50 and selling for over $20. The chicken breast was good on Cous Cous but no color or vegetables.

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16. OT

    OpenTable Diner

    Los Angeles

    16 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    16 reviews

    Dined on May 31, 2015

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    We went to Primitivo on a Travel Zoo deal. It was an excellent deal and an excellent find. We had a fabulous experience for essentially what it would have cost to take our family of four to Outback. When we arrived we were greeted warmly. They had a window table set aside for us which was the perfect mix of indoor/outdoor. These service was solicitous without being intrusive. The food was amazing. I had the ribeye, which was done to perfection. We split a couple appetizers - the patatas bravas and the baked brie. Yum! We also had wine and dessert. It was a wonderful birthday meal. I'd definitely go back.

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17. G

    Gigi

    Los Angeles

    8 reviews

    vip
    3.0

    8 reviews

    Dined on May 30, 2015

    overall3food3service3ambience4

    I drove from Long Beach to try Primitivo at 11:30 am on a Saturday. Valet parking in the back lead me to the front of the restaurant (that was empty). The only people there were the bartenders and the hostess conversing amoung themselves. I said the first hello. I requested to sit outside. The ambiance is really nice. There was a fresh garden and little delightful touches here and there. My server was very nice. I ordered the Paella. Something they are famous for. When I got it however, the sausage was over cooked , the shrimp was bland and the chicken was chewy! I was disppointed. The rice and the mussels were good though! I told the server and all she had to say was "I'm sorry I'll be sure to let the chef know." I'm not expecting her to say oh no we can't have that let me see what I can do since you are one of the only clients here. No no that type of service is usually at a mom and pop spot. So I sipped my mimosa and enjoyed the scenery until I had my fill. I would still recommend this spot . It was a really nice space and maybe the chef was having a bad day or the ingredients was not as fresh as expected. Some times restaurants have an off day.

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18. R

    Richy

    Los Angeles

    50 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    50 reviews

    Dined on May 22, 2015

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    The food is wonderful and the wine list is extensive and great.

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19. K

    Km123

    Los Angeles

    48 reviews

    vip
    3.0

    48 reviews

    Dined on April 10, 2015

    overall3food3service3ambience3

    The food is okay, some dishes better than others. I really like the idea of this place, but it always seems to fall short. Bacon wrapped dates were decent, but not that exciting. The flatbread was the best thing we ate. Sliced pork was in a very off putting sauce, but the pork was prepared well. The shrimp in a sort of tomato sauce was good. What annoyed me the most was the paella. It was basically a large mound of rice. It had very little seafood in it to begin with and then one out of the three muscles wasn't opened. What kind of place serves seafood that is potentially harmful and not edible? Plus, there were 4 in our party, 3 of whom wanted a muscle. When we pointed this out to the waitress she said, "That seems to happen a lot." Not, "Oh I'm sorry I'll tell the chef and make sure it doesn't happen again." Or better yet, "I'll bring you another muscle." The waitress was very kind and brought out a tasting of a wine I wanted to try before ordering it. That was very nice. So, my suggestion is if you dine here, come for wine and flatbread and then move on to another restaurant.

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20. FS

    FSUJenn

    Charlotte

    188 reviews

    vip
    4.0

    188 reviews

    Dined on March 28, 2015

    overall4food4service4ambience4

    I went here with a meetup group, there were 10 girls and it was a great time. The waitress was attentive but also gave us our space. Everything we tried was delicious, from the wine to the tapas/entrees and desserts. I will for sure be returning as I'm already craving the paella! Next time I will try to grab space on the patio, it seemed nice out there and was a *tad* warm in the restaurant. (That could have been from the wine.....)

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21. RN

    RNSL

    Los Angeles

    1 review

    4.0

    1 review

    Dined on March 14, 2015

    overall4food4service4ambience4

    We went there with another couple, we had a window seat and I loved it where we were sitting… I had no idea how big this pls e is. They also have outside dining area, hoping to sit there next time. There is an entree for everyone's liking. The only thing that I didn't like was the brussels sprouts, the seasoning was great but it wasn't cooked well enough for me… It's was very hard and raw-- Their salads are fabulous, the mezze platter was great. My Husband loved the shrimp and the meatballs. I definitely recommend you trying this place. Will definitely go back.

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22. JD

    JDeez

    Los Angeles

    46 reviews

    4.0

    46 reviews

    Dined on March 14, 2015

    overall4food5service5ambience4

    This was a great experience. Sat on the back patio on a beautiful Saturday morning. The service was excellent and the food was too! They offer for $15 a Bottomless Mimosa, Red Sangria and White Sangria. Yes, you can switch it up between the three! Our server was awesome too.

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23. OT

    OpenTable Diner

    Los Angeles

    5 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    5 reviews

    Dined on March 6, 2015

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    Scallops - only 3 so not too filling. Rib eye and lamb generous. Beet salad on point

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24. BL

    BellaLA

    Los Angeles

    19 reviews

    5.0

    19 reviews

    Dined on February 17, 2015

    overall5food4service5ambience4

    From the service to the food to the atmosphere, this place has everything you are looking for. Casual business lunch, quaint brunch spot, festive group outing or romantic dinner location, this place with its stellar Mediterranean fare is sure to please everyone. Don't miss the paella or the specials. We will be back for sure....

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25. FT

    Food4Thought

    Tampa

    40 reviews

    vip
    4.0

    40 reviews

    Dined on February 11, 2015

    overall4food4service4ambience4

    Great tapas! I would suggest ordering one or two at a time. They come fast! Turning tables has been mastered here with small plates and great service! Excellent business model. Great food and super "place to be" vibe. Will definitely return and take my time!

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26. d

    doghouse

    Minneapolis

    10 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    10 reviews

    Dined on February 7, 2015

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    You don't normally see Fried Chicken at a tapas restaurant, but they have it on special now, and its amazing! Very light;y fried, with an amazing sause on it and a generous portion. I have been going monthly to Bouchon for fried chicken night there, but Primitivo's is better! They have other great new dishes as well and the old favorites are still yummy.

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27. h

    harveym

    Los Angeles

    27 reviews

    vip
    4.0

    27 reviews

    Dined on January 30, 2015

    overall4food5service5ambience4

    We were seated in the covered and heated patio in back. It was reasonably quiet and very nice. In contrast, the room in front has a DJ and is very loud. We would not have enjoyed eating there. So worth asking when you reserve. We shared all the dishes, and all were quite good and enjoyable. Like many restaurants, this one offers sparkling water without listing the price. It turned out to be $5 per bottle.

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28. JR

    JayRy

    Los Angeles

    91 reviews

    vip
    4.0

    91 reviews

    Dined on January 28, 2015

    overall4food4service4ambience5

    There are so many great options at Primitivo from the delicious appetizers to the high quality wines by the glass. We always end up over ordering because there are so many great choices - the scallops, the Brussel sprouts, the best salad... It goes on and on. Yummy food and friendly service. The patio is great to sit on too because you feel lost in a garden. Well done

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29. OT

    OpenTable Diner

    Los Angeles

    3 reviews

    vip
    3.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on December 11, 2014

    overall3food2service2ambience4

    We enjoyed our first time at this restaurant only a few weeeks ago. This was our 2nd visit and it turned out to bad overall. Waitress was not helpful with menu and getting a refill of water was almost impossible. Even the table next to us was having the same struggles. Our food was cold and even the taste bland. Steak came out cold, flat bread was almost not cooked all the way. Later that evening we ran into the people sitting next to us at Primitivo at another bar and talk about how bad the place was. Very disappointing.

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30. S

    Superlative

    Edmonton

    15 reviews

    vip
    4.0

    15 reviews

    Dined on November 22, 2014

    overall4food4service5ambience5

    When I booked our reservation, I wasn't aware of the happy hour, which meant that we could order some very fine tapas and sangrias at half the price. The bacon-wrapped dates were my favourite, followed by the beef skewers. It was too dark for me to read the menus, so I had to rely on my friend's judgment. He chose only red meat tapas, so I did not get a chance to try any vegetarian, poultry, or fish. I will definitely come back -- hopefully, with flashlight in tow.

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31. j

    jln407

    Orange County

    6 reviews

    vip
    4.0

    6 reviews

    Dined on November 14, 2014

    overall4food3service4ambience5

    We really enjoyed happy hour here. The staff was very nice and accommodated out large party. We will definitely go back again!

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32. LA

    LAfoodie2

    Los Angeles

    47 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    47 reviews

    Dined on November 9, 2014

    overall5food5service5ambience4

    We have had many great dinners at Primitivo. The quality of the food is excellent. I particularly enjoy the seasonal changes to the menu - it adds so much interest to the dining choices. The service is also outstanding.

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33. l

    lisak

    Los Angeles

    15 reviews

    4.0

    15 reviews

    Dined on November 8, 2014

    overall4food5service3ambience4

    One of my favorite places to eat. The food was delicious, as always; however the service was not. Previously, even when busy, the wait staff was on top of everything. This time they were not and almost seemed more interested in visiting with one other. While the restaurant was busy, it was not filled to capacity. I have been there when it was filled to capacity and had better service. But as stated earlier, the food was delicious as always. I am sure we'll come back. Hopefully the service was just a blip and resume it's former status.

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34. ET

    EatToEnjoy

    Los Angeles

    1 review

    vip
    4.0

    1 review

    Dined on November 7, 2014

    overall4food5service3ambience5

    Lovely dining experience, took a while for waitress to come around to check on our group even for a Friday night sometimes but since we weren't in a rush, it wasn't a big deal, dinner just progressed slowly. Great food, GREAT wine list.

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35. M

    Michellelove

    New York Area

    3 reviews

    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on November 5, 2014

    overall5food5service4ambience5

    Primitivo is absolutely fantastic. I went with my family for dinner and we loved it. The Spanish Tortilla and the Paella is to die for. Honestly, the best!! The ambiance and service is incredible as well. I highly recommend Primitivo!

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36. c

    climber85

    Los Angeles

    3 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on November 1, 2014

    overall5food5service4ambience5

    Amazing food in perfect portions paired with an outstanding wine list and a nice ambiance. I will definitely be going back here!

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37. r

    review

    Los Angeles

    175 reviews

    vip
    4.0

    175 reviews

    Dined on November 1, 2014

    overall4food4service5ambience4

    We enjoyed a nice relaxing dinner here. Had the crab lobster truffle tower was delicious. The corn cake was good. My scallops were cooked perfectly and tasty. My husband had the lamb, asked for it to be cooked med rare it was cooked medium or more. Was a little dry which was unfortunate. We enjoyed the creme brulee very much. The house Pinot Grigio was flat tasting but the Sauvignon Blanc was nice and crisp. Overall had a nice dinner, will consider coming back.

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38. TD

    TomDori

    Los Angeles

    42 reviews

    vip
    4.0

    42 reviews

    Dined on October 31, 2014

    overall4food4service4ambience4

    Good food. Good service. Great value wine list. Patio seating is wonderful. We only wish they would seat 2at a 4 top when they are not crowded.

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39. B

    Bennet

    Los Angeles

    41 reviews

    vip
    4.0

    41 reviews

    Dined on October 26, 2014

    overall4food4service3ambience4

    I live the spanish menu. I've been a bunch of times, service is generally good but have had some attitude from some staff (mostly at the bar). Nice garden to enjoy dinner.

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40. l

    ladywholunches

    San Francisco

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on October 26, 2014

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    Great knowledgeable service, beautiful food and a good wine list. Thoroughly enjoyed our brunch on the back terrace.

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