Primo Restaurant — Restaurant in Lecce

We had the exact same experience as Daniela Memmi below.

We booked well in advance for 8:30pm on a Friday evening during our honeymoon. The restaurant called an hour before the reservation to say that there was a problem with the gas system and they were shut, so they would need to cancel the reservation. I was very understanding as I assumed this could not be helped, although it did make it very difficult for us as it is hard to find somewhere good to eat last minute on a Friday evening. They asked if we would like to dine with them the following evening if they reopened, and we said yes. They said they would call us.

No one called us during the day so we assumed they were still closed until I happened upon Daniela's review. I called the restaurant and they said they were closed. However, as they were only a short walk from our hotel, I decided to go and look: they were open, with guests seated inside. I went in and they greeted me ready to seat me until they asked if I had a reservation and I explained what had happened. They obviously couldn't claim they were closed as there were people seated ready to eat, so the staff member I spoke to blustered something about one room being closed in the back. He offered us a table for 9:30pm but I was not impressed with the way we had been treated and lied to, and I didn't trust that the table would be available for us if we returned at that time. We chose to dine elsewhere and I will not visit Primo in future given that this is how they treat their customers. Very rude and inconsiderate, especially given that it was for a special occasion.

Edit: telling the same lie to two different customers three weeks apart... I think it's clear who the fault lies with. Why tell me the restaurant is closed when it was clearly open? Also, an hour before the reservation is not "in good time". You try finding somewhere else to eat at 7:30pm on a Friday evening and then tell me it's...

I had pretty high hopes for this restaurant, especially given that it was going to be our last proper meal in Italy. The meal started off well with the sweetbreads and eggplant entrees. They were pleasant, but I guess I had higher expectations given their Michelin star. The problem was the pasta dishes. Ive eaten hundreds of pasta dishes all over Italy and this has by far been the worst. I had an polpo alla pinata that smelled incredibly bad as it arrived on my table it made me want to dry retch. The first thought that came to mind was the smell that hits you as you pull back the lid on a can of pet food. I have eaten a lot of slow cooked octopus and squid dishes over the years. Slow cooked octopus is usually my favourite type of pasta so I was quite excited, but this was definitely not right. I only ate a few strands. I hate wasting food but I couldn’t make it though much more without feeling nauseous so I had to leave it behind. My friends pomodoro was at least acceptable but honestly was so sweet, again the closest thing I can think to describe is like a mango chutney. It was a little funky and hard to get through but we both ate it. Honestly we were both very disappointed. We ended with a tiramisu which was actually pretty good. Also the service was pretty top notch, as were the wines. The venue is also lovely. It was just a shame...

CENA SUPERLATIVA. Ho cenato da solo in questo locale per la prima volta. Ed è stato un vero piacere. Accoglienza pacata rilassata che ti mette a tuo agio. Nessuna forzatura nel servizio da parte del Maitre Daniele Solimando che è un maestro nell' arte dell' accoglienza e servizio. Molto bravo e sicuro anche Matteo. Abbinamento vino sublime, servizio veloce, attento e senza fronzoli. Cantina Vini equilibrata e ben riuscita. il Maitre ha padronanza dei piatti che vengono spiegati con signorilità. servizio mai invadente ma molto attento.

La cucina di Chef Solaika è Sensazionale. Si perché ti dona davvero sensazioni speciali. La semplicità della materia prima, la grande cura e il gran rispetto di tutti gli ingredienti in modo essenziale ma curato e dettagliato. Gli abbinamenti non scontati, la tradizione richiamata in ogni piatto. L' armonia al palato e la leggerezza di equilibrio ad ogni portata (azzeccando anche l' ordine delle portate ). Gusto, estro e spensieratezza si percepiscono alla presentazione e all' assaggio. Il mio preferito ravioli alle alici e salsa scapece. Capolavoro di acidità, sapidità ed equilibrio che non mi sarei aspettato a questi livelli sinceramente. Ricerca, storia e tradizione nel piatto. Parmigiana di melanzane unica. Animella e gambero shock. Frattaglia cotta alla perfezione e glassatura al miele e arancia particolarissima e buonissima. Tiramisù una nuvola croccante. Potrei continuare tanto perché a mio avviso tutto è stato buonissimo. Sono orgoglioso da Salentino che ci sia una Chef donna e giovane che abbia raggiunto questi livelli. È arte culinaria. spero continuino cosí.

Complimenti ai proprietari Marco e Silvia per aver creato un posto del genere a Lecce. Non è assolutamente...