Come Prima — Restaurant in New York

Come Prima--what a rip off! We eat at many fine dining establishments on a regular basis in NYC. Sometimes the food is good, service is fair, or vice versa. We are also accustomed to paying appropriately for a good meal.

RARELY however, have we ever had such a terrible experience where the food was fair, the portion sizes minuscule, the service bordering on insolent, and the prices off the charts! But that is what we experienced last evening at Come Prima.

Our waiter was so rude that I was ready to walk out. As our friend was ordering his drink, the waiter cut him off and said "I am taking food orders now". When they brought him his glass of Montepulcano, it was a very small pour, and it came in a chardonnay glass.

His wife ordered lobster with pasta and with her first bite, it tasted very spicy. When she politely pointed this out to the waiter, he argued with her insisting it was only pasta and lobster and couldn't be spicy.

She insisted it was and he begrudgingly took the plate away. When her plate was returned a few minutes later by another waiter, that waiter advised her that the cook was from Naples and uses pepperoncini in most of his dishes.

He suggested to her that the next time, she ask for it without it. I said, perhaps YOU should advise people the dish is prepared with pepperoncini. When she asked for parmesan cheese for her dish, in a very condescending tone, our waiter said, "are you sure you really want parmesan cheese with lobster?"

We ordered side dishes of asparagus and spinach with each one costing $14. I counted there were FIVE stalks of asparagus, and honestly, the portion size of the spinach was less than two tablespoons.

And of course, what would a terrible experience at Come Prima restaurant be without the owner coming over to our table at the end of the meal, asking if everything was satisfactory, and proceeding to put his hands on the shoulders of my friends wife, and giving her a massage? I was ready to explode, but my friend pleaded with me to "let it go."

Final insult to the evening was the bill. For the pleasure of being subjected to the rudest wait staff, the smallest of portions, and unwelcomed advances in the form of a massage by the owner, the bill came to $331.44. That's three hundred thirty one dollars and forty four cents! And that was for 4 entree's, two drinks, two side orders, and four...

From the moment I stepped into Come Prima, I was enveloped in an ambiance of class and sophistication. The restaurant's elegant lighting and tasteful interior decorations set the stage for a truly delightful dining experience. The walls, adorned with nostalgic black and white photographs, added a touch of bygone elegance to the modern setting.

The thoughtful layout of the tables afforded a private oasis in the bustling space, allowing for intimate conversations at a comfortable speaking volume—a perfect setting for a romantic date.

The service was impeccable; waiters were not just welcoming but incredibly attentive, striking the perfect balance between being available for our every need without being intrusive. The variety in the appetizer bread basket was a precursor to the diversity of flavors we were about to enjoy. When we ordered a salad and pasta to share, the wait staff considerately provided us with individual plates, a small detail that did not go unnoticed.

The generosity of the portions was impressive, leaving me satisfyingly full after just half of the pasta and salad. However, it was the Orecchiette pasta that stole the show—its ear-shaped morsels were bathed in a creamy sauce that hugged every curve, creating a symphony of texture and flavor that exceeded our every expectation.

To finish, the complimentary berry cookie sticks, fresh and infused with a delightful zest, were the perfect sweet note to end on.

My return to Come Prime isn't a matter of if, but when, as the rest of the menu awaits my eager...

Disappointing Experience — Premium Prices, Subpar Value

I stopped into Come Prima Madison Avenue and 72nd St.for a quick glass of wine while waiting for a haircut next door at Nunzio’s Salon.

I ordered a glass of Chardonnay. What I received was a very average, Chardonnay — not buttery, not bright, just plain. Out of curiosity, I asked the bartender what it was. He told me it was William Hill — a basic California wine that retails for around $14 a bottle.

Then came the real surprise: the bill. I was charged $26 for a single glass.

As someone who worked as a bartender prior to a career in finance, I understand the markup game — you’re paying for ambiance, service, overhead. But this was egregious! Charging nearly double the bottle price for a glass of an inexpensive wine isn’t just bad value — it feels dishonest.

I mentioned it to the bartender before leaving, because it didn’t sit right with me. I wasn’t trying to make a scene — just calling out what felt like a complete disconnect between price and quality.

It’s not about the money (I was on my way to spend $400 on a haircut) — it’s about respect for the customer. A place that aspires to fine dining shouldn’t be cutting corners or gouging on basics. Come Prima may have a talented chef and great food, but this experience left a bad taste in more ways than one. Chardonnay...