Osteria by Primo — Restaurant in New York

When my husband said he booked us a place to celebrate our 10th wedding anniversary all by himself by simply asking Google what the best Italian restaurant in all of Staten Island, I was pretty impressed, shocked and slightly suspicious all at the same time. The pictures looked delicious enough to lick my phone, and the menu had all the great staples you'd want in a celebratory dinner. I was pleased and excited for our dinner.

We made early reservations (5PM) this past Saturday, and got to have a comfy, sun-drenched seat by the window over looking their outdoor seating patio that probably gets mobbed come the summer months. We started with a prosecco for me and hubby got a rum and coke. When Dan our waiter brought out caponatina with onion and lightly sauced foccacia bread, I knew we were in for a real treat. We fought over the bread and I was awed by how great the eggplant dish tasted. So far, so damn good.

Their specials of the night were one more tempting than the next, but I ended up with the funghi pappardelle pasta while my husband can't give up his penne alla vodka with grilled chicken on top. I too was tempted to switch last minute to the veal marasala, but my fat cells were called to the carbs. We wanted the baked clams to start (8 shells) and it was the best decision we made to start off the night. These were the BEST baked clams I've had in a REALLY long time. Hubby was sopping up the lemon and breadcrumb sauce like he was heading for the electric chair. I knew better that I had to pace myself.

If my husband's vodka dish was a 10/10, mine was a 12/10; no far exaggeration. Pasta cooked to al dente and the notion the pasta wasn't drowning in the sauce was a tall-tale sign, they were confident in their freshly made pasta and their sauce. On my first bite, I already had texted 3 people that I was dragging them here to try this place. The vibe was classic, but not stuffy, and very clean and inviting. Upscale Manhattan-feeling without burning a hole in your wallet.

Dan was so wonderful and checked on us throughout our meal and even gave us Italian cheesecake to share on the house to end our meal with a literal cherry on top. We both felt super special and catered to. The finest in Italian comfort food.

We'll be back several times before the...

I had high expectations after reading the reviews and was excited to try this restaurant. WORST SERVICE EVER! It took atleast 15 minutes before our server approached us to ask about drinks, and then another 10 minutes went by before we even received menus—only after we requested them. As far as the food….. we ordered the calamari, which was rubbery. Our entrées—chicken marsala, shrimp scampi, and a pork chop— that come with a weird medley of vegetables and a few pieces of potatoes, were average and small in portions. We didn’t order dessert because we didn’t want to risk being there another hour waiting for it. The biggest disappointment, though, was the service. In the hour and a half we were there, our server never once checked in to see if we needed anything—no water refill, no offer for another round of drinks, absolutely nothing. THIS IS A SMALL PLACE. With only 8 of the 11 tables occupied, it was baffling how inattentive the service was. With such poor service and mediocre food, I honestly don’t understand the rave reviews. Definitely not worth the...

Osteria by Primo was the perfect choice for my birthday celebration, and we couldn’t have made a better decision. The restaurant has its own parking lot, which is very convenient. Inside, the atmosphere is cozy and inviting. I have a deja vu that I am on my vacation in Italy. The service is truly exceptional. It feels elegant but never pretentious. Our dinner was filled with joy and unforgettable food—fried calamari, grilled octopus, fresh salads, pizza, pasta and perfectly cooked steaks. I won’t describe each dish in detail because every single one was mouthwatering, delicious, and obviously prepared with heart. We even had the pleasure of meeting the chef, who kindly checked on us and surprised our table with complimentary treats. It made the evening even more special. It was, without doubt, one of the best celebrations I could imagine. Osteria by Primo has now become my special place, and highly recommend it for...