Primola — Restaurant in New York

adequate Italian fair, frequented mostly by older (60+) local neighborhood folks. That said, the owner is truly a mean hot headed old guy (i would use more nasty language here but this is the more family friendly language). I made a reservation we walked in, there was some confusion around where to seat us but eventually the owner placed on on a table between three others. we asked if we can sit in the corner where there is less traffic but he said in an almost angry manner "that is already reserved"...so we sat at the table offer and sat where the settings and chairs were placed. After the bread sticks , bread and drinks were served the owner comes over yelling at me that I am blocking the way and murmured under his breath "can you believe this guy" as if I intentionally moved the chair into the position it was placed .... It didn't end there...he then instructed the waiter to move us to the table we asked for in the first place then literately in a frenzy like a man over taken by his anger till his muscles spasm-ed he started clearing the first table fumbling the silverware all while murmuring this time more loudly "can you believe this guy"...wait there is more...he then walks to the back part of the restaurant complaining to his regulars out loud "can you believe this guy, blocking everyone"...mind you I am not a heavy person nor was I sitting particularly far from the table...he then resets the first table WITH THE SETTINGS AND CHAIRS IN THE EXACT SAME SPOT I FOUND THEM IN.....we should have just walked out, but it was a cold night and we didn't feel like going place to place looking for a place that takes walk-ins....waiter was good, as for the food, it was decent (nothing to write home about)...one we finished dinner the old guy signaled the bus staff to clear our table as if to say get out of here...so i decided I would order desert and coffee just to get under his skin ....i can see he was seething and at this point i decided to treat the situation as a form of entertainment with the owner being the "show" ... I can promise you I will never step foot in that place again...it does seems that others like the place ...so enter at your own risk...just don't let them seat you on a middle table DEMAND a table near one...

Awful experience at this restaurant on two occasions. The first time there the food was pretty good but the service was abominable. Six months later decided to give it another shot because it’s close to where I live. What a mistake.

My husband and I had a 7:30 reservation. We arrived on time but had to wait 20 minutes to be seated. Once we were seated, all seemed good. We had bread and water and the waiter promptly took our drink order. Took a solid ten minutes for martinis to arrive. Ok, no big deal as we weren’t in a rush.

We then ordered 3 appetizers to share while we decided on main course. The portions were small, but again, no big deal.

We ordered a pasta dish to share and each ordered the Bisteca Florentina , and a $160 bottle of red. The pasta was delicious. The beef was over cooked despite asking for medium rare. It was barely edible. Neither of us finished it.

We ordered dessert and coffee. The desserts were delicious.

The waiter brought by the check with the dessert which was a subtle signal that we were being pushed to leave. He came by ten minutes later, while we were still eating dessert to ask us to pay. The owner came by five minutes later and asked in a very gruff voice why we weren’t paying. The people at the next table who just started their meal couldn’t believe how rude he was. Our bill was $400 and was probably the worst dining experience ever.

AVOID THIS RESTAURANT...

All the comments about the warmth and welcome of the staff, are in stark contrast to my experierence as a single woman eating at the bar sparadicaly over the years. I live two blocks away. As I am not a regular and a woman alone, I am tolerated. That's it. Case in point, this evening. I came in, sat at bar, ordered a glass of red wine and a menu. Was never informed of the specials or even asked if I would like to be so informed. Nor afforded any sort of acknowledgement by the host, who effusively else. All of which made me an observer and was rather appalled to hear a server inform a table he was out of livet, "but who cares!?." Effectively insulting everyone within hearing distance who likes liver, including diners at the table he was addressing and me. Then there is the woman who isapparently training/observing in sime capacity, who is inappropriately dressed and completely ugnored by staff bustling around her. A conundrum and cringe-worthy. I love the food here and the old school ambiance... and would come more often, except for the fact there are so many places in the 'hood and beyond where I am accorded more warmth and welcome.

All the above said, Jenny / Genie (sp?), the bartender this evening was the most pleasant I have ever encountered here in the 20-ish years I have done my sparodic...