Primo — Restaurant in Oak Ridge

👉🏻 To Summarize our Visit: We LOVED this restaurant! My husband and I visited this restaurant in July of 2024 for the first time. When I mean love, it really felt like a quality 5 star restaurant, every meal was phenomenal, the layout of the food on the plates were beautiful, our service was perfect (never empty waters, etc), the price was EXTREMELY reasonable considering we have paid way more in other restaurants in this area to get less food and less quality. Vibe of the restaurant was incredible and felt exotic, the free fireworks off the balcony was a plus.

✅PROS: Reasonably priced for quality given, Food tasted fantastic, fresh, and light (not heavy and greasy), Wine tasted great, Options for drinks range from cheaper to extremely expensive ($300+), they knew how to make our special day feel special, incredible food given for free, post meal dessert from chef for free, bread was handmade and flavorful (free), our dessert which we purchased was incredible, seating can be at tables or at these couches (I literally was reclining while eating and talking), FREE FIREWORKS VIEWING FROM BALCONY IF you visit on the right night, reservations allowed

❌CONS: Never coming and not tasting it for yourself (I am serious)

🗒HOW THE NIGHT WENT: We had a later reservation (~8pm). As a previous waitress, I do know that best times to receive quick service is either before rush hours (5-6:30ish) or (7:45-9ish). I was not let down the whole time. Extremely well paced and quick service to be seated for reservation, taking our orders etc.

Upon entering the location, the interior felt exotic, and when we found out the owner of the restaurant is from Spain, that began to click. The interior has beautiful natural colors along with blue accents. It gives a very homey, fresh feel. Almost like you are in someones luxury home overlooking water. The bar which is open all night had these beautiful trellis' too. What struck me the most was our specific seats ended up being a "booth" for 2-3 people but it was actually a really comfy couch with pillows!

Our waiter, Brandon, who has been working there for years, served us.When making the reservation, I told them we were celebrating and he brought us out free champagne. It was THE nicest way a restaurant has ever celebrated our big day. Brandon understood the menu and was very professional.

We received our free bread which we found extremely fresh and fluffy. If you have ever had real bread, you can tell. I did end up taking our leftovers home because it was so good.

We did not order appetizers but was surprised, when two spoonfuls of a luxury looking appetizer came out (Free of charge). It was a mixture of jelly, nuts, bacon, mushroom, and something else. Never tasted anything like it. Loved it.

I had the Tortelloni and my husband had a prime rib-eye. We both chose the perfect meals for our palettes. My meal was about 32$ without tax and his ~$65 but I got to eat lobster claw, beef rib, and truffles inside it. I was worried the meal was going to feel heavy (oils and cheese) but this was NOT the case. In fact it was very balanced tasting and my stomach felt good. My husbands prime rib was cooked perfectly and the mashed potatoes with bone marrow he could not stop raving about!

Dessert we had the caramelized banana bread pudding. FANTASTIC! Better than any other dessert I have had in this area (including cheesecake factory cheesecakes). They even added a little sign for our special occasion.

After dessert, they brought out another free mini dessert for free (little jelly cubes and fudge cubes). Both were phenomenal.

We also got to watch a 10-15 min fireworks show the hotel put on that their balcony could see perfectly. You do not have to sit outside to walk outside during this part. Check with hotel on when this happens before booking.

⭐️AMAZING experience that every restaurant in Orlando should take notes from (true hospitality I have not seen since...

From the beginning to the end, this was likely the worst dining experience ever. Let me start by saying we have been coming to this restaurant for over 15 years, celebrating many family milestones. So, this place was special to us. Not any longer.

It started in the bar, where we waited 15 minutes and were acknowledged by 4-5 people, including the manager, Trisha, but not one of them asked us if we would like a drink. They just smiled and said hello. So, no pre-dinner drink was had.

We had a 7:45 reservation. Our drink order was taken first, and the wine came out in a reasonable amount of time. My husband’s cocktail took 30 minutes.

We ordered dinner. After about 90 minutes and no food, my husband went up to desk to inquire about it and was told they would get a manager right on it. No manager came. We asked another server, who told us it was farm to table there and we would have to wait as there were other tables ahead of us.

Two hours later and still no food. We finally asked our waiter who the manager was and he pointed out Trisha to us- who had been busy walking around us, but it was clear she was avoiding all contact with us. Couldn’t even look at us.

And our waiter’s response to our complaints about the wait?? well, it was something to think about and he would go home and sleep on it! Those were his words…seriously!

Finally got the food ( one order was completely wrong, and it took them yet another 40 Minutes to get the right meal Served!) Kids wanted dessert. Hot lava cake was ordered. At this point, we were the last guests in the place and even the servers were eating.

The manager, Trisha, brought out the cakes and they were cold. Our kids sent the hot lava cakes back. Still, at this point, Trisha has yet to address the awful experience we were having.

Finally, after the kids got a correctly prepared dessert served by Trisha, we had to ASK to speak to her about our experience. Then, and only then, Did she stop to talk to us.

Of course at that point she started to apologize. But, after 3 hours of mistake after mistake, it was too late. We are never going back there.

Sooo disappointing. The food is too good for an...

Primo @ the JW Marriott Grande Lakes focuses on farm-to-table cuisine with Mediterranean & Italian accents. Primo procures much of its produce, eggs, honey, & proteins locally, including from on-property Whisper Creek Farm & Primo’s own garden below the restaurant.

Primo has been designated a Recommended restaurant by the Michelin Guide since June 2022. Chef Melissa Kelly, owner, is a 2-time James Beard Foundation award winner for NE Best Chef. The restaurant is named after her grandfather, Primo Magnani.

Primo underwent a major renovation in 2021 & is light & airy. You feel like you were whisked to a Southern Italian Villa. I sat @ the bar & the service was strong. The food & beverage arrived w/in an appropriate time frame.

What I Ordered the Say Less Cocktail, Zellwood Corn Soup, Primo Meatballs, Oysters Oreganata, Bread Pudding

Dinner service began w/ an amuse bouche. The tuna tartar w/ mango & avocado was a well-balanced, tasty bite.

Say Less featured Appleton Estate Signature Rum, Amaro Montenagro, Luxardo Maraschino Liqueur, & lime. The drink lacked depth of flavor & did not make the components shine. The soup was amazing & memorable. I could have had a bowl of the corn relish alone. The whole kernels provided great texture & the acid from the relish cut through the richness of the crème fraiche.

I wanted to love the meatballs & I did enjoy the fresh ricotta and scamorza cheeses. I was just looking for more flavor in the meatballs. The tomato sauce was solid but not memorable. The oysters were well prepared. I loved the herbaceous quality created by the oregano and the garden greens. A squeeze of the Meyer lemon accentuated the breadcrumbs, & I appreciated the generous amount of breadcrumb on top of the oyster.

The bread pudding had nice subtle notes that went well w/ the bright basil-calamanzi coulis. I thought it was a fun play on French toast sticks and liked the slight crisp on the ends. However, I feel the dessert tasted more like banana bread than...