from July 2007 issue of MetroFamily

Let’s Eat Restaurant Review: Primo’s D’Italia

The Oklahoma City Metro area offers a multitude of places to dine, with something for every taste. I had heard of Primo’s d’Italia for quite some time and was eager to visit. My cousin Dani and I always enjoy a gastronomic adventure, so we headed for Midwest City.

When you enter Primo’s you get the feel of Tuscany, with Frank Sinatra-inspired music playing in the background. The restaurant is divided into several rooms which lends to an intimate feel. It’s a nice place to stay and have a good visit.

Our waiter, a Primo’s server for three years, mentioned that the steaks and chicken items are excellent. He also informed us of the daily special, including its price.

We began our meal with Asiago Spinach Dip ($7) which made the whole excursion worthwhile. The dip is a rich blend of cheeses, spinach, bacon, and special seasonings, served with pizza bread. After several bites we thought we noticed some onion and a light crunch which turned out to be water chestnuts. Every bite is like a party in your mouth. If you aren’t a spinach fan, don’t let that ingredient scare you off. This combination of flavors is a little bit of heaven.

Since Primo’s is, after all, an Italian restaurant, we decided it would be wise to try their pizza and paninis. I thought a panini was a flattened, grilled sandwich, but that’s a misconception. Panini simply means “little loaf,” and it need not be pressed or grilled.

We ordered the Pollo Diablo Sandwich ($7) which comes with your choice of salad, pasta, or soup; we had pasta with marinara sauce for our side. The blackened chicken breast sandwich is normally topped with mushrooms, peppers, and Provolone cheese covered with Diablo sauce (a spicy marinara), but we substituted onions for the mushrooms. With a sandwich of this size, the pasta was a little too much, which simply meant leftovers—always a good thing.

We also ordered Margherita Pizza ($7) with mozzarella cheese, sliced Roma tomatoes, and basil. I am sad to say it was horrific—very surprising. The cheese texture did not seem right, the tomatoes weren’t ripe, and the crust was undercooked and tough. We should have sent it back but were too shocked to react.

The beginning and the end of our meal were the tastiest of our experience. For dolci (dessert) we enjoyed an order of Crème Brulee Pannacotta. It wasn’t as browned as I have had before, but it was very creamy and was drizzled with a delicious strawberry sauce. It did not go unappreciated.

After raving about the dip, the waiter informed us of a pasta dish, Asiago Spinach Pasta is made with sliced, grilled chicken sautéed with the spinach dip and tossed with penne pasta and alfredo sauce, then sprinkled with fresh Roma tomatoes. We wish we had noticed it when ordering but will have to check it out if we make a return visit. v

Annie’s Restaurant Rating
2 ½ of 4 forks
Primo’s d’Italia
5661 Tinker Diagonal, Midwest City, OK
405-736-9090

Hours: Monday-Sunday 10:30am–10pm
Prices: $2-$14; Bambini menu $4-$8; bulk “to go” orders available