Primo Alto

veets

Truly, Sloper if you have made friends with the owner you should print out this thread, bring it over and if you can have a real conversation with owner/owners perhaps this place can be saved. It is worth saving!

A litle off topic but when VC pet removed Mike from the 9th street store I brought that thread to his brother George, who is in charge.. shortly after..Mike was back on 9th street. Inspite of the stupid squables that take here the opinions on this forum are noticed if they are presented in black and white to the right peoplethey can make a difference.

MOD

They are trying hard, more than most restaurant do around here.
I think I'll go this weekend and give them some love. Even though I'm pretty broke right now, which I think is true for most of us. I mean, God i'd love to go to Al Di La, but the rent comes first.

Yet, I feel Primo needs some attention. they really are doing their best to be part of the nabe.

belzjm

Mamacita...

today is the first day of brooklyn restaurant week! you can go to Al Di La for $23.00!

Probably cheaper than Primo Atto!!

MOD

Oh Snap!!! Yeah!

carmen

belzjm wrote: Mamacita...

today is the first day of brooklyn restaurant week! you can go to Al Di La for $23.00!

Probably cheaper than Primo Atto!!

al di la is only doing lunch for restaurant week, fyi

belzjm

oh thanks for the heads up!

i just started a new thread with the complete list in case anyone cares...

MOD

Carmen,
Hey hots stuff care to have lunch with me this week ;-)

carmen

Mamacita wrote: Carmen,
Hey hots stuff care to have lunch with me this week ;-)

Thinking about it! Let me see A) how work looks when I come back from my sick day today and also what my sis and her friend are planning on for the week since they just got in today.

longtimesloper

veets wrote: Truly, Sloper if you have made friends with the owner you should print out this thread, bring it over and if you can have a real conversation with owner/owners perhaps this place can be saved. It is worth saving!

A litle off topic but when VC pet removed Mike from the 9th street store I brought that thread to his brother George, who is in charge.. shortly after..Mike was back on 9th street. Inspite of the stupid squables that take here the opinions on this forum are noticed if they are presented in black and white to the right peoplethey can make a difference.

i wouldn't say I made friends with the owner, but, we have eaten there quite a few times and I guess he "knows" me. But, the question about the inside decor still sits, I don't see the problem with it and would really like it explained. i see brick walls, tables with plain tablecloths on them and some chandeliers, what am I missing here? if someone could give me something more concrete, then i would be happy to show this to him next time I am there.

But honestly, we are taking such a hit in the pocketbook recently (hubby not making normal pay, our cat costs us a small fortune, etc.) that I don't see myself eating there for quite a while.

old time brooklyn

I liked the polenta app though the wife thought it was just okay and no where near as good as the one at Bar Tano. I had the pancetta pasta you mentioned and thought it was pretty subpar. Wife had bolognese and that too was mediocre. I thought both dishes were too saucy as Larry David would say.

I give them props for an $18 bottle of wine though.

It was cheap, but nothing made me want to go back.

rubysrangersorg

the decor is not going to win any design awards, but i didn't find it offensive or distracting in any way.

belzjm

since i guess i was the one who commented about the decor, i'll try to explain myself. it's not really that big a deal, but to me it's just not appealing. the chandeliers look dated to me, and the tables very formal and out of place with the character of the outside sign and dark looking interior which looks very casual and strange.

that doesn't mean it's bad, it just means that we're trying to figure out why this seeming gem in the rough doesn't seem to be attracting customers. it's not sleek, nor does it look authentic or "old." either of which would be fine with me. that's why i haven't tried it...the whole concept just doesn't quite come together from walking by. the sign outside is a real turnoff and doesn't scream "Great Italian food here!" to me. there's something about it that hasn't seemed to make tons of people feel welcome to walk in.

Al Di La looks welcoming to me. AOC looks welcoming to me. Bonnie's looks welcoming and Belleville says...come on in to me! This place does not for some reason. i have to only assume it's the look of it, because there's been nice talk about the food. in these days of pinching pennies, you kinda want the whole experience when you go out to eat and spend money...good food AND nice atmosphere.

i hope they are able to tweak a couple things and bring it all together. it seems like it has a lot of potential, and i WILL get around to trying the place, but it's just not at the top of my list due to my reasons above.

kemb

Belzjm - go eat the mozzarella dish and come back and see if you care about the decor :-)

belzjm

haha ok ok.

i deserve this...i remember pushing LTS into trying GetFresh again after they added seating and began brunch/dinner service...!

longtimesloper

belzjm wrote: since i guess i was the one who commented about the decor, i'll try to explain myself. it's not really that big a deal, but to me it's just not appealing. the chandeliers look dated to me, and the tables very formal and out of place with the character of the outside sign and dark looking interior which looks very casual and strange.

that doesn't mean it's bad, it just means that we're trying to figure out why this seeming gem in the rough doesn't seem to be attracting customers. it's not sleek, nor does it look authentic or "old." either of which would be fine with me. that's why i haven't tried it...the whole concept just doesn't quite come together from walking by. the sign outside is a real turnoff and doesn't scream "Great Italian food here!" to me. there's something about it that hasn't seemed to make tons of people feel welcome to walk in.

Al Di La looks welcoming to me. AOC looks welcoming to me. Bonnie's looks welcoming and Belleville says...come on in to me! This place does not for some reason. i have to only assume it's the look of it, because there's been nice talk about the food. in these days of pinching pennies, you kinda want the whole experience when you go out to eat and spend money...good food AND nice atmosphere.

i hope they are able to tweak a couple things and bring it all together. it seems like it has a lot of potential, and i WILL get around to trying the place, but it's just not at the top of my list due to my reasons above.

I know I have said this a million times before, but, i so don't get the appeal of Bonnie's, that place looks filthy to me! And, unlike Belzz there (cause I don't think he has yet to eat at primo Atto, correct me if I am wrong here ), I have actually eaten in Bonnie's!

longtimesloper

Old Time Brooklyn wrote: I liked the polenta app though the wife thought it was just okay and no where near as good as the one at Bar Tano. I had the pancetta pasta you mentioned and thought it was pretty subpar. Wife had bolognese and that too was mediocre. I thought both dishes were too saucy as Larry David would say.

I give them props for an $18 bottle of wine though.

It was cheap, but nothing made me want to go back.

Too saucy? OK

to each their own, I personally find the food at Bar Tano to be bleh at best, hubby and I have gone there a few times and we don't get the appeal of the food or atmosphere there, but, hey, that is why there are so many restaurants in the world, for all different tates.

belzjm

bonnie's is fine. it's more like diner fare.

but that was my whole point...some of these places LOOK more appealing than they really are! i was just naming restaurants...not favorites necessarily, but places that look visually interesting to me. even belleville, which looks very welcoming to me wasn't the most amazing place last time i went (although i heard they've improved recently, so i need to go back) but the exterior and decor are visually nice.

this place seems to have the opposite problem.

longtimesloper

Again, to each their own, while I hate the outside sign at primo Atto, I have no problem with the interior decor.

When we have money again, LOL, I want to go back to Belleville also.

veets

Flexichick wrote: Belzjm - go eat the mozzarella dish and come back and see if you care about the decor :-)

That was rolled with asparagus I think.. and it was lovely

The polenta appetizer is delicious.

I think the problem is the economy.. so many people who just can't eat out as often and so many PS choices for where to eat out that a place needs to be so special to demand the return visit.

booklaw

We went to Belleville Friday night. It was very good. Service was excellent, the food was very good, and we even found a fine and inexpensive Cotes de Rhone.

longtimesloper

veets wrote: [quote=Flexichick]Belzjm - go eat the mozzarella dish and come back and see if you care about the decor :-)

That was rolled with asparagus I think.. and it was lovely

The polenta appetizer is delicious.

I think the problem is the economy.. so many people who just can't eat out as often and so many PS choices for where to eat out that a place needs to be so special to demand the return visit.

I also think that with the economy so bad, that people are eating out less of course and when they do eat out, they might want to go to tried and true places where they know the food already and maybe not try some place new where their money "might" be wasted. i know that is how I am feeling lately.

veets

Sloper... I totally agree with what you said. If the money is short and you do go out you don't take chances. I know we keep eating at the same places when we go out because we know what to expect and enjoy.