Review Primi Cavendish - Claremont

A really nice and spacious restaurant 😍 Was a lovely surprise to find awesome vegan options available for existing menu items because I’m lactose intolerant and but love Italian food! The pizza was lovely, with both a crispy and chewy base! The vegan cheese was actually awesome and the pasta was really light and flavorful.

It's always nice going to this Primi because it has a very relaxed atmosphere with its outdoor seating. I always find the waitrons to be knowledgeable about whats on offer. They are also very friendly and sociable. I do sometimes find the portion sizes to be small considering what you pay for them. Having said that though, I have never had an example of a time I did not enjoy the food I ordered. Overall I would go back again.

Good atmosphere, great service, and excellent food. The price is not very attractive and I do notice the portion of the food is getting smaller and the prices are increasing. Overall, great place for a bite and/or drinks. Update: Came back here again and the food is still very good. Worthy 5 stars.

The food was good just smaller portions than I had expected,Service was good Brain and his team work hard and slide to positions... the people in the kitchen were not wearing their masks properly which made me uneasy.

The place has amazing staff who are efficient and enjoyable. The food is amazing and is served quickly. The only downside to this place is that outside the pizza and burger menu, everything else is a bit pricey. The sausage pizza with blue cheese is easily the best item and I would gladly recommend it.

Primi has good customer service and the staff is very friendly and welcoming. Went there and had their stake and it was amazing and so were their cocktails. It's a very lively place with good food and service and very affordable.

We took some of our visiting friends for dinner and I was pleasantly surprised at how kid friendly this primi was. I had always visited this primi for business lunches but Primi Claremont is good all round. They have a play doe area which was a great hit with the little ones. The food is always good. I love the calamari starter and the meat dishes. I rarely choose pizza. The specials are normally a hit.

By far the best 👌 authentic Italian cuisine. Not only that they are affordable and exquisite. I'd love to pop in anytime from now.

Food was great.. Service is really. Good and beers is ice cold.. Great fresh food.

Good ambiance, fast service and the best focaccia I had in Cape Town, creamy decadent cheese cake, pretty decent pizza but my salmon was overcooked and not as fresh as I would have liked it.

Great location for a quick pizza after shopping Friendly staff and inside or outside seating available

Lovely food and drinks. They are reasonably priced. Definitely one of my favourite spots to have a bite and some lovely cocktails

Good food and well priced. Friendly service. Sports bar vibe with TV going. It does get rather loud so not ideal for a romantic night out but good to grab a quick supper.

Amazing experience as served by the best waiter Lee. The ambience and layout is magnificent

Good service and great food!

As always their service is tops..food awesome too...

Awesome service great food and location..a bit noisy though..but would definitely go back

I had a great experience here today. Besides the food being great, I was attended to by a few different wait staff who were all very attentive happy helpful and energetic.

Sitting here have 3 different waiters and this is officially the worst Pasta plus service I've ever had from Primi. We won't even bother returning the plates as we know what happens in the kitchen when one complains

I was very impressed with the service and the food. And we had a lovely lady serve us (unfortunately I don't remember her name). She went out her way to make sure we were assisted and that we were comfortable. And even when we were done they didn't rush us to pay the bill. They let us relax until we were comfortable enough to leave by ourselves. Amazing

Very impressed with the service and food. Great waiters always making sure the customers are happy. Been there a few times now never disappointed. We jst love Primi

Smoked salmon & avo flatbread was totally a flop and it’s new on the menu, all the good elements were missing just saw a normal salad on the flatbread.

It was my first time visiting a Primi and unfortunately not a great experience in terms of service. My waitress seemed unimpressed at the door already, and seemed to lose interest in me as soon as she realized I was dining alone and only ordering a coffee and some desert. She checked on me once throughout my hour long visit. I asked her for help with the WiFi and she mumbled something under her breath then walked off. Had to ask another waiter for help. When I was done with my meal, I politely put my hand up. She could not be bothered with me though, and sent a colleague to print my bill and take my payment. Very cold experience indeed. You might get better service at a KFC I’m afraid. My brownie and coffee were excellent though - my compliments to the chef.

We had a lovely lunch and the best Chicken Campagnola with veggies. Our waitress Mashudu was very friendly and attentive and made sure that we were attended to all the time. Great vibe!

Really enjoyed myself,the seating and the atmosphere was really great. Their chicken kebab on a flatbread is to die for and they serve the real Pina Colada with great traces of coconut<br/>Service was great😊

I had a lovely supper with my daughter last Friday evening. The vibe of this place is so nice at night, especially sitting outside, even though it's the smoking section and I done smoke. I had carpaccio and crispy livers, and my daughter had zucchini fries and toast with avo etc. Also had the most divine chocolate brownie afterwards. Service was excellent. Lovely way to spend a Friday evening.

Primi has really great pizza. The flavor is awesome and they use quality ingredients. I have tried other items on their menu but was disappointed. Specifically, the carpaccio was bland. The primi poppers didn't taste good. The breaded livers were soggy and lacked flavor. Calamari was good. I'll stick to pizza! Service varies

The cavendish branch is probably the best Primi branch in the western cape to be honest! They never disappoint and the food is always great and consistent! The food here actually tastes better than the other branches. I’ve been to all of them numerous times but this branch is the best!

My weekly go to for catch up sessions with my friends. The Cavendish branch never disappoints. My personal recommendations would be the Cheese and Garlic Foccacio, Recco Classico pasta (with chicken but I leave that choice to you) and the Rigatoni Chicken Liver pasta.

I ordered a Mojito, it wasnt the best I have had but it was potent!<br/><br/>The spaghetti Bolognese wasn't much of a presentation however the flavour was 100%.<br/>

Primi is a very friendly place. The food is great, the service amazing and the ambiance is wonderful I love it. But they did not give me bread and garlic like the waterfront Primi 🤷‍♀️

I used to frequent this Primi when I lived in the South. I'm fact wife and I had our first date here when they were still on the other side of the mall. We opted for a drink and something light to eat before our movie.<br/><br/>I had a strawberry jam jar which still packs the same punch it did when I had it years ago. Although they don't use that same thick strawberry juice anymore. Wife had zucchini fries and I had the beef carpaccio. The portion size for the carpaccio is huge, I couldn't finish it. Looking forward to having it for breakfast on some toast. Would have preferred a little less olive oil. Also the menu mentioned capers, but it didn't have any. Waiter should have mentioned this.<br/><br/>Apart from that the service was great.

Primi piatti has definitely got some work to do particularly the cavendish outlet. The menu is excessively large and over priced for the quality. Also the menus we were given were literally falling apart. I'm also not really sure what they were aiming at with regards to decor one would think for a franchise they would be standard throughout. As for the food and drink it was nothing to write about very standard.

Nicely convenient situated at Cavendish Square. Generally my experience of this branch has been good. The service is variable, but the pizzas and cocktails are good.

By far the worst breakfast I have ever had, ordered French toast with bacon and maple syrup, only 3 rashers of bacon and a whole bottle of maple syrup, no care was taken from the kitchen to produce a proper meal. If they can't make a simple breakfast I wonder how bad the rest of there meals are.. Terrible!!!!!!!

If you have the option to lick the sidewalk outside this restaurant, DON'T! The food is better inside, BUT ONLY SLIGHTLY.  Primi pIATTI used to offer a hip environment to enjoy food of consistently good quality.  Sadly this is no longer the case.....their halcyon days have passed.<br/><br/>Food is now oF poor, inconsistent quality.  While the Recco  based dishes used to be great, they now tastes as if made from a can! The seared fillet is of sub-mediocre quality. Pizzas are OK-ish....rather get Colcacchios!<br/><br/>Service is slow and poor<br/>Management, both instore and fat ranchise doesn't atcually care about rectifying any grievances.....I base this on at least 5 interactions with store and/or franchise managers.  They do not follow through on promises of restitution when dishes are served cold or incorrect orders are completed.<br/><br/>AVOID THIS HOLE!!!!

Visited this branch of Primi for a late Friday dinner. It wasn't too busy and there was a really relaxed, intimate atmosphere to the place which made the night even better. We ordered the Focaccia bread as a starter and the usual Recco pasta for mains.The food was really tasty, the Recco is almost always a good choice, and decided to try their Coffee Frappe as well which was also quite good besides being very sweet towards the bottom.<br/>The service was great, with our waiter being very friendly and convincing us to come again for their Happy Hour.<br/>Overall, it was a great night with good food,excellent service and a lovely atmosphere.

I was ravenous on this day, so it was no surprise that I would order a starter. My starter was chili poppers, and wow I must say that these were chill poppers to remember. i think that instead of jalapenos, they use pepperdews. This was welcomed by my taste buds! They were juicy and flavourful. My mains were some delicious prawn pasta, which was creamy and the garlic and chili gave it that needed bite. I was a bit disappointed when the waiter advised me to up-size my pasta, but the prawn portion was not up-sized as well. I ended up having a mountain of pasta with a tiny and countable amount of prawns. Prawn to pasta ratio was not great, but the quality of the meal made up for it. My boyfriend, bless him, ordered a steak - again and as always. He asked for it to be done medium - well, but it arrived a bit underdone to his liking. The waiter was happy to return it and bring it back more grilled. Hereafter, my boyfriend thoroughly enjoyed his steak and side veg. Oh and drinks, my boyfriend stuck to his Jameson and I went for gin which I thought was somewhat weak.  Read more on the link below.

What a horrible experience. Never have a group of paying customers be treated so poorly. Shocking service, extremely rude manageress left us with a sour taste after a below par meal. What a shame, this branch ruins the solid reputation of a reputable brand. Won't return.

Found myself at Primi this morning catching up with a friend over breakfast. I'm surprised the breakfast options are so extensive considering it's known for its Italian pizza and pasta dishes! <br/><br/>The restaurant is located near one of the entrances to Cavendish and shares the floor with many shops so its convenient to come to before or after doing some shopping. The restaurant was quite empty when we arrived this morning so we were quickly seated. Our server was surprisingly soft-spoken and a bit anxious but was still very professional and efficient: he took our orders quickly, cleared up the table straight away when the coffee spilled and warmed up my friend's coffee when it got cold. He was attentive but not overly in your face. <br/><br/>As for the food... I had high expectations because I've been here before to try their pasta. The pasta campagnola is one of my favorites. But the breakfast today failed to hit the mark. My friend had the 'On The Run' dish and I had the 'Sautéed Mushrooms' dish. When the food arrived, it was cold. I was also not a fan of the salsa on my dish because it made the bread (which was already difficult to cut) soggy and it had a very sour taste. We both agreed that our coffees - my americano and my friend' s cappuccino - were good though. <br/><br/>So to sum up: Pleasant service, convenient location, disappointing meal. I think the regular lunch dishes (pizza and pasta) are the best bet here.

Good food in good time,but only for good people!!!great service i love their pasta and breakfasts,one of the places to be will definitely come back again!!

Primi fan. I've tried almost all the primi restaurants around Cape Town. I am very disappointed in service at this particular branch over the last few visits. I'm in Hospitality and this to me is a standard of service that I will not forget. I am definitely sad to say I will not be returning to this particular branch. No condiments (sugar) on table during breakfast service,wasn't even asked if I'd be ordering breakfast. Staff all stand outside in a huddle having a fat conversation. This has been noted on more than one occasion. If this primi is under new management,then it's definitely showing.

I looove primi ! I can never ever get enough ! Wasn't as hungry as I usually am on this night so decided to share a pizza with my mom. The Moroccan chicken. Its really spicy ! And spicy and I dont usually mix. I'm also not a fan of a yogurt coriander combo , however my mother is and I'll do anything for her ❤. My sister had the avo salsa (which is avo on toast, even she wasn't sure why she had that) and my dad the aubergine pasta. My dad was pretty impressed at his delicious meat free pasta. I love the ambience at this primi, and the service is always lively and welcoming.

Always a great all rounder place to stop for food. Their hot breakfast options are fantastic. Their Holloumi and Jam Jars are some of the best around!

Love.this.place. The service is generally good and you won't find yourself waiting around for long. I've only ever had one unpleasant experience where a chef tried to convince me that his mistake is actually how creme brûlée is meant to be made - the sugar on top was black and not a golden brown. The cocktails are great and the food is tasty and of a consistent high quality, I strongly reccommend ;) the recco con gamberi to all seafood lovers.

One of the better PRIMIs. Their pasta is pretty good and the wait is never too long. However, the service is lacking. It would've been nice to have our table cleared without having to catch the waiters attention.

Primi Piatti, Cavendish mall in Cape Town<br/><br/>My sister and I spent our friday evening at Primi, we had ordered a penne recco pasta which was creamy and tasty.<br/><br/>She had ordered a cocktail which she had enjoyed as well.<br/><br/>The service was good too.

Decided to try Uber Eats a few nights back, and Primi in Cavendish was the restaurant settled on. I've been to this branch a few times, the service is good but sometimes slow. You pretty much get the standard Primi experience. I usually enjoy the pizza, which is never disappointing. The recco pasta is also a favourite. <br/><br/>Most recently we ordered a pizza with some add ons and things to leave off half the pizza, which they got right. This was great to see because it's always a risk to complicate a delivery order. We also got the flourless chocolate cake. Although the expectation was a slice of cake, we got a disk of pudding and three chocolate balls - it was all chocolatey goodness. <br/><br/>Overall, Primi is good a choice because you know exactly what you're getting from the franchise. The food is quick and tasty. <br/>

I would say its average.Nothing overly special. The drinks are good. Food menu could improve. Dinning experience is a bit slow. Overal it's not here nor there yet.

Great service and the food was prepared farely quickly. A free starter of bread is served with olive oil and balsamic vinegar, along with cheese, chilli and garlic paste. Will definitely come back!

We all had the recco and thoroughly enjoyed it! It's always well flavoured and a decent portion. The complementary bread always goes down well. Good friendly service.

We're avid Primi fans and it's always our go-to for a quick bite. Claremont's branch however was such a let down! The chai tea is a third of the size of other branches, the pasta had only a quarter of the ingredients in it and the service was very lack luster.

I've been to Primi a couple of times. The food is always good. I had a free pizza sandwich which was complimentary for loyalty card holders. It had a good amount of cheese. I thought there was too much onion however and thought they could have been fried more to a brown colour and softer texture. I had there own recipe of Ice Tea which had less sugar than canned ice tea (always a plus) and it wasn't too sweet and really refreshing.

Honestly really really average. The food is particularly great and the service is very so so especially when it's not busy. The pasta sometimes bland and the burger is not exactly great either.

A decent choice for a meal when in cavendish. Pretty consistent with other primi chains. Whether you order a pasta or pizza, it's sure to be good. Pizzas have nice thin crusts and the pasta dishes are always cooked well. Nice seating options either inside or outside. Staff are friendly too.

I always enjoy both visiting this primi and ordering from it, the wait staff are completely friendly and the place never really gets too full. There is a pleasant atmosphere at all times and some of the dishes are truly great. My favourite pizza is definitely the regina, and it is really delicious with some parmesan sprinkled over it. My favourite pastas are the salmone, pollo giorgio and chicken liver in that order. The salmone is certainly one of my favourite pasta dishes - I usually have it with linguine. The brownies are likely my second favourite brownies (after Loco Lounge but if you read that review, you'll know I'm never going back).

Primi primi primi...can I just say the food its always top notch. I recently studied there during lunch hour and the atmosphere is beautiful. Not to noisy its just right. I had the 400gs ribs and they were delicious. They are so filling and i suggest anyone who wants to have a rush hour lunch. I suggest this is the place. The service is welcoming and warm.

I always enjoy visiting this Primi. The staff are always so friendly and service is generally good. I always order the Recco pasta as it my favourite. I also enjoy ordering the bread with Recco sauce which is delicious. There pasta is usually consistent and I always ask for extra sauce. I've also tried the chocolate brownie which I enjoyed.

I always enjoy the pastas at Primi, the friendly waitrons and the attention. Sit inside on a cold rainy day or under the umbrellas outside when it's warm and sunny. Quality and standard of the food is great and their menu is vast. There's something for everyone and you'll battle to make your choice! 😋

I've eaten a lot of pasta before but the chicken pesto pasta from Primi is one of the most memorable. Go visit day or night, doesn't really matter - they food is good regardless.

Not the biggest Primi there is in Cape Town considering I've been to all of them but also my experience in Claremont wasn't great. We waited for the longest time for our pizza & our drinks were wrong. This happened a while ago that's why I've been to every other Primi because I'm not keen on ever going back there.

Great food. Satisfactory service. The wait was a bit long and the manager came to check up on us which was good. <br/><br/>One waiter came to clean up after our meal and was wiping all over us. I thought they usually do that when the customers leave? <br/><br/>Food was amazing. We ordered the Recco Gamberi with linguini pasta. I absolutely loved it as I was able to share it with Imran and we were stuffed. The hearty amount of prawns made my stomach smile and the curry-infused flavor excited my palate like no other!

Went for supper last night, received the bill and notice we were charged R4 for butter which we had requested after our complimentary bread arrived at the table (without butter). <br/><br/>We queried this as was told "We only serve butter with breakfast and lunch, in the evenings we serve bread with chili and garlic only" and that "Packaging is expensive". Spoke to both the waiter and Manager.<br/><br/>We often visit this restaurant for lunch admittedly, where we do get butter with our bread without it appearing as a cost item on our bill! We find the location convenient and the kids enjoy this little play area. Service ranges from good to poor, food is usually good although we've had a few issues of inconsistent food quality at times.<br/><br/>I hope R4 for two small cubes of butter on a R682,00 bill is worth loosing our regular patronage over Primi? <br/><br/>Get it's only R4, but charging for butter with your bread? Come on . . . .<br/><br/>Won't be returning.

Had a very bad experience here in terms of food I ordered chicken and butternut mash with sweet potato the mash was absolutely tasteless its like it had water I did not complain just told myself to never come here again.

Generally quite underwhelming. This wasn't my first visit. The Zucchini fries were meant to be a healthier alternative and they ended up being just really oily and gross. Ordered haloumi and again was quite underwhelmed at the thin hard seasoned-although-the-cheese-is-naturally-salty slices they presented.<br/><br/>Meh,<br/>Service is also bearable if you aren't in a hurry.<br/>I think convenience is really what's keeping this restaurant populated - but again, each to his own.

Had dinner here after watching a movie. Lives up to Primi reputation - well priced pasta and a decent drink selection. Nothing particularly special about this specific outlet, but I don't have anything to criticize about it either.

Went back here for a meal last week as they invited me for a wine-pairing event. Ended up not being an event at all, and said that they possibly would give me a discount on my meal. However they did comp the meal in the end, probably to make up for the lack of communication in terms of what I was invited back for. The food was good, redeemed themselves in the food department. Delicious Calamari and my husband enjoyed his pizza.  I do still feel that the service lacks though. The place was buzzing and really popular so you probably wont be disappoint. (hopefully). The manager is really friendly.<br/><br/>Previous experiences below:<br/><br/> Came here for a zomato meetup a few months ago and had the most awesome experience and wrote a raving review  - unfortunately had to delete that review as my subsequent visit was horrific. Terrible service, incorrect dish was served to my husband, and when they brought the correct dish it was beyond salty and could not be consumed unfortunately. Waitress didn't know how to use the rewards card. Just bad, bad, bad.

Same what a disappointment. Pasta way over cooked. Do bad it was falling apart. Pizza was just as bad. There portion sizes have also reduced in size. I used to work at a primi after school and definitely there quality has gone down. Primi used to be so good.

Stopped at Primi Claremont for breakfast, very disappointed in the service I received. Firstly I was made to pay for something that wasn't on my plate, I'm not one to cause a scene so i just left. They weren't that busy, but our food took forever. Very bad experience, doubt I'll go back to this branch again.

This is the branch that I've frequented the most since I moved to Cape Town. <br/>I find that the food quality varies, but for the most part, their pizzas are pretty good - my standard pizza is a margherita. I usually like to order their basil pesto pasta or the recco con pollo. <br/><br/>When it comes to breakfast, I like the omelettes - they are the best bang for my buck. I also adore the ciabatta French toasts, but their eggs Benedict was really disappointing and "dry" for lack of a better word. They do a decent version of heuvos rancheros - not for the faint-hearted!<br/><br/>Sadly, the service seems tired and heaven forbid you to choose a seat outside... Your order will *never* come to you without you having to beg, borrow and steal for it! Something needs to be done about this, seriously guys!

Shaun has delivered superior customer service and he knows the art of pampering his guests in the restaurant. <br/>From a very happy customer <br/>THEODORE JUDE JAMES <br/>PLUMSTEAD <br/>0837522863<br/>theodorejames60@gmail.com

Dismal experience. 5 burgers took 90 minutes to arrive, the orders were mixed up, and by the time the food arrives, the burgers were ice cold.

I've been to mostly just about all the conveniently located Primi's around Cape Town (canal walk, camps bay, Seapoint, V&A Waterfront) but this is still my favourite. The waiters are on point- no cheesy jokes or terrible service here! They are attentive and friendly. I'm not a huge fan of the Jam Jar cocktails (only because they are so big and I'd like to walk out!) but the regular sized cocktails are delicious. The Mojito is perfect. Food wise I am a huge fan of the Chicken Campagnola. A light creamy chicken pasta. Good food, good value and quick service from this branch.

This branch is not my favourite, as the service can be slow and lacking sometimes and I have gone to other branches where I cannot fault the service. The inside area is a bit cramped compared to other branches as well, but it's centrally located for a bite to eat and the food is quite good most times, although the pizza can be a bit dry sometimes. Pasta Campagnola is my favourite pasta here and every branch gets it right every time! Cocktails are great value for money, but would be nice to have a happy hour special on some days (would make me keen to go often).

This branch is quite small which I actually prefer as the staff are very interactive. I can't fault their pastas but their pizzas can lack a bit of flavour. If you like a bit of spice give their recco pasta a try I like adding prawns but it can be served plain or with chicken as well. All in all this is a good spot when you looking for a quick good meal

a go to when you cant think of anywhere to go. primi is a vibe. almost always have the chicken burger or a pizza. the electric blue is a cult favourite. its really a must, its just a cape town thing.

We order from this primi all the time because the quality of the food is consistent. Other primis constantly miss the mark. Try the tre carne pizza, the pescatore pasta or the caesar salad. Tasty big portions that satisfy the tummy and the taste buds every time.

First time at a primi, service is spot on. Staff are helpful an knowledgable regarding menus. The music is unobtrusive. Man oh man, I can't believe a franchise is so on point. Very surprised and an immediate fan. Will visit again.

Hands down this is the best place for a breakfast, no flaws, and nothing I could find an issue with - not that I was trying.<br/><br/>We loved it, and recommend it

Popped in for a quick lunch during a busy shopping day. <br/>Was pleasantly surprised by the menu and the busyness of the restaurant.<br/>Really like the bar menu which offers interesting lite bites. I had the rosemary & garlic bread - a bit too thick with halloumi & tomato salsa - although the portion was rather small<br/>The service was efficient and swift.

I had the hawinne pizza, it was very nice, the only problem I had was that there was not enough ham and pineapple on the pizza, it was also a bit cold. I had a chocolate milkshake wich came fast. Very good service and a friendly wighter.

My grilled chicken burger came cold along with the chips but the chicken looks cooked and I can taste the mozorilia cheese on it I and the service is good there today.

Terrible!! First instance we waited over 10 mins for a waiter to take our order. We actually walked out without ordering. Second time around we ordered a takeaway at 20:10 and we only received the order at 21:00 after numerous complaints. The waiter went on to advise us that waiting time for food is 45 mins which is outrageous especially because we were not advised of this before we ordered. Had we been told, we would not have bothered with ordering. After all that waiting, the food was HORRRIBLE!!!! I ordered pasta and it was disgusting. I can certainly say that we will never go back there again. Highly disappointed. Poor service, poor standard of food!

Our experience here was fine. Nothing extraordinary. Our waiter was friendly and quick-witted but we often had to look for him in order to place orders or pay our bill. My husband had a pizza which he thoroughly enjoyed and I had a low-carb burger with a lettuce wrap and zucchini fries.

I only eat one thing at Primi which is there Recco, I love the flavours of the pasta which has a bit of a curry flare to it. The Primi in Claremont is fast, their waiters are friendly but I can't say anymore about their service as I think I've always gotten a take away and never dined in the restaurant. I think its also worth saying they have really good take-away packaging. Overall its a good meal when you feel for something hearty and with lots of feel good carbs.

Primi is our old faithful. It's not a weekend without a recco con polo, its my favourite dish. I have also enjoyed the lamb chops and on my most recent visit I tried out the pulled chicken and pesto pizza which was delicious. Primi has something for everyone which is why I love them so much. My only problem with this branch is their consistency. The food is very up and down. There have been times where the recco sauce didn't taste like the usual recco sauce and then there have been times where the recco sauce was out of this world. So I think they definitely need to work on their consistency. Other than that Primi is a great spot to enjoy a meal and some drinks😊

Primi Piatti – Cavendish Square – Claremont.<br/><br/>Nobody raves about average - Primi Piatti Claremont is everything but average.<br/><br/>A privileged, evening meet up invite from the amazing crew at Zomato. As expected and as always, great people, great food and an awesome venue. The evening’s venue being Primi Piatti in Claremont (Situated at the Dreyer Street entrance at Cavendish Square).<br/><br/>The evening kicked off with a bang. On arrival, we were welcomed with a couple of Strawberry & passion fruit mojito’s off the cocktail menu. Spectacular. The current cocktail menu line-up delivers some all-time favourites including margaritas, straw berry daiquiri’s, pinna colada and not forgetting the infamous Jam Jars. So far so good.<br/><br/>Next up - Antipasti / starters galore. The antipasti misto (A Mediterranean platter of prosciutto, salami, peppers, zucchini, marinated tomatoes, pecorini slices, kalamata and green olives) is a platter to be hold. Add in the rosemary and salt focaccia and you just about done for the night. The chicken livers and brushetta pomodoro also received rave reviews from the rest of the table.<br/><br/>On to the mains – In keeping with tradition, opted for something not tried and tested before. Mediterranean seared Fillet (250 gr) seared fillet topped with olives, marinated tomatoes an abundance of fresh rocket and a yoghurt and feta dressing). Delicious fusion of flavours.<br/>On to the home strait – Desserts got big thumbs up from all in attendance. The dessert winner on the night. The chocolate Nemisis (chocolate cake with a hazelnut ice cream shot and orange carpaccio). In closing a well-deserved Irish coffee did the trick.<br/><br/>In Summary – Primi Piatti (Claremont) is an exceptionally well, owner run eatery. Owner, management and staff that meet and exceed all customer expectations. Absolutely nothing average about this Primi Piatti. <br/><br/>An amazing evening spent with good people (Thanks again Zomato), great food, great venue and a great host .Thank you Meerem Chetty for the loyalty card, much appreciated.<br/><br/>Be seeing you soon <br/>Mr.G - Marcus Gibbons

We had such a lovely meet up here a few weeks ago! The staff were so attentive and were there for our every need. They started us off with platters of starters including crossing, lettuce wraps, antipasto misto and chicken livers. They were all unbelievably good and the chicken livers alone are worth going back for! <br/><br/>The mains were just as divine! I chose the calamari and chorizo pasta which was so full of flavour! The mint definitely adds an extra dimension to the dish.<br/><br/>I was so full by dessert that I couldn't try one of the gorgeous sounding chocolate delights, but the affogato was a great end to a perfect meal!

Was at primi cavendish,served by Charles Alli . The service was implacable and absolutely professional and friendly . Surely I'm already planning my come back .

I was blown away by the service we had as well as the great tasting food. Everyone thinks they know Primi well, but I have to say I have fallen in love with the brand again all thanks to the new owners at Primi in Cavendish Connect, Claremont. I have such great memories of litchi jam jars and good times. The good times continued with a passion fruit mojito. Great catch up with fellow foodies and it was awesome that my wife could join for a meet up. We were treated to waves of platters of starters which included chicken livers, salad halloumi wraps and a delicious cheese and meat board. I ordered the calamari and chorizo pasta for mains and wasn't disappointed. Delicious! For dessert I had the strawberry cheesecake. Yum! We also got to join the Primi loyalty program with a preloaded R500 voucher. Totally spoilt. I can't wait to go for another jam jar soon. Pop in for dinner and I hope you get spoilt too ;)

I'm pretty sure this Primi Piatti has been taken over by new ownership or management because the experience I had there was not indicative of its current rating. You should definitly give them a chance and use the most recent reviews as a sign of what you can expect. Let me start off by saying that the staff were pretty amazing. Lovely ladies and gentleman that were extremely attentive. The ambience was very warm and comfortable. They also have a cool outside area with umbrellas should it be a hot day. Now to the food. We were served several starters that I enjoyed but strangely my favourite were the chicken livers. I hate chicken livers and avoid them at all costs but these were something else. What made them so delicious was the sauce. A rich and meaty concoction that had me polishing off the entire bowl. Very surprising. For the main I had the grilled kingklip which was very tasty and their portions are quite large which I always appreciate. Throughout the meal we were served passion fruit mojitos that really hit the spot. A little bit sweet for my taste but I simply diluted it with some water. The dessert was decedent to say the least. A delightful cheesecake topped with berries. I also managed to sample the chocolate nemesis which I can wholeheartedly recommend. All in all it was a fantastic evening and I will surely be returning.

Had such a lovely evening here with fellow foodies. We were spoiled with a selection of their starters, my favourite was definitely the halloumi lettuce wraps. For mains I had the Pescatore pasta which was flavourful, but sadly the calamari was a bit tough. And for dessert, I chose the chocolate nemesis which was oh so satisfying! A big thank you to the staff, especially our very informative waiter who ensured we were happy throughout the night and treated us like royalty. Also, for the R500 voucher loaded on our loyalty cards! Amazing!!

Had an awesome Zomato Meetup here with great foodie friends. We were offered some delicious starters, consisting of tapas, fresh meats, chicken livers and crostini breads. For mains i chose the Mediterranean Fillet which was such so diving. Dessert was a nemisis which basically was a flourless chocolate cake with ice cream...AMAZING! This place was so awesome and they catered to all our foodie needs.

Had such a great time here. The service was excellent. I had a virgin strawberry daiquiri and passionfruit and lemonade. The ceasar salad is so fresh and so yum. I opted for the pescatore and requested it without the white wine which wasnt a problem at all. Also super yummy. My favourite part was the dessert. I had the Nemesis which is basicly heaven on earth. Highly recommend this place. Cant wait to come back.

I was invited to a Zomato Meetup at Primi. It was my first time at this specific branch and I will definitely be back. Their new cocktail menu is awesome, I had a few of the passion fruit mojitos and can definitely recommend them. The pescatore pasta was also great although the seafood could have done with a little less cooking as some of it was slightly over done. The flavours were great though! But for me the winner of the night was dessert. I had the chocolate nemesis and it was to die for. Really, just go there and order that. If you even remotely like chocolate, you will love this.<br/><br/>Service was super on the ball and really really great too!

Was lucky enough to be invited to a Zomatofoodie meet up. Wow, great food, great company, and amazing service!<br/><br/>We all received a round of cocktails, either passion fruit mojito or strawberry frozen margarita. I was naughty and had both. Was yummy. Really recommend their new cocktail menu. <br/><br/>They brought an variety of starters. And with choices like Antipasto Misto, Bruschetta Pomoforo and Peri Peir chicken livers, it's is hard to say which one was my favourite! <br/><br/>Then came the mains. I opted for a veggie option, the Fresh Tomato,Avo & Basil. So fresh and healthy, if you forget about the pizza base. <br/><br/>To end the evening off, I had a chocolate nemisis. My little chocolate indulgence for the day. Small, but o so rich! and o so addictive. <br/><br/>Thank you primi for the most amazing evening! You will be seeing me again very soon. <br/>

An amazing experience at primi cavendish square last week. The staff were absolutely amazing and when we requested a grapefruit frozen margarita (not on the menu), they made it with absolutely no hassles. It turned out to be the most amazing cocktail I've had in a while. Cannot wait to go back

Magnificent service, excellent food and an amazing atmosphere. I would recommend this place to anyone at anytime. My waiters goes by the name of Charles Alli and the service of this man was absolutely spectacular, with a friendly personality and a positive attitude. Best service I've received in a very very very long time.

I'm not sure why this branch has such a low rating. I don't come here often but when I do I find the service to be friendly and welcoming as well as quick for the most part. In light of that, there have been times when the service was slow. However I love the hawaiin pizza. I just wish it would come in a smaller size.

The Primi chain used to be one of our favourite Italian gems in Joburg, Ballito and Cape Town. I think we have given the Claremont branch one too many chances. There have been a few times where the food and overall experience has been really really good! I'm a huge fan of the Chicken Spedini... That is, when they get it right! And when they get it right, those juicy chicken skewers with the fresh napolitana sauce and seasonal veggies are to die for! <br/>But the problem is that the food has never been consistent; one day it tastes like an Italian chef's master piece and the next day it tastes absolutely average. In the past, they have either forgotten about our booking or frustrated us with super slow service. This time, and probably the final time, the disappointment derived from slow takeaway service. The restaurant wasn't all that busy and even though we made an order of 7 meals, the 20 minutes we were promised turned into half an hour (which can't be right) and then one waiter dropped one of our meals on the floor! <br/><br/>If you don't mind taking a bit of a risk or are not to phased about slower service... Or even if you're just in the mood for a simple pizza or pasta then give it a try! But I don't think we'll be going back or getting takeaways from Primi anytime soon!

We decided to go here for drinks and a snack after movies and duly ordered wine and focaccia bread. The wine arrived promptly but the focaccia took half an hour, and then only after calling the manager. The manager was apologetic but the waiter was dismissive of our complaints. The service overall was abysmal. My advice, don't go to this place!

Primi has always been decent. Our waiter this evening was rather nice and all, but failed to give us bread - even though he had served other tables, he was attentive nonetheless. The food, honestly isn't that great and for their portions and execution I don't feel their pricing is fair, in actual...

Been twice to Cavendish Square Primi's on our one week holiday to Cape Town! Once for breakfast, once for supper! Both times we had amazing service, often by not even just our waiter. Promptly seated and delish food! We'll definitely be back!

When it comes to service and offering a good well priced breakfast on time. This is my recommended spot. I have never been disappointing in all 6 occasions that I have come there for breakfast.

No tagliatelle and linguine at Primi Claremont since Monday 2 November.  Alan Mandaza ( the "manager") does not serve customers who object to this very poor quality - no pollo and broccoli pasta served for 30 mins (14h46; 13 November 2015) in spite of an order to both waitress and waiter.

Loved the menu variety! Though for the 4 cheese pizza/quatro formaggi we had, it wasn't very cheesy. The onion probably brought the most flavour, though enjoyed it non the less. The service was attentive enough and friendly to start with but ended up a bit too laid back for my liking (talking and laughing with other staff while busy at our table - maybe I'm too fussy). <br/>I only tend to return there because it's the most affordable non-fast food pizza place in Cavendish. <br/>I hope they make some improvements since it is never busy and they have the potential to be.

Got there around 6pm so expected our kids to be able get involved with the pizza dough, but there wasn't any. Took them quite a while for someone to sort it out. Service was ok, but we weren't offered any breads, even after ordering. Had to ask for some. <br/>Miss the bustling vibe that Primi first launched with. It's sadly become over commercialized now.

First time eating at this branch. Was really impressed by the quick service and quality of the food, Reggie helped us and had such a wonderful attitude! I'll come back just because of him.

Absolutely love this place. It's my go to for pasta. Their selection is pretty good. My favorite is the Chicken Liver Pasta(sounds weird but it's amazing). A good place if you are trying to have dinner for one, or 2. The flavor is all up to you

A good meal at Primi- Cavendish. Good service - we were seated immediately and given menus. our waiter was prompt and the food was served very quickly which was great. Mediterranean Fillet was tender and delicious. Calabrese linguine was very flavoursome. Strawberry daiquiri (Virgin) was really good. It is busy and noisy restaurant so not for a romantic dinner.

Loving my recco...with penay ... Awesome atmosphere .. Super friendly owner. I'll beck back soon......................................140:)

Had an awful experience two nights ago at primi. Every restaurant has mistakes - that happens. But the manager's reaction to constructive criticism and genuine questioning was appalling. Beyond all, one of the young waiters blatantly hit on one of my friends in the most inappropriate manner -making pretty disturbing comments. Not the way a restaurant should be run.

I always had a good time at primi! <br/><br/>The service is always nice and the food as well! <br/>I always take the pasta when I go there and never been disappointed!

Just had a solo dinner at primi. It's one of my favorite places to eat because the food is so good without being pretentious, and it reminds me of home so I may be a little biased 😁. I had the Caesar salad, with chicken (you have an option to add bacon) and the chocolate brownie with ice cream. I was a little disappointed with the Parmesan in the salad which was cut too thick and not shaved, which made for a cold hard cheese with little flavor coming through (the Caesar is all about the Parmesan) but otherwise the friendly staff made my solo dinner a lot more exciting.

Disagree with some prior reviews. We were a walk in table of 4 adults and 2 children. We were immediately greeted at the door and taken to a table. Our waitress offered a baby chair for our toddler without us having to ask. Our orders were taken and served promptly. We ate pizzas that had a perfect balance between base and toppings, and the pastry was fresh. As soon as I took my children to the play area one of the staff came out to take charge of entertaining them while we ate. The waitrons all seemed to cover for each other's tables so we didn't have to wait for service at all. There even appeared to be a 'floor manager' keeping an eye on the tables and food coming out of the kitchen, making sure that service was prompt. All the staff were friendly, including the chef behind the glass, who took time to show the children what he was doing. They definitely lived up to their motto, Work Is Love Made Visible. Great dining experience all round. We'll definitely mark Primi Piatti Cavendish as a favourite and will recommend.

I miss the old Primi Piatti.  I don't know what it is but things just aren't the same since they moved. We used to love popping into the old Primi for a quick jam jar before dinner/ breakfast/ girls shopping lunch/ pre-movie dinner... there was always such a great atmosphere. The new one is lacking in vibe and service and has left me a little underwhelmed to be honest. <br/>Is it under new management? I'm not sure that I will be back, sadly.

Pathetic service and even worst food and drinks... In future will stick to Canal Walk, Rosmead Avenue and Constantia Village... SHOCKING!!!

Here for 35 min drink is orders hasn't even arrived poor service ! Normally I'd give them a 8 , today it's a 1!! Poor service never coming back !

easily the worst experience I have ever had at a restaurant. Took 15 mins to find a waiter who was prepared to serve us. Drinks arrived one at a time. We requested some colouring materials for my daughter, and get given a sheet that's already been used by another kid, without so much as an apology. waiters seemed absolutely disinterested in serving us. seemed as though our table was an inconvenience. Won't return, that's a promise.

Very very poor service. Waited 15-20min to find out who is our waiter, after asking three separate waiters. Then when ordering our drinks, the drinks did not arrive at the same time. Only one milkshake arrived after 3 was ordered. Asked the waiter for drawing materials for a toddler and when they brought this, it was a coloring page that had already been coloured in and 3 half crayons.

Terrible service, rude waiter, took 10 minutes just to get a waiter to talk to us in the first place. We only came here because we were desperate. Bread was stale, food was cold. Won't be back

What a terrible experience. Where do I begin????<br/>They've changed their menu, removing simple things like Arrabiata, while also sneakily downsizing their meals and charging the same price for them. If that wasn't bad enough, wait for the service (and yes, you will wait). 20 minutes for a cappuccino, 15 for a coke, burnt bread (see the photo!), miniature sized portions that leave you wanting more (but not more of the same food because, meh). After this ordeal of bad food and service, we receive a bill which has the tip included (since when is this even a thing) AND a service charge! (Imagine how much that would have been if we actually had service). <br/>I understand that it is a business that must make profit, but that profit should not come from robbery. <br/>This has ruined Primi as a whole for me, the first time I visited a primi was at gateway in Durban and I was impressed with the good food and fantastic service. Now they have terrible service, sub standard food and a lot of cheek. Thanks for ruining Primi, Primi.

If someone ask for a jam jar do not bring a mini jar and say that is how it is. And they uou overcharge people the service from thw waiters is also terrible. All I wanted to ask for is their user name for the wifi and the lady says she will get someobe for me. What is that

the place is orite but to be honest it's not a place I go to often. the staff openly asks, 'you're not going to order dinner?' and take forever to bring your check. it's just disrespectful.

Friendly and attentive staff. Didn't wait too long for our food and the pizza was delicious. #pregopizza

So i have never been a big fan of primi because I always found it expensive and not as good as I thought , we went there for mothers day this year and I had a parigui pizza and my god that was delicious... My boyfriend had The chicken liver pasta is so delicious and I can't handle spicy/hot food but that was delicious. Made me change my mind on Primi Although I Tasted a little bit of my mothers dish which was seafood pasta and the pasta wasn't cooked properly, my brother had an austin powers pizza and it was quite blend to be honest. Staff was great and friendly. All in all great vibe, great food !

I could write the same review for every Primi I have ever been to and I think most would agree, the vibe is great, the standard of food is amazing and the fact that no matter which branch you go to if you order the same dish you will get the same flavour and quality. I have never been disappointed. Their menu caters for all tastes but their pizzas are a firm favourite with everyone I know due to the light, crispy base and fresh ingredients. Sitting having a few cocktails and a meal with friends at any Primi will be an evening to be enjoyed for sure.