It was a sunny Tuesday evening in May, my daughter’s softball practice was just wrapping up and I had an occasion to celebrate – my birthday! With school early the next morning, we had to choose somewhere local and there was no better option in my mind than Primo Plates & Pours.
When Primo, as it is known to regulars, opened in 2015, it soon became the quintessential Italian place that every good neighborhood needs. Its cozy atmosphere, friendly staff and consistently delicious food make it feel like a warm hug from the Italian grandmother you never had. I absolutely love this restaurant and am so grateful to have somewhere serving such high-quality food in our quiet community. It is a place that makes you feel cared for whether you are celebrating something special or simply stopping for a quick bite and a glass of wine after work.
Speaking of those bites, there are a number of dishes on the Primo menu that make my taste buds sing and my hungry body beg for more. The most notable of these has to be the Spaghetti and Meatballs. With large, tender meatballs nestled on top of a hearty portion of pasta, bathed in what might be the most perfectly balanced tomato sauce I’ve ever tasted, the spaghetti is sure to please. My daughter ordered this dish and despite its ample size, none of it made it into our to-go boxes as everyone at the table proceeded to devour it.
That delicious red sauce was also served alongside the Risotto Arancini we ordered as an appetizer. The arancini were lighter than you’d expect from a deep-fried ball of arborio rice and were the ideal vehicle for soaking up that craveable sauce. When we inquired about it, the owner, Anthony Ostlund, stopped by our table to share the story of how his family obtained the secret recipe. On the night of their wedding, Ostlund’s grandparents so enjoyed their spaghetti dinner that the chef insisted on gifting the recipe as a wedding present. Since then, the family has shared a tradition of making the sauce at Christmas and other special occasions, a tradition that is now being passed down to a fourth generation of Ostlunds and all of the guests lucky enough to find themselves at Primo.
Tomato is also not the only sauce Primo does right. The sauce on both the Pappardelle Bolognese and Fettuccine Alfredo are good enough to be wedding night worthy. While lacking the hint of spice I detect in their red sauce, Primo’s bolognese and alfredo are delightfully rich, creamy and so full of flavor that they left us wanting more. Luckily for us, we learned that the restaurant sells the sauce by the pint and we brought all three of our favorites home to enjoy over the next few days (or longer if you freeze the sauce).
While I am a nut for pasta, I have also been assured by friends that the Beef Tenderloin and Chicken Parmesan are date-night worthy with portions generous enough to have lunch the next day. The lasagna, which is only served on Wednesdays, unfortunately never makes it home with me. The tenderness of the noodles melts beneath the rich, meaty sauce it is served with. If you are lucky enough to find yourself there on the right night, I highly recommend nabbing this little bite of Italy before the kitchen runs out, which it does more often than not. If you haven’t already, I’d urge you to check out this gem while we are fortunate enough to have a restaurant as good as this right in Long Lake.
Primo Plates & Pours
1935 Wayzata Blvd, Long Lake
952-479-1143
www.primolonglake.com
