"This second outpost of Bar Primi (the original is in the East Village) serves decent Italian food that’s easy enough to like. But more importantly, this location could not be any closer to Penn Station without being inside it—unless they built an outdoor dining structure on the actual asphalt of West 33rd Street. That makes Bar Primi a very convenient place for a lot of people in a lot of situations: the neighborhood’s many corporate types, commuters, and the Madison Square Garden-bound alike. It's a casual after-work drinks spot in fancy Italian drag: warm lighting, long red leather banquettes, and indoor greenery that extends to the ceiling, not to mention a lovely patio. The large, horseshoe-shaped gold bar is crowded with groups of cheerful colleagues drinking cocktails served in drinkware that resembles sunflowers and peacocks. We wouldn’t go out of our way to dine here, but you can nevertheless have a satisfying meal—we like the spaghetti pomodoro. The space is large, but frequently packed, so it’s still a good idea to make a reservation. photo credit: Nick Johnson Food Rundown Spaghetti Pomodoro This slightly sweet, pale-pink pasta with al dente noodles is a great rendition of an artfully simple classic. Chitarra And Clams We’d skip this pasta. The sauce is nicely garlicky, but we wanted a lot more oomph from the clams themselves, which could’ve been sweeter. Sugar Snap Peas A good way to get something green on the table. Fresh, bright, and crisp-tender. Fried Tomato Rice Could use more seasoning, but these sort-of arancini are adorably served in paper wrappers like a carnival snack. The cheese inside is pleasurably gooey. Broccolini With Too Much Garlic They should rename this nicely charred side “Broccolini With An Appropriate Amount Of Garlic.” It’s definitely worth ordering. Triple Threat This cocktail is named for the three tequilas it contains (along with bright, slightly bitter cappelletti and pineapple), but that’s not what really matters here: Did we mention that they set it on fire? And that it’s served in a peacock mug? You’ll see a whole flock of them around the dining room." - Molly Fitzpatrick
