Primo Restaurant

I visited Primos for the first time last year (2024) and had a phenomenal experience. Unfortunately, I don't think the same can be said for this year (2025). First the food - the duck with the brussel sprouts and winter squash puree, and the fish soup with the rouille were amazing! The oysters with tomatoes were a lovely combination. The swordfish + gnocchi and the pasta dish were not per the description, and the taste was decent albeit not delectable given the price point. The most glaring difference was the service. I was treated quite differently from the other patrons, which was quite jarring. I've spent almost a week in Maine this time around, and it was nothing short of wonderful, barring my experience at Primos. There were two exceptions, the one person who helped me get some water, and the other who was kind enough to greet me and get me some bread when I sat at my table. I just spent $250 (+$50 tip) at Primos, and I don't think I'll ever return.

While I love farm to table places this one was very hit-or-miss, and had a problem with consistency and portion sizes. As a rule I would recommend sticking with dishes off the daily menu and not the specials list. Some of the dishes were hits - like the fish stew, the pork and figs pizza (though it was way too big to be considered an appetizer!) and the halibut, while others were misses like the pork chops (huge, extremely expensive and nothing to write home about) or the panzanela salad (bland and mediocre). Given the area and it's offering, this is a good restaurant, but overall I would say it's overrated.

i may be burned at the stake (as a mainer) for writing this review, so i’ll start with the positive—our one good dish was the octopus appetizer, yum! and my wine was tasty. but, for the rest of the meal (three appetizers, two mains, one dessert) it felt as if nothing had been tasted before leaving the pass, no flavor citrus and wilted greens with our (unsalted) beet carpacio, not fresh tasting branzino with an odd side (unpitted olives, underripe artichokes, and no flavor overcooked beans) which was on special, and way overcooked fish in my soup. my husband forced himself to eat everything (due to the price) except my pasta, which was inedible. maybe we ordered the wrong things and the menu is far too big to do each dish well… but when you ask yourselves what we have at home to eat after a $200 bill, i’d say it’s a let down. the space was beautiful, cozy and the servers we’re all lovely—atmosphere 9/10 food 3/10.

Sarah was our waitress and she was phenomenal and knowledgeable. She joined in on our conversations and was extremely attentive. We came from Indiana to explore the best local restaurants and we are so pleased that we did! Thank you to the chefs, managers, coordinators, our waitress, and staff for an amazing experience.

Wonderful dinner but make sure you have transportation. You may have difficulty after 10:30pm getting a ride from the one cabby running that late in Rockland. We did get a pickup after 20-25 minutes waiting outside for the 2 minute ride back to 250 Main. But it was seriously tense. There was a consensus about the 1/2 mile walk back to town not being advisable. We were very relieved in the end but the experience was nerve racking. Anniversary dinner, Bourdain travel experience, first real vacation since pre-Covid. Primo was the main goal when planning the trip. This final part of the night overshadowed the entire experience although everything was delicious and the service attentive and helpful. Just plan ahead, don’t lose track of time and don’t count on the only cab driver running after 10. Note, Lyft nor Uber do not seem to actually operate in the area. Sam and Rob at the bar were kind and helpful and thanks to Paul for his patience with us wine novices. We ate ourselves silly and tipped very well.

This place in Rockland Maine is truly beautiful and classy, and the staff is amazing, so friendly and attentive, always on top. The food was just okay. My pasta was a little too salty and didn’t have much meat. My wife’s dish was fine but also light on the meat. The onion bread was really good, and everything is super fresh, straight from the farm. I’d come back for the great atmosphere and service, but not really for the food.

Really cool experience in Rockland, ME- totally worth the road trip we made from Portland. We arrived early to check out their farm. They have a few acres right next to the restaurant, with farm animals and garden beds full of vegetables. They are a full circle kitchen and farm to table restaurant. The chef is a two-time James Beard award winner and we loved this meal! The pastas especially are so well done.

I really enjoyed my dinner. The other people in my party did not like their choices as much as I enjoyed mine, so my impression is that it could be hit or miss. I enjoyed fois gras with rhubarb, duck breast with cherries, and rhubarb crostata with gelato. My entries were flavorful and the servings were generous. The service was attentive. When making reservations be aware that the dining area has the first and second floor. The second floor has steep stairs with the railing on the left side, which could be a challenge for mobile limitations.

Food was FANTASTIC. The entire pace was lovely. Great service! Perfect ambiance wouldn't change a thing 10000/10

Visiting Primo was one of the things I was most excited about on our honeymoon, and the only reason we stayed in Rockland for a night. I was expecting to absolutely love the food here, but unfortunately pretty much everything fell short. I will say the salad was lovely, vibrant, and fresh. The fried squash blossoms were very good. But the two pastas and the pork saltimbocca just missed the mark. I was honestly too bummed out to even try dessert. We did order bread service and they charged us $8 - $4 per person. I have never seen a restaurant do this before. Almost seems like a way to nickel and dime customers who are already paying a pretty penny to eat here. The ambiance inside was a little ... strange. It seemed much more casual for the type of magical experience I was expecting. The outdoor area is absolutely gorgeous and I loved being able to see the garden and the chickens. Was just expecting the food to match.

Very nice restaurant with delicious food and drink and unique Mediterranean/italian inspired cuisine with Maine influences. The decor and grounds were nice - The garden outdoors was also very nice little stroll. They very nicely made my kids off menu spaghetti and meatballs which they loved. We had roasted oysters and fried squash blossoms to start and halibut with beans and whole Branzino (labino to them) with grilled romaine. One star deduction because it was very pricey with smallish portions. Only 2 squash blossoms came with the order and 6 oysters. The mains were a bit larger but the branzino was a bit overly salty. So be prepared to spend a lot but the food is good.

Amazing time at Primo. Food was excellent and service was impeccable! The fried oyster app was so so good and the pasta dish I had was fantastic. Dessert was equally tasty (could have had a slightly larger scoop of gelato) with a Maine amaro along side. Would recommend for a high quality dinner when in the Rockland area.

Enjoyed our 17th anniversary dinner here. Eddie was our server and he was excellent navigating us through the menu. We started with house bread and the Chef's lobster bisque that was delicious and filling. We then ordered the charcuterie that had every taste of the property. Amazing. Server Eddie said that the saltimbocca was a favorite of Primo which I had to try. My wife had the Rigatoni cacio Pepe which is basically American version of Mac and cheese. Both entrees were delicious and we ended our dinner with Zeppole. We had a app, 4 drinks and two entrees for 165 that was outstanding.

One would think as a "Farm to Table" restaurant they would have a few "WFPB" (whole food plant based) options. Nooo Finally ended up with a salad that was salty? Huh? And my friends meals were also way salty.. So.... $25 later for 8 leaves of lettuce, Can't say I'm a HAPPY CAMPER.

We were lucky enough to get a reservation on the second day they were open for the season and wow -- it sure does live up to the hype. They have a number of hand crafted cocktails. We tried the You're My Boy, Blue and Zenzero. Both were unique and enjoyable. Zenzero was very ginger-y if that's your vibe. We were pleasantly surprised by the amuse bouche from the chef - a very tasty winter squash soup. The spring tonic soup was very refreshing, as was the farm salad with green goddess dressing. The menu was a quintessential farm-to-table menu. You can tell lots of thought went into each dish. I'm usually the type of person to modify my order to my liking, but not here -- I wanted to enjoy everything the way the chef intended. I have never seen "skate wing" on a menu (had to google it). I was apprehensive about eating stingray, but our server Jeffrey assured me it was delicious. And boy, was he right! It reminded me of a crossover between a flaky white fish and scallops. We also got the Branzino (filleted at the table) and two pasta dishes. Everything was incredible. The NY cheesecake dessert comes with carrot cake (gluten free) -- this was perfect to round off our meal. The whole experience was outstanding from start to finish!

Exceptional dinner! High-quality food, drinks, and service. Lovely, comfortable, and inviting atmosphere. As good as any other top-notch place one expects in places like San Fransisco, New York, etc. Just go. And then go again and again if you can afford it.

Had an early reservation on a Wednesday in June 2023 at Primo. Amazing experience and one of our top 5-10 in the last 20 years. Started with two excellent cocktails. I had the Year of the Pig and my wife had the Rubh-y Slipper, both excellent. To start had the excellent bread service, more than worth the price and the amuse bouche (lobster bisque), followed by the fresher than fresh farm salad, croutons were amazing, and the scallop special with sea beans and crispy seaweed on top of a purée. It was my favorite dish of the night! For entrees, I had the New York Strip and my wife had the bluefin which she said was excellent. Steak was perfectly cooked and mushrooms on the dish were amazing and I enjoyed it with a great Primitivo recommended by our waiter. We also split a special risotto with fiddleheads and fava beans, which was a very close second as favorite of the night. Finished with the profiterole special and a couple of coffee cocktails. Service was excellent and always appeared just at the right time.

We had to wait for over an hour for mediocre food very disappointed. Would never go there again. It is also overpriced.

Primo obviously doesn't need my review, it's spectacular and everyone knows it, but some people do sort to see most recent, so this is for them. If you haven't been yet and are wondering if it's worth it, stop wondering and make a reservation already. The food is ridiculously good and the cocktails are just perfect. As one member of our party said, we were supremely early, and Benjamin took great care of us. It was pretty busy and we know he had to juggle, so we really appreciated his accommodating us. Sarah H. was our server and she was so wonderful. Her suggestions were perfect and we had such a great time chatting with her. Always a great evening. Do yourself a favor and head up to the bar for a bit, it's lively and not to be missed.

By far the best food I've had in decades. Every single course from the cocktail to dessert was fabulous. Perfectly prepared and unbelievably tasty. Service also was outstanding and even though the parking lot was completely full, it felt comfortably intimate inside. Perfect ambiance. Nothing lost about this kitchen, and it's aptly called Primo!

This is one of our favorite anniversary or birthday dinner restaurants. It's always a tough reservation to secure and for us it is a bit of a drive but it is so worth it. Food here is farm to table, they grow most of the veggies, make all the breads and the pork chop I had came from their stock. The restaurant is in an old house so there are several ambiance's from small rooms to the 2nd floor bar area. We like the bar area as they have some tables near the bar. Cozy, candlelight, inviting. Servers are always friendly and very knowledgeable about the dishes, ingredients and preparation. We had the bread service which is pricey at $3 pp but the onion bread is a must do for me. My pork chop was delicious but the star was the sweet potato. Small, whole roasted sweet potatoes. Dessert was a bread pudding, delicious. Parking is the only downside for me. Small lots, tight parking, always a bit of a hassle to find and get into a space. If you have a car and a truck, bring the car not the truck!

Primo is one of the best restaurants in Maine! I love that the food is always local and fresh. Great cocktails and desserts here as well. Primo takes food allergies seriously and offers plenty of gluten free options.

Prior to this year's visit, would have given 5 stars. Prior 3-4 times, the experience was excellent, especially last year when they quickly and graciously accommodated a last minute change from 4 to 6. Have had the melt-in-your-mouth pork chop in the past, pre covid, and was jonesing for it this year as the only place I trust to eat a rare pork chop, so expectations were high and disappointment was great when it came out overcooked. Service could have been better this year too--it wasn't bad by any stretch, but just not as warm and friendly as years past. It did not help that the table next to us was having a bad experience and complaining that 6 of their 8 dishes were inedible. The staff did not seem to be interested in the feedback. All that said, we still had a nice meal, just a slight notch down from the excellence of prior years.

Living across the water from the lovely owner, I will try to restrain my acerbity and be positive. Primo is a pretty place. Having read the remarks below, yes it can be totally uncomfortable to be placed in the downstairs room in an alcove with nothing to look at, or in the bar, which is dark and uncomfortable (strange bump I had to sit on, tried using the pillow so it wouldn't hurt so much) and not at all up to the prices you pay. As someone else stated about the temperature, we had to wrap scarves around our arms and on lap to try and keep warm, even after telling the waitress how cold we were. They turned the air conditioning (On Jan 1) off for about 8 minutes than back on again. Maybe this is why so many men keep their baseball hats on??? We didn't make the 5 min drive to Primo all summer/fall so we went twice on Dec 30 and Jan 1 for brunch. The Friday night visit was in the dark bar where we had a waitress who I think would've been happier hitting me rather than serving me. We do not like to pay for bread so we waited our 40 min wait with nothing on the table, no lagniappe even though it was the night before Christmas Eve. (I have friends who will no longer go to Primo because they think charging $2 for bread when you are paying $37 for a plate of pasta or $59 for a steak is egregiously greedy. Which it is.) The food was somewhat delicious. The skate cooked perfectly and my pasta with seafood incredibly tasty although there was hardly any seafood in it. (and I can make skate like this at home for much less $) Not being able to find a decent place on New Years Day we returned for brunch. A wonderful waitress this time (new I think which was why she's so friendly?) served us downstairs where it's so cold you could hear the other tables complaining. We ordered several things and they were sort of good. Grilled Lamb lollipops with tired bits of a supposed Greek salad, $$. One quail $$$ served on a too little plate with more tired salad. Lentil soup, pretty good but not hot. Burrata salad that said grilled eggplant but only had a swish of eggplant puree barely enough to see, (kept looking for the eggplant because that's why I ordered it) some red peppers and a small bit of arugula, another high price for such a small dish. And then there was that octopus carpaccio which the waitress gushed over saying it was the most beautiful thing she ever saw. It was beautiful, very thinly sliced octopus in a gelee that made it look like a shiny puzzle. Some strange black stuff underneath, which turned out to be charred onion (we had to ask). Beautiful but completely tasteless. We remarked on the way home, if you closed your eyes and tasted it you would have no idea what it was. Primo will always be popular but I'd suggest M.K. visit Greek Islands in Ft. Lauderdale to see what simple grilled octopus should taste like (incredibly delicious!!!) or lamb lollipops can be. Or what Greek salad means. And how they give you fresh bread with great olive oil AND a tahini dip for FREE at much lower prices. Funny thing is Home Kitchen's chef turns out tastier food than Primo, but with much less fanfare. Then again, that freshly made pasta is delicious! (note to self: learn to make that 2023) Happy New Year!

What an amazing dinner we had at Primo. Very delicious! Service excellent, atmosphere terrific. On the pricey side but I think fair for the quality of The food and the experience. And we knew that going in. Had a lovely evening!

Beautiful property where you can see your dinner in the works! Gardens of fresh herbs and flowers. We arrived a little before 5 and the line was starting to form. We were seated on the porch and greeted with smiles and positive vibes for a great night. The porch does have some road noise but that didn't deter us . Our waitress was quite informative of the specials and drinks. I never heard of a drink being clarified before and mine was with feta. Very sweet and enjoyable. Our beet salads arrived and split for 2 with no problems. The greens were so crispy and fresh. If i would suggest anything it would have been to sprinkle a little of the dressing on the top. Most was on bottom of plate Out entrees were delicious and delivered in a very timely manner. We did also have the bread service and the bread was very fresh and enjoyable. Service was all around us from hostess's to servers, bar servers, busser ' expediters and managers . All hands on deck make for a restaurant to run efficiently! Top notch service. Will go again and try to hit the little bar in the back before we go to our table next time for dessert as well.

Our experience, like many others on yelp, was nothing short of perfection. We came for an anniversary dinner - and from start to finish we were really blown away by both the service and quality & inventiveness of our dinner. Everything was phenomenal - but the highlights for me were the special pasta (tagliatelle with crab) and the zeppole / donuts. These are two of the best things I've eaten in the last few years. I thought this was going to be a situation where it was over-hyped and didn't live up to expectations, but it was even better than i imagined. Get yourself a reservation (well in advance) and try one of the top 5 restaurants in Maine!

This place was hyped up significantly by a friend in Owl's Head and I'm pleased to say that it lived up to said hype. We went on a perfect October evening and everything was excellent. The wine list, the service, my perfectly prepared seafood pasta, and the overall ambiance. Upscale but comfortable, attentive but not overbearing, and packed. Looking forward to my next visit once they open for the season!

You already know it's going to be a five star review. The entire machine that has become Primo is so well oiled, works so smoothly, that you wouldn't expect anything less than a five star review. Other chefs may have fancy tricks, expensive cuts of meat, or caviar and gold foil to make their food "fancy", but absolutely nothing can beat locally grown/foraged/farmed food. And that's exactly what Melissa Kelly and her team does best. The menu changes all the time so there's no point in me telling you what I got, all I can say is get the specials, get what's in season, and definitely get the pork saltimbocca.

Me and my husband we're staying in Belfast ME but the restaurants were undesirable there so we drove an hour to go here. We arrived about 6:45 and they said there were a few reservations ahead of us so they sent us over to another building to basically drink to wait for a text to an open table about 70 minutes later we didn't get a table we got seats at a bar so loud my husband put his decibel meter on his phone was over 90 too loud. Then one bartender had my husband try a wine which he didn't like so she disappeared and another bartender came to take our order. We both have allergies to grain and gluten so I got a Gorgonzola salad was supposed to have bacon bits but came with bread crumbs so they eliminated the bacon bits and the Gorgonzola so the manager at least brought the cheese then the dinners we got 2 hours later both came with meat and potatoes and no vegetables that the dish came with! Vegetables have No Grains Or Gluten. I ordered duck it arrived cold no skin and chewy. After waiting 3 HOURS for my dinner I was expecting to be wowed or at least this point they should've paid me for being there that long. Needless to say I seriously just broke down and started crying there. Not only will I not return there but I will not go back to that area of Maine again because we left Belfast because the food and service was poor there as well. P.S. this is why restaurants are closing their doors

Gotta admit, after seeing Gordon Ramsay's TV show Uncharted featuring the state of Maine and the head chef of Primo, I knew that when I was coming to Maine on vacation in a few weeks that I wanted to make a stop here for dinner. It was well worth the almost two-hour drive from our rental. Situated in a beautiful Victorian house complete with acreage for a farm with animals (the chicken and pigs you are eating were probably clucking and squealing nights before on the farm) and lots of space to grow flowers and herbs, Primo lived up to its name for the quality of the food. We had a 5pm reservation, but walk-ins start lining up at 4:30pm and the day we were there they all were able to get seated. We were about 30th in line when we pulled up right at 5pm and no spaces were available in the parking lot; we had to go to the overflow lot. The line moved quickly, however, and although some were in jeans and t-shirts, others were dressed up. There didn't appear to be a dress code to eat at this Michelin Star rated restaurant and twice James Beard Award Winning Head Chef/Owner, Melissa Kelly. Duncan, our server, was always on top of things during our meal. He made great recommendations, and we did not experience any of the negativity in service that others have written about in their reviews. If we didn't drink alcohol, then our meal probably would have been about $100 cheaper. But it's vacation time! My Millions Peach was peachy, the Blueberry Mojito was top notch, and when I asked for the least dry white, the Reisling came out. Not super sweet or too dry, but a good balance. My wife had the Zenzero (like a ginger Cosmo), and a Garibaldi (Campari, Blood Orange, and soda) which to me tasted like grapefruit. The end of meal Limoncello was hot on the alcohol. Our meals were spectacular. I started with a special of Squash Blossoms which were stuffed with cheese (I forget what kind) and fried. Nice and light it started the meal off well. Wife had an appetizer size of the homemade pasta special which was ravioli stuffed with chicken in one of the lightest Alfredo but most delicious sauces she's ever had. She also got the bread for one. It's not free here; a $2 per person fee, but we only got it for one and it came with three different homemade breads and about eight pieces. All three were fresh like they came out of the oven right before serving. Next was the onion soup. Not French Onion, but it had to be the best onion soup I've ever had. I had to share and she agreed. It came with a small grilled-cheese sandwich which was to die for. I ended up taking a piece of my wife's bread to crumble into the onion soup just so nothing was left in the bowl. For mains, I was convinced to change my mind from the scallops to the swordfish. It was a big piece of fish with beans, hot sausage, and greens from the outside garden. Wife got the whole Branzino which our server filleted for her. Nice and flaky it was a great size which was not too lemony, and probably the only part of the meal which we felt was average was the gnocchi the fish came with. They were not that flavorful and quite dense. But our fish meals were excellent. Of course, we had to have dessert. I went with the special Blueberry Shortcake which they promote as a "James Beard" recipe, and wife went with the Profiteroles. She also was up in the air as to having them or the Zeppole. Duncan came through again with the right choice, and the salted caramel gelato made the Profiteroles 1000% better. We ended with the Limoncello, Cappuccino, and a Latte. Almost three hours later, our meal came to a close. We were both very full and probably tipsy. The pacing at least today was very European style with a lot of space between courses. We were extremely pleased with everything at Primo. $275 for two not including tip. I even asked about coming back later in the week, and told about the walk-ins if we get in line a 1/2 hour before opening. We just might do it again!

My boyfriend totally surprised me bringing me one night, I had no idea what sort of restaurant we were walking into..fabulous establishment. Delicious!

Outstanding farm to table dining, I've never had a meal that I didn't absolutely love. Great vibe at the bar where you can have full meals. I've gone in as a 1-top many times and always enjoy the company of fellow patrons and the bartenders, plus kick-ass cocktails. Love, love, love it! Chef Melissa Kelly is a bad-ass and she and her team consistently deliver the best.

Overpriced pretentious and the food is fine but far fr worth the price. Location is lovely but not as nice as the folks who work there think it is.

We celebrated our 40th anniversary with a fabulous dinner. Breads are terrific and worth paying for. We tried a burrata appetizer (eggplant, olive, capers) that was deliciously unique. Entrees consisted of a NY Strip that was cooked to perfection medium rare (and a local farm to table product that was especially flavorful and grisle free); the other was a pan seared halibut with mussels in a somewhat spicy broth. We loved both. Finished with an Affogato that is accompanied by the lightest beignet/ donuts. Service was great. Primo is our go-to high-end restaurant in mid Coast Maine and one of our favorites anywhere.

I have been here quite a few times. Oyster night is a favorite. So good! Love to try the random dishes with ingredients I would never think to use, or have heard of. Of course the drinks are typically made from things I never believed would go together. Tuna steak, amazing and cooked perfectly Never had swordfish before, love it now Tried octopus for the first time and I would again Only complaint is the one "normal" thing I've gotten here is a steak, an almost $60 steak. Should have been rare, was medium, sadly I can cook worse cuts of steak better in my sleep.

The food is very good, as expected. We have eaten here many times over the years. However, with this caliber of restaurant I was surprised that they are now charging for bread. The wait staff was friendly and knowledgeable on all aspects of the restaurant. My great disappointment and shock about Primo was their treatment of a birthday reservation. I have never been to a good restaurant that didn't have some small celebratory event during dessert when a birthday reservation was scheduled. Primo, however, had nothing. I thanked the waitress who felt bad for nothing being offered as she signed Happy Birthday on our bill! Unfortunately, it is the small extra thoughts and actions of a restaurant that sets it apart as exceptional, not just the food! I will think twice about visiting Primo again.

Cute restaurant near Rockland, ME The restaurant is quaint, and can get busy so make reservations. The food is average. I got the razor clam special and the pan sear halibut. The razor clams were ok, nothing too exciting. I found the halibut to be a little dry, and wished it was a little more buttery and flakey. I did like the flavor of the Brussels sprouts that came with the halibut. They were roasted well and slightly sweet. I also got the cider which was very good.

Ah, Primo. That locavore Mecca on a hill just outside of Rockland's arty downtown. Chef Melissa Kelly's reputation for destination dining is James Beard awarded, well-earned and evergreen. The restaurant itself is charming and is as appealing on a hot summer twilight on the patio as it is cuddled up in a cozy nook in a rainy, coastal squall. Much is grown or raised at this resto-farm and the food shines with seasonal freshness and the quality of its husbandry. With a slight Italian flare, vegetables, fish, seafood and meats come together into lovely, creative takes on old favorites like Saltimbocca and Cordon Bleu or as beautifully cooked simple preparations of local halibut or scallops that emphasize the integrity of the ingredients. The wine list is appealing, the cocktails are fabulous and dessert is worth saving room for. And where else can you pick up a dozen farm fresh eggs on the way out the door? Primo ain't cheap, but it's worth every, single penny. Go there.

We're from Maine. We had to go once we saw Gordon Ramsay's episode of Uncharted where he cooks with the owner Michelle Kelly. I'll start off by saying the attention to detail and the exceptional service we have never experienced in the state of Maine. We live two hours away, our reservation was at 7:45-we got there at 7:00, and they still sat us. I got the chicken breast special with Parmesan risotto. My partner got another special, the pork chop with black eyed peas and collard greens. And his mother got the swordfish steak which is on the menu. For appetizers, we got the farmers salad and the razor clams. I do recommend getting the Panzalla-- they're were sold out though! For dessert, I got the cannoli with a scoop of chocolate gelato, and my partner got the affagado! We couldn't recommend more, I'd like to come back in the summer seasons.

Definitely the nicest restaurant we've been to in Maine. Primo is a destination-type experience, suitable for special occasions, but casual enough to show up as you are for a weeknight meal (if you can afford that sort of thing). Other places claim to be farm-to-table but Primo takes the concept to the next level. The farm behind the restaurant is the source for nearly every ingredient on the menu (not the seafood, obviously), and the rows of fresh vegetables, herbs, flowers, etc are well-spaced and open to guests -- arrive early for a lovely pre-dinner stroll. And that should clue you in about what to order. Linguine with clams sounds good, but why choose that when the day's offerings include house-made gemelli with fava beans, mustard greens, herbs and pork all grown/raised just a few yards away? Or a "red salad" with a variety of beets and berries from the garden. Look to the daily-changing menu for items inspired by the garden, and you're likely to be rewarded (though that salad was extremely overdressed -- enough to deduct a star from the experience). Note: plan to spend a long evening because this is the kind of place that takes it's time, pacing each course so that there's a 15 minute break between each. If you like lingering over a cocktail and, well, lingering over each course as well, this is your kind of place. If that drives you crazy, make sure your waiter knows, or look elsewhere. At these prices, I thought it was pretty silly that they charge for bread, but the bread is pretty damned good, and are most things here.

Ambiance 10; service 10; food 10, had duck breast in a wine sauce. Literally, the best duck I've ever had. We were treated to a warm apple jack with creme fraiche before dinner and a homemade biscotti after dinner while we waited for our dessert - profiterole filled with caramel gelato dripping with chocolate sauce. Do I need to say more???

Beautiful location, beautifully run from welcome by maitre'd to impeccable service by wait staff. Food was delicious, from craft cocktails to amuse bouche to apps and entrees and straight through dessert. It was worth every dollar spent. An amazing experience and great food. We had an 11 yo with us (who was very excited about the menu) and the waitress informed us they could also make more traditional pizzas or pasta with sauce (appreciated the options). The space is really interesting and if you are able to make reservations you can make special requests regarding seating and any food concerns which they seem to respect greatly. (Table next to us were vegan and this is certainly not a vegan restaurant but the waitress immediately noted she saw they were vegan in their reservation and was ready with options.) We did not have reservations but on a Thursday in late August we walked in at 5p and had a table at 6p. If you have a night in Rockland, it's worth a stop!

This restaurant was simply incredible. Service, 10... food, 10... ambiance 10. If you are within any reasonable distance you need to give this restaurant a try. The food is truly farm to table, the service is professional but also laid back, the ambiance is upscale rustic. Our server was knowledgeable, witty, relaxed, and professional. We took her recommendations for drinks and for food and they were great. The ambiance was nice and matched the area. It feels like you are at an upscale place while still being rustic. The food was outstanding. Fresh, flavorful, and unique. The chef has put together great dishes and built flavors along the way. The attention to detail was visible on every plate. We were floored by this restaurant and highly recommend.

We went in May of 2023 with a group of 4 people. I have been wanting to go for years now but Rockland was always just far enough (Portland) to go for dinner. Decided it was finally time. We had reservations so no issue there. The service was also good, but no different than any other fine dining location to be honest. Had some cocktails a few apps, 4 entrees and deserts. The best course to us all was the amuse bouche. The best paid component was a pork belly app, which would reorder. The best entree was pork saltimbocca, also very good. All the other entrees (chicken, pasta, etc) were average. The pasta was very boring to us. Being from Portland will likely not bother returning as the price/quality ration was just average. Maybe it was a bad night.

Sublime food, imaginative and cooked to perfection. Good service. A bit crowded but still manages intimate environment.

Phenomenal food and ambiance. Feels like a slice of heaven. Cocktails are delicious and the food is fresh and made to perfection. Dinners in the restaurant are on the high end of pricing but worth it. Summer Sunday oyster specials outside are incredible. You have to come early to snag a table and avoid long lines but again I find it is worth the experience!!

Great exciting menu options and excellent service. We always go to Primo's at least twice when we visit the area.

Simply the best restaurant experience I have ever had. Over and over again. Every facet is always a 10! Melissa and crew are second to none. First rate. Great food, great service, awesome ambiance. Oh, and the cocktails are great too! I keep going back!

Worth the drive! We were on our way to Portland and planned to stop here... and we're so happy we did! Definitely, definitely recommend making a reservation - line was out the the door on Sunday when we got there and it was mostly people without reservations. The food and service were outstanding - everything is perfectly seasoned, you can tell pasta is homemade and cooked perfectly al dente. They had a great cocktail and wine selection as well. I've seen other reviews say it's pricey - but for the quality of food and service you are getting, it's absolutely worth it! Save room for dessert! We wanted to try them all - including all the specials - I guess we have to come back!

First time to Primos but definitely came on a five-star day. I saw some of the one- and two-star reviews but could not picture what they described. The grounds around the restaurant are just as interesting as the restaurant itself. Fire pits add to the atmosphere and smell good. The different dining areas were in nooks that gave you the feeling that your table was private. The wait staff was a delight to include our "back server" Danielle. They were polite, funny, knowledgeable, and attentive. Setup of the table was first class and they pay attention to all the details. The bread service was beautiful and wonderful. I haven't said anything about the main course but I had the pork chop with black eyed peas and collard greens - best meal I've had in years. The key lime cheesecake was also better than expectations.

Amazing farm to table Italian restaurant w/ a beautiful garden near the sea. That homegrown salad and zappella dessert were out of this world, everything was so fresh. This has to be one of the best meal I've had in 2022. Life is at a slow pace in ME, you have to take your time to savor every moment at this restaurant. A must visit restaurant in Rockland, ME.

This was hands down our best meal in Maine. It was impeccable. I was somewhat unsure if the hype around this restaurant (ie: being a favorite of Anthony Bourdain's) would give us the classic letdown upon actually experiencing the restaurant...but if anything, the food and entire experience were actually better than we had anticipated. The service was also great as we had a very large group (including some children). The food was out of this world: farmers salad was memorable, the salmon was perfect, bluefin was a big hit (seasonal I believe), oyster oyster oyster was popular amongst our group, mussels were awesome, the desserts were off the charts - everything was extremely well executed, thoughtful, and most importantly delicious. Wine selection was way better than average. We had bottle of Austin Hope and Orin Swift Mercuryhead and both were home runs. The food rivaled almost anything I've had anywhere else. To add to the 5 out of 5 food...the property is really charming. It's an old Victorian house that's been repurposed into a restaurant and it's just very different and fun. In addition, there are gardens (yes, where the herbs and salad greens come from) to walk through and enjoy as well as a very large chicken coop with probably 50+ chickens running around. We also found 10 or so pigs in the back of the property in a pig sty which was super neat. The pigs smell, well, like pigs as you can imagine lol - but they're a good five hundred yards from the restaurant so don't worry you won't smell a thing while eating haha. the kids loved them. And, yes, the bacon and pork products come from the pigs as I understand it.

Last nights dinner at Primo went above and beyond my expectations of any restaurant we have visited by far! Farm to table dishes from the restaurants property. The food had so many layers or flavor, so fresh, so robust and just downright delicious. The spacing between courses was perfect, it allowed us to enjoy the food without feeling overwhelmed and weighed down. It also allowed us to enjoy each others company. Our waiter, Duncan was phenomenal! He made excellent recommendations and was just amazing at what he does! To the lovely couple that sat beside us (dining with their two young grandchildren) thank you so much for the conversation and thank you for the bottle of Donnafugata Mille e una Norte bottle of wine, it was so generous of you! Chef Melissa Kelly and your staff, Bravo! Thank you for making my husband's 50th birthday all that it needed to be!

We brought a party of 10 (5 couples), only one had ever been to Primo before which always makes us nervous about recommending a restaurant but Primo was as good, maybe better than ever! We had a great table upstairs that fit the 10 of us perfectly. Everything from the Apple cider & crème fresh amuse to the cinnamon and sugar "donuts" (and every bite in between) were fantastic! Everyone loved Primo and I know we won't hesitate recommending it!! We'll done!! PS. The foie gras app and the duck main were my personal favs of the night but the other guys still were talking about the pork chop special the next day!

One of the greatest farm to table experiences in the US! Chef Kelly is doing extraordinary work. Her team is exceptional!!

Spectacular experience. Michelin star quality food, excellent service and outstanding drinks! Server Christine was perfect and had a great grasp of men, drinks and service. Food was gorgeous and delicious. Drinks are best in Maine - perfectly crafted and house cocktails were great as were calls. This is a must visit if you are within 2 hours. If you're further, still consider. Best we have had here in Maine. It's super beautiful and charming inside and out. Only "con" was manager or sommelier who visited other table next t9 us and never acknowledged us. Serious faux pas since he fawned over their experience and never even looked at another table in ear/eyeshot. Couple dining at table next to us were regulars and they thought it strange, to. For the level portrayed, it was noticeable and easily correctable.

Primo was PRIMO! This beautiful restaurant is so unique. Farm to table at its finest as when you approach the restaurant, you're drawn to the greenhouses and yes, a farm, on the property. Across the street you can admire the beautiful Penobscot Bay. We had a party of 8 in which they placed us upstairs at our own large private table. The staff here was top notch. They confirmed our reservation and gave us a courtesy call prior to our arrival. The meal was fantastic. Charcuterie to start with a fantastic foie gras. A melt in your mouth deep fried blue crab and a strip steak to cap it all off. Can't wait for our return!