Bar Prima in Toronto

My friend and I came here last night for a nice holiday dinner. The food and atmosphere of course were absolutely lovely but I just wanted to write this review to highlight our server Cade. He was so knowledgeable about the menu and made incredible recommendations. My friend and I ordered all of his favourites and we were so happy we did. He described each dish perfectly but was so personable and friendly while doing it. You can tell hes proud of his work and all his efforts did not go unnoticed.

Sadly Bar Prima has lost sight of their customer. Having made a reservations many weeks in advance (with notations we wanted to be close to our other table of 4) knowing the holiday time was busy, I was greeted by four female representatives who told me not only could they not seat me for my original reservation (because they were running behind) but that they would not put our two tables near one another but maybe on different floors.The only other option was for all 8 of us to come back at 9:30 pm because that suited the restaurant better to accommodate us despite the reservation made for an earlier time slot.What is the point of making a reservation that far in advance to have been told we cannot accommodate you? I was told by one of the staff members we are a business and that s our policy .Every comment from the staff was about how we could accommodate the restaurant to make this situation work. Every business, including Bar Prima, lives and dies by its customers and their restaurant experience including its loyal ones who spend lots of money and bring many people with them. Feel free to check my profile you will see I have long supported Bar Prima since its opening. Bar Prima has lost sight of the customer or it simply does not want bigger groups to fund its business. Either way, don t have a strict timing for reservations if you will not adhere to it. In this competitive restaurant business space, our group took our business elsewhere and supported another local restaurant. Bar Prima - adieu and do better for your customers. This Reply of December 7 is laughable, defensive and only proves what it written in my review/feedback that there is a lack of focus on the customer experience. There was nothing last minute about these reservations. The correct reply from Bar Prima should have been we are sorry that this occurred and that we failed to meet your expectations for your dinner experience. We hope that you will consider returning so that we can regain your business . Take the lesson - do better for your customers.

Just here to bring balance to the world . Great food . Amazing customer service ! Still a hot spot! Pretty much everything opposite to all the recent negative reviews. Food

Dined here for the first time this past Saturday. Great ambiance, beautiful interior and lively atmosphere without being chaotic or loud. We arrived earlier than our reservation but got seated right away which was appreciated. Drinks and food were delicious. We sat at the bar and the bartenders service was great and knowledgeable about the menu. If I were to nit-pick, my comments would be that the food menu only comes in Italian with no description. I get it, its trying to look authentic, but were on Queen St Toronto, not Milan, why make your patrons whip out google translate for no reason?

Beautiful space with incredible food. Highly recommend the spaghetti. Our server was also best-in-class that really made our experience!

lukewarm almost cold, boring, plain, bland veggie pasta, straight from the fridge or a can of spagettiOs, didnt finish & rushed outto to never return :(

Beautiful dining experience! Ruben was such an attentive and amazing server. Food was delicious and ambiance was insane. Love!!

The service from the dudes with moustaches behind the bar were the highlight of our trip to Toronto.

Terrible customer service, this restaurant that used to be a hot spot has clearly lost the plot. I hope you wake up and realize that you are only as good as how you treat your customers.

Meh. Sorry gang. Typical Toronto hype.

Highly recommend trying the lobster & the sword fish.

Venue was beautiful. The service was great. But the food was shockingly mediocre

Wow, just incredible service and food. What a gem. It was so good I didn t have a chance to showcase the food I had. But the empty plate shows it. Hopefully you come by :). No regrets

5 stars across the board! Our server Alicia was amazing - one of the best servers weve had in a long time (friendly, knowledgeable, fun etc). The food was divine - the dishes were all very tasty and unique in their own way. Would definitely come back.

Easily one of the best restaurants in the city, food and vibes were fire last night. Martinis, clam toast, gnocchi and swordfish are all must try!

An absolute gem! From the moment you step inside, you re struck by the gorgeous decor every single detail has been thoughtfully designed to create a warm, inviting atmosphere. It s rare to find a spot that balances elegance and comfort so perfectly. The food is equally fantastic. The pasta is fresh-made, with incredible flavors that make each bite memorable. It s clear the kitchen cares about quality, and the prices are refreshingly reasonable for such high-caliber dishes. I highly recommend trying a few pastas to share; you won t regret it! Bar Prima is one of those places where everything just works delicious food, beautiful ambiance, and a great overall vibe. Whether you re out for a special night or just looking to treat yourself, this spot delivers in every way.

Exceptional

I went to Bar Prima with a few friends this weekend knowing nothing of what to expect and as soon as I stepped in I was already blown away. The restaurant itself was beautiful and the food was just as amazing to match. A couple of us have quite severe dietary restrictions which often makes it very difficult for us to go out to eat, but our server Alisha was incredibly helpful in accommodating everyones allergies. She walked us through a number of dishes explaining exactly what was in each to ensure that those with allergies could find something that suited their dietary needs and taste. I cannot emphasize enough how grateful we all were for her attentiveness and warm attitude. Every dish we ordered was a hit, but our favourites were the agnolotti doppio, scallops rockefeller, ossobuco, and unexpectedly the caulilini. I would come back again in a heartbeat to try all the other dishes we didnt get to this time around. A+ food and atmosphere, and A+++++++ service!!!!

Bar prima is the latest edition to the toronto food scene over the last year. And if you havent had the chance to wine and dine here you are missing out on this hidden gem. Situated amongst some of the best restaurants/bars located on queen west, Bar prima offers up an elevated but non pretencious speak easy ambience with the most creative food and drink options on hand. This two level dining space takes heavy design inspiration from the classical thriller the shining- so if your a fan of king or Kubrick this alone is an exciting start to the evening. All the wait staff are impeccably dressed in white pressed dress shirts w black ties. The service from our waitress was impeccable. She was friendly, professional and gave excellent recommendations from the menu provided. Drinks were served fast and delicious. We tried several vegetarian dishes off the menu. Standouts were : tomato tramezzini, baby gem alla romana & stuffed gnocchi.All time favorites were split between the: potato pave, agnolotti doppio-ravoli stuffed w buttersquash and sage and the millefogile for dessert. Bar prima is a great addition to the city a must try when planning your next night out or choosing a place to celebrate any occasion! Vegetarian options: Great selection provided

High end Italian restaurant. Food is very delicious, especially the pasta. Attentive service as well as cozy and classy interior decor.

The calamari was extremely salty and tough. The cappelletti was very bland, watery and undercooked beyond al dente. The cocktails were yummy but none under $20 which is high even for Toronto standards. The scallops Rockefeller were outstanding though. Octopus and swordfish pretty good as well. The space is beautiful!

I ve anticipated the opening of this restaurant for a while. As soon as I walked in, I was reminded of Carbone restaurant in NYC. Great staff great food and I would definitely return again. I would recommend the Tomato tramezzini, Caroaccio and Lobster fra diavola. There was one downside that the lobster pasta was a little too salty but it was manageable.

Bar Prima in West Queen West felt like an intimate escape, with its charming vintage Italian vibe. The warm glow from the gold leaf ceiling and the mirror-lined walls created such a cozy and inviting atmosphere. For dinner, we shared a delicious variety of dishes, starting with the Tomato Tramezzini, which were like little pizza bites, followed by the Scallops Rockefeller, the rich and flavorful Lobster Fra diavola, and the perfectly cooked Veal Chop Marsala. We paired everything with a lovely 2020 Chianti Classico recommendation, which complemented the meal beautifully. Sitting in the open lounge, the evening felt like a perfect blend of nostalgic elegance and modern indulgence. Definitely worth checking out!

My boyfriend took me here for my birthday on Saturday and it was incredible, probably top 5 restaurants Ive had in Toronto. Reuben was amazing, so knowledgeable, friendly and really funny. We got 2 apps: the rockerfeller scallops and the amberjack crudo; to die for! Then for mains we got the agnolotti, octopus and lobster diavola which are some of the best italian entrees Ive ever had. We had gin martinis and its very clever how they give the remaining oz of gin on the side to keep it cool which was appreciated and a bottle of wine which paired perfectly with our dinner. The desserts were also incredible, the apple tart with parm in addition to the classic tiramisu was so delicious. All in all a definite visit, will certainly be back and will request Reuben because he was so great.

Ruben was an excellent server. All his recommendations were incredible, both Food and wine. Definitely will return!

We were sited in the basement, which is not as nice as the main floor, but the biggest issue was the terrible sound system, the food , we had 6 dishes was remarkably bland, same with the 2 desserts, decent choices of wines but overpriced , restaurant is quite expensive for the quality of food they serve

Surely deserving of a Michelin star, this restaurant is refined without pretension. The service was excellent and attentive without being suffocating. The food was elevated Italian with a wonderful attention to the details.

The food was very very good, albeit pricey.

Great service. Good food and drinks. Food

saw a mouse running and the server said its normal.... will not be returning

Love the place!!! Ten out of ten!

It is a beautiful place to eat at, and our server was absolutely lovely, she took the time to explain the dishes and provide recommendations based on everyones preferences. Unfortunately, the food was underwhelming. We had the Zeppole cacio e peppe and beef tartare to start and they both lacked flavor. I was really looking forward to trying the zeppole, but it just tasted like dough, the other flavors were not really adding anything to the plate. The swordfish was good but nothing crazy to be honest, I was really expecting a lot more. My friends had the lobster fra diavola and they thought it was ok, but also not really the best and the lobster was a bit overcooked. The potato pave was the only hit, it was really good!

Can I just start by saying the service is top tier. Like this girl walked us through every single item on the menu by memory. Had the Paloma mocktails and added tequila which was incredible. Food was all so so so good. My only complaint was some things were not as hot as they could have been. Vibe was 10/10 tho. Def a special place.

Food needs to be WAY better. The artichoke was over-battered and dry, the lobster pasta was just ok and the swordfish was salted too much and smothered In sauce that made the fish lose its flavour. The scallops were decent. Decor was nice but all hard surfaces which made it very noisy. Service was great, but surprisingly (maybe not), no one asked how the food tasted . There are so many better Italian places to eat in Toronto.

our server (Si?) was outstanding. She spent a long time providing us with descriptions of every dish (there are no descriptions on the menu). She described every dish in detail and with enthusiasm. The food was delicious. The only minor issue we had was one of our fish dishes coming out cool. She took the dish back and warmed it up as opposed to replacing it. Cocktails were outstanding. The sommelier recommended a perfect wine.

Thank you, Cade for a lovely experience. Everytime i come here, it s incredible food and vibes.

Avoid this place if you can. Was on a date, and right after we finished eating we saw a mouse running around. The server casually said that it happens all the time, and gave the excuse that it s because the building itself is old. He didn t once offer any kind of discount and continued to joke about the mouse as we saw it run across beneath our table a second time. If I had seen this before ordering our food I wouldn t have left immediately. I feel disgusted.

Top notch food , service and atmosphere

Upscale restaurant located west of Downtown Toronto serving excellent Italian food. Ingredients are fresh and high quality achieving top flavor in each plate. Menu offers antipasti, pasta, mains, sides and dessert. Not a large variety of options, but good enough to make it hard for your decision since all of them have signs of good care and details from the Chef. I tried their famous scallops rockefeller and they have been one of the tasteful dishes I ve tried in the area. Fresh seafood cooked right to the tender point, accompanied either a succulent sauce topped with melted cheese creates the perfect combination for your taste buds. They come three, good amount to share with another person. For pasta, I chose the pappardelle al ragu. Long strips al dente pasta with ragu meat and sauce, sprinkled with cheese and a hint of truffle. They also offer a veggie option which is the agnolotti, that seems to have an excellent flavor. Continuing with the mains, I selected the octopus alla griglia. The cooking point of octopus is a tough one, and they made it possible here, achieving that tenderness and juicy inside, but crispy on the outside that is reinforced by the nuts topping . I recommend ordering a side with this plate so it does not get too monotonous when eating. I inclined for the potato pave which didn t disappoint. To finish with a dessert, I was recommended the prima opera cake. I have to admit that when it came to the table, it felt disappointing due to the presentation. However, the taste made me regret that first impression. If you like pistachio and white chocolate, with a hint of berry , this is your plate. My only critique is the cocktails. They are fine, but not as good as the quality of food. I would order a glass or bottle of wine to pair with the food. The ambience of this restaurant is very quiet, warm lights, not too many tables , calling for a romantic meal. Staff and service is excellent, being knowledgeable of the menu and offering correct recommendations according guests tastes. I definitely recommend this restaurant for a special meal to celebrate, or even if you crave an elegant and authentic upscale Italian restaurant. Expect high prices, costing more than $120 per person

As a vegan, I typically avoid Italian. But this was exceptional. The chef prepared an off-menu gnocchi that was better than anything I had in Italy. Several appetizers are prepared vegan. Excellent cocktails. Fantastic service. Great for a celebratory, large group or romantic meal.

Beautiful space but disappointing food. Scallops came drenched in sauce, lobster pasta dish came out cold with the noodles stuck together, when we let our server know, he visibly looked upset and said he d see what he could do , instead he brought out a half-portion of the pasta to remedy. The beef tartare was tasteless, and the swordfish was overcooked with sauce that was also room temperature? The only dishes that tasted good were the chicken liver and caviar maritozzi and the agnolotti doppio. I will not be back again.

The restaurant itself is quite beautiful and the atmosphere was great. The service was good but I found the food to be mediocre. Nothing really wowed me. I enjoyed the mocktail, chicken liver and the agnolotti. The scallops were a let down as it just tasted like sauce and that was what I was most excited about. The lobster pasta got cold super fast and the flavours weren t that great. The swordfish felt like it was overcooked and I didn t enjoy the flavours. Overall, nice place to grab a drink but I d skip the food.

Mediocre, overpriced dishes. Lobster pasta ($50) was overcooked and salty. House bread is very salty. Tiramisu is average. It makes you wonder why it is ranked #2 on the list of new best resto in Toronto.

Kid-friendliness: All the staff worked together and were all incredibly friendly love this place I will go back. Food

Food was mid, atmosphere was nice and employees were great.

I don t remember how I came across Bar Prima, but I m glad I did. WOW! Absolutely an incredible experience. From the moment we entered, we were swept away by its unique blend of vintage elegance and soothing ambiance. The service was exceptional, with a team that was not only friendly but also very passionate about their craft. And the food and drinks? Simply divine. Our evening at Bar Prima was truly unforgettable, and I m grateful for such a remarkable experience. Highly, highly recommend.

Excellent!! The food is wonderful. Will be back. Food

This is truly an incredible place Kaylee s wine list is incredible the food and service was stunning 10000000% recommend! Always listen to the sommelier at the restaurant they know what they are doing so talented !!!

Would I come again: indeed Food is great and the place is so stylish with its retro look. Our server, Sai, was amazing recommending nothing but hits. The scallop Rockefeller & the octopus were the highlights for me. Definitely will come back for their drinks the next time around

Great venue but uninspiring pastas. Given its price point I would expect better.

I had an amazing evening at Bar Prima! Every course was thoughtfully planned and excecuted perfectly. I cant wait to return and will recommend to others!

Food was delicious but the portions were tiny and I left, starving. Food was really nice though. Food

Food is mediocre at best and incredibly expensive. If Terroni is the baseline for decent Italian food in this city, the food was substantially worse and almost twice the price. The service was good, although when asked for recommendations, the server exclusively pointed to the most expensive items on the menu. The lobster pasta which the server noted as a favourite was three small pieces of lobster on a small twist of linguine with a pretty standard garlic sauce. The space is beautiful and unique but it doesn t make up for serving average food at Michelin star pricing.

Chicken liver is amazing, but all other foods are overly salty.

Cade took such great care of us! Amazing cocktails and vibe. Will back!

Good food, amazing vibe of the restaurant, but grossly overpriced. Cocktails were lackluster and cost at least $20 (most were more). The food was really good, but not good enough to justify what theyre charging. I wouldnt go back.

Must try for a new twist in Italian classics. Great service to go with the amazing food and drink selection.

The best new restaurant in Toronto? Surprisingly large new Italian restaurant featuring a delightful typically four course menu and a great selection of wines to match.

I am genuinely shocked by all the positive reviews. The venue is beautiful, but that s about it. The food is overpriced and super mediocre, and the service is just fine. Dozens of better restaurants in the city.

Was looking forward to coming here for months and was disappointed. Food was served lukewarm or cool. Beet appetizer was bland and tasted pre-made and pulled from the fridge. Scallops were okay but again not freshly prepared and hardly warm. Swordfish with fagioli side was flavourful and would have been delightful but was again only slightly warm as if it had been sitting for a while. Bread was tiny and not fresh and then were charged $5 for another piece - not unusual but just added to the annoyance given the food was sub-par. Overall disappointing effort at any price. Service was good and wine was really nice. Would not recommend. It s probably 2 stars but I m trying to be generous.

The entrance is extremely obscure, which just shows that the place is trying a bit hard to be cool. Our server was very patient with our party and knowledgeable. We were rushing to another event, and the service was fast to accommodate our speed dining. We have a pescatarian and another guest who cannot eat gluten or dairy. I am surprised that an Italian restaurant in this day and age can accommodate GF with only one pasta selection. The GF gnocchi is quite hard in texture and totally devoid of flavor. The ragu was too salty, but I guess it makes up for the tough flavorless gnocchi. I was excited to try the chicken liver but was extremely disappointed with the lack of taste and the stale/hard bread that it came with. We couldn t even finish it. (Shoulda read the reviews ahead of time). I wanted to try this place because of all the buzz and because I really enjoyed La Palma. Quite disappointed. Would not be returning again.

Exceptional! Bar Prima exceeded the hype on all fronts - food, atmosphere and service. We were a group of 6 ordered several items to share and mains and we all agreed could not pick a favourite. Service is top notch..no b.s. just talent and professionalism they were on it! Nice to see a pedigree place focused on what matters. Go!

We had such a great time. Food is exceptional! Extra delicious. Staff were so knowledgeable, friendly and professional. Excellent place.

Service was spectacular. Swordfish and lobster pasta were amazing.

Great experience all around.

Overpriced mediocre food at a great venue. The venue itself is great. Nice ambience and music but the noise stays inside and it can get pretty loud. Service was good but not exceptional for their menu prices. Their beef tartare is over $30 (an appetizer) so.. you be the judge. Food was very disappointing. Nothing was great. Their on house bread was super dry, it cut my friend s mouth. The butter it came with it was awful. The oil from butter was separated and it was served like that. Chicken liver - alright, bread is not soft Artichoke - just fried artichoke, lacks flavour Scallops - the sauce was so heavy and greasy Lobster pasta - this was the best but it s nothing impressive Seafood pasta (daily special) - just seafood pasta Their wines are overpriced. I d probably not come back.

Lovely experience . Expensive but worth it for the time. Cheers

Rather newly opened restaurant. We had a fantastic server. She was amazing and could tell you everything in the dishes by memory. It s set quite lovely upstairs and downstairs. The music and guests did get a little loud, so if you have trouble hearing go earlier to skip the rush. The food overall was good - the lobster pasta was the highlight. They were also super thoughtful and came with sharing plates. For dessert, we had the hazelnut cake and apple pie. Honestly, that blew me out of the park. I m coming back for the dessert.

An absolutely amazing meal, hardly can find the words to describe it. The service did not miss a beat, from the greeting to the meal, it was incredible. The food was on another level. I think we found our new favourite restaurant in Toronto. The photos speak for themselves!! Thank you for a great evening.

We recently went there! Both food and services are amaizng will definitely come back!

Went here for my 5 year anniversary, the interior was beautifully decorated and the ambiance was lively on the main floor. It was unfortuante they put us on the lower floor where you could probably hear a pin drop, but we didnt mind too much. Food was good but not justified for the price and small portions. The most unforunate part of it all was the server, Michael our server perhaps it was his first time serving. But he didnt acknowledge us for the first 15 mins of us sitting and being his only table downstairs. He merely stared at the screen and back turned to us. I had to call him to request drinks and food for the table and even water for the table. I had to prompt him to request specials but a missed opportunity to not personalize the experience or make suggestions. Food came in a timely fashion he never said anything to us the entire service nor checked to see how the food was. Until the end another food runner came by and brought our dessert with a candle which was a nice touch but dont she knew what it was for. As we were walking out he finally said happy Anniversary (these were on the reservation notes). Overall okay experience just missed opportunity to make the dinner feel special. Think he may just need more training.

I dont like the food at all . It was like a joke. The atmosphere and one of the bartenders was good but the rest , it didn t worth.

Horrible food Bread was ok Service

Food was overpriced and not good at all!. The food was tasteless from the appetizers to the mains. With that being said we didn t even get a dessert.

Amazing food, service

Definitely gimmicky. The decor does NOT match the poorly made dishes and subpar service. Far off from real authentic and well executed fine Italian dishes. If you do end up at this restaurant, whichever dish you choose, make sure you stay away from the Ravioli. One friend in our group ordered the Ravioli - and it was so off putting that they asked the rest of us to try it just to make sure it was t her palate, that it was the ravioli, that had a bitter/weird taste with off putting notes. Service had zero attention to detail and was super rushed, with a semi-rude tone. Our wine glasses was rudely wipped off of the table by the server as soon as we sat down, assuming we weren t going to order a bottle of wine. I could go on about many other major things (and little details) missing from this gimmicky upper dinning restaurant, but I think you get the picture. I must say one particular Bartender named Leith (I believe) was very pleasant to speak to, and made our night by making us perfectly crafted and well balanced cocktails. This bartender was the only pleasant experience of our TIME at Bar Prima. Highly NOT recommended (imho) Total bill $502. Value in food/experience, $2. $2, just because we won t get our TIME back. : (

Everything was excellent, our server Jeffrey was amazing, his knowledge of the food was impressive. Order a martini, the presentation is very cool, the food was 5 star every dish was perfectly executed the charred octopus was actually charred to perfection, the tartar served with bone marrow was a hi-lite, the marrow is an excellent substitute for the egg yoke.the scallops Rockefeller were amazing i cant say enough about my experience at this 5 star restaurant

The best restaurant experience I ve had in Toronto. The interior is stunning, the service is exceptional, and most importantly, the food is absolutely delicious. We were warmly greeted and sat upstairs, and there is a downstairs section as well that feels super cozy and inviting. Our server was so kind and management came to our table to make sure we were enjoying our visit as well. We had two appetizers (scallops are a must try) and two pastas, cocktails, and prosecco. 10/10 going back!

We had a fantastic time from start to finish. Great seamless service, terrific balanced cocktails, with delicious food. Highly recommended, see you real soon.

The ambience very beautiful and inviting. Gerrid our server was knowledgeable of the menu and made some delightful recommendations. Food was exceptional, Must try: Scallops Mortadella With truffles Spaghetti Veal chop And save room for the cheesecake, it was the best I ve ever had! We can wait to return, it was a fantastic experience!

The food is overpriced for what it is. $45 for a pasta that is under cooked is out outrageous. $90 is the cheapest bottle of wine. The scallops were really good! But also $40 for 4. Go down the street to Good Son if you want amazing pasta and wine for half the price. Ambiance is also on point.

The most gorgeous interior! The place is mesmerizing! Penny, our server was a friendly delight. Kaylee, the sommelier, is so informative and delivers the most amazing hospitality. Everyone I conversed with during my dinner service was amazing. Will definitely be back, and I have already and will continue to recommended to friends and family!

Best fine dining experience I ve had in a long time. Amazing chef, amazing wine, great food, and awesome vibes. I loved everything about this place.

Amazing!

Found this place on TikTok, thought it looked pretty and the food seemed delicious so we decided to check it out. The food was great, however, as a vegetarian, options were limited. The best dish I tried was the tartufo dessert, which was heavenly! The atmosphere was also beautiful. My favourite thing about this place is the exceptional service we received. 10/10 for all the staff who made us feel taken care of all night Best service in any restaurant I ve been to in Toronto!

Simply amazing! Deserve to be on the Michelin list for sure.

Decent food. However didn t let us know that our reservation was for the basement level . The table next to us (who came 30 mins after) received their pasta significantly before us. Very anticlimactic / disappointing dining experience.

Fantastic spot, ideal for a special occasion (although tbh Id happily go there on a whim and nibble at the bar!), sat under a beautiful concave golden ceiling, excellent music and our server Christian was lovely and really made this dinner feel special. Dont miss out on the crostata apple tart, a total highlight and were not usually desert people!!

Food was okay, but in my opinion there are much better options in the area. Not worth it for the price honestly. Friend got the steak and even that was just ok. The interior is pretty though but I would skip unless you go just for the dessert as the tiramsu was excellent.

From start to finish amazing

The ambiance was amazing. The food was really good. I tried some of the popular items. Favorites were definitely the lobster pasta, and Rockefeller Scallops. Our server was outstanding and explained everything so well. Definitely a new gem in the city.

Had a stunning dinner with friends at Bar Prima about a month ago. The ambiance of the room is completely dialled in with perfect lighting, and attention to detail. The alcohol free cocktail menu was bigger than I expected it to be, and I was both excited and impressed with the offerings. The dinner was 10/10! Clam toast, fabulous! Same with the Scallops Rockefeller. Pasta was perfect and our fish main course was also cooked to buttery perfection. Bravo, keep up the fantastic work! If you re looking for the perfect date spot or just a fun night out with your friends to get a bit fancy, this is it.

Tremendous place. Lobster pasta, rib eye, scallops all slap. Service is excellent and vibe immaculate.

Giving it 4 stars but I recommend going, it s a great date spot with beautiful decour and good service. Tartare and scallops were delicious but most dishes were a bit too salty for my taste and I m Italian, the ragu being the worst offender. Music was too loud and not curated to Valentine s Day.

Excellent for instagram pics and drinking cocktails while acting pretentious, but skip the food because it s everything but Italian. Easily the worst Italian food in the city, even the tiramisu tasted straight up like alcohol. The dishes felt so forced to be good yet lacked any sort of flavour. Unfortunately we fell for the TikTok hype. I still do believe it has a lot of potential as a jazz bar, the theme and atmosphere are top notch but that s the only good thing. Not worth the price!

A bit tricky to find, but once you open the door you won t wanna leave. The food was incredible. The portions were on the smaller side, but what it lacked for in quantity it made up in quality. Make sure to have reservations or else you ll be disappointed. Definitely a must visit.!

Food was 10/10 !! The service was also amazing and the atmosphere is so nice! The scallops, calamari and lobster pasta were delish. It s a bit pricey but worth it for special occasions

Food, drinks, atmosphere were all incredible. If there s one thing this restaurant takes seriously it s attention to detail and it shows. The decor and design transports you to old Italian American white table cloth dining in the best way possible while the food lives up to the beautiful facade. Do yourself a favour and order the Scallops Rockefeller. All the food was top notch but I would avoid the Artichoke Fritti in the future

Amazing Birthday dinner last night. The food and drinks were amazing. Our server was very friendly and made good recommendation for cocktails and appetizer. Our dinner was 10/10 in every aspect. My husband thoroughly enjoyed the chicken satimbocca and confit potatoes. I had the lobster fra diavola which was incredible. The decor is very beautiful and elegant. This will definitely our go to spot as it is not that far away from us.

Always an incredible experience at Bar Prima. Stunning atmosphere, delicious food and exceptional service- cant wait to come back!

I went about three weeks ago with my wife, good friends and my 81 year old cousin who needs a bit of help as he is hard of hearing and moves farilyslowly. The service from all the staff was thoughtful, prompt and friendly and they never made anyone feel rushed or out of place. The atmosphere was inviting and charming, with warm lighting and elegant but intimate spaces and materials that made us feel relaxed; setting the tone for a much anticipated meal. It did not disappoint! Tomato tramezzini was rich, balanced and fantastic. My pasta dish, paccheri al ragu, had great depth of flavour and hearty, robust morsels of shredded pig tail. The scallop rockefeller was excellent and all the mains that were ordered kept us commenting and sharing tastes throughout. The desserts were worhty of a trip from the burbs on their own. my favourite was the apple tart (crostata di mela)which was transformed by the oive oil gelato and the pecorini cheese shaved by our lovely hostess/ server. Will repeat when ever possible.

Amazing food, amazing service!

Sai is an exceptional server who consistently delivers top-notch service. Her attention to detail, friendly demeanor, and proactive approach make dining a delightful experience. Sais dedication to customer satisfaction truly sets them apart, making them an invaluable asset to any establishment. Amazing time

I was beyond hyped to try Bar Prima, given I loved Campangolo and still enjoy La Palma. Sadly, the meal was beyond disappointing. Our server was really lovely - however she went wayyy over the top in terms of walking us through each and every single dish on the menu. (Literally every single thing it took ages) We decided to get the chicken liver to start and the mousse tasted very nice but the bun in came on was dry/stale. $22 for two stale buns and mousse. (In fairness when she asked how it was I gave honest feedback and they took it off the bill). Beet salad was just OK. The pastas and veal chop were the true letdowns. The ravioli was inedible - the flavour was brutal and even left an unpleasant aftertaste. Amatriciana was lacklustre and had seemingly no guanciale. The paccheri was decent. Also I made the reservation a month ago and yet we were not seated on the main floor (where the nice ambiance is) but at a table beside the bathroom in the basement. I could go on. Its so unfortunate, as I had high hopes for them. Maybe it was an off night but I d be very unlikely to ever go back. Bummer!!

A wonderful faux ships bar.

Very disappointed overall. Staff had their noses up the whole time, looking down on us. Food was ill prepared.

We had a great dinner at Bar Prima. The service was excellent and the food was delish. The space itself is beautiful and the translucent glass in the front creates a bit of mystery. Minus 1 star because my wife was served a dish with anchovies despite disclosing an allergy.

10/10 - the quality of food was superb but HOW it was cooked was impeccable. The pasta and lobster melts in your mouth. We tried about 7 different things on menu and each one was unreal. Service and ambiance was also 10/10. Highly, highly recommend.

The lobster spaghetti was a divine experience and the non alcoholic cocktail menu was fully realized. The kiss and tell cocktail was the best mocktail Ive had! Shout out to Chef Julian for the hospitality. The decor upstairs is timeless, I could spend eternity there.

Probably the best dining experience Ive ever had! The thing that I appreciated the most about this restaurant was their attention to detail. Everyone from the hostesses, to our server, to Chef Nick was incredibly attentive and keen on making our experience at Bar Prima one to remember. The interior was beautiful and the service and food was phenomenal. Our server, Julia, was very friendly and knowledgeable about the menu. She gave us great recommendations and took very good care of us. The food was also amazing!! Every dish was clearly prepared with lots of care, which I appreciated a lot. I highly recommend the tomato tramezzini, the berkshire prosciutto and the sunchoke ravioli. Overall, had a very memorable experience at Bar Prima and recommend it to anyone looking for a nice place to dine in Toronto. Will definitely be coming back!

Best place in the city!

Great meal in all respects, will definitely be back.

Hands down one of the best restaurants of all times! The atmosphere is giving old world glam with a classy and exciting food and drink menu! Everything we had was delicious and my personal highlight the wonderful bartenders who shine with craftsmanship and charm! Look no further than- this place is top notch, I will be back!

A newly opened Italian place with a great vibe, service and meals. The oyster rocker feller was AMAZING. Drink selection was great and we enjoyed this place a lot. The only downside I experienced was the bathroom which was messy. Not blaming the restaurant because I might have walked in as soon as the last guest walked out.

Fantastic all around!

Had dinner with 2 friends on a Thursday evening. Great vibe, great food and exceptional service! My new neighbourhood favourite.

This restaurant is beautiful! The vibe from the upstairs all the way to the downstairs dining area looks amazing. We got the delicious lobster pasta- highly recommend! The veal chops were also great! The carpaccio was good not great! Our mains did take a while to come, and sometimes our server was not as present as we needed however the service was still great. For dessert we had the hazelnut cake- it was great! Would definitely return!

Amazing service, really great setting in a beautiful space. The food is good but not quite spectacular. Overall definitely worth a visit.

Phenomenal dinner with incredible service!

Opening night. I dont normally try a restaurant on night one. However, I am a big fan of La Palma. The service and atmosphere was great. Nice music but not too loud. A staggered number of guests flow into the restaurant as time goes on. I went for 5pm...so basically the first person to eat. The chef let me try this pate and caviar amuse bouche. It was tasty. I also got some bread and butter. Not sure if the bread was made in house but it was served warm. I ate it up. The Rockefeller scallops are a must order. I ate all 3 and wanted more. The sunchoke ravioli dish was good but also my least favourite. I ordered it knowing I may not like it but I try to be adventurous when dining out. Order things I cant just make at home. A few other main dishes caught my eye... Ill be back. The cheesecake. Even if you hate dessert. You need to order it. Its light, airy and with little to no crust. Its not a heavy dish. The fig and wine topping makes this dish next level. Im full as I write this but I want more of that cheesecake. I got the kiss and tell mocktail. The pineapple juice is perfect for something light but with flavours as you eat. Even though I was dining on my own. Service was great from start to finish. Parking: Lots of parking on Queen St and in a few paid parking lots in the back laneways.

We unknowingly made a reservation on their opening day and everything still went very smoothly. The service was impeccable. The food was incredibly delicious, especially the agnolotti. There were many small touches throughout the night contributed to our experience. We will definitely be back soon and would highly recommend!!

Food is delicious and service was impeccable. The space is beautifully designed and hits the right combo of sophistication and warm, effortless hospitality. Cocktails were great and the wine list is well curated. Thoughtful attention to detail in both front and back of house - its really special. Cant wait to go back to try a few more dishes...everything was 10/10!

This was opening night! Wow . Our experience was superb. The staff know the menu inside and out, our server explained each dish and was very descriptive to highlight ingredients and preparation process. The dishes were exquisite, wonderful flavour profiles beautifully plated to highlight the quality of preparation and individual ingredients. We were a party of 4 and had the following dishes: chicken liver & caviar maritozzi artichoke fritti scallops rockefeller bluefin tuna crudo lobster fra diavola swordfish piccata spaghetti all amatriciana grass-fed ribeye Congratulations to the Chefs Nick, Julian and Craig Opening night is in the books!

I had an incredible experience at Bar Prima! Everything about the night was phenomenal! The staff was incredibly welcoming and knowledgeable about the items on the menu. Our waiter, Mack, answered all of our questions with ease! The food was amazing! The scallops are a must have if you like seafood! And the swordfish was probably one of the best dishes Ive had in a long time! We ended up trying all 4 desserts and I have to say, the apple tart is my absolute favourite! Although the rest were so good, it was a very close call. All in all, if youre looking for a place to eat exceptional food and great cocktails, I highly suggest given Bar Prima a try. By far one my new favourite places in the city.

Delicious sunchoke ravioli, gnocco fritto and cheesecake in a beautiful setting. Loved the decor and ambiance of the place. Service was also excellent with comfortable seating.

Excellent all around from two top chefs. Innovative menu, extensive wine list. Beautiful venue. Make it a destination!! Wheelchair accessibility: Only on main floor.

Craig and crew are back in action, with a twist on some classic Campagnolo dishes! Beautiful ambience, Top notch service, fun laughs, incredible food. Even into wk 1, theyre doing great.

What a great spot! Food was excellent and our server Erin was so so good. She walked though the menu and she knew her stuff and was very enthusiastic. Love the space, will definitely visit again.

Delicious food and cocktails. Service was amazing. And the vibes were immaculate. Highly recommend, worth the hype, will return!

I have lived in Toronto for almost ten years, and have the privilege to live in so many amazing neighbourhoods with great food, but Bar Prima completely blew me away. the service was so amazing and every single person from the host, to the person dropping off our meals so so friendly and helpful. This neighbourhood was missing a restaurant like thus! I cannot wait to become a local at the bar, enjoying the new seasonal cocktails and tiramisu!

What a great first experience at Torontos newest Queen West restaurant. The decor and staff were spot on. Wry knowledgeable staff detailing the food for us as well as the drinks. Cozy date tables or for groups, I ve now booked in advance for my birthday! Thank you BP!

Stunning interior and wonderful hospitality. The server Mack was very knowledgeable and actually said that the menu is designed to have you ask questions, and to not feel like you have to look everything up on your phone. Everything was curated in a beautiful manner. I was there with my friends for dinner and Bar Prima hit a home run. Will back soon

One of my new favourites in the city. Went there for dinner with clients and everything from the drinks, to the appetizers, the mains and the desserts was amazing. I ate every morsel and wanted more if only my stomach could have spared some space. The service was impeccable and Geoff was beyond attentive. Will be back on finish what I started.

best restaurant in the city!!!! Great food, drinks and service!

Gorgeous bar. Wonderful service. Food was good, but not excellent. Its also pretty expensive. Crowd was.. an interesting one - its a mix of Yorkville and Parkdale, which could be your cup of tea. All jokes aside, its probably because I went during their opening week. Look forward to seeing how the restaurant evolves over time.

Love the vibes of this restaurant! The decor is stunning, warm and intimate. STANDOUT DISHES; tomato tramezzini, scallops rockefeller, spaghetti all amatriciana, seabass acqua pazza & prima cheesecake.

Loved our experience at Bar Prima. Delicious food, amazing ambience. Cant wait to return!

Fantastic atmosphere and service, standout dish is definitely the Ragu. We were served by Sai and she was outstanding!

WOW. We loved this place SO MUCH. Everything about it. Walking in I felt like I travelled back in time to a vogue fashion shoot or something. The decor is old school glam and the floors, well, I wish I had them in my house. Our server Vince (and the entire team) were top notch. The food was out of this world. We loved everything so much we can t even pick a favourite dish. All of the items we ordered we would recommend and this place is now definitely on our list of our bests. Cannot wait to go back and bring all of our friends - the best feeling to have after going to a restaurant! Thank you so much!

I was very excited to visit Bar Prima as I have been following the newest TO restos opening. The atmosphere and decor is outstanding. A lot of thought and detail was put into this, and it shows. The food is a 7.5/10 for me. The apps and pastas were outstanding.. every dish we tried was amazing. Only downfall was the fritters that came with the prosciutto were super undercooked. Stand out dishes were: Artichoke Fritti, Tomato Tramezzini, Scallops, Gnocco Fritto, Agnolotti Al Forno and the Sunchoke Ravioli. As for the entrees, I think the dishes were too elevated if I had to describe it. There was just a lot going on (chicken, sea bass and swordfish). I would simplify them a bit more and stick to classic Italian flavors. We also tried the cheesecake and the tiramisu. The tiramisu was an 11/10 and something you can t miss out on. If you re coming here, stick to the starters. pasta, dessert and drinks. It s definitely a vibe and very trendy. The service was super impressive and one of my best experiences I had. The engagement and conversation makes your experience even better. Shout out to Erin! Parking: parking garage down the street (walking distance) or parking on the street if you can find one!

Absolutely incredible experience. Food was spectacular and drinks were world-class. We ordered 5 appetizers, 2 mains, and 1 dessert for a group of 4 and everything was 12/10. especially the liver & caviar on bread, lobster pasta, and the swordfish which was cooked to perfection. Our server Penny & Manager Jennifer were amazing. Thank you!

Dinner at Bar Prima was so special! Not only was the food amazing but the staff went over the top to provide an amazing experience. Highly recommend!

One of the best dining experiences I ve had in a long time! The food and service were incredible. The chicken liver & caviar, the clam toast and the lobster pasta were all insane. Can t wait to go back!

Succulent lamb, delicious lobster pasta and to die for beef carpaccio! Everything was absolutely delicious and the ambience was great. Our server was wonderful until the end when we tipped her 18% on our $250 dollar meal. I m don t think she was very impressed with that as she didn t say thank your goodnight and left in a bit of a huff and puff. But we didn t let that take away from the experience. We will be back!

Marvellous!

Atmosphere is amazing. Food is good. Service was pretty terrible. From the minute we sat down our server rushed us through our meal and was completely inattentive and indifferent. Maybe there are servers who are better. Maybe this guy was having a bad day. I dunno but regardless, it wasn t a great experience. Dunno if I ll go back but check it out if you re just interested in drinks and a vibe.

Amazing! First time and will definitely be back. Food was outstanding and service was great from the moment we walked in! Our hostess was very sweet and welcoming!

Great looking spot and food was good.....but it stops here....the service was horrible. The minute we sat down our server Mac was rude and aggressive. He didnt offer to start us off with cocktails or explain the menu at the start. His approach to us ordering our wine was forceful as if he wanted to order the wine for us asuming we had no idea about wine. He didnt give us a chance to peruse the wine list or the food list and came back every minute. When we asked if we would be getting bread or if we should order bread he was annoyed as if we were to know bread was coming. He cleared our plates even though we hadnt finished our meals. He was not attentive in the least bit and felt that we were a burden to him even though we are the most low maintenance diners you will meet. When we mentioned the service to the manager her attitude was very insincere. I would go back for the food and ambience if they change their wait staff and manager. Not Worth the hype.

Managed to scoop a 7pm reservation on a Saturday night for a friends birthday celebration. Personally, there s nothing special or memorable worth writing home about. Meal was decent. Service was good.

Money well spent. The Martini was superb and presentation was lovely. We ordered beet caprese, clam toast, sunchoake ravioli. Beet caprese was well seasoned and high quality ingredients, the sunchoake ravioli was rich without heavy and it was perfectly cooked. Between the ambiance service etc it is a higher price point but it is worth it. Will be back!

Great food and service, highly recommend!

My wife and I went to Bar Prima for a blowout on our 10th anniversary and Chefs Craig and Julian did not disappoint. We led with the prosciutto, scallops Rockefeller, and beet caprese, followed by the lobster diavolo and swordfish picatta (and an amazing German Riesling). The tartufo and apple tart were perfect desserts for our amaro tasting. The service was impeccable and the room has great atmosphere. Highly recommended!

Had the pleasure of dining here the other night and oh my god what a wonderful experience! This would be such a cute date-night spot! (But worry not, if you re solo like I was, still a divine time!) Absolutely 10/10, everything was exceptional! Gorgeous ambiance, beautifully decorated, attentive & knowledgeable staff, super clean and absolutely delicious. This menu has been curated to perfection I have no doubts anything you order from here would be divine. I asked for some suggestions; what s popular among guests and what do the staff like (I find asking what the staff enjoy usually yields great recommendations!) My waiter suggested I start with the bluefin tuna crudo and the artichoke fritti! Always love a crudo but the fritti aren t something I d normally choose but boy am I glad I went with his recommendations! The crudo was amazing, fresh and light while the fritti on the other hand, were a perfect, crispy, salty contrast! Not greasy or oily, didn t taste deep fried (if anything they were more similar to an air fryer texture). The crispy crunch and texture of the fritti were absolutely to die for! You d have sworn it was chicken! Not overly salty, perfectly seasoned, all you need is a squeeze of lemon and it s perfect! The restaurant provided house bread & butter, on the house. Another great addition! Who can resist freshly baked, warm bread? The butter and olive oil accompaniment was *chefs kiss* perfect. For my main, I opted for another suggestion, the staff favourite: paccheri al ragu. Not only was the pasta absolutely gorgeous but it tasted incredible! House, hand-made noodles were cooked to the perfect al-dente texture and the sauce & cheese provided a perfect marriage of flavours. It was hard not to lick the plate clean. Nothing overpowered this dish, every flavour was its own star of the show. Noodles, sauce, meat, cheese, a perfect amalgamation of flavours and textures. I was also pleased to see there were a few non-alcoholic mocktail options! I opted for the Autumn Sky as i m a sucker for espresso martinis and I ve been missing them while I m off the sauce. Delicious! If you want a chic date-night spot or somewhere to wow some family or friends, THIS IS THE PLACE! Do not walk, RUN here! I d also recommend making a reservation as the restaurant stayed full almost all night! As a solo diner I typically opt for the bar and the seating was incredibly comfortable! If they offer you a bar seat, fear not! Your booty will be comfortable. Also, having a bar seat secured you the perfect spot to watch all the craft cocktails being made! Win/win! Absolutely divine experience all around, excellent food, service, staff and space. I cannot wait to come back here with some friends and show them what it s all about! Keep doing what you re doing, keep up the fantastic work and thank you for a lovely evening. Cheers!

I recently had the pleasure of dining at Bar Prima in Toronto on a bustling Sunday night, accompanied by friends. Securing a reservation at this sought-after spot felt like a small victory, setting the stage for an exceptional dining experience. From the moment we walked in, the warmth and friendliness of the service team stood out. They were not just professional but genuinely helpful, guiding us through the menu, which intriguingly listed only the names of the dishes. Their assistance in explaining each item added a personalized touch to our experience. The culinary journey began with a selection of four appetizers. The highlight for me was the exceptionally tasty carpaccio a dish I would highly recommend. We also savored the tuna, liver balls, a unique type of cruller, and the scallops, each dish bursting with flavor and beautifully presented. For our main courses, we opted for a family-style sharing approach. We chose two pastas, a remarkably cooked chicken dish that was a unanimous favorite, and some steak. The quality and preparation of each dish were impeccable, making it a memorable feast. The desserts were a delightful conclusion to our meal. We indulged in a classic tiramisu, a rich chocolate dessert, and a creamy cheesecake, each offering a perfect balance of sweetness and texture. While parking in the area was a challenge, we managed to find street parking on Queen Street. A minor inconvenience was the absence of a coat check, but it didn t detract from our overall experience. Our evening was further enhanced by the creative and delicious cocktails, a testament to the skill and imagination of the bartenders at Bar Prima. In terms of pricing, the bill for four people totaled over $600, inclusive of tax and tip. While on the higher end, the quality of the food, the ambiance, and the service made it a worthwhile splurge.

Absolutely loved this restaurant for the ambiance, service and FOOD. I applaud the owners and chefs for building such a great dining experience! Our group was well taken care of by our server Melissa and every bite was well enjoyed and matched with their cocktails/drinks! Will happily return ;)

Been to Bar Prima twice and loved it both times. The food is incredible thx to the brilliance of Chef Nick Iaboni and the service and ambiance were top notch! I certainly recommend this beautiful restaurant and will be going again soon! Kudos to the entire Bar Prima team! Food

Every bite made me want to stay forever. The exceptional food and atmosphere were only the beginning of this wonderful evening. Service was top notch from warm welcomes, perfect recommendations, and thoughtful menu insight. Drool-worthy cocktails with fabulous flavours. An interior that wowed with a balance of vintage luxe and a comforting cocoon. Chef Julian was generous with his talent and his time. Repeatedly stopping by our table with delicious treats and tales of the food we were eating. The entire staff seemed passionate and (deservedly) proud of what they have created here. Were so grateful for such a fabulous night and cant wait to return. Thank you!

Overall amazing experience. The owner was there and he recognized us from having gotten married at La Palma. Our server was outstanding and food was amazing. We ll definitely be back!

I have been to Bar Prima twice and both times the experience was perfect. The food is excellent and everyone in our party loved their meals. The service was top notch and the staff were very attentive. Can t wait to return. Parking: We had no problem finding street parking even though it was a Saturday evening.

Atmosphere is nice however food doesn t live up to the expectation. Gnocco Fritto was hard and the waiter said there was Iberico on top which I couldnt find. Tomato tramezzini was ok. Artichokes were ok as well however a pretty elementary dish for the cost. Pacheri al Ragu was very good but I would pass on the agnolotti. Skip the tournedos