I’m noticing more restaurants featuring Sunday brunches. I’m really happy about that because brunch is a great way to have a relaxed conversation over a delicious meal. When I heard that Primo Italia started their Sunday brunch, my wife and I quickly made reservations.
Entering Primo Italia, the first thing diners notice is the Frank Sinatra music playing in the background. For me, it’s a sense of nostalgia and it quickly establishes a relaxed mood. A grand piano graces the front of the restaurant and there is a small section of the front that pays homage to Sinatra. A beautiful bar nicely frames the dining room.
Owner Lou Giovanetti is the consummate host. He goes table to table to greet everyone. He can answer virtually any question and what I enjoy about most him is that he is extremely passionate about Primo Italia’s food. Even after he and his chef agree upon a particular source for an ingredient like tomatoes, they continually taste them to ensure that they have the right balance of acidity and sweetness.
Their brunch menu reflects an Italian take on American breakfasts. Some of their offerings are: omelette with burrata and heirloom tomatoes and fresh basil, panettone toast and smoked salmon benedict to name a few. Items like antipasti, pizza, salads, pasta and entrees ensure that this menu will appeal to the pickiest eaters.
Porchetta – Traditional Aromatic Roman Pork Belly
We started with their porchetta. The pork belly was nicely seasoned and finished so that it was crispy on out the outside. It was accompanied with sauteed escarole with a delicious brown sauce. The combination of the porchetta, escarole, garlic and brown sauce was outstanding.
Panzanella Salad
Panzanella is a traditional Tuscan salad. It was comprised of sliced fennel, sliced red onions, diced cucumbers, capers and homemade bread crumbs. It was tossed in a red wine vinegar dressing. The fennel was extremely mild and did not exhibit the typical notes of licorice.
Salmon Benedict with roasted fingerling potatoes and fresh tomatoes
The salmon in the Salmon Benedict was tender, moist and had a nice smoked flavor. The hollandaise sauce was creamy and delicious. This was served with a side of roasted fingerling potatoes.
Panini di Mortadella e Finocchietti
The Panini di Mortadella e Finocchietti was filled with mortadella and finocchietti salami with artichoke paste, arugula and tomatoes. It was surrounded by fresh ciabatta tasted like a gourmet version of an Italian sub sandwich.
Peach Bellini and the Primo Punch
For our beverages, we enjoyed a pair of delicious brunch libations. The bellini was made with prosecco, limoncello and peaches. The Primo Punch was made with their ‘secret recipe’. To me, it seemed like a premium vodka mixed with a fruity liqueur.
Certified sommelier, Grace Giovanetti, developed their wine list. It has varietals from approximately a dozen different Italian appellations, many from the Toscana and Piemonte regions. A variety of California red and white wines are also available.
Sunday Brunch begins at 10:00 a.m. In addition, Primo Italia is open daily for dinner at 5:00 p.m., with live piano and entertainment on Fridays and Saturdays. Owner Lou treats you like you are part of his family, and with their delicious food, that’s a winning combination.
Primo Italia, 24590 Hawthorne Blvd, Torrance, CA 90505
http://www.eatprimo.com/