What’s Clean
Melissa Kelly’s Primo location in Orlando serves organic produce harvested from their garden which is located just steps from the restaurant, literally. Also, they operate another farm which is just down the road. At their off-site farm, you’ll find more produce, as well as chickens and ducks from which they source their eggs. Primo’s primary focus when securing produce that’s not available from their own farms, is to source locally. All of the seafood on the menu is wild caught including the Mahi Mahi which is caught off the Florida coast. The lamb is 100% grass fed and everything is made in house, including the pasta, bread, and desserts.
What’s Served
Although their menu changes frequently, based on season and availability, their choices are always varied and plentiful. Typically, the menu offers a handful of animal protein entrees, several seafood dishes, many pasta plates, pizzas, salads, sides, and dessert. Primo also offers a nice selection of wine, beer, cocktails, and ports.
What I Ordered
The Florida Heirloom Tomato & Burrata Salad was beautifully presented with large wedges of tomato topped with freshly harvested arugula. A generous dollop of fresh and gooey burrata adorned the bed of arugula. The salad was dressed with chopped pistachios and finished with a smooth and mild pistachio vinaigrette. Housemade fettuccini served as the base for the hearty Lobster Aglio e Olio dish which included wild-caught shrimp, mushrooms, tomatoes, onions, bacon bits, lemon, parmesan, and a dusting of bread crumbs. The freshly made noodles were thin and mixed with large segments of lobster and several pieces of shrimp. The flavorful garlic and oil sauce in this Italian classic was on the lighter side. Finally, Sea Scallops are one of my favorite seafood choices and Primo did not disappoint. The scallops were super moist and arrived seared with a perfect brown coat while the risotto was velvety with simple flavors.
The Vibe
The grounds of the JW Marriott at Grande Lakes are stunning. The ambiance at Primo is a cross between Italian Farmhouse and elegance. The dining area boasts a variety of seating choices including long family-style tables, bar seating, circular tables with upholstered booths as well as smaller intimate settings. Parts of the kitchen are open and visible, depending on where you’re seated. Although Primo is a fine dining establishment, the atmosphere is relaxed and welcoming. In short, elegance minus the stuffiness with a farmhouse touch.
The Takeaway
Primo Orlando is located inside the beautiful JW Marriott at Grande Lake and Primo is one of only a handful of sit down restaurants in Orlando offering clean options. In 2003, Primo opened as the first farm to table restaurant in the Orlando area. And although clean menu choices are limited, they do source enough clean ingredients to warrant a Clean Foodie approval.
