Primo Piatto Review
Primo Piatto is the counter service restaurant at Riviera Resort, Walt Disney World’s newest DVC property. In this WDW lunch and dinner review, we’ll share food photos, thoughts on cuisine quality, atmosphere, and whether you should dine here or walk over to the quick service dining options at Caribbean Beach.
For starters, Primo Piatto participates in the Disney Dining Plan as a 1-credit counter service restaurant. For reasons we’ll discuss below, it’s one of the best uses of a counter service credit on the Disney Dining Plan if you order wisely, but also can be a good value out of pocket. Primo Piatto does not accept Tables in Wonderland for a 20% discount nor does it offer a Disney Vacation Club discount…for now.
Walt Disney World describes this Italian-inspired eatery as being a “quick-service restaurant reminiscent of chic dining venues found along Riviera promenades.” The dining spot is tucked away on the first floor of Disney’s Riviera Resort, nestled between the Bar Riva poolside lounge, the bocce ball court, and the grand lawn…
In terms of themed design and atmosphere, Primo Piatto is pretty straightforward. The restaurant offers outdoor seating with lounge chairs and tables all around the bocce ball court and pool in addition to the normal indoor seating area.
Inside, there’s a variety of seating. Booths, tables, and high top communal seating are all among the options that make good use of the space. There’s a variety of mosaic tile-work, arched windows, wainscoting panels, trim, light fixtures, and other accents.
There are also Disney touches courtesy of black and white photos of Lillian and Walt Disney on their travels in the French Riviera and throughout Europe that line the walls of the restaurant. This all works to give Primo Piatto’s seating area a bit of personality.
If the idea is that this is the type of the chic dining venues found along promenades in the Riviera, it would’ve been cool if Primo Piatto (or some other restaurant at Disney’s Riviera Resort) had outward-facing café terrace seating. As it stands, this spot feels like something you could find in the Riviera, but not a exemplar of anything noteworthy you’d see there. (There are Starbucks, McDonald’s, and other chains in the Riviera–it doesn’t make those “on theme.”)
With that said, counter service restaurants at resorts have always been more utilitarian and never where Walt Disney World goes all in on theme. Examples of this abound–even at our beloved Wilderness and Animal Kingdom Lodges–so it’s hardly fair to hold Disney’s Riviera Resort to a more onerous standard. On balance, this is a nice and comfortable space.
Perhaps more importantly, a higher end atmosphere is established via the real silverware and plates. These are a really nice touch, reminiscent of Disneyland’s best counter service, and something we hope sticks around after the ‘new restaurant smell’ wears off here. There are also Coke Freestyle machines, a quasi show kitchen, and Cast Members that bus tables. All of that plus the menu makes this feel far more like a fast casual affair than a food court.
Speaking of which, let’s move on to the food…
We’ll start with the Riviera Burger, which is a 1/3 pound grilled signature-blend burger with brisket and chuck topped with provolone, grilled portobello, caramelized onions, tomato, and garlic mayonnaise on a toasted brioche bun, served with a choice of side.
With the proliferation of great counter service burgers–and a menu description that sounds like the patties used at D-Luxe Burger–we had high expectations. Sadly, this failed to live up to them. Our burger was overcooked and fell somewhere between the delicious D-Luxe Burger patty and the Standard Disney Patty (a proprietary blend of cardboard, capybara, and aged hyena meat).
The toppings also helped to mask what was otherwise only so-so meat. We should also note that this was on night two of the resort being open when Primo Piatto was slammed. Our Mobile Order took forever, so I’m hopeful that this was a one-off, bad luck experience. (Anyone order this and have better results?) At some point, we’ll probably roll the dice on this again, but that’s difficult to justify with the great burger at Spyglass Grill within walking distance.
Next, something from the plant-based menu–the Farm-Fresh Artisanal Pizza. One variants of this (what we ordered) is served for breakfast, with a very similar option for lunch and dinner. It offers a fresh plant-based artisan hearth-baked pizza topped with carrot-top pesto, plant-based mozzarella, eggplant, red onion, roasted tomato, and a plant-based egg scramble.
Everything about this is on point. The hearth-baked crust hits the right balance between doughy and crisp, and is so much better than both the “Almost Pizza” options served at spots like PizzeRizzo and even the normal Walt Disney World flatbreads.
Sarah and I had different reactions to the rest of this pizza. She thought it was very good, with the fresh vegetables tasting great and the pesto being a nice enhancement. I thought this way way too light on cheese (and meat) but still good for what it was. The other breakfast pizza we tried was much better in my opinion, and the other lunch/dinner pizzas look exceptional. Still, good option if you’re vegan or vegetarian.
The Roasted Half Chicken served with Gruyère Macaroni and Cheese and Grilled Asparagus is one of several dinner-only options served after 4 pm (as is the case with the final items after this).
This was well-seasoned, with crisp skin provided a nice superficial crunch to the tender and juicy chicken underneath. The white meat was a tad dry, but the dark meat was phenomenal. Very good by counter service standards, and with a hearty portion size.
Next, the Crispy Chicken Breast Cutlet. This is Fried Hand-breaded Chicken over Saffron Risotto topped with Extra Virgin Olive Oil tossed with Arugula and Shaved Parmesan.
This was a mixed bag. Some bites were perfect, with a thin layer of breading giving way to juicy meat underneath. Other bites were dry and rubbery, or had a thin layer of meat with a thick layer of breading on top. It’s worth noting that this was the same night that we ordered the burger, so perhaps it was a one-off. Either way, I’d be less inclined to give this dish a second chance.
Finally, the Grilled Hanger Steak. This steak is topped with a Red Wine Sauce and Balsamic Syrup served with Mascarpone Mashed Potatoes and Buttered Carrots.
The Grilled Hangar Steak is the winner of Primo Piatto, and one of the top 5 counter service entrees in all of Walt Disney World.
Ours was a perfectly-cooked medium rare, incredibly tender, and full of flavor. The portion size is perfectly sufficient (we shared the half-chicken and this and found that approach to be ideal) and the smoky carrots and mashed potatoes provide delicious filler to round out the meal.
This steak is really similar to the one we raved about at Topolino Terrace’s Breakfast a la Art. If you’re not into characters…and want a great steak for dinner instead of breakfast, this is a worthy alternative. That’s especially true if you’re on the Disney Dining Plan, as this will only cost you one counter service credit, making it an exceptional value. (Even if you’re paying out of pocket, the price here seems pretty fair to us.)
We didn’t really touch upon the sides above, and that’s not because they didn’t make an impression–to the contrary, we want to break them out separately given they’re quality and overall delicious. (These all can be ordered as stand-alone sides.)
Without question, our favorite was the Gruyère Macaroni & Cheese. The cheese here was dense, rich, and creamy. That was nicely offset by the bread crumbles for a “balanced” but deeply decadent side. The Mascarpone Mashed Potatoes come in second place. These had a smooth, whipped to perfection quality that elevated them from standard mashed potatoes. The creamy Saffron Risotto was also quite good, but not as good as the mac and cheese or potatoes. The Romano & Herb Fries were the lone disappointment–basically just normal fries garnished with some herbs.
Overall, there’s a lot to love about Primo Piatto, and this review probably reads more tepid than our actual sentiment about the restaurant. To be clear, we’ve loved our experiences at Primo Piatto, as well as most of the food. There have been a couple of dishes that were only so-so, but we’ve had more that were very good–and others at nearby tables that have looked really good, too. We plan on dining here again sooner rather than later. (In fact, we debated doing another meal before publishing this review.)
Moreover, Primo Piatto is a delightful experience that feels more high end than your average Walt Disney World counter service restaurant. It’s better than anything in Epcot (sorry, Tangierine Cafe) and maybe even Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Given that Docking Bay 7 currently tops our list of the Best Counter Service Restaurants at Walt Disney World, that’s really saying something.
Suffice to say, the quality and value for money make Primo Piatto destination dining worthy of the Skyliner ride from either park to Disney’s Riviera Resort. The questions that remain are how the rest of the menu pans out and whether Primo Piatto maintains its current level of attention to detail and high standards for cuisine. If it does (and that’s a big if), this will rank as one of the top counter service restaurants at Walt Disney World.
Thinking about joining DVC? First be sure to read our Ultimate Guide to Disney Vacation Club. This covers the pros & cons, resale v. direct, how much money you’ll save, and other important things to know before taking the plunge. If you still can’t decide whether membership is right for you, “try before you buy” and rent points from DVC Rental Store. If you are convinced a membership is for you, check out the discounted options at DVC Resale Market. Planning a Walt Disney World trip? For comprehensive advice, the best place to start is our Walt Disney World Trip Planning Guide for everything you need to know.
YOUR THOUGHTS
Have you dined at Primo Piatto? What did you order? What did you think of your food? What about the ambiance/theme/caliber of the dining experience? Do you agree or disagree with our assessment? Any questions? Hearing your feedback–even when you disagree with us–is both interesting to us and helpful to other readers, so please share your thoughts below in the comments!
We ate their twice last week while staying at the Beach Club (we love a good Skyliner ride) The food was all excellent. The steak was amazing. At lunch my husband had the salade Nicoise and I had the grilled chicken with artichoke and they were both OUTSTANDING. I have two small quibbles. Both at dinner and lunch ordering took forever (we did not mobile order) as even right at noon they only had 1 of the 2 cash/order terminals being staffed. Second, at lunch we had to stalk for a table and I hate doing that. The place was full and the Cast Members do not want you taking the breakable dishware to the outdoor seating. We are staying at Riviera in the summer. If the restaurant is very busy next time I will mobile order and then take it to the pool. There seemed to be lots of seating there.
Our family was very underwhelmed by Primo Piatto during our trip last week. We ate here for dinner one night around 7PM. DD and I shared the margherita pizza….it was not good. Crust was almost soggy, no where near enough cheese, and the sauce was on the spicy side. Side salad was almost entirely lettuce and 1 grape tomato I think. DH’s burger was dry. We didn’t order any desserts or pastries, but that’s because they didn’t really look appetizing enough to want to!
Currently the Walt Disney World website is showing that Primo Piatto is NOT participating in the dining plan. Can anyone confirm this? We are going to Disney in a little over a week and I was really looking forward to having dinner here. I also saw someone say the hangar steak wasn’t offered a few days ago, I’m hoping it is back soon because I was hoping to try it after reading this review!
Hi !
I am at the Pop Century and ate at lunch (after 4 pm) and late at night today at this restaurant Primo Piatto in Riviera Resort. It does accept the dining plan (I have the Quick Service one).
One meal for an entree, a drink and a dessert !!!
I went there for the steak but found it anywhere, I ate shrimp pasta, white wine (really tasty) and a delicious tiramisu (counted as ONE QSR).
We stayed at Riviera and dined here yesterday. I don’t recall if they had the dinner specials, but the regular bacon cheeseburger was fine. Nothing stellar, but I’d order it again if we’re eating there (and wanted a burger). I got it with the fries, which were delicious until they got cold. There was plenty of cheese garnish, I made a bit of a mess with it.
DH had the pepperoni pizza. He was underwhelmed. He would compare it significantly less favorably to blaze pizza. He likes a spicier, more flavorful pizza. It was also not enough food.
On the kids meal side, the fruit cup was excellent. The cheese pizza was fine, possibly a little heavy on the fancy Parmesan. But my kids were tired.
We loved the ambience. It was very comfortable. If you’d prefer to eat somewhere else, they are well equipped to send it to go.
Did you notice that they have an upcharge refillable mug ? It’s skyliner themed and is 16 oz instead of 12. I imagine the other skyliner resorts have it too. It’s a whole $10, which if you have the dining plan and plan to drink a lot of pop in the hotel…. it may make sense. Otherwise, if you collect mugs…. it’s nicer to drink out of then the plastic.
We are staying in Building 24 at Martinique at CBR which is a perfect location. One minute from the bus stop, Less than 5 mins to the CBR lobby, 5 mins walk to Primo Piatto for meals and under 10 mins relaxed walk to the riviera Skyliner station. We ate once at CBR but never again as the quality at the riviera is so much better
Can anyone say what are the hours for different meal times? I get that dinner starts at 4pm, but at some point it switches to lighter Late Night Dining, for example. When does breakfast end?
The steak and chicken look terrific.
What is up with the Hanger Steak dish Carrots, with un-trimmed tops and root hairs, a smidge of lack of proper prep in play here, it seems! Pics of Disney food rarely impress, and the same holds true of it’s consumption.
Very excited for our New Years Eve dinner here! Thanks for the informative review!
Sadly as we sit in the seating area of the quick service spot, none of the Dinner Specials are available. My husband was looking forward to the hangar steak and Mac and cheese. The manager told him they hope to have it back soon. Very disappointing start to our New Year’s Eve, unfortunately.
I love that your Riviera restaurant reviews read about a billion times better than your “boring” hotel review 🙂 haha. This sounds like a tasty alternative to just heading down to the Pop restaurant the night we arrive, though, I’ve also contemplated eating at the airport before heading to the Disney Magical Express station. This review could persuade me to head to my room at Pop first, then test out the skyliner and go to dinner at the same time.
Ooh, we’ll have to try this. We are staying at CBR Jan 27-Feb 6. We are booked in a water view 5th sleeper (2 adults and 3 kids). We aren’t doing the dining plan this time. I was originally thinking of requesting a room near the bridge between Aruba and Jamaica but I’m tempted to ask for Aruba 55 to be near the Riviera Skykiner station and maybe take advantage of the Riviera’s dining options and even their bus stop since we all hate CBR’s million stops.
Ashley- FYI if you are using the Skyliner to go from Rivera to HS you will have to transfer at the Caribbean Beach Skyliner station. Rivera station to Epcot is nonstop. Even with the transfer it was pretty quick last week 🙂
I was in Aruba building 56 so right next to the Riviera and at skyliner terminal. Since I was pretty far from the Caribbean Beach resort main building and restaurants I popped over to Riviera for lunch at Premo Piatto. I had the Croque Monsieur with a side salad with a vinaigrette dressing. Loved having the fresh mixed lettuce salad with the sandwich instead of chips. This version of the Croque Monsieur had the cheese melted on the top of the sandwich. It was a little drier than the version at Be Our Guest, but I still enjoyed it and the the prices were reasonable for Disney.