Primo Piano

Primo Piano was not difficult to find on Queensberry Street. Follow your nose and you will find it; the smells alone convinced me and the group that I was with that we are at the right place. The decor was clean, very homey, but not frilly in the least. Comfortable, I would say, a wonderful melding of Italy and Scotland. I decided to have the Pollo Piano, this was my first time visiting and I was playing it safe. This turned out to be a delicious chicken dish with an unknown combination of cheeses, pasta, and vegetables. My reaction, on first bite, was to say "Oh my god, this is way too authentic to be in Scotland!" I have spent several months in Italy and strangely I can now say that one of my favorite Italian meals of all time came from Scotland. I am not certain who created the menu or who cooked this meal, but they are without a doubt authentically Italian. So many nuances to this meal were outstanding, layer upon layer of flavor that I would never expect from what I thought was a simple chicken dish. On this trip I was leading a group of study abroad students from the US, 10 in total, and they were each pleased and impressed with their meals. Upon returning to the states we have relived many stories about the food in Scotland, we all enjoyed the haggis, and we all look forward to returning, but, Primo Piano stands out as everyone’s favorite meal. I can’t remember the exact price, maybe 12 or 14 pounds, not overpriced, very much worth the money. I/we look forward to returning on our next trip. Jason

Friendly greeting on arrival was followed by drinks and food orders as expected. The range of items on the main menu and specials is extensive. At last, for me, an Italian restaurant that has minestrone soup on the menu. Special offer is two courses for £16 with a £6 supplement for fillet steak. All plates were hot so food stays hot for longer (a particular bug bear of mine). Toilets are clean and prices are reasonable. There is no disable access hence the four stars.