PRIMITIVO WINE BISTRO

Located on trendy Abbot Kinney Blvd in Venice Beach, Primitivo Wine Bistro is a charming and delicious tapas and wine bar that truly must be experienced.

Chef Eddy Shin earned his stripes at Chapter 8 Steakhouse and Lounge, as well as Nick & Stef’s Steakhouse in Downtown Los Angeles. He also spent seven years with the famed Patina Group. A self-taught chef specializing in global cuisine, Chef Eddy’s mission with his cooking is to combine fresh seasonal ingredients in a harmonious way to please the senses.

And some of the savory tapas will not only please your senses, they will send your palette into overdrive. A must-have item from the Hot Tapas menu is the savory Bacon Wrapped Dates, prepared with Chorizo, balsamic and candied walnuts. This one is to die for.

The Fried Calamari with Pesto Aioli, and the “Tortilla España” with Spanish potato and onion omelet with Salsa Brava are good, sturdy opening dishes, however the real delicacies begin when you sample the heavenly Braised Chipotle BBQ Short Ribs with Apple Smoked Bacon-Cheddar Cheese Potatoes with Caramelized Onions, this dish is why you go to Primitivo Wine Bistro, believe me, this plate is why you should ever venture out of your house to pay for a meal, it’s unparalleled. And paired with a Chocolate Block wine from South Africa, you can die a happy camper if this is your last meal.

If you want to raise the bar for a wonderful night out even more, include the scrumptious Paella with Saffron Rice, Chicken, Tiger Shrimp, Mussels, Chorizo and Peas. Wonderful! And pair it with an Albarino or Rose from Spain and this will be a feast second-to-none.

You can’t go wrong with the Bacon Wrapped Dates, the BBQ Short Ribs, and the Paella for a grand total of $43. That’s plenty of food to share and will leave you with enough for a tasty glass of wine.

But if you really want to stretch your dollar, go for Happy Hour or on Sangria Sundays, served 4pm – 6:30pm, and you can the Short Ribs for only $9 (normally $15), the Bacon Wrapped Dates for a reduced $6 and drinks (sangria, red wine, white wine, and beer) for $4. You can’t beat that!

Primitivo Wine Bistro is located at 1025 Abbot Kinney Blvd. in Venice. Hours: Monday-Saturday: 5:30pm - close; Sunday: 4pm – close; Happy Hour: Monday - Thursday 5:30pm - 6:30pm; Sangria Sundays: 4pm - 6:30pm; Valet Parking available. Call 310-396-5353.