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     Primitivo Wine Bistro

This Mediterranean wine bistro has a West Coast shabby-chic vibe, complete with billowy linen drapes, rustic wooden tables and boisterous, hip diners. The tapas menu features both cold (ranging from antipasto to an assortment of olives) and hot (including duck leg confit and braised beef short ribs) varieties. Other dishes include chorizo-stuffed quail and grilled prawns with lemon, garlic and chilies. The wine list features well-priced selections from South Africa, Chile and New Zealand.” City Search Staff

“It will come as no surprise, once you've stepped over this hip wine bar's threshold, that one of the owners of this sleek spot is a former Hollywood set designer. With a massive bar and thick, white columns on one side and a sleekly stripped-down dining area on the other, the vibe in this restaurant row storefront is of constant energy. The menu matches the mood with a long list of tapas placed center table for passing, demanding that patrons take an active role in the dining experience. Specialties evolve from traditional Spanish into an array of Mediterranean flavors, include marinated lamb, eggplant-stuffed portobello and lightly fried calamari, cooked in olive oil. (Some of the freshest fried food you will find in L.A., fried dishes are cooked in small batches and the oil is replenished after every order.) One of the house specialties demands patience, but the Spanish tradition is always worth the wait. Paella, either seafood, vegetarian or a combination of chicken, chorizo and fish, is offered for two to four guests and is made from scratch, which explains the 45-minute wait. For dessert the flan, made from the chef's grandmother's secret recipes, is the real deal. Because this is a wine bar, the list by the glass promises an around-the-world adventure and diners can choose from half or full portions. There's also a multi-page list, which echoes the restaurant's philosophy for a fun, experimental and international experience.”

“This sleek spot has a massive bar and a vibe of constant energy. At Primitivo, tapas specialties evolve from traditional Spanish into an array of Mediterranean flavors including herb-crusted rack of lamb and lightly fried calamari cooked in olive oil. Paella – either seafood, vegetarian or a combination of chicken, chorizo and fish – is made from scratch, which explains the 45-minute wait. Because this is a wine bar, the by-the-glass list promises an around-the-world adventure; diners can choose a half or full glass. The multi-page list encapsulates the restaurant’s promise of a fun, experimental and international experience.” – Lesley Balla