Primo’s brings pizza, pasta to Boone Mall

By Frank Ruggiero

Boone Mall just became more aromatic.

Primo’s Italian eatery has opened, bringing with it an assortment of pizza, pasta, subs and that pleasant smell that can only mean fresh-made dough.

It’s a sensation owners David and Lorna Nobrega simply couldn’t leave behind. The couple saw Primo’s as an opportunity they couldn’t pass up, after accepting an offer they couldn’t refuse. They had owned Brickstone Pizza in West Jefferson for three years, before selling the restaurant and setting their sights on Boone.

Though similar, Primo’s is not a duplicate of Brickstone. Its recipes are a conglomeration of favorites from the Nobregas’ experience in the restaurant business, David Nobrega having attended school in the subject, worked in an Atlantic City casino for 10 years, and then at Disney World in Orlando, Fla. for another 10. While in Florida, he also managed a couple pizzerias.

“Finally, I just decided to go into my own business,” he said.

Eight years ago, the Nobregas found West Jefferson and moved to Ashe County. Now working in Boone, they strive to make Primo’s a casual kind of place, complete with a covered patio and a full bar, but with an air of family-friendliness. The restaurant is located in the space formerly occupied by Mangia Buona.

Opened for nearly two weeks now, Primo’s has received a favorable customer response, Nobrega said, including the familiar faces of customers from their Brickstone days, making the trip from West Jefferson for a slice or two.

Primo’s menu boasts a hearty appetizer section, featuring garlic knots, fried mozzarella, eggplant, Buffalo shrimp, shrimp cocktails, calamari, homemade potato chips, peston skins and chicken fingers, along with a variety of Buffalo wings.

Daily lunch specials include soups of the day, which are also available alongside a garden of salads.

For lunch, folks can dive into a submarine sandwich, cold items including the Italian, combination or veggie, along with classics like ham and provolone, salami and provolone, turkey and Swiss, and roast beef and American.

Hot subs run the gamut of parmigiana options, like meatball, chicken, eggplant or veal, and sandwiches also come in cheese-steak, pizza steak, buffalo chicken, sausage and peppers, and cordon bleu.

Primo’s strombolis and calzones are sizable feats to be accomplished, packed with three toppings and served on a pizza pan. And the Nobregas pride themselves on their pizza, offering pies at 14, 16 and 18 inches, available with one’s choice of 20 regular toppings and three premiums.

Pastas and baked dinners abound, as do parmigiana entrees and specialty dinners, such as cannelloni, veal saltimbocca, shrimp marinara, penne vodka and David’s particular favorite, penne oscar, served with lump crab meat, roasted red peppers and garlic in a rose sauce.

Eventually, Primo’s hopes to serve its meals with sides of live music, Nobrega said. “We want something for everybody; that’s what we’re looking at,” he said.

Primo’s, located at 1180 Blowing Rock Road, Suite D-1, in the Boone Mall, is open Tuesday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sunday from 12 to 5 p.m. For more information or call-in orders, call (828) 355-9800.

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Got restaurant news? E-mail entertainment editor Frank Ruggiero at frank@mountaintimes.com, snail mail Mountain Times Publications, Attn: Frank Ruggiero, 474 Industrial Park Drive, Boone, N.C. 28607, or call (828) 264-NEWS and ask for Frank.