‘Tis rare for me to comment on cafés and restaurants for Tripadvisor when I am not actually on a trip but near home. However, for once, I make an exception... read more .

Looking in Ripon, North Yorkshire, for an early supper I came across Prima Pizzeria in Kirkgate. What a fortunate surprise - and fortuitous too as I had a ‘difficult’ companion. As will be seen from my sparse entries, I travel mainly in Central Europe and The Balkans but sometimes into Italy.

I can spot groundless boasts to be ‘authentic’ but not here; this place would not be out of place in a side street in Lucca or Prato. It looks italian but looks are superficial; food and service not. Il capo was welcoming and the staff attentive without being oppressive. My Mediterranean salad was what it claimed - and generous. My companion devoured her pizza with only one(!) criticism: ‘There is too much!’

There was also una piccola delizia: the charming junior waitress (Italian?), endlessly saying Hmm and bobbing like a small bird. Lovely!

We were going to the Harrogate a festival. When I left La Prima, I felt I should be en route to a minor opera house to hear Puccini. All this in Ripon would you believe !?!? Go and give it a try.

  Stayed in Ripon 4 days over BH weekend and decided to book this Italian restaurant after reading reviews and glad we did. We had a wonderful meal that was cooked... read more perfectly the flavours were delicious and the portions were substantial I would highly recommend the sardines and lobster linguine both divine the service was great and the staff were very attentive can’t wait to return

  Amazing staff, fabulous food and a great wine selection fabulous. We have been here a few time and everything is always tasty and fresh. Super!

  We’d prebooked due to the excellent reviews on here. We had eaten lunch on the way to Ripon so we weren’t starving. I had an excellent pizza and husband had... read more the sea bass cooked to perfection with huge king prawns surrounding it.
Husband had room for dessert, which was a generous portion of tiramisu and I had a coffee, made exactly as I like it.
The service from all the girls working that night was attentive and efficient. The bill was very reasonable for the excellent quality food we ate.

  We always visit on Christmas Eve and as usual had a fabulous time. Food was exceptional and all of the staff were excellent - thank you Prima.

  This restaurant is our ‘go to’ spot when in Ripon. Not only is the food great and reasonably priced but the service is excellent. It is always full of lively,... read more busy Italian atmosphere - we just love it. My Lobster ravioli was as gorgeous as I remember it from last time, served with a superb rocket salad. Hubby had a delicious salmon risotto and followed it with a banana concoction that he will long remember! We were entertaining two friends who live locally and also speak highly of the place. Thank you for a lovely evening Prima Team, we will definitely return.

  I was down in Ripon with my husband, and we went here for our evening meal, as we saw online they did Gluten Free food too. It was absolutely brilliant... read more from the minute we walked in. Really nice set up, very welcoming, staff were very friendly and helpful. Food was delicious, just lovely, house wine was really good, I will definitely go there again, if I get the chance to visit Ripon again xx

  Treated ourselves to a Thursday early evening treat. Great atmosphere, good food and house wine. All very reasonable and as it should be for an authentic Italian meal. Would go... read more again

  A genuine authentic Italian restaurant, the place was buzzing and we were so glad we had booked in advance. The two course special, which also included a side with the... read more main meal was excellent value and there was a good choice. We both had the bruschetta to start, then I had the chicken with leeks and pancetta in a cream sauce and my husband had the chicken in a creamy mushroom sauce, I chose the vegetables as my side (carrots, peas, beans, cauliflower and broccoli) while my husband had the sauté potatoes. The service was excellent, wish there was a Prima in every town.

  After our visit to Fountains Abbey we booked to eat at Prima, really good choice. The food and service where excellent, food cooked to perfection. Really worth a visit.

  What a delightful cosy authentic Italian restaurant. Fabulous staff, service and food was delicious and very well priced. Although we could have ordered from the Early Bird menu we opted... read more for the main menu and wasn't disappointed. Proper little gem.

  A second evening out in Ripon found us at Prima Italian restaurant on Monday.
A warm welcome and excellent service made us relax and enjoy our visit.
We had booked... read more an early table (6pm), so took advantage of the Early Bird menu. There was a good choice of both starters and main courses.
I had the mushrooms to start, cooked beautifully in a cream sauce with just the right amount of garlic. My husband enjoyed the sardines.
We both had cannelloni as our main and the portion was generous and delicious.
A “just right” coffee for my husband rounded off the evening.
We would definitely book again if we are in the area.
Thank you to all the team.

  Looking for somewhere to eat on a bank holiday weekend in Ripon, noticed the reviews about this place were very good so we called in on the off chance of... read more getting a table for 4.
Staff were excellent and we managed to get a table and were told we had about 90 mins until it was needed which was more than enough time.
We had 4 starters and 4 mains off the early bird menu which was excellent value.
The garlic breads (with and without tomato) were superb and the main courses delightful. Fresh, great ingredients and served quickly and piping hot.
Service was great.
£61 for the food and a round of drinks.
Great place definitely recommend it.

  The food, service and atmosphere was Italian at its best. My Lobster Ravioli with a side salad of rocket and tomato was nothing short of fabulous. Thank you for a... read more lovely evening, we will certainly return.

  I was booked in with a group of friends, some of whom I had not seen for a while in person because of covid.

I ordered from the early... read more bird menu and had the Sardine Arancia followed by the Scaloppa Dijonese with sauté potatoes. I was thinking of having a dessert as well when I arrived but was so full after the very generous portions of these that I had just an Americano coffee instead. Indeed the portions were so generous that some in the party were unable to manage just a main course. A box was provided to allow the remainder of a pizza to be taken home.

The Sardine Arancia served 'spatchcock' style in light batter were full of flavour and the various strong flavours in the dish blended extremely well with each other.

The sauce that the Scaloppa Dijonese came in was subtly flavoured. However the sauté potatoes were a little dry and this is the only reason why the food has been rated 4* rather than 5*. Given the promptness of the service they might have been cooked a little while in advance and kept warm rather than cooked to order.

The service was both friendly and very prompt. Either the kitchen is extremely well organised and run or most of the dishes were almost ready to serve before they were ordered.

I would like to return here to sample more of the dishes on the menu.