Primary - Philadelphia

Nice, welcoming spot with a friendly helpful staff. The food was on point. We ordered 2 starters 2 sandwiches and dessert. Everything looked great and tasted amazing. Primary is now in our rotation! Updated from previous review on 2023-10-01

Been a couple times, and it’s been fine but not worth the high price tag. I love a burger but the style and meat used in their umami burger totally missed the mark for me. I think they use Beyond or a similar style, and way too much of it so the aftertaste lingered forever. Cool atmosphere but I probably won’t be back anytime soon.

Honestly, this is the best veg restaurant in the city. Truly. It’s freaking amazing. and I’ve eaten at all of them many many times for the last 20 plus years haha. I was a huge fan of Mark’s food when he used to do the menu at the royal tavern, and primary is on another level. The food doesn’t disappoint and is even one of my absolute fave veg spots in the world (including London, Amsterdam, LA, Miami, NYC, Mexico City, Seattle). The service is amazing, the food is so thoughtful and complex. Mark McKinney is the real deal, what a gift we have in this city in his food! I just wish it wasn’t so far from me (haha) but it’s worth the trek! go here and eat all the food! Updated from previous review on 2023-04-03

Delicious plant based restaurant with great service and fun atmosphere. We had a group of 5 and everyone loved what they ordered. Our agreed upon favorite was the seitan flappers their version of boneless wings. Personally, I don’t care for seitan but these were amazing. I enjoyed the umami burger. Others loved the parmigiana sandwich. The yeuben sandwich was their take on a Reuben and was very good too. The lentil hummus app was also really good and the presentation and assorted items that came with it were varied and plentiful. Then there was dessert we loved the apple walnut dump cake (a special for the day . The rice pudding was okay but the ice cream was delicious (brought in from a local ice cream shop scoop de ville. Overall we thoroughly enjoyed our dining experience.

This isn't just a restaurant, it's a culinary experience. Every single bite is packed with flavor and it's a new and innovative cuisine that draws amazingly from multiple different cultures and brings them all together harmoniously. Portions are generous and I think this is the first food, as someone well versed in cooking, that I don't think I could ever recreate. I'm in awe of this place. It was actually recommended to me by someone who lives almost two hours from it but makes the drive out here regularly to go there, and I can see why. This place is easily on it's way to a Michelin star or some sort of widespread recognition. If you're between going here or somewhere else, Primary is the right answer. It's an experience I've never gotten anywhere else, purely through the flavors and textures alone.