Primo Italian American Cuisine

720 Milwaukee Ave, Gurnee
(847) 378-0154

Recent Reviews Order Online Reserve

Customers' Favorites

White Chocolate Bread Pudding with White Chocolate Sauce
Chef Alex’S Famous Tres Leches Strawberry Shortcake
Towering Triple Fudge Chocolate Cake
8 Oz Filet Mignon Steak Gluten-Free
Creme Brulee Cheesecake
Banana Nutella Tiramisu
Baked French Onion Soup
Lobster Mac and Cheese
Shrimp Carbonara Pasta
Charcuterie Board

Menu

Lunch Features
Avocado Caprese Toast
Toasted sourdough bread, smashed avocado, buffalo mozzarella, baby heirloom tomatoes, topped with two scrambled eggs, and served with fresh organic fruit.
Fresh Fruit Plate
A mixture of fresh organic fruit and yogurt with crunchy granola.
Buratta & Beet Salad (Small)
Red and gold beets, arugula, pomegranate seeds, fresh Italian burrata cheese, local honey, and coarse seas salt. Finished with fig jam.
Burrata & Roasted Beet Salad (Small)
Red and gold roasted beets, arugula, pomegranate seeds, fresh Italian burrata cheese, local honey, and coarse salt. Finished with fig jam.
Bbq Chicken Flat Bread
Homemade garlic flatbread, covered in BBQ sauce, topped with grilled onions, chicken, and fresh cilantro.
Egg White Frittata
Three egg whites mixed with roasted red pepper, sweet onion, grilled mushrooms, and baby spinach. Topped with Swiss cheese, and served with fresh organic fruit.
Banana Bread French Toast
Thick-cut brioche bread, dusted with cinnamon sugar, topped with cream cheese, drizzle, maple syrup, and freshly sliced bananas.
Burrata & Beet Salad (Large)
Red and gold roasted beets, arugula, pomegranate seeds, fresh Italian burrata cheese, local honey, and coarse salt. Finished with fig jam. Serves 2-4.
Chilled Shrimps & Crab Claw Platter
Jumbo shrimp 5 pieces, stone crab claws 5 pieces served with homemade spicy cocktail, and homemade crab sauce.
Himachi
Fresh thinly sliced tuna topped with teriyaki, ginger, crispy garlic, and jalapeno.
Edamame
Seasoned edamame topped with coarse sea salt.
BLTA
Thick-cut white toast, crisp bacon, iceberg lettuce, and avocado.
Margherita Flatbread
Nikki's Sunday Sala (Small)
Mixed greens, black olives, bell peppers, white onions, pepperoni, tomatoes, croutons, and sliced Parmesan cheese, served with primo's famous house dressing
Octopus Poke Bowl
Chicken Parmesan Focaccia
Chicken cutlet, mozzarella, basil, and marinara sauce. Choice of crispy Parmesan fries or cucumber salad.
Mango Fish Tacos
Seared halibut, and fresh mango, topped with teriyaki sauce. Choice of Parmesan fries or cucumber salad
Jumbo Shrimp & Stone Crab Platter
Crispy Tuna Roll
Soy-marinated, crispy sushi rice, topped with ahi tuna, and wasabi cream sauce, and finished with spicy mayo.
Primo Spicy Tuna Poke Bowl
Apple Chicken Panini

Appetizers
Grilled Octopus
Grilled Spanish octopus tossed in Mediterranean oil with baby heirloom tomatoes, roasted fingerling potatoes, and crispy baby arugula.
Crab Stuffed Mushroom
Fresh lump crab mixture stuffed into large button mushrooms, topped with a spicy aioli.
Lamb Lollipops
Grilled lamb chops with mint, basil, lemon, and garlic-infused olive oil.
Wagyu Beef Meatballs
Two ground wagyu beef meatballs topped with seared burrata cheese. Served over a chunky tomato sauce.
Crispy Calamari
Fried hand-battered calamari with roasted red peppers and served with house dipping sauce.
Roasted Artichoke Spread
Garlic and Parmesan roasted artichokes blended with our four-Italian cheese spread. Served with grilled crostini.
Burrata and Prosciutto
Fresh Italian imported burrata served with a truffle-honey jam, and crispy prosciutto do parma. Served with toast points.
Crab Roll
Spicy crab rolled with sushi rice, a rare seed, and spicy mayo.
Shrimp Cocktail Starter
Four jumbo red shrimp served with spicy cocktail sauce and fresh horseradish.
They See Me Rollin
Combination of lobster, shrimp, and crab salad topped with crispy bacon, and bibb lettuce on a brioche roll. Served with Parmesan kettle chips.
Charcuterie Board
Assortment of artisanal meats and cheeses. Served with sliced Italian baguette, large Italian beans, honeycomb, fig jam, and apricot jelly.
Sweet and Sour Scallops (2 pcs)
Two jumbo seared scallops with Parmesan crust and a Thai chili sauce.
Beef Carpaccio
Thinly sliced prime beef tenderloin with capers, red onion, virgin olive oil, fresh cracked pepper, and sea salt. Served with a Parmesan crisp.
Seared Ahi Tuna Starter
Grade an ahi tuna, served with a thinly-sliced orange, wasabi cream, arugula, and Parmesan cheese.

Soup & Salad
Baked French Onion Soup
Finished with baked provolone cheese.
Primo Caesar Salad
Burrata & Roasted Beet Salad
Red and golden roasted beets, arugula, pomegranate seeds, burrata cheese, local honey, and coarse sea salt. Finished with fig jam.
Primo Wedge Salad
Iceberg lettuce wedge, Bleu cheese crumble, egg, pancetta, pickled onion, house bleu cheese dressing, and topped with a crispy onion ring.
Caprese Salad
Beefsteak tomatoes, buffalo mozzarella, Kalamata olives, and fresh basil. Finished with balsamic glaze, basil oil, and coarse sea salt.
Primo Chopped Salad
Iceberg and romaine lettuce tossed with fire-roasted corn, grilled chicken, pancetta, bleu cheese crumble, tomato, ditalini pasta, garlic crunch, and creamy garlic dressing.
Minestrone Soup
Italian style with vegetables and ditalini pasta.
Chicken Cobb Salad
A mixture of organic lettuce, six poached shrimp, roasted corn, crispy Italian pancetta, diced egg, chopped avocado, and gorgonzola cheese, finished with homemade thousand island dressing.
Nikki's Sunday Salad
Mixed greens tossed with black olives, sliced white onion, bell peppers, sliced Parmesan cheese, tomatoes, pepperoncini, croutons, and primo's famous house dressing.
Meatball Salad
Served with a wagyu meatball, bell peppers, and marinara sauce.

Italian Classics
Parmesan
Marinara, mozzarella, and side pasta. Primo Italian American cuisine is the winner of the best Italian restaurant in the daily herald reader's choice awards.
Carbonara
Parmesan cheese sauce with snow peas, pancetta, and egg yolk. Primo Italian American cuisine is the winner of the best Italian restaurant in the daily herald reader's choice awards.
Towering Lasagna
Three cheese blends, marinara, and shaved Parmesan. Primo Italian American cuisine is the winner of the best Italian restaurant in the daily herald reader's choice awards.
Pasta Ala Bolognese
The classic mixture of fresh pappardelle pasta, braised wagyu ground beef, fresh basil, and Parmigiano cheese. Primo Italian American cuisine is the winner of the best Italian restaurant in the daily herald reader's choice awards.
Baked Chicken Rigatoni
Grilled chicken, vodka sauce, baby spinach, mozzarella, and sun-dried tomatoes. Primo Italian American cuisine is the winner of the best Italian restaurant in the daily herald reader's choice awards.
Fettucine Alfredo
Alfredo sauce with sun-dried tomatoes. Primo Italian American cuisine is the winner of the best Italian restaurant in the daily herald reader's choice awards.
Black Truffle Ravioli
Black truffle and four-cheese ravioli topped with sauteed button mushrooms and a black truffle cream sauce. Primo Italian American cuisine is the winner of the best Italian restaurant in the daily herald reader's choice awards.
Four Cheese Ravioli
Four-cheese blend and a red tomato sauce. Primo Italian American cuisine is the winner of the best Italian restaurant in the daily herald reader's choice awards.
Stuffed Honey-lemon Herb Chicken
Honey, lemon, and herb roasted chicken, stuffed with tender asparagus, roasted red pepper, provolone, ricotta, Parmesan, and mozzarella cheese. Served over forbidden rice. Primo Italian American cuisine the winner of best Italian restaurant in the daily herald reader's choice awards.
Pasta Ala Primo
Fresh fettuccini pasta tossed with pesto cream, sun-dried tomatoes, and spinach. Topped with imported Italian burrata cheese and finished with a balsamic reduction. Primo Italian American cuisine is the winner of the best Italian restaurant in the daily herald reader's choice awards.
Spicy Vodka & Chicken Ravioli
Four cheese blend ravioli sautéed with a rich spicy vodka sauce, grilled chicken, and fresh organic spinach. Primo Italian American cuisine is the winner of the best Italian restaurant in the daily herald reader's choice awards.
Lobster and Corn Pappardelle
Sweet cold water lobster tail tossed with fresh pappardelle pasta, fire-roasted corn, spinach, fresh imported Italian burrata, and our classic vodka sauce. Primo Italian American cuisine is the winner of the best Italian restaurant in the daily herald reader's choice awards.
Picatta
Tomatoes, spinach, and capers with a lemon-butter sauce. Primo Italian American cuisine is the winner of the best Italian restaurant in the daily herald reader's choice awards.
Gnocchi
Ground Italian sausage, green pepper, onion, zucchini, and squash. Primo Italian American cuisine is the winner of the best Italian restaurant in the daily herald reader's choice awards.
Lobster and Shrimp Risotto
Sauteed portabella mushroom, lemon zest, truffle salt, and shaved Parmesan. Primo Italian American cuisine is the winner of the best Italian restaurant in the daily herald reader's choice awards.
Vesuvio
Peas, roasted potatoes, and a garlic white wine sauce. Primo Italian American cuisine is the winner of the best Italian restaurant in the daily herald reader's choice awards.
Short Rib
Served with braised carrots and fingering potatoes, peas, and pappardelle pasta. Primo Italian American cuisine is the winner of the best Italian restaurant in the daily herald reader's choice awards.
Vodka Tortellini
Vodka sauce, fresh baby spinach, snow peas, and sun-dried tomatoes. Primo Italian American cuisine is the winner of the best Italian restaurant in the daily herald reader's choice awards.
Pork Shank Osso Bucco
Served over a roasted tomato and basil risotto. Primo Italian American cuisine is the winner of the best Italian restaurant in the daily herald reader's choice awards.
Spicy Frutti Di Mare
Salmon, mussels, calamari, jumbo shrimp, and Alaskan king crab served with a spicy red sauce and linguine pasta. Primo Italian American cuisine is the winner of the best Italian restaurant in the daily herald reader's choice awards.

Steaks and Chops
Prime New York Strip (16 oz)
Finished with Parmesan-garlic compound butter and served with crispy onion rings. Primo Italian American cuisine winner of the best steakhouse in the daily herald reader's choice awards.
Prime Filet Trio (3 pcs)
Three 3 ounces. Filet medallions served horseradish-crust, Parmesan-crust, and peppercorn sauce over three-cheese mashed potatoes. Primo Italian American cuisine winner of the best steakhouse in the daily herald reader's choice awards.
Prime Tomahawk Ribeye (26 oz)
Finished with a Parmesan-garlic compound butter and served with a loaded baked potato. Primo Italian American cuisine winner of the best steakhouse in the daily herald reader's choice awards.
Prime Filet Mignon (8 oz)
Finished with Parmesan-garlic compound butter and served with garlic mashed potatoes. Primo Italian American cuisine winner of the best steakhouse in the daily herald reader's choice awards.
Surf & Turf Prime Filet Trio
Three 3 ounces. Filet medallions served with sauteed jumbo shrimp, a jumbo lump crab cake with mango salsa, and a seared scallop. Served over creamy garlic mashed potatoes and topped with a garlic cream sauce. Primo Italian American cuisine winner of the best steakhouse in the daily herald reader's choice awards.
Surf & Turf Duo (8 oz)
8 ounces. Prime filet mignon accompanied with 6 ounces. Cold-water lobster tail. Served with crispy Parmesan fingerling potatoes. Primo Italian American cuisine winner of best steakhouse in the daily herald reader's choice awards.
Horseradish-crust Prime Sirloin (10 oz)
10 ounces. Sirloin with a horseradish crust and charbroiled. Served over a crispy Parmesan potato latke with primo's homemade steak sauce. Primo Italian American cuisine winner of the best steakhouse in the daily herald reader's choice awards.
Calabrian Rack of Lamb
Garlic, Parmesan, rosemary, and pistachio-crusted rack of lamb, over a crispy Parmesan potato latke. Primo Italian American cuisine winner of the best steakhouse in the daily herald reader's choice awards.
Double-cut Pork Chop
Charbroiled in our 1800-degree oven. Served with mashed sweet potatoes with cinnamon butter. Primo Italian American cuisine winner of the best steakhouse in the daily herald reader's choice awards.
Grilled Prime Skirt Steak
Caramelized cognac onions and garlic mashed potatoes. Primo Italian American cuisine winner of the best steakhouse in the daily herald reader's choice awards.
Smoked Pork Shank
Crispy smoked pork shank glazed with a Thai-chili sauce. Served with white corn tortillas and tomatillo salsa. Primo Italian American cuisine winner of the best steakhouse in the daily herald reader's choice awards.

Seafood
Bacon-wrapped Seared Scallops
Parmesan-spinach risotto with a red pepper cream sauce.
Teriyaki Cedar-planked Salmon
Sesame seeds, forbidden black rice, roasted red peppers, and brussels sprouts.
Miso Glazed Seabass
Served with Parmesan risotto and brown sugar-glazed roasted carrots.
Surf N' Turf Mac
Butter-poached lobster, pancetta, white cheddar mac n' cheese, garlic-Parmesan crust, and a puff pastry crouton.
Lemon Coconut Halibut
Cognac cream sauce with forbidden black rice.
Shrimp Cocktail (GF)
Four jumbo red shrimp served with spicy cocktail sauce and fresh horseradish.
Crab Cakes
Jumbo lump crab, mango salsa, red pepper, and cajun remoulade. Served with garlic and roasted red pepper green beans.
Macadamia Crusted Halibut
Alaskan halibut topped with a macadamia crust and baked. Served over forbidden rice and topped with a citrus basil bechamel.
They See Me Rollin'
Combination of lobster, shrimp, and crab salad, topped with crispy bacon and bibb lettuce on a brioche roll. Served with Parmesan kettle chips.
Roasted Branzino
Topped with white wine, grilled lemon, roasted tomato, fresh capers, and artichoke hearts. Roasted on parchment paper.
Mediterranean Sea Bass
Chilean sea bass, kalamata olive tapenade, and white wine.
Seared Ahi Tuna
Sesame seeds, grilled asparagus, and teriyaki risotto.

Sides
Baked Three Cheese Mashed Potatoes
Grilled Asparagus
The Crispiest Onion Rings
Steamed Broccoli
Garlic Roasted Red Pepper Green Beans
Crispy Pancetta Brussels Sprouts
Lobster Mac N' Cheese
Side Salad
Spaghetti with Marinara
Roasted Brown Sugar Carrots
Honey & Sage Roasted Sweet Potatoes
Loaded Baked Potato with Sour Cream
Roasted Vesuvio Potatoes
Wagyu Meatball

Primo Family Meals
Parmesan Family Meal
Serves 4-6 people. Homemade marinara, mozzarella. Served over pasta. Family meals include a family-sized Caesar salad and garlic bread.
Fettuccine Alfredo Family Meal
Homemade Alfredo sauce with sun-dried tomatoes. Family meals include a family-sized Caesar salad and garlic bread. Serves 4-6 people.
Vesuvio Family Meal
Serves 4-6 people. Peas, roasted potatoes, and homemade garlic white wine sauce. Family meals include a family-sized Caesar salad and garlic bread.
Lasagna Family Meal
Serves 4-6 people. Three cheese blends, homemade marinara, and shaved Parmesan. Family meals include family-sized Caesar salad and garlic bread. Family meals include a family-sized Caesar salad and garlic bread.
Picatta Family Meal
Serves 4-6 people. Tomatoes, spinach, and capers, with a homemade lemon-butter sauce. Family meals include a family-sized Caesar salad and garlic bread.
Vodka Tortellini Family Meal
Homemade Alfredo sauce with sun-dried tomatoes. Family meals include a family-sized Caesar salad and garlic bread. Serves 4-6 people.

Kids Menu
Cheese Burger Sliders (3 pcs)
Hand-tossed Cheese Pizza
Kids Mac 'n' Cheese
Spaghetti & Meatballs
Chicken Tenders
Peanut Butter & Jelly Roll
Fruit in Waffle Cup

Desserts
Crème Brûlée Cheesecake
Chef Alex's Famous Tres Leches Strawberry Shortcake
Raspberry Crème Brûlée
Towering Triples Fudge Chocolate Cake
White Chocolate Bread Pudding
Colossal Carrot Cake
Banana Nutella Tiramisu
Beignet Tree
Strawberry, caramel, and milk chocolate.
Flourless Chocolate Torte
Served warm with vanilla gelato and a fresh raspberry coulee.

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Recent Reviews

We went to Primo Italian for the Billy Joel/Elton John tribute band. We were delightfully surprised by the service and food. We had the mushroom-crab appetizer, calamari, filet mignon steak trio, and everything was delicious. I was amazed by the cocktail selections as well. This is a hidden gem. Shout out to Nicki, our server, who was outstanding.
October 2025
Marco is THE BEST waiter! He is so personable, checks on you enough but not too much. He recognizes regulars and has the most spirited and fun personality! We go there because of the great food and Marco!! The bus gentleman is very friendly as well!
October 2025
Luxury dinner, champagne, fine wine, live band, and dancing - It feels like New Year's Eve! Try the seafood tower, fish, steaks, and our favorite specialty dish: spicy frutti di mare. Elliott makes it very special. We LOVE this place!
October 2025

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Primo Italian American Cuisine

720 Milwaukee Ave, Gurnee, IL 60031
(847) 378-0154