Review: Primos Café

The grilled chicken sandwich. (Credit: Leah Starnes)

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The Primos family has been operating restaurants in the metro Jackson area since 1929. It’s a legacy started by Angelo “Pop” Primos after immigrating to the area from Greece.

You will still find some of the finest food and family-owned and operated ambiance that is a Jackson tradition. They were so inventive with their business expertise that the family was one of the first restaurants to include air conditioning and an electric-eye door opener at their 1941 full service restaurant.

Primos’ tradition continues today with two locations featuring time-tested family recipes, and the always friendly staff and owners.

The food: Whether you come in for an early meal or business meeting or call ahead for takeout for home or the office, you will be extremely pleased with the offerings at a very reasonable price.

Starting with breakfast, which is served daily, you will find eggs, pancakes, omelets, wraps and biscuits, as well as fresh pastries and muffins.

At lunch the daily hot plate specials vary Monday through Friday with the likes of country fried steak, poppy seed chicken, chicken and dumplings, grilled tilapia, chicken pot pie, pepper steak, turkey and dressing, fried chicken, grilled pork chops and of course Southern fried chicken. Each plate lunch is served up with a choice of two veggies, corn bread or roll and iced tea ($7.55).

Salads rinclude Pop’s shrimp salad, black and bleu, Creole seafood, shrimp remoulade, crunchy romaine, crab cake, chicken tender or Cobb, all made fresh with a choice of some fabulous homemade dressings including the time honored Kum-back ($6.95-$9.25).

Sandwiches are served with a choice of curly fries, potato salad, a daily veggie, chips or a green salad. One of the most famous is the Angelo burger that has been a long standing menu item. You will also find grilled chicken, chicken salad, tiger wrap, old fashioned burger, catfish po-boy, the Primos club, prime rib, the Biloxi Press (fried gulf shrimp po-boy) and the Lone Eagle (turkey, ham, bacon and cheese po-boy). A great Reuben, grilled chicken wrap and beef tenderloin round out a fabulous collection, and all of the sandwiches are pleasing and well priced from $6.50-$8.95.

At dinner service the platters come with two sides and a salad. Tilapia and shrimp, prime rib, fried delta catfish, grilled tilapia, hamburger steak, fried shrimp, chicken tenders, and a chicken melt are all worthy of a try $10.50-$16.50. These are all neighborhood favorites and are offered daily as well as a manager special each night.

Desserts are a definite specialty of the Primos tradition from the early beginnings and continue to please whether you are dining in our need a special pie or cake to take with you.

The drink: The beverage section is a self serve area featuring soft drinks, iced tea, juice, milk and coffee. All drinks are served in a souvenir cup to take out your favorite beverage.

The scene: Primos is located in the heart of the Lakeland Drive area of Flowood, right across the bridge from Jackson. The décor is reminiscent of a bit of the old with blue stools at the bar, nice metal tables, great large corner booths as well as cozy booths throughout.

The framed photos of the former Primos locations fill the walls as well as paintings by local artists of former locations. There are many framed articles about the family and their restaurants for a great history lesson of their popularity.

Many locals stop in daily as well as newcomers to the area. The t-shirts worn by the staff speaks volumes of the incredible tradition of Primos with the words, “Southern Food for City Folks.” That in itself speaks as to what the theme of the restaurant is all about.

The bottom line: You won’t be disappointed with their expansive menu selections. They also have their bakery items and freezer case ready foods, and family size casseroles and soups. You can select one of the delicious dressing selections by the bottle as well. They offer gift cards, a Café Club for discounts and are totally wireless high speed internet ready.

Their select menu is geared for groups and parties. Boxed lunches of sandwiches and wraps, or salads, breakfast for a group, daily lunch buffet, dinner buffet, or a create your own buffet with a massive selection to decide what is just what your group is hungry for.

Casseroles of over eight different varieties are sold as well as soups, and gumbo. You can even purchase corn bread, rolls and don’t forget the desserts, just come in to the take out area and shop away.

The Primos family name stands for delicious food, friendly and efficient service, and reasonable prices. This is key to the success of the business that “Pop” Primos opened 77 years ago in the Jackson area, never leaving to go back to Greece; he stayed to treat the people of Jackson as his personal friends and family.

Primos on Lakeland or in Ridgeland are a definite must try unless you are one of the lucky ones like me that was able to go to the North State Street and Northgate locations until their closure. The tradition is definitely being carried on by Don Primos and his wonderful staff at their present restaurants for many years to come.

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