I agree with Rebecca and other like-minded reviewers--thanks for the warning--and only wish to add that the food I pay for is my property, to do with as I please. There's no way anyone at Primi can stop you putting the leftovers in your pocket or handbag! Primi gets a prime TBA [= To Be Avoided].

I agree with Mel's assessment,the 2 principles at stake here is 1)what constitute "taking advantage" and 2)it is unacceptable to waste food. As long as the patrons have a proper sit down meal with the normal accompanying orders the special has served its purpose and people should be allowed to take their left overs. BUT this require judgement on what is the cut off point and as we often have under-trained staff including "managers" the play it safe by not allowing any "take away" including left overs. The suggestions made in some comments that it will be served to other patrons is ridiculous and deserves no response.

I think everyone on this page is confused as to the special. The special is called LOVE TRIANGLE, its a double portion of any large pizza or pasta, for the price of 1, on Monday nights and it says sit down only. The idea of this special is to have 2 people dine for the price of 1. It would be silly for 1 person to order that double portion alone. My husband and i love this special, and when i cant finish my portion (usually about 1/4 left) - they are more than happy to give me a takeaway. Dont bad mouth a restaurant that doesnt deserve to be bad mouthed!!

I really can't see if you are given a portion of food (special price or not) and you can not finish it you can't take it home. I can only think that the restaurant is going to serve this to someone else. By the looks of it only James seems to be disagreeing so he must be the stupid and greedy one. He probably can eat that double portion on his own so that is why he is disagreeing!

What gets to me is that Primi would rather throw away left overs than let the customer who paid for the meal take home what she had not finished. How does this protect the restaurant's profit margin unless they intend on re-using the left overs for other customers on another day?

Ummm Helene, which part of "I now believe there is a handwritten sign about the special on a wall around the corner, which we couldn't see" didnt you understand? or didnt you bother to read the original post properly. It IS their stated policy and just because it may not have been communicated correctly by the waiter does not mean that Primi is in the wrong. I personally wouldnt think of going to a special and taking home food,and then trying to bad mouth a restuarant on a blog, but hey, maybe thats what you do where you come from? So be it...

Restaurants make the proviso of no take-aways on specials as they are trying to offset the low profit on the special item against the profit on the other things diners may order like drinks. So a table of four may only order one special with the rest of the items at full price. If Rebecca sat down, ordered drinks and other items, and was then told she could not take the leftovers, then shame on the restaurant. However, if she ordered a glass of water, ate one bite and then asked for the leftovers in a box, that is taking blatant advantage. It also isn't fair to say don't go to any Primi as not every branch may have the same policy to leftovers.

No James, you are the stupid one. They do not say no left overs can be taken home rather no take-aways. They are 2 different things. It has nothing to do with being greedy. So if you take up their special, sit down and eat but cannot finish the food then you should have the right to take it home.

No Emma I am not stupid, and what I see is someone who is taking a chance at the expense of the restaurant. They are offering a "special" to attract real patrons to the restaurant, not freeloaders who are looking to take advantage of them. I am sure Primi would allow her to take the meal home on a "normal" night, but they clearly state that they dont do it on "special" nights and rightly so...or are you too stupid and greedy to see that?

James _ I think you are missing the point here. It is NOT a buffet or eat as much as you like. A portion was served by the kitchen on a plate and if she can't finish it then she should be allowed to take it home. It would make NO difference to them whether she ate the whole protion or none of it. That is what she had been served. Are you too stupid to see this?

I disagree with both Susan and Rebecca. If you werent able to finish a double portion, why go for the special? Unless you were trying to pick up a cheap meal for the next day/night which would be unfair? Its like going to a buffet or eat as much as you like special and then taking home a portion in a box. Come on!!

I agree with Rebecca - she did not order a take away. They sat down to eat and were given that portion. If they can't finish it then they should be allowed to take it home. Can't see how this defeats the point of a specail. They might be serving your left overs to the next table. who knows

With all due respect Rebecca, I think a bit of common sense should tell you why take-aways are not permitted when restaurants have specials of this nature. Primi is not an exception - I know of many restaurants that have similar specials and state no take-aways or sharing otherwise it defeats the object of why such a special is offered..... If you enjoyed the food then there is no reason not to go back.

We heard that Primi Piatti is offering some sort of pasta special, where they serve a double-sized portion for the usual price. When we asked about it at the Cavendish Square branch (as there was no visible signage about this where we were sitting) the waiter explained and added that there were no takeaways. I said that was okay, as we were sitting down to eat. When we asked for a box to take the leftovers home, the waiter said again they don't allow "takeaways" on the special, which then explained his use of the word "takeaway". We were upset to hear this, especially when he said they just throw the leftovers away. The manager confirmed this and said that Primi "loses out" if they allow leftovers from the special to be taken home. Primi may be entitled to offer whatever special they like, but this was not explained properly to us before ordering and to rely on waiters to convey the rules verbally could be unreliable. I now believe there is a handwritten sign about the special on a wall around the corner, which we couldn't see. There's a big difference between ordering a takeaway and taking home what one can't finish at the table. I find this concept offensive in SA, where the culture of boxed leftovers is practised widely and often given to people who can't afford to buy food, let alone eat in a restaurant. The condition on this special is mean spirited, as I don't believe it even benefits Primi in the way they wish to think. As a journalist, I've reviewed many restaurants (up to five stars) and other than a buffet-type concept, I've never heard of such a restraint on a special. I certainly shall not be supporting Primi in the future and hope other readers will consider the same.

I was so disappointed when I stopped by Primi Piatti in Cavendish for lunch on Saturday, only to discover they had moved to The Link in Claremont. The new restaurants decor is awful! Gone is the intimate feel that they had. The couches are all gone, so no leisurely evenings with friends having drinks. The great bar area has now been replaced by a counter and the tables are right on top of each other. It felt more like Wimpy or Dulce. So sad to have lost my favourite favourite spot for get togethers. My friends and I had celebrated countless birthdays, anniversaries and even Christmas dinners there. The new premises are nothing short of horrid. The only good thing about the experience was the delicious pizza, but it does seem as though the menu has been cut down aswell. Very disappointed:(