When I ask people what they think about Caffe Primo, usually the reaction is somewhat negative. From the stores I’ve visited, the meals have been fairly average at best. From that perspective, I came to the Plympton store with very little expectation. The menu reads like a typical Italian cafe with salads, pizza, meat, chicken, seafood, pasta and risotto dishes. They also have $14.90 lunch and dinner specials but I’m feeling like a burger today.

Out of all the Caffe Primo’s I’ve been to, I think this store is the most stunning. With magnificent high ceilings and full length windows, this place is simply light and airy. The floor plan is so large you could easily fit over 200 people in here.

Lunchtime customers get a complimentary Garlic Bread. Shaped like a mini pizza, the bread is straight out of the oven and is light and fluffy in texture. It’s buttery and salty but could have done with more garlic.

For lunch, I ordered the Primo Burger. The meal came out 15 minutes after ordering and was presented on a standard wooden board.

The burger came with two patties which were smaller than the diameter of the bun. The patties were also very thin and equivalent to what you would find in a McDonald’s Big Mac. The meat was dry and overcooked, and it wasn’t well refined. There were small bits of fat that were difficult to break down in my mouth.

The burger consisted of lettuce, cheese, finely chopped red onion and their own special sauce, which again was like a McDonald’s Big Mac. The bun was nice and firm, and held all the ingredients in well. The meal came with a side of chunky style chips which could have been a bit more crunchier.

The staff were friendly and the service was average. The atmosphere was relaxed and the pricing was reasonable. The cost of the meal was $12.90 which average for a lunchtime meal these days.

I need to remind myself not to order a burger from a place that is not a pub or gourmet burger joint.

WHERE: 295 Anzac Highway, Plympton