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Recommended Reviews - Il Massimo
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Sincere thanks to Chef Massimo and his team for an unforgettable dining experience. We decided to visit Il Massimo for dinner based on the countless glowing reviews online. The restaurant is located in the heart of downtown Ensenada (aka Centro) in a yellow building--you can't miss it. There's a parking lot to the left-hand side for those taking a car. The staff was unbelievably welcoming -- from the front of the house who took our temperatures and applied hand sanitizer, through our servers Miguel and Austin. Seriously. My water glass was never half-empty and we felt extremely taken care of. We sat in the outdoor patio area. Lovely ambiance - shaded, relaxing, and peaceful. And then there's the incredible owner, Chef Massimo. He personally greeted us and made us feel like we were the only guests in the restaurant. Since it was our first visit, he took the time to explain the highlights from the menu and offer personalized recommendations. Simply amazing. Based on our preferences, we ordered the pan-seared octopus as an appetizer. It was perfectly prepared - tender and flavorful. With a squeeze of lemon and homemade chili oil utilizing imported Calabrian peppers, it was the perfect appetizer to kick off our meal. It paired very nicely with my red wine blend from Corona del Valle. Now the entrees. My Italian friends say a Pappardelle is a measure of Italian restaurants and you can never go wrong ordering it. That held true at Il Massimo. Divine al-dente pasta topped with a bold, robust yet balanced sauce-- it was just amazing. Then there's the tuna steak - it could not have been prepared any better. TENDER! So fresh with no fishy notes and outstanding seasoning. The arugula grapefruit salad on the side was a wonderful compliment. Bright and delicious. The ingredients are all local and organic. The freshness and quality really shine. Though we were becoming full, we simply could not resist ordering a delicious dessert. Two desserts, in fact: a cooked-to-order lemon lava cake and gelato. The former was warm, as well as bursting with flavor: deliciously citrusy and sweet. Such a welcome twist on the classic chocolate lava cakes and more than worth the wait. Then there's the cream-cheese-based gelato. So decadent and rich, with Italian cherries and pistachios to add complexity. We savored every bite. Lastly, we enjoyed the limoncello digestive aperitifs. Strong, bitter, and sweet--simply the best way to end the meal. We left EXTREMELY satisfied with everything: the food, hospitable service, and ambiance. A must-visit when you're in Ensenada. You will NOT regret it.
Wow! Was in Cali months ago and had to drive down here. I've heard amazing things about this place from friends near the border. There's nothing like this in the states. All the dishes were extremely unique and the food tasted phenomenal. They had a nice variety of wine. I went with a glass of red wine because the waitress said it would pair nicely with the rabbit ragu. As an app I ordered the pulpo, which is octopus. I love ordering octopus everywhere I go, but it's very hard to prepare properly. It was cooked perfectly and had the perfect texture. The chilis added a nice kick to it and weren't too overpowering. For my entree I got the rabbit ragu. I honestly did not expect to eat rabbit until I came here, but the waitress insisted that it was her favorite dish on the menu. The picture does not do it justice, it was delicious and the pasta was cooked al dente. For dessert I tried the lemon lava cake. I honestly had never heard about it before and I love lemon. It was the perfect lava cake and the flavors were all very balanced. If you're ever in Cali/Mexico or even near the border, you definitely have to check this place out. Food and service were impeccable. The quality is unmatched anywhere in the states. All the dishes were so unique and perfectly balanced. I've been reminiscing on this experience and really hope I can return one day.
Amazing meal...from starter to desert! The service was excellent and our meal was exceptional! We enjoyed the meatball appetizer and arugula salad, with the white lasagna and sous vide chicken specials. Finished with the lemon lave cake and baked apple cake with vanilla gelato! By far our best meal in Ensenada...include Il Massimo in your itinerary, it's worth the visit!
So my buddy Carl tells me about this Italian restaurant in Ensenada as we're driving there from Fresno. Since I'm a big fan of the Italian cuisine and have eaten it all over the world including many trips to Italy I insisted we go there. Ordered the Bolonese pasta dish and Carl ordered a special rigatoni with vodka sauce they were offering. Both dishes were excellent. Even got to talk to the chef who was on the floor the whole time we were there. That tells you that he has competent chefs he has trained in his likeness so that he can mingle with his clients. Smart. If you're ready for excellent Italian food with hand made pasta and the freshest ingredients then you're ready to go to Massimo! Crazy Bernie is a big fan. Highly recommend.
Attentive and kind. Started w the Arugula Salad was incredible fresh and tasty . Large shavings of Parmigiana Cheese and a wonderful Olive oil w Lemon dressing. Next the Meatball appetizer. I am incredibly picky witb Meatballs. These ones which are cheese filled are great. Not as soft as I like, but the taste is excellent. Now the main course, Pappardelle with meat Bolognese. Fantastic!! The Pasta was perfect. The Bolognese was sooo good. Fresh Parmigiana on top. Licked the plate clean. Highly recommend!!
Stumbled across this cute little restaurant on Yelp. Exceeded our dinner experience expectations. Exceptional customer service from the moment you step foot into the restaurant. The flavor of every single dish & beverage was superior. Chef Massimo and his team provide the best service and authentic Italian meal in town! Recommendations: * Caprese * Meatballs * Pappardelle Bolognese * Truffle Sauce Pasta * Pastel Manzana * Tiramisu * Café Americano * Sangria
We enjoyed every dish here-the steamed clams and mussels were delicious, our salads were fresh, and each of our dishes, La Zuppa y Pasta Negra were full of flavor. Fresh seafood, amazing service, and the desserts were incredible. Karina was friendly and answered all of our questions. We can't wait to come back!
Fantastic Italian food in Ensenada. Il Massimo is authentic and breaks the mold of traditional Italian dishes. We were welcomed with our two small doggies to sit in their lovely patio. The arugula salad and grilled octopus were great starters. The squid ink pasta with shellfish was delicious. Also, the truffle bucatini is a good recommendation. We typically don't order desserts but when we saw the Nutella banana tiramisu, we couldn't resist. I'd try the Rose water panna cotta and raspberry powder next time. The staff is very attentive, friendly and welcoming. My dog jerked the table and spilled my wine onto my plate. The kitchen staff and waiter didn't hesitate to make me a new dish. I appreciated it because the wine on the plate was cutting the cream in the sauce. Thank you to a lovely service.
When you find a spot that you enjoy as much as we enjoyed Il Massimo, you hesitate to post here because you want to keep this place all to yourself. We invited my Sister In Law and her man out for her post birthday meal and from start to finish the food was outstanding . Austin was our waiter and he gave us great recommendations and Chef Massimo checked in and gave us a bit of history and origin of a few of the dishes. Must trys are appetizers escargot, pulpo and the tri colore, Main dishes Trufa Bucatini Osso bucco And the dish with chicken sous vide Next time We will be back with more friends.
3 years ago
2 years ago
Una comida deliciosa! Comida authentica con servicio increíble . El ambiente es de otro mundo! read more
8 months ago
Sincere thanks to Chef Massimo and his team for an unforgettable dining experience. We decided to visit Il Massimo for dinner based on the countless glowing reviews online. The restaurant is located in the heart of downtown Ensenada (aka Centro) in a yellow building--you can't miss it. There's a parking lot to the left-hand side for those taking a car. The staff was unbelievably welcoming -- from the front of the house who took our temperatures and applied hand sanitizer, through our servers Miguel and Austin. Seriously. My water glass was never half-empty and we felt extremely taken care of. We sat in the outdoor patio area. Lovely ambiance - shaded, relaxing, and peaceful. And then there's the incredible owner, Chef Massimo. He personally greeted us and made us feel like we were the only guests in the restaurant. Since it was our first visit, he took the time to explain the highlights from the menu and offer personalized recommendations. Simply amazing. Based on our preferences, we ordered the pan-seared octopus as an appetizer. It was perfectly prepared - tender and flavorful. With a squeeze of lemon and homemade chili oil utilizing imported Calabrian peppers, it was the perfect appetizer to kick off our meal. It paired very nicely with my red wine blend from Corona del Valle. Now the entrees. My Italian friends say a Pappardelle is a measure of Italian restaurants and you can never go wrong ordering it. That held true at Il Massimo. Divine al-dente pasta topped with a bold, robust yet balanced sauce-- it was just amazing. Then there's the tuna steak - it could not have been prepared any better. TENDER! So fresh with no fishy notes and outstanding seasoning. The arugula grapefruit salad on the side was a wonderful compliment. Bright and delicious. The ingredients are all local and organic. The freshness and quality really shine. Though we were becoming full, we simply could not resist ordering a delicious dessert. Two desserts, in fact: a cooked-to-order lemon lava cake and gelato. The former was warm, as well as bursting with flavor: deliciously citrusy and sweet. Such a welcome twist on the classic chocolate lava cakes and more than worth the wait. Then there's the cream-cheese-based gelato. So decadent and rich, with Italian cherries and pistachios to add complexity. We savored every bite. Lastly, we enjoyed the limoncello digestive aperitifs. Strong, bitter, and sweet--simply the best way to end the meal. We left EXTREMELY satisfied with everything: the food, hospitable service, and ambiance. A must-visit when you're in Ensenada. You will NOT regret it. read more
Wow! Was in Cali months ago and had to drive down here. I've heard amazing things about this place from friends near the border. There's nothing like this in the states. All the dishes were extremely unique and the food tasted phenomenal. They had a nice variety of wine. I went with a glass of red wine because the waitress said it would pair nicely with the rabbit ragu. As an app I ordered the pulpo, which is octopus. I love ordering octopus everywhere I go, but it's very hard to prepare properly. It was cooked perfectly and had the perfect texture. The chilis added a nice kick to it and weren't too overpowering. For my entree I got the rabbit ragu. I honestly did not expect to eat rabbit until I came here, but the waitress insisted that it was her favorite dish on the menu. The picture does not do it justice, it was delicious and the pasta was cooked al dente. For dessert I tried the lemon lava cake. I honestly had never heard about it before and I love lemon. It was the perfect lava cake and the flavors were all very balanced. If you're ever in Cali/Mexico or even near the border, you definitely have to check this place out. Food and service were impeccable. The quality is unmatched anywhere in the states. All the dishes were so unique and perfectly balanced. I've been reminiscing on this experience and really hope I can return one day. read more
3 years ago
4 years ago
Amazing meal...from starter to desert! The service was excellent and our meal was exceptional! We enjoyed the meatball appetizer and arugula salad, with the white lasagna and sous vide chicken specials. Finished with the lemon lave cake and baked apple cake with vanilla gelato! By far our best meal in Ensenada...include Il Massimo in your itinerary, it's worth the visit! read more
3 years ago
3 years ago
So my buddy Carl tells me about this Italian restaurant in Ensenada as we're driving there from Fresno. Since I'm a big fan of the Italian cuisine and have eaten it all over the world including many trips to Italy I insisted we go there. Ordered the Bolonese pasta dish and Carl ordered a special rigatoni with vodka sauce they were offering. Both dishes were excellent. Even got to talk to the chef who was on the floor the whole time we were there. That tells you that he has competent chefs he has trained in his likeness so that he can mingle with his clients. Smart. If you're ready for excellent Italian food with hand made pasta and the freshest ingredients then you're ready to go to Massimo! Crazy Bernie is a big fan. Highly recommend. read more
5 years ago
Attentive and kind. Started w the Arugula Salad was incredible fresh and tasty . Large shavings of Parmigiana Cheese and a wonderful Olive oil w Lemon dressing. Next the Meatball appetizer. I am incredibly picky witb Meatballs. These ones which are cheese filled are great. Not as soft as I like, but the taste is excellent. Now the main course, Pappardelle with meat Bolognese. Fantastic!! The Pasta was perfect. The Bolognese was sooo good. Fresh Parmigiana on top. Licked the plate clean. Highly recommend!! read more
5 years ago
Stumbled across this cute little restaurant on Yelp. Exceeded our dinner experience expectations. Exceptional customer service from the moment you step foot into the restaurant. The flavor of every single dish & beverage was superior. Chef Massimo and his team provide the best service and authentic Italian meal in town! Recommendations: * Caprese * Meatballs * Pappardelle Bolognese * Truffle Sauce Pasta * Pastel Manzana * Tiramisu * Café Americano * Sangria read more
3 years ago
3 years ago
4 years ago
Business owner information
Massimo Z.
Arigatou!!
5 years ago
4 years ago
We enjoyed every dish here-the steamed clams and mussels were delicious, our salads were fresh, and each of our dishes, La Zuppa y Pasta Negra were full of flavor. Fresh seafood, amazing service, and the desserts were incredible. Karina was friendly and answered all of our questions. We can't wait to come back! read more
4 years ago
3 years ago
Fantastic Italian food in Ensenada. Il Massimo is authentic and breaks the mold of traditional Italian dishes. We were welcomed with our two small doggies to sit in their lovely patio. The arugula salad and grilled octopus were great starters. The squid ink pasta with shellfish was delicious. Also, the truffle bucatini is a good recommendation. We typically don't order desserts but when we saw the Nutella banana tiramisu, we couldn't resist. I'd try the Rose water panna cotta and raspberry powder next time. The staff is very attentive, friendly and welcoming. My dog jerked the table and spilled my wine onto my plate. The kitchen staff and waiter didn't hesitate to make me a new dish. I appreciated it because the wine on the plate was cutting the cream in the sauce. Thank you to a lovely service. read more
4 years ago
When you find a spot that you enjoy as much as we enjoyed Il Massimo, you hesitate to post here because you want to keep this place all to yourself. We invited my Sister In Law and her man out for her post birthday meal and from start to finish the food was outstanding . Austin was our waiter and he gave us great recommendations and Chef Massimo checked in and gave us a bit of history and origin of a few of the dishes. Must trys are appetizers escargot, pulpo and the tri colore, Main dishes Trufa Bucatini Osso bucco And the dish with chicken sous vide Next time We will be back with more friends. read more
4 years ago
5 years ago
Seriously- AMAZING! The absolute BEST Italian food, in Mexico! (In the world in my opinion haha) !! Absolutely amazing. Chef Massimo was able to create these wonderful and prestigious plates all through the mind and hands of his own.. His work should be recognized all over the world!!! WOW. Food Ambiance Service Experiential dining Chef Massimo read more
3 years ago
5 years ago
5 years ago
Amazing food! All the pasta is made from scratch. It was my boyfriend's birthday and I'm so glad we came hungry. We had the Tuna Crudo appetizer, their bread and homemade pesto was so good we even asked for some to go and soaked up our remaining entree sauces with them, the Smoked Salmon Spinach Salad was a great portion to share and had a nice portion of fish to salad ratio, and we split three entrees (yes three, the pasta was SO GOOD and perfectly portioned so you're not overloaded). We split the Pappadell Pork Ragu, the slow simmered for 6 hour Beef Ragu Bolognase, and the chef/owner's choice. I'm forgetting the dish's name but it was a thick creamy black truffle sauce with pancetta (or something similar). To die for! To top it off for dessert we had a homemade cheesecake Gelato with Graham cracker crumbles and these Italian cherries, topped with a birthday candle to make it extra special. We were offered a shot of a digestiffe liquor, house infused choice of grapefruit, creamy grapefruit, or chocolate at the end. My boyfriend also enjoyed a nice local red blend wine bottle for $24 U.S. We ate everything, it was some of the best Italian food I've ever had, hands down. And for the great quality, moderately priced. The chef/owner Massimo personally greeted, ran food, and conversed with every table. He shared details of preparation with us, and made us feel comfortable and welcome. He shared with us he closes the restaurant every Thursday to go to San Diego to get proper Italian tomatoes and other ingredients for his dishes to ensure authenticity in his dishes. That's some awesome dedication! Thank you Massimo, for a wonderfully delicious dinner, we will be back. read more
5 years ago
Amazing food, great ambiance, friendly waiters. Massimo the owner and Chef is incredibly professional, friendly, dedicated and passionate in everything he makes! It's a Must in Ensenada. Can't wait to go back! read more
5 years ago
An ode to true authentic, yet avant-garde, Italian in Baja California. The visionary owner/chef creates these beautiful dishes with a methodology that is innovative while incorporating genuine Italian ingredients. read more
5 years ago
We walked thru the doors and immediately felt like we were back in Italy. The ambiance was relaxing and Sophisticatedly subtle. Our servers were extremely polite, friendly and super nice. Chef Massimo made a special cheese pasta dish for our 2 year old son who loved it. The black truffle cream, crispy pancetta pasta was an explosion of flavors. The gelato with patachios with Italian cherries and the panna Cota was to die for. I've been to Italy and even there I didn't find a dish that blew me away like these dishes made by Chef Massimo. Chef was so nice always checking on how things were explaining the dishes, we felt like we were in his home having a custom prepared unique one on one experience. We had 2 glasses of wine, soda 2 entrees and 3 desserts and the bill was only $66 including 20% tip. Hands Down one of the most amazing all around dining experiences of my life. read more
If I could give this place 10 more stars I would! The service was exceptional. The staff is COVID safe, making sure everyone is checked for temperature and given hand sanitizer as they enter. The chef/owner is extremely involved in every dish that comes out of his kitchen, and it shows in both quality and taste. All of the ingredients are fresh, and every single dish we tried was delicious ( and plated beautifully). Truly the best restaurant in Ensenada in my opinion. read more
3 years ago
The food is always amazing, The service is always 5 Stars. The owner always makes sure everyone is happy. This restaurant is a must try. read more
5 years ago
Excellent Italian food! Great service! Very reasonable prices. Soon after we sat down, they brought out delicious bread and wonderful pesto. Both were so fresh and delicious! We had the Meatball appetizer, Bolognese, Squid Ink Pasta/Seafood, and the Lemon lava cake. Everything tasted very fresh and spices/flavors were perfect. The owner (Massimo) is very personable, gracious and humble. He takes great pride in his establishment and rightfully so! He also provides a signature, complimentary after dinner chocolate digestif that he makes in house. Mmmm. Grazia! If you want some of the best Italian food made with amore, this is the place to go! read more
4 years ago
4 years ago
Business owner information
Massimo Z.
Thank you so much!
3 years ago
5 years ago
Found a hidden gem down in Ensenada this evening. @ilmassimoensenada an Italian kitchen with a very thoughtful menu options, from their savory Escargot, arugula salad, homemade mouthwatering 4 cheese ravioli, delightful white lasagna, and braised pork cooked to perfection. #foodforculture #amoilciboitaliano #foodporn #foodlover #foodie #foodgasm #italianfood read more
4 years ago
7 years ago
5 years ago
4 years ago
We had heard rave reviews of this place by several people and finally had the opportunity to have dinner here! This place is top shelf all the way around!! The food was absolutely delicious and the service was stupendous! We will definitely be eating here OFTEN! read more
Business owner information
Massimo Z.
Thank you so much Tara!
3 years ago
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More info about Il Massimo
Lazaro Cardenas 987
22890 Ensenada, Baja California
Mexico
Directions
646 977 7089
Call Now
Hours
Food & Alcohol
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