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If you eat gluten free this is a dream. Almost more choices than you know what to do with. Service was fabulous and food was all reasonably paced and delicious. Notice that while front entrance is accessible, there is a second floor and unsure if there is an elevator so if accessibility is a concern I would suggest mentioning it when you make a reservation. Reservations not required but I would highly recommend.
My family and I visited Il Massimo during our recent trip to Providence after seeing so many positive reviews on Yelp and social media. The restaurant had a lively atmosphere when we arrived. Most of the tables were occupied, but it never felt overcrowded. We had a reservation and were seated immediately. Our server greeted us promptly, took our drink orders, and gave us plenty of time to look over the menu. I ordered the Italian Old Fashioned, which was excellent, well-balanced, not too sweet, and with just the right amount of strength. My wife ordered the sangria, but she found it much sweeter than she expected. For dinner, my youngest son ordered the ravioli and really enjoyed it. My oldest, who is a very picky eater, ordered the short rib gnocchi and finished the entire dish in record time, which says a lot. My wife had the bard gnocchi and thought it was just okay; she didn't finish it. I ordered the scallops over risotto, and while it was prepared well, I found it to be just average. To end the meal, we shared the cannoli trio, which was easily the highlight of the evening. Our favorite was the candied orange cannoli, which had a great balance of flavors. Overall, I really liked the restaurant's beautiful space and inviting atmosphere. While the service was friendly and the cocktails were excellent, I found the food to be good but not particularly memorable. I'd come back for the ambiance and drinks, but I was hoping for a little more from the entrées.
Saturday night. Be sure to have a reservation! Gets very crowded, noisy; conversation can be difficult. The staff is very amiable, unrushed for them, meaning unrushed for you. Lots of indoor dining spaces, Street side too, although that is much compromised by heavy traffic in the street and lots of activity at the Valet parking station. Be sure to have cash to tip the Valet. Now the food. Excellent. Among a table of 4 we had 2 appetizers and 4 entrees, all tasty, good -sized and well presented. We sampled among ourselves. All liked the Eggplant Parmesan especially. Go for the food; accept the bustle vibes.
Visiting Providence and stumbled upon this Italian gem. I understood that Federal Hill is known for its Italian restaurants and we searched for a place that had a good crowd. Massimo's has street parking or valet. They also take reservations. We came on a Monday and chose to order from their prix fixe menu. They also have a great à la carte menu. Our dinner came with focaccia and olives, a glass of house wine, an appetizer, entree, and dessert for $38/pp. Portions were smaller than the à la carte dishes but enough for us. Between my husband and I, we ordered the caprese salad and meatballs appetizers, sliced strip steak with mashed potatoes and mushrooms, a fettuccine with asparagus and prosciutto with cream sauce, and dessert was the pannecotta and cannoli. Pasta was freshly made and al dente, steak was tender and flavorful. We loved everything. My only complaint that for a large restaurant, bathroom was small. Only one unit per gender.
It's always a gamble on a road trip when you have to calculate where you'll be at lunchtime, search for restaurants just off the highway, and pick one based on high ratings. Finding Massimo Ristorante was the equivalent of drawing an inside straight flush. Their $24 three-course lunch could have been a bust, but it was an offer we couldn't refuse. What a winner! We started with a complimentary basket of good focaccia, served with olives and olive oil. For the first course, we had the ribollita and Caesar salad--both quite good. For our mains, we chose the Risotto di Gamberi and Spaghettoni alla Carbonara. Both were excellent, with the carbonara ranking among the best I've had anywhere in the U.S. or Italy. The cannolo and tiramisu were both very good as well. Overall, this was an amazingly solid three-course meal for just $24. And special credit to our waitress, Angelina, who was friendly and immediately earned our respect when I asked whether I should order the chicken parm or the carbonara. Without hesitation, she said, "The carbonara! You can get parm anywhere." She was 100% correct.
massimo is a pretty good italian spot. i would recommend making a reservation beforehand. i went on a weekend for dinner. it was delicious. i had a really good time. there aren't a lot of vegetarian options. keep that in mind if you have any dietary restrictions. i enjoyed my meal. it definitely met my expectations. it's a little on the pricier side/ it's reasonable for the area and worth checking out. parking was a little difficult. i had to park a few streets away, i'd recommend planning a little extra time for that beforehand.
If I could give this place 100 stars, I would. Our server was amazing and recommended great drinks and great food. And the food literally melts in your mouth. If I could eat here everyday I would. Only complaint is that the valet guy was very rude
First off, our server was extremely attentive and kind. He checked in on us the perfect amount balancing giving us space and time to enjoy our meal, while ensuring all our needs were met. The ambiance is clean, vibrant, and welcoming. The food overall was solid. One star docked because my pasta was over-salted in which I had to scrape the excess sauce on the noodles toward the end. The guanciale paired with pecorino romano is bound to be on the saltier side, but I think the pasta could have been unsalted to balance it out a bit more. That said, the guanciale and pasta were delicious, perfectly cooked. You can tell they use quality, simple ingredients! Their 3-course presto lunch for $24 is a hard to beat deal; however, I may venture out to their regular menu next time. Yes--there will likely be another time!
This place gets busy! I was in the area for a gluten-free festival, did some shopping, and of course ended up hungry. I was originally planning to go to Pane e Vino, but nothing was available until 8:30--and I was definitely not waiting that long. Thankfully, the owner kindly recommended their sister restaurant and even called ahead to check availability. They had three seats at the bar, so my friends and I rushed over. The staff was incredibly friendly and helpful. They offer an extensive gluten-free menu, though they do note that cross-contamination is possible--which made me a bit nervous, but I decided to give it a try. I started with a mocktail, which was delicious. They also served made-to-order gluten-free bread--it reminded me of cloud bread (very egg-based), but it was warm and tasty. I had the Insalate Tricolore, which I loved for its bitter and salty balance. For my main, I ordered the bolognese--so good! Very filling... honestly, it might put you straight into a food coma. Overall, a great experience with really good food. I'd definitely go back!
We had an excellent dining experience. Stopped in for lunch and we were so glad to do so. Our lunch started with the charcuterie board which was outstanding. It contained three different types of Italian cured meats, two types of cheeses, pickled veggies, red peppers and walnuts. For my lunch entree I had the lasagna. The lasagna was absolutely delicious. The sauce, meat and pasta was really good, probably one of the top three best lasagnas I have eaten. For dessert we had the bread pudding, it was not my choice but it was ok.
Bread was warm and delicious. Shrimp risotto was good- texture of of rice was spot on, shrimp was large and fresh. My only slight complaint, which may be personal taste, was it could use a little more salt. Waitresses were friendly and attentive, including the front desk staff on the phone. Not a dressy spot, decor is nice including art work and wooden wine boxes. Music was relaxing and not too loud. I gave 4 stars just because I've had better food. Not that it was bad. Just a little pricy.
I stopped in for dinner at Massimo because it was walking distance from my hotel. I was not disappointed. I began with an app of Arancini. They were good. My main was Orecchiete with sausage and broccoli di rape. It was good also. A glass of Rose' and a glass of super tuscan were both very good. My server Connor was very cool. This was not quite a five star experience, but I will repeat the next time that I visit Providence.
$24 lunch special -- 3 courses, but not all edible. Caesar salad was nice, the saltiest ever spaghetti carbonara could barely swallow 2 bites, tiramisu was ok but nothing special. Service was attentive since we needed pitchers of water to counteract the sale infusion.
5 months ago
Service and the place were great! I loved my bucatini and everyone loved their entrees. The calamari was cold and the gelato wasn't great but I would come bach! read more
11 months ago
Business owner information
Nathan H.
Hi Francis! Wow, thank you for the absolutely glowing review! We are…
1 year ago
Loved the lunch special here! Came for a quick lunch after walking around Federal Hill and the ribollita and carbonara hit the spot. The service was a tad slow considering there were only a few other tables in here but I guess that's just the Italian way. The vibes definitely brought me back to Italy with the whole indoor outdoor seating. It was the perfect way to enjoy the cooler weather while fueling up for the day. read more
Business owner information
Nathan H.
Hi Brittany, thank you so much for dropping in. We're glad we could…
2 months ago
5 months ago
Solid place. Nice ambiance and the service was great. Bread was alright, probably would be better if it was right out of the oven. Calamari was excellent and same with the burrata. Chicken Parmesan was fine. Chicken could have been a bit crispier and the sauce could have had slightly more flavor, but it was good overall. I would definitely come back to try some of the other dishes. read more
5 months ago
We really enjoyed Massimo! They have a fantastic happy hour that was so good, we didn't even end up needing entrees! All apps are half priced during 3-6. We enjoyed the burrata, calamari, and truffle arancini. Everything was delicious! read more
I was really craving good pasta, and I got that plus more. I came here with a friend on a Tuesday afternoon for lunch. Their outdoor seating was perfect since it was not too hot out and we got the opportunity to interact with the little birds. Price and option wise it made the most sense to go with their lunch special; for $24 you can get an appetizer, entrée, and dessert from their prefixed menu - and this is on top of the complimentary bread with olives and olive oil. I had their ribollita toscana soup, with their spaghetti alla carbonara, and il cannolo. I was not expecting the soup to be so hot, but I might've burned my tongue a bit on the first bite. It was a very hearty soup, with good flavor and different textures. For an appetizer it was a good portion. The carbonara was delicious. It came with a great amount of guanciale, which was savory, a hint of a smoked flavor, and tender. It was a saucy dish, and the perfect temperature. I added crushed pepper and more parmesan on top of mine. The cannoli was good. I definitely enjoyed the side with the pistachio more than the side with chocolate chips, and the filling was a bit sweet but still good. The sugared orange skins were pretty, but in terms of flavor it did seem out of place. Overall, I enjoyed my meal, and I would definitely recommend especially if you want quality food at a great price. Our waitress was kind, and took good care of us. They do offer valet parking, or another option is street parking on Atwells Ave. but it can be a hit or miss, and I believe they have meters (unless you go into the side streets). read more
Out running errands, we decided to treat ourselves to a "nice" lunch & landed here at Massimo. I made a last minute reservation since it was busy lunch hour and was glad I did - the place was jamming! While it was busy & festive, it was not too loud. We were quickly seated and greeted by a very professional server. Reviewing the menu, we couldn't resist the presto! 3 course lunch menu. What a great deal! For our first course, we began with the Insalata di Cesare & Ribollita. The salad was cold, fresh and had a delicious dressing. The fresh cheese and anchovy were the savory cherries on top. Perfect! Ribollita is one of those hearty stews that everyone makes a bit differently. Their version was wonderfully warming & comforting on a cold winter day. The entrees we chose were Gnocchi al Forno and Pollo ala Piccata. We opted to add chicken to our pasta for $3 more. The server asked if we'd prefer grilled or crispy chicken. We went with the crispy, which was wonderful & plentiful, but cost several dollars more. The server should have mentioned this, but not a big deal. Both were absolutely delicious! The Gnocchi was so plentiful half came home with us. One of each of the desserts, Tiramisu & Cannolo, finished off this delicious, plentiful lunch with a sweet touch. Such a wonder meal! Can't wait to return! read more
We had a lovely dinner at Massimo. Nate our server was wonderful. We went in around the holidays and I loved that they do their version of the feast of seven fishes for Italian Christmas. We started off with a pizza that was spot on. For my dinner I went with the lasagna, which was quite good as well. The pasta portions were definitely plentiful and we all had plenty of leftovers. They had a espresso martini flight with dessert which looked interesting. Their dark cherry cheesecake was amazing, and something I would get again and again. It was fluffy perfections. Cannolis were also tasty. Love that they have valet, since this side of Federal Hill is definitely tricky to park by. read more
1 year ago
Italian food coma haha. The Short Rib Gnocchi and the Risotto Ai Gamberi were both delectably rich dishes served piping hot. At first glance, we thought the portions wouldn't be filling but it turned out to be more than enough! The bread and olive oil tasted great too. +1 for the amazing service by Gabrielle! All in all, a stellar experience! read more
We had an incredible experience here on a random Wednesday afternoon, eating a late lunch at the bar. The bar tender was engaging and helpful, and even pushed us to take the road trip we were debating about as we ate (which turned out to be amazing). The food we fantastic. My wife ordered her chicken parm well done, just to make sure it was crispy, but it wasn't even necessary as it came out a little too charred. I ordered the meatball sub which was delightful. The bartender's description was very accurate and it works perfectly: crispy and chewy bread on the outside, soft and saucy meatballs and cheese inside. We will be back! read more
Always a pleasure at massimo. One of my go to restaurants when in Providence because I can count on them to give me good food that I know I like. They're not too fancy or gourmet but it also isn't necessarily a casual eatery so I feel like it's perfect for any occasion. This year was my third year going there for Valentine's Day! The broccoli rabe pesto pasta is my go to and my favorite because I'm a HUGE pesto girlie, no matter what kind. I forgot to ask for no Italian sausage this because I forgot that it comes with it (*note if you don't like Italian sausage MAKE SURE to say no sausage because there is A LOT). I also love arugula so the salad is another go to - prosciutto + arugula is probably one of the best combos because it gives you meat and greens all while being a light dish. This was my first time getting the truffle arancini but I don't know why?! Definitely adding to the must get for next time read more
6 months ago
Absolutely recommend the restaurant for service. The bartender and other staff make you feel welcome. The starter bread and oil were great, drinks were great. The pork chop had great flavor but seemed to be over cooked. The Bolognese was good. The meatballs were mushy. Maybe we hit a bad night in terms of cooks but I would definitely go back to try it again. read more
1 year ago
My boyfriend and I were very impressed with this restaurant. We started with drinks, I got the aperol spritz and my boyfriend got a white wine. Both of our drinks were very refreshing and delicious. For apps we got the charred octopus, we loved that it was served with beans and meat. For mains I got the short rib gnocchi and omg it was delicious. My bf got one of the tortellini specials with asparagus and mascarpone cheese. All of the food was delicious and high quality. For dessert I got the tiramisu espresso martini. As a nice farewell our waiter gave us complimentary orangecello shots, it was so good! Overall we had a really great time here and left very full. read more
1 year ago
I visited Massimo on a weekday night - so it wasn't too busy. However, the staff was very prompt and attentive during my whole meal. Our server was phenomenal. My date and I shared the Polpo alla Griglia - charred octopus with chorizo and gigante beans. DELICIOUS. The tomato sauce mixed in was so good. For the entrees, we ordered the Spaghetti al Nero con Aragosta (black squid ink pasta) and the Branzino. So much flavor and great portion for each dish. I definitely intend on coming back and trying their other dishes. We didn't have any dessert, but their dessert sounded good as well. I can understand why Massimo is an ideal spot for lunch & dinner. You have to be option to trying their options - and it's definitely worth trying. Can't wait to come return! read more
1 year ago
Wow!!! My favorite on the Hill!!! My cousins and I had dinner at Massimo my last night visiting, and tge entire experience was fabulous. I'm the Italian cousin so I wanted to be sure I chose a good place. We opted to sit outside to watch the world go by in Little italy, and when rain came, they extend the awning o er the sidewalk tables. From the olive oil with green olives and excellent focaccia, we knew we'd chosen wisely. Our waiter, Jake, did an excellent job explaining specials and answering questions. We were able to dine at a leisurely pace, sit and visit. The valet let us leave our car while we walked to a bakery for desserts. The meals: the cauliflower appetizer was light crisp delicately flavored and seasoned. Enough for us to share with the focaccia and olive oil. My short ribs with gnocchi was everything I anticipated, tender beef and fluffy pillows in a light sauce. I had enough left to send home with my cousins. read more
2 months ago
8 months ago
2 years ago
One of the best meals I've had in Providence! I had the steak special, which was paired with an amazing, creamy risotto. Others at the table had the short rib gnocchi and fusilli with burrata - both of which had really well cooked pasta and delicious sauces. The service was also spot on. Water glasses were never empty, we were offered our next round of drinks promptly when the prior round was empty, we never waited to order anything, and our server was very nice but not overbearing at all. Only thing I would change is that it was quite warm inside. We sat upstairs directly under one of the vents and we were all way too warm. That may have been an individual table experience though based on being under the vent. read more
1 year ago
My daughter picked this place in the hill for her graduation party which was a party of 8. They seated us in the upstairs room which was very pretty. The food and drinks were delicious. Everyone enjoyed the appetizers, meals and drinks. My daughter was given a desert which said congratulations which was nice and to finish it all off the waiter came over with shots for the table to toast. Our waiter was a young man named Nate and to say the least this young man was knowledgeable on the dishes, gave us the specials, was attentive, had great energy, nice Ora we really enjoyed having him serve us. Great job for a party of 8. I would like to just add a fun fact. My sister was here from Florida and reminded me that back in the 90's this restaurant was a night club which brought back fun memories for her. read more
8 months ago
7 months ago
Fantastic food, service and ambiance! The meatballs, The cauliflower appetizer, Chicken Parm, the scallops over risotto, the pork chop, Moktan chocolate cake. All amazing! read more
5 months ago
2 months ago
11 months ago
Business owner information
Nathan H.
Hi Liza, we are so glad you enjoyed our amazing app specials! We look…
2 months ago
3 months ago
1 year ago
5 months ago
The food was AMAZING!!! I ordered the calamari and ziti. I sat at the bar and Jenna was taking care of me. It was her third shift and she was truly amazing!!! Great service and great food. Must come when you're in Providence. read more
6 months ago
1 year ago
Service 4/5 (very pleasant; accommodating , but a bit slow) Ambience 4/5 (pleasant) Food 3/5 (pork chop, bread) 5/5 (gnocchi with added pork) Enjoyed pleasant outdoor dining experience on a September Thursday evening. We had a reservation for 2 and were immediately seated. Great vibe with a diverse clientele and wait staff. Dark dining room set-up like classic American-Italian decor. Mood lighting, lots of wood, framed Italian adverts, photos/art, and colorful scene. Opted for the stuffed squash blossoms (special) appetizer and we ordered the pork chop and gnocchi off the menu. Blossom were perfectly stuffed and fried; the accompanying sauce was bland (our server, Nate, was able to bring something more flavorful to drag those delicious morsels through). The entrees took at least 30 minutes longer after the appetizer arrived. We weren't in a hurry or bothered, but be aware if you have a show time or tight schedule. The pork chop was highly recommended by our server; the meat temperature was medium to medium-well doneness, but the entree was not served hot, overall. I found the caramelized onions topping too sweet for my taste, but my husband devoured the leftovers (needs a bit of acid for balance?) and the gnocchi was tasty (brown butter? Yes, chef!) and unexpectedly crispy; the cauliflower was okay and seemed a mix of cauliflower, purple cauliflower, and romesco (pleasant surprise mix but needed more roasting time). My co-worker and dining partner's entree was served piping hot, with that tender, tomato-sauced gnocchi and the added sausage had amazing flavor. Service was engaging and pleasant, if a bit busy with many outside tables. Entrees took longer than expected. My personal lesson: the person who recommended the restaurant suggested that the orrechiete with broccoli rabe was the best menu item (I should have stuck with her suggestion - the carnivore in me opted for the pork chop; it was meh) read more
4 months ago
1 year ago
While in the last city for our 20th wedding anniversary trip, we came here for dinner. The reviews all said good things and they held up. We both had drinks and my wife had the Gnocchi while I had the chicken parmesan. Both were good. When I made the reservation, I indicated that it was our anniversary and the restaurant acknowledged it by having a celebratory sign and rose petals on our table. They even wrote Happy Anniversary in chocolate on the plate that carried our bowl of Gelato. The service was phenomenal as well. The atmosphere reminded us of being in a restaurant in Little Italy back home. Definitely a good pick. read more
1 year ago
Our experience was unbelievable! I had the meatballs which were unbelievable! My partner had the pork chop which was also delicious and so tender! Service was great! Ambiance was nice! Highly recommend! read more
Service 5/5 Ambiance & Interior 4/5 Food 3.8/5 Price 4/5 Our server was sweet and funny he also made some great recommendations. Nonetheless the cheese on our gnocchi was pretty overpowering thick and salty. The salad was good but the onions really add a super tart tang. The fish was the lightest and the couscous paired nicely with it - the Bolognese was your basic bolognese. Overall it was good but nothing particularly special the price was fair for Italian and the service was great. The bread here denser than most and the oil - cohesiveness of this was a quite heavy, dense and salty. read more
Our party of four made reservations for an 11am Sunday brunch at Massimo's in Providence. One of the advantages of arriving at 11am is parking. It's quite easy to find on street parking at 11am, alternatively Massimo's offers valet parking. We scored some convenient parking around the corner and walked about a block to the restaurant. It's also less busy at 11am, by Noon, Massimo's was getting quite busy, it's a popular place for good reasons. We were seated immediately and were served some very warm and tasty bread with some olives. Our pleasant waiter took our order. We selected both breakfast and lunch dishes including: Lobster Crepes (2 diners ordered this) $23 Polpette and Ziti $22 French Toast $16 Cafe Latte $4 Hot Tea $3 The food arrive in reasonable amount of time, and looked good. The lobster crepe diners thought the dish was very good, but commented it wasn't very hot. The French Toast was described as delicious. My Poplette dish included three large meatballs, of which I consumed two, with ricotta cheese placed in-between them. Both meatballs were very tasty, one was nicely hot, one was cool, which was surprising as they were in the same dish. Our service was good, though we were chatting away and not in a rush. Overall, we enjoyed our meal and would be happy to return. read more
More info about Massimo Restaurant
134 Atwells Ave
Providence, RI 02903
Federal Hill
Directions
(401) 273-0650
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Visit Website
http://massimori.com
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Ask the Community - Massimo Restaurant
Is the 3 course menu option the only lunch menu?
I m not sure, but they are SO accommodating and lovely and the food is GOOD, you will love it!
Is there a parking lot nearby to park at? I do not like valet parking for several reasons.
Street parking is limited and can be hard to come by depending on the time of day. Unfortunately, the only lot nearby is our valet lot.
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