I have dined here four times, and each was fantastic. Last week's experience was truly special, but I didn't realize it until tonight's leftovers. The pork chop with caramelized spicy figs etc was terrific at the restaurant -- thick, cooked perfectly -- and the gnocchi and cauliflower had great taste and texture. As 4-day leftovers, the pork's fall / winter seasonings were more pronounced and the spicy figs had more heat. Tonight was a marvelous second dinner. Thank you. read more

Solid spot for good Italian food. The service was great. The carbonara was too salty, but it was fine another time we went. read more

See all

Everyone had tasty meals. Great service even on Mothers Day! Airy 2nd floor plenty of room. read more

Massimo Restaurant - Braciola di Maiale - Italian Near Me - Providence, Rhode Island

I've been to Massimo before for Drag Brunch and loved it. The cheese stuffed Zucchini blossoms were memorable and I was excited to see if they still had them on the menu. We were promptly greeted by the hostess and seated at a spacious booth. Our server Benny was courteous, professional, and attentive. She made sure to share the specials which included the amazing zucchini blossoms (which will soon be out of season). We ordered those and decided to take advantage of the ample Monday 3-course Prix Fixe offerings. I can personally recommend the calamari fritti, shrimp scampi, and cannoli which were all so fresh and flavorful. It was well worth it and Benny even made sure to commemorate my son's birthday with a sweet (literally) "happy birthday" message on his dessert plate. We will be back soon. read more

See all

Had the pleasure of having lunch here a few days ago. I was particularly interested in their lunch deal, where you can get a 3 course meal for $24. It was a deal I simply couldn't pass up. You get a choice of a salad, a pasta entrée, and dessert. I got a Ceasar salad, the Ravioli Ripieni di Burrata for my entrée, and the Il Cannolo for desert. Everything was very tasty. I ate at the bar and my server was helpful and patient. I really enjoyed my time here. I can definitely see myself coming back, especially with that incredible lunch deal. My final bill was $29 and some change. Can't beat it! read more

Massimo Restaurant - Burrata Ravioli - Italian Near Me - Providence, Rhode Island

Hard to believe this place exists on historic Federal Hill. The dining experience is sub par. Half the food our party of 6 ordered was delicious and the other half doesn't compete with Burger King. Cold undercooked pasta. Burnt chicken parm and portions small enough to fit in your shirt pocket. Don't even get me started on the disgusting bathrooms. Our waitress was clueless. I can't tell if it was her first day or of this is systemic of the state of dining today. Either way, we won't be back. Five star pricing at one star experience. That math doesn't work for long. read more

I read that Massimo is the best restaurant in Rhode Island. I wanted to go back to Federal Hill, the Italian section of Providence for fresh pasta, imported unique wines & authentic Italian food. Valet parking was available. There was al fresco dining & giant sliding glass doors that create an fresco feel. Our flight was delayed and I was so happy it wasn't an issue re. dinner. The restaurant is casual, some were in jeans & sneakers enjoying pizza & salad. We sat indoors in front of the opened glass doors, the weather was perfect. Nate was our waiter, and he took very good care of us. We started with delicious bread, olives and olive oil. We selected Italian wines from the interesting list. We shared the antipasto, zucchini blossoms stuffed with cheese & pesto. The appetizer was amazing, three large blossoms overfilled with creamy, deliciousness. As an entrée, we shared the homemade fusilli with meatballs, burrata cheese, and San Mariano marinara sauce, it was exceptional! The pasta melted in my mouth, the pasta was like nothing else! The tirmasu was light, creamy & the perfect ending to a delicious meal! There are happy hour half priced appetizers from 3:00 until 6:00, prix fixe dinners on Monday's and 3 course lunch specials. We made dinner reservations weeks in advance with Open Table and were happy to enjoy the dinner menu. There were many gluten free, vegan & vegetarian options. The restaurant was very loudvery loud motorcycles & cars passed in front of Massimo. Let's come back tomorrow for lunch? read more

See all

We have always had a good experience when we dine here. Last night we were disappointed. The food wasn't up to it's usual standard. The mussels were cracked, with pieces of shell missing, some were empty. Broken shells were in the pasta and the appetizer. The duck was overcooked and the oso bucco had no flavor. Hoping it was an off night. The service was great. read more

Amazing food, cocktails, service and ambience. We went for lunch today with friends and ate from the Presto lunch menu. Highlights were the basil gimlet and the spaghetti alla carbonara which is hands down the best and most authentic I've had outside Italy. Can't wait to go back. An added bonus was the easy valet parking, which took away the stress of finding somewhere to park in Providence. read more

. There is a prefixed lunch menu with lots of options. Even a gluten free menu. The bartender was pleasant and attentive . I chose the prefixed menu of Caesar salad, chicken piccata and tiramisu for dessert . The chicken came with mini potatoes and green beens. The chicken was tasty, although the sauce was already congealed when it was served . The green beans were very spicy and the potatoes were so so. The tiramisu was great. My celiac husband got the gluten-free chicken parm with pasta also Caesar salad and a gluten-free cannoli for dessert. he enjoyed every bite of it. Also served with bread and gluten-free rolls. read more

See all

We went in as a party of three on a Sunday night. They were packed and were able to get us an hour earlier because they opened up the upstairs dining room. The waitress was fantastic and the food was even better. She took our drink order and made them herself. My favorite was the Purple Rain $15. The bone in veal chop was excellent. It was pounded thin and cooked medium well. The red sauce was also great, the veal was tender and flavorful. I would definitely order it again and I would highly recommend it. $35- The pork chop $32 was a nice thick cut and was also tender, juicy and very flavorful. I wasn't a fan of the gnocchi because they were dry and had a toasted crunch to them. Now for the Spaghetti al Noro con Aragosta $39. This was my favorite dish of the night. The squid ink pasta and the lobster cream was unbelievable. Everything was fresh and cooked perfectly. There was just enough lobster in the dish. I would go back just for this dish. Amazing! We finished with the bread pudding $10 for dessert, which was much better than I expected it to be. The vanilla Gelato was so refreshing and paired perfectly with the warm, moist raisin bread pudding. Great place for date night and lives up to the reviews. There are two bars, one on each floor and a separate room upstairs for large parties. Highly recommended spot on the Hill. read more

See all

What a nice place! The service is wonderful and they have valet! We sat upstairs which was nice and quiet. I noticed they have a small room up there so if you need a private dinner check them out! Food was great, perfect portion sizes. The bread that you get when you sit was seasoned so nicely, I could have just had that all night. Our pasta was amazing. Appetizers were great. And so were the drinks. No complaints at all read more

The food is wonderful and the ambience is terrific and the staff are very sweet. The prices are also very reasonable. Plenty of street parking around at the one in Providence. read more

By far the BEST Italian restaurant I've been to. I live in NY and this one exceeded my expectations. The food was so authentic. Great flavor in everything ordered. We had the burrata to start. The complimentary bread they brought to the table was absolutely divine! My husband and I shared the chicken parm and they actually divided the meal into two plates for us which was very thoughtful. So it felt like we were each eating our own meal instead of picking off one big plate and bringing it to a smaller plate. The service was great. The restaurant itself felt like I was in someone's home. It felt comforting and spacious. Loved everything about this place! 10/10. read more

Massimo Restaurant - Chicken parm with Rigatoni Marinara - Italian Near Me - Providence, Rhode Island

The restaurant is in a vibrant neighborhood with many options. It's very popular too, parking can be difficult. The restaurant is pretty big with two floors and has a nice vibe to it. It appeared to be the spot for celebrations, such as birthdays. The service was great with our server dropping by often to refill waters and get whatever we needed. The bread is so good, one of the best I've ever had. It comes with olive oil dipping sauce with olives. The short rib gnocchi came out very hot and the sauce was really good. There was a generous amount of meet and the gnocchi was cooked well. For the quality of the food and service, you'd think it'll cost more. read more

Massimo Restaurant - Short Rib Gnocchi - Italian Near Me - Providence, Rhode Island

Service was fantastic! We had a wonderful server who checked in on us and was so enthusiastic. We had a little fumble with the water spilling over the lobster crepe, and when we asked for another one and said we would pay for it (since it was our fault), they remade it and didn't charge us for the second order. They also had to clean up the mess on the floor for us :( they handled it so quickly! Even though they didn't charge us, we tipped more than enough to cover the second plate of lobster crepe as well as the cleaning hassle :) Lobster crepe was soo good. I didn't care for the addition of sour cream on top but I loved how generous they were with the lobster stuffed inside the crepe with some mushrooms and ricotta that tasted so yummy. And the sauce too! Definitely very unique and delicious. Squid ink pasta was our favorite. Loved the creamy sauce that coated all the noodles, the generous amount of seafood. The breakfast platter with the thick cut bacon, sausage and sunny side up eggs were basic but delicious. The only thing we didn't enjoy was the crab cake Benedict - the crab cake was too floury and just not that tasty, but the eggs and sauce were perfect. read more

See all

What an amazing find in Providence. I'm usually pretty stingy with 5 stars, but this place was awesome. The lobster with squid ink pasta alone is worth the drive from Southie. Great food, service and atmosphere. I'll literally drive to Providence for dinner! read more

Service was exceptional in this beautiful slice of Italy carved out on the Hill. Sit above the street, inside with an outside feel, or on the sidewalk ~ but go hungry & with time to spare! The GF gnocchi is to die for! Save room for the chocolate gelato (shhhh...it's df but NO one will know!) & be certain to order an orangecello with it read more

Massimo Restaurant - Un piccolo pezzo d'Italia - Italian Near Me - Providence, Rhode Island

See all

I've been to Massimo's twice and both times were delicious! Most recently I went for my boyfriend's birthday and they had a special happy birthday sign waiting for the table. We started out with excellent focaccia bread and olives, and they offered a refill. We shared a calamari appetizer, which I thought was super fresh. For the main courses, my boyfriend got the special - an 8oz steak with a risotto. The risotto was amazing! Very umami, with a lot of parmigiana coming through. I got the short rib gnocchi. I really enjoyed it. It was a nice balance of fresh and meaty. We had a great waiter, Randy, who made a good wine recommendation to my boyfriend, and suggested an upgrade to our Carmel gelato so it would include a shot of espresso and cookie crumbs. They also dressed it up for my boyfriend's birthday. Much to his relief, no one sang as it was brought out. I accidentally left my leftover box on the table and realized when we got home. I called and they said they'd keep it for me to pick up. This is both a reflection on their commitment to customer satisfaction, and how much I liked the dinner. read more

See all

The restaurant has a nice ambiance and valet parking in the front. They were very attentive to the fact we were there for a birthday, which was great. The food was good, but the service was a bit off. For one, our server wouldn't fire our entrees until we were completely done with our appetizer (the pizza). I was gradually eating it and was wondering why our entrees hadn't come out yet, and basically she came over to ask if we wanted a box, and we said no that we'll munch on it, assuming we might come back to it after or during entrees (and then that's what made me realized that the food wasn't going to come out until we were done with the pizza when it had been another 15 minutes and we were the only table eating). So we basically ate an entire pizza before our pastas came out. The pastas were good but it's difficult to appreciate it when my gut is already full with pizza. Just FYI you can order half portions of most pastas - I ordered half of the nero, which came out to around $26. It was plenty of food for a half portion. The artichokes were interesting - I didn't think the sauces or pistachios added much, but I really like artichokes just steamed too. The trio of cannolis is pretty small and just okay- the tiramisu is better and is the same price. Our server was also not very attentive, and I agree with other reviews that the cold focaccia and oil isn't very pleasant. It would make a huge difference if it was warmed up. read more

See all

The food and cocktails were fantastic! We had a great time, and loved sitting at a high top table by the bar (so we didn't have to wait for a regular table). read more

I go to Massimo a good amount because my sister cannot eat gluten and they have a pretty good gluten free menu. While the food is delicious on both the gluten free and regular menus, the service has gone down hill in the last few years and has made it a less desirable place to eat in my opinion. There was a lot of confusion surrounding our reservation when we arrived, we didn't get menus when we sat down, and our drinks didn't come for almost an hour after ordering. While everything tasted great, and the restaurant looks nice on the inside, the service should be stronger given the price point of the restaurant. read more

The food was really good especially the gnocchi which was not heavy and I added grilled chicken yummy

We came here on a Wednesday afternoon when the restaurant opened and we were the first customers at the restaurant. We each ordered the prix fix meals with a salad to start and a dessert to finish. There was also fresh braked bread, which was super warm and fresh. It had spices and Parmesan on it and it really was such savory bread (and the best part of the meal). I ordered the eggplant Parmesan and although I thought it was good, I thought the dish was a little more on the soggy side and lacked in flavor. I will say though that my partner thought the sauce I this dish was really good. I thought it was just fine. The waiter was super kind and attentive. The parking is a bit more difficult to find but we found some paid parking and were in and out in 1.5 hours. The ambiance is classy and the decor is nice and open, with both indoor and outdoor seating. read more

See all

We enjoyed a fantastic Italian meal at Massimo last night. It was our first time in Providence and we had no idea there was authentic Italian food available. Massimo is a mid-sized restaurant right in the heart of the historic Federal Hill neighborhood. Judging by the lineups and the packed restaurant, this seems like a very popular place. They offer patio eating, a bar area and standard table seating. We elected for the standard table seat which gave a really good central view of the restaurant. I saw a lot of reviews about the fusilli which I ordered and enjoyed. My wife had a delicious mussel pasta place and our friend ordered a clam pasta dish. There was a healthy portion of shellfish and everyone loved their dishes. One dish I haven't seen posted on Yelp reviews was the pork chop on cauliflower which I highly recommend. We ordered this dish and the pork chop was massive and cooked perfectly. I think it was the most impressive dish of the evening. Service was impeccable and super friendly. We'll definitely return the next time we're in Providence! read more

See all

Food was so delicious. Service was amazing. I ate my meal so slowly so that I would have it to enjoy longer. Bread was dense and soft and so good. read more

Massimo Restaurant - Short Rib Gnocchi - Italian Near Me - Providence, Rhode Island

I know the pastas almost look the same, We went heavy handed on the parm. The first is short rib gnocchi, The short rib was chefs kiss. However, the gnocchi was slightly overdone & the sauce could have used something to cut through the very acidic taste. The second pasta is fettuccine bolognese, this was the most flavorful Bolognese sauce. The appetizer we ordered was the fried calamari with spicy lemon aïoli. My only critique would be the aïoli sauce could use a little bit more spice. Other than that the seasoning on the calamari was delicious. Loved the fresh focaccia bread & fresh olive oil. Unfortunately, we ate the bread so fast I couldn't get a pic. The ambiance was giving summer in Italy. I loved the upstairs view they gave us. Bonus for the free Valet read more

See all

UNBELIEVABLE. we came in for my wife's birthday. i swear, like - top 5 dinning experiences in my life. super mindful service - allergy aware - and the food - is exceptional. our waitress allie was an absolute doll - made wonderful recommendations, was spot on about every dish. NOT to be missed - the artichokes with pistachios - legit best artichokes i have ever had. and the cannoli - swoon. we cannot wait to come back!!! read more

See all

My wife and I went to an early dinner at 4pm on Saturday. We sat at the bar and it became pretty busy very quickly. The bartender did her best to keep up, but she had zero help. Needless to say, the service was slow (100% not the bartenders fault). We ordered Cesar salads and the lasagna. The salad was pretty good, but the lasagna was not that great. Very chewy and some parts were hard and couldn't be chewed. The bar area was not well organized and looked more like a neighborhood hangout than a restaurant. Most likely won't return. read more

Our waiter Kevin seemed tucker'ed out from his shift,meanwhile our busser Udalle had a smiled on his face and was so charasmatic and friendly. if any management is reading this please promote him. I and my entire family completely adored him we would love to be taken care of by Udalle. We love Kevin but Udalle's charisma and charm overwhelmed us and made us feel so welcome and cared for!! We would love to have him as a server! read more

We love Massimo! Service is always great. Wonderful wines and cocktails and of course the food is absolutely delish. This is our go to spot if we're craving Italian. Our favorite dishes: the meatballs, beef Carpaccio, Bolognese, Carbonara, ravioli. read more

Fist, they have a dedicated gluten free menu that my wife loved! She ordered the chicken Parm and I had the veal chop, both were excellent. Riley our server had the best personality! She made it a joy to celebrate our wedding anniversary there. We loved the ambiance. No need to change, the old school decor was fantastic. If you get a chance go and enjoy! read more

This place is AMAZING! 5 stars for both food and service ( shout-out to our server Riley). Make sure to get a reservation beforehand as it is busy. I REALLY enjoyed everything I ate: - I got the calamari which was nice and crispy and the added banana peppers, cherry tomatoes, etc was a great combination - the squid ink lobster pasta, was delicious and out of the all the main pastas my group and i got, everyone agreed mine tasted the best (though all are good) - the bread pudding is A MUST, probably top 5 if not #1 bread putting I've ever had. The crust is crispy, but still maintains the soft and moistness inside, and the raisins add a nice chewy texture. only complaint is i wish the ice cream wasn't so melted read more

See all

Amazing food. The Italian old fashioned left a lot to be desired but that's okay. I tried the frutti de mare and was extremely fresh and flavorful. Plenty of shellfish, octopus, calamari, shrimp, scallops. A good sized portion of spaghetti as well. The calamari appetizer was melt in your mouth tender. The antipasti was generously sized. I also got the affogato for dessert and it was also incredible. We had trouble deciding between entree options because everything sounded really great. Overall the food was reminiscent of Europe. The decor felt upscale but comfortable, "smart casual" you could say. read more

Came here with the family for Sunday brunch. The included valet was convenient, and the seating area is nice. They immediately serve fresh warm focaccia bread, might be the best I've ever had. I had the crab benedict. It was incredible, with a nice poached egg, and amazing crab cakes. My wife had the French toast which was also incredible. The kids entrees are pricey, but portions could feed adults, and the "chicken fingers" are actually a sliced up fresh made breaded chicken filet (as opposed to a frozen chicken finger), although I'm not sure my son fully appreciated it :) But he did appreciate the gelato Sunday for dessert. read more

See all

Had the lasagna and cannolis. Delectable meal on a piping hot ceramic plate straight out of the oven. Careful! Great service and charming atmosphere. read more

Delicious food and amazing service! I had the salmon with glazed carrots and brussels- so good!! We also started with oysters and their fresh bread!! read more

Massimo Restaurant - Oysters! - Italian Near Me - Providence, Rhode Island

!!!!!! MUST GO !!!!!! For anyone gluten-free in driving distance of Providence, this is an absolute must-go!!! I had short rib gnocchi, which was absolutely to die for, two different flavors of espresso martinis which were both delicious, and a BANGIN' gluten free cannolo (basically one huge cannoli) that was crispy and delicious and I wanted to eat 1000 of them. It was so wonderful that I forgot to take pictures, but the inside looked so Frank Sinatra/old Italian restaurant/Godfather that I was absolutely obsessed with it. read more

Amazing! Food was excellent and service was right on point. The veal chop was the highlight. Would definitely go back. read more

Stumbled upon this restaurant for lunch on a Saturday. Immediately upon arriving, we were seated for lunch. There were both indoor and outdoor seating options (beautiful weather). The restaurant had a fun and welcoming atmosphere! Right after being sat, our waitress was prepared with water. Shortly after, she came back with hot bread and olive oil. We ordered off of the lunch menu: chicken parm sandwich and gnocchi alla forno w/salad and tiramisu. The gnocchi arrived blistering hot (hot I like food) and very flavorful. Overall a positive dining experience here read more

See all