Thoroughly enjoyed the last day of Long Beach Food Scene Week at Massimo's! The place is so intimate, it feels as though Massimo and his wife are entertaining guests in their home with their warm hospitality. The same pizzaiolo, Julio, from Michael's is also there to carry on the legendary pizzas, homemade pastas and authentic Italian fare. The LBFSW menu was robust and well worth the price point of $65 per person for an antipasto/appetizer, secondi/main, and per finire/dessert. The wine pairing for an extra $40 was also reasonable as they generously poured full glasses of thoughtfully complementing wines with each dish! Eunhae and I tried everything on the LBFSW menu except the watermelon salad and loved everything! *See descriptions in the photo captions. I got full before dessert and had leftovers to look forward to! I'll have to come back for the lasagna. Looked like a popular dish on a few different tables while I was dining! So happy Massimo reopened this restaurant in his old market space! read more

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What a gem Massimo's is! Through the great vines of my Yelp Elite Black All-Star friend, Lynn O., we were able to try out this place during the Long Beach Food Scene Week. Street parking can be quite challenging, but it's totally worth the hunt for a spot! Before going to Massimo's, I did a little research and learned that the restaurant was opened by Massimo Aronne, the former general manager and sommelier at Michael's on Naples. The space itself is quaint and intimate, with fairly limited seating, so I would definitely recommend making a reservation ahead of time. I arrived a little early for my reservation, and the hostess--who I later learned is Massimo's partner--was incredibly gracious and welcoming. While I waited for our table to be set up, she even offered me a complimentary glass of wine. Such a thoughtful touch and a wonderful first impression before we had even sat down! For our meal, we went with the LB Food Scene Week menu--and, of course, we had to add the wine pairing. When the restaurant is owned by a sommelier, how could you not?! The prix fixe menu included an Antipasto (appetizer), Secondi (main course), and Per Finire (dessert) per person. Since there were two of us, we tried both appetizers. We started with the Polpette di Pesce Spada--swordfish meatballs with raisins, pine nuts, and tomato agrodolce--paired with a Primitivo Rosato. For our second appetizer, we of course had to order the Pizzetta con Porchetta, especially knowing the space was previously known for its pizza. It was an artisan crust topped with roasted pork belly, caciocavallo, and salsa verde, and was paired with a Pecorino. Both appetizers were really good and such a great start to the meal! For the main course, we couldn't decide and wanted to try everything on the menu, so for an additional charge, we ordered all three! The Gamba d'Anatra was a Hudson Valley duck leg confit served with a corn and peppadew pepper farrotto, paired with a Rosso di Montepulciano. The Ippoglosso al Cartoccio was a Catalina sea bass cooked in parchment paper with summer squash and Sungold tomatoes, paired with a Pinot Bianco. And finally, the Gnocchi came with roasted eggplant, cherry tomato sauce, burrata, and basil, paired with a Donnafugata Bell'Assai. Every dish was exceptional, but the sea bass was definitely my favorite! The fish was incredibly moist and perfectly cooked in the parchment paper, and I loved how light and delicate the entire dish tasted. For dessert, of course, we tried both--the panna cotta and the cannolo. They had run out of the original panna cotta featured on the menu, so we received a different rendition instead, which I actually really enjoyed! Beyond the food, what made the evening especially memorable was how warm and friendly everyone was. Even the patrons seated next to us struck up a conversation, and we learned that they were longtime friends of Massimo who had come out to support him and the restaurant. There was such a welcoming, neighborhood feel to the whole place. I'll definitely be coming back! read more

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I've been wanting to try Massimo's and decided to have an impromptu weekday date night with dinner there. The place is small, intimate, and, despite this, there is no pressure to take your time. Our waiter spread out our meal over several courses perfectly. I mean, I was super impressed with how well they managed the timing of the courses. So now, to the food: Octopus appetizer (1/5): The octopus was a bit fishy, not the freshest (maybe because it was Wednesday). I wouldn't get this again. I love a good octopus dish and this wasn't it for me. Beet salad (3/5): Fresh flavors, delicious golden beets, pistachios - it was good, not great. Risotto (3/5): I liked the flavors but the risotto had a bit too much liquid for my personal taste. Could have used a bit more umami of some kind. Branzino (4/5): Clean, simple Italian flavors. Nothing overdone, not too many ingredients. It waa good. We finished off with a piece of titanium (3/5): pretty standard when it comes to tiramisu. Not outstanding. All in all, it was a pleasant 1.5 hours of paced eating. The portions aren't huge and generally highlight one thing - like the branzino had some artichoke and potatoes but it was generally left to shine on its own. Pricing isn't cheap but not out of the norm exorbitant. Would I come back? Yeah. But id wait for new menu items and might come with my girlfriends to enjoy a bottle of wine and a chatty, long dinner. read more

Massimo's - Beet salad was good. Would try a different salad out of curiosity next time. - Italian Near Me - Long Beach, California

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Just amazing! We enjoyed an excellent meal at Massimo's. Service was exceptional with recommendations and attention! Our server was Gloria. We ordered many dishes for sharing (two couples) and she made sure we had clean plates and utensils with each course! Massimo was walking around and checking on each table and several times during our visit. Very nice to see the owner very engaged with their customers. The menu is great! Some of the items from Michael's that we all loved (i.e., Lasagna) and Pizzeria. Lots of new items! It was wonderful to do our courses as shared, many more wonderful tastes! They have a nice selection of wines by the bottle and several by the glass. Our wonderful server, Gloria, gave us tastes of the two wines we were deciding between for the table. We asked about bringing our own wine. Corkage Fee is $25 or buy a bottle and the corkage fee for the bottle you brought is waived. We were very pleased with Barbera we ordered. Food - we ordered the Barbabietole (Beet) Salad to start, so good; Shrimp Risotto; Carbonara Pizza (White); and their pasta special, Stuffed Pasta with Beef Short Ribs, OMG amazing! All the dishes were delicious but that pasta special, out of the world amazing! We noticed most of the tables around us also had ordered as well. We let Massimo know, it needs to be on the menu! It's hard to look at these pictures as I am writing this as I am craving it! Dessert - we shared two desserts, a Tiramisu and Panna Cotta, both excellent. Bringing back some Michael's Pizzeria favorites, they are offering the Affogato and several Gelatos/sorbets, fond memories of these along with several others! Espresso, Americano, and Cappuccinos paired great with dessert and perfectly brewed/prepared. You definitely need reservations, made on their website. It's small but very cozy with a very relaxing atmosphere. We will definitely be back and very soon! read more

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Massimo is back! He took the best parts of Michael's and curated this cute, cozy spot just next door. There are only ~28 seats in the restaurant so reservations book up quickly. The staff are friendly and attentive and the food is wonderful. Full of flavor, not too much oil, and straightforward. We are so happy Massimo's is open! read more

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Put on something elegant yet stretchy and prepare to be fed the best pizza, possibly of your life! This time I was wise enough to partake in the full dining experience here, and the Melanzane pizza was almost too delicious for my palate to behold. A few splashes of Calabrian chili oil took it to the stars! There's a complimentary bread course with olive oil and balsamic to start, and a compact mostly Italian selection of wines and some beers. The stretchy pants will demonstrate their value when you have dessert, which is mandatory. While the tiramisu should win an award, the chocolate tart was similarly superb. There was a glitch at the beginning of dinner whereby the tables were far too clustered together, but the kind and astute staff swiftly made more space and offered me a complimentary glass of Prosecco in return. I highly recommend reservations, especially at dinner time and weekends. read more

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The pizzas were amazing! I had the goat cheese, artichoke, and potato pizza. What an amazing combination. They make their own chili oil, too. So good! Service was great. They fit us even though we we walked in. Lovely laidback atmosphere. We'll definitely be coming back. read more

I took my mom here on Father's Day as a way to remember my dad, Augusto Cigliano. It was exactly the kind of evening we both needed. There was something deeply comforting about sharing an authentic Italian meal in a restaurant that understands food isn't just about what's on the plate--it's about family, memories, and taking the time to enjoy the people you're with. If you loved the hospitality at Michael's on Naples, you'll immediately recognize the heart behind this restaurant. Massimo has created something that feels personal, warm, and genuinely welcoming. The service strikes that rare balance of polished without ever feeling pretentious. Massimo greeted us at the host stand, he is humble and non pretentious which is refreshing. Our server was absolutely wonderful--knowledgeable, attentive, and incredibly kind. All the servers and hostess made us feel like regulars on our very first visit. Every dish was beautifully executed. The octopus was perfectly tender, the rissoto tasted like it belonged in Italy, and each plate reflected confidence and restraint rather than trying too hard. The wine recommendations were spot on, and you can tell every detail has been thoughtfully considered. The photos don't do the food justice. As an Italian-American (roots from Ischia), meals like this feel like coming home. We lingered over dinner, laughed, remembered my dad, and left with full hearts. That's the kind of hospitality you can't manufacture. Long Beach is fortunate to have Massimo back, and I have no doubt this will become one of the city's most beloved restaurants. We'll be back many times. Grazie, Massimo, and the entire team, for giving us such a memorable evening. read more

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Everything is absolutely amazing. If you truly love Italian food made with heart and soul and love, visit Massimo's. read more

Massimo's - Pizza with eggplant cooked amazingly by Julio - Italian Near Me - Long Beach, California

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I visited Massimo's for the first time since Michael's closed. Michael's was easily my favorite restaurant in Long Beach, if not all of Southern California, so I was curious to see what had become of the former pizza space. Massimo has done an outstanding job transforming the former pizza spot into a true fine-dining Italian restaurant. The service was impeccable, the wine list was thoughtfully curated, and every dish we tried was excellent. Among our favorites were the risotto and the polenta--both perfectly prepared, which is no small feat. The attention to detail throughout the meal was evident from start to finish. Highly recommended. It was a fantastic dining experience, and I look forward to returning. read more

This is a Naples institution in the making The pizza and pasta are spot on just like when it was Micheal's Pizza on Naples. Service is top notch. Ambience is a business casual Wine list is excellent for a small restaurant. read more

Massimo's - Opening night at Massimo - Italian Near Me - Long Beach, California

Feel like a home cooking kitchen. Very inviting vibe. But sure to make reservations or try your luck on walk in. Service was good not great, we sat down around 445 just date night my wife and I. Three other table came in, 20 minutes after and got there bread service right away. No biggie, food order octopus & potatoes(delicious). Shaved Fennel & tangerine. (Delicious) and pasta special stuff short ribs pasta, really flavorful rich in sauce(delicious) read more

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June 14 -First visit to this Cafe. We knew Massimo from Michaels. His reputation is deserved. This petite & tasteful cafe is a 5 star experience Why:As soon as seated,I challenged Massimo to bring me his best Sicilian white wine..I did not ask for prices. First sip= Wow : The wine "Grillo " by Gazerotta It is a Caesar salad match made in heaven. Servers Gloria & Kelsey made good suggestions that enhanced my experience. Prices fair, portions good and Quality very high. Will definitely return (Observed: lots of pizza's being picked up. Must be good right? They have a Fancy Italian made oven and cook with wood =Will try one soon) read more

We loved the experience. The place had such a chill vibe. The food was amazing. Loved the crust of the pizzas and don't sleep on the butternut squash starter. Service is very friendly. Great place for a small birthday dinner. read more

Massimo's - Lasagna! - Italian Near Me - Long Beach, California

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Stepping in to Massimo's in like being welcomed in to a little restaurant in Italy. Everyone gave us a warm hello even though at 8pm on a Wednesday every table was full. Service was friendly and knowledgeable. I felt like everyone working really wanted to be there. Massimo came over to say hello soon after we were seated. You can tell he's proud of his restaurant and paying attention to all the details. We started with an arugula, fennel and Cara Cara salad. Get this!! I could eat it everyday. It was so light. They split it in back for us and a half portion was perfectly sized. Of course we ordered a pizza. His billowy crust and quality ingredients make it special. There were a number of specials not listed on the menu. We ordered the branzino from the specials. I would order again. Fish was light but potatoes made the dish hearty. And of course we had to get the lasagna. We ended with tiramisu. Lots of wines by the glass and they are very reasonably priced. I haven't seen a $10 glass of wine at a nice restaurant in ages. I can't wait to go back to get that salad again and try more. read more

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Massimo's has a cool vibe and an intimate atmosphere that feels like a cafe in Italy. The food was delicious and the service was excellent and professional. read more

The food was delicious. Our servers were extremely knowledgeable and friendly. The specials were interesting and we enjoyed the pork chops which were tender and flavorful. We celebrated a recent graduation and everyone was just tremendously nice. The bread and pizza dough are homemade at Massimo's! read more

The food is amazing!! Massimo has created a true gem of a restaurant!! The service and ambience are wonderful. read more

The food and service are great! Pizza is excellent. It's a very small space, so make a reservation! Wines are well Chosen to pair with the food read more

Yum!!! I had such a great dinner tonight!! Beautiful aesthetics, food was so good!!! Service was amazing thank you Gloria!!! It's such a special spot and Massimo you did an incredible job creating an intentional, beautiful, loving space made with delicious dishes!! Thank you for keeping Italy alive in Naples!!! Will come back soon!!! 12/10 rec! read more

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If you liked Michael's on Naples you're going to love Massimo's. Massimo Arrone has gratefully decided to stay in the area and open his namesake restaurant next to the former Michaels. With limited space Massimo has created a warm and inviting restaurant. The Neapolitan pizzas are simply superb. Everything we ordered came out perfectly prepared by a well run kitchen staff. Several of the former Michael's staff made us feel right at home. Thank you Massimo for creating this great tribute to the Italian kitchen. read more

My friend and I celebrated a birthday dinner Friday night at Massimo's. Everything was excellent! We tried the lasagna and the sauce was divine! Different than most lasagna sauces in my opinion in a good way. We also had one of the white pizzas, the Burrata peach appetizer and the watermelon salad! I think their pizza has become my new favorite and there are so many good places in Long Beach for pizza. The service was also great And it's such a charming space. Can't wait to go back. read more

The love hits you before you enter the place like a hug from mom. The warm, comforting smells of pizza dough rising and sauces simmering. The congenial atmosphere, buzzing with happy people chatting with each other and the friendly staff while enjoying sumptuous, memorable food and drink. Massimo and Laura Arrone have created a destination restaurant that feels like home and tastes even better! read more

Very nice family owned place. The owner runs it. The food was amazing and the service and vibe even better. 5 Stars every time! read more

Not one negative!! Good amazing and the owners are fabulous and so welcoming. Pizza excellent

Fantastic Neapolitan pizza, salads pasta and specials. Massimo Aronne has transformed the former Michael's Pizzaria into a a warm, sophisticated and welcoming place. The delicacy and freshness of the fennel arugula salad and the pizzas we ordered were outstanding. The experienced waitstaff offered attentive and gracious service all well timed. We were on cloud nine the entire evening. Thank you Massimo!! Book in advance to get a table between 6-7:30 pm. If you like a later meal time you should be fine after 8 or 8:30 pm. read more

The food and service were excellent! The ambiance was lovely. The arugula, fennel and orange salad was truly outstanding, as was the pomodoro and mozzarella salad. The polenta, sausage and rapini was so good, I had to go kiss the chef, seriously, who cooks a piece of sausage with a crisp skin and wood flavor? The special tube pasta with rib meat and peas was delicious and the presentation was beautiful. Our wines were the Orvieto, La Corbara and Moltepulciano D'Abruzzo, Tenuta del Tiglio, and both perfectly complemented our food. The Torta Della Nonna could not have been a better dessert. All staff were so welcoming and friendly! Massimo's may truly be our new favorite restaurant in Long Beach. read more

Amazing food & service! Everything here is great; the pizza w/ the fingerlings... chefs kiss! &i don't typically care for pesto [please don't judge me lol]. Hazelnut gelato is a must try if you have room for desert but don't sleep on the sorbets. Injoy! read more

We spent my husband's birthday dinner with our friend Massimo @ Massimo Naples! You feel the comfort of Italy with the cozy ambiance. The food was delightful! The butternut squash & prosciutto burrata was a great way to start. Massimo send focaccia bread to our table! What wonderful service from Chelsea and Blue! (Our favorites!) Fabulous! I ordered the cannellini al forno, my husband ordered pasta al patate! Excellent!!!! We can't wait to try the pizzas! read more

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Im Italian and food is so fresh and delicious, I love this place even more than my own country, the owner Massimo is the best..

Love this place! Quaint, intimate and delicious! The staff is awesome. Congrats to Massimo!

We had high expectations based upon previous reviews and we were not disappointed. The food, service and attention paid to each guest by Massimo are unmatched by any restaurant in Long Beach. Bravo! read more

Best Pizza and pasta and the best friendliest staff. Such a great place! We will definitely be back.

Best Italian food ever. The service was great the food was molto bene! The restaurant is very quaint and atmosphere pleasant. Massimo and Laura are the most dear people and they were most welcoming to their establishment it felt as if I were family. I will definitely return and highly recommend them you won't be disappointed. read more

We had the most incredible meal at Massimo's! The food was delicious. Not a single miss. We had a branzino that was among the best we've ever had. Delicious apps and pastas and we can't wait to go back to try their pizzas because every one we saw looked amazing. The staff was exceptional! Warm, welcoming and thoughtful. It was really a wonderful place to enjoy a meal with family and friends. We cannot recommend Massimo's enough! Please give it a try, you will not be sorry! read more

Amazing place - we loved it! Staff was friendly, food was amazing. We will definitely be back

Delicious food, welcoming environment, playlist on music was super and great wine selection!

The food here is mediocre to poor. Maybe their pizza is good. It looked ok but we didn't order pizza because I had it a couple of days ago. We split a Caesar salad and it was ok but pretty boring. For my main dish I had Pasta e Patate. It was basically pasta sludge. No real taste. Claimed to have smoked mozzarella but I sure couldn't tell. My wife had Osso Bucco which she didn't like at all. We ended up talking about all the places where it was better. We had a couple of wines by the glass and they were totally forgettable. We won't be back. Long Beach used to have so many good restaurants. Not any more. Sad. read more

With the hospitality and family atmosphere, you will feel like you've travelled to Italy. The food is five-star. Everything I had was great. Congrats to the owners Laura and Massimo for this fabulous restaurant. I can't wait to come back. read more

If you want food that makes you feel like you are in Italy, go to Massimo's!!!! Absolutely delicious pizzas and the lasagna is incredible! Highly recommend, 10 out 10, great food, great people, great atmosphere, beyond yummy!!! Head there asap! read more