Wonderful dinner. Superb service and excellent ambiance . Loved that the chef came out and talked with us! read more

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For a special occasion, we stopped by for dinner. The restaurant is located in the same strip center that has Outback Steakhouse. It's just south of Tampa Rd. on the west side of US19 in Palm Harbor. The interior is upscale. As we sat down, we were served a dinner roll and some of their compound butter. For starters, we shared the Fried Argentinian Shrimp & Artichokes. It was wonderful. It came with a nice dipping sauce. I would definitely recommend. We both had their version of a Caesar Salad with added anchovies. For entrées, we both ordered their specials of the day. We got the Chilean Sea Bass and their Veal Osso Buco. The Sea Bass was nicely cooked and had a bell pepper coulis. The Osso Buco was served on a bed of risotto. The service was friendly and speedy. As a heads-up, they only have iced tea in plastic bottles. Most diners ordered wine with their meals. The owner was nice enough to speak to everyone at the end of the evening. read more

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The special was lasagna last night, it was the best I have ever tasted. This was just unbelievable, I don't know what the chef did and I enjoy a good lasagna but this was incredible. Everyone at the table tried some, I hope it shows up again some day.. . read more

Who doesn't love a family Italian place. It feels like they turned back the close 30 or 40 years before chain restaurants took over Pinellas county. It's so comforting but the food is so fresh and perfect. Lobster ravioli or Diablo shrimp were our choices. You can't go wrong with the current specials. read more

We finally ate at this restaurant and it was the best steak I've had in years. It's pricey but it was a special occasion and worth it. Nice ambiance and great menu. The tuna appetizer was delicious as well. read more

My favorite restaurant in Palm Harbor!! The food is fantastic !!!!I had eggplant parmigiana ( fabulous) my friends had ribeye steak, tenderloin steak, ravioli and chicken parmigiana Everyone said their food choices were the best ever! For dessert we had tiramisu and that was so light and not overly sweet and again fabulous. Everyone enjoyed their drinks. We had wonderful service and Chef Massimo came over and spoke to us and asked if everything was good, which I thought was a wonderful thing to do which is not done very often in restaurants.! This is a high-quality restaurant that I would recommend to anyone who lives in the area and in fact I have done that the ambience is great for a couple a group or a party. Everyone was super pleased with The Restaurant, the service and their food choices. There is not a better restaurant in the area to enjoy a beautiful night with Fantastic Food great service and fabulous menu.!! For an intimate party for two or a party for 20 you will not be disappointed a five star restaurant for sure is Massimos my name is Linda Valentino and I could not be more pleased with my experience each time. I am at Massimos. read more

We are relatively new to the area and have been trying the spots that have been recommended. Massimo's has been suggested two or three times as a special occasion place. I booked a table a week before for a Tuesday night. It was not hard to get a spot given the week before and a weeknight, but this restaurant is intimate and the chef/owner, Massimo, does all of the cooking. Because of this, it looks like they stagger arrivals to ensure everyone can receive timely coursing. He also makes random table visits throughout the evening between cooking sprints. The server was friendly and helpful throughout. She was prompt and offered suggestions that helped to make our meal more enjoyable. The wine list was pretty good, though the options seemed to trend towards the pricier end. The food was excellent. We had a pasta dish that had an excellent vodka sauce and a ribeye steak that was one of the best I have had. Almost every time I have a steak, I stay away from ribeye because they tend to be so fatty, poorly selected (too much connective tissue and large fat vein). Chef Massimo's background includes time working in a butcher shop. This ribeye was perfectly trimmed and meaty but marbled without that globby ick that you get in some poor quality ribeyes. We came to Massimo's for a special occasion dinner and spent money to reflect that. We didn't have to spend as much. With wine by the glass (1 glass pp) and a basic entree that is on menu, you can get out the door for under $125. For dinner for two. That's reasonable in my book considering what it costs to buy anything these days. read more

One of my new favorite restaurants. This place is in a strip mall, very unassuming looking. I found it based on the Yelp reviews so we decided to check it out. I honestly can't name another restaurant in Palm Harbor, but really this is the only one I need. A couple days before I found a reservation on Open Table for 7:30 p.m. I highly recommend making a reservation. This place is small. There was one table for two open, but otherwise it was fully booked. Even though it doesn't look like much outside, inside it's very nice. The clientele did seem to be older retirees, but now that I'm older myself I no longer care what the rest of the restaurant looks like. They have a lot of specials. This isn't the case of a restaurant that only has what's on the menu. Our waitress was great at telling us the prices as she listed each off menu item. She did it all off the top of her head, which was very impressive. Unfortunately, they were out of the lobster bisque (an off menu item) when I tried to order it, so we stuck with the Wild Mushroom Tart, Penne Vodka, Duck A L'Orange and Tiramisu for dessert. Everything was very decadent. The Wild Mushroom Tart was small, but it tasted like the pastry was made from scratch. It was very creamy. I wish I saved my bread to dip into that cream sauce. The Penne Vodka has a kick to it, but was also delicious. My husband really enjoyed it. The Duck A L'Orange was a lot bigger than I was expecting. It was tender and great as well, but I'll probably try something different next time. The Tiramisu was very decadent as well. It randomly had a slight mint taste to me. I liked it, but I would also try a different dessert next time. They have a great selection of port. I actually got port with dessert, which I almost never do, but I was craving it. Prices are very reasonable for this type of dining experience. With tax and tip we left spending about $150 (we had two glasses of wine too). I was very impressed with the evening altogether. The chef even comes out to greet every table. This is one of those places that I'll have to bring my dad next time he's in town. I think he'd enjoy it. read more

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Although our server was wonderful, our food was not good at all. We ordered the penne vodka pasta and the arrabiata shrimp angel hair pasta and carpaccio appetizer, finished with tiramisu dessert. Even our bread was rock hard. Sad to say not one item we had was even decent. To make matters much worse, we ended up awake all night sick with stomach issues. All of this and our bill was $230 for two people. Definitely not worth it, and sadly do not recommend at all. read more

Fabulous fine dining Place not to be missed. I called and left a message to request a reservation for Friday night to celebrate a big anniversary. Massimo himself phoned me back to confirm the reservation. We had the mushroom tart and the duck appetizer, a plate of pasta with butter and fresh pepper. Entrée was the veal chop and filet mignon both came accompanied with delightful, fresh vegetables and a fabulous mashed potatoes. Do not miss the bread and the fine butter that they made with truffles and spices is fantastic. Lemon cello cake for dessert along with a fabulous bottle of wine. Small intimate dining room Massimo comes out, greets all the diners which is spectacular. The staff is attentive. They let us take our time with dinner It is a wonderful place to celebrate almost any occasion. read more

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if you want delicious, righteous old school modern (yeah a thing). This is the place. The chef in the kitchen is the real deal.

Ate here last night. It is like an old steak house sort of vibe. Food and service were solid. I personally didn't love the tuna on watermelon app. Lobster Bisque was rich and cesar salad were good. My main was the salmon, which I enjoyed. read more

Wonderful experience. Beautiful restaurant. I love our server Bertrand. Service was impeccable. It's so easy to park because of the location. Food very tasty. My favorite dish was the tuna tartare which they call by its Italian name. My second favorite dish was the Apple strudel dessert. My husband enjoyed it with the vanilla ice cream it is supposed to be served with. I substituted mango sorbet for the ice cream, for a slight up charge. The mango sorbet was delicious, and the perfect apple strudel was sweeter than some other strudels I've had. Great liquor and wine selection, including many interesting options by the glass, bottle or half bottle. I appreciate the variety of vegetarian menu choices. read more

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I got diver scallops for dinner and the mushroom tart for an appetizer. All right here's the deal. We already know the guys a good chef. You do not get fed a lot for what you pay. However let me tell you about my server. He had a French name. I don't remember it.. he told me to call him "B". The service he gave me was second to none in my entire life. I thought he made the experience worth every cent. He was sweet, attentive and really good at his job. And had a French accent. I will be coming back. read more

Delicious food. Great service. Great place for a special occasion. A bit pricey, but well worth it.

We always forget about this restaurant. It has a fabulous wine list. We again got the mushroom tart, which was as good as the first time this time. We also tried the carpaccio. It was excellent. The beef had a great flavor and it did not come ice cold so you could actually taste the meat. It had an accompaniment of Parmesan cheese and a horseradish sauce, both of which the carpaccio. After two appetizers, we decided to split an entrée we ordered the elk chop because it's not something we make it home. The meat was tender, and the sides were delicious. since it was a special occasion, they also brought us out a nice little dessert round out our meal. I'm looking forward to going back and trying some more entrées. read more

WOW! 15 people, Started at 10, and he modified 3 times with patience and everyone raved, Massimo killed it... Happy Birthday Gina! Perfect night, and he let us stay late.. Service was spectacular! Honestly, the bread was unbelievable... 10 Stars~! read more

Beautiful atmosphere , amazing staff that were attentive and so full of descriptions when it came to menu questions and letting us know the specials ! All the food was hot , full of flavor , and arrived quickly ! I love that the chef himself comes out to check on you and that he is the only one cooking the food ! Will for sure be back again to try more on the menu ! read more

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Everything! Intimate setting, and QUIET ! Refreshing. Food was delicious service was outstanding.

Fantastic dinner. Started with the duck salad and had the seafood risotto for main. Wife had a cesar and a pork chop to die for. Best way to spend a night out is with fantastic food like this place read more

Massimo's was spot on with everything. The food, the wine, the bread and the garlic herb butter. Portions were big enough to please my father and perfect enough to please my mother ... which is not easy to do for them both. The staff was super knowledgeable about the menu. The osso bucco and risotto was amazing. The risotto was perfectly cheesy but light and perfectly cooked. The marrow was a surprise - I did not expect there would be so much and so flavorful! Chef Massimo came out to greet us midway through dinner. What a great experience all in all. Will come back for sure! read more

Massimo's - Penne a la vodka iirc - Italian Near Me - Palm Harbor, Florida

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Great for a date or special night Make sure you make a reservation, this isn't a huge place with a million tables. But the fewer tables, combined with warm decor and dim lighting makes this a perfect spot to have a special meal. The wine list is extensive, as is the Whiskey selection. He ordered an Old Fashioned and I ordered a Dirty Gin Martini. Both were stellar. Often, Old Fashioneds are far too sweet, but this was perfectly balanced. For appetizer, we ordered the Burrata, which was simple, beautiful and flavorful. Every ingredient was on full display and of the highest quality. We were brought warm focaccia with herbed butter and it was heaven. For mains, he got the ribeye special. It was perfectly cooked, and explosive with flavor. I got the Veal Massimo and it was delicious. Both were served on mashed potatoes and a smattering of vegetables. Every morsel we consumed was perfectly seasoned. For dessert, I had the Tarte di Formaggio, a light airy European style cheesecake with strawberry sauce. He chose the chocolate nutella cake and enjoyed it very much. Excellent service, wonderful cozy ambiance and delicious food--We loved Massimo's and can't wait to return. read more

Very pretentious and overpriced. This was our second visit in a few years, and there are many better choices in the area. The rolls are hard as rocks on the sides, so you can only eat the center and top. The seafood risotto is supposed to include lobster. Mine included four teeny pieces, and the accent was on two scallops and two shrimp. It was salty and a tad fishy. Our server was nice but not terribly attentive, considering people were only sitting at two or three other tables, and there was another server. I believe a restaurant like this should have some delicious homemade bread and better fare, overall. This was our last visit. read more

Our shrimp and artichoke appetizer and lobster bisque soup was amazing! The filet literally melted in your mouth, and the shrimp was grilled to perfection! I loved the peppercorn sauce on the filet as well. We all enjoyed the quaint, cozy atmosphere, and our server's humor. It was awesome to learn that Massimo himself was in the kitchen and took my reservation. He came out to greet us as well! read more

Massimo's - 3 generations breaking bread in style! - Italian Near Me - Palm Harbor, Florida

Very upscale but not pretentious. The food is always excellent and great service. Easy parking and access.

More than Excellent!!!! Love it, we could go everyday. The food and service is first class. read more

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Massimo's food quality and service is consistently good - especially the steaks and the veal. Wish there was more variety in the menu (or some seasonal changes) to keep it interesting - we would definitely dine here more often if so. read more

This is a hidden gem. Beautiful, elegant romantic atmosphere with the most attentive and professional staff. The food was fresh and every bite was delicious. No need for salt and pepper as everything was perfectly seasoned. Best part of the experience was the actual chef coming to our table and checking how we enjoyed the food. read more

Massimo's - Filet Mignon and New York special. Dessert was warm apple strudel - Italian Near Me - Palm Harbor, Florida

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Reservation suggested, great date spot. As a bourbon snob I must say they have a fantastic selection- pricey but rare and hard to find selections are here, Pappy, E.H. Taylor and more. Super old fashions too. Dinner menu has a variety of land, sea and foul to pick from. Started with mushroom tart. I ordered lamb chops and my date ordered Elk Chop. Lamb was cooked perfect. The Elk Chop was was ordered medium rare and came out butterflied- one side was cooked medium the other rare. Flavor was great, but cook was just a little off. Ended with chefs tiramisu that was spectacular. Very attentive servers and friendly staff. Chef came to our table to with us a happy anniversary. read more

Massimo's is probably the best restaurant in Pinellas County and one of the top 10 in the Bay Area. The food is creative and consistently exceptional. The wine list is well-curated and has something for every taste and budget. The staff is top-notch. Maybe its strip mall location evaded the Michelin folks; if they went in and ate, they would be impressed. The interior is old-school fine dining with a good-sized bar. It's never loud and always classy. Try Massimo's and experience the best of the North County. read more

From the wine to dessert everything was fabulous. Service at its best. Food to die for. Small restaurant with personal attention to every detail. Massimo, famous chef actually comes out at the end of your meal to greet you. Highly recommended. read more

This is our second visit to Massimo's and we are pleased to say that the first visit was upstaged! We came for my wife's birthday dinner. Everything was perfection, from the unsweetened ice tea and appetizers to the mains and dessert. Appetizers were fresh mozzarella and the best tuna ever! For mains I had the sea scallop and collosal shrimp risotto, my wife had the dover sole and our daughter had the veal chop formaggio. For dessert we had limoncello cake and mango sorbet. As before service was excellent and Massimo came to the table to make sure we were happy. Everyone in the dining room was laughing and smiling. We can't wait to come back for our daughters birthday. read more

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I happened to be in the area and decided to try a local Italian restaurant. I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of the food, the authentic recipes, and the super friendly service. I would highly recommend this place. read more

Wow. Great wine options, incredible chef and fantastic ambience in a strip center!!! I'm blown away.

Love the place cozy with a nice atmosphere . The food was great , unfortunately for me I asked for the elk chop and it was a little gamey but I understand that's the type of meat . My husband had the NY steak and my friends had the seafood risotto and lamb chops they were delicious . Service was outstanding 5 stars . Highly recommend it !! read more

This restaurant is simply PERFECTION! It is one of our favorite places to eat. Our 10 year old loves it. Great ambiance, wonderful staff. The first time we ate there, my husband declared that it was THE best thing he has ever eaten in his life. We will be back for sure. read more

Absolutely fantastic dinner. The lamb was perfectly seasoned, the sea bass was smooth, delicate and flavorful. I started with the lobster chowder which was creamy, and still light and comforting. The unique, mouthwatering filet mignon made the culinary experience unforgettable. We also tried a couple of the palate-pleasing deserts too, and I recommend them all: the crème brûlée, the chocolate Nutella mousse, the tiramisu, and the cheese pastry. Surprisingly, the place is not pretentious, but the service is very good, and the food is a superior fine dining experience which for sure we hope to enjoy again. read more

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After Kitting the Husbeast out for the Yelpies, it was time to choose a place for dinner. As I was beginning to play Spin the Yelp, the husbeast spoke up and mentioned Massimo's, how his former boss spoke so highly of it, and that he'd like to go. So I pulled it up on Yelp, checked it out and gave him the times it was open.. It was until 11, and given that the clock had JUST struck 9, we were fine on time. When we arrived, the parking lot near Massimo's was not terribly full, unlike that around another eatery in the same lot. From the outside, the location is quite non-desscript, but when you open the door, the inside surprises you. The dark woods, the wall mounted waterfalls, the wall of wine at the back. It's all quite warm and welcoming. We did not have a reservation, but given that there were only 4 tables with patrons, and the late hour, we were seated and our waitress Julie came over to see to us almost immediately. She covered the specials, Lamb, grouper, a clam chowder and something with lobster and then let us peruse the menus for a few moments while she went to get us our still water. When she returned, I asked for a bit of clarification on the lamb, which she readily gave me, as well as she expounded on the grouper for the husbeast. When that little detail was out of the way, we placed our orders. We opted to start with the Wild Mushroom strudel, and the husband also thought he'd add to that a cup (really a small bowl) of the clam chowder. We also placed our orders for the mains at this time, mine being the lamb, and of course the Grouper for the husbeastie. When the strudel arrived, it came topped with a parmesan sauce, which smelled heavenly. The two, two inch slices were the perfect starter to the meal we were about to eat, and the soup, the husband said, was delectable; rich and cream with a lot of clams. While we were enjoying our starters, Julie came out with fresh bread and scented butter. Yes, this is not ordinary butter, no! But butter made with black olive, garlic and balsamic vinegar. The result was so very savory and yum! Our main courses came out and we were rightfully impressed! The grouper was light and flaky, topped with a pumpkinseed crust and a slightly sweet/tart sauce on the side. A side of veggies (spring carrots, asparagus, bok choy & a lone beet), and some decadent mashed potatoes were the accompaniments. Watching the husband eat, it was clear that he truly enjoyed the meal. The lamb was presented beautifully! Four lollipop chops were lightly battered and fried, served atop the same vegetable assortment with a mint basil puree and a Greek yogurt sauce. The lamb was perfectly cooked, the fried texture of the batter added a delicious crispness and contrasted wonderfully with the earthy-ness of the beet. I could not get enough, heck! I didn't even share a bite of the lamb with the husband! And the beet! I wish there had been more, there's nothing quite like fresh roasted beets. SO YUM! Needless to say, we cleared our plates, and yes, dessert was had! Tiramisu that was both velvety and luxurious on the tongue, and absolutely decadent. While we were finishing, Massimo came out and thanked us for dining, I thought that was a nice touch. The service was impeccable, we wanted for nothing. Our glasses never went below 1/2 empty. There was never a dirty fork or plate on the table. Truly this is a one of a kind establishment. The husband liked it more than I like Berns. How's that for a recommendation? Yes, we will be back! read more

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OOO wee the Bolognese was divine. Our waiter helped us pair our food with a couple glasses of exquisite but not too expensive wine. We couldn't get enough. It was so good i definitely ate too much, especially after that tiramisu! Definitely recommend this place. read more

Massimo's - delicious - Italian Near Me - Palm Harbor, Florida

Consistently delicious. Nice atmosphere. Large tables. Good service. We always have plenty of great food and something delicious to take home. Great for family gatherings and occasions. read more