Maxi's was a solid eatery but 3 stars for the price:value of the restaurant. Staff: waitress was super friendly. There on a Saturday night, had a reservation (which was key, it was packed), but the bar service was a bit slow. Food: appetizers were very good to excellent, we ordered the frog legs, calamari and burratta and enjoyed everything. We shared 1 pasta (which was an excellent creamy/spicy/tomato sauce) and 2 pizzas. Restaurant was known for pizza so perhaps there was too much hype, but I found them to be just OK. Ambiance: small but cozy restaurant scene. Prices: everything is pretty expensive, although to be expected for the prime location in Little Italy. To me, the prices were a bit higher than food warranted. Visiting tip: check out dessert at one of the two local bakeries, they are both a block away and open late (~10pm) read more

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My husband and I stopped in for drinks and appetizers while waiting for a table down the street. Of all the times we've been to Little Italy we've never been to Maxi's, and we're incredibly disappointed that it took us this long to eat there! We ordered the stuffed hot peppers and the calamari. Both apps were delicious! If we weren't meeting friends we would've canceled our reservations at the other restaurant. We'll be going back for dinner very soon! read more

Maxi's - Calamari and Stuffed Hot Peppers - Italian Near Me - Cleveland, Ohio

Nice clean slightly dated restaurant Horrible parking situation. Incredibly expensive for frozen prepared meals. The meatballs were not homemade and we saw them bring them up from the basement freezer in a store bought package. The chicken parm was also store bought so sad that it wasn't authentic Italian homemade food. We won't be visiting again read more

Maxi's - Chicken Parmigiana - Italian Near Me - Cleveland, Ohio

Everything about our visit here was amazing. The service was very friendly. The bread was hot and crispy The food came out hot and quickly. We will definitely be back. *it takes us about an hour & 1/2 to get there* Perfect read more

Lobster ravioli really rich. Caviitelli with meatballs was good but very plain. Good meal tho read more

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Service was only surpassed by the food. I've never had stuffed banana peppers this amazing! read more

Maxi's - Italian Near Me - Cleveland, Ohio

Food was fine but the server/manager rejected my ID on my 21st birthday simply because I was from halfway across the country.

Although the interior of Maxi's may feel like it hasn't been updated since the 70s, this is the perfect lunch or dinner spot for a delicious pizza and people watching! I was pleasantly surprised at how fresh the mozzarella was here in both the meatball pizza and the fried mozzarella. The pizza was perfect: not too doughy, not too thin, with the right amount of sauce. I heard the couple behind us saying their calamari wasn't good, so perhaps this isn't a good place for any seafood dish. Stick to pizza (and why wouldn't you in Little Italy?)! I don't think the food and atmosphere matches the price, unfortunately. What we got were safe dishes, all things considered. I've eaten here before and was disappointed in the pasta, so I knew better this time around. read more

Maxi's - Fried Fresh Mozzarella - Italian Near Me - Cleveland, Ohio

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The food is brilliant. Service very friendly. Nice little bar and a few tables and chairs. We came during non-peak rush hours on a Wednesday but highly recommend. Can't get over the chicken parm my wife ordered or the bolognese that I chose. read more

Excellent food and service. They accommodated us right away. Ambiance was pleasant.

Funny to give this a 5 star review when the night we ate there they were out of PIZZAS and a few other items however, clearly the result of college move in weekend & that it's delicious! Vibe is great, service was wonderful, food was really nice. Will definitely return on future trips. read more

Went there with a large party and they got us in and service was excellent. Great food too. Enjoyed it.

Best. Pizza. Ever. I was BLOWN away when I tried Maxi's the first time and I'll be back!!

I went with a group of 6 and sat in the back outside area. The weather was nice and there were not many people so the back area was a good place to grab a meal with friends. The servers were kind and patient as we had 2 people coming 15-20 minutes later. We all ordered pasta dishes and a calamari appetizer. The calamari was tasty --not overtly chewy and balanced between crunch and chew. My linguine with meatballs was a good choice --al dente pasta and a flavorful sauce. It was $18 but it was the most affordable pasta available. One thing I observed was that we were not served bread until the 2 others arrived --nothing wrong with this especially because my friends arrived later, but I just feel like in other places we would have been served bread and water when we sat down. I've only tasted their food maybe twice now and I can say that it's a solid place to get some pasta and hang out with friends if price is not an issue. read more

Maxi's - Linguine with Meatballs - Italian Near Me - Cleveland, Ohio

Maxis is a cute little old school Italian place in Little Italy. I came here for a few appetizers. We got the fried mozzarella in the marinara sauce and the fried calamari The calamari was ok, I have had it from here before and it was significantly better. I enjoyed the fried mozzarella, it was super fresh and the breading was yummy. The marinara sauce was good and we dipped the bread rolls into that. The problem could have been that the food sat for a while before being brought to us even though we were sitting at the bar 15 feet from the kitchen window. Overall I'm not very impressed. It was ok and it's my friends favorite place but I won't come back my myself. Plus the price for the 2 appetizers was $29, kind of pricey. read more

I specifically came for the frog legs and deep fried garlic I also ordered this dude tribe and we got the Baratta cheese ball read more

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Stopped into Little Italy to have lunch on Sunday before heading back to Columbus. I had the chicken cacciatore, something I had never tried before. My sister and brother in law had eaten here before and assured me it was unlike anything I had eaten before. It was absolutely delicious! The chicken was perfectly cooked with a little char on the bottom. The mix of artichokes, portobello mushrooms and kalamata olives was perfect. Light but filling, came with a side of penne pasta in a tomato basil sauce. Wow. The bruschetta was on point - fresh and the bread it came on was chewy with crispy edges. They buy the bread from the bakery two doors down. The pizza, while looking simple, was a blockbuster hit! So simple yet so amazing. The meatballs on both the pizza and with the cavatelli were perfect. I'd recommend this place to anyone who's looking for authentic Italian done right. Sensational! Will definitely be back. read more

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I've never had such an amazing orgasm in a restaurant before this place. Literally like having sex in my mouth and the service makes me cum!

One of the good choices in little Italy! It was very nice experience hanging out with some of my new friends in Cleveland. Pizza is very huge with 8 slices. We also ordered some dessert. The tiramisu was not my best (too sweet for me)but was ok! read more

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So this was my favorite restaurant ever! my gf and I walked after the Columbus Day parade. lWe had a drink in there earlier. We walked in for dinner and asked for a table. and they told us they were all reserved. They then told us to leave and were so rude!!! in my lifetime I have never been treated with such disrespect by an establishment I was spending money in. Never again! read more

This place is tiny, and crowded, but it feels very homey and natural. And the food was incredible.

One of the BEST traditional Italian Restaurant I have ever eaten at!! Including my home Italian cooking all my life!!!! superb!!! memories back to my mind!!! RJ are waiter service above excellent!!! So proud of his cooking Falvio my goodness words cannot express how wonderful your cooking is!!! Really felt I was brought back to my Italian roots ambiance was awesome!!! We will be back!!!! read more

I heard about Cleveland's Little Italy and I had to check it out for myself. We decided on Maxi's Ristorante for lunch and I'm so glad we did. It was a beautiful day with a little table available outside. We started with a calamari appetizer and the flavor was so earthy and delicious. Fresh!!! My Italian husband ordered linguine and meatballs because he can't refuse a meatball!! I had the carbonara and was rich AND light. Masterfully done, Maxi's. We will be back. Next time we will save room for dessert. Also- the service was top notch!! Thank you! read more

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Pizza is absolutely amazing. Great atmosphere. Good bread and nice attentive servers. Parking not easy.

This restaurant is more of a local establishment. I think it's a hidden gem. I had their goat cheese ravioli with sun-dried tomatoes. I substituted red sauce for their alfredo sauce. Their red sauce is one of the best that I have had in the area. I also had a side of sautéed spinach. What a delicious meal. Maxi's has a full bar and a great wine selection. read more

Awesome sauce(s)! They know what they are doing with their sauces. Included in this is their olive oil with Parmesan that they have for the super tasty pre-dinner bread. Also super enjoyed the fresh tomato basil sauce on the stuffed hot (yes they were) banana peppers for the appetizer. And for the main course I got the spinach ravioli in a dreamy tomato basil & cream sauce topped with Parmesan. Yes, I licked it clean. I'm sad I didn't ask if they bottled that sauce so I could take some home. This place is on the smaller side so make sure to have reservations or stop in on off times. I also recommend skipping the pizza. Two friends I went with got different pizzas but neither were all that impressive. read more

While in town for work, I had lunch at this nostalgic-quaint restaurant which was near my hotel. I was seated next to the front window with a great view to watch it snowing. Service was excellent. I ordered the mussels with tomato basil broth which was a delicious well seasoned dish. The pepperoni pizza was light with a tasty not- too-thick crust. The pizza was even better a couple of days later. read more

Came to Maxi's for the third time the night after A Christmas Story Run and it is still my favorite Italian restaurant I have ever been to. I've been to just about every Italian place from Cincinnati-Columbus and I've been to Little Italy is NYC and Maxi's wins. Cavatelli and meatballs is my favorite Italian dish and theirs is just perfect. The bread and olive oil+Parmesan is a great pairing and ending the meal with their award winning tiramisu is a must. I will always make it a priority to eat at Maxis whenever I come up to Cleveland. read more

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The best calamari and pear Martini! The bread was delicious with olive oil, hot pepper and cheese for dipping. Great service! Consistently great food! read more

Love this spot! Always a great meal...with great service. They have a lemon dessert that is my all time favorite.

Just a perfectly lovely lunch...service was warm and friendly, the food fresh and done to perfection, and the atmosphere hit just the right note. Can't wait to go back for dinner! read more

If you haven't been to this Little Italy spot with a cult following, you're truly missing out. Family style is the way to go here. Order tons of appetizers (especially fried mozzarella, the tomato/mozzarella salad, escarole, calamari, stuffed peppers and escargot), get a couple of pastas for the table - the cavatelli bolognese is the best pasta dish in Cleveland and maybe the country, the flavia and farfalle are great too - and prepared to be wowed. read more

Fantastic food! But that alone should get you a five star review... unless of course, something like customer service falls short. Cute atmosphere and my boyfriend and I did not feel over dressed in jeans and hoodies. They were playing beautiful Italian music over head and we chose to sit at the bar. The service was "ehhh", took them awhile to give us attention after handing us waters and menus. But the food was to die for, would have had another glass of wine if it hadn't been 10 dollars a glass for an unimpressive pour. All around might go back for the food, but for the price one of the fancier authentic Italian places in the area is likely worth it for the nicer customer service. read more

Simply put - the food was fresh and tasted delicious. We ordered the dozen clams in white sauce, burrata cheese with tomato's and basil. Linguine with clams in white sauce and linguine with meatballs in red sauce. All perfectly prepared. Even the table bread was tasty with a Parmesan and olive oil dip. We ate outside on the sidewalk, and had we known, would have eaten in the courtyard. Service was very good. read more

Definitely get the carbonara!!! Wow amazing. And I had it delivered so it's probably even better dining in.

Outstanding!!! The food is delicious and beautifully presented. My husband loves the bolognese. I have several dishes that I like--today was chicken cacciatore. The pizza is excellent. The chicken piccata is great. The rolls and sauce is very tasty and served warm. The cannoli!!! Ah they were so good, freshly filled. The music set the perfect atmosphere. read more

Went for lunch. They start you out with bread out of the oven and olive oil with a heap of parm. Really lovely. Hubs started with a dozen clams, which were excellent, and got the frog legs appetizer. They were tender but needed something--lemon, more garlic. Something. A little bland. Friend and I had the tomato basil and mozzarella salad. The tomato is in chunks and the mozzarella are little balls. It was good but not what I expected. I got the fungi pizza and it was very good. Friend got lobster ravioli. I had probably the worst glass of savignon blanc of my life so I won't do that again. Not as good as other places in LI, but not bad. Cute place inside. Full at lunch on a Monday--one of the few places open Mondays. read more

Have you ever taken a bite of your food and literally wanted to melt as the taste sensations satisfied everything you were craving? Maxi's Ristorante serves up this feeling daily with every authentic and delicious Italian dish they prepare. It's times like these when I ponder how I'm not 380lbs of beastly-ness because, man...I can take down some serious pasta. This is especially true if it's from Maxi's. So, you're strolling around Little Italy and you can't figure out where to dine. Well, I agree. It's truly difficult to pick one restaurant in that neighborhood because they're all great in their own right. BUT, there's just something about Maxi's that keeps me coming back. It's the food. Specifically the pasta. My first Maxi's dinner was incredible. There were six of us at a table and we all ordered something different, but all pasta dishes. Everyone shared and with each new bite, it became more difficult to pick a favorite. In the end, I couldn't choose. I know I had the Goat Cheese Ravioli and my sister choose the Penne Pasta Carbonnara. Both were divine. It's literally the most painful experience in the world to watch me try to pick ONE dish to order though. Since the first trip I've added a new favorite to my list, which is the stuffed banana peppers. If I could live off this dish, I would. I'm not kidding. There are only a couple of things that bring Maxi's down to a 4 star instead of a 5. The service is just so-so. I'm not the kind of person who likes to be waited on hand and foot, but there's a balance. Our servers always seem to be uninterested and eager to get off work. My other issue is the price. I mean, some dishes I can understand a heftier price tag, but pasta dishes $20 and over? Really? It's PASTA. Damn good pasta, but still...I'm not ordering a prime cut of steak here! Besides, the atmosphere doesn't quite merit that cost either. So, it wouldn't really fall into my "worth it because it's the whole vibe" category. It better suits a normal night out for dinner, casual attire, etc. I still can't hate on Maxi's though. I mean, their food is just so ridiculously good that it's nearly impossible not to want to spend the money. I mean, I can even forgive them for the service. All that's forgettable, but the food..well, that's the kind of pasta you dream about. read more

Best Italian food in Cleveland ! Always the best service and quality of food. We ordered delivery during COVID and it was just as good as when we dine in. Highly recommend!!!! We always order the clams, cavatelli with meatballs, margarita pizza and spinach ravioli read more

Maxi's - Best Italian food in Cleveland! - Italian Near Me - Cleveland, Ohio

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MMMMMMMM! Finally got to go back to Maxi's at a time that wasn't during The Feast! Calamari Pasta and Funghi Pizza were just as I remembered... So delicious! My sister and I were able to sit outside in the front, which is great for people watching if you don't mind the traffic. Service was okay, and the outdoor seating is a little squished. But all that was forgotten considering the heavenly food we were eating. read more

Maxi's - Funghi pizza - Italian Near Me - Cleveland, Ohio

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