This is THE BEST Italian restaurant I've ever been to in South Carolina! It is a tiny little restaurant that is a "hole in the wall" and the food was DIVINE!!! The staff were all very nice and friendly. The chef came from the kitchen to make sure everything was to our liking and I told him that it was the BEST Italian food in South Carolina...at least any of the ones that I've been to!!! read more

Wonderful food and service! The shank of lamb meted in my mouth! It was very tender with awesome flavors!! read more

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Great tasting food very reasonably priced and very good service. Look forward to going back!

This outstanding restaurant for Italian food and service. Great for date night, easy access and wonderful atmosphere. read more

Da Massimo Ristorante Italiano - Da Massimo - Italian Near Me - Florence, South Carolina

The service here was excellent! Best Italian food I've ever had, 10 out of 10! Good date night choice read more

Da Massimo Ristorante Italiano - Pasta special - Italian Near Me - Florence, South Carolina

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Shocked to receive such treatment at a restaurant (a business with such a strong public reputation) with a 4.8-star rating. My original review to this place: Bad service. Rude. Condescending. Racist! This is my updated reply regarding to the owner's reply for clarification: Thank you for your response, but I would like to clarify what really happened during my visit, as well as address the points you raised: My Experience: It was my first time visiting your restaurant. When I walked in, I saw the man (perhaps the owner or manager) happily greeting a well-dressed white couple, while we were coldly told where to sit. The waitress asked what we wanted to drink; I politely requested water and ***thanked*** her after she brought it. As I looked at the menu, I noticed there weren't many options, but overheard the man enthusiastically chatting with the white couple about several dishes that weren't on the menu. When the waitress returned, she quickly listed many specials from a script, making it hard to follow. I asked if I could see the specials written down (since there were so many), and she curtly replied "no," offering no further explanation. Due to my allergies, I then asked if I could have a paper towel (please excuse any language barrier, as English is not my first language). The waitress looked at me as if I was being difficult, and pause for a few second, and corrected me by saying "paper napkin?" I clarified that yes, and I needed a paper napkin. She brought me a paper towel and, with a condescending tone, said, "Here's a paper towel, we don't have paper napkin. I think it should be good for whatever you need it for..." I found this very rude and dismissive. After these interactions, without ever being shown a full menu of the specials, I was asked if I was ready to order. At that point, I felt so uncomfortable and unwelcome that I decided not to stay. I politely told the waitress that I did not wish to eat there and (said "thank you" to her) ***THANK*** her again. On Misrepresenting the Sequence: It's disappointing to see your reply misrepresent the sequence of events, suggesting that I was rude from the start. In reality, the waitress first listed the specials (which were difficult to follow), and only afterward did I request a napkin or paper towel for my allergies. By claiming I immediately asked to blow my nose at the table, you are unfairly trying to paint me as disrespectful from the beginning. This is simply not true, and I remained polite and reasonable throughout my short time in your restaurant. Regarding Your Accusations: I did not roll my eyes. The waitress was standing, I was seated, and I maintained a polite attitude throughout. If your staff is sensitive enough to misinterpret basic body language as rudeness, I hope they can also reflect on their own attitude and tone towards customers. I did not come in with any "attitude." I simply asked questions and made reasonable requests. On Leaving a Review: You claim that because I didn't stay to eat, I shouldn't be able to comment on the service. I disagree. As a customer, I experienced the hospitality (or lack thereof), the attitude of your staff, and the atmosphere of your restaurant. That is exactly what reviews are for--even if I did not place an order, the service I received shaped my decision to leave. That is a valid experience worth sharing with others. On Disrespectful Responses to Reviews: It's also clear from your responses to other reviews that your management often responds to criticism with sarcasm and disrespect, rather than taking responsibility or showing any willingness to improve. My experience is not isolated, and it concerns me that there seems to be a consistent lack of hospitality and respect toward certain guests. Final Note: It is disappointing to see your defensive response, as well as ***similar patterns*** in your replies to other negative reviews. Instead of dismissing customer feedback and making personal attacks, I hope you will take this opportunity to reflect on how you treat all of your guests. Thank you. read more

Da Massimo Ristorante Italiano - Italian Near Me - Florence, South Carolina

First off if you want great Italian food go here!!! It was our first visit and the food tasted like my Italian grandmother's. I couldn't have asked for better service! Marlon was great. We spoke with the chef and he explained his process!! If you haven't been here you need to go!!!! read more

Best Italian food in town. They never disappoint. You can't beat fresh pasta and homemade desserts and bread.

Oh my! The food was delicious and the homemade bread was soooo yummy. I enjoyed the cozy, friendly atmosphere and will definitely be back.

The Yelp reviews led me here. I was a little disappointed to find out they have different menus depending on the day. The menu had 3 appetizers, 4 entrees, and some desserts so not very many options to choose from. The caprese was very good it was really fresh. The Chicken Parmesan was ok. Not something I would order again. The sauce didn't wow me and neither did the flavor of the chicken. read more

Da Massimo Ristorante Italiano - Pollo Parm - Italian Near Me - Florence, South Carolina

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Food was amazing, taste and portions, service incredible everyone greeting me and the ambience you can feel that you are traveling to Italy. read more

Da Massimo Ristorante Italiano - Italian Near Me - Florence, South Carolina

Popped in on the Saturday after Valentine's without thinking about how busy restaurants get. And while Da Massimo doesn't take reservations, they found room for me by myself, and let me have a leisurely, delicious dinner without rushing me to open the table back up, even when telling larger parties they would have to wait for a table to open up. So right away I was impressed with the service. The restaurant is this tiny little thing, room enough for maybe 20-25 people if all the tables are full, and it's cozy and delightfully Italian without being either cramped nor kitschy. And the food, my goodness, I got a Burrate Caprese salad that might have been the pillowiest mozzarella I've ever had, a special called Chicken Limone that was light and fresh and fantastic, and then I splurged and ate a Tiramisu all by myself even though I was stuffed. This little restaurant that I wouldn't have thought anything of if I drove by it on the street was some of the finest food I'd had in years. 5 stars across the board, highly recommended. read more

WOW. I don't know what was better- the food or the service. Felt like I was in "Moonstruck"! I kept thinking... is Cher gonna walk out of the bathroom? Best Italian I've had in a while! We'll be back! read more

Da Massimo Ristorante Italiano - House special SPAGHETTI AND MEATBALLS - Italian Near Me - Florence, South Carolina

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Great meal with some of the best Italian food I have ever eaten but the restaurant has like 15 seats so you have to wait. The flavors were worth the wait. From the bread and oil to the entrees to the peppermint Gloloso everything was very tasty and we where feed with our eyes and nose and lips read more

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Found a hidden gem on our trip from Florida to Massachusetts. Food was outstanding, authentic Italian fare, great service , cozy atmosphere.

Wonderful freshly prepared Italian food! I am partial to the Spaghetti with homemade meatballs or sausage. The sauce is delicious!. The Pollo Limone, and Vitello Parmesan (sorry if offended they also have chicken), Fettuccini Bolognese are outstanding. They also have a seafood dish or two every evening. They have a few apps, but mostly salad or antipasto. Desserts are great too..also homemade gelato! They are only open from Wednesday to Saturday evenings, and limited seating. Worth it! read more

Da Massimo is off the beaten path in the interstate town of Florence. The quirky restaurant rises above the many national fast food chains you expect to find off I-95. To reach the restaurant you need to drive into the town of Florence. The owner is said to have owned a restaurant in NYC and now shares his culinary skills down south. He is gregarious and seems to have a local following. I found it great to visit on an otherwise long trip. My dish was a daily special and was good featuring shrimp with the pasta. I was not too much a fan of the bread, but it was the end of the day. In the end I enjoyed decent food and very much appreciated something other than the burgers and fries in a sit down restaurant. read more

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Never disappointed, such nice people. The food is served piping hot and fresh cooked! read more

Da Massimo Ristorante Italiano - Chicken Parmigiano over spaghetti noodles. - Italian Near Me - Florence, South Carolina

We have dinner at Da Massimo every time we travel through Florence and every meal has been incredible! The chef is from Rome, the menu changes frequently, the pasta is always delicious. It is a hidden gem! read more

Everything was great. The food, the service, and the ambiance were all amazing. I had the sea bass special and all I can say is great. The pasta my kids got was delicious. The deserts were just like having it in a small cafe in Italy. read more

Da Massimo Ristorante Italiano - Fettuccine Bolognese - Italian Near Me - Florence, South Carolina

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I might not be an expert in Italian food but based on existing reviews expected to be impressed. For me, my food was "meh" 80% spaghetti 20% eggplant and topping; my wife did say her food was very good. Portions are bit small for price point w some dishes. Sangria was large & potent, seating very limited inside snd outside. Fresh food, bring your appetite, try once and decide if it's for you. read more

Da Massimo Ristorante Italiano - Sangria - Italian Near Me - Florence, South Carolina

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Delicious!!! Five star worthy! Very friendly owner who described the dishes on the menu in such a way that everything sounded good and was hard to make a decision. Everything tasted delicious--we will remember this place next time we are on a road trip in the area. read more

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The Spaghetti is very delicious! The wait staff was nice and helpful with the menu. My family really enjoyed their meals as well. The birthday girl had a great time!! read more

Cute little Italian Restaurant like Grandma's Place! Excellent food and large portions. Friendly wait staff. We will stop again when we are back in Florence SC. read more

Great place and good. Service people really know food pairing. Had a great experience. read more

Best Italian in Florence. Small restaurant that is owner run with great service. Pasta made in house. Gelato made in house. Go there.

This is a quaint Italian restaurant that's easy to drive right by & miss some fantastic food. Service was excellent with a waiter from Italy & spent a lot of time in little Italy - New York. You get the complimentary bread & oil on the table with a selection from the limited Italian menu plus the specials for the day. We would definitely return for more! read more

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Service: the waiter serves causation who came in later the best, for foreigners who came in earlier, no service, when he was asked why, he told us to leave. Worst services I have ever had in US. If one white couple customer who doesn't give us their menu, we would have no menu. read more

Da Massimo Ristorante Italiano - The waiter who was rude and had discrimination for foreigners. - Italian Near Me - Florence, South Carolina

Pet friendly with outside seating worked for us!! People friendly with an exceptional daily specials menu!! Finally, the food was Delicious!!! read more

I was randomly searching for pizza in the area that wasn't from a chain and I luckily came across this spot. Unfortunately, they don't have pizza (or carry out to my knowledge) but when the food, atmosphere and service is this good, who cares?? Where do I start? We went there on a Friday night at around 7pm. The place is so inconspicuous that we would've passed it had it not been for the Christmas lights out front. We went in to the definition of a quaint but cozy restaurant and were immediately greeted by both waiters (yes there were only two but they were excellent) one of whom told us it would be a 10 minute wait. We waited in the car for 10 minutes then went back and were seated immediately. We were met with glasses of water and the best bread and seasoned olive oil pairing I've ever had in my life. Seriously, that may have been the best bite of the night and that's saying a lot. We followed up with the Caesar salad and it was perfection. I ordered the vodka penne and my fiancé got the stuffed rigatoni. Both were excellent. The specials sounded amazing too but I wanted to try something I've had before before diving head first. But no worries because we will be back. The atmosphere allowed for us to have intimate conversations and really bask in all they had to offer. Very long story short, if you're looking for a place to eat good and fresh food, have excellent service and just enjoy your company, this place is it. 10/10 read more

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Definitely worth a visit. Very good. Small quaint and friendly. Excellent home made Italian dishes. Spaghetti and meat balls were the special tonight. read more

Da Massimo Ristorante Italiano - Italian Near Me - Florence, South Carolina

Our dinners were absolutely delicious. Wine selection was spot on. Service was excellent. The chef is extraordinary. Whether you are local, driving up or down 95 or headed to the beach it is well worth the stop. The spot doesn't look fancy but the food is authentic Italian cuisine and has never disappointed my guests or family. A must experience. Ed read more

The best Italian food we have had in a very long time. Everything is home made and along with the owner and chef coming to visit. The menu changes daily..pretty impressive. Found this restaurant spending a night in Florence on our way to Florida. Look no further if you are in town. read more

Great food and great people! Definitely recommend. It's a hidden gem in Florence, for sure!

The wait was definitely not worth it. We got there at 6:50pm. They opened at 5. The menu posted to Facebook 1 hour before our arrival promised specials that were not available once we arrived. Then we were told we had to wait till 7:45 for a table. There were several tables open and two available outside but we still just signed in and then waited since we had heard the food was so good from the reviews. Y'all...the food was NASTY! The only option we had with meat in it was the spaghetti with meatballs. My husband worked all day and said he felt he needed something with meat to feel full, so we both settled for the spaghetti since the lasagna was already gone as well as the canneloni stuffed with seafood. Again they had only been open for 2 hours. The sauce was SALTY, the pasta was toothy, and the meatballs were just mush. No flavor and salty as well. We were expecting something like a Nona would have made. More like Fazoli's or Tellini's is what we got. A jar of sauce and a box of noodles from Walmart would have tasted better. Also we both ordered a glass of a sparkling wine that was clearly not freshly opened and flat. 0/10 recommend. Don't waste the time or the money. The couple next to us were also making comments that we could hear and apparently they were disappointed as well. There is a much better Italian restaurant 2 min down the road, including Olive Garden. read more

Da Massimo Ristorante Italiano - Italian Near Me - Florence, South Carolina

First time eating and decided to enjoy a nice night and eat outside. They even adjusted the music to be more romantic without us asking and made sure we liked the new selection. The service was excellent and super friendly. I ordered off the pork shank special and was not disappointed, fork tender and delicious! My companion ordered off the menu and had the chicken parmigiana which was also delicious but he regretted not also ordering a special because it was mouthwatering just looking at it when it arrived. The extra special surprise was the seasoned olive oil to dip the delicious bread in. Will definitely be back many more times!! read more

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Can't comment on the food as we were basically told they couldn't serve us before they closed at 9pm. We were stopped at the door at 8pm. We were told there was a wait but I didn't notice anyone standing around inside or outside the restaurant. Inside, I noticed 1 table for 2 was available and both tables outside were available and there were only 2 of us. Seemed like they really just wanted to close right at 9pm and couldn't get that accomplished in the remaining hour. Not sure if we'll give it a go or not. Found another good Italian restaurant a couple minutes down the road who were more than happy to take our money and there food and service was quite good. read more

We loved this place! Really great food, prepared with care and skill. By the time we arrived, they were out of the two appetizers we were trying to decide between, but that was fine, since the portion sizes are huge!! We loved the penne alla vodka and the papardelle bolognese, both so tasty. Honestly, the portions are so huge that you could easily split one bowl of pasta between two hungry adults--or order one per person and have tons of leftovers! Service was very friendly. We'll definitely come back the next time we're in Florence! read more

Da Massimo Ristorante Italiano - Menu - Italian Near Me - Florence, South Carolina

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Rarely do I ever give five stars but this place so good. We looked it up on here and I'm so glad we did! Immediately we were greeted by a friendly host, he was so kind and funny. He provided us with the menu, first look there it doesn't seem like many options but the food is made fresh and so good so I understand. The piccata was awesome. The bread that the food is served with was so good. My family and I have found our new Italian spot. read more

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Best Italian I've ever had! Not just a Florence 10/10 it's an actual 10/10. This beats most Italian places I've had, and I've had a lot of great Italian through out the years, in places such as South Carolina, New Jersey and New York. We're very fortunate to have this restaurant in our humble little town. I found there food absolutely delicious. I had the Penne Allá Vodka and it was easily the best I've ever had. You can taste the Pancetta in the sauce it's so recognizable but at the same time not overpowering. It hits the sweet spot! I was also Able to try there Italian Mahi Mahi with pasta of the same sauce of the fish. And let me just say this was the BEST Italian Mahi Mahi I've ever had! The fish itself was perfectly cooked it was very flaky and delicious. The sauce of the plate was the star of the show! The citrus of the lemon in the sauce is so refreshing but doesn't overpower the fish. And the pasta did a fine job of soaking up all those mouthwatering flavors. I could not recommend a better Italian restaurant. This is the best Italian in Florence. read more