Visiting Providence and stumbled upon this Italian gem. I understood that Federal Hill is known for its Italian restaurants and we searched for a place that had a good crowd. Massimo's has street parking or valet. They also take reservations. We came on a Monday and chose to order from their prix fixe menu. They also have a great à la carte menu. Our dinner came with focaccia and olives, a glass of house wine, an appetizer, entree, and dessert for $38/pp. Portions were smaller than the à la carte dishes but enough for us. Between my husband and I, we ordered the caprese salad and meatballs appetizers, sliced strip steak with mashed potatoes and mushrooms, a fettuccine with asparagus and prosciutto with cream sauce, and dessert was the pannecotta and cannoli. Pasta was freshly made and al dente, steak was tender and flavorful. We loved everything. My only complaint that for a large restaurant, bathroom was small. Only one unit per gender. read more

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My family and I visited Il Massimo during our recent trip to Providence after seeing so many positive reviews on Yelp and social media. The restaurant had a lively atmosphere when we arrived. Most of the tables were occupied, but it never felt overcrowded. We had a reservation and were seated immediately. Our server greeted us promptly, took our drink orders, and gave us plenty of time to look over the menu. I ordered the Italian Old Fashioned, which was excellent, well-balanced, not too sweet, and with just the right amount of strength. My wife ordered the sangria, but she found it much sweeter than she expected. For dinner, my youngest son ordered the ravioli and really enjoyed it. My oldest, who is a very picky eater, ordered the short rib gnocchi and finished the entire dish in record time, which says a lot. My wife had the bard gnocchi and thought it was just okay; she didn't finish it. I ordered the scallops over risotto, and while it was prepared well, I found it to be just average. To end the meal, we shared the cannoli trio, which was easily the highlight of the evening. Our favorite was the candied orange cannoli, which had a great balance of flavors. Overall, I really liked the restaurant's beautiful space and inviting atmosphere. While the service was friendly and the cocktails were excellent, I found the food to be good but not particularly memorable. I'd come back for the ambiance and drinks, but I was hoping for a little more from the entrées. read more

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First off, our server was extremely attentive and kind. He checked in on us the perfect amount balancing giving us space and time to enjoy our meal, while ensuring all our needs were met. The ambiance is clean, vibrant, and welcoming. The food overall was solid. One star docked because my pasta was over-salted in which I had to scrape the excess sauce on the noodles toward the end. The guanciale paired with pecorino romano is bound to be on the saltier side, but I think the pasta could have been unsalted to balance it out a bit more. That said, the guanciale and pasta were delicious, perfectly cooked. You can tell they use quality, simple ingredients! Their 3-course presto lunch for $24 is a hard to beat deal; however, I may venture out to their regular menu next time. Yes--there will likely be another time! read more

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We had an excellent dining experience. Stopped in for lunch and we were so glad to do so. Our lunch started with the charcuterie board which was outstanding. It contained three different types of Italian cured meats, two types of cheeses, pickled veggies, red peppers and walnuts. For my lunch entree I had the lasagna. The lasagna was absolutely delicious. The sauce, meat and pasta was really good, probably one of the top three best lasagnas I have eaten. For dessert we had the bread pudding, it was not my choice but it was ok. read more

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Another great night at Massimo with 5 star plus service from Nate. He knows everything on the menu and his recommendations are spot on. Loved the squash flowers with vodka sauce. Chicken parm was delicious. The strawberry Fresca drink was a great summer cocktail. The Affogato was the perfect dessert to end the evening. Thank you again, Nate. read more

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This place gets busy! I was in the area for a gluten-free festival, did some shopping, and of course ended up hungry. I was originally planning to go to Pane e Vino, but nothing was available until 8:30--and I was definitely not waiting that long. Thankfully, the owner kindly recommended their sister restaurant and even called ahead to check availability. They had three seats at the bar, so my friends and I rushed over. The staff was incredibly friendly and helpful. They offer an extensive gluten-free menu, though they do note that cross-contamination is possible--which made me a bit nervous, but I decided to give it a try. I started with a mocktail, which was delicious. They also served made-to-order gluten-free bread--it reminded me of cloud bread (very egg-based), but it was warm and tasty. I had the Insalate Tricolore, which I loved for its bitter and salty balance. For my main, I ordered the bolognese--so good! Very filling... honestly, it might put you straight into a food coma. Overall, a great experience with really good food. I'd definitely go back! read more

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$24 lunch special -- 3 courses, but not all edible. Caesar salad was nice, the saltiest ever spaghetti carbonara could barely swallow 2 bites, tiramisu was ok but nothing special. Service was attentive since we needed pitchers of water to counteract the sale infusion. read more

Massimo Restaurant - Looks are deceiving -- it was a salt laden conglomeration. - Italian Near Me - Providence, Rhode Island

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Had a great dinner here celebrating my sisters graduation. We all got different entrees ranging from the cabonara to the duck. I personally enjoyed my cabonara the perfect level of cheese to pepper ratio. Our waiter for the night was excellent and attentive read more

Massimo Restaurant - Italian Near Me - Providence, Rhode Island

Looking for a lunch spot on Federal Hill and so glad we picked Massimo. My ziti was perfect al dente was a great vodka sauce. We also shared the ravioli with lunch special. Overall the food absolutely exceeded expectations, the service was very good, and we had a nice table outside on a sunny Providence summer day. Couldn't have been better. I would go back! read more

Bread was warm and delicious. Shrimp risotto was good- texture of of rice was spot on, shrimp was large and fresh. My only slight complaint, which may be personal taste, was it could use a little more salt. Waitresses were friendly and attentive, including the front desk staff on the phone. Not a dressy spot, decor is nice including art work and wooden wine boxes. Music was relaxing and not too loud. I gave 4 stars just because I've had better food. Not that it was bad. Just a little pricy. read more

Massimo Restaurant - Italian Near Me - Providence, Rhode Island

First time dinning at Massimo; went for a work dinner with my team. It is located in Federal Hill so it can get busy, and parking can be difficult. The restaurant does have valet parking, not sure if its paid or you tip. You can also sometimes find street parking (paying the meter) or look for parking on streets a little further away. The restaurant has a lot of seating, including outside and some opem door tables in the summer. The street can get loud with cars, but it was nice to sit by the door since weather was good. We had drinks, apps and meals. The restaurant was packed, on a Wednesday night, so it took a while to put in our meal orders but we understood. Everyone loved their meals, great portions! Our waitress was very enthusiastic and nice; when she found out we were celebrating retirement of a team member, she brought him dessert and gave us after dinner shots of their house made orange-cello. Overall we all loved it and would go back. Unfortunately I didn't take pics of the drinks (my sangria or my teams drinks) and the apps we got (charcuterie board and calamari) read more

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This is my second time visiting and it was as good as the first time! I dined at the bar and I got the lunch special. I let the bartender know that I needed gluten free options and she guided me through the menu. I got the chicken parmigiana and it was phenomenal. They also made sure that my food was allergy safe. The ambiance of the restaurant was great and felt very welcoming. I can't wait to bring friends here to dine again! read more

Massimo Restaurant - Lunch Menu - Italian Near Me - Providence, Rhode Island

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Unfortunately, I've finally found a dish at Massimo that I didn't love. (Don't worry, I'll be back. This 4 star blip is temporary, I'm sure.) The gluten-free bread? Amazing as usual. The decaf espresso martinis? Amazing as usual. The service? Amazing as usual. The gluten-free bolognese? Totally lackluster. It was served with macaroni noodles which had the consistency of cardboard. The sauce was also clumpy in not a good way. It didn't stick to the cardboardnoodles at all, so I either got a bite of just lumpy sauce, or just cardboardnoodle. Oh well - they can't be perfect in *every* way, right? Just a heads up to the kitchen team, if they read reviews, that the gluten-free bolognese needs some workshopping (: Happy holidays! read more

We had a good experience here at Massimo. The service was really good. They had great drinks. I ordered the fettucine bolognese and it was really good. On the other hand, I tried a bite of the spahgetti carbonara was not good to me. I have had way better elsewhere. I was this close to ordering that, but I am glad I didn't. This is definitely a place to try while in Providence. read more

Massimo Restaurant - Honestly, this was not good at all. I was surprised too. - Italian Near Me - Providence, Rhode Island

This is a popular spot in the heart of Federal Hill. They offer valet and off street parking. The decor provides a vintage Italian restaurant feel but modern in the food and drink options. The staff is very knowledgeable of the specials and accommodating to dietary restrictions. This has become my new favorite spot on the Hill. read more

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Made our way up to Providence to see Corrine Bailey Rae. I wanted to try the short rib gnocchi. The bread and olive oil was an excellent starter. So fresh and tasty. We enjoyed the appetizer special: beets and mozzarella drizzled with a balsamic reduction. I would have like my short rib gnocchi more if I had more short rib. My niece's gnocchi came out piping hot but it was delicious. Don't forget to order the Lemon Sorbetto! You won't be disappointed! read more

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The food was delicious, and the ambience was nice. I enjoyed my Saturday dinner here and although not a huge place they do extend onto the sidewalk outside. The service was nice & the waitress was very kind. read more

Massimo Restaurant - Chicken Parmigiano - Italian Near Me - Providence, Rhode Island

Pasta was so good, we had their orichiette, short rib gnocchi, and the tiramisu. Staff was kind and the vibe was nice and romantic. Would come again! read more

Service and the place were great! I loved my bucatini and everyone loved their entrees. The calamari was cold and the gelato wasn't great but I would come bach! read more

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Delicious!! We went early eve to the bar to split appetizers and all were so yummy! Meatballs, muscles in a red sauce, calamari with a aïoli, and the best of all was the fig and prosciutto pizza with caramelized onions and balsamic glaze. Out of this world ! the bartender, she was so nice and friendly and talkative & busy as could be, but took good care of us. Great experience! Super cute little bar. I think there was nine or 10 seats, but it was a very nice room. I felt transported to Europe for the evening. read more

Massimo Restaurant - Muscles prosciutto Gorgonzola pizza meatballs, three big ones and calamari, delicate and delicious aïoli - Italian Near Me - Providence, Rhode Island

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They have a ton of gluten free options which is amazing! Even gluten free bread which is awesome. I had the four cheese gnocchi and enjoyed it, and the dessert was pretty good but seemed over baked. We went on a Monday specifically for the three course special only to find out they weren't doing it, so check in advance if you're looking for that! Over all a good experience though, especially for anyone that's gluten free. read more

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Solid place. Nice ambiance and the service was great. Bread was alright, probably would be better if it was right out of the oven. Calamari was excellent and same with the burrata. Chicken Parmesan was fine. Chicken could have been a bit crispier and the sauce could have had slightly more flavor, but it was good overall. I would definitely come back to try some of the other dishes. read more

Massimo Restaurant - Italian Near Me - Providence, Rhode Island

We really enjoyed Massimo! They have a fantastic happy hour that was so good, we didn't even end up needing entrees! All apps are half priced during 3-6. We enjoyed the burrata, calamari, and truffle arancini. Everything was delicious! read more

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We came during lunch time on a Monday and were excited to try the three course lunch menu for only $24! For my courses I ordered a Caesar salad, chicken parm and tiramisu -- all of which was delicious! While our meals were a lunch special, the portions were still very generous and we ended up having to take home half of our entrees. Our server was very attentive and despite us not having a reservation, we were seated right away. read more

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We had a lovely dining experience at Massimo, celebrating a milestone birthday. The staff had our window table decorated for the occasion, and the service we experienced was wonderful. They were offering a Monday special, which seemed too good of a deal to pass up. For appetizers, we enjoyed the fried calamari, which was piping hot, tangy and tender. And the spinach salad was a delicious lighter option. We all enjoyed our entrees as well, including various versions of gnocchi - one with short ribs, one with burrata and pesto/marinara, and a decadent baked cheesy/ sausage version (al forno). The chicken piccata w/ fingerling potatoes and roasted green beans was also very good, though the chicken was a tad small and dry. Despite a full upstairs dining room, we all noticed how pleasant the volume was for conversation. No screaming across the table to be heard over other patrons...it was perfect. A glass of their house Cabernet and just-right-sized portion of tiramisu to end the meal rounded things out nicely. read more

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Wow- just wow! I had googled top places for a graduation dinner and Massimo was in the top 3. So I knew I wanted to give it a chance for my graduation dinner and was I amazed from beginning to end. The customer service from management day 1 when I booked for my party of 16 was so easy- and they were very flexible with time for me. I was graduating from college so the time of ending varied and Massimo understood and was well prepared for my party. When we arrived the valet was smooth and fast. When we arrived they had a beautiful congratulations quote for me on the table with graduation confetti such a cute touch. We had Nate as our server and he was patient, funny, professional and overall exactly what I hope for when I go to restaurants. He made sure to allow me to taste wines until I found one I liked and he was very insightful and answered all the questions my family had in regard to food. Top tier service for sure. Kudos Nate! And he takes great pictures, gets all the angles and he makes sure everyone is taken care of. Now to the food. Oh man! You can tell this food was freshly made and made to perfection. I had an eggplant mozzarella of some sort as an appetizer it was so freaking good that I only ate some and wanted the rest for home. And I also ordered lasagna and boy was it HUGE, it was a huge portion. And it tasted so good, you can tell the sauce was made there. My meals were delightful. My whole party enjoyed themselves and we all really enjoyed Nate's service. I would for sure recommend this place and I will be back. And this place was located in a great spot. The ambiance was perfect. The lighting was perfect and with me having a hearing impairment I asked to be placed in an area that would be great for me to see everything. And they do accommodate which I love. Thank you all at Massimo! read more

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I got dinner here with a few friends the other night and had a decent experience. The service was just the right amount of attentive (not always at your table but still checking in). The restaurant had a lot of older customers when I came, not sure if this is always the case but my group was definitely the youngest by far so this is not exactly a family restaurant. The food was good! I had the fettuccine alla bolognese and it was great, there was a lot of meat in it. The margarita pizza was alright. The mozzarella balls on it kept falling off the slices and it was so thin crust it felt like there were almost no toppings on it. The cheesecake dessert was thick and filling. Overall: decent upscale place for dinner with great service, good food, and an older crowd read more

Massimo Restaurant - Fettucine Bolognese - Italian Near Me - Providence, Rhode Island

I visited the spot while visiting Rhode Island, and I highly recommend it! I liked that the place opened up to the patio, it added to the upscale but laid-back atmosphere. The servers were very friendly and attentive. The drinks were so refreshing, and the food was amazing too. I had the oricchiette, and it hit the spot without feeling too heavy. If I were to visit the area again, I would definitely come back here read more

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Absolutely recommend the restaurant for service. The bartender and other staff make you feel welcome. The starter bread and oil were great, drinks were great. The pork chop had great flavor but seemed to be over cooked. The Bolognese was good. The meatballs were mushy. Maybe we hit a bad night in terms of cooks but I would definitely go back to try it again. read more

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IL MASSIMO delivered an incredible evening from start to finish. The atmosphere strikes the perfect balance between upscale and welcoming, making it a great spot for a date night, a night out with friends, or even treating yourself at the bar. We started with the Beef Carpaccio, and it was phenomenal--paper-thin slices, beautifully seasoned, and topped with fresh arugula, shaved parmesan, and a drizzle that brought everything together. Light, flavorful, and expertly prepared. The Short Rib Gnocchi stole the show. The gnocchi was soft and pillowy, and the short rib ragu was rich, hearty, and perfectly comforting. Generous shaving of parmesan on top sealed the deal--this dish alone is worth coming back for. For cocktails, we tried a lineup that hit every note: Pineapple Dolo - tropical, smooth, and refreshing Blood Orange Cosmo - bright, balanced, and elegant Pomegranate Mule - crisp, slightly tart, and beautifully presented Each drink was crafted with care and complemented the dishes perfectly. Service was friendly and attentive, and the bartenders clearly take pride in their craft. IL MASSIMO combines authentic Italian flavors with a modern twist and warm hospitality. We'll absolutely be back. Highly recommend! read more

Loved the lunch special here! Came for a quick lunch after walking around Federal Hill and the ribollita and carbonara hit the spot. The service was a tad slow considering there were only a few other tables in here but I guess that's just the Italian way. The vibes definitely brought me back to Italy with the whole indoor outdoor seating. It was the perfect way to enjoy the cooler weather while fueling up for the day. read more

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Always a pleasure at massimo. One of my go to restaurants when in Providence because I can count on them to give me good food that I know I like. They're not too fancy or gourmet but it also isn't necessarily a casual eatery so I feel like it's perfect for any occasion. This year was my third year going there for Valentine's Day! The broccoli rabe pesto pasta is my go to and my favorite because I'm a HUGE pesto girlie, no matter what kind. I forgot to ask for no Italian sausage this because I forgot that it comes with it (*note if you don't like Italian sausage MAKE SURE to say no sausage because there is A LOT). I also love arugula so the salad is another go to - prosciutto + arugula is probably one of the best combos because it gives you meat and greens all while being a light dish. This was my first time getting the truffle arancini but I don't know why?! Definitely adding to the must get for next time read more

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I was really craving good pasta, and I got that plus more. I came here with a friend on a Tuesday afternoon for lunch. Their outdoor seating was perfect since it was not too hot out and we got the opportunity to interact with the little birds. Price and option wise it made the most sense to go with their lunch special; for $24 you can get an appetizer, entrée, and dessert from their prefixed menu - and this is on top of the complimentary bread with olives and olive oil. I had their ribollita toscana soup, with their spaghetti alla carbonara, and il cannolo. I was not expecting the soup to be so hot, but I might've burned my tongue a bit on the first bite. It was a very hearty soup, with good flavor and different textures. For an appetizer it was a good portion. The carbonara was delicious. It came with a great amount of guanciale, which was savory, a hint of a smoked flavor, and tender. It was a saucy dish, and the perfect temperature. I added crushed pepper and more parmesan on top of mine. The cannoli was good. I definitely enjoyed the side with the pistachio more than the side with chocolate chips, and the filling was a bit sweet but still good. The sugared orange skins were pretty, but in terms of flavor it did seem out of place. Overall, I enjoyed my meal, and I would definitely recommend especially if you want quality food at a great price. Our waitress was kind, and took good care of us. They do offer valet parking, or another option is street parking on Atwells Ave. but it can be a hit or miss, and I believe they have meters (unless you go into the side streets). read more

Massimo Restaurant - FS Insalata Di Cesare - Italian Near Me - Providence, Rhode Island

Out running errands, we decided to treat ourselves to a "nice" lunch & landed here at Massimo. I made a last minute reservation since it was busy lunch hour and was glad I did - the place was jamming! While it was busy & festive, it was not too loud. We were quickly seated and greeted by a very professional server. Reviewing the menu, we couldn't resist the presto! 3 course lunch menu. What a great deal! For our first course, we began with the Insalata di Cesare & Ribollita. The salad was cold, fresh and had a delicious dressing. The fresh cheese and anchovy were the savory cherries on top. Perfect! Ribollita is one of those hearty stews that everyone makes a bit differently. Their version was wonderfully warming & comforting on a cold winter day. The entrees we chose were Gnocchi al Forno and Pollo ala Piccata. We opted to add chicken to our pasta for $3 more. The server asked if we'd prefer grilled or crispy chicken. We went with the crispy, which was wonderful & plentiful, but cost several dollars more. The server should have mentioned this, but not a big deal. Both were absolutely delicious! The Gnocchi was so plentiful half came home with us. One of each of the desserts, Tiramisu & Cannolo, finished off this delicious, plentiful lunch with a sweet touch. Such a wonder meal! Can't wait to return! read more

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I was so excited to go back here with family members. We (6) dined her on May 14th. We ordered eggplant, calamari, baby artichokes and octopus appetizers. The eggplant tasted like jar sauce, the artichokes were way undercooked, so hard to even bite in to. For dinner, 3 ordered the veal scallopini special (the veal was VERY tough), I personally had the short rib gnocchi, the short rib part was super salty and the gnocchi was overcooked. For dessert, three of us ordered gelato and it was served melted. It was such a disappointment. No consistency from one visit to another. read more

We had a lovely dinner at Massimo. Nate our server was wonderful. We went in around the holidays and I loved that they do their version of the feast of seven fishes for Italian Christmas. We started off with a pizza that was spot on. For my dinner I went with the lasagna, which was quite good as well. The pasta portions were definitely plentiful and we all had plenty of leftovers. They had a espresso martini flight with dessert which looked interesting. Their dark cherry cheesecake was amazing, and something I would get again and again. It was fluffy perfections. Cannolis were also tasty. Love that they have valet, since this side of Federal Hill is definitely tricky to park by. read more

Massimo Restaurant - Italian Near Me - Providence, Rhode Island

Italian food coma haha. The Short Rib Gnocchi and the Risotto Ai Gamberi were both delectably rich dishes served piping hot. At first glance, we thought the portions wouldn't be filling but it turned out to be more than enough! The bread and olive oil tasted great too. +1 for the amazing service by Gabrielle! All in all, a stellar experience! read more

Massimo Restaurant - Brunch menu (1/2) as of 8/31/25 - Italian Near Me - Providence, Rhode Island

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We had an incredible experience here on a random Wednesday afternoon, eating a late lunch at the bar. The bar tender was engaging and helpful, and even pushed us to take the road trip we were debating about as we ate (which turned out to be amazing). The food we fantastic. My wife ordered her chicken parm well done, just to make sure it was crispy, but it wasn't even necessary as it came out a little too charred. I ordered the meatball sub which was delightful. The bartender's description was very accurate and it works perfectly: crispy and chewy bread on the outside, soft and saucy meatballs and cheese inside. We will be back! read more

Massimo Restaurant - Meatball sub from the lunch menu. Fries are battered an delicious. - Italian Near Me - Providence, Rhode Island

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My boyfriend and I were very impressed with this restaurant. We started with drinks, I got the aperol spritz and my boyfriend got a white wine. Both of our drinks were very refreshing and delicious. For apps we got the charred octopus, we loved that it was served with beans and meat. For mains I got the short rib gnocchi and omg it was delicious. My bf got one of the tortellini specials with asparagus and mascarpone cheese. All of the food was delicious and high quality. For dessert I got the tiramisu espresso martini. As a nice farewell our waiter gave us complimentary orangecello shots, it was so good! Overall we had a really great time here and left very full. read more

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This review is purely on the valet they have hired here. Was next door at Wally's where the valet continuously uses their lot without their permission. On my way out I saw a car parked with its door wide open blocking the entire entry/exit point of Wally's. So I went back inside until it was moved, came back out and the valet (Carmine) in the car that was blocking decided to mouth off to me while blocking traffic for a couple minutes. Went inside said restaurant to talk to the manager and was told that the valet (Carmine) has nothing to do with them even though they hire them and proceeded to kick me out. Completely unprofessional on management and said valet man shouldn't be working anywhere with people. read more