What an awesome date night for my wife and I. Stopped in b/4 a show at The AMP and glad we did. My wife had the Braciola di Maiale, a Grilled Pork Chop, Spicy Caramelized Figs, House-made Gnocchi tossed with Brown Butter and Roasted Cauliflower. She had them swap out the Gnocchi for mashed potato. The pork chop was cooked to perfection, she absolutely loved it as well as the potatoes. I opted for the Fettuccine alla Bolognese which is Slow Braised Beef Ragu, Pecorino Romano. Definitely one of the best Bolognese I've had. Staff was fantastic. read more

It almost pains me to make this kind of review but I'm gonna try to be as honest as possible. First off, the place is really nice. The ambiance is really great- it's a romantic kind of feel. I reached out for a reservation before because my husband is on crutches and asked for some easily accessible seating if possible. They were able to accommodate us when we got there which was great. The service as a whole was...acceptable. Like the host & server did not go above and beyond. Not super memorable service or over the top, but got the job done. Checked in once or twice. I have no expectation for folks to be cheery all the time so that's not a big deal for me. Now the food is why I rated it a 3. There was some good some not good at all. If you're a lover of Calamari, you have to try it! It was so good. We also got the meatballs. They were really soft and pillowy. It wasn't super rich in flavor. Just some meat with red sauce and I think ricotta. It was just very mild taste. For our meal, I was very excited to try the Duck Confit and my husband got the short rib gnocchi. This is where things got inedible. I love duck confit and this was not the best I've had nor the best looking. The duck was a little tough. The sauce was watery and ravioli was way too sweet. I couldn't eat it any more after that. My husbands gnocchi was good but the sauce and the short rib together was so salty and unfortunately he couldn't finish his meal either. We took a to go box but threw it away. The meal picked up a bit when we got dessert. We shared tiramisu and espresso. The tiramisu was really good! I'd recommend it and the espresso was the perfect way to end the meal. I don't know if I'd try this place again but I wonder if it was just the dishes that we got that weren't good as there are so many positive reviews. So I guess maybe pick carefully if you do go. read more

Bolognese was great. Cheese board great.... Filet minion first time was delicious but second time around was very bland and not hot. It's a hit or miss with the drinks. read more

The reviews don't lie, this place is SO GOOD. Came here on a Friday night and it was packed. My friend and I had gone through a string of other Italian restaurants, only to find that all of them were full for the night. The case for Massimo was true as well, however they had bar seating! You are allowed to dine at the bar, so we were pretty excited. The bar area fluctuates between loud and quiet because it served as their waiting space. If you're not into noise, don't choose the bar seating to dine. The bartender was super nice and service was surprisingly fast. We ordered the burrata, which was a special, as our appetizer. The shell of the burrata is a bit more firm than most, but that helps it keep the shape, which I liked. I didn't like the salt that was on the burrata because it led to inconsistent bites of super salty burrata and bites that were normal. The prosciutto was delicious, SUPER fatty, but really good. Overall, a great dish!! For our entrees, I ordered the Orecchiette con Salsiccia and it was also soooooo good. Definitely on the salty side, but otherwise no complaints. The portion size is HUGE, so even though the dish is a bit pricey, it's totally worth it. My friend ordered another special, which was the saffron seafood risotto, and this blew me away. It was probably our best dish. The Risotto was flavored so well and the seafood in the dish was really tender. There was a lobster tail that was quite good. Again, the portion size was super big. I tried the house Chianti which was okay. The bar tender recommended me another Chianti after, which was a bit pricier, but so smooth. I didn't ask for the name, but I really enjoyed that one. All in all, totally worth it!! The bill did come out to be about $130 with tax and tip for 3 dishes and 2 glasses of wine. It's an upscale restaurant, so I guess it's more pricey. The bread they give you in the beginning with tomato sauce is also really good! read more

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Started with the carpaccio and the chucturie boardboard. They gave you nothing as 9far as bread or crackers for the board. I don't know what you're supposed to put the cheese and meats on or spread the chutney on? Ordered spaghetti and meatballs ask for my spaghetti to be aldente. Nothing but mushy overcooked spaghetti... If you like bread crumbs for meatballs, you will like these. Horrible!! How can you screw up macaroni and meatballs at an italian restaurant beyond me.? Needless to say, I would never ever return to this restaurant. I was better off ordering pancakes off the brunch menu. Waste of my $$ and time. read more

After extensive research, we chose Massimo for dinner. We split the spaghetti Nero and the gnocchi. Holy cow. The spaghetti was squid ink pasta with lobster. The sauce was full of umami flavor - garlicky and creamy and full of lobster flavor. The gnocchi was fluffy, pillowy, and possibly the best home made gnocchi I've ever had. While we waited for our meals, we were served warm focaccia bread with oil. Overall, amazing dinner experience. The food was top notch, the ambiance was inviting, and our waitress Julia was a star. (She recommended what dishes to try and was so nice.) read more

Cute restaurant on the hill, service is amazing and drinks + food is delicious. The tiramisu was my favorite. Out of all restaurants on the hill this is my new favorite. read more

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The only time I sat down there was on Mother's Day, which was great but a bit loud, so I won't talk about that much. I've had takeout from there a number of times and it's really excellent. Even the sandwiches and things were clearly thoughtfully composed and have that elevated "chef" execution and flavor profile. A bit expensive if you're just comparing menu item to menu item at other places, but you're getting something on a different level. read more

We had brunch and the food was good. The lobster crepes and brioche French toast was delicious. The service was great.

Very impressed with this restaurant. Food was of great quality and taste. Lobster ravioli had plenty of lobster and was the best I've had so far. Bolognese was delicious and seasoned just great. We ordered take out due to COVID 19, but the quality did not lack. Can't wait to actually get to eat in the restaurant! read more

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

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Amazing, extensive and delicious full GF menu. Very impressed by all the GF options. Delicious GF pasta. Great atmosphere

The baby Spanish was got a little bit sand in it. The spaghetti was over cooked. The octopus was warm but not hot, The fig and ham pizza was special, it's soft in the middle and crisp on the edge with grilled cheese. read more

There is absolutely nothing bad to say about Massimo's! From the service to the food, it was a wonderful evening to celebrate my husband's 50th birthday. Carvel, our server, was great. She recommended the best dishes and never let our glasses go empty. The duck confit ravioli was decadent and so unique. The bolognese and broccoli rabe pesto orecchiette was authentic and delish. Leave room for desert - the tiramisu and cannoli trio were perfect ending to our meal. I would highly recommend this restaurant. read more

i have been here so many times- i can't believe i haven't reviewed this restaurant. this is one of my go to dinner places when i'm in town. there is nothing bad on this menu. i love their fresh foccacia that you get while you wait- they serve it with olive oil and vinegar..as they should. my FAVORITE app is the octopus with fava beans. it is a dreamy combination. my FAVORITE dinner is the squid ink pasta. i have not been to another restaurant that makes it better (and that says a lot as i come from Jersey and live near the north end now) but honestly, i have never had anything bad here. i have brought friends for anniversaries, birthdays and even for my wedding week- everyone always left very impressed! i would definitely recommend a bottle of chianti to go with dinner. i know red with seafood is taboo, but my husband and i think it goes really well. read more

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The bread, calamari, and ziti were incredible! Highly recommend if you are looking for Italian in the area.

The lasagna was excellent, as was the ambiance and the service. Highly recommend. Don't know when I'll be in Providence again but I would certainly seek it out for Italian. read more

AWESOME Italian restaurant in Federal Hill. Parking nearby could be tough on a busy night here. We did not have a reservation, but, upon our arrival, we were greeted promptly and led to our table. We ordered the calamari, potato cakes, and the cauliflower.....SO GOOD and perfectly executed. Each of us ordered a pasta plate for the main course. My presto sauce was so tasty that I asked for more bread to wipe it up. Enough said. read more

Massimo Restaurant - Potato cakes, cauliflower, and calamari - Italian Near Me - Providence, Rhode Island

Massimo is one of the top rated if not the top rated Italian joint in Federal Hill. I never had a chance to try it when living in Rhode Island and was in town for the weekend so decided to give it a go. I had always had this perception that Massimo would have these upscale Italian dishes that would blow your socks off based off the outer decor and raving reviews. However, the menu showcased your average run of the mill Italian American dishes that you would find in any standard Italian American joint across the county. Now I'd be okay with that if it was the best Italian American food you could find but sadly it was just like any other place. I have a high standard of meatballs and these just weren't it. They were soggy & lacking any real flavor or texture. I ordered the Short Rib Gnocchi and it was average. The gnocchi had a good consistency but the short rib and sauce wasn't wowing me. It honestly tasted like a home cooked meal which isn't terrible if you are eating at home. But if you are looking for an elevated dish, this just wasn't it. My wife's dish was bland as well but the real kicker was that there was a piece of Brillo pad in it. Luckily the manager came over and comped the dish and offered a free dessert that we declined. It should've never happened in the first place but do appreciate them trying to reconcile. We denied the free dessert because everything was so lackluster that we didn't want to waste another calorie at this place. read more

Massimo Restaurant - Polpette - Italian Near Me - Providence, Rhode Island

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This is by far my favorite Italian spot to settle in at on the hill... the chicken parm is my go to, while everything else is just as good! Get the espresso martini minus baileys with tia maria instead You won't be disappointed feasting like a king here read more

Excellent service and great food . We had the squid ink pasta , veal parm , and several appetizers . We will definitely be back! read more

Massimo Restaurant - Veal Chop Parmigiano - Italian Near Me - Providence, Rhode Island

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We ate here during the Covid-19 lock-down when restaurants could only be open for outdoor seating. One might assume that the experience would be better once Covid-19 is no more. We were seated on the sidewalk on Atwells Street with cars and people going by. I was okay, but I really prefer eating inside. They did not seem very good about Covid precautions. When people left a table, they wiped down the table but not the arms of the chairs that people had been constantly touching. The menus were encased in plastic, and I hope were wiped down between uses. However, the wine list was clearly not disinfected between uses. Calamari was excellent (5*), veal chop parmigiano was (4*), it needed more seasoning. My wife had Vitello alla Griglia: Veal Tenderloin wrapped with Prosciutto di Parma. She really liked the mushrooms (4.5*). The tiramisu was good, but did not have enough coffee flavor (4*). The pasta did not taste home made to me. This is something I really look for in an Italian restaurant these days. The service was okay, but not great (3.5*). I'm willing to believe that the service suffered due to working under difficult Covid conditions. I will go back someday when I can eat inside. read more

We went here in June after the coronavirus regulations were relaxed and we had a great time. The ambiance, service, and food were all excellent. The portions were also generous which is good because my boyfriend has a huge appetite. I'm sure this will be added in to our restaurant rotation. Update - we back last night and had another great meal with really outstanding service! read more

Massimo Restaurant - Buratta appetizer - huge and delicious! - Italian Near Me - Providence, Rhode Island

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THE SERVICE WAS AWFUL. Our waitress named HAILEY OVERCHARGED me. My family and I were seated on the first floor. I tipped her $5 but instead she took $18. That's a big difference for her to not notice. I think the service could have been better because the waitress was very slow and unpleasant. I felt that the food I ordered was overpriced for what I got. My salmon and risotto came out cold. Overall, our meals were very mediocre. I won't make the mistake of coming here again. read more

The menu was great and the food amazing! The waitress was friendly and attentive. The atmosphere was lovely. Even the valet parking attendants were funny and friendly. My only complaint is the ladies room is TERRIBLE! OMG, for a restaurant of this caliber the restroom was freezing, dirty and the stall doors would not lock. You can do better than this! read more

This cozy restaurant has left the best impressions! Hospitable hosts, delicious dishes, beautiful presentation, wide wine list and wonderful dessert. I recommend to everyone! I would like to come back here again and again. read more

Great food and atmosphere. Our waitress was great. The pork chop was delicious. I would highly recommend.

Very good service and impeccable food. Love the atmosphere. Buisness or pleasure, the ambiance is lovely read more

The outside of the restaurant well lite sign reads Ristorante iL Massimo (see pix) Outdoor seating at Massimo restaurant close to entrance of road. Server was Virginia. Whispering Angel pink wine along with assorted other soda and drinks are available at this location. I ordered Linguine with garlic. I got, Linguine with olives. I reordered and got very al dente linguine a few raw very thin sliced garlic. According to manager Tracy, this is their version of it. Noodles are noodles and I ate - some- of them. The Chicken Parmesan was - ordinary and nothing to write home about. Ah but the "Vitello alla Griglia" was the best veal tenderloin dish with taste of Rosemary and demi glazed mashed potatoes quite full of taste and texture. Dessert was cannoli's that were freshly made with orange peel, or hazel. This restaurant is one of many down this street. They close off the road on the weekends so that outdoor seating is set up, though many including this one currently does have indoor service as well. We were told this restaurant, closed at 10pm though others had varying times. Down the block around the corner was a really nice fountain that shouldn't be missed. Some of the outside tables we saw, fold flat, an interesting invention and one that saves space. (see pix) At the bottom of the receipt there is a notation that reads, other restaurant location is noted as Dedham and open in Legacy Place. read more

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We loved this meal! First the service was amazing. I forgot the servers name, but I felt like they were all well trained and well represented the establishment. Then the drinks, amazingly creative. I think I had a purple rain and loved it! Lastly the food... it was so so good. We had 6 dishes and loved each one. Creative, fresh and well put together. I would eat here again in a minute! read more

Beautiful restaurant. I had a reservation on Christmas Eve because they offered the traditional seven fishes. I was very impressed with the decor as well as the whole restaurant. We sat at the ground level but the upstairs was beautiful as well. The food was great and they offered complementary valet. I was not impressed with our server and she seemed irritated whenever we opened our mouths. She delivered the food and rarely came back to the table. Yet, I will definitely come back with my fiancé for a date night. P.S. hands-down the best coffee I've ever ordered. I drank it black because it was so good. read more

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Old-school Italian restaurant. You know what you are getting. Squid ink spaghetti is good read more

My girlfriend and I have tried a bunch of places on the Hill and had mixed reviews after dinner at Massimo. Our waitress was superb even though there was a mix up of bills at the end of the night. I had the Frutti Di Mare - Fra Diavlo and loved it. She had the Gnocchi Al Forno and thought it mediocre. The waitresses recommendation on desert was spot on.... A chocolate lava creation of some sort. The restaurant seemed cramped with table layout....it felt like a community dinner with a another group literally inches away from our table. Valet seems unnecessary with their parking lot literally across the street. Waiting for a valet with 3 groups queed for their cars seems like a waste. Please hand me my keys and let me walk across the street. read more

We came here for restaurant week lunch, which according to their website is actually just a normal weekday lunch deal. You get a 3 course meal for $16.95. The focaccia bread to start us off was very good. It was seasoned heartily with cheese and herbs, and came with a homemade (tomato?) sauce of onions. Usually, I don't talk about the bread, but Massimo's bread is definitely worth mentioning. Zuppa al Pomodoro: Very creamy; generous helping of creme fraiche. It came with some nice, crisp bread. Spaghettoni alla Carbonara: It looks small, but it is very filling. It is topped off with a nice egg yolk, and the sauce is oh so rich. So rich that you will be stuffed by the time you finish this... the guanciale was delicious, and added a nice crispiness to the pasta. My only complaint is that the dish was a little too salty. Ravioli Ripieni di Burrata: You get only 4 raviolis with this dish, but looks can be deceiving as this is also pretty filling. The raviolis are big and stuffed with a generous dollop of burrata. Even without meat, this dish is delicious and the garlic and tomato sauce complements it well. Il Cannolo: Very good cannoli, on par with what I've had in the North End of Boston! Tiramisu: I thought this was all right, but nothing extraordinary to mention. read more

Calamari wasn't good the bread was falling off and calamari was chewy. The pasta dish with whole lobster didn't have a whole lobster at all. But the service was good. read more

Massimo Restaurant - Italian Near Me - Providence, Rhode Island

Excellent service through out. No apps for us. Great bread before dinner. We both got lobster ravioli with scallops for dinner. It came with 3 Oz of lobster meat in addition to ravioli. Scallops were great! Lobster meat was just ok. Dessert was great. We ordered the cheesecake with a scoop of vanilla Gelato. It was the biggest slice of cheesecake I've ever seen. Had to be a double slice. We couldn't finish it. I'd go back. With 1 cocktail each, the bill was about $60 per person including tax and tip. Not too bad. read more

Excellent restaurant - used to go here when I visited Providence. The food is as good as it gets and the atmosphere is nice.

I want to go to Massimo's one day... you know... but the one that people are talking about in these reviews...because the one I just went to was terrible. Not all was bad though... the star of the evening was the valet guy who parked my car!... I had the "homemade" short rib gnocchi. I have to say, never saw "homemade" gnocchi made so perfectly ... they resembled the kind I've bought off the shelf at Stop & Shop...but not as good! And the short rib sauce was like nothing I've ever had before ...and with any luck, will not have again. No flavor coming from a puréed paste of mush . Surprisingly, this was recommended by our young waitress who had the "good sense" to never ask us how are meals were. The penne vodka was also a flop. A weird flavor.... Maybe cinnamon ....permeated the sauce. It's a hard dish to screw up but they did. The Salmon in the roasted pepper sauce was OK.... I mean OK if you like a bland sauce slathered over a ubiquitous piece of salmon...even though you would normally expect pepper sauce to have flavor. All in all ...it really was not "terrible".... Just bad enough to regret going there. Maybe the Chef was on vacation. read more

Went here last weekend looking for an upscale Italian Restaurant and was honestly really disappointed. We were served the wrong appetizer, but when we finally got what we ordered (the mussels) they were delicious. We then went on to wait about an hour and fifteen minutes for our entrees which were cold when they arrived but still tasty. To add, we had a reservation for 8pm and the restaurant was not very busy at the time. We had to wait for the check for twenty minutes with our meals boxed up and sitting on the table while our server chatted. Not really sure what happened, maybe it was an off night for service, but definitely not what we expected. Hoping to try again for a more positive experience... read more

The food was very good the meat balls are excellent! The sausage, I was not a fan. The bread is also very soft and savory the olive oil mix w the power flakes gives it a nice touch. Add some queso Parmesano and you'll thank me !! however the service is slow and the waitress put in the wrong order and the meals came out in a chaotic order..... Whomp whomp can't win them all.... read more

Massimo Restaurant - Italian Near Me - Providence, Rhode Island

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Their food is so good I love their bread. Wait staff is great. I definitely will be back.