Fantastic food, service and ambiance! The meatballs, The cauliflower appetizer, Chicken Parm, the scallops over risotto, the pork chop, Moktan chocolate cake. All amazing! read more

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Thoroughly enjoyed this italian spot! The ziti was perfectly cooked and the sauce was delicious. Portions were also generous and justified the price. Service was also good and they had same day reservations! read more

Massimo Restaurant - Ziti Rigati Marinara - Italian Near Me - Providence, Rhode Island

Wow!!! My favorite on the Hill!!! My cousins and I had dinner at Massimo my last night visiting, and tge entire experience was fabulous. I'm the Italian cousin so I wanted to be sure I chose a good place. We opted to sit outside to watch the world go by in Little italy, and when rain came, they extend the awning o er the sidewalk tables. From the olive oil with green olives and excellent focaccia, we knew we'd chosen wisely. Our waiter, Jake, did an excellent job explaining specials and answering questions. We were able to dine at a leisurely pace, sit and visit. The valet let us leave our car while we walked to a bakery for desserts. The meals: the cauliflower appetizer was light crisp delicately flavored and seasoned. Enough for us to share with the focaccia and olive oil. My short ribs with gnocchi was everything I anticipated, tender beef and fluffy pillows in a light sauce. I had enough left to send home with my cousins. read more

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I visited Massimo on a weekday night - so it wasn't too busy. However, the staff was very prompt and attentive during my whole meal. Our server was phenomenal. My date and I shared the Polpo alla Griglia - charred octopus with chorizo and gigante beans. DELICIOUS. The tomato sauce mixed in was so good. For the entrees, we ordered the Spaghetti al Nero con Aragosta (black squid ink pasta) and the Branzino. So much flavor and great portion for each dish. I definitely intend on coming back and trying their other dishes. We didn't have any dessert, but their dessert sounded good as well. I can understand why Massimo is an ideal spot for lunch & dinner. You have to be option to trying their options - and it's definitely worth trying. Can't wait to come return! read more

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The food was AMAZING!!! I ordered the calamari and ziti. I sat at the bar and Jenna was taking care of me. It was her third shift and she was truly amazing!!! Great service and great food. Must come when you're in Providence. read more

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I keep thinking about the short rib gnocchi! SO GOOD! We've never sat at a table, but we absolutely love going to the bar area. Great vibes and service! read more

Came here on a Saturday night. It's loud, bustling and definitely not a quiet date night spot. Especially if you are sitting outside near the main entrance. The crowd gathers for the valet and everyone is just standing around your table. Had the grilled octopus and frutti di mare. The portions were decent but both lacked flavor. The bartenders were not very attentive. Once they took our initial drink order we had to flag them down for everything else. Probably wouldn't return. read more

One of the best meals I've had in Providence! I had the steak special, which was paired with an amazing, creamy risotto. Others at the table had the short rib gnocchi and fusilli with burrata - both of which had really well cooked pasta and delicious sauces. The service was also spot on. Water glasses were never empty, we were offered our next round of drinks promptly when the prior round was empty, we never waited to order anything, and our server was very nice but not overbearing at all. Only thing I would change is that it was quite warm inside. We sat upstairs directly under one of the vents and we were all way too warm. That may have been an individual table experience though based on being under the vent. read more

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Food was good/fair. Tricolore salad and ravioli were good. Chicken Parm was also reasonably decent. Lasagne- noodles were soggy and all in all it wasn't very good, same with cheesecake, not great. Waitress had a passive aggressive attitude that sort of soured the whole experience. She was outwardly friendly but seemed angry in almost every interaction. I double checked on a nut allergy, once dessert was delivered, and she was pretty salty about my asking. I'd pass this one by. read more

It's been a long time since I was in Federal Hill. As a kid, I would visit my grandparents, and this was always on the agenda. I had been telling my wife how great Atwells Avenue was, so I took her to Massimo, albeit during one of New England's famous Nor'Easters! We dragged our rain-drenched selves into the restaurant (after my bad decision) to walk from the hotel, and were immediately greeted by an incredibly friendly maitre'd. She took our umbrellas, hung up our coats, and was genuinely kind. Our server, Steven (sp?), was great too, attending to our every need. We started with the Pizzetta Fico & Gorgonzola, which would have been enough for my wife for dinner. It had an excellent sweet and salty taste, and just enough figs to provide the sweetness without overloading it. I ordered the branzino, which was prepared with a light sauce and garlic green beans. It was excellent, and a great choice after the pizzetta. My wife ordered the chicken parm, which was mediocre at best. The chicken had that dry after-freezing taste, although the sauce was good. She was disappointed. I ordered the tiramisu for dessert, and it was light and fluffy and tasted great. Overall, this was a good experience. Given what we paid, ~$75 each per person with one glass of wine for my wife, I suggest that Yelp adjust the restaurant cost to $$$. read more

My daughter picked this place in the hill for her graduation party which was a party of 8. They seated us in the upstairs room which was very pretty. The food and drinks were delicious. Everyone enjoyed the appetizers, meals and drinks. My daughter was given a desert which said congratulations which was nice and to finish it all off the waiter came over with shots for the table to toast. Our waiter was a young man named Nate and to say the least this young man was knowledgeable on the dishes, gave us the specials, was attentive, had great energy, nice Ora we really enjoyed having him serve us. Great job for a party of 8. I would like to just add a fun fact. My sister was here from Florida and reminded me that back in the 90's this restaurant was a night club which brought back fun memories for her. read more

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Visited Massino twice this past month! It's that good! 1st time I got the brazzino it was cooked to perfection, flaky and the flavor was on point! Got calamari for an app and it was crispy not too much batter and the squid was tender. Cannoli for dessert was ok not my fave...but that brings me to my second visit, got their pasta special shrimp over a white truffle sauce pasta it was so rich and delicious! Got their octopus for an app this was very good all the flavors meshed well, and the tiramisu for dessert this was soooooo good! Don't miss it, the service was quick and the server was knowledgeable about the menu, the decor is romantic and a great spot for a date! Tip, valet!!! read more

I hadn't been here in several years. We recently went on a weekday afternoon and caught the appetizer special hours. The service was wonderful and the food was absolutely delicious. As were the cocktails! Looking forward to going back read more

Truly exceptional. The drinks were impeccable and the bartender was very pleasant to talk to. We shared some outstanding short rib gnocchi. Drooling just thinking about it! read more

We booked a table at OpenTable, were greeted at the reception and asked to wait several minutes at the bar. Right after we ordered our cocktails the manager came to tell us that as we booked outside seating, it is not available due to the rain. The manager somehow implied we should have known there is no cover over outdoor tables for the rainy weather and presented no excuses on behalf of the restaurant for not being able to accommodate us. We were left with no option but to finish our drinks hastily, pay and urgently find another place to go. read more

Service, great. Food, salty and boring. Ribolita, salty and boring, carbonara, the same and the cannolo so so. As another one of the top restaurants in Providence, there's little to attract serious diners. read more

Had a reservation for 530 outside for 5 of us for my husband's birthday. Restaurant did not inform us that they were not seating outside until we showed up at 530. No text, no call. We showed up for our reservation and were told there was no seating outside and no room inside. We had paid for parking and had selected this restaurant for its gluten free sensitivity. No where else nearby with a table at that point and we were over an hour from home. The hostess was pretty unkind and rude about it. I got a text after we left that our reservation was canceled. Ruined a birthday. read more

Absolute gas... has the bolognese and it was the best Italian I've ever had... would HIGHLY recommend this place.

Food was really disappointing - went during restaurant week - tried the prefix menu. The filet was the worst cut ever - totally inedible.

Service 4/5 (very pleasant; accommodating , but a bit slow) Ambience 4/5 (pleasant) Food 3/5 (pork chop, bread) 5/5 (gnocchi with added pork) Enjoyed pleasant outdoor dining experience on a September Thursday evening. We had a reservation for 2 and were immediately seated. Great vibe with a diverse clientele and wait staff. Dark dining room set-up like classic American-Italian decor. Mood lighting, lots of wood, framed Italian adverts, photos/art, and colorful scene. Opted for the stuffed squash blossoms (special) appetizer and we ordered the pork chop and gnocchi off the menu. Blossom were perfectly stuffed and fried; the accompanying sauce was bland (our server, Nate, was able to bring something more flavorful to drag those delicious morsels through). The entrees took at least 30 minutes longer after the appetizer arrived. We weren't in a hurry or bothered, but be aware if you have a show time or tight schedule. The pork chop was highly recommended by our server; the meat temperature was medium to medium-well doneness, but the entree was not served hot, overall. I found the caramelized onions topping too sweet for my taste, but my husband devoured the leftovers (needs a bit of acid for balance?) and the gnocchi was tasty (brown butter? Yes, chef!) and unexpectedly crispy; the cauliflower was okay and seemed a mix of cauliflower, purple cauliflower, and romesco (pleasant surprise mix but needed more roasting time). My co-worker and dining partner's entree was served piping hot, with that tender, tomato-sauced gnocchi and the added sausage had amazing flavor. Service was engaging and pleasant, if a bit busy with many outside tables. Entrees took longer than expected. My personal lesson: the person who recommended the restaurant suggested that the orrechiete with broccoli rabe was the best menu item (I should have stuck with her suggestion - the carnivore in me opted for the pork chop; it was meh) read more

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While in the last city for our 20th wedding anniversary trip, we came here for dinner. The reviews all said good things and they held up. We both had drinks and my wife had the Gnocchi while I had the chicken parmesan. Both were good. When I made the reservation, I indicated that it was our anniversary and the restaurant acknowledged it by having a celebratory sign and rose petals on our table. They even wrote Happy Anniversary in chocolate on the plate that carried our bowl of Gelato. The service was phenomenal as well. The atmosphere reminded us of being in a restaurant in Little Italy back home. Definitely a good pick. read more

Massimo Restaurant - Italian Near Me - Providence, Rhode Island

The ambiance was great for a romantic evening, it was loud but settled down as we had a late reservation (10:00pm) the foccacia was awesome and the meatballs were a 10/10. I got the short rib gnocchi as my main and while the short rib sauce was tasty, the gnocchi wasn't warm at all which made it hard to stomach. I also put in a request and called ahead to have a dessert brought out to my date, but it wasn't done. We had to wait 20 mins past our reservation time to be seated, and our appetizer came out wrong. read more

Massimo Restaurant - Short Rib Gnocchi - Italian Near Me - Providence, Rhode Island

Loved the ambiance, the warm & welcoming host staff, can't wait to go back to try the duck next time! Definitely recommend the pork chop.

Our experience was unbelievable! I had the meatballs which were unbelievable! My partner had the pork chop which was also delicious and so tender! Service was great! Ambiance was nice! Highly recommend! read more

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Shout out to the bar tender whom recommended me his favorite happy hour dishes. Fried calamari and meat balls, wow, incredible deal and fresh ingredients. A must try if you are into Italian food. I can see this place gets packed before the happy hour ends. read more

One of the best meatball sandwiches I've ever had, ohh and their gnocchi just melts in your mouth!

The restaurant is located in a super busy area with minimal parking. I would recommend getting and uber, taxi or some type of ride share service- or finding a garage near by and walking (Not sure if there are any not from the area). The restaurant does have free valet parking which is super nice. The food was very good, I got a gnocchi dish while my friend got chicken parm. We both thought the dishes were good. The wine was delicious, we asked for a recommendation in which our waiter recommend HEBO. It was in between dry and sweet, and very aromatic. I can't speak too much further on the restaurant as we had to leave early. But it was a pleasant experience, and I would definitely go back! The server was very attentive (in a good way), we didn't need to look for himc and he always came at the right time, Which is nice. read more

Massimo Restaurant - Meat Meatballs (3) Caesar Salad - Italian Near Me - Providence, Rhode Island

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This is my second time visiting Massimo. Unfortunately, the restaurant has not improved since my prior visit. The service was very good (great valet and waiter) and the cocktails had high reviews from our party. The apps were OK, fig tart was very good, but pizza was undercooked. It may seem novice, but I judge an Italian restaurant by the ability to prepare the staple, chicken parm. I had chicken parm at Massimo. It was not good. I actually was unable to eat it. I am not sure if it was a chicken patty, but it was not a well cooked white chicken breast. It was dry, chewy and taste was poor. They did offer to prepare me another dish, which was appreciated, but declined. Not sure if I am having a unique experience, given the other high reviews. I much prefer other options in the Providence area. read more

The food is great and the restaurant is beautiful. The service is mediocre at best. The restaurant was empty but we felt rushed and the staff seemed like they didn't want to be there. read more

Massimo Restaurant - Table bread - Italian Near Me - Providence, Rhode Island

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Service 5/5 Ambiance & Interior 4/5 Food 3.8/5 Price 4/5 Our server was sweet and funny he also made some great recommendations. Nonetheless the cheese on our gnocchi was pretty overpowering thick and salty. The salad was good but the onions really add a super tart tang. The fish was the lightest and the couscous paired nicely with it - the Bolognese was your basic bolognese. Overall it was good but nothing particularly special the price was fair for Italian and the service was great. The bread here denser than most and the oil - cohesiveness of this was a quite heavy, dense and salty. read more

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Our party of four made reservations for an 11am Sunday brunch at Massimo's in Providence. One of the advantages of arriving at 11am is parking. It's quite easy to find on street parking at 11am, alternatively Massimo's offers valet parking. We scored some convenient parking around the corner and walked about a block to the restaurant. It's also less busy at 11am, by Noon, Massimo's was getting quite busy, it's a popular place for good reasons. We were seated immediately and were served some very warm and tasty bread with some olives. Our pleasant waiter took our order. We selected both breakfast and lunch dishes including: Lobster Crepes (2 diners ordered this) $23 Polpette and Ziti $22 French Toast $16 Cafe Latte $4 Hot Tea $3 The food arrive in reasonable amount of time, and looked good. The lobster crepe diners thought the dish was very good, but commented it wasn't very hot. The French Toast was described as delicious. My Poplette dish included three large meatballs, of which I consumed two, with ricotta cheese placed in-between them. Both meatballs were very tasty, one was nicely hot, one was cool, which was surprising as they were in the same dish. Our service was good, though we were chatting away and not in a rush. Overall, we enjoyed our meal and would be happy to return. read more

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This review is specifically about the valet service associated with this restaurant. I was next door at Wally's, where the valet repeatedly uses their lot without permission. As I was leaving, I saw a vehicle parked with its door wide open, completely blocking the entry and exit to Wally's. I went back inside to wait until it was moved. When I came back out, the valet who had been blocking the entrance began mouthing off to me while still obstructing traffic for several minutes. I then went inside the restaurant to speak with a manager. I was told the valet "has nothing to do with them," despite the fact that they hire the service. Instead of addressing the situation, I was asked to leave. The handling of this situation was completely unprofessional. Management should take responsibility for the services they hire, and that valet employee should not be working in a customer-facing position. read more

*Chef's kiss * such a gem in federal hill. Sooooo many delicious GF options I was amazed. They also had GF bread rolls for the table our server was incredible, so nice and great recs. One of my fav restaurants if New England I think I also loved the ambiance downstairs. It was a nice old timey restaurant vibe w exposed brick and cool vintage photos. Upstairs is a little more formal with clothed tables. They also have an exceptional wine list. Looking forward to next time!! read more

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Great place. In town for just one night - planned with the Yelp app and worked out great (again). Ate early with Phoebe as our server. Great service. Had some apps as well as the short rib sauce over a different pasta than the gnocchi which worked out great. Easy to talk until about 6:45 when the place filled up and got noisier. read more

Food was amazing, our server Kevin was very nice and attentive. We sat outside, but the inside did look beautiful. We got the lunch special, and it came out pretty fast. read more

Massimo Restaurant - Pollo alla Piccata - Italian Near Me - Providence, Rhode Island

Il Massimo has and will always be a Federal Hill staple. It is situated right at the entrance of Federal Hill and cannot be missed. The restaurant is two floors and offers various different tables to accommodate parties of any size or need. When my party and I visited, we were greeted by the hostesses who could not have been more kind. Our server was also more than courteous. For food we ordered just the mushroom pasta special being offered that night, and the carbonara. I enjoyed the mushroom dish so much. It was creamy, flavorful, and everything I wanted to be. The other person in my party is Italian, and said they did not like the carbonara. I did not try it, so I cannot say anything. It looked great to me, and honestly I think they were just being dramatic. Il Massimo never disappoints [me] and is a wonderful place for you to try in Federal Hill. I hope to return in the future, try more items, and provide a more substantive review. read more

On a Saturday night, I reserved a table for two thirty minutes before time slot. The restaurant itself has gorgeous ambient lighting and decoration, and the sheer curtain panels on the upper floor discretely hid the parking lot outside. Perhaps it was because we were younger, I felt the lady who showed us to our table and started us off with water was not very friendly. The tone that she used with my table compared to the tables in my vicinity seemed much more kind. The focaccia bread and olive oil starter was delectable. Soft and chewy with a crisp outer shell. We ordered the short rib gnocchi and the carbonara, which came out within 10 minutes. Despite the lovely plating, our first taste impressions weren't the greatest. The gnocchi dish had a tangy flavor, which was unexpected from the yummy creamy aroma walking into the restaurant. The gnocchi potato itself had a great texture, but the surrounding beef and sauce were not appetizing. According to my company, the carbonara had a great mix of flavors, one of which was sour. Eating the dishes was a struggle for my company and I, and we left the restaurant within 30 minutes, carrying take out containers for our pasta. Overall, the restaurant innards has the wow factor, but dishes I tried today left me feeling disappointed. read more

Massimo Restaurant - Carbonara and Short Rib Gnocchi - Italian Near Me - Providence, Rhode Island

Amazing food, cocktails, service and ambience. We went for lunch today with friends and ate from the Presto lunch menu. Highlights were the basil gimlet and the spaghetti alla carbonara which is hands down the best and most authentic I've had outside Italy. Can't wait to go back. An added bonus was the easy valet parking, which took away the stress of finding somewhere to park in Providence. read more

I have dined here four times, and each was fantastic. Last week's experience was truly special, but I didn't realize it until tonight's leftovers. The pork chop with caramelized spicy figs etc was terrific at the restaurant -- thick, cooked perfectly -- and the gnocchi and cauliflower had great taste and texture. As 4-day leftovers, the pork's fall / winter seasonings were more pronounced and the spicy figs had more heat. Tonight was a marvelous second dinner. Thank you. read more

Solid spot for good Italian food. The service was great. The carbonara was too salty, but it was fine another time we went. read more

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