Massimo's - Ristorante Massimo

Massimo's is an absolute gem in Portsmouth! The handmade pastas are a game-changer; each dish feels crafted with love and attention. The flavors are rich and authentic, showcasing the skill and dedication of the chefs. Don't miss their decadent desserts – they're a sweet conclusion to a perfect meal. What truly sets Massimo's apart is their exemplary customer service; the staff goes above and beyond to ensure every visit is memorable. Whether you're a local or visiting, Massimo's is a must-try for a delightful culinary experience in Portsmouth.

Had an amazing dinner at Ristorante Massimo this evening! From the meatball appetizer to the burrata salad to the Carbonara to the Bolognese to their dessert special of limonchello granita, to the service from the time we arrived until the time we left....absolutely perfect. It has been a long time since I have experienced this perfection in hospitality. Thank you, Franscesca and your colleagues, for a wonderful evening!

Extremely professional, personable, wonderful staff. Food is delicious, wine options are fantastic.. Their dining room brought me back to Italy. Massimo is very friendly and makes you feel welcome. Only note I would mention is that my husband and I felt the bread could use some work. For being an authentic Italian restaurant, higher quality bread is a must! With good quality olive oil. Would absolutely recommend for a special occasion dinner!

This place is truly a hidden gem of Portsmouth. Not only was the service and atmosphere outstanding, the food is beyond incredible. Everything that hits the table is fresh and inspired. We went in on a whim and had one of our most memorable meals. The owner takes the time to speak with each and every table to ensure they’re enjoying themselves and we even watched a server help their elderly guests cross the street in heavy traffic. Above and beyond in each and every category. Can’t wait to go back with friends!

I had a wonderful experience for my first time dining here! We started with the meatballs and an appetizer portion of the carbonara. Both appetizers were delicious. I loved the addition of ricotta and pesto to the meatballs and the truffle in the carbonara really sets it apart from a basic carbonara. For our meals, I got the bucatini and my boyfriend got the bone-in veal ribeye chop. I loved the pasta, the sauce, the crispy garlic… everything was amazing and my boyfriend loved the veal. We got the dessert box to go and I was very pleasantly surprised, a great end to our delicious meal. The service and atmosphere were both fantastic! 10/10 would recommend. I can’t wait to go back!

Went for restaurant week. The server messed up my dessert and I wasn’t paying attention, but the server was so kind and gave me the correct dessert to take home. All of the food was delicious.

This is my 2nd time here at Massimo, and it's even better than the first. I took my wife here early in our first year of marriage, and we both loved it. We always said that we would come back, and we finally did it tonight for the occasion of my mother and brother, who shared a birthday. Everything was as amazing as we remembered, if not even better. Service is fantastic, atmosphere is perfect, good is phenomenal. I will be coming back again and again when I'm in the area.

We made reservations for our 20th anniversary. Massimos didn't disappoint. We were greeted with a smile and a great conversation. We were guided to an adorable corner booth and given a complimentary glass of wine, congratulating us on our anniversary. The food was astounding. We smiled through the entire experience. Thank you for making our evening memorable.

Things I like... - awesome downstairs cozy location with great vibes - one of the best meals I have ever eaten: Kobe meatballs and carbonara pasta - incredible service Things I don't like... - nothing. I highly recommend this spot for a guaranteed delicious meal and upscale service.

Go there occasionally hoping for high end gastronomy but find they miss a few essentials like dry pork

Just can't say enough about how good this restaurant is in regards to the food, service, and ambiance. The dining room is a cozy downstairs that transports you to Italy with white table cloths and amazing art. The food is outstanding and has been on a high level for many many years. We started with the meatballs, burrata salad, and tuna crudo special. The meatballs are tender and full of flavor and the burrata salad is light and fresh. The tuna crudo was something new and had a great balance of heat, saltiness, and sweetness. For mains we ordered the half portions or carbonara, bolognese, and lobster agnolotti. The carbonara is a staple menu item and it is rich and packed with truffle flavor. It is one of my favorites on the menu and is definitely something to try. The bolognese and agnolotti were also fantastic and great options. To finish the meal we got the cookie box and carrot cake. The cookie box comes with butterscotch cotton candy and a wide assortment of cookies/sweets. The carrot cake came topped with pineapple and had a great balance of flavor. But what really makes the meal is Massimo. He is such a genuine person and truly cares about everyone he meets. He wants to make your meal the best it can be and will go to great lengths to accomplish that. He is one of a kind and is one of the big reasons this restaurant is so special. Can't recommend this restaurant enough and will be back soon!

Classic Italian restaurant with a cool vibe at the bar and a unique experience on the bottom floor. The bar is separate from the main dining rooms, but you can dine at the bar. Wooden bar, old fashioned pulley system fans on the ceiling with light tunes in the background. Grab a nice craft beer or a cocktail. The basement is a catacomb of small spaces and intersting old brick wall cut outs. Wooden exposed beams garnish the ceiling. Fran Sinatra bellows softly below the conversations on hidden speakers. The charcuterie plate was incredible, cheese, figs, cuts of bread. The seared scallops cooked perfectly and seasoned well if not a touch salty. Desserts are not my thing but the table raved.

Always a delightful meal. Great drinks and excellent presentation. One of the best bartenders in the business.

A must stop if a local or tourist. We live in downtown Boston and I must say this is in my top 5 restaurants. The food is top notch and easily competes and wins against many other restaurants in Boston. We sat at the bar as we prefer casual elegance and Peter was very knowledgeable and gave excellent suggestions and service. A wonderful evening and we thank you.

Elegant and expensive restaurant good for a once a year visit. Rack of lamb was a very small amount but good. Left a bit hungry.

Food was just above average. After ordering the wait for the entree was significant. Service was good. Ambiance was good. Price was substantial. Probably so y go back.

Service was excellent and so was the food! Went with my family and was totally blown away by the hole experience. The seating area was beautiful and I loved the artwork in the room. Everything is clean and the staff is friendly. I decided on the Agnolotti Ravioli di Manzo and it was delectable, 6 homemade raviolis filled with delicious braised beef, served on top of a squash puree with mushrooms. Also, the homemade tiramisu is a must have, I was surprised when it was served with a butter rum cotton candy topping but it really made a difference in the dish and it was so good. No complaints from this restaurant and is definitely worth every penny.

Anyone who knows me knows I'll never pick an Italian restaurant... but this is an exception. If you want an *old school* Italian restaurant where the focus is on service and exceptional - albeit perhaps a bit heavy - food, this is the place. All the classics are on the menu, which could lead some to think it's derivative, but the execution here is truly world-class. Massimo isn't trying to break boundaries, he's looking to elevate the classics and the attention to detail is notable. Service? There is no place on the seacoast that comes close. Waitstaff is impeccable in dress, mannerism, and knowledgable about the full menu. Massimo himself will come to the table (at least he has the four times I've been, including when we ate at the bar) and ask how everything is... as stated *old school*. If you are looking for that 1970's/1980's Italian-American experience but with food that exceeds your standards today? This is the place. Highest recommendation I can give for Italian food and I lived in Boston and Providence previously...

Been several times since and the food is always amazing! Cannot wait to go back again soon!

Outstanding service, great food, god vibes. I have been putting off going here for a while, but now i think ill be back very soon. The arancini balls were wayyy lighter than i anticipated. Do yourself a favor and come get some.

The food and the service are impeccable. And when he is around, Massimo's personal touch, greeting his guest is lovely.

Let me just start by saying, Massimo himself came out to personally greet each and every one of my family members. He was so gracious and kind. Our servers, Teagan and Ashton, were so professional, well dressed gentlemen and their etiquette was on point. We started with appetizers and drinks and let me tell you, each drink was super tasty. My mom likes her lemon drop martini a very particular way, and they nailed it. My 21 year old daughter also doesn't usually like alcoholic drinks and she ordered the Sicilian Cosmo and loved it. Great wine selection, I opted for a Lange Pinot noir. Appetizers: we tried all of the chicceti, awesome and worth it!! In Italy, chicceti is a must so we decided to go for it. I loved the smoked duck that was the star! There were so many other treats on that chicceti plate, none disappointed they were all good, but that smoked duck **chef's kiss**. Also the hanger steak! Amazing, but it is a small portion. I didn't mind that, it left me wanting more. Oh I forgot those amazing appetizer MEATBALLS!! A must have. We decided to kinda stick with the homemade pasta recipes because all of the pasta is made in house. My husband LOVED his carbonara, which was perfectly creamy and not too salty nor bacon-y like we have had in the past, 10/10. My mother also loved her tagliatelle bolognese. Tiramisu here is a MUST! Also, Massimo sent us out a special "dessert box" filled with little Italian sweets/goodies all of which were equally delicious. In a time when most other restaurants are skimping on service and quality, Ristorante Massimo SHINED. My family and I had a 5 star dining experience, which is completely rare in this climate. Well done Ristorante Massimo! We will be returning hungry and smiling.

Always a great dining experience in Portsmouth. I prefer upstairs. Great service. Beautiful bar area. A lot of friendly regulars. Food is delicious. The carbonara is a must try. Half portions as well.

Excellent, every bit and bite of the visit was well worth it. The Scallop "app" was sensational and the entrée of Halibut was fantastic! This was not a plate that was simply thrown together to get it out the door. Definitely a crafted plate and everything they selected to put with this entrée was a great choice and delicious. It was sensational and nothing less, great presentation of both the Scallops and the Halibut entrée. Compliments to the chef.... Excellent...

Great dinner at the bar. Great bartender Peter. Salad and pasta awesomeness Met some nice folks to talk with.

We hit the jackpot finding fine dining in Portsmouth NH. Ristorante Massimo was our first night, and the experience was superb. We ate at the bar (our usual preference), which was a spectacular construction of pewter. Very comfortable chairs and the staff couldn't have been more welcoming. I had a Papardelle bolognese, and my wife had Spaghetti Pomodoro. The pastas were cooked perfectly, and the flavors were out of this world. Their meatballs were also top shelf. Our server, Peter, was gracious, attentive and so in tune with the menu; a great ambassador to the restaurant. The cocktails were perfectly poured and the wine selection was all you could ask for. I'd travel back to Portsmouth just to experience this place again. Very high on my list.

I wanted to take my wife out for a special birthday night. What a great find. Massimo was our first greeting. A very nice person who is proud of service. Such a beautiful location. Lynn had the scallops. Delicious I had the Sablefish. Outstanding. We had Pam taking care of us. Outstanding, friendly, professional. The tiramisu arrived with a birthday candle. They quietly sang happy birthday to her. Way to go Ristorante Massimo.

Great experience having dinner at the bar. Blue cheese mussels were delicious. We shared a ravioli special, which was also absolutely outrageous. Great service great ambience and super convenient for the show at Jimmy's next-door.

I'm very picky and somewhat spoiled when it comes to Italian food. I'm originally from Long Island, New York and great Italian restaurants are a dime a dozen. This place is on par with any of them. The food is excellent as is the service and atmosphere. We started off with the octopus and chorizo appetizer, which was incredible. Perfectly prepared, tender and nicely presented. We also tried the Fig "Caprese" - Black Mission fig "caprese," ricotta cheese, torn fresh mozzarella, E.V.O.O., basil and pickled red onions. This was another must try plate. A playful twist on the classic Caprese Salad with sliced tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, basil and balsamic reduction. Their take was light, sweet - in a great way and nicely creative. The cheese was fresh and wonderful. I never new how much I liked figs until I was introduced to this dish...highly recommended. Our main course stole the show; the Veal Chop was just awesome. Well worth the money and a must try. The picture says it all. We also tried a small plate of their freshly made pasta and marinara sauce...yes, I'm coming back for the rigatoni! Enjoy!

This is one of the finest dining experiences you might have, and without doubt one of the best restaurants in Portsmouth. That is saying plenty as this town has some great dining. We've been dining at Massimo for years now, and it is our goto for special meals, when friends are visiting, or when we just feel like indulging. From the warm ambience, skilled servers and delicious foods, it's really hard to go wrong. For years, the only option was the main dining room, downstairs, but now you have choices. "Upstairs" is a more casual setting, and bar with a nice menu to choose from. Outdoors in season, is fantastic. Massimo has really outdone himself, and perhaps has the nicest outdoor dining venue in the city. Since the pandemic, they have also rolled out a great takeout program as well. We've tried them all the options, and have never been let down. You are very likely to get a warm greeting from Massimo himself, and the servers are great, but let's talk about the food that Chef Jethro turns out of his kitchen. Outstanding all around, from the small plates, to the pasta or any of the mains. The pasty chef is also very talented, and we love the "dessert box", for those times when you can't decide. Bar and wine service are also exceptional. If you have not been, just go! Be sure to have a reservation, and note that reservations are for downstairs inside when made with OpenTable.. If you want to eat outside you need to indicate that when you call. I hope your experience is as good as ours.

Adding on to my earlier review; we dined at Massimo again in late Aug 2023. This restaurant never disappoints. Although our table was not ready at our reservation time they cheerfully brought my colleague and myself a cocktail to enjoy in the waiting area. I had the tagliatelle half portion to start, the burrata for a composed salad and the magnificent veal rib-eye chop as a main. The food was prepared perfectly and was beautifully arranged on the plate. A glass of Verdicchio paired nicely with the tagliatelle and burrata and a very nice super Tuscan went well with the veal chop. Even early on a Tuesday evening the restaurant was very busy. Make a reservation and go enjoy the best that Portsmouth has to offer for fine Italian cuisine!

My only 5 Star this year. Yes, I have and would fly my wife from Virginia to eat here. Great history build and eating atmosphere both downstairs (formal) and upstairs (casual). Full menu in both seating areas. Exquisite service regardless of where are you sitting. Don't pass the Nonna's meatball appetizer. Very reasonably priced.

My husband made a reservation early in the week for 4 telling them it was for my birthday. They gave us a table at the bar which was extremely noisy was told it was the only table left and had to wait till 8:00. The beautiful quiet restaurant was virtually empty at that time. We got 3 appetizers. All were just "average" The burrata with a teeny piece of squash. Special appetizer Bison pasta was just a stringy tasteless bolognese. The mussels were so basic barely any flavor at all!! The bread were minuscule dried out morsels served with olive oil and heavy pepper!! The squash lobster ravioli was watery and tasteless! My husband got pasta & clams and had to send it back because it was a large clump of chewy dried out pasta!! He turned it in for the Bolognese, which was pappardelle flat, rubbery pasta and just average sauce with stringy meat and no taste. We were so disappointed because of the great reviews we had heard. It was costly which was expected but one doesn't mind if the food lives up to the expectation. This food is NOT gourmet it's sub standard to other restaurants nearby. Don't waste your time or your money!!

Decided to check this place out after Cure closed early for the night, I'm really glad I did. It's a little intimidating when you first walk in because of the uniforms, but don't be. They're very friendly, and the atmosphere is really nice. I got the short rib gnocchi and scallops, both were phenomenal. They also have a great wine list, definitely check this place out if you're in the area

One of my top 3! Food is phenomenal! Had quail and foi gras which was cool and deboned perfectly. Second course- agnolotti with tarragon's sauce and Lobster, just melts in your mouth. Great wine pairings and great wine selections!

Best authentic Italian! Everything is fresh & absolute perfection! Love the ambiance as well. Excellent restaurant!!!

Fine dining with exceptional services. Our server Jeff is very knowledgeable and gives us great and honest recommendations on what we should order there; since it our first time at the restaurant. Amazing experience great food and drink. Highly recommended!

This was our first time here and we loved everything about it! I think my side dish of polenta and root vegetables was better than a lot of entrees at other restaurants! Our server, Madeline, was excellent as well and we really enjoyed our cocktails too! We were here for our anniversary and during dinner my wife said to me, "Shall we come back here again next year?"

Excellent food, service, experience. Did not have reservations on Sunday but Massimo excelled as owner/concierge and found us a table upstairs in the wine bar. Servers had great vibe and personality! Carbonara to die for!! Will be back.

If you are looking for something exceptional from a quality of food or service perspective this is a must try. Party of 4 we tried a few apps and four different meals. Our server Teagan was just great. We felt so welcomed by the owner who checked on us multiple times. The wine list is phenomenal. Ive said it before but ill say it again you cannot get carbonara like this anywhere else period. The halibut dish was excellent and so was the tuna and the veal. The filet was cooked perfectly. Such a really wonderful special place . A must try

One star for only one reason: The "Wine Steward" was rude and condescending to our table of 4 of us ladies (in our 60's), one which had above average knowledge of wines but not Italian. I would never return there just for that reason. (We were celebrating our "get-together" and ready to spend whatever it would take to enjoy a couple bottles of special red Italian wine). Food average IMHO. The server was 5 star excellent but we knew she would have no control over the situation and we did not mention it to her.

Terrific atmosphere and terrific food! Highly recommend eating here. It's a must stop!

Excellent service, great atmosphere and the food is soooo good!! Best meal I've had in quite some time!

Three of us had dinner at the bar upstairs where we had reserved seats for 7pm on a Sat. night. The place was jumping with a positive vibe. The bartender Pete was fantastic and make great full martinis. The food was out of this world fantastic. Great evening and we can't wait to go back.

I took my husband to Massimo's for his birthday. The venue was rustic and very posh feeling. We sat at the bar, and our bartender was personable and accommodating. The food was delicious. All in all, it was a very enjoyable evening. My only reason for giving it 4 stars instead of 5, was that we ordered the Sauté white gulf shrimp, n'juda sausage, baby spinach, fingerling potato, garlic butter, phyllo dough, and while this was delectable, my very last bite which included the spinach also included a very long brown hair. We told our bartender, who let the manager know. The manager came over to find out how our experience was knowing about the hair. He said he didn't know how the hair could have gotten into our food, as all the staff in the kitchen wear a head covering; he then pointed to another wait staff and commented that she had blond hair so it couldn't have come from her. It seemed to me that he was trying to put blame on me as I have brown hair. However, my hair was up and pinned back and the hair I found was long and deeply embedded in the spinach. I discovered it only after putting a spoonful of spinach in my mouth. While I understand that accidents happen, I didn't like being made to feel that just maybe, the hair had come from me. It wasn't necessary for the manager to tell me that everyone wears a head covering implying that because I have brown hair, it must be mine. Therefore, my complaint is with his customer service skills and not the restaurant, or the food. He did comp that particular dish, and it was a welcomed gesture, but I didn't enjoy how he made me feel about finding a hair in my meal.

A tired old restaurant in desperate need of freshening up and some menu changes. Cold meatballs and tasteless scallops followed by halibut drowning in too much crazy water. Truly disappointing all around.

Amazing. Outstanding. Impeccable food and service. Seriously spot on with literally everything. Our female server was 10 out of 10 with everything. Absolutely loved our meal and loved our server. Side note- we saw our server the next day working in an Italian cafe for lunch, she greeted us with a huge smile and gave us a free tiramisu! What a fantastic person!

I can't give our experience enough stars- ambiance, food, wine were all spectacular! We dined in the wine bar & loved the lively atmosphere. Peter was our server & he was an absolute delight. You could tell he loved his job & was knowledgeable about the menu & wine. The owner & restaurant's namesake, Massimo had a lovely chat with us. In true Italian form he made us feel like family. This was certainly a memorable dinner & we will return on another trip to New England. Magnifico Massimo! Ciao.

Exceptional. I went with a large group including two young kids and two babies. When I walked down the stairs to enter the owner was sitting with the two kids helping them pick out a toy from a box of toys. The service was outstanding and every server was attentive and helpful. The food was fresh and delicious and the atmosphere in the restaurant was intimate and welcoming. I really can't express how wonderful the staff and owner were. I will most certainly be back with or without the family and kids but it's great to know they are so accommodating and make you feel welcome. HIGHLY recommend!

Where to begin? We loved everything about our experience last evening. The welcoming owner and all the staff made us feel very special. The ambiance and decor are romantic and lovely, and the food and drinks were just wonderful. We can't wait to return.

Oh my goodness! Spent a perfect Saturday night here with a large group. Massimo himself came over welcomed us in like family, such a treat! The black tie service is unmatched by any other restaurant I've ever been to. Our server was charismatic, attentive and so knowledgeable l about everything on the food and drink menu. Now onto the food. Outstanding. I'm a harsh critic when it comes to my Italian food, not much impresses me. So I am so pleased to say everything was 5 stars and if I could give it 6, I would in a heart beat. We had the meatballs, fork tender, tastefully seasoned layered with béchamel, red sauce, a dollop of pesto and pea shoots. Perfectly balanced Meat and cheese platters. They're table olive oil and homemade bread was fresh, top quality, & so aromatic. Heavenly Croquettes with caviar, so light. I shared the duck appetizer with my partner, I don't usually care for things to be smoked but I could eat this all day. I did however think the blueberry sauce was slightly sweet & overpowering but I'm splitting micro hairs. Now for my grand finale. Suggested by the waiter I got the carbonara and oh my sweet Jesus. AMAZING, do yourself a favor and ruin any and all other carbonara's forever if not dining at Massimos. Fresh pasta, cream sauce was light, peas fresh and crisp, love a raw egg for added umami and crispy prosciutto. Our meal ended with expresso martinis and handcrafted desserts. Just such a lovely experience and look forward to dining here again and again and again.

My wife and I traveled to Portsmouth for our honeymoon weekend. A friend recommended Massimo to us as a great place to dine, and the restaurant exceeded our expectations. We mentioned to the hostess that we were on our honeymoon, the manager appeared with 2 glasses of Prosecco and upgraded us to the best table in the house. The server was lovely and so helpful, the sommelier recommended the perfect Italian wine to pair with our entrees. Order the Carbonara, it was one of the most flavorful dishes we have ever tasted. Just a wonderful atmosphere and the perfect wedding day dinner.

What a great place. The ambiance in the downstairs floor is private and romantic. We go here if it's an anniversary or birthday. Always get the carbonara!!! The wine selection is fantastic and the scallop appetizer is perfection, as well as the Kobe meatballs. The scallops are huge and prepared so delicately, they are unlike any scallops I've ever had. The servers are so polite and attentive. One of the best restaurants on the seacoast!

Only had after drinks at the bar with Peter. He knew the menu and greeted each person with professionalism and extreme knowledge of the menu. After having a weird experience at Toscana, we came here for after dinner drinks and will definitely come back for dinner next time.

One of the best restaurants we've ever eaten at - five star service, food and atmosphere. Cannot recommend enough.

Great food, cozy atmosphere. Have had good service there by waitstaff and hostess. Parking is difficult particularly in the winter with often a bit of a walk.

We were on the fence by the reviews but so happy we gave the restaurant a try. We eat out a lot and this was by far a great Italian restaurant. Make reservations in advance! Great food

Classic old style Italian restaurant, food was exceptional not a huge variety, but unique professionally prepared and presented meals and apps. Actually thought the apps were our favorite but everything was great. Wait staff professional and attentive, decent crowd for a Tuesday night. Which in my opinion says a lot about a restaurant