Massimo is unique! This place warms my heart. I love their plain Italian home cooking as well as the quirky interior and the very welcoming staff. In case you’re expecting a romantic restaurant you’ll be in the wrong place. There are no proper tables and chairs, no candlelight and no toilets. Instead all guests have to huddle together around few high tables with bar stools. The atmosphere is busy, easy-going and besides other people’s snippets of conversation you constantly hear the clatter of pots and dishes from the kitchen. I love it!
The menu consists of a variety of antipasti, pasta dishes and a choice of meat and fish/ seafood and, of course, pizza. When you decide for pasta, meat or fish you can choose a free starter: either tomato soup, a small salad or “panzanella” (an Italian salad from potatoes with a slice of roasted bread and tomatoes). Panzanella is delicious! With my meal I always have a glass of the vino della casa (white or red), but there is an additional choice of bottled wines, beers and non-alcoholic drinks.
As the place is very small a reservation is highly recommended for the evening!
By the way, Massimo also runs a cosy (and romantic!) restaurant in the Quartier Latäng, Heinsbergstr. 20a, only a few steps from Rathenauplatz. It’s called Il Bagutta. Here you find Massimo’s cuisine in a more refined way with slightly higher prices.