Maxi’s Ristorante
12113 Mayfield Rd, Cleveland, OH, 44106
Maxi’s Ristorante Menu
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Address :
12113 Mayfield Rd
Cleveland, OH, 44106 - Phone (216) 421-1500
- Website https://maxisinlittleitaly.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:00 am - 11
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Valet, Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : No
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : Free
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes
Categories
Italian Cuisine
The immense popularity of Italian cuisine globally isn't unknown. You can find an Italian Pizzeria around every corner of almost every city in the United States. Not to forget that in every house, people enjoy mac and cheese as comfort food. But it would be wrong to believe that Italian food starts with pizza and ends with good pasta as this Mediterranean country has much more to offer other than these two dishes. In Italian Cuisine, there is a high use of fresh tomatoes, all kinds of herbs, great quality of cheese, all types of meat, seafood and fresh handmade pasta. Many find it hard to believe that Italians have been making noodles long back.
Italian and Greek cuisines are always mistaken to be same, but they are poles apart. The primary difference between the two cuisines is the use of cheese in most of the Italian dishes. Italians love to cultivate their own cheese and process them as per their food requirement. It is believed that some cheese is so expensive that cheese producers secure them in lockers.
If you are bored eating the same old pasta or pizza, you can try some of the authentic Italian dishes like Risotto, Polenta, Ribollita, Lasagna, Fiorentina Steak, Bottarga, Ossobuco, Carbonara, Focaccia, Arancini and Supplì. Another item which Italians love to relish every morning is a good cup of Italian Coffee. Once you taste a freshly brewed cup of Italian Coffee, you might not visit Starbucks ever again. Authentic Italian food is made with heart and soul, so go find a restaurant where you can relish Italian cuisine in your city.
Pizza
Pizza is a famous Italian dish savored around the world. The entire credit for the popularity of Pizza in the United States goes to the chain of pizzerias all over the country. While the base and the texture of Pizza remains same across the globe, it's the toppings that differs from country to country. In the United States, you will find the top pizzerias serving pizzas with the toppings of mainly beef, bacon, chicken, ham, and sausage for the non-vegetarians. Other than these famous meat options, Pizzas with veg toppings such as mushrooms, pepperonis, garlic, tomatoes, spinach, etc. are also famous in most restaurants in the United States.
Irrespective of your locality, you will find a variety of different restaurants in your cities offering pizzas of all different types. Pizza is hot favorite among people of all ages in the United States. A large size pizza is enough to feed a family of 3 or 4 at large. Pizza is also the most preferred food whenever a group of friends is hanging out together. Pizza gained popularity in the United States after the American soldiers stationed in Italy returned from World War II.
Over the years, different pizzerias in the United States have developed their own respective regional variations. Pizza gained popularity as the iconic dish in the United States in the second half of the 20th century. Whether you prefer thin or thick crust pizza, you can find a pizza of your preference at the best pizza restaurants in your city.
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Meredith W.
The food was fresh and full of flavor. Bread was delicious and fresh as well, with a tasty Parmesan oil. They made a nice martini. The staff was really friendly. Loved my first experience at Maxi's.
(5)David C.
We came here with a party of 6, we got one refill on our drinks the entire time, way overpriced and it looked like someone poured water on my spaghetti. Save the time and go elsewhere in little Italy.
(1)Natt A.
My housemate, his brother, and I were in the mood for some pizza and we stopped by Maxi's because of their solid reviews. We ordered the Funghi pizza and pepperoni pizza to share and boy were they delicious! The first was light, not really greasy, and very well seasoned. The latter was well seasoned as well and all you want in a pepperoni pizza! We'll definitely have to come back to try the pasta and their dishes! Defiantly check it out! Btw. The sangria (white wine) was quite delicious! Not too sweet and full of flavors!
(4)Rachel H.
My favorite spot in Little Italy. The food reminds me of what my mom cooked. My family and I have been making it out meeting place for Christmas Eve dinner for the past few years, and have a great time every year. We walk out of there full of food and drinks, and will talk about it for the next year. My favorite dishes are the bruschetta, the pizzas and the cavatelli and meatballs. I have heard they have great frog legs and calamari.
(5)Stephen S.
Checked out Maxi's today for dinner with a group of friends. Quite impressed! Nice ambiance, with options to dine in front, inside, and in the back patio. Pretty casual place too, so don't be self-conscious if you're not dressed up to the nines (or even the fives, really). Happy Hour until 6:30pm Monday through Thursday, with some pretty awesome deals: $3 beers, $6 wines/sangria, $10 all pizzas (14" and large enough for 2-3 hungry people), $10 mussels, and $10 calamari. We all had a drink and a pizza to ourselves, with none of us finishing more than four of our eight slices--leftovers anyone? Pizza was fresh and hot, crust nice and chewy, with some intriguing toppings. I opted for Gilbert's pizza, with tomato sauce, ricotta cheese, proscuitto, and kalamata olives which was pretty darn tasty. Other combinations sounded great too, from traditional margherita to a smoked salmon pizza (might be more of a flatbread kind of thing at this point, but let's not get hung up on semantics). Service was attentive, refilled our waters frequently, and was very accommodating, readily splitting our check five ways. Bottom line: tasty pizza, thrifty happy hour, spectacular service.
(4)Erin B.
I was craving Italian and an inviting atmosphere so I decided on Maxi's because I wanted to try somewhere I hadn't been in Little Italy. The place is pretty small and a bit more casual than most in that area but still very cute and clean inside. Parking around there is a cluster but they have valet for $7 which isn't bad. We got seated right up front with a window seat which I loved too. Let's get to the good stuff. The food was just what I needed and so good. We decided to split a salad, Darcy's pizza, and Cavatelli w meatballs. Everything was delicious and loved the butter garlic sauce on the pizza combined with the spicy banana peppers. Portions are large so that's why we split everything. Our waitress was nice and attentive as well. Pricing isn't cheap but not too expensive especially for the portions you receive. If I wasn't a west sider I would frequent more often but will be back and recommend.
(4)Sheree M.
In typical Little Italy style, this place is perfect for dates and pizza and pasta. It's dark and quiet, but could spice up the romance with some candles on the tables. With many Italians working there, it gives it more of an authentic feel and their menu stays true to form. Really great pizza! Friendly staff too! I got the fresh mozzarella - Delicious! I'd highly recommend.
(4)Sheena M.
My favorite place in Little Italy. Always friendly staff and great service and back patio. Not to mention the pizza
(5)Lin H.
MMMMMMMM! Finally got to go back to Maxi's at a time that wasn't during The Feast! Calamari Pasta and Funghi Pizza were just as I remembered... So delicious! My sister and I were able to sit outside in the front, which is great for people watching if you don't mind the traffic. Service was okay, and the outdoor seating is a little squished. But all that was forgotten considering the heavenly food we were eating.
(4)Grace S.
Absolutely fabulous! We stopped in for happy hour specials and were pleasantly surprised by the best calamari EVER. Plus a creative pizza menu and great atmosphere.
(5)A Ly M.
We stopped in here because the initial restaurant we wanted to go to wasn't opened yet. We were seated right away. I noticed seating in the front outside, within the bar area, as well as an outdoor patio area outside. It was an odd time during the week, like 3:00 pm, so the place wasn't too busy. We decided to eat outside. All items are a la carte, but we did get a basket of fresh warm bread. We ordered the stuffed banana peppers which were perfect. You get two peppers for $12, maybe a little pricey, but they were tasty. I ordered the carbonara, DELISH! A perfect blend of spices and prosciutto, the peas popped in your mouth. The other items ordered were the spinach ravioli, they were served in a vodka sauce and every bite was good. However, this dish is served with only 4 ravioli's, priced at $16-18, that's $4+ per ravioli. The other dish was the Farfalle with the sausage and onions. Once again, extremely tasty. Our waitress was excellent and very attentive. I would definitely go back.
(4)Perry S.
The good was average not bad now great. The big problem is the portion size. 23 dollars for spinach ravioli and you get 4 small pieces. This is not a high end Italian restaurant it's a nice friendly neighborhood restaurant and that for a portion size is ridiculous. The chicken marsala was good but again very small portion and the same for the linguine with clams. It was in a small bowl and not worth the cost at all. The pizza looked good and at least it's the size of a normal pizza.
(2)Mike V.
Stopped in here for a late dinner with a date. This seems like a very old style family run place to eat. Not fancy or pretentious at all. Service was attentive but in a homey way and not as crisply professional as other places very near by. Had the calamari ap based on other reviews. Wonderful. Worth it. Large portion for two people. Asked about the tomatoes with buffalo mozzarella. We were worried the tomatoes wouldn't be good in late May. We were told they were "amazing." Well, no they weren't. They were just like you'd expecting the end of a May in Cleveland, hot house bland. The mozzarella didn't appear house made or especially good either. And there was a shortage of small balls of it in my opinion. We ordered spaghetti and meatballs to split as an entree. The balls were bland and the spaghetti was overcooked and mushy. In an Italian place, in this part of town, that's inexcusable. There are better choices on the menu.
(3)Faith A.
I used to love Maxi's when I lived in Cleveland. I was never disappointed in the food or the service. I have to say that our experience here yesterday was not as positive as my past ones. Although it was a beautiful day and we were able to secure a great little table out front, the rest of our experience was underwhelming. I will say that our wine, and apps (mussels and bruschetta rustica) were great, everything else, not so much, and especially for the cost. Our server even took my order and ran away without taking my husbands - very odd. We had to flag him down to get the rest of the order placed. The margherita pizza was not as appetizing as I would have hoped for somewhere in Little Italy. The ravioli that my husband ordered also was comprised of just 4 little pieces. Not exactly filing. I remember being able to rave about this place before. Not anymore. Will I be back to hope for a better experience? Probably. I am hoping that this was just a less favorable one time experience only.
(3)Kimberlee G.
Absolutely worst possible experience. We booked the Maxi's Banquet room for our wedding rehearsal dinner. Excited to show off Little Italy to our wedding guests, we chose Maxi's because they offered us private banquet room for our group of 25 out of town guests. We worked with the restaurant manager, Fatian, 8 months in advance to book the space and select a customized menu well in advance. When we arrived, the hostess told us the room was not ready- they had booked another rehearsal dinner in the banquet room just before ours. They said the other group was "wrapping up" and asked us to wait a few minutes. So, there we were....25 of us, all dressed up for a rehearsal dinner, standing on the curb of Maxi's in Little Italy crowded around the little hostess stand. After 20 minutes of waiting, we were anxious. After 30 minutes, we were frustrated. After 50 minutes of waiting for a banquet room we booked well in advance, and when the restaurant manager finally came to even acknowledge us, he asked us to "wait just a little longer". He was completely clueless. Fed up and frustrated, not just because we were already waiting nearly an hour, but also because the other party wasn't even done with their dinner yet. Clearly, we weren't getting into the banquet room any time soon and yet Fatian kept asking us to "just wait". Luckily, we were able to take our 25 guests across the street to Gusto! Ristorante Italian where they took us in, sat us, and make a delicious meal in no time. The Accordian even played for us to provide upbeat entertainment. Huge thank you to Gusto for saving the day, and a huge disappointment in Maxi's and their incredibly slow and completely not concerned staff.
(1)Jen J.
Loved it! My favorite restaurant in Little Italy so far. Calamari is the best I've ever had. I also had the shrimp penne in the vodka tomato cream sauce and it was great. Service was quick and polite. Atmosphere is a little more casual than most in Little Italy, but I'll definitely be back thanks to the great food.
(5)Greg N.
Food: the food was great! Dishes picked were Shrimp pasta and Linguini with meatballs. I was expecting the shrimp pasta sauce to be creamier but I did not ask and when it came it was watery. Also, they do not remove the shell on the shrimp tail. Still not sure why places leave those things on when you're putting the shrimp in pasta. Now I have to reach into my pasta and grab the shrimp out with my fingers and eat it to make sure I get every last little yummy bit. The portions were the perfect size and we both left nice and full. Wine: Underwood pino noir. This is a great red wine that is easy to drink. Very tasty. Service: refilled our water glasses promptly. Checked in every now and then to make sure we were doing okay. Or waiter made wine recommendations and tried to save us money with a bottle. We only each wanted one glass so we paid the slight extra for wine by the glass. Decor: We sat on the patio which is full of plastic chairs and tables. They also have a small bar out there, some nice flowers, and umbrellas to keep us pale folk from burning. The interior is nicely decorated with some cool paintings/prints. I'd like to come relax here at the bar and have some pizza and beer with friends some day. They also had some music playing that made me feel like we were in the motion picture Gatsby.
(4)Winnie W.
I would probably give this place a solid 3 1/2, only reason I bump this place down to athree is that even though it is conveniently located in Little italy, I wasn't impressed with their Feast food. I do love that they serve Moscato ^_^ and have a patio but this place just didn't hit the spot for me. I did love the frog legs another time I went, maybe on my next visit, my opinion will go up after really delicious food.
(3)Kristen W.
I don't make it out to little italy often but I have been to this gem twice now. Tucked away in little Italy, you will truly fine nothing less than authentic Italian cuisine here. The inside is tiny but cozy, not the most romantic atmosphere but still enjoyable because it's so small. The first time we came here the server had a little accident and spilled four sangrias all over our table and us. We laughed it off because it was his first week and assured him we would be back. When we came back last night, guess who was our server and who remembered us? The charming funny sangria spiller! He truly was awesome and I hope he waits on us again, despite the first mishap. After a few laughs we quickly ordered more sangria ( haha) and the best calamari in cleveland. Seriously this calamari kicks ass. It taste so fresh and is ever so lightly fried and sits atop a sauce a want to bathe in. Us four girls split the cavitelli and meatballs, chicken piccata and the shrimp scampi special. The meatballs were fabulous like they always are (we ordered double) but the shrimp scampi was the standout. The piccata was forgettable but still okay. We finished off our meal by splitting two cannolis (two come in an order) and it was the perfect sweet ending to the meal, do not miss these! The only reasons I can't give five stars is because of the atmosphere and the price. I know that it's little Italy but for a round of sangria, calamari, three pasta dishes we easily dropped $150. Nonetheless, I know I won't be able to stay away.
(4)Jon O.
This is a nice little Italian restaurant and it doesn't really have much flare or anything but holy cow was the food delicious. I tried the calamari and spaghetti with meatballs. I don't mentally catalogue all of the calamari I try but theirs was probably the best I have ever had. The spaghetti with meatballs was delicious as well and I was sad when my plate was empty. Gotta give a special shout out on the meatballs. They were made with pork and beef and not too dry and not too soggy. Just perfect. I'm hoping I get a chance to come back by Cleveland to try this place out. I'm not sure how their pizza is but everyone at our table ordered off the pasta menu and not one of us left dissapointed.
(5)Grant M.
Really enjoyed the food at Maxi's. Room upstairs is perfect for hosting medium sized group parties.
(5)Beth R.
We held a club event here so first of all, they were very accommodating and kind to our members. We were upstairs and had the entire floor to ourselves and it was so cozy and perfect! Plus our waiter got quite a workout running up and down the stairs. We only shared a pizza and cannoli, but it was some fantastic pie and a creamy dessert. I didn't hear any complaints of the other 18 or so entrees and most people raved over their food. This was also my first visit to Cleveland's Little Italy and I was impressed - very cute for an evening stroll in the summer!
(5)Ermelinda C.
Great food, great drinks, great service! We went on a eating binge during our last visit to Maxi's in Little Italy, and could not have been happier with our food choices. They were all delicious and so were the drinks. I had not had white sangria in a long time, and I was glad that Maxi's white sangria did not disappoint - delicious on a hot Spring day! We love Maxis!!!
(5)Jack L.
Overall a good expierence with a great pizza. It was 105$ for 4. Chicken Fettuccini Alfredo- Ok. Bruschetta- Ok. Pasta- Ok but dry. Pizza- Good. Spinach and Ricotta Ravioli- Excellent! The Service was good and a little fast.
(3)Marek P.
That was my second worst pizza I've ever eaten! with my friend we had 2 pizzas, and I as well as him we both had stomach problems. It was not tasteful it was awful
(1)Melissa A.
Although I had a lovely dinner at Maxi's, I don't think that the cost was justified. The $16 shrimp pasta with tomatoes, artichokes, capers and a white wine sauce was good, however there were only 4 medium-sized shrimp and the pasta wasn't fresh...I'm not sure what about that meal deserves a $16 price tag. Our waiter, who seemed overwhelmed by the full patio, forgot to bring us bread, which was a bit frustrating as we watched every other table around us receive a really good looking bread basket (when we finally requested some, it proved to be crusty and perfect). I appreciated the heavy handed wine pours, however I likely wouldn't return due to the food prices (come on, $15 calamari?).
(3)Michelle H.
My main complaint here was this was the first restaurant in little Italy that doesn't offer gluten free pasta. Soooo I asked what they could make gluten free, they gave my a boiled chicken breast smothered in straight lemon juice. God awful. The service was fine. The staff was friendly. No complaints there.
(3)Alison M.
I have a quandary rating Maxi's because service was so sloooowww, but the food was absolutely delicious. I was so hungry when we got to Maxi's and it took them over an hour to bring out our food. Mind you that the place wasn't busy. There were maybe 3 tables including us. Even bread took around 20 mins to bring out. Yes, it was fresh baked, crispy, chewy and scrumptious, but why did it take so long?! They also failed to bring out the pizza with the salad which left me even hungrier. Salad by the way was a pile of lettuce and nothing else for $7. Now for the good stuff. The pizza was superb, crispy crust and super flavorful. Chicken piccata was alright as were the sides of pasta that came with the entrees, but the absolute best thing we got was the penne with shrimp in this incredibly spicy vodka sauce. YUM. Bottom line: Food is good, but the restaurant is so slow. Order takeout.
(3)Chris W.
This review is strictly about the pizza. Not a fan of the super sweet sauce. It's a real distraction as I'm trying to enjoy the other tastes. The cheese was fine and plentiful. The (bottom) crust was WAY too thick and almost undercooked. I attribute this gooey crust to the fact it's served on a glass plate. I'm a fan of NY style - if you are as well, this is not your pizza place.
(2)Amy H.
Hubby's annual birthday surprise began with dinner at Maxi's. This was our first time here, based on a recommendation from the two friends who dined with us. We started our meal with a bottle of malbec, and each ordered a different plate of pasta. Thanks to Cara L.'s suggestion, we devoured a savory plate of stuffed banana hot peppers, along with a bowl of steamed mussels. I could've died happy with those appetizers alone! The only pasta plate that hit a low note for me was their signature sautéed calamari. I was hoping for non-breaded calamari, but was overwhelmed by the opposite. It just wasn't what I was expecting, and it had a burnt after-taste. My friend's sweet alfredo and the other friend's goat cheese ravioli were my favorite. So much goodness in that cream! Quaint, festive atmosphere, excellent service. Pricey, but worth it for a special occasion. Next time, I'm ordering the frog legs.
(4)Alex G.
I thought this place had great service, tasty pizza, and a wonderful patio out back for eating and drinking with friends. I thought the pizza crust was fantastic, and really enjoyed the "Gina's Pizza' with prosciutto and fresh tomato. Price is slightly on the high side, but it is a relaxing and inviting atmosphere. If there weren't so many places to try I would come back much sooner, yet still imagine I will be back in the not so distant future.
(4)B S.
Went there for dinner, based on the reviews. The service was god-awful - would rather go elsewhere in Little Italy. The food was okay. We got one of the tables overlooking Mayfield - saving grace on a summer evening when Little Italy is so alive.
(3)Cara L.
Have you ever taken a bite of your food and literally wanted to melt as the taste sensations satisfied everything you were craving? Maxi's Ristorante serves up this feeling daily with every authentic and delicious Italian dish they prepare. It's times like these when I ponder how I'm not 380lbs of beastly-ness because, man...I can take down some serious pasta. This is especially true if it's from Maxi's. So, you're strolling around Little Italy and you can't figure out where to dine. Well, I agree. It's truly difficult to pick one restaurant in that neighborhood because they're all great in their own right. BUT, there's just something about Maxi's that keeps me coming back. It's the food. Specifically the pasta. My first Maxi's dinner was incredible. There were six of us at a table and we all ordered something different, but all pasta dishes. Everyone shared and with each new bite, it became more difficult to pick a favorite. In the end, I couldn't choose. I know I had the Goat Cheese Ravioli and my sister choose the Penne Pasta Carbonnara. Both were divine. It's literally the most painful experience in the world to watch me try to pick ONE dish to order though. Since the first trip I've added a new favorite to my list, which is the stuffed banana peppers. If I could live off this dish, I would. I'm not kidding. There are only a couple of things that bring Maxi's down to a 4 star instead of a 5. The service is just so-so. I'm not the kind of person who likes to be waited on hand and foot, but there's a balance. Our servers always seem to be uninterested and eager to get off work. My other issue is the price. I mean, some dishes I can understand a heftier price tag, but pasta dishes $20 and over? Really? It's PASTA. Damn good pasta, but still...I'm not ordering a prime cut of steak here! Besides, the atmosphere doesn't quite merit that cost either. So, it wouldn't really fall into my "worth it because it's the whole vibe" category. It better suits a normal night out for dinner, casual attire, etc. I still can't hate on Maxi's though. I mean, their food is just so ridiculously good that it's nearly impossible not to want to spend the money. I mean, I can even forgive them for the service. All that's forgettable, but the food..well, that's the kind of pasta you dream about.
(4)Michael C.
After hearing rave review about this place, I decided to give it a shot for lunch. Ordered the calamari upon recommendation. It was OK, very flavorful, but very acidic. Ordered the Carbonara. Real disappointment. Straight up bland heavy cream, watery, bland, not authentic whatsoever. I dont understand why restaurants can't make it with eggs.. I ordered something else.. but it was forgettable. The crowd seemed to be composed of well-dressed regulars, many of whom sat at the bar. Idk.. I thought this was a very mediocre restaurant in terms of food. But at least the waitress was friendly and decor had its sweet european bistro vibe to it. I may return if I get bored of the surrounding restaurants, but that may take some time Food: B- Atmosphere: B Service: B
(3)Noa N.
After a busy day at UHC, we were ready for pizza and drinks. Maxi's was a short walk away and did not disappoint. They have a solid selection of martinis, other cocktails, wine, and beer. I had a glass of the chianti - they offer a very generous glassful of wine. As I sipped the stress of the work day away with my chianti, my friend enjoyed his Manhattan Transfer - tasted just like a strong Manhattan. Many of the pizza offerings sounded delicious - lots of veggie offerings. We went with Gina's pizza - a white pizza with prosciutto and tomatoes (no ricotta). It was very simple and we enjoyed every last bite. I also had a mixed green salad with balsamic vinagrette - it's a nice mix of greens but lacked additional toppings - cucumbers, tomatoes would have been a nice addition. The vinagrette was strong. Service was OK. It wasn't busy. The server forgot to bring me my salad so when the pizza came out and I reminded him about the salad, he gave it to me free of charge. Other reviews mention bread. We weren't offered bread.
(3)Clever Fashionista T.
My absolute favorite restaurant in Little Italy! The staff is friendly, accomadating and always treat us as family. We are happy whenever we go here. Love every dish that the staff and Chef Gilbert prepare it's always sensational. Try the Calmari--it's fantastic!
(5)S. J.
Have been there twice now at lunch time. They seated us immediately in the open backyard area. Both times we ordered the pizza, the Maxi and Funghi. Both were great. The service was very attentive and the price was reasonable. We will go back.
(4)Robert U.
Great food, service was great AFTER the bar tender realized my friend I was dining with (who was visiting from Trinidad) wasn't there to rob the place. Spicy sausage pasta was right on. Pizza was right on...but you could cut the racism with a knife. FYI to the staff...not every black person is trying to case your bar or hold the place up.
(4)Phuong D.
Love this place! Their happy hour menu is amazing! Pizza, calamari, and mussels are delicious! Their martinis are nice and strong and they are very generous with their wine pours. Their staff is also super friendly!
(5)John T.
My family has lived in Little Italy for almost 100 years so I havent had much of a chance to eat in any of the local restaurants. But now that my Grandma, Great Aunt and Uncle have passed away, I can now try them out. Maxi's is my favorite, although Il Baccio is close. Gilbert has some great dishes on the menu. When we were there, we had Pizza and sat at the bar, it was a nice but slightly crowded atmosphere. While waiting for our pizza, we could see them preparing the other dishes and they would tell us what each one was...Goat Cheese Ravioli...awww, yeah! Here's a tip: come early so you dont feel so crowded. The neighborhood fills up fast on a warm summer night! If you are a CWRU student, I believe they offer you a discount on your meal.
(4)Bob M.
The service was a bit slow, but overall a good experience. 5 star food, and that's what really matters
(5)Linus S.
Great food, friendly staff and great place for a night out with the wife. Pizzas are great here too! Probably my favorite place to go in Little Italy.
(5)Charlene M.
I went here on a Sunday afternoon for lunch with a group of friends (5 of us total). I was a little confused with the atmosphere, the bar seats were filled with people eating and drinking at around 3pm. We were seated in the front of the restaurant at a table very quickly (A+ for speed). The waitress quickly took our drink orders and was quick to bring over drinks and take our order. For appetizers we had sauteed calamari and bruschetta classico which were both great. The calamari would have actually been a great lunch on it's own with a little bread. The bruschetta was a little heavy on onions for some people in my group but I thought it tasted very fresh. When it came to the entree things started going a little awry. Myself and two other people in my group ordered the goat cheese ravioli. We all agreed that it was luke warm at best. The ravioli itself tasted great, but it was very hard getting over the temperature issue. Regardless, this was a pretty standard non-chain Italian restaurant with a family feel. My recommendation would be to get the sauteed calamari and a little bread and call it a meal.
(3)Jennifer W.
Loved this darling restaurant!
(4)Angela L.
Was excited to try this place - and admittedly everything we had was delicious (pizza, pasta, the hot peppers - beware! really hot) but the service was pretty awful. It was slow and the waiter took nearly 15 minutes to bring us waters, and still came back a few minutes later to take our drink orders, which then took about another 10 minutes to come out. I'm also not a fan of restaurants that do happy hour "only at the bar" like they do. We came in with a big group and could not get happy hour pricing because it was "only at the bar". Great food, disappointing service.
(3)Stacie M.
So we just stopped by for an after dinner drink, and I was so impressed I HAD to write a review. This place seemed pretty lively for 9 pm when the restaurants were mostly wrappin up so we stopped in. Wow. Here's what impressed me. The wine pours! They literally give you a goblet of wine! It's like a half a bottle! Impressive. Oh yeah. And we took a pizza to go and it was fabulous - even reheated!
(3)Betty W.
Best alfredo sauce ever, the nutmeg probably. Pizza was OK, but a little thick and undercooked or my taste. I ordered goat cheese ravioli, but i couldnt taste the goat cheese. I wondered if they gave me spinch ravioli instead. No big deal, it tasted great anyway. Best part was the bread and dipping sauce. Great atmosphere and very nice service.
(4)Christiana C.
I'm a bit of a hard customer when it comes to Italian. When you're raised on it your whole life, you become a bit discerning. While Maxi's had some pluses (awesome butter sauce for bread, good service and the ability to eat there with or without a reservation), it didn't do it for me. The red sauce was heavy on the basil and my cavatelli was swimming in it. There was no salad or side to offset the sheer volume of pasta, resulting in a bit of a carby food coma. I could really take it or leave it. If someone else was paying, I'd show up. But with all the other choices in Little Italy, I need more of a reason to pick Maxi's.
(2)Darryl M.
First time at Maxi's was a great one! Made reservations, but there is no Host/Hostess to speak of. Restaurant is small so we ran into a Server who sat us right away at a table that had just cleared. Just not sure that the reservation would have done much being such a small room. The service was pretty much on point. We did need to request water refills a few times, and my requested crushed red pepper never made it to the table though. The food was excellent. Portions were huge. The sauce on the pastas was a little sweet for my wife's taste, but I thought it was delicious. My chicken Marsala had enough roasted red pepper and portobello that there was some in every bite. Music selection was strange for a spot in Little Italy and did nothing for the ambiance. We heard a bit too many 80's hits while we were there... And although this is not Maxi's fault since it's a private service, our car smelled of smoke when Valet returned it to us.
(4)Matthew R.
Salads were great, I had the mussels which were okay...not the best. Sauce was sort of flavorless. Amazing bread. Kind of high priced. If you can't be seated at the sidewalk tables, don't do the "patio." You're basically in a parking lot surrounded by tenements and feral cats. I think I could have gotten a better Italian dinner in Cleveland...I'd give it another try, though.
(2)Mark T.
I think Little Italy is overrated as a whole. Coming from an Italian family I am not blown away by any restaurants down there. The ambiance is really cool and it's nice to see cities that try to maintain their Italian heritage. In my opinion that's what these overpriced restaurants are relying on. Maxi's is very small. My girlfriend and I were sitting so close to another table we heard they're entire conversation and I'm sure they heard ours. I went there primarily because I had their tripe during the Feast of the Assumption and it was very good. The problem was that it was about $6 at the feast and about $17 at their restaurant. It was good but tripe shouldn't be nearly that expensive. My girlfriend got a chicken dish which was average at best. I will not be going back.
(2)Joao Pedro L.
It's my favorite restaurant in Little Italy. The service is really good, even during busy hours, wine selection is very nice, and the food, responsibility of a French chef, is wonderful. Try the Calamari Pasta or the Funghi Pizza, for some real good suggestions. The specials usually great as well.
(4)Erin R.
I almost never go to the east side. It's my secret goal to become one of "those people" who never leaves the side of town where they live. HOWEVER, i went to dinner with my parents at maxi's because of my mom's claim on how good the food is. she's right - the food is really good. i'm not a huge italian fan, but we had the calamari (allegedly the best in little italy, which i find to be a bold statement), the sauteed escarole, and i had goat cheese ravioli while the parents both had linguini and meatballs (or, meatbulbs, if you're me.) i had no booze, but moms had a glass of red. i am known to totally stuff myself with bread and not eat any of my entree, but shockingly that didn't happen this time, though the bread is very good. i could have just eaten the entire plate of escarole, but that is mostly personal greens addiction. they are a little heavy, but if you split them around the table it's more than enough for three people. the ravioli was good, though i had my heart set on carbonara. this didn't happen, sadly, because there was no prosciutto. i know, right? an italian restaurant w/o prosciutto? apparently it was a one-time thing, and i certainly hope so. the raviolis themselves were very good, the sauce was a little heavy for me but that's my aversion i guess. we had excellent service - our waitress was super accommodating and helpful. no complaints there whatsoever. definitely a recommended spot out of the many options in the neighborhood - there were plenty of septuagenarian local dudes hanging out at the table next to us gabbing and that was definitely entertaining.
(4)Jonathan F.
First time we've tried this place. I would definitely come back. The calamari appetizer was excellent. Salads were nice. I had the spinach ravioli, my wife had the goat cheese ravioli. Both were excellent; the sauces were particularly good. The server was pleasant, if slightly inattentive. It was a little on the pricey side. Nice ambiance though. As I said, I would come back.
(4)Lisa R.
Dined while visiting Cleveland this week. Asked the man who was valet parking our car "if you were to eat at any of these restaurants here in Little Italy, where would YOU eat" and he suggested Maxi's so we wandered in the Friday after Christmas. They seemed to be one of the only restaurants on the street that was busy so that was a good sign. They were full downstairs so sat us upstairs with a nice window view of the street with the snow coming down. Excellent Pear Martini made with Gray Goose and ginger, not too sweet, and was delish! The Calamari was one of the best I've had. Opted for traditional linguine and meatballs. The sauce was a little too sweet for my liking, but it was good none the less. Hubby had pasta with carbonara sauce that he devoured! Affordable but a bit limited wine selection. Had Tiramasou for dessert, how can that not ever be divine? Only reason I didn't give them 5 stars is they do not offer gluten free pasta selections, which my friend dining with us had to have. They are locals and said most restaurants in the area DO so we were all dissapointed that Maxi's isn't a little more "with it" with all of the dietary restrictions so many people have. Would love to return again!
(4)Lisa W.
Our family went here early on New Year's Eve after a trip to the CMA for a quick dinner. The calamari was crisp and well-seasoned, and the pizzas that we ordered were tasty. The reason for the 4 stars rather than a 5 had to do with the service. The waiter was competent but seem more interested in the crowds coming in later. He did not really engage us and actually ignored our requests. We are accustom to eating at good restaurants and were put off by this particular waiter! We would still return for the great food!
(4)P W.
I took my mom out to lunch on a bright Saturday and walked around Little Italy. This place seemed about good as any so we decided to give it a try. The lunch menu was reasonably priced. I think the pasta was around $10. She had the italian sausage and farfalle pasta. I had the meatballs. Both were good. My mom does not so much enjoy spicy foods and the sauce of her dish had a slight kick to it. I enjoyed both dishes. We opted to split the tomato, basil and mozzerella salad. It was the perfect amount to split and serve as an appetizer. The server was a really nice guy. He seemed genuine and not full of it. Not apathetic and not overbearing. It was a nice place to go for lunch. Hopefully I will one day return. En'shallah.
(4)Ian Z.
What a great place. We went there for my sister in laws birthday. I got frog legs as an appetizer and they were freaking awesome! The diners we ordered were great too. Very friendly staff and great service. I wil def be coming back for more!
(5)Ashley E.
One of our favorite places to eat in Little Italy. From the appetizers to the pastas to the pizza, you can enjoy many styles of a meal. The seating on the front sidewalk (limited) is great for people watching, and there is dining on a back patio as well. Chef/owner Fatmir is wonderful, along with the staff who remember you when you return.
(4)Andrea L.
Maxi's is a good choice if your trying to decide which restaurant to go to in Cleveland's Little Italy. Food and service was great. We went off a previous Yelp review regarding the Calamari appetizer and we are glad we did... VERY GOOD! My boyfriend had the Chicken Picatta, which was delicious and I ordered the Ravioli w/ goat cheese..also delicious. My only complaint about the restaurant is we sat in the back where they had the TV on which didn't meld so well with the music playing overhead.
(4)Lauren S.
We stopped by for a quick bite to eat after visiting the Cleveland Aquarium and to get some Italian baked goods in the area. It was around 3:00pm and we were the only people in the place. They had a bartender who was also our waitress and a few of the other employees were sitting at the bar. The menu has some good options and the wine list is great. We really wanted some pizza after a long cold morning of walking so we ordered the Little Italy pizza and two glasses of water. The waitress brought us one cold water and one hot water which I thought was a little odd but we just shared the ice water. The pizza came out pretty quickly and it looked and smelled amazing. We are big pizza fans, and I couldn't wait to dig in. The taste and spices were really good, BUT the pizza dough wasn't completely cooked. The middle on one side was still soft and gooey. At this point the bar started to get busy and our waitress didn't come back to check on us, so we ate the side that was kinda cooked. Usually I would say something, but we were so hungry and didn't want to wait to get her attention. But considering that it wasn't busy when we ordered, there was no reason for the kitchen to hurry. We also had to wait awhile to get our bill, and never got drink refills. Its a great place to grab a drink if your in the area, but I wouldn't stop for a meal. Next time we'll try La Dolce Vita across the street.
(2)Kevin N.
A pretty fun place to go in Little Italy. My favorite thing is the bowl of muscles. For about fourteen clams, you can get the largest bowl of muscles I've ever seen. Ravioli is good, as well. And sometimes the bartenders are great (but not always). One time I ordered a Negroni and they had no idea how to make it, but after I explained it, the bartender made one of the best Negronis I've had in Cleveland. This is a rarity. The waitstaff can be hit-or-miss. I have been there and had a great waitress, and have been there where the waitress pays hardly attention to the table. However, I tend to just write this off to the "Italian Experience" even though i shouldn't.
(4)Erin P.
I agree that the service can be really hit or miss but the calamari is terrific and I absolutely love the 'Gilbert's Pizza', the 'Little Italy Pizza'. I tend to do takeout from here more often than dine-in but, a summertime windowseat is just lovely. Wine list could use some work, but have had a few decent glass pours.
(4)Jennifer W.
Loved this darling restaurant!
(4)Kola H.
Although I initially intended to try Mia Bella, I am extremely happy that we were instead able to eat outdoors at Maxi's! The ambiance and energy of the cozy neighborhood is so nice to find in any city. But more importantly the service and good was EXCELLENTE! I could not get enough of the roasted garlic that adorned the crispy, succulent frog legs. The pizza and pasta was amazing. Next time I am in Ohio I will be back! Gratzi!!!
(4)Alexandra H.
This quaint restaurant in the heart of Little Italy is perfect for a date night or night out on the town. Although it can be a bit crammed, the ambiance of the venue makes up for the lack of space. The inviting atmosphere, paired with great service, makes for a relaxing and enjoyable dining experience. Although a few of my family members who I was dining with weren't entirely thrilled with some of the entrees, I must confess that the calamari was to die for. You don't want to pass this up. Also, their pizzas were tasty, but not worth the price. Overall, I'd Maxi's a thumbs up; especially if you're looking for a place to kick back and relax after exploring the area.
(3)Elaine N.
Stopped by this cute little place on a Sunday and was seated immediately. I love how this place is family oriented and everyone knew everyone. Ambience: Small, but adorable little place. Luckily it wasn't crowded when we went in. Service: There was one server running the place and he did a great job. Didn't bother us too much and was there to refill drinks and ask if everything was okay. Food: I ordered the Fettuccine Alfredo with Chicken. It was the the best I've ever had. The chicken was grilled to perfection and the sauce was creamy. My boyfriend had the 12 oz. strip steak and he said it was very good! I definitely recommend this place if you're looking for a cute date night. The food is authentic and delicious! Plus the area is fun to walk around.
(5)Kaitlin D.
Maxi's knows how to do happy hour! And for once, I'm not talking about the drinks/drink specials that are featured, I'm talking about the food/food deals! Maxi's food is spot on any time of the day, but during happy hour, it's not only delicious, but it's perfectly priced! You certainly can't go wrong with some skillfully sautéed and sauced calamari (best in town) and an artichoke pizza with an ice cold Stella. Seriously. Fabulous. And when you're saving dollars, it's even better! (Happy hour alleviates my previous price complaint.) Refer to my previous review for the calamari. Now, the pizza. This pizza was exactly what I expected and wanted! Soft, warm crust. Cheesy, artichokey. Great! Definitely recommended. Also, it reheats well! There can be some seating hiccups, especially if you come on a Wednesday (I think?) night and want to sit at the bar for the happy hour deals. We staked out some seats for quite awhile just for some calamari and a beer, but it was totally worth it. I'm not sure if it really depends on the night you come here, or if it's just a random crowd, but it can get hairy in this tiny joint if you don't plan ahead. Sometimes the service can be iffy, but that's with any place. You just have to snag a bartender when you need one and make sure you place your order quick!
(5)Kaitlin D.
Maxi's knows how to do happy hour! And for once, I'm not talking about the drinks/drink specials that are featured, I'm talking about the food/food deals! Maxi's food is spot on any time of the day, but during happy hour, it's not only delicious, but it's perfectly priced! You certainly can't go wrong with some skillfully sautéed and sauced calamari (best in town) and an artichoke pizza with an ice cold Stella. Seriously. Fabulous. And when you're saving dollars, it's even better! (Happy hour alleviates my previous price complaint.) Refer to my previous review for the calamari. Now, the pizza. This pizza was exactly what I expected and wanted! Soft, warm crust. Cheesy, artichokey. Great! Definitely recommended. Also, it reheats well! There can be some seating hiccups, especially if you come on a Wednesday (I think?) night and want to sit at the bar for the happy hour deals. We staked out some seats for quite awhile just for some calamari and a beer, but it was totally worth it. I'm not sure if it really depends on the night you come here, or if it's just a random crowd, but it can get hairy in this tiny joint if you don't plan ahead. Sometimes the service can be iffy, but that's with any place. You just have to snag a bartender when you need one and make sure you place your order quick!
(5)Michelle H.
My main complaint here was this was the first restaurant in little Italy that doesn't offer gluten free pasta. Soooo I asked what they could make gluten free, they gave my a boiled chicken breast smothered in straight lemon juice. God awful. The service was fine. The staff was friendly. No complaints there.
(3)Winnie W.
I would probably give this place a solid 3 1/2, only reason I bump this place down to athree is that even though it is conveniently located in Little italy, I wasn't impressed with their Feast food. I do love that they serve Moscato ^_^ and have a patio but this place just didn't hit the spot for me. I did love the frog legs another time I went, maybe on my next visit, my opinion will go up after really delicious food.
(3)Faith A.
I used to love Maxi's when I lived in Cleveland. I was never disappointed in the food or the service. I have to say that our experience here yesterday was not as positive as my past ones. Although it was a beautiful day and we were able to secure a great little table out front, the rest of our experience was underwhelming. I will say that our wine, and apps (mussels and bruschetta rustica) were great, everything else, not so much, and especially for the cost. Our server even took my order and ran away without taking my husbands - very odd. We had to flag him down to get the rest of the order placed. The margherita pizza was not as appetizing as I would have hoped for somewhere in Little Italy. The ravioli that my husband ordered also was comprised of just 4 little pieces. Not exactly filing. I remember being able to rave about this place before. Not anymore. Will I be back to hope for a better experience? Probably. I am hoping that this was just a less favorable one time experience only.
(3)Rosita C.
Excellent food and service. Authentic Italian fare. Had the shrimp and pasta and it was excellent. Impressed me with the use of capers and fresh basil. Gave 4 stars because the decor was too boring and lighting was too bright. Dim it down a little.
(4)Sara N.
This place is delicious, authentic, and awesome for Italian food! I had a chocolate espresso martini to start off with and it was heavenly. The appetizers I tried were fried cheese, caprese salad, and calamari. All of them were ridiculously good. For dinner, I had lobster pasta, which was really rich and tasty. This place is also known for its pizza, but sadly I was too full to try any. Love the location in little Italy too!
(4)Kimberlee G.
Absolutely worst possible experience. We booked the Maxi's Banquet room for our wedding rehearsal dinner. Excited to show off Little Italy to our wedding guests, we chose Maxi's because they offered us private banquet room for our group of 25 out of town guests. We worked with the restaurant manager, Fatian, 8 months in advance to book the space and select a customized menu well in advance. When we arrived, the hostess told us the room was not ready- they had booked another rehearsal dinner in the banquet room just before ours. They said the other group was "wrapping up" and asked us to wait a few minutes. So, there we were....25 of us, all dressed up for a rehearsal dinner, standing on the curb of Maxi's in Little Italy crowded around the little hostess stand. After 20 minutes of waiting, we were anxious. After 30 minutes, we were frustrated. After 50 minutes of waiting for a banquet room we booked well in advance, and when the restaurant manager finally came to even acknowledge us, he asked us to "wait just a little longer". He was completely clueless. Fed up and frustrated, not just because we were already waiting nearly an hour, but also because the other party wasn't even done with their dinner yet. Clearly, we weren't getting into the banquet room any time soon and yet Fatian kept asking us to "just wait". Luckily, we were able to take our 25 guests across the street to Gusto! Ristorante Italian where they took us in, sat us, and make a delicious meal in no time. The Accordian even played for us to provide upbeat entertainment. Huge thank you to Gusto for saving the day, and a huge disappointment in Maxi's and their incredibly slow and completely not concerned staff.
(1)Rachel H.
My favorite spot in Little Italy. The food reminds me of what my mom cooked. My family and I have been making it out meeting place for Christmas Eve dinner for the past few years, and have a great time every year. We walk out of there full of food and drinks, and will talk about it for the next year. My favorite dishes are the bruschetta, the pizzas and the cavatelli and meatballs. I have heard they have great frog legs and calamari.
(5)Natt A.
My housemate, his brother, and I were in the mood for some pizza and we stopped by Maxi's because of their solid reviews. We ordered the Funghi pizza and pepperoni pizza to share and boy were they delicious! The first was light, not really greasy, and very well seasoned. The latter was well seasoned as well and all you want in a pepperoni pizza! We'll definitely have to come back to try the pasta and their dishes! Defiantly check it out! Btw. The sangria (white wine) was quite delicious! Not too sweet and full of flavors!
(4)Stephen S.
Checked out Maxi's today for dinner with a group of friends. Quite impressed! Nice ambiance, with options to dine in front, inside, and in the back patio. Pretty casual place too, so don't be self-conscious if you're not dressed up to the nines (or even the fives, really). Happy Hour until 6:30pm Monday through Thursday, with some pretty awesome deals: $3 beers, $6 wines/sangria, $10 all pizzas (14" and large enough for 2-3 hungry people), $10 mussels, and $10 calamari. We all had a drink and a pizza to ourselves, with none of us finishing more than four of our eight slices--leftovers anyone? Pizza was fresh and hot, crust nice and chewy, with some intriguing toppings. I opted for Gilbert's pizza, with tomato sauce, ricotta cheese, proscuitto, and kalamata olives which was pretty darn tasty. Other combinations sounded great too, from traditional margherita to a smoked salmon pizza (might be more of a flatbread kind of thing at this point, but let's not get hung up on semantics). Service was attentive, refilled our waters frequently, and was very accommodating, readily splitting our check five ways. Bottom line: tasty pizza, thrifty happy hour, spectacular service.
(4)Erin B.
I was craving Italian and an inviting atmosphere so I decided on Maxi's because I wanted to try somewhere I hadn't been in Little Italy. The place is pretty small and a bit more casual than most in that area but still very cute and clean inside. Parking around there is a cluster but they have valet for $7 which isn't bad. We got seated right up front with a window seat which I loved too. Let's get to the good stuff. The food was just what I needed and so good. We decided to split a salad, Darcy's pizza, and Cavatelli w meatballs. Everything was delicious and loved the butter garlic sauce on the pizza combined with the spicy banana peppers. Portions are large so that's why we split everything. Our waitress was nice and attentive as well. Pricing isn't cheap but not too expensive especially for the portions you receive. If I wasn't a west sider I would frequent more often but will be back and recommend.
(4)Sheree M.
In typical Little Italy style, this place is perfect for dates and pizza and pasta. It's dark and quiet, but could spice up the romance with some candles on the tables. With many Italians working there, it gives it more of an authentic feel and their menu stays true to form. Really great pizza! Friendly staff too! I got the fresh mozzarella - Delicious! I'd highly recommend.
(4)Sheena M.
My favorite place in Little Italy. Always friendly staff and great service and back patio. Not to mention the pizza
(5)Lin H.
MMMMMMMM! Finally got to go back to Maxi's at a time that wasn't during The Feast! Calamari Pasta and Funghi Pizza were just as I remembered... So delicious! My sister and I were able to sit outside in the front, which is great for people watching if you don't mind the traffic. Service was okay, and the outdoor seating is a little squished. But all that was forgotten considering the heavenly food we were eating.
(4)Grace S.
Absolutely fabulous! We stopped in for happy hour specials and were pleasantly surprised by the best calamari EVER. Plus a creative pizza menu and great atmosphere.
(5)Meredith W.
The food was fresh and full of flavor. Bread was delicious and fresh as well, with a tasty Parmesan oil. They made a nice martini. The staff was really friendly. Loved my first experience at Maxi's.
(5)David C.
We came here with a party of 6, we got one refill on our drinks the entire time, way overpriced and it looked like someone poured water on my spaghetti. Save the time and go elsewhere in little Italy.
(1)A Ly M.
We stopped in here because the initial restaurant we wanted to go to wasn't opened yet. We were seated right away. I noticed seating in the front outside, within the bar area, as well as an outdoor patio area outside. It was an odd time during the week, like 3:00 pm, so the place wasn't too busy. We decided to eat outside. All items are a la carte, but we did get a basket of fresh warm bread. We ordered the stuffed banana peppers which were perfect. You get two peppers for $12, maybe a little pricey, but they were tasty. I ordered the carbonara, DELISH! A perfect blend of spices and prosciutto, the peas popped in your mouth. The other items ordered were the spinach ravioli, they were served in a vodka sauce and every bite was good. However, this dish is served with only 4 ravioli's, priced at $16-18, that's $4+ per ravioli. The other dish was the Farfalle with the sausage and onions. Once again, extremely tasty. Our waitress was excellent and very attentive. I would definitely go back.
(4)Perry S.
The good was average not bad now great. The big problem is the portion size. 23 dollars for spinach ravioli and you get 4 small pieces. This is not a high end Italian restaurant it's a nice friendly neighborhood restaurant and that for a portion size is ridiculous. The chicken marsala was good but again very small portion and the same for the linguine with clams. It was in a small bowl and not worth the cost at all. The pizza looked good and at least it's the size of a normal pizza.
(2)Mike V.
Stopped in here for a late dinner with a date. This seems like a very old style family run place to eat. Not fancy or pretentious at all. Service was attentive but in a homey way and not as crisply professional as other places very near by. Had the calamari ap based on other reviews. Wonderful. Worth it. Large portion for two people. Asked about the tomatoes with buffalo mozzarella. We were worried the tomatoes wouldn't be good in late May. We were told they were "amazing." Well, no they weren't. They were just like you'd expecting the end of a May in Cleveland, hot house bland. The mozzarella didn't appear house made or especially good either. And there was a shortage of small balls of it in my opinion. We ordered spaghetti and meatballs to split as an entree. The balls were bland and the spaghetti was overcooked and mushy. In an Italian place, in this part of town, that's inexcusable. There are better choices on the menu.
(3)Jen J.
Loved it! My favorite restaurant in Little Italy so far. Calamari is the best I've ever had. I also had the shrimp penne in the vodka tomato cream sauce and it was great. Service was quick and polite. Atmosphere is a little more casual than most in Little Italy, but I'll definitely be back thanks to the great food.
(5)Robert U.
Great food, service was great AFTER the bar tender realized my friend I was dining with (who was visiting from Trinidad) wasn't there to rob the place. Spicy sausage pasta was right on. Pizza was right on...but you could cut the racism with a knife. FYI to the staff...not every black person is trying to case your bar or hold the place up.
(4)Phuong D.
Love this place! Their happy hour menu is amazing! Pizza, calamari, and mussels are delicious! Their martinis are nice and strong and they are very generous with their wine pours. Their staff is also super friendly!
(5)Greg N.
Food: the food was great! Dishes picked were Shrimp pasta and Linguini with meatballs. I was expecting the shrimp pasta sauce to be creamier but I did not ask and when it came it was watery. Also, they do not remove the shell on the shrimp tail. Still not sure why places leave those things on when you're putting the shrimp in pasta. Now I have to reach into my pasta and grab the shrimp out with my fingers and eat it to make sure I get every last little yummy bit. The portions were the perfect size and we both left nice and full. Wine: Underwood pino noir. This is a great red wine that is easy to drink. Very tasty. Service: refilled our water glasses promptly. Checked in every now and then to make sure we were doing okay. Or waiter made wine recommendations and tried to save us money with a bottle. We only each wanted one glass so we paid the slight extra for wine by the glass. Decor: We sat on the patio which is full of plastic chairs and tables. They also have a small bar out there, some nice flowers, and umbrellas to keep us pale folk from burning. The interior is nicely decorated with some cool paintings/prints. I'd like to come relax here at the bar and have some pizza and beer with friends some day. They also had some music playing that made me feel like we were in the motion picture Gatsby.
(4)Kristen W.
I don't make it out to little italy often but I have been to this gem twice now. Tucked away in little Italy, you will truly fine nothing less than authentic Italian cuisine here. The inside is tiny but cozy, not the most romantic atmosphere but still enjoyable because it's so small. The first time we came here the server had a little accident and spilled four sangrias all over our table and us. We laughed it off because it was his first week and assured him we would be back. When we came back last night, guess who was our server and who remembered us? The charming funny sangria spiller! He truly was awesome and I hope he waits on us again, despite the first mishap. After a few laughs we quickly ordered more sangria ( haha) and the best calamari in cleveland. Seriously this calamari kicks ass. It taste so fresh and is ever so lightly fried and sits atop a sauce a want to bathe in. Us four girls split the cavitelli and meatballs, chicken piccata and the shrimp scampi special. The meatballs were fabulous like they always are (we ordered double) but the shrimp scampi was the standout. The piccata was forgettable but still okay. We finished off our meal by splitting two cannolis (two come in an order) and it was the perfect sweet ending to the meal, do not miss these! The only reasons I can't give five stars is because of the atmosphere and the price. I know that it's little Italy but for a round of sangria, calamari, three pasta dishes we easily dropped $150. Nonetheless, I know I won't be able to stay away.
(4)Jon O.
This is a nice little Italian restaurant and it doesn't really have much flare or anything but holy cow was the food delicious. I tried the calamari and spaghetti with meatballs. I don't mentally catalogue all of the calamari I try but theirs was probably the best I have ever had. The spaghetti with meatballs was delicious as well and I was sad when my plate was empty. Gotta give a special shout out on the meatballs. They were made with pork and beef and not too dry and not too soggy. Just perfect. I'm hoping I get a chance to come back by Cleveland to try this place out. I'm not sure how their pizza is but everyone at our table ordered off the pasta menu and not one of us left dissapointed.
(5)Grant M.
Really enjoyed the food at Maxi's. Room upstairs is perfect for hosting medium sized group parties.
(5)Beth R.
We held a club event here so first of all, they were very accommodating and kind to our members. We were upstairs and had the entire floor to ourselves and it was so cozy and perfect! Plus our waiter got quite a workout running up and down the stairs. We only shared a pizza and cannoli, but it was some fantastic pie and a creamy dessert. I didn't hear any complaints of the other 18 or so entrees and most people raved over their food. This was also my first visit to Cleveland's Little Italy and I was impressed - very cute for an evening stroll in the summer!
(5)Kola H.
Although I initially intended to try Mia Bella, I am extremely happy that we were instead able to eat outdoors at Maxi's! The ambiance and energy of the cozy neighborhood is so nice to find in any city. But more importantly the service and good was EXCELLENTE! I could not get enough of the roasted garlic that adorned the crispy, succulent frog legs. The pizza and pasta was amazing. Next time I am in Ohio I will be back! Gratzi!!!
(4)Alexandra H.
This quaint restaurant in the heart of Little Italy is perfect for a date night or night out on the town. Although it can be a bit crammed, the ambiance of the venue makes up for the lack of space. The inviting atmosphere, paired with great service, makes for a relaxing and enjoyable dining experience. Although a few of my family members who I was dining with weren't entirely thrilled with some of the entrees, I must confess that the calamari was to die for. You don't want to pass this up. Also, their pizzas were tasty, but not worth the price. Overall, I'd Maxi's a thumbs up; especially if you're looking for a place to kick back and relax after exploring the area.
(3)Elaine N.
Stopped by this cute little place on a Sunday and was seated immediately. I love how this place is family oriented and everyone knew everyone. Ambience: Small, but adorable little place. Luckily it wasn't crowded when we went in. Service: There was one server running the place and he did a great job. Didn't bother us too much and was there to refill drinks and ask if everything was okay. Food: I ordered the Fettuccine Alfredo with Chicken. It was the the best I've ever had. The chicken was grilled to perfection and the sauce was creamy. My boyfriend had the 12 oz. strip steak and he said it was very good! I definitely recommend this place if you're looking for a cute date night. The food is authentic and delicious! Plus the area is fun to walk around.
(5)Alison M.
I have a quandary rating Maxi's because service was so sloooowww, but the food was absolutely delicious. I was so hungry when we got to Maxi's and it took them over an hour to bring out our food. Mind you that the place wasn't busy. There were maybe 3 tables including us. Even bread took around 20 mins to bring out. Yes, it was fresh baked, crispy, chewy and scrumptious, but why did it take so long?! They also failed to bring out the pizza with the salad which left me even hungrier. Salad by the way was a pile of lettuce and nothing else for $7. Now for the good stuff. The pizza was superb, crispy crust and super flavorful. Chicken piccata was alright as were the sides of pasta that came with the entrees, but the absolute best thing we got was the penne with shrimp in this incredibly spicy vodka sauce. YUM. Bottom line: Food is good, but the restaurant is so slow. Order takeout.
(3)Chris W.
This review is strictly about the pizza. Not a fan of the super sweet sauce. It's a real distraction as I'm trying to enjoy the other tastes. The cheese was fine and plentiful. The (bottom) crust was WAY too thick and almost undercooked. I attribute this gooey crust to the fact it's served on a glass plate. I'm a fan of NY style - if you are as well, this is not your pizza place.
(2)Amy H.
Hubby's annual birthday surprise began with dinner at Maxi's. This was our first time here, based on a recommendation from the two friends who dined with us. We started our meal with a bottle of malbec, and each ordered a different plate of pasta. Thanks to Cara L.'s suggestion, we devoured a savory plate of stuffed banana hot peppers, along with a bowl of steamed mussels. I could've died happy with those appetizers alone! The only pasta plate that hit a low note for me was their signature sautéed calamari. I was hoping for non-breaded calamari, but was overwhelmed by the opposite. It just wasn't what I was expecting, and it had a burnt after-taste. My friend's sweet alfredo and the other friend's goat cheese ravioli were my favorite. So much goodness in that cream! Quaint, festive atmosphere, excellent service. Pricey, but worth it for a special occasion. Next time, I'm ordering the frog legs.
(4)Alex G.
I thought this place had great service, tasty pizza, and a wonderful patio out back for eating and drinking with friends. I thought the pizza crust was fantastic, and really enjoyed the "Gina's Pizza' with prosciutto and fresh tomato. Price is slightly on the high side, but it is a relaxing and inviting atmosphere. If there weren't so many places to try I would come back much sooner, yet still imagine I will be back in the not so distant future.
(4)B S.
Went there for dinner, based on the reviews. The service was god-awful - would rather go elsewhere in Little Italy. The food was okay. We got one of the tables overlooking Mayfield - saving grace on a summer evening when Little Italy is so alive.
(3)Clever Fashionista T.
My absolute favorite restaurant in Little Italy! The staff is friendly, accomadating and always treat us as family. We are happy whenever we go here. Love every dish that the staff and Chef Gilbert prepare it's always sensational. Try the Calmari--it's fantastic!
(5)S. J.
Have been there twice now at lunch time. They seated us immediately in the open backyard area. Both times we ordered the pizza, the Maxi and Funghi. Both were great. The service was very attentive and the price was reasonable. We will go back.
(4)Cara L.
Have you ever taken a bite of your food and literally wanted to melt as the taste sensations satisfied everything you were craving? Maxi's Ristorante serves up this feeling daily with every authentic and delicious Italian dish they prepare. It's times like these when I ponder how I'm not 380lbs of beastly-ness because, man...I can take down some serious pasta. This is especially true if it's from Maxi's. So, you're strolling around Little Italy and you can't figure out where to dine. Well, I agree. It's truly difficult to pick one restaurant in that neighborhood because they're all great in their own right. BUT, there's just something about Maxi's that keeps me coming back. It's the food. Specifically the pasta. My first Maxi's dinner was incredible. There were six of us at a table and we all ordered something different, but all pasta dishes. Everyone shared and with each new bite, it became more difficult to pick a favorite. In the end, I couldn't choose. I know I had the Goat Cheese Ravioli and my sister choose the Penne Pasta Carbonnara. Both were divine. It's literally the most painful experience in the world to watch me try to pick ONE dish to order though. Since the first trip I've added a new favorite to my list, which is the stuffed banana peppers. If I could live off this dish, I would. I'm not kidding. There are only a couple of things that bring Maxi's down to a 4 star instead of a 5. The service is just so-so. I'm not the kind of person who likes to be waited on hand and foot, but there's a balance. Our servers always seem to be uninterested and eager to get off work. My other issue is the price. I mean, some dishes I can understand a heftier price tag, but pasta dishes $20 and over? Really? It's PASTA. Damn good pasta, but still...I'm not ordering a prime cut of steak here! Besides, the atmosphere doesn't quite merit that cost either. So, it wouldn't really fall into my "worth it because it's the whole vibe" category. It better suits a normal night out for dinner, casual attire, etc. I still can't hate on Maxi's though. I mean, their food is just so ridiculously good that it's nearly impossible not to want to spend the money. I mean, I can even forgive them for the service. All that's forgettable, but the food..well, that's the kind of pasta you dream about.
(4)Noa N.
After a busy day at UHC, we were ready for pizza and drinks. Maxi's was a short walk away and did not disappoint. They have a solid selection of martinis, other cocktails, wine, and beer. I had a glass of the chianti - they offer a very generous glassful of wine. As I sipped the stress of the work day away with my chianti, my friend enjoyed his Manhattan Transfer - tasted just like a strong Manhattan. Many of the pizza offerings sounded delicious - lots of veggie offerings. We went with Gina's pizza - a white pizza with prosciutto and tomatoes (no ricotta). It was very simple and we enjoyed every last bite. I also had a mixed green salad with balsamic vinagrette - it's a nice mix of greens but lacked additional toppings - cucumbers, tomatoes would have been a nice addition. The vinagrette was strong. Service was OK. It wasn't busy. The server forgot to bring me my salad so when the pizza came out and I reminded him about the salad, he gave it to me free of charge. Other reviews mention bread. We weren't offered bread.
(3)Michael C.
After hearing rave review about this place, I decided to give it a shot for lunch. Ordered the calamari upon recommendation. It was OK, very flavorful, but very acidic. Ordered the Carbonara. Real disappointment. Straight up bland heavy cream, watery, bland, not authentic whatsoever. I dont understand why restaurants can't make it with eggs.. I ordered something else.. but it was forgettable. The crowd seemed to be composed of well-dressed regulars, many of whom sat at the bar. Idk.. I thought this was a very mediocre restaurant in terms of food. But at least the waitress was friendly and decor had its sweet european bistro vibe to it. I may return if I get bored of the surrounding restaurants, but that may take some time Food: B- Atmosphere: B Service: B
(3)John T.
My family has lived in Little Italy for almost 100 years so I havent had much of a chance to eat in any of the local restaurants. But now that my Grandma, Great Aunt and Uncle have passed away, I can now try them out. Maxi's is my favorite, although Il Baccio is close. Gilbert has some great dishes on the menu. When we were there, we had Pizza and sat at the bar, it was a nice but slightly crowded atmosphere. While waiting for our pizza, we could see them preparing the other dishes and they would tell us what each one was...Goat Cheese Ravioli...awww, yeah! Here's a tip: come early so you dont feel so crowded. The neighborhood fills up fast on a warm summer night! If you are a CWRU student, I believe they offer you a discount on your meal.
(4)Bob M.
The service was a bit slow, but overall a good experience. 5 star food, and that's what really matters
(5)Ermelinda C.
Great food, great drinks, great service! We went on a eating binge during our last visit to Maxi's in Little Italy, and could not have been happier with our food choices. They were all delicious and so were the drinks. I had not had white sangria in a long time, and I was glad that Maxi's white sangria did not disappoint - delicious on a hot Spring day! We love Maxis!!!
(5)Jack L.
Overall a good expierence with a great pizza. It was 105$ for 4. Chicken Fettuccini Alfredo- Ok. Bruschetta- Ok. Pasta- Ok but dry. Pizza- Good. Spinach and Ricotta Ravioli- Excellent! The Service was good and a little fast.
(3)Marek P.
That was my second worst pizza I've ever eaten! with my friend we had 2 pizzas, and I as well as him we both had stomach problems. It was not tasteful it was awful
(1)Melissa A.
Although I had a lovely dinner at Maxi's, I don't think that the cost was justified. The $16 shrimp pasta with tomatoes, artichokes, capers and a white wine sauce was good, however there were only 4 medium-sized shrimp and the pasta wasn't fresh...I'm not sure what about that meal deserves a $16 price tag. Our waiter, who seemed overwhelmed by the full patio, forgot to bring us bread, which was a bit frustrating as we watched every other table around us receive a really good looking bread basket (when we finally requested some, it proved to be crusty and perfect). I appreciated the heavy handed wine pours, however I likely wouldn't return due to the food prices (come on, $15 calamari?).
(3)Linus S.
Great food, friendly staff and great place for a night out with the wife. Pizzas are great here too! Probably my favorite place to go in Little Italy.
(5)Charlene M.
I went here on a Sunday afternoon for lunch with a group of friends (5 of us total). I was a little confused with the atmosphere, the bar seats were filled with people eating and drinking at around 3pm. We were seated in the front of the restaurant at a table very quickly (A+ for speed). The waitress quickly took our drink orders and was quick to bring over drinks and take our order. For appetizers we had sauteed calamari and bruschetta classico which were both great. The calamari would have actually been a great lunch on it's own with a little bread. The bruschetta was a little heavy on onions for some people in my group but I thought it tasted very fresh. When it came to the entree things started going a little awry. Myself and two other people in my group ordered the goat cheese ravioli. We all agreed that it was luke warm at best. The ravioli itself tasted great, but it was very hard getting over the temperature issue. Regardless, this was a pretty standard non-chain Italian restaurant with a family feel. My recommendation would be to get the sauteed calamari and a little bread and call it a meal.
(3)Angela L.
Was excited to try this place - and admittedly everything we had was delicious (pizza, pasta, the hot peppers - beware! really hot) but the service was pretty awful. It was slow and the waiter took nearly 15 minutes to bring us waters, and still came back a few minutes later to take our drink orders, which then took about another 10 minutes to come out. I'm also not a fan of restaurants that do happy hour "only at the bar" like they do. We came in with a big group and could not get happy hour pricing because it was "only at the bar". Great food, disappointing service.
(3)Stacie M.
So we just stopped by for an after dinner drink, and I was so impressed I HAD to write a review. This place seemed pretty lively for 9 pm when the restaurants were mostly wrappin up so we stopped in. Wow. Here's what impressed me. The wine pours! They literally give you a goblet of wine! It's like a half a bottle! Impressive. Oh yeah. And we took a pizza to go and it was fabulous - even reheated!
(3)Betty W.
Best alfredo sauce ever, the nutmeg probably. Pizza was OK, but a little thick and undercooked or my taste. I ordered goat cheese ravioli, but i couldnt taste the goat cheese. I wondered if they gave me spinch ravioli instead. No big deal, it tasted great anyway. Best part was the bread and dipping sauce. Great atmosphere and very nice service.
(4)Christiana C.
I'm a bit of a hard customer when it comes to Italian. When you're raised on it your whole life, you become a bit discerning. While Maxi's had some pluses (awesome butter sauce for bread, good service and the ability to eat there with or without a reservation), it didn't do it for me. The red sauce was heavy on the basil and my cavatelli was swimming in it. There was no salad or side to offset the sheer volume of pasta, resulting in a bit of a carby food coma. I could really take it or leave it. If someone else was paying, I'd show up. But with all the other choices in Little Italy, I need more of a reason to pick Maxi's.
(2)Darryl M.
First time at Maxi's was a great one! Made reservations, but there is no Host/Hostess to speak of. Restaurant is small so we ran into a Server who sat us right away at a table that had just cleared. Just not sure that the reservation would have done much being such a small room. The service was pretty much on point. We did need to request water refills a few times, and my requested crushed red pepper never made it to the table though. The food was excellent. Portions were huge. The sauce on the pastas was a little sweet for my wife's taste, but I thought it was delicious. My chicken Marsala had enough roasted red pepper and portobello that there was some in every bite. Music selection was strange for a spot in Little Italy and did nothing for the ambiance. We heard a bit too many 80's hits while we were there... And although this is not Maxi's fault since it's a private service, our car smelled of smoke when Valet returned it to us.
(4)Matthew R.
Salads were great, I had the mussels which were okay...not the best. Sauce was sort of flavorless. Amazing bread. Kind of high priced. If you can't be seated at the sidewalk tables, don't do the "patio." You're basically in a parking lot surrounded by tenements and feral cats. I think I could have gotten a better Italian dinner in Cleveland...I'd give it another try, though.
(2)Jennifer W.
Loved this darling restaurant!
(4)Mark T.
I think Little Italy is overrated as a whole. Coming from an Italian family I am not blown away by any restaurants down there. The ambiance is really cool and it's nice to see cities that try to maintain their Italian heritage. In my opinion that's what these overpriced restaurants are relying on. Maxi's is very small. My girlfriend and I were sitting so close to another table we heard they're entire conversation and I'm sure they heard ours. I went there primarily because I had their tripe during the Feast of the Assumption and it was very good. The problem was that it was about $6 at the feast and about $17 at their restaurant. It was good but tripe shouldn't be nearly that expensive. My girlfriend got a chicken dish which was average at best. I will not be going back.
(2)Joao Pedro L.
It's my favorite restaurant in Little Italy. The service is really good, even during busy hours, wine selection is very nice, and the food, responsibility of a French chef, is wonderful. Try the Calamari Pasta or the Funghi Pizza, for some real good suggestions. The specials usually great as well.
(4)Lisa W.
Our family went here early on New Year's Eve after a trip to the CMA for a quick dinner. The calamari was crisp and well-seasoned, and the pizzas that we ordered were tasty. The reason for the 4 stars rather than a 5 had to do with the service. The waiter was competent but seem more interested in the crowds coming in later. He did not really engage us and actually ignored our requests. We are accustom to eating at good restaurants and were put off by this particular waiter! We would still return for the great food!
(4)Erin R.
I almost never go to the east side. It's my secret goal to become one of "those people" who never leaves the side of town where they live. HOWEVER, i went to dinner with my parents at maxi's because of my mom's claim on how good the food is. she's right - the food is really good. i'm not a huge italian fan, but we had the calamari (allegedly the best in little italy, which i find to be a bold statement), the sauteed escarole, and i had goat cheese ravioli while the parents both had linguini and meatballs (or, meatbulbs, if you're me.) i had no booze, but moms had a glass of red. i am known to totally stuff myself with bread and not eat any of my entree, but shockingly that didn't happen this time, though the bread is very good. i could have just eaten the entire plate of escarole, but that is mostly personal greens addiction. they are a little heavy, but if you split them around the table it's more than enough for three people. the ravioli was good, though i had my heart set on carbonara. this didn't happen, sadly, because there was no prosciutto. i know, right? an italian restaurant w/o prosciutto? apparently it was a one-time thing, and i certainly hope so. the raviolis themselves were very good, the sauce was a little heavy for me but that's my aversion i guess. we had excellent service - our waitress was super accommodating and helpful. no complaints there whatsoever. definitely a recommended spot out of the many options in the neighborhood - there were plenty of septuagenarian local dudes hanging out at the table next to us gabbing and that was definitely entertaining.
(4)Jonathan F.
First time we've tried this place. I would definitely come back. The calamari appetizer was excellent. Salads were nice. I had the spinach ravioli, my wife had the goat cheese ravioli. Both were excellent; the sauces were particularly good. The server was pleasant, if slightly inattentive. It was a little on the pricey side. Nice ambiance though. As I said, I would come back.
(4)Lisa R.
Dined while visiting Cleveland this week. Asked the man who was valet parking our car "if you were to eat at any of these restaurants here in Little Italy, where would YOU eat" and he suggested Maxi's so we wandered in the Friday after Christmas. They seemed to be one of the only restaurants on the street that was busy so that was a good sign. They were full downstairs so sat us upstairs with a nice window view of the street with the snow coming down. Excellent Pear Martini made with Gray Goose and ginger, not too sweet, and was delish! The Calamari was one of the best I've had. Opted for traditional linguine and meatballs. The sauce was a little too sweet for my liking, but it was good none the less. Hubby had pasta with carbonara sauce that he devoured! Affordable but a bit limited wine selection. Had Tiramasou for dessert, how can that not ever be divine? Only reason I didn't give them 5 stars is they do not offer gluten free pasta selections, which my friend dining with us had to have. They are locals and said most restaurants in the area DO so we were all dissapointed that Maxi's isn't a little more "with it" with all of the dietary restrictions so many people have. Would love to return again!
(4)P W.
I took my mom out to lunch on a bright Saturday and walked around Little Italy. This place seemed about good as any so we decided to give it a try. The lunch menu was reasonably priced. I think the pasta was around $10. She had the italian sausage and farfalle pasta. I had the meatballs. Both were good. My mom does not so much enjoy spicy foods and the sauce of her dish had a slight kick to it. I enjoyed both dishes. We opted to split the tomato, basil and mozzerella salad. It was the perfect amount to split and serve as an appetizer. The server was a really nice guy. He seemed genuine and not full of it. Not apathetic and not overbearing. It was a nice place to go for lunch. Hopefully I will one day return. En'shallah.
(4)Ian Z.
What a great place. We went there for my sister in laws birthday. I got frog legs as an appetizer and they were freaking awesome! The diners we ordered were great too. Very friendly staff and great service. I wil def be coming back for more!
(5)Ashley E.
One of our favorite places to eat in Little Italy. From the appetizers to the pastas to the pizza, you can enjoy many styles of a meal. The seating on the front sidewalk (limited) is great for people watching, and there is dining on a back patio as well. Chef/owner Fatmir is wonderful, along with the staff who remember you when you return.
(4)Andrea L.
Maxi's is a good choice if your trying to decide which restaurant to go to in Cleveland's Little Italy. Food and service was great. We went off a previous Yelp review regarding the Calamari appetizer and we are glad we did... VERY GOOD! My boyfriend had the Chicken Picatta, which was delicious and I ordered the Ravioli w/ goat cheese..also delicious. My only complaint about the restaurant is we sat in the back where they had the TV on which didn't meld so well with the music playing overhead.
(4)Lauren S.
We stopped by for a quick bite to eat after visiting the Cleveland Aquarium and to get some Italian baked goods in the area. It was around 3:00pm and we were the only people in the place. They had a bartender who was also our waitress and a few of the other employees were sitting at the bar. The menu has some good options and the wine list is great. We really wanted some pizza after a long cold morning of walking so we ordered the Little Italy pizza and two glasses of water. The waitress brought us one cold water and one hot water which I thought was a little odd but we just shared the ice water. The pizza came out pretty quickly and it looked and smelled amazing. We are big pizza fans, and I couldn't wait to dig in. The taste and spices were really good, BUT the pizza dough wasn't completely cooked. The middle on one side was still soft and gooey. At this point the bar started to get busy and our waitress didn't come back to check on us, so we ate the side that was kinda cooked. Usually I would say something, but we were so hungry and didn't want to wait to get her attention. But considering that it wasn't busy when we ordered, there was no reason for the kitchen to hurry. We also had to wait awhile to get our bill, and never got drink refills. Its a great place to grab a drink if your in the area, but I wouldn't stop for a meal. Next time we'll try La Dolce Vita across the street.
(2)Kevin N.
A pretty fun place to go in Little Italy. My favorite thing is the bowl of muscles. For about fourteen clams, you can get the largest bowl of muscles I've ever seen. Ravioli is good, as well. And sometimes the bartenders are great (but not always). One time I ordered a Negroni and they had no idea how to make it, but after I explained it, the bartender made one of the best Negronis I've had in Cleveland. This is a rarity. The waitstaff can be hit-or-miss. I have been there and had a great waitress, and have been there where the waitress pays hardly attention to the table. However, I tend to just write this off to the "Italian Experience" even though i shouldn't.
(4)Erin P.
I agree that the service can be really hit or miss but the calamari is terrific and I absolutely love the 'Gilbert's Pizza', the 'Little Italy Pizza'. I tend to do takeout from here more often than dine-in but, a summertime windowseat is just lovely. Wine list could use some work, but have had a few decent glass pours.
(4)