Ristorante Massimo – Portsmouth, New Hampshire

Ristorante Massimo, Italian Fine Dining at it’s best…

As you drive down the narrow street, you see on the right hand corner two beautiful open wooden doors that lead to one of the most amazing restaurants; Ristorante Massimo. It’s been eight months since last I dined here… As I approached the front door, my palate awoke recalling the last dining experience… Ornate woodwork and stone walls lead you down a staircase into the main dining area…As you walk thru the wooden door at the bottom of the stairs It is as though you are walking into a  European castle… You will be greeted by a smiling Massimo himself… Soft Jazz and classical music from a bygone era plays in the background… Wooden beams throughout and little accent lamps on the tables… The beautiful large oil paintings purposely hung from the stone and brick walls add just the right amount of finishing touch to the ambiance!

My server tonight, David, recited the menu from memory suggesting what would be a fabulous dinner! After a while you  have to rely on their expertise… I generally prefer an appetizer… Soup… Main course… Dessert and cappuccino… Other than that I’m open to pretty much anything. The only criteria is that it needs to be amazing… And amazing it was… Below…, listed in order is how the Italian fine dining meal unfolded…

Brodo di Aragosta… Maine Lobster Bisque, buttery poached lobstah, crispy lobstah fritter, and herbed crema. Even better than I remembered it… Not the typical thick broth but more of a lobstah soup with chunks of prime  meat… In the center of the dish, a lobstah fritter like and island in the middle of a lake. And the flavour…? There are no words…
Burratta Insalata

Sandy hill Farms greens, green house tomatoes, Burrata cheese, green beans, tossed in a white balsamic vinaigrette. Each item beautifully positioned on the plate atop the Burratta… Just the right amount of dressing too…

Del Pescatore…Pan seared Atlantic halibut, roasted cauliflower with capers, currants, pine nuts, torn basil & mint, with basil lime emulsion.. As with the preceding dishes… Everything purposely placed… The halibut arranged at a 45 degree angle as though it were fending off the soon to be attack… I would rate it a solid 12 on a scale of one thru ten…
Apple Stogliatelle… The pastry literally takes three days to make…Traditional Italian shell shaped pastry filled with candied ginger mascapone, fresh apple salad…

And of course the cappuccino with the rock candy stir…

Fabuloso! Ristorante Massimo is worth the drive from anywhere as far as I’m concerned, and is truly Italian fine dining at it’s best! Thanks for another amazing dining experience Massimo! I’ll be back!… 

Contact Us for all your marketing needs.

At The White Tablecloth, we offer Custom Video and Photography Services as well as Social Media Management to make your brand stand out from the rest. Join our Facebook Group Restaurants USA