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Massimos (Italian cuisine)  $$$

 7.25
JaT Rating

5200 Mowry Avenue, Fremont, 94538  (Directions)


510.792.2000


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Fremont restaurant offering classic Italian, steak, and seafood dishes


Reviewer: Jason
Total Reviews: 1040
Reviewed: 1/10/2005
Rating: 7
My photo gallery 		Celebrating our 300th review is a big achievement for jatbar and we wanted to give the honor to Massimo's. There were big expectations since I have heard from 2 people that they serve a mean steak and other italian dishes.

Located off Mowry in Fremont, Massimo's has been a local favorite for over 24 years. With an interior to match its age, the atmosphere is homely and down to earth. Nothing too extravegant yet enough to cater a business lunch or celebrate a special birthday.

We went for dinner and it was quite dark inside with noise level just about average. We had 3 children with us so luckily they sat us in the back where we wouldnt disturb anyone. I think there were 6 other people in the backroom but that didnt last long. About 20 minutes later, the room was filled.

The service at Massimo's is excellent with the filling of our waters, delivering our food in a timely matter, and to the waiters who were extremely polite to us. Before the main courses, we ordered a couple of cocktails, Fresh Mozzarella with Tomato, and Dungeness Crab Cocktail. You definitely gets your moneys worth on the Cape Cods, it was all Vodka with a teaspoon of cramberry.

Mozzarella and Tomato - Thick slices of mozz and tomatos with a dash of balsamic vinegar and olive oil. Good mix and very light on the stomach.

Dungeness Crab - I love crab especially when its removed from the shell. Served in a tall cocktail glass topped off with a shrimp cocktail sauce. For $12.95, they serve you a decent portion of chilled crab. Fresh and sweet....oh sooo good. I would order this again....maybe 2.

For my main course, I went with the Dinner Cut Filet Mignon cooked medium. At a whopping 12 ounces @ $31.95, I was betting the bank that this was going to be the steak experience I had been anticipating. Did it live up to my expectations?

Filet Mignon - They did the top secret butter technique to add some additional flavor. When I eat Filet Mignon, the way I usually judge how tender the meat is the ability to cut it using your fork. I was not able to do this tonight. What was more disturbing was the outer edges were cooked well done. I should have returned it but I was too impatient and hungry. When I reached the center it was cooked a little above medium and dry. A dry steak is a meat eaters nightmare. Why didnt I return this $32 steak? Oh well....I probably wouldnt order this dish again as it was just ok. It would work well in a steak sandwich but not worth the money. This would rate at barely passing at a 7.

I hate to say our 300th restaurant review was just ok. They only thing saving this place from something below the 7 was the service, cocktails, and the company I was having dinner with. If my steak would have been cooked properly, I would bump the score to an 8. For the money we were paying, this was just an ordinary dinner with high prices. Just to give you an idea what I paid....$53 without tip and taxes.
 


Reviewer: Terry
Total Reviews: 739
Reviewed: 1/10/2005
Rating: 7.5
My photo gallery 		I was very much expecting to give Massimo's a good review. Its a long-established very fancy place (in Fremont!) that I had never visited before. The service is impeccable, the dishes prepared thoughfully and look fabulous. Yet they just lacked pizzaz and scored mediocre in the taste department.

The complimentary bread arrived first and I thought it was about average, nothing I wanted to overeat or gouge myself on. It was just bread. I split Bay Shrimp cocktail and was impressed with this. The dish was pricey but it was overflowing with seafood. It was heaven.

For my main dish, I went with Halibut and Prawns. It arrived and looked magnificent. The Halibut tasted fresh and crumbled under the fork. The flavor was rather bland, however, and didn't suit me too well. The Prawns tasted better and I enjoyed these, along with the fresh vegetables on my plate. The potatoes were a little strange, however, a funny mixture of sweet and regular potatoes that didn't appeal to me very much.

I left Massimo's a little hungry, yet I wasn't in the mood for dessert that night. I would like to return and try a pasta dish next time, perhaps one of these will be better. I was impressed with the high level of service at Massimo's so I will return and give it another shot.
 
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