Had Massimo s food not been great, bias would certainly have influenced my taste buds. Fortunately my journalistic integrity was not tested since every bite of every side dish, main course and drink was spectacular.
And the reason for my bias?
As we walked into the restaurant, the hostess greeted me so warmly, for a second there I thought we knew each other. I soon realized that we didn’t – the pleasant and patient staff was obviously committed to this kind of warm service.
The menu deserves a paragraph of its own. The unique and extensive dinner options described in detail had us salivating before we actually began sampling any of the food.
We started with tomato soup – the fancy name they gave it here was pomodori toscana, (LE 8.50) – with basil, sun ripe Penini tomatoes, onions, and herbs, served with croutons, parmesan, and a secret pesto side. It was creamy and tasty without being heavy or acidic.
Next came the main course. The filet fungi (LE 42) was a perfectly grilled prime cut topped with a slightly peppery mushroom sauce. Medium-well, the steak remained juicy and tender. Especially exciting was the absence of any surrounding fat, usually hidden under sauces and a nuisance to get rid of.
The risotto de la mar (LE 35) (yes, finally, risotto on a menu) was a large dish of rich Italian rice served al dente with a generous amount of shrimp and calamari, and creamed over with Parmesan sauce – satisfying, filling but somehow not immobilizing.
If you think you ve seen and done stuffed fried chicken, the pollo involtini (LE 35) will certainly have you reassess your past experiences. Crispy, zesty, and well seasoned it is not be confused with your run-of-the mill sporting club pane. The difference is clear.
Even the sides were especially delectable. The most mundane offers like fries and sautéed vegetables (ordered just to clear my conscience with something a bit healthy) were just about cleared off the plates. The fresh veggies were sautéed in herbed butter and a hint of garlic and topped with a sprinkle of Parmesan. Any condiments would have ruined the perfectly seasoned fries.
On the flip side, if you have a sweet tooth, don’t put your hopes up. The dessert was the only disappointment. The chocolate cake (LE 14), supposedly to be served with a chocolate ganache, was odd, sour and a bit stale. We told the waiter, who kindly asked for our feedback, and so there is hope they’ll fix or even cancel it from the menu altogether.
With its crisp, clean, and classy décor Massimo’s atmosphere matches the prices, which range from LE 15 for a main meal, to most expensive seafood combination dish at LE 65. The music however got progressively loud and clubby as the evening went on. It was fun perhaps, but didn’t suit the overall ambience.
Waiters also got more interactive towards the end, presenting us with mini-challenges involving straws and toothpicks. So if you’re not feeling particularly sociable, don’t stay too long.
Massimo26 Abdel Hamid Lotfy St., Mohandiseen, Behind Mostafa Mahmoud MosqueTel: 337 1167
