Massimo’s Italian Fallsview Restaurant — Restaurant in Niagara Falls

There is a view at Massimo’s, perched high above the roar of Niagara Falls, that delivers exactly what it promises: postcard splendour with a side of vertigo. Unfortunately, it is also the only thing that arrives promptly or performs as advertised at this bafflingly overpriced and staggeringly indifferent hotel restaurant.

We came as guests of the Sheraton, burdened with three children and the sort of post-sightseeing exhaustion that leads otherwise reasonable people to make terrible decisions. We were seduced by proximity and the faint hope of culinary adequacy. This, as it turns out, was a rookie error of catastrophic proportions.

Things began with a flicker of hope. The children’s food and our starter arrived with speed — a sprint of efficiency that, in retrospect, may have been the kitchen’s last gasp before collapsing into a black hole of inertia. From that point on, the experience slid inexorably downhill like a pat of butter on a hot skillet.

We waited over an hour for our mains. That is not a typo. One hour. In restaurant time, that is long enough to ferment regret. Our children — usually hardened veterans of the dining-out circuit — had long since finished their meals and were entering the twitchy, foot-dangling, table-kicking phase of boredom. In desperation, we ordered them vanilla ice cream. Not for pleasure, but as a strategic act of hostage negotiation.

What arrived was a masterpiece of culinary underachievement: a single, lonely scoop of vanilla ice cream, dumped into a bowl and topped with what might once have been a mint leaf, now with all the charm and vigour of a used bus ticket. No flourish, no sauce, not even the barest whiff of enthusiasm. For this — and I do not jest — we were charged $20 per child. If the bowl had come encrusted in Swarovski crystals, I might have understood. But this was ice cream as existential despair.

The children’s butter pasta was, somehow, even more insulting. For $25 each, they were presented with a tangle of pasta so plain, so defiantly blank, it made boiled rice look decadent. No seasoning. No garnish. No trace of shame.

And then — because the restaurant clearly enjoys a little theatrical villainy — the bill arrived bearing a sly, unannounced “tourist tax”. A sort of fiscal pickpocketing dressed up as policy. We asked for its removal, and it was taken off without protest, which suggests this is a game they play often.

As for the mains we had waited so long to receive? Dull, listless, and utterly unremarkable — like the afterthought of a kitchen that had mentally clocked off somewhere around the garlic bread. One of them may have involved protein. I can’t remember. I no longer care.

Massimo’s is not a restaurant. It is a cautionary tale. It is a reminder that convenience is often the enemy of quality, and that the word “view” on a menu usually translates to “we can charge what we like and you’ll sit there and take it.”

Avoid it. Take your children elsewhere. Take yourself elsewhere. Even the ice...

View 10/10

Food 7/10

Service 5/10

Read through my review to know if it's worth a visit or not.

No doubt the view is a 10/10, if you sit next to the window you get a nice view of the gardens and the magnificent waterfalls.

Cesar salad was a good 3/10, the crouton tasted stale and a little old, it lacked flavor, not enough cheese (cheese was delicious though), and not enough dressing, the garlic is nice and fresh, but it was dominating the flavor of the salad and you couldn't really taste anything that much.

Calamari appetizer was 7/10 before I squeeze that juicy lemon on it, after that lemon it was a 9/10, had a good fresh and subtle crunch, and it tasted so simple yet so good.

Shrimp linguine pasta was so delicious, easy 10/10, perfect amount of cheese, the shrimp and the pasta were cooked perfectly, and the sauce was so yummy!!

Cheese tortellini according to my fiancée was delicious, she gave it 8.5/10

The chocolate cheesecake with toasted almonds was so yummy!! 10/10, the almonds were so fresh that I couldn't believe how fresh they were, and the cheesecake was perfectly balanced, the crust was so yummy, not too thick or too thin. it was just the perfect dessert for me as I love chocolate, nuts, and cheesecakes. I definitely recommend it.

Citrus panna cotta, fiancée said it's a 10/10, so it's a 10/10 Now let's talk about service. The service was not what I expected from a restaurant that was fancy or expensive, not sure if they're understaffed or what but it definitely didn't feel like a 5-star experience. I've had much better service at more average restaurants.

We had a reservation at 7:45 pm, we arrived at around 7:48 pm, we were greeted at the front then we were asked to wait 15 minutes for a table, why a reservation in the first place if we are going to wait? Anyway, 30 minutes later we are seated.

When we ordered the salad we asked for no prosciutto, the salad still came with prosciutto and we had to return it.

I accidentally dropped my napkin in the calamari sauce and asked for a new one, our waiter acknowledged it, but then totally forgot about it until she came later and remembered and then came back with a napkin.

We kept running out of water a few times and had to wait at least 5 minutes before getting more water.

We generally waited a lot for small things such as the check, and water, and just for someone to check in on us, I couldn't wait to leave as I wasted a lot of time just waiting overall. Another perfect example is when I asked for the check, I got the check 5-10 minutes later, then waited another 5-10 minutes for someone to come and get the payment machine, I would just get it with the check as they don't take cash and I'm gonna pay with a card anyway. I give the experience overall a 7/10 and a 4-star review, I think it could've been a 5-star review if service was better. I would visit again hoping that next time it's a better experience.

And I do recommend giving it a try if you're...

Massimo Italian Restaurant with Fallsview is highly regarded for its great food, and the tiramisu dessert stands out as a favorite among customers. Here are some reasons why it receives positive reviews:

Delicious Food: Customers consistently praise the food at Massimo Italian Restaurant. From appetizers to main courses, the restaurant offers a variety of Italian dishes that are prepared with care and attention to flavor. The use of quality ingredients and skilled culinary techniques contribute to the overall deliciousness of the food.

Tiramisu Dessert: The tiramisu dessert at Massimo Italian Restaurant is particularly loved by customers. Tiramisu is a classic Italian dessert, and the restaurant's version is highly regarded for its rich and creamy layers of mascarpone cheese, espresso-soaked ladyfingers, and a dusting of cocoa. It is often described as a must-try item on the menu.

Fallsview Location: The restaurant's location with a view of the falls adds to the dining experience. Customers appreciate the picturesque backdrop as they enjoy their meals, making it a memorable and unique setting for a dining experience.

Friendly and Attentive Service: The staff at Massimo Italian Restaurant is known for their friendly and attentive service. They strive to provide a warm and welcoming atmosphere for guests, assisting with menu choices, accommodating special requests, and ensuring an overall pleasant dining experience.

Quality Dining Experience: Massimo Italian Restaurant offers a quality dining experience that encompasses not only great food but also an inviting ambiance and attentive service. Customers appreciate the overall experience of dining at the restaurant, which includes the combination of delicious food, the Fallsview location, and excellent service.

If you're looking for an Italian restaurant with great food and a standout tiramisu dessert, Massimo Italian Restaurant with Fallsview is a great choice. Whether you're enjoying the delicious appetizers or indulging in the famous tiramisu, you can expect a quality dining experience with attentive service and a picturesque view...