Massimo's Al 39 Restaurant — Restaurant in Rome

What an amazing find! This place completely exceeded my expectations with authentic flavors and outstanding service from start to finish.

Started with the supplì and wow - these were absolutely perfect. Crispy golden exterior giving way to creamy risotto inside with that gorgeous cheese pull when you bite into it. They were so good I immediately ordered a second round, which the server brought out with a knowing smile.

The carbonara was hands down one of the best I've ever had. Silky, rich sauce that coated each strand of perfectly cooked pasta, with generous chunks of guanciale that added the perfect salty, smoky flavor. You could tell this was made the traditional way - no cream, just eggs, cheese, and technique. Each bite was pure comfort.

Finished with the panna cotta for dessert and it was the perfect ending. Incredibly smooth and creamy with just the right amount of sweetness, topped with a delicate berry compote that provided a lovely tart contrast to the rich custard.

The staff was attentive without being overbearing, and the prices are honestly shocking for the quality - you'd pay twice as much for food half this good elsewhere. This is definitely going to become a regular spot for me....

Massimo's was our first diner during our stay in Rome and if I can be honest, it was the best place we ate in the whole trip.

We were quickly taken to a 2p table and it also didn't take long to have our orders taken. I picked a Margerita Pizza and my wife asked for a Lasagna. To drink, I got a Peroni (the smaller option).

Again, the food came really quick and the taste was marvelous. My wife's lasagna was amazing. Its meat tasted like beef, like a minced fresh beef, not your usual frozen ground meat. My pizza was the best I had in Rome. The only pizza that could be called a "true Roman-style pizza". Not the crispy, thin pizzas that they serve in other nearby restaurants. This one fulfills you in both quantity and quality.

The check came fast too, meaning, the whole service was straight to the point: no unnecessary small talk, no delays, no nothing. Just a pleasant place to eat when you're hungry, looking for something tasteful but in a reasonable portion as well. Lastly, the price was surprisingly positive, given the food quality and the restaurant's location. In the following days, I've paid more money for worse food.

Totally...

Terrible service and food poisoning, not a great combo !

I absolutely agree with other reviewers stating how awful the service is. Both the waiter and waitress were very cold and generally extremely unpleasant, it's honestly shocking. Every single interaction was painfully awkward because of how annoyed they seemed to be. Not a single smile and barely a word. Its shameful, we just arrived in Italy the same day and this was our very first Italian restaurant... not a great way to start your trip, it honestly made us feel very unwelcomed.

And about the food... I thought my pizza was fine, but the antipasti my gf ordered made her very, very sick. She is currently having terrible stomach pains and this dish can be the only cause, as we didn't eat anything else for the rest of the day. Let's just hope this can be attributed to sheer incompetence rather than xenophobia, but it's not acceptable in any case.

Obviously I...