Il Massimo - Ensenada

This is a family business passion project that is all heart. The owner, Massimo, is delightful, charming, and attentive. His adorable father was in the kitchen... read more This is a family business passion project that is all heart. The owner, Massimo, is delightful, charming, and attentive. His adorable father was in the kitchen today while Massimo himself greeted and served guests. The venue is intimate, airy and understated. Great location. The menu is elegant and features fresh, light Italian cuisine with an emphasis on local seafood and a wine list with local wines. Massimo personally attended all of his lunch guests and gifted his delicious homemade liqueurs as a post meal aperitif. I chose the orange liqueur and it was astonishing. This restaurant is a breath of fresh air. I will return often and recommend Il Massimo with no hesitation.

True authentic Italian food. This is not New York Italian or Olive Garden Italian. Or Los Angeles vogue Italian. This is Italian food like mama made it in Italy... read more True authentic Italian food. This is not New York Italian or Olive Garden Italian. Or Los Angeles vogue Italian. This is Italian food like mama made it in Italy and still makes it today home cooking at its finest using the freshest ingredients made with love makes you feel like you are back home in Italy in the kitchen having the greatest conversation and eating the best food. To truly find food this good it’s either here or back home in Italy well done bravo........ I will be back over and over again to see what you put on the plate

Really outstanding new Italian restaurant in Ensenada! The owner/chef, Massimo, is welcoming and serves excellent food I enjoyed everything I ordered. Don't mis... read more Really outstanding new Italian restaurant in Ensenada! The owner/chef, Massimo, is welcoming and serves excellent food I enjoyed everything I ordered. Don't miss this place I'm guessing soon it will be hard to find a table!

So happy to be your first customers ... the best to you Massimo and super star staff . read more So happy to be your first customers ... the best to you Massimo and super star staff .

We have to come to Baja for “real” ITALIAN food? For Father’s Day, we went to a new restaurant (less than two weeks old in Ensenada. We had first heard about fr... read more We have to come to Baja for “real” ITALIAN food? For Father’s Day, we went to a new restaurant (less than two weeks old in Ensenada. We had first heard about from our cabinetmaker, who did all of the woodwork in the restaurant, and then again from a friend who had tried it out (and enjoyed it just a couple of days prior to our first visit. I say “first visit” because it won’t be our last. Everything about this restaurant reminded both of us of one of our favorite restaurants along the Adriatic side of Italy at the San Salvo marina the location (in proximity to the port and marina , the architecture (simple, unpretentious , the decor color choices (white, marine blue, pale yellow , even the menu (simply designed, using the same fresh, bright, marine like colors as the restaraunt’s decor . But what we liked most of all, of course, were the menu choices, all reminiscent of dishes that are offered at most Italian restaurants that are in proximity to the sea. The courses are mostly seafood driven, more than likely because of the nearness of the restaurant to the harbor, but it does offer several red meat options. Fresh seafood, locally sourced vegetables and cheeses, pasta made in house and from purveyors of Italian foods all ingredients that Giancarlo and his son, Massimo (hence the name , know how to use to create exquisite dishes. Giancarlo brought his family from Rome to Las Vegas when Massimo was 14 (I’m guesstimating that Massimo is ~35 now and from there, vacations to Baja piqued Massimo’s travel and culinary interests and he spent the latter years learning and creating at some of the finest hotels in Asia (Thailand, Singapore, and Tokyo and the United States before deciding to come back to the familiar and comfort of his fond vacation memories and establish himself. The service, under Massimo’s watchful eye, was efficient and friendly, each forkful of each dish (we ordered ‘scelta dello chef’ chef’s choice was a mouthful of memories from the Adriatic, and Massimo’s attentiveness, thoughtfulness (can you say ‘amuse bouche ’ and a sample of their housemade Crema de Limoncello? , and graciousness made us feel like we were back in Italy under the care of our Italian relatives. MAJOR PLUS parking alongside the restaurant!!! Massimo is planning on expanding out back of the restaurant to offer dining al fresco. It will be fun to see this come to fruition for we will be returning often.