Massimo's Backside - Niles

TOP NOTCH DOUGH. After a trip to Italy, I've kind of turned into a pizza snob, especially about the dough. Massimo's definitely has a great recipe. The owners have put a lot of work into making this place a great spot to hang out. The covered outside area has live bands. The bar on the backside is nicely decorated. Also I agree with previous reviews, BIG PORTIONS. Don't go unless you're hungry!

O.K., so my first visit and review of Massimo 's was promising. This visit killed the magic. I ordered the same thing, meatball sammich with a little extra sauce. As I waited I was forced to listen to spawts-morons talking about spawts on the giant T.V. TURNED-UP WAY TOO LOUD!!! While waiting I heard the ding from the microwave oven, and this time I actually asked the guy about how the cook their sammiches. He told me they toast the bun in the oven, add the meatballs and sauce and then MICROWAVE the whole thing before serving. I HATE microwaved food in a restaurant! I didn 't receive the extra sauce I requested, so I got up, walked to the counter and asked for some again. After I put it on my sammich I found the sauce was cold. I took it back to the counter and the guy MICROWAVED it till it was scorched on top! Sammich just didn 't taste so good this time and I felt about 30 points dumber after having to listen to the spawts morons talking about watching other spawts morons throwing the bawl to other spawts morons so even more morons could sit at home and watch.

Massimo's makes a substantial pizza. Not only do they make pizzas ranging from personal size to 24 (feeds 10-12 people), they also make a heavy pizza. If you like crust, Massimo's pizza is definitely for you. They also make thin crust, but you have to ask for it. The Lotsa Meat is a favorite in our house as is the garlic toast with cheese. I haven't tried the baked subs yet so I can't offer a review on them. A family-owned business, Massimo's is a nice change from the national chains around the area. There is a nice place to dine-in in the Niles location, and they also offer carry-out and delivery.

The saving grace for Massimo's was the wait staff. In regards to the food we ordered two pizzas one thin crust, one traditional and bread sticks. Breads sticks were ok all in all but the pizza's were not very good at all, extremely floury. I had to dust off ever slice or i felt as if i had a layer of paste on the bottom, even the thin crust. After eating here i felt sick the rest of the night. Only good thing was our waitress she was very attentive and made sure our glasses were never empty. At the end of the day there are to many high quality pizza places within a 20 mile ratios to go eat poor quality food and get sick. Differently won't be returning to this establishment, leaves way to much to be desired.

I was in Niles at the SOS and thought I would get lunch after. I didn 't want to wait for a pizza to cook so I ordered a baked sub. There was nothing baked about the sub. I watched as the person who cooked my food literally heated almost everything up in the microwave. Even the breadsticks they gave me were heated up in the microwave. Never okay to microwave food at a restaurant. The sun bread was slightly toasted then microwaved, the cheese was melted in the microwave, the meat was heated in the microwave. If I wanted microwaved leftovers I would stay home. Not going to return. Not giving one star because I didn 't have the pizza, but don 't order the subs.