Providence Trattoria Massimo Is Opening a Dedham Restaurant

A sister to the acclaimed Federal Hill location, Il Massimo is headed for Legacy Place later this year.


a table full of plates of food and wine at Massimo RI

Photo provided by Massimo

An award-winning Rhode Island restaurant is adding a Massachusetts outpost: Il Massimo, from the owners of Massimo on Providence’s Federal Hill, will open this year at Legacy Place, the Dedham shopping center announced.

Massimo debuted in 2016 from owners Joseph and Esther DeQuattro, who are also behind Pane e Vino, a stalwart in the Italian dining-centric, destination neighborhood since 2002. Their second spot’s seasonally changing, regional-but-reimagined Italian trattoria fare was immediately met with acclaim: Following a three-star review in Rhode Island Monthly, the magazine awarded Massimo Best New Italian in 2017, Best Providence Lunch, and overall Best Restaurant in 2018. Among other accolades, Massimo is also a Prosciutto di Parma Specialist, certified by the ham standard-bearer Parma Crown.

Though a sister restaurant—not a twin—Dedham’s Il Massimo will also serve fresh takes on Italian cooking, like spaghettoni alla Carbonara with guanciale and farm egg; a tomatoey seafood stew with local fish and littlenecks; and a house-aged rib-eye Fiorentina, along with an accessible wine list, draft beer, cocktails, and a large selection of Italian liqueurs. It will be open for lunch, dinner, and brunch.

Il Massimo is taking over the former Met Bar & Grill space; Boston Restaurant Talk reported last week that Met had shuttered. The new restaurant will be “ripe with Italian charm,” promises today’s press release: Picture dark wood with yellow design details, rustic furniture, and a dining room fireplace. Massimo will also have a bar area and al fresco dining, plus a 40-seat private dining room with its own fireplace and other event-hosting amenities.

It’s on track to open at 400 Legacy Place later this year. Massimo will join other dining options at the Dedham development, including Aquitaine, Legal C Bar, Shake Shack, Temazcal Tequila Cantina, Genki, Sweetgreen, and more.

Massimo, 134 Atwells Ave., Providence, 401-273-0650, massimori.com.