Massimo’s Lasagneria

THIS LOCATION ON LIFE SUPPORT! — likely to (officially) close in coming few days — either way no lasagna to be had at this point.
I went there today to get lasagna… but the cashier said that the chef of Roady’s long burger (inside of which Massimo’s outpost is located) had a «disagreement» with Massimo’s owner’s — and likely they will never have lasagna here again.

So I was in the mood for lasagna and saw great reviews of this place. It’s in the food court inside the Rincon center incase you are looking for it on the street. The food court is really nice and there are lots of tables and a good selection of different types of foods.
There was no line and we got our lasagna very fast. The lasagna definitely tastes home made, and it was really tasty. The noodles were just a bit too soggy for me. I think I like my lasagna pieces to be the edges that are a bit crispier. Possibly I could ask for it to be in the oven longer but was not really looking to see how they heated it. Again, the taste is very good, and it’s clearly home made, so I would go back. Remember 3 stars is A-​OK, it’s not a bad review!
Mushroom Lasagna a-​la-​carte was 9.95. Add a drink in there and tax and it’s somewhat of a pricey foodcourt lunch. They did have a meal deal that comes with a salad and drink, but I honestly forget how much it was! This could be the way to go though.
Give it a try if you’re in the mood for some lasagna!

I just paid $ 12 for a piece of lasagna served with toast (?) that I waited 10 minutes for, then watched them heat in a microwave– in the takeout container– before serving to me. The lasagna is just ok, and not even hot. No wonder this place never has a line, even when all the other restaurants nearby are overflowing.

Had the Abruzzo (house made sausage) lasagna. It was good, but it was way overcooked and a bit small for the price I thought.

Best lasagna I’ve had ever. The fresh pasta sheets beet that dry crap out of the water. Happy to have an outpost in the rincon.

Had an a la carte portion of their mushroom lasagna yesterday and, at around $ 11 (including tax), it’s just a bit stingy in size for the price and lacking it’s primary ingredient, mushrooms. The piece that I was given measured around 3 in. by 2 in. rectangular shape. And aside from the few thin slices of mushrooms that I saw on the top layer, I didn’t really detect any mushroom flavor in the sauce. Yes, the layers of pasta were perfectly thin and cooked just right. Yes, the accompanying slices of baguette were very fresh. But is it too much to also expect a portion that’s a bit more substantial and where mushrooms can be tasted in the otherwise primarily tomato sauce from a take-​out establishment?

This review should be taken with a grain of sand, given I was searching for any life support after a night of dollar drinks (it seemed like a great idea for a Monday night) and a queasy stomach.
I was looking for something heavy to mask the lingering hangover and after deciding a could not walk farther than 2 blocks, settled on Massimo’s after remembering the name on my walk to work. Lasagna? Sure! It’s not cheat day but we’re talking life or death here people. Found the small counter tucked away on the food court of building 1 and saw they had a simple menu with multiple lasagna options. Great! Simple menus were all I could process at the time. Opted for the Bolognese combo. The lady behind the counter was cheerful and patient with me as I decided on combo or no combo, eventually opting for the latter. Combo came with a side mixed greens salad, a few slices of roma tomatoes and fresh cut baguette as well as a choice of sparkling drink. Total came to about $ 14, a little pricey for an everyday lunch but pretty average for the same serving size at an Italian restaurant.
First thing I noticed was how fresh the pasta felt and tasted. My little plastic fork cut right through 8 layers of pure sauce, pasta and meat and it was life the flood gates had opened. I knew this was going to be worth a review. The pasta itself was maybe a smidge over the warmer side than hot but I love my food like that so this was very welcomed. The mixed greens salad was up and while I have my reservations about balsamic vinaigrette, this one was not overpowering. Yay! It was like a small coating so that I wouldn’t choke on a dry spinach leaf. I was hesitant about the sliced baguette, fearing it might be hard and stale, but this was soft and warm on the inside and no tooth had to be chipped in its consumption. Double win! San Pellegrino saved the day by actually helping soothe the liquor still lodged in my liver so overall I was alive, full and in love.
I would highly recommend to pasta lovers (but then again, aren’t we all guilty of this?) and people looking for a nice balanced lunch. The salad was the underdog here and came through with it’s simplicity but great taste and combination with lasagna and the fact that the pasta was so light and fresh really nailed it. It didn’t sit super heavy like others and made me extremely anxious return and try all their other offerings. Will definitely be back! (hopefully with no hangover next time)

Caveat: I am suffering from a cold (super congested), so maybe my tastebuds during my visit were off.
I’d always wanted to try Massimo’s mainstay, Marcella’s, but its Dogpatch location was always just too troublesome for me to get to, so I was super excited when Massimo opened up at Rincon. Turns out Massimo shares a space with Roady’s Longburger. You enter the space and step directly to the left.
My $ 9.95 ala carte Mushroom Lasagna, cremini and portobello mushrooms sautéed with fresh garlic and herbs in a mild red wine tomato sauce, was also served with 2 hunks of a baguette (the 12.95 meal option includes a drink and side salad). The lasagna was warm, not hot. Maybe this was because everything appeared to be precooked (perhaps at the dogpatch location?) and just dropped off at Rincon? Definitely not the piping hot, oozy, melty cheese I had been anticipating. I also didn’t find the lasagna to be anything other than simply «alright.» I didn’t finish my meal yearning for more nor could I not wait for a second visit. Overall, I was downright disappointed.
I feel bad because the staff was really welcoming and friendly, and I’d been dying to try this place for so long. Maybe once the cold subsides and my tastebuds are back on track, I’ll give Massimo’s another whirl.

Usually I am not a lasagnas fan but this place has what it takes to change my perspective.
I was very pleased with my first experience here and also a few times after. With that said, consistency is the key! The staffs here overall are very helpful and friendly!
Thanks to my coworkers who recommended me to this hidden gem!!! I’m a fan now :)

Yayy!!! I’m so glad that Marcella decided to expand its location. It’s so much closer to my work place and I can actually walk there for lunch (that’s a plus!)
I’ve been to Marcella Lasagneria for over a year now and I must say Chef Massimo never disappoint me. His love for his food and the quality are just beyond amazing.
Anyway, what I usually get here is the lasagna. It’s so so soooo delicious, what I love about it is the layers in between are so thin (which didn’t make me feel guilty eating it), the sauce are just right, the cheese amount are perfect. You gotta try it before you die (it’s a must), seriously.

Me and my boyfriend was walking around SF and saw this place. We thought we’ll give this place a try and it would be nice since we are the biggest fan of Italian food. The word «lasagneria» obviously caught our attention. Walked in and was immediately greeted with a smile by the friendly staff. We tried the BOLOGNESE and ABRUZZO. If Unilocal can give more than 5 stars I would definitely tap them all like I did here! It has to be one of the best lasagna I have ever tasted so far. I will for sure come back here when I’m in SF!
P. S. That handmade tomato sauce though!

It was like love at first bite.
The wait: Less than 2 minutes
Price: $ 9.95 a la carte and $ 12.95 to upgrade with a salad and a drink
Bolognese: every bite is perfect, it’s not overwhelmingly cheesy and heavy. Definitely not your ordinary lasagna that you can buy elsewhere.
Abruzzo: their own handmade Italian sausage, but it’s not that spicy (which is a good thing).
The lasagnas are not heavy at all, it’s light and perfectly baked. I’m glad that Chef Massimo Di Sciullo opened another location because I’ll be here for lunch all the time.

Very different and TASTY — unlike any other lasagna you’ve ever had! The homemade pasta sheets make it EXCELLENT. Try it!

Try the Pesto! The 6 super thin layers are filling but not heavy… Tastes like the stuff from the main land… but better! Next on my list is the Squash. Cant find these flavors anywhere. Great job guys…

My one complaint about Marcella’s is its remote location, at least remote to me since it’s in Dogpatch. Chef/​owner Massimo Di Sciullo also cut back on the hours at his small, out-​of-​the-​way shop because it now closes at 5PM on weekdays. In other words, I thought I’d have to call in sick (cough-​cough) in order to get a chance to taste his lasagna again. That’s why I had to smile when I heard he decided to open an outlet closer to civilization, that is, if you consider the Rincon Center civilized, a debatable point during the height of the lunch rush. What’s rather interesting is that it shares a compact space with an established burger spot, Roadys Longburger, where most of the customers appear to be looking for some grease and carbs.
I waited in the burger line to make my order but was then redirected to the other register to decide on which of the six varieties of lasagna I should have for lunch (photo:
). Each serving is $ 9.95 a la carte or $ 12.95 with a side salad of mixed greens and some slices of baguette. I had the Verdura before at Marcella’s and really liked the light combination of homemade pesto and roasted zucchini. Butternut squash and roasted eggplant are the other veggie options to consider. On the other side of the spectrum, I was definitely tempted by the three meat options — the Abruzzo (Italian Sausage), the Bianca (pancetta in a bechamel sauce) and the Bolognese (ground Angus sirloin). However, I decided to go for the Mushroom Lasagna.
It was an umami combination of crimini and portobello sauteed in roasted garlic and herbs and mixed in a red wine tomato sauce (photo:
). All the lasagnas were hidden under aluminum foil on a heater which doesn’t help them market their true quality. What I already knew from Marcella’s and especially appreciate about their lasagna is how thin the pasta layers are, all six of them, yet flavorful with the combination of bechamel and tomato sauces seeping in between with the parmigiano reggiano and mozzarella holding it all together. Understand I’m used to the heavier Stouffer’s frozen-​tray style that my mom used to defrost for dinner. Massimo’s creations amount to artisan lasagna if that can be believed and certainly should be savored as such. You can get the burger tomorrow.
FOOD — 4 stars… true artisan lasagna hidden under foil, but believe me, it’s uniquely tasty
AMBIANCE — 3 stars… just one of the food spots in the Rincon Center food court you’d pass by if you weren’t looking for it
SERVICE — 3 stars… effusive
TOTAL — 4 stars… seek and ye shall find a unique lasagna but only during the week

Been going to Marcella’s for years and so happy that he finally expanded into the financial district. The lasagna is AMAZING, its not like your typical dish found elsewhere. Very refreshing, tasty and worst of all, ADDICTING!!!
Go see for yourself.

Looks to be an annex of Marcella’s Lasagneria in the FiDi/​SoMA area, sharing space with a burger joint. The new annex is quite convenient since I’ve been wanting to try their lasagna for awhile but could never meet their limited weekday lunch hours in the desolate Dogpatch area. Decent portion and pretty filling, so go when hungry.
Abruzzo: Super thin layers of pasta, nothing like the thickness found in Stouffer’s® from the frozen section. It kinda felt like a savory Italian-​American mille-​feuille. Loved the umami tomato sauce and bits of spicy ground sausage. Could have used more cheese between each layer though and I would have liked to see more brown crispy cheese on top. But despite not living up to my gluttonous cheese expectations, it was really tasty.
Bread: Two slices of what looked like a baguette, but tasted like Italian bread (and was similarly chewy). Definitely a fan. Might have been even better with some garlic butter.
Salad: Greens, two thin tomato slices and a garlicky Italian dressing. No frills. Not really a salad fan, so I’m biased anyway.