Best steak I’ve ever had. The waiter was friendly and knowledgeable. The drinks were fire y’all!
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Michael N.
When i am on the road (i live in New Jersey) and traveling within 50-60 mikes of Hartford i make the extra effort to go to Max Downtown I love the cultured sophistication the depth and character of the menu and the spontaneous genuine connections to my servers I have been to each of the Max restaurants No other city has the breadth and consistency of the Max Group Michael nissenblatt,md
Bill Kaehrle (Gumbo)
We enjoyed an evening with friends celebrating a milestone birthday recently.We cannot say enough about how enjoyable the evening was from start to finish. Starters, Mains, Specials and of course baked Akaska for Dessert.Pro Tip - grab a nightcap across the side street at the groups new cozy Bar Max.Will definitely be back, so long as you keep baked Alaska on dessert menu!Dietary restrictions: They had Gluten free rolls and pasta !
Birthday celebration & we are happy we chose max to celebrate it , the server Amy c was great , the food was excellent,very effective and friendly valet service plus host . We went on a busy night which was very surprising on a Wednesday but the service was still top notch. Only problem was the seating were a bit too close . We will definitely come back.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Prime Dry Aged Beef Burger
Ryan L.
I mean... what can I say? It'll burn a hole in your wallet, but after your first visit, you'll come to embrace it when stepping through these doors. First of all, the ambiance is just stellar. The dining room definitely feels ritzy and maybe even a little intimidating, but also.. quite cozy and down to earth. Paul Newman will do that, I guess! Kidding aside, they do a great job of creating a very warm, intimate atmosphere. The service is also impeccable. The servers are attentive without being overly intrusive - very professional. And the steaks.. you're just not getting this quality at a chain. Mouth watering, tender; what you'd expect. Food that just makes you feel like a million bucks. One of the greatest dining experiences I've ever had, frankly. I look forward to further exploring the menu during my next visit. Thanks guys!
L A
The food was not anywhere close to what we expected. Caeser salad was tasteless. Creamed spinach was mediocre at best. Mushrooms arrived cold and had no flavor. Brought hot mushrooms....still no flavor. Under seasoned and tasteless. Main courses were fair, except for the tuna. For what the food costs , "resting on your laurels" does not cut it. When I said something to the 2 Managers and Partner owner, they replied" Sorry to hear that ". No attempt to even address the issues we had. There are SO MANY other restaurants that we would support before coming back here.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 1
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Sesame Crusted Tuna DT
Jojo S.
So my boyfriend surprise me with a date here when we pulled up I was scared because he said I could wear whatever and on the website it says you cannot wear ripped jeans and we were both in ripped jeans lol nevertheless, they still were able to serve us and sat in the main dining area. The waitress was nice and kept it very professional. She wasn't personable. I do enjoy a more personable waitress, but nevertheless, still good service. It was pretty crowded but I enjoyed our dinner. We both got drinks and an entrée we didn't do any appetizers. My drink was smaller than I thought it would be but it was still very tasty and I got a salmon so you can't mess up salmon
Bri C
We went here for lunch before a Uconn game. Restaurant was packed but we were seated immediately and our waitress was wonderful. Service was great but the food was subpar. The crab cake was just ok. I ordered the turkey club and my husband ordered the cheeseburger. Turkey club was just ok. I had to pick the tomatoes out bc they were mealy. My husband said his burger was a solid "C". Creme Brule was delicious but the smores dessert was not what was described on the menu. I received a cold "brick" of chocolate. There were two tiny marshmallows on top( those were the best part of that dessert) what I received vs the description was way off. I have been dining at the Max establishments for many many years and this was the first time I was disappointed in the food. For the price point I expected more.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 2
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Vanilla Bean Crème Brûlée DT
Paulina Megías
I'll start by saying the service was absolutely amazing. Every single person we met from the moment we walked in was extremely nice and welcoming, and the place has a really good atmosphere. It just wasn't enough to make up for the food.It obviously wasn't all bad – The surf and turf had good sized portions and the steak and lobster were cooked perfectly. The vanilla bean crème brûlée was good, nothing crazy, and I also had a couple of oysters that were really nice and fresh.But the chorizo that comes with the grilled Spanish octopus was burned to a crisp. We couldn't chew it. The seared scallops were served in a gremolata that was very sweet, with sweet potato nage that were even sweeter, and accompanied by shishito peppers which are, you guessed it, sweet. You could only taste the sweetness – there was no spice, no acid, no relief. I couldn't finish it and I promise I tried to, if only because it was $49. Oh and our side of fries had no salt at all.In short, great service, decent prices, disappointing food.We might go back to try the lunch menu since it's what seems to be recommended by other reviewers, but for the price I just honestly cannot get past how unpalatable the food was.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 2
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Vanilla Bean Crème Brûlée DT
Beamin68 68
I understand it’s Valentine’s Day and it was obviously busy. But I don’t like the fact that they take advantage of people because it’s Valentine’s Day when people made reservations well in advance and they charge $129 per person with a very short and selective menu. It cost me and my girlfriend $350 to go out to dinner tonight and we didn’t even drink any alcohol. We got there at 530. We got our starters at 6pm and we didn’t get our main course until 640. That’s a long wait. I actually had to ask and find out how much longer it would be. Maybe on a normal night but never again on a holiday or special event like tonight. Too expensive and too slow.
Amazing food, with some great vibes and professional fun classy staff. Max downtown is the perfect place to enjoy, celebrate and lay back with a dozen oysters, a cold beer and wonderful company.
Lisa M.
The food, service, drinks and atmosphere were just exceptional. Our server was delightful and engaged in wonderful conversation with us. Would highly recommend you make a reservation, we'll definitely be back. If you park underneath CityPlace, bring your ticket, they validate!
Alex Troche
As a long time resident of the area I visited this establishment for the first time this weekend. I cannot wait to return. The wife and I loved the ambiance, and attentiveness of the waitresses and hostesses. The service was top tier. The cocktails were flavorful and consisted of the perfect amount of alcohol. For starters I’d recommend the Cesar salad which had a good amount of dressing which I prefer, and the shrimp and grits which were the best I’ve ever had. Both our entrees (NY strip and Salmon) were cooked to perfection and the portions were generous. 10/10 we will return on another occasion.Parking: Complimentary valet
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Jon hayes
An average steakhouse with a very touchy waiter who grabbed my date for a hug as we walked in, making her very uncomfortable. After i spoke to him about not repeating this action, he loudly exclaimed "WHAT?!" causing a scene, which i ignored. After our meal he again accosted us and violently shook both of our hands while glaring at me. An unpleasant and very unprofessional experience.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 3
Service: 1
Sally Almeida
Max’s Downtown anyone reliable Max Group owned dining experience. It was a timely visit as we went to another steakhouse the weekend before and in comparison the other steakhouse ranked higher in our book from a food perspective. But there are many reasons to still enjoy Max’s Downtown.- service- atmosphere- food optionsOverall it was great and j just love the atmosphere and every single person is always so kind. The French onion pierogi, baby gem Cesar, oysters and chicken were spot on! I want o explore their cocktail many a bit more next time.
Best steak I’ve ever had. The waiter was friendly and knowledgeable. The drinks were fire y’all!
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
When i am on the road (i live in New Jersey) and traveling within 50-60 mikes of Hartford i make the extra effort to go to Max Downtown I love the cultured sophistication the depth and character of the menu and the spontaneous genuine connections to my servers I have been to each of the Max restaurants No other city has the breadth and consistency of the Max Group Michael nissenblatt,md
We enjoyed an evening with friends celebrating a milestone birthday recently.We cannot say enough about how enjoyable the evening was from start to finish. Starters, Mains, Specials and of course baked Akaska for Dessert.Pro Tip - grab a nightcap across the side street at the groups new cozy Bar Max.Will definitely be back, so long as you keep baked Alaska on dessert menu!Dietary restrictions: They had Gluten free rolls and pasta !
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Salted Caramel Baked Alaska, Filet Mignon Oscar, Chop House, Pastrami-Spiced Duck Confit, Roasted Sea Scallops
Birthday celebration & we are happy we chose max to celebrate it , the server Amy c was great , the food was excellent,very effective and friendly valet service plus host . We went on a busy night which was very surprising on a Wednesday but the service was still top notch. Only problem was the seating were a bit too close . We will definitely come back.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Prime Dry Aged Beef Burger
I mean... what can I say? It'll burn a hole in your wallet, but after your first visit, you'll come to embrace it when stepping through these doors. First of all, the ambiance is just stellar. The dining room definitely feels ritzy and maybe even a little intimidating, but also.. quite cozy and down to earth. Paul Newman will do that, I guess! Kidding aside, they do a great job of creating a very warm, intimate atmosphere. The service is also impeccable. The servers are attentive without being overly intrusive - very professional. And the steaks.. you're just not getting this quality at a chain. Mouth watering, tender; what you'd expect. Food that just makes you feel like a million bucks. One of the greatest dining experiences I've ever had, frankly. I look forward to further exploring the menu during my next visit. Thanks guys!
The food was not anywhere close to what we expected. Caeser salad was tasteless. Creamed spinach was mediocre at best. Mushrooms arrived cold and had no flavor. Brought hot mushrooms....still no flavor. Under seasoned and tasteless. Main courses were fair, except for the tuna. For what the food costs , "resting on your laurels" does not cut it. When I said something to the 2 Managers and Partner owner, they replied" Sorry to hear that ". No attempt to even address the issues we had. There are SO MANY other restaurants that we would support before coming back here.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 1
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Sesame Crusted Tuna DT
So my boyfriend surprise me with a date here when we pulled up I was scared because he said I could wear whatever and on the website it says you cannot wear ripped jeans and we were both in ripped jeans lol nevertheless, they still were able to serve us and sat in the main dining area. The waitress was nice and kept it very professional. She wasn't personable. I do enjoy a more personable waitress, but nevertheless, still good service. It was pretty crowded but I enjoyed our dinner. We both got drinks and an entrée we didn't do any appetizers. My drink was smaller than I thought it would be but it was still very tasty and I got a salmon so you can't mess up salmon
We went here for lunch before a Uconn game. Restaurant was packed but we were seated immediately and our waitress was wonderful. Service was great but the food was subpar. The crab cake was just ok. I ordered the turkey club and my husband ordered the cheeseburger. Turkey club was just ok. I had to pick the tomatoes out bc they were mealy. My husband said his burger was a solid "C". Creme Brule was delicious but the smores dessert was not what was described on the menu. I received a cold "brick" of chocolate. There were two tiny marshmallows on top( those were the best part of that dessert) what I received vs the description was way off. I have been dining at the Max establishments for many many years and this was the first time I was disappointed in the food. For the price point I expected more.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 2
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Vanilla Bean Crème Brûlée DT
I'll start by saying the service was absolutely amazing. Every single person we met from the moment we walked in was extremely nice and welcoming, and the place has a really good atmosphere. It just wasn't enough to make up for the food.It obviously wasn't all bad – The surf and turf had good sized portions and the steak and lobster were cooked perfectly. The vanilla bean crème brûlée was good, nothing crazy, and I also had a couple of oysters that were really nice and fresh.But the chorizo that comes with the grilled Spanish octopus was burned to a crisp. We couldn't chew it. The seared scallops were served in a gremolata that was very sweet, with sweet potato nage that were even sweeter, and accompanied by shishito peppers which are, you guessed it, sweet. You could only taste the sweetness – there was no spice, no acid, no relief. I couldn't finish it and I promise I tried to, if only because it was $49. Oh and our side of fries had no salt at all.In short, great service, decent prices, disappointing food.We might go back to try the lunch menu since it's what seems to be recommended by other reviewers, but for the price I just honestly cannot get past how unpalatable the food was.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 2
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Vanilla Bean Crème Brûlée DT
I understand it’s Valentine’s Day and it was obviously busy. But I don’t like the fact that they take advantage of people because it’s Valentine’s Day when people made reservations well in advance and they charge $129 per person with a very short and selective menu. It cost me and my girlfriend $350 to go out to dinner tonight and we didn’t even drink any alcohol. We got there at 530. We got our starters at 6pm and we didn’t get our main course until 640. That’s a long wait. I actually had to ask and find out how much longer it would be. Maybe on a normal night but never again on a holiday or special event like tonight. Too expensive and too slow.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 3
Service: 2
Restaurantji Recommends
Amazing food, with some great vibes and professional fun classy staff. Max downtown is the perfect place to enjoy, celebrate and lay back with a dozen oysters, a cold beer and wonderful company.
The food, service, drinks and atmosphere were just exceptional. Our server was delightful and engaged in wonderful conversation with us. Would highly recommend you make a reservation, we'll definitely be back. If you park underneath CityPlace, bring your ticket, they validate!
As a long time resident of the area I visited this establishment for the first time this weekend. I cannot wait to return. The wife and I loved the ambiance, and attentiveness of the waitresses and hostesses. The service was top tier. The cocktails were flavorful and consisted of the perfect amount of alcohol. For starters I’d recommend the Cesar salad which had a good amount of dressing which I prefer, and the shrimp and grits which were the best I’ve ever had. Both our entrees (NY strip and Salmon) were cooked to perfection and the portions were generous. 10/10 we will return on another occasion.Parking: Complimentary valet
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
An average steakhouse with a very touchy waiter who grabbed my date for a hug as we walked in, making her very uncomfortable. After i spoke to him about not repeating this action, he loudly exclaimed "WHAT?!" causing a scene, which i ignored. After our meal he again accosted us and violently shook both of our hands while glaring at me. An unpleasant and very unprofessional experience.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 3
Service: 1
Max’s Downtown anyone reliable Max Group owned dining experience. It was a timely visit as we went to another steakhouse the weekend before and in comparison the other steakhouse ranked higher in our book from a food perspective. But there are many reasons to still enjoy Max’s Downtown.- service- atmosphere- food optionsOverall it was great and j just love the atmosphere and every single person is always so kind. The French onion pierogi, baby gem Cesar, oysters and chicken were spot on! I want o explore their cocktail many a bit more next time.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 5