Maxwells Trading

1516 W Carroll Ave, Chicago
(312) 896-4410

Recent Reviews

Sort by
Rolo

Stumbled upon this place after Rare Day 2024 since I SpotHero’d in their lot for this craft beer festival.

And this place was packed and the ambiance is amazing.

Enjoyed an Old Fashion; however, the hummus and griddle cake app was probably the best thing I have eaten in years.

I will definitely have to stop in for a proper meal with an update. Staff was friendly and accomodating to a “walk-in”.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Robert Kaylor

Went here for date night - the food was incredible, but our server Alicia was what made the night. We cracked jokes with her all night. We let her choose the courses and she had incredible taste. She was knowledgeable about the food and honest about what she liked and didn’t like. I would come back just for her.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: French Onion Dip, Suzuki Tartare

Ishita Batra

I enjoyed my dinner. Thank you Rebecca for such great service!
I'm giving 4 stars because 1. the lighting was too dim for my taste and 2. I thought the food was too expensive. The butter cake was excellent, as was the griddle bread, but I thought the mushroom clay pot and french onion dip were overpriced.

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 4

Service: 5

Gee Brar

This place is over hyped, the food is mediocre at best and overpriced. The pork katsu and mushroom clay pot rice dish were underwhelming, both were dry and bland. Cocktails we lacklustre, the Moscow mule comes in a tall glass with no semblance of ginger beer, just artificial lime tasting, weird. The espresso martini had a elevated lavender taste, which was peculiar. The only dish I truly savoured was the Japanese eggplant. Pork Pappardelle was not bad.

Cool space and attentive service, but food was nothing amazing. I wouldn’t go back.

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 3

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Japanese Sweet Potato

Ar L

Astoundingly good food, on the one side familiar and approachable, and on the other, new and esoteric.

The pappardelle was simply sublime, in its ethereal broth. Like the best Chinese dumpling you've ever had.

The pompano and turbot fish dishes were galactic. The most subtle of vin beurre blanc blanketed the pompano in a love as deep as the sea.

Service was profoundly good. There when you needed, which was rare, and not when you don't.

One knock for noise level is all I've got. My God, I may have to dethrone NYC as the culinary sophisticated mecca!

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Heritage Pork Katsu, Japanese Eggplant Dip

Trooper Long

You can tell a lot about a restaurant by just watching the waitstaff, how they interact with each other. I arrived early in the evening for dinner service, and watched the waitstaff in a sort of huddle, smiling, and showing that they love working together as a team. And this makes all the difference. While we had one lead waiter explain the menu and take our order, a couple others tended to our table, bringing new and exciting dishes, providing water before we even knew it was getting low, and clearing the table in between courses. The floor manager also visited us to see how we were doing. Her crew worked like a well-oiled machine. The kitchen produced beautifully plated, delicious food at an ideal pace. Everything was seasoned to perfection! The menu rotates every few months (I believe), and highlights for us included the Japanese sweet potatoes with green curry, half roast chicken, and Basque butter cake. The cocktails played well with the The room was comfortable and I absolutely loved the beautiful jazz (Duke Ellington) spinning on the turntable by the door. So we had a wonderful dining experience here at Maxwells Trading.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Half Chicken a La Brasa, Chicory Salad, Japanese Sweet Potato, Basque Butter Cake, Suzuki Tartare, Caesar Salad

Caroline Breidenbach

10 / 10 experience - food was fabulous and the service was even better. Was able to sit at the bar which I highly recommend - the most comfortable seats and incredible bar tenders / servers. French onion dip with the most delicious salty crumpet situation and the vesper martini were our favorites.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: French Onion Dip

Moises Salame

Delicious place.
Each dish a pleasant experience.
Unique flavors never before known to my palate.
One of my best places in the world.

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 5

Service: 5

kayleigh

had to book the reservation a month in advance for a party of 4, but it was so worth it. their service is stellar, and their menu is so fun and creative. everything was so easy to share too

we tried the following:
• cocktails: highball, last word
• appetizers: beet & pear, suzuki tartare, brussels sprout fett’unta, japanese eggplant dip
• main: stuffed pappardelle, turbot, heritage pork katsu
• dessert: royal milk tiramisu

although everything was delicious, my absolute favorites were the brussels sprout fett’unta, japanese eggplant dip, and heritage pork katsu - all very savory dishes with interesting flavors mixed in them. i especially loved the “bread” that came with the japanese eggplant dip - it was like a thick, fluffy scallion pancake

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Mike Mallo

Amazing, 10/10, would recommend.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Half Chicken a La Brasa, French Onion Dip

Michael Liberman

The food was fantastic, the space is beautiful and the staff were friendly and excellent.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Misha Thelen

food was amazing! favorites were the suzuki and that sweet potato curry dish was phenomenal! Diego took great care of us as well. the last words cocktail was delicious too

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Delone Jouja

Amazing meal. Randomly checked it out and we were not disappointed. Ambiance, drinks, food ✅ 10/10!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Basque Butter Cake, Whipped Ricotta

Taylor P

I’m torn, the ambience was comfortable, the service was stellar but the food was over rated. We came here after reading a NYT article raving about the food but we left disappointed. Maybe our expectations were too high? Yes the food was good but it wasn’t cutting edge or super unique and unfortunately we felt rushed during the entire experience. They wouldn’t place any plate orders until we had all courses selected. Not to mentioned when we ordered another plate, our server called it dessert. So we called it at that point.

Bottom line, food was tasty but over-rated. If you want phenomenal and creative food find a James beard restaurant like the purple pig.

Highlights from here: griddle bread, and the bottle of Sangiovese.

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 3

Service: 5

Slava Kramarov

What a great dinner experience it was. This was a total entertainment for the taste buds. Robb Report named this one of the 10 best new restaurants in America so I had pretty high expectations. I have to say this restaurant deserves such a high ranking.
Every dish that we tried was perfectly prepared and was full of flavor. Chicken and even Turbot were very juicy, which is not that easy to accomplish.
Our server, Anika, was very attentive, and her recommendations were spot on. I can definitely recommend this restaurant for dinner, you will not be disappointed.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Half Chicken a La Brasa, Japanese Sweet Potato, Basque Butter Cake, Suzuki Tartare, Forbidden Rice Pudding

Loading...