Nice little town cafeParking: Good luck getting a parking spot anywhere near the restaurant
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 4
Gabriel Bastardo
Have great tasting, homemade style food! The restaurant has been around forever and has that older family feel when you’re
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Beth Sherwood
To get a feel for the town and community of Culver, AND get great food, you won't do better than Café Max. Our favorites include: the Blue Bayou Skillet, Sinful French Toast, and the sublime seasonal Pumpkin Pancakes. The Bloody Marys are also a highlight. Fun, funky local decor/memorabilia and excellent service round out the experience.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Sinful French Toast
Jackie B.
After moving to Culver within the last year, I’ve been here at least 5 times now. Every time I’ve been, the service is so poor. Being a server for 7 years, I know it doesn’t take much to walk up to a table, introduce yourself and ask how everyone’s doing. You won’t get that here! The servers always seem like you are an inconvenience to be waited on, they take your order, drop off your food and MAYBE if you’re lucky come back to see how everything is and bring drink refills. But most likely, you won’t see them again until they are bringing the check and not wishing you a great evening or great day as they drop it back off after you pay. If I go somewhere, I don’t expect a lot but after witnessing this every time we’ve been there I have to assume poor training or poor people skills. Even the host stand is always chaotic and you feel like you are an inconvenience by being there. I wish I could give this small business a better review because it’s a great atmosphere but I can’t stand poor service.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 3
Service: 1
Seana O'Kelley-Hooker (O'Kelley)
It's always a great place to grab breakfast and a mimosa.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Grace P
I would like to start by saying, the food here is always great and servers are always kind. I usually leave here thinking the service is never great but it’s a cute spot in town so we continue to come and support. Probably will not be back after our most recent experience and poor encounter with the owner, Susie. My fiancé and I had been seated and waited over 35 minutes for our food. I worked previously as a server during college for 3 years so I understand how things can pick up in the kitchen and get chaotic. We had seen several other tables all seated after us receive their food so we began questioning if our order had been put in. Not to mention, 15 minutes prior our server stopped by our table to ask if she had taken our order. No problems with that, again, I’ve been a server and have a complete understanding of things getting chaotic and forgetting. We are all human. I went up to the owner, Susie, and told her we were just curious if our order had been put in yet, explained the situation, and pointed to the table we were sitting at. She said she would check on it. A couple minutes later, while standing across the room, in a busy, noisy dining room, a distance from our table, asked if we ordered Avo toast and the last part of what she said I didn’t hear/unable to read her lips. I shook my head yes as soon as I slightly heard/ read her lips of “Avo toast” as that is what I specifically ordered myself. I assumed that as being the owner and pointing to the specific table we were sitting at, she correctly identified and found our order. 5 minutes later, our server brings out our meal. Another 5 minutes after this, the owner comes to our table with a tray of food, STOMPS her foot down and looks at me with a look that I would describe as a glare. A way I would NEVER look at one of my customers supporting my business. She then proceeds to say to us that she “just had the kitchen remake our meal and that I said we ordered avocado toast and the CGA.” I told her, all I heard her say from across the room was “Avocado toast” and I shook my head yes when I heard this (as explained above). She paused in disgust and walked away. A clear miscommunication but as someone who worked/works in the service industry, let alone the owner, I can’t ever imagine communicating this way to a customer who is supporting my business. I never negatively review a business and always give people the benefit of the doubt but this situation was unlike any other. Incredibly unprofessional and all around rude.RESPONSE: I appreciate the time you took to respond to this. It is clear there was a miscommunication between staff and I appreciated your quick response to rectify the situation in the moment. I’m not one to immediately hop to assumptions with peoples reactions and like I said, I always try to give people the benefit of the doubt - even more so in the service industry. I get it. What we experienced when you brought out the tray of food is where the issue is. It was most certainly a foot stomp and what I will take your word for as a look of “complete confusion” instead of what both my fiancé and I perceived as a glare. That’s fine. We all are entitled to the way we respond to situations but not immediately acknowledging or apologizing for the confusion/mix up is certainly not how I would treat my customers. The last thing I would want to do is have any encounter with my customers that would leave anything in question like this situation. Thanks for the response!
Service: 1
David Wood
Excellent food and service. But most importantly, I walked in after closing and wanted pie to go. I was not aware that they were closed. Instead of just saying they were closed, Chloe cut two pieces of pie for me. She did not have to do that. Most places would not do that. I appreciated that a lot!!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Fried Chicken
River Wilding
It's like how Cracker Barrel used to be, but better. The prices are so affordable, and they have both indoor and outdoor seating in addition to their bar. Love it!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Theresa E
Delicious food at decent prices. Wonderful service, too. Thank you!
If I could give zero stars I would.. the worst tenderloin I’ve ever had couldn’t even cut it with a knife.. nothing at all like the bowling alley tenderloin.. very very disappointing not only dry and overcooked they didn’t even give the condiments I ordered with it .. doubt I’ll go back
Jeff Taylor
Highly recommend the chipotle cheddar burger, and the onion rings. The owner was very attentive and efficient her waitress must have been overwhelmed or disoriented. Over all pleasant dinning experience.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 3
Shelli Ringer
Love Cafe Max, but had the rudest, most unfriendly waitress I think I've ever experienced. We felt like a complete inconvenience and burden to her.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 1
Recommended dishes: Fried Chicken
Jacki Z
Have been going here for over 15+ years! Food is always great and prices are affordable, environment is comfy and lots of Culver paraphernalia! Love all of the Mexican dishes and the breakfast items! Service hasn’t always been the best but Definitely understandable on how tight service is especially on busy weekends! Leading, training, and hiring in a business alone is definitely not easy as well! Sinful French Toast, Hot chocolate, Frozen drinks, cappuccinos, Quesadillas, Sandwiches all great!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 4
Team Woodham
We had a party of 10 and everyone enjoyed their breakfast. Service was great, our coffee and soda cups were always full. The kids loved their chocolate milk. We can't wait to go back.
Great lunch by the fire on a chilly day.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Nice little town cafeParking: Good luck getting a parking spot anywhere near the restaurant
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 4
Have great tasting, homemade style food! The restaurant has been around forever and has that older family feel when you’re
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
To get a feel for the town and community of Culver, AND get great food, you won't do better than Café Max. Our favorites include: the Blue Bayou Skillet, Sinful French Toast, and the sublime seasonal Pumpkin Pancakes. The Bloody Marys are also a highlight. Fun, funky local decor/memorabilia and excellent service round out the experience.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Sinful French Toast
After moving to Culver within the last year, I’ve been here at least 5 times now. Every time I’ve been, the service is so poor. Being a server for 7 years, I know it doesn’t take much to walk up to a table, introduce yourself and ask how everyone’s doing. You won’t get that here! The servers always seem like you are an inconvenience to be waited on, they take your order, drop off your food and MAYBE if you’re lucky come back to see how everything is and bring drink refills. But most likely, you won’t see them again until they are bringing the check and not wishing you a great evening or great day as they drop it back off after you pay. If I go somewhere, I don’t expect a lot but after witnessing this every time we’ve been there I have to assume poor training or poor people skills. Even the host stand is always chaotic and you feel like you are an inconvenience by being there. I wish I could give this small business a better review because it’s a great atmosphere but I can’t stand poor service.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 3
Service: 1
It's always a great place to grab breakfast and a mimosa.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
I would like to start by saying, the food here is always great and servers are always kind. I usually leave here thinking the service is never great but it’s a cute spot in town so we continue to come and support. Probably will not be back after our most recent experience and poor encounter with the owner, Susie. My fiancé and I had been seated and waited over 35 minutes for our food. I worked previously as a server during college for 3 years so I understand how things can pick up in the kitchen and get chaotic. We had seen several other tables all seated after us receive their food so we began questioning if our order had been put in. Not to mention, 15 minutes prior our server stopped by our table to ask if she had taken our order. No problems with that, again, I’ve been a server and have a complete understanding of things getting chaotic and forgetting. We are all human. I went up to the owner, Susie, and told her we were just curious if our order had been put in yet, explained the situation, and pointed to the table we were sitting at. She said she would check on it. A couple minutes later, while standing across the room, in a busy, noisy dining room, a distance from our table, asked if we ordered Avo toast and the last part of what she said I didn’t hear/unable to read her lips. I shook my head yes as soon as I slightly heard/ read her lips of “Avo toast” as that is what I specifically ordered myself. I assumed that as being the owner and pointing to the specific table we were sitting at, she correctly identified and found our order. 5 minutes later, our server brings out our meal. Another 5 minutes after this, the owner comes to our table with a tray of food, STOMPS her foot down and looks at me with a look that I would describe as a glare. A way I would NEVER look at one of my customers supporting my business. She then proceeds to say to us that she “just had the kitchen remake our meal and that I said we ordered avocado toast and the CGA.” I told her, all I heard her say from across the room was “Avocado toast” and I shook my head yes when I heard this (as explained above). She paused in disgust and walked away. A clear miscommunication but as someone who worked/works in the service industry, let alone the owner, I can’t ever imagine communicating this way to a customer who is supporting my business. I never negatively review a business and always give people the benefit of the doubt but this situation was unlike any other. Incredibly unprofessional and all around rude.RESPONSE: I appreciate the time you took to respond to this. It is clear there was a miscommunication between staff and I appreciated your quick response to rectify the situation in the moment. I’m not one to immediately hop to assumptions with peoples reactions and like I said, I always try to give people the benefit of the doubt - even more so in the service industry. I get it. What we experienced when you brought out the tray of food is where the issue is. It was most certainly a foot stomp and what I will take your word for as a look of “complete confusion” instead of what both my fiancé and I perceived as a glare. That’s fine. We all are entitled to the way we respond to situations but not immediately acknowledging or apologizing for the confusion/mix up is certainly not how I would treat my customers. The last thing I would want to do is have any encounter with my customers that would leave anything in question like this situation. Thanks for the response!
Service: 1
Excellent food and service. But most importantly, I walked in after closing and wanted pie to go. I was not aware that they were closed. Instead of just saying they were closed, Chloe cut two pieces of pie for me. She did not have to do that. Most places would not do that. I appreciated that a lot!!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Fried Chicken
It's like how Cracker Barrel used to be, but better. The prices are so affordable, and they have both indoor and outdoor seating in addition to their bar. Love it!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Delicious food at decent prices. Wonderful service, too. Thank you!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Restaurantji Recommends
If I could give zero stars I would.. the worst tenderloin I’ve ever had couldn’t even cut it with a knife.. nothing at all like the bowling alley tenderloin.. very very disappointing not only dry and overcooked they didn’t even give the condiments I ordered with it .. doubt I’ll go back
Highly recommend the chipotle cheddar burger, and the onion rings. The owner was very attentive and efficient her waitress must have been overwhelmed or disoriented. Over all pleasant dinning experience.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 3
Love Cafe Max, but had the rudest, most unfriendly waitress I think I've ever experienced. We felt like a complete inconvenience and burden to her.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 1
Recommended dishes: Fried Chicken
Have been going here for over 15+ years! Food is always great and prices are affordable, environment is comfy and lots of Culver paraphernalia! Love all of the Mexican dishes and the breakfast items! Service hasn’t always been the best but Definitely understandable on how tight service is especially on busy weekends! Leading, training, and hiring in a business alone is definitely not easy as well! Sinful French Toast, Hot chocolate, Frozen drinks, cappuccinos, Quesadillas, Sandwiches all great!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 4
We had a party of 10 and everyone enjoyed their breakfast. Service was great, our coffee and soda cups were always full. The kids loved their chocolate milk. We can't wait to go back.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5