Max's Opera Cafe

09/19/10

How to lose customers.

by darcy fink at Citysearch

Now I've had three sorry times at Max's. A friend got sick from the food, I was served dried up dark colored off tasting pastrami and the maitre d' refused to seat me when I was up next in spite of a room full of empty tables. He said he had to first write down the names of all the people in line and I'd have to wait until he did that and then wait again until I was called. I left.

Whatever happened to good service? It is astonishing how many people put up with this kind of treatment. The maitre d' seemed overwhelmed by his job and was testy in his manner. Bad public relations!

07/14/10

Horrible Treatment

by RJordanB at Citysearch

We used to enjoy this restaurant. My wife and I ate here at least 10 times a year for at least 5 years. Max's served excellent NY style Deli food in a convivial setting. Our last 2 visits have been so disappointing we do not intend to return. Management of this particular Max's has changed, and both food and service have both gone downhill.

My wife, her sister, two friends, and I ate there last Saturday. Three of us ordered salads which were subpar. The greens were not fresh and tasted like they had been pre-packaged. Only one of us was satisfied with his meal. The service was also subpar.

My sister-in-law did not like her wine, and asked to exchange it for another choice from the wine list. When we received our bill, we were told that the Manager and Assistant Manager measured the wine in her first glass, it was less than half full, and we would have to pay for both glasses. I saw the wine glass when it left our table, and I don't think that's true.

On our way out of the place one of the managers smirked at us, and that infuriated me.

• Pros: Good Location. Dinner rolls are excellent.
• Cons: Food, Service, and Management

06/17/10

Arrogant Awful Service

by MaxisAwful at Citysearch

Horrible greeting by staff, horrible treatment by manager, insufferable arrogance. Save yourself some trouble: Go to Jardin and enjoy the experience instead of being treated like the cattle these people believe you to be. Feh.

• Pros: They're Not The Only Game in Town
• Cons: They THINK They're The Only Game in Town

05/01/09

The closest thing to a Kosher deli in No. Cal

by operagoer at Citysearch

I was born and raised in NYC, but have lived in Cal for 42 years. Aside from Cantor's in LA, Max's comes closest to a NY Kosher deli like the Stage deli on the west coast. For a time they had that crappy lean pastrami that was dry and tasteless. They finally got back to the real thing. There is no such thing as lean pastrami. If you want that crud go somewhere else. Max's makes no apologies for their style of food, generous helpings, varied menu, and fast service. If you vant romance go to Absinthe where you can get looked down on and sneered at or just ignored by the waiters if you aren't a wine expert.

• Pros: Has real fatty pastrami like the Stage deli in NY
• Cons: Always busy, but efficient

06/23/08

Forgettable

by boymeetswestcoast at Citysearch

Max's, an upscale diner, was just an average restaurant. It was close to our hotel, which made it a good choice. The food and service was just average. However, the giant mushroom appetizer was very good! The menu is versatile and the dress was mixed. Some people were in jeans, others in khakis. We were first seated in a booth by the bar, which was noisy, so we moved to a move private booth where we had an enjoyable family meal.