The French Onion soup was stellar with melted gruyere on top; Family LOVED the Sanddabs, even moreso their fresh, local crabcakes. I got duck, very natural, and enjoyed it with merlot. Added photos of the current menu, (about 25 items) Prices $15-40
My husband and I ate in Max’s Grill in Pacific Grove. We ordered some fish, Caesar’ salad, and soup. The salad didn’t look fresh but I ate it. After we ate I could feel something that’s not right in my system. That night I had stomach issues and I felt like I was gonna vomit. I felt bad I got sick. I will never go back there anymore. It’s a nightmare!
The food was absolutely delicious and the staff were amazing. Thanks Matt for making our dining service outstanding. Sorry about the Hartford Whalers.
We were looking for something to eat in Pacific Grove with everything in town ( it was a friday night) seemed loaded with people, but Maxs grill was less busy than anything we strolled past. We chocked it up to their being located on a side street and it was to our luck of the night as we soon came to realize with our meal choices and service.The wait staff was very friendly, attentive and service was quick. We received fresh bread with dipping oil immediately upon being seated so being the bread lover that I am and a hungry gal I was happy to partake.I ordered the Fish of the Day Salmon with pesto sauce, seasonal veggies and potatoes and my husband the other Fish of the Day special Swordfish that I quickly swapped plates that became my dinner for the night. LOLThe Swordfish was cooked to perfection with an absolute delicate matching sauce that melted in my mouth. This dish as the other also came with seasonal veggies and potatoes that were just the right amount and seasoned enough to let the true flavors shine through. My husband and I shared the Garden salad that was perfectly balanced with a house made dressing, drizzled over the freshest greens. I will say this was a wonderful dinner start to finish with my bubbly Prosecco to compliment my dinner wonderfully.Maxs Grill is a cozy restaurant that made for a lovely evening with delicious food on our October getaway. Thank you again to the staff and Maxs Grill - Enjoy!
Very kid/family friendly. Superb service by the lovely waitress. Good food.
Small and lovely. More like a bistro than a grill. The owners are very skilled at what they do. The wife is in the front and husband/chef is in the kitchen preparing his delicious dishes. There is also a small patio in back for outside dining. Meal starts with fresh bread. There are daily specials. Its an extensive menu. You cant go wrong with what you select.
Ambience, service and food were amazing here! Got the butternut squash ravioli and it was delicious and so flavourful. Also tried the French onion soup and it was just the right amount of cheese and onion ratio. Highly recommend this place!
I had the ravioli, fresh baked bread and a nice Pinot. Delish! The cafe is clean and my server was attentive and kind. I dined there when there wasnt a crowd but the place gets busy. I recommend Maxs.
We had dinner there this evening.It was absolutely excellent.Food and service
We had an amazing meal! Everyone was really friendly and the food was exceptional. The Brie ravioli was very flavorful and the ahi tuna rolls were melt-in-your-mouth tender. Highly recommend!
Awful seafood, dry, not seasoned appropriately. One of our group got sick. Nice service and homey grill atmosphere, but food is lacking in tastes and sanitation.
We had this restaurant for their Thanksgiving special. The food was very good and we really enjoyed all the food they had to offer. Even eating on the constructed patio, the vibe felt a little more upscale. I think this place could work well for a special occasion, but not too stuffy that you couldnt come in here for a regular meal.オーナーさんは日本人の方です。ぜひ、食べてみてください。
We loved this place. Its a smaller restaurant with attention to detail and service. Juicy, tender, and tasty pork spareribs and Coleslaw appetizer was a must have again experience. I loved my calamari steak with vegetables cooked just right. The soup of the day was cream of mushroom with an enjoyable tribute to mushroom nuance.This restaurant is a sure thing. We will return.
We love this place and have come here several times over the years. Great food and very friendly staff! They are also very kids-friendly!
The food and service is fantastic. The decor is slightly dated. The wild mushroom soup is out of this world. Prices are reasonable for the area. Typical specials include local seafood. Portions are generous. While there is no dedicated parking there is typically plenty of on-street available.
Lovely intimate restaurant with pleasant service. All of our meals were delicious and worth the wait. So much flavor and lovely presentation. Family restaurant with welcoming smiles. Will definitely be back!! Worth the price and lovely memory made. A gem!!😋
We reserved a table for our party of 18 for a 70th birthday celebration. Our group included all ages, 8-75 year olds with varying dietary issues. The staff at Maxs was incredibly accommodating, attentive, friendly and gracious. We had one of our favorite meals here in Monterey during our long weekend. Between us, we ordered a variety of appetizers, soups, salads and main courses. Everyone was extremely pleased and satisfied by the meal. We will, without a doubt, return on a future visit.
Loved finding this little hidden gem. The food was outstanding. A beautiful meal from a classically trained chef. Not what you would expect from the name of the establishment. So glad we read the reviews and decided to dine here. Our server was attentive and extremely courteous. He was very professional but also humourous and personable. I highly recommend this amazing little spot.
Vacationing from Florida we knew we had to make a reservation early so January we called and made our reservation for March 15 at 6pm and received a confirmation email for that date and time ( see attached). That evening we were running 30 minutes late and tried to call the restaurant to push back our reservation back. We got an answering machine saying they were closed on Tuesdays……. So no dinner there that night and had to find other options.Wednesday the day after we received a call and a lady stated “yes we are closed Tuesdays” I stated to her we had a confirmation for that Tuesday you gave us…….. she stated “you can come now…..” No apologies, no explanation, nothing!!! Ruined our first night. Please skip this place!!! Find something else!!
Max’s is truly a find. The food and friendly service was amazing. We had the calamari and the sole. Both were excellent! We’ll definitely be back.
What a wonderful place to have a nice dinner with the love of your life. The service was excellent. The nice lady serving us treated you like family. Was one of those finds that are hard to come by. Definitely not for the kids. Definitely for parents night out place for sure.
We frequent PG (5-6 times a year) just to get away from the Bay Area eat race. We have amour favorite restaurants and this place just made our top list.It has a quaint family atmosphere and the staff (the lander and a server) were super friendly. Our server Christian was knowledgeable about the menu and answered our questions in detail.For the appetizer, we ordered tempura sand dab and it set the bar very high. It was battered and seasoned perfectly and the fish was flaky and light.I ordered the short ribs and I will have to say that its one of the BEST meals Ive had in the area. The meat literally melts in your mouth and did not have a lot of fat. The vegetables and potato au gratin were cooked perfectly but the sauce was the highlight. It was creamy, had layers of flavors and piping hot.My wife ordered the fresh made ravioli stuffed with porcini and shiitake mushrooms and bri cheese topped with herb butter sauce. She absolutely loved it!If youre in the area and are looking for a great place to eat with the atmosphere to match, then try this place. You wont be disappointed.We will definitely be back!
Maxs Grill is a gem in Pacific Grove. The most delicious food presented in a caring and personal manner. Calm and quiet, great place for a romantic dinner or just getting together with friends. Definitely order the mushroom soup - best Ive ever had!
Great service and tasty food. I really like the chicken with capers. Honestly the most tender white meat Ive ever had. Usually hate white meat cuz its soooo dry, but this restaurant makes it super juicy.
So good
Been here before and remembered it was good so made reservations. Also still had a strong rating. Service was absolutely horrible. Took forever and food was only so so. Wine selection was small and not diverse. We literally heard same song 4 times. It was the opening song for an Austin Powers movie. Did not fit mood for nice dinner out. We wont be going back.
Max has a history in the restaurant industry, as a chef at some of the best restaurants in Carmel. He went out on his own and started Maxs Grill years ago. We wrote a review a year ago, and just went back Saturday night for a special event. What struck me then, as every time weve gone, is that it seems nobody knows about this place, and thats wrong. I had the Cioppino in a tomato-saffron sauce. Perfect! My wife had a Chicken Alfredo she said was delicious. Service was friendly, on point. Max knows what he is doing and does it well.
Good value. Great birthday meal. We brought our own Chopsticks to battle over the aps. A+ on the ribeye. Get the ravioli too. But first it has to be sand dabs and salmon rolls in the tempura style.
I honestly cant say enough good things about this restaurant.This is the best service on the peninsula and the nicest most welcoming and accommodating staff.On top of hospitality and service, the vibe and ambiance is perfect.Food and wine is bomb too.To the staff, sincerely, thank you so much
Despite its casual name, Maxs Grill is a high-end, high-priced seafood and ravioli French-style place. Its not the only seafood in Pacific Grove, but its just as good as anywhere else -- and it has more space.For COVID-19, they have an outdoor eating area, but reservations are recommended.
Cippino and local patrale sole special was a double win! Really great local chef and waitress. The most important things were really really good here.
Amazing food, my best dining experience of this trip. Charming little restaurant, I had the mushroom soup and Max’s Cioppino, both were outstanding packed with flavour and a bounty of seafood in the Cioppino. I only wish we could eat there again tomorrow. Family run business great food and service be sure not to miss it!!!
Thank you Max and Yuko! We had an amazing experience. The service we received was amazing, really personal, and the food, exceptional! We had creamy mushroom soup, swordfish, chicken piccata, and ice cream. Everything, and I really mean everything, was exceptional. You could really tell from the food that the chef is special. Maxs Grill is a gem.
It was a quiet night, and we were stressed from personal demands, when we dropped in with no reservation. Our hostess/server was a class act, and our dinner was perfect. Wonderful experience in every way. Maxs will be at the top of our favorite place list.
Maxs Grill offers haute cuisine in a casual setting in Pacific Grove. Linen tablecloths and napkins, subdued lighting, and a quiet ambience make it perfect for a nice dinner for two or, in our case, a party of six.I had the lamb shank which was fall off the bone buttery delicious. Others had the chicken piccatta and loved every bite. The creme brulee was sumptuous.Matthew was our waiter and he was funny, charming, knowledgeable, and very attentive (but not overly so). He made our dinner even better.The wine list is limited, but excellent and reasonably priced.Maxs Grill is a real gem. Enjoy!
Delicious food, polite and personable service; highly recommend! Tempura ahi rolls were a particular favorite, as were both raviolis.
A good family restaurant. But we ordered various dishes and didnt taste the fusion side of the meals. Sorry. The service was excellent, meals and wine affordable. Not what we expected from reading other reviews though.
Had the calamari which was absolutely delicious. My husband had the special of filet mignon and coconut prawns. His only complaint was that his meal was not as hot as mine. Very good service.
This Chef (plus family) are Rock Stars! He is consistently conscious, skilled, innovative, more-than-fair, caring and creates delicious food, reasonably!!! How could anyone expect more than that!!If you havent made Maxs a regular stop, youre missing out big time. My husband and I have tired of the expensive, so-called high-end restaurants. You can have all of that, plus, plus at Maxs.Go and appreciate.......youve done your body and Soul a huge favor!!!God Bless you Max and family.
I came here to celebrate with a friend and Im so happy we chose this place! The service was beyond fantastic and Im already looking forward to coming back. The homemade bread was also amazing.
We both had chicken piccata tonight. It was superb! This quiet restaurant enables you to have a pleasant conversation with friends and family.
A must eat at place when in Monterey! The food was absolutely amazing!
Great food and friendly staff. Was very quiet when we were there
Family favorites are the sand dabs and salmon. The mushroom soup is delicious and love the fresh baked bread.
Delicious food! try their signature mango mousse pudding, and also salmon wellington! Thanksgiving menue is amazingly tasty!
Excellent ravioli and seafood stew and service from friendly owners. Good heaters in back patio. Clean restroom. Big portions.
Ordered the grilled sand dabs, and was pleasantly surprised. The waiter was also very good, hospitable but not disrupting.
Our server was such a delight, so sweet. And our food was delicious
Best meal of our trip!
The absolute best butternut squash ravioli Ive ever had! Exceptional.
We had a great time there. Our meals were delicious and the service wonderful. We had a great time.
Excellent, she was so sweet and even hurried our dinner so we could take it to the ocean on a whim will be back
Great place for dinner. It isnt what I expected from the name of the place but the food was delicious.
Everyone in our group of six was very happy with their meal. I would definitely return! Highly recommended.
Nice lady, noone in here on Thursday but the food was good.
Ive eaten all over Europe, and this is far and away my favorite restaurant in the area.
Excellent service. Lovely butternut squash ravioli, delicious mushroom soup.
Food is fantastic and atmosphere is superb! Youll never be disappointed!
My favorite restaurant in P.G. Great service wonderful flavors, simply great.
Excellent food. Good service. Enjoy!
Superb meal, enjoyed the pesto salmon special, beautifully cooked fish.
Great service, loved the food! Must try the creme brulee!
Whenever I visit the area, I stop at Maxs for the cioppino. Restaurant is good value for the prices.
Great food, hreat staff. Loves this place.👍🏾😎
The duck was amazing! The service excellent, overall a wonderful experience.
Went for my grandfathers 80th birthday and it was a enjoyable experience!!
Prices on their web are a lot less. Shocked when I picked up my order at the price increase.
Fabulous food with great portions. LOVED IT!!!
Fine dinning in PG at a reasonable price. Great service
Outstanding food and service! Chef is perfect!
Great food and great serviceThe best food in Pacific Grove
The food is excellent, especially, the mushroom soup.
Best meal I’ve had in a long time.
5 stars after 2 bites! Will update if my opinion changes :)
Very personal service and wonderful food.
Enjoyed tasty crab cakes and a calamari steak.
It was closed and showed it ad opened.
Quiet french restaurant run by a cute Japanese couple
Amazing food and fantastic service!
The best jerk chicken around
The food was great!
Thanksgiving perfection. Lovely!
Great local place.
Good food and friendly staff.
Our favorite restaurant in Pacific Grove!
Great service and food quality
Food great and service is great.
Excellent food and service.
Delicious!
Disappointed. Food soso.
Wonderful duck.
We came across this little restaurant by chance, while looking for a place to eat in Monterey. We liked the interior, very calm with tastefully set tables. The service is good and very attentive. The cuisine was perfectly adequate, with fresh products, despite a somewhat high cost (especially in relation to the quantities, especially concerning the ravioli).
Great welcome, quality and exceptional workmanship, a place not to be missed.The Chef is a culinary artist.
They dont have much variety of dishes.but the food is goodYes it is a bit expensive $ but they are worth it
The taste and service are great.Ill come back later!
I went there late, but the customer service was very nice! The food was also delicious! Apparently the owner is Japanese. Its a calm store!The Food and the Service was Amazing!!
Total reviews rating 4.6
106 Reviews for Maxs Grill 2024:
Review №1
2023-05-29 01:23:02First time experiencing Max’s grill and the food was out of this world! Definitely going to be a repeat customer whenever we pass through Pacific Grove/Monterey. Absolutely amazing customer service, beautiful and cozy atmosphere. 10/10 would recommend.
Review №2
2023-05-31 17:40:43Maxs Grill has fine dining food at the approachable price and atmosphere. I was first impressed by simple warm bread and butter. Then the appetizer of ravioli, creamy and flavorful. Then I got a special menu of the day. Pan fried Sand Daps. When I ordered, I expected it to be grilled and I was afraid that it will be greasy if it was fried. However, the fish was so smooth, moist, with a crust that is not greasy at all. The side of gratin is also smooth with the right level of creaminess. Well, what else can you ask for? I would love to try their dessert but we were already full. I saw many local seniors came to enjoy this place on Thursday nights so its place is definitely trustworthy. I would love to come back an try Cioppino and dessert as well.
Review №3
2021-10-31 03:43:06Highly recommended!Excellent service and friendly staffs.We arrived before closing time and we were still accommodated. It was our first night in Monterey and we didnt know Restaurants close early.The foods were fantastic! Dishes were perfectly prepared and delicious. The best Shrimp and Veggie Tempura I have tried!Thanks to the staffs for making our first dinner in Monterey memorable!
Review №4
2023-03-09 03:08:36Cannot overstate how good the lamb chops are. Taste is incredible, and presentation is picturesque.Matt is an excellent server, very kind, very knowledgeable. The chef is fantastic!
Review №5
2023-10-27 16:25:21Traditional French technique makes Maxs a delight. We had buttery soup, rich crab cake, and phenomenal short ribs. There could be some who would be disappointed at a lack of modernization in the dishes, but traditions exist for good reason.
Review №6
2021-10-16 00:02:07Yoko is so sweet. Outstanding menu and wine. The best service and the food is outstanding! They are also kind enough to provide gluten free options. Great food and service🍷😊
Review №7
2023-07-13 18:56:43Suprisingly great food. Limited menu selection meant great items. Home-made soup that is really homemade.PS, the couple that runs the restaraunt are wondful folks - attentive, kind and ready to help!Thank you for a lovely family meal.
Review №8
2021-07-06 14:35:22The food was AMAZING! We had calamari steak (which I didnt know was a thing) with capers and potatoes, butternut squash ravioli, and tuna rolls, and my gosh if it wasnt all perfect! The kids tried and liked everything, too!!!
Review №9
2022-04-02 04:00:25Excellent selection of food, great prices, and amazing service. Theyre known for their delicious Cioppino, Duck, and Rack of Lamb.
Review №10
2023-05-21 04:31:35Delicious and well prepared seafood. Even the side vegetables were perfectly cooked which may sound standard but many restaurants cannot get it right. Deliciously flavored cioppino.