Absolutely amazing. The outdoor patio is cute and was perfect on the slightly cool rainy day. Food wise every bite was amazing. If I'm ever back in Dublin would probably go back for more. read more

Chez Max - Escargot - French Near Me - Dublin, D

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A little slice of France by the castle in Dublin. The ambiance is just perfect and the food outstanding. They have only fix price menu of 2 items (appetizer + entre) and 3 adding desert. There are 10 apps and entres to chose from, all traditional French brasserie staples. The wine list is very good with plenty of choices. The food is excellent and plenty full. We had a the escargots served in the shell (I usually prefer in crock but these were very good. The wife had the mussels and I had the duck. Both were delicious. We also tried the crème brûlée. Also very good. read more

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Next to Dublin Castle. Great bathrooms, Irish coffee and wifi! Very friendly barista. We ordered Irish coffees to go and soaked up the free (password protected) wifi while we waited. read more

Chez Max - Brendan, super nice server. - French Near Me - Dublin, D

I dined on 27/06 at Chez Max, and while the overall experience was pleasant, I did have an issue with the martini I ordered. The glass had barely a finger's width of liquid, even with ice, which felt quite short of the standard 70 ml I would expect. To attest to the quality of the drink, another server came by shortly after I got the drink, asking if I wanted a refill, before I had even taken a sip. I pointed out that unfortunately I hadn't touched it yet, and that was the original portion size. This was a bit of a letdown in an otherwise enjoyable meal - it is kind of a slap in your face. I hope the restaurant can improve their drink servings to match the quality of their food. Very Noisy. read more

Visited Mid June, 2022 for Lunch. The place had a very authentic French Bistro feel. The food was outstanding, and an added bonus: the price was amazing. A great Lunch selection (Dinner menu also looked wonderful) of straight forward, Bistro classics. Our group had the Lunch Combo plat du jour, which, that day, was Braised Lamb Shank on a portion of Mashed Potatoes, glazed Carrots, with a nicely Thymed au jus. Insanely rich & really delicious for carnivores. Others had a Croque Madame, and a Salad Nicoise. For food of this quality, we typically would pay twice the amount we did. They always offer a lunch combo of some kind which adds in a Coffee and glass of wine for 3.50. So for $15 per person, this was truly outstanding. Look forward to returning & getting some of the Dinner Menu items. read more

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Chez Max is a charming French restaurant with three locations in Dublin. During our visit to Dublin we dined at the Palace Street restaurant (located outside the gates of the Dublin Castle). Originally I had bookmarked Chez Max as a spot to grab a glass of wine and some charcuterie. When our dinner plans fell through we decided to have dinner here. The dinner menu at Chez Max consists a dozen classic Parisian dishes. I was torn between ordering the Mussels or the Boeuf Bourguignon (Beef Stew). I chose the Boeuf Bourguignon since the mussels came with fries and we had just eaten fish and chips for lunch. The stew was very flavorful, but I thought the beef was a tad on the dry side. I wish I had ordered my husband's chicken dish (Poulet Rôti et Crème d'Estragon, Riz Pilaf) or my sister's rabbit dish (Cuisse de Lapin à la Moutarde à l'ancienne, Riz Pilaf). Both of their dishes were fantastic. While this was not my favorite meal in London I really enjoyed dining in the quiet outdoor garden area. The atmosphere was very relaxing and we were able to unwind after a long day of sightseeing with a good bottle of cabernet. The highlight of the meal was dessert. I ordered the Strawberry Tart (Tarte aux Fraises) and it was the perfect balance of tart and sweet. Tip: A two-course early bird dinner special for €19 is offered Sunday through Thursday from 5:30-7pm. read more

Chez Max - Chez Max, located next to the Dublin Castle. - French Near Me - Dublin, D

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Stumble onto this place while on holiday. Service is friendly, and the food is good. My only complaint is that for the onion soup, the cheese is sprinkled on. read more

I'd been craving solid French food in Dublin and was excited to try Chez Max. Sadly, I was disappointed. Below is an overview of my experience: -The restaurant is not properly staffed. I understand that many restaurants used Covid as an opportunity to greatly expand their outdoor seating, but if you do not increase staff to service this seating, service suffers. In our case, it took nearly thirty minutes to receive a menu and order and we received our starters over an hour after sitting down. -Our waiter needed training. Some guests may find him charming, but we found him extremely loud and obnoxious. He would hover over nearby tables and YELL/speak with the customers. I could barely hear my dining partners when the waiter was in earshot. -Now to the food. The french onion soup was the worst I've ever had and does not remotely resemble how the dish is served anywhere else. The cheese and bread, arguably the best part of french onion soup, was served on the side rather than melted on top of the soup. So, instead of delicious, melted cheese, you're provided with a small ramekin of cold grated cheese to add to what tasted like boxed onion consomme. Really disappointing. -The bread tasted as if it had been previously frozen and reheated. Particularly unacceptable at a French restaurant. -The steak frites was passable, but tasted like something you'd pick up pre-made at a grocery store. read more

Their food are lovely but only recommend to order enough to taste as it could be really rich and fat. End up we could not finish what we ordered. read more

Chez Max - French Near Me - Dublin, D

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A little bit of Parisian chic in the middle of Dublin. I love the baggot street location, but this one is equally nice. They have two outdoor terraces at the front and back so try grab a table there on a sunny day! Me and a friend shared a large mixed plater for 26€ (impossible to finish...so big!) If you are a picky eater forget about this platter as they don't do bog standard cheese and meat on there. The cheeses are very strong flavoured and not for the faint hearted. I loved the pork pate ('rillettes de canard') but wasn't a fan of the rabbit terrine (even too adventurous for me). My other companions enjoyed their steak which came with a mountain of fries (of course I had to try a few NOM!) The waiters and waitresses are all French which adds to the whole experience. Early bird is 19 euro, and on the a la carte you can find a few dishes under 20 euro so it's quite good value! read more

Chez Max - Steak frites - French Near Me - Dublin, D

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Chez Max is situated just outside of Dublin Castle, and is an attractive location if you intend to eat prior to a tour there. We were seated at a table and then ignored for 20 minutes. If you have something to do afterwards, I would not suggest coming here, or if you otherwise appreciate attentive service. read more

Small gem right in the center of Dublin. Super Fresh food and cooked perfectly. This is a great spot to stop for lunch. Price is good too read more

One of those spots that I had been meaning to try since I got to Dublin. Sitting snugly beside Dublin Castle is this wonderful eatery. From the French signs, to the French music to the French servers it is authentically French. So cosy and warm inside and an excellent venue for a date or a meal with good friends. It seems to draw good conversation out and you don't rush your food either. We were seated on a raised platform which was a bit unnerving but I thought if royalty can do it then so can I. I hoped to over hear tales of degradation but the din of the plates and some French femme* warbling over the speakers put an end to that. In conclusion having a birds eye view of the shiny bald heads of the table below wasn't the type of omnipresent I was hoping to achieve. I'll just avoid that area in future. I had the poulet* that was in some wine reduction sauce on a bed of potatoes. Apologies for not taking exact note of the dish but the photo does it credit. It was delicious, every taste was executed excellently and the portions were perfect. I had coffee to finish which again was perfect. They do great lunch offers and dishes of the day for I believe about €10. A perfect place for these dark Wintry days. * Aren't you impressed with my ability to just drop foreign words into the conversation with the ease of a fart? read more

Chez Max - French Near Me - Dublin, D

If you don't mind bumping elbows with your tablemates, then Chez Max is a good choice for a boozy, non-fussy evening meal. The seating comes in all shapes and sizes - there is even a sofa option - and the menus arrive in form of mocked-up French newspapers. Foodwise, all the French staples are there, including onion soup and snails for starters, and moules frites and boeuf bourguignon for mains. I recommend the Steack ou Bavette Frites, which is essentially steak and chips, but it sounds so much fancier au Francais. Surprisingly for a French restaurant it is reasonably priced, with mains from €14.50. Because of this, it is nearly mandatory to treat yourself to a crème brulee afterwards - a steal at only €5.50. read more

Chez Max - picture from website - French Near Me - Dublin, D

Great service and atmosphere, really makes you feel like you are in a small restaurant located in a french town. Cozy. My favorite thing is their cheese table, really tasty and of nice size to make you full. I had fish and chips - I was not sure if I was seen as too much of a "yank" when asked for ketchup, but being a french bistro they had none, still weird for me. Overall good experience, 50 euros on average per couple...a bit too much to be made a routine but cool for some occasions read more

Chez Max - cheese table - French Near Me - Dublin, D

Cute little place with charming atmosphere but the food is a HUGE disappointment. Nothing we ordered was tasty except for the dessert. So if you only wish to get a dessert then it can be a good option, otherwise look somewhere else read more

This spot is another gem and it's right next to the Dublin Castle; so, stop in before or after you take a tour! It's a very cozy corner off the beaten path of Dame and you'll likely feel you're in another world - perhaps Paris(?) The food is wonderful and the wine list is reasonable and has enough variety to pair with your eats. The ambiance alone gets five stars. If you're on a date, see if you can score the charming booth with the bench for two! There are a handful of cafe tables in front of the establishment; but, if you want to eat outside, head to the back of the restaurant! My dinner was fabulous; but, I actually just enjoy stopping here for a glass of wine and a sweet escape from the concrete jungle and gray skies. Bon Apetit! read more

Chez Max is almost hidden away, beside the Dame street entrance to Dublin Castle. Its one of the best places for lunch in Dubin. It's very French, serving simple and tasty food. Staff all seem to be authentically French too, which is a nice touch. Chez Max pretty much have the three main meals covered too offering coffee and croissants from eight am. The coffee also comes with a French twist. Noisette (expresso and hot milk) and Viennois (Chantilly Creme) in the morning and then lunch from 12 onwards most days. Was here for Lunch one Saturday and I'll defiantly be going back. From the starter menu the Tartine Provençale (Toasted slices of home made French brown bread with Béchamel base and filling. Served with a side Salad) is probably the nicest toasted thing i've ever eaten. With chicken and gooey melted brie. As well as some classic French dishes Moules Frites (Muscles and chips) and the Omelette that was the special that day. Cheese and Ham platters are also available. The wine list is pretty detailed and also very French. What I like about Chez Max is its not overly formal as some French places have a reputation for being. We were there till well after 5 that Saturday lunch time and the staff had no problem with us staying on. read more

Chez Max - French Near Me - Dublin, D

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Had an amazing birthday dinner here. Merci beaucoup! It was like a little teleport into a French bistro in the middle of Paris as the staff swirled around you all smiling with their fabulous accents. The food was fantastic, especially the duck breast I had which was gorgeously pink and succulent, with a light orange sauce and to-die-for potato gratin. The Grenache we got paired excellently with the meal. Definitely worth a few more re-visits as there are so many dishes I want to try. Their lunch menu looks amazingly good value too! read more

Chez Max - Gorgeous duck breast main in orange sauce with potato gratin - French Near Me - Dublin, D

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Get the steak sandwich for lunch!! It's open face, full of flavor and you won't regret it! Tender steak, friendly staff, and poppin' for lunch hour :) read more

Chez Max - French Near Me - Dublin, D

The great location next to the Dublin castle might make you wary but I wouldn't be! Great food and nice interior! Very French service and I think that explains a lot of the bad reviews. read more

Chez Max has been on my list for years, and I finally made it last night although only for some wine. The selection of wines were fantastic and the selection on the early bird was decent. I chose the French onion soup to start and then had the mussels as my main course. The food was delicious and cost only 19 euro! I'm delighted I finally tried this - I'll be back again! read more

This wee place is definitely tucked away. You could easily miss it if you weren't looking for it! It's a bit snug, but I was lucky enough to get a table tucked to the wall, so I wasn't pushed up against people I did not know. It is absolutely fantastic. The lunch specials are great, including a mineral or glass of wine with your main. The staff is prompt, polite, and poised. I had a mineral, which arrived in a typical glass bottle. Coffee would come later, which I regretfully declined (though after seeing my colleague's coffee, I'll indulge the next time.) My meal was lovely, decadent, and absolutely bad for my health (as I did not counter-act it with wine. Next time.) Upon a piece of French bread was loads of cheese, slices of ham, with more cheese, and two fried eggs. It was gorgeous, though I must confess I had difficulty finishing it as it was absolutely rich. Dessert was crème brûlée, which was cream the way it was meant to be burnt! read more

Firstly, Chez max was a much better dining experience than the last couple of Michelin star restaurants I've dined at. Gretat service, price, wine and food of course. A lot of what you'd expect from a French restaurant on the menu which I'm fine with when they're done really well. I had the soup, duck and brulee, not too adventurous but all excellent. read more

I had heard great things about this place so it was with a bit of a pep in my step when a friend suggested we go there for lunch! I had the Goats Cheese Salad...very disappointing. A lump of cheese melted onto a bit of bread on a bit of lettuce...For €8 not acceptable, there could have been a little more effort made with the salad at least! My friend fared a bit better with the Moules Frites but as she pointed out Frites are supposed to be stick thin size NOT cold, reheated frozen chips that have seen better days. The Mussels were a sizeable portion but for €15 they would want to be. Overall a lazy effort from Chez Max and I will not be returning as there is far better value for money and tastier food elsewhere. read more

I expected more of Chez Max. Great location, seemingly authentic French bistro ambience, pleasant French staff and a bilingual menu. In the spirit of the warm summer evening, and on our way to a show across the road we opted for the pre-theatre deal. As you do. I ordered the onion soup for starter which came with cheese and croutons on the side. A nice touch. Lumping it all together I tucked in but it was decidedly underwhelming in the taste department largely, I felt, that either the wrong onions had been used or there simply weren't enough of them. My main was moules frites, again a disappointment. The portion of mussels and fries was enormous but the mussels were on the cool side when served and largely had gone cold by the time I worked my way through them. The fries had that unfortunate reheated vibe and slightly soggy as a result. The sauce was tepid and pretty tasteless it has to be said. However, both my companions enjoyed their meals and the Chardonnay was a perfect foil for the mussels so, despite my meh experience, the evening was saved! read more

Note: I haven't had food here (yet!), so this review is strictly for the tea and ambience! After a Bram Stoker event the other day, a friend and I sat outside Chez Max for a cappicino and tea. I felt like I'd been transported to the streets of Paris (besides all the drunken loonies walking by!) They have a huge heater that runs the entire width of the restaurant outside, which means you're absolutely toasty no matter what the weather. They have cute little wooden tables and wrought iron chairs (I think?), where you can sit, with Dublin Castle in the background, sipping your drinks and watching the world go by. We were accompanied out the front by a few lone patrons, sipping on red wine and coffee, a couple in the corner, and two guys playing flamenco music on their guitars. It was a truly lovely experience. The staff member that served us was ultra-friendly, and all was right with the world! The only star I'd take off would be for the tea - it was your bog standard teabag variety, and anyone who's read any of my other reviews will know my views on that! read more

This place is not to be confused with their other location on Baggot St. This is the original - small, cute & well priced. Im not a fan of their other location. I find it tries too hard & isnt sincere. This is such a find. Right in the centre of town, but again, another place that is walked by all the time & people dont even know its there! Every dish screams great quality Paris bistro. For a romantic evening ask them for a table out the back. There's an old stone area with fairy lights overhead that they've done up beautifully. And the stone wall is probably as old as Dublin Castle if you're into that sort of stuff. read more

Chez Max is NOT the pretentious place that serves tiny portions of expensive greens and calls it French cuisine. I have been living away from my Franche Comté for more than 3 years, and I can truly say: Chez Max is HOME, it is Sunday dinner at my grandmother's and the quick lunch at "Le Vivier d'Argent" in my home town. First, the ambiance: a tiny but cosy place, old French photographs on the walls and discreet French music. The staff is absolutely lovely, always smiling and joking around. And the food...Chex Max serves all the French classics (tartiflette, frogs legs, croque monsieur...) and the ingredients are imported directly from France. The prices are perfectly reasonable. You can enjoy a big French dinner in the evening or, if you want to grab a quick bite, Chex Max also offers a lunch formula for only 12€. One advice, though: be sure to come in HUNGRY! Big fat 5 stars for this French haven that definitely figures in my top 5 favourite restaurants in Dublin. Whether you are a French person craving for home food or whether you want to discover the real French cuisine or simply have a great time, Chex Max is the place to go to! read more

Had a great little stop in this cafe for a quick lunch. Fun & quirky, amazing staff and the price point doesn't break the wallet. We only ordered a salad and french onion soup but both were delicious and came out fast! Final Verdict: I'd highly recommend this place especially for a decent lunch. read more

Want a taste of Paris in Dublin? Chez Max is the place to go. Cafe by day and a chic and ambient restaurant by night, its location at the gates of Dublin Castle lends to the atmosphere too. The French waiting staff are friendly and ready to lend a hand with the pronunciation of their menu, which is always appreciated... The stalwarts of French cuisine; onion soup, creme brûlée; are done to perfection, and their pan fried sea bass is a dream. Their A la Carte menu can be a little pricey, however, they do offer an Early Bird menu from Sunday to Thursday, with two courses for €19, which is fab! It's also the perfect place to linger with a bottle of wine (or two) after dinner. read more

Paris on a plate, it's that simple! Yesterday was my second time at this lovely little gem down by Dublin Castle. My boss said he owed me dinner and asked me to pick a nice place. Since he used to live in Paris, I figured he'd like the place. We started in style with some champagne, quickly followed by our starters, in my case, a lovely Foie Gras accompanied by a small salad, but the goats cheese in filo pastry also looked yummy. We switched to wine for the main course and made another great choice: Cassoulet! A dish originating in the area of Toulouse. The portion size was massive but I couldn't let it go to waste and finished it down to the last bite. For dessert we moved on to Armagnac, but the owner personally apologized for it being out of stock and actually offered us the replacement Cognac free of charge, which I thought was lovely. Throughout dinner he personally welcomed many of the new arrivals and you could tell that there is a massive amount of regulars and intimate French community. I bumped into a couple of French guys I know and overheard the chefs speak French (which helps if you're running a French restaurant ;-) ) My only disappointment was dessert itself - a pear tarte - that turned out to be very dry, with a hard base. Probably not the freshest. I can all but rave about this restaurant with its friendly staff and REALLY good authentic French food. Not the over the top Michelin star style but the hearty, delicious country food (Cassoulet, boeuf bourguignon, duck confit etc.). If you're French and homesick, this is a must! read more

We popped in here for lunch of a Saturday and both had the €11 'formule' which gets a large 'tartin' (sandwich) or salad (big!), a small glass of wine or soft drink and a tea or coffee. My girlfriend opted for an onion soup (very tasty) to start off but I decided to hold out til the tartin. Good call because the salad and tartin (croque madame consisting of ham, cheese and 2 fried eggs) were on the large side that wouldn't leave room for dinner later. This was finished with a Cafe Viennois, coffee topped with Chantilly cream, which was good but next time I'll have it with hot chocolate. What makes Chez Max a 5 star kind of place, however, is the ambience which feels incredibly French. I don't know is this authentic or manufactured but between the small space, low lighting, the all-French music (all good) and the French staff I'd have to say this is the cosiest restaurant in Dublin (barring all the ones I've yet to eat in). read more

Thank you once more, Max, for providing me with a regula french fix! Thank you so much for that decadent roasted camembert that had me miles up in the air in trance on a warm evening on your terrasse, while enjoying a great bottle and a catch-up with a friend. I'll say it again, I'm amazed at the price of the food here, I would go as far as saying it's the best value you'll get anywhere. read more

I went here on Valentines day just this past weekend. We were seated in the back garden/ patio, which was heated (making my previous worries unnecessary). It didn't bother me that much, but the heating was quite inconsistent, it was a bit too warm and a bit chilly the next, but everything else took my attention away.... the back patio was so cute, it was these tiny tables dressed in the cliche (but cute) red checkered tablecloths, it was quite crowded and cosy. we both started with glasses of Merlot which were surprisingly good considering I don't know how to pick wine for the life of me! I had the escargot to start, and my boyfriend had the pastry-wrapped goats cheese. the goats cheese was so delish, fluffy and decadent - tasted extra good with the red wine. I was not as equally impressed with my escargot, as they were on the skinny side, although still quite yummy with the herb and butter mix. the best part was soaking up all that with the complimentary bread! For mains, I had the duck breast with orange sauce, and my boyfriend had the chorizo coated cod. I have to say the mains were not as impressive as I would have expected. The orange sauce on the duck was too sweet, I had to compensate by overdoing my salt on the duck. The cod I actually liked better, it was an interesting combination, however, by boyfriend wasn't full at the end of the dinner! We shared a creme brûlée at the end, it was probably pre-made (as it was cold) but the top was warm and crispy. I was happily full. For the ambience, definitely go. But I'd say a dinner for two with starters, mains, and 1 glass vino each, plus dessert to share, I'm not sure the price tag justifies the whole package. I think if I'm going for just food, I might opt for a different place. read more

My best girlfriend and I were looking for a place to have a little wine, some quiet conversation, and hopefully, some good food. And with Chez Max did we hit the jackpot! The good selection of affordable French wines, paired with the Mixed meat and Cheese platter, created a wonderful evening. The serving staff were kind and helpful, and gave us just the right amount of attention. And the greatest part was the Strawberry Tart. Sweet puddles of strawberry lovin' was this amazing. I don't think I have ever had proper French desserts before now, because all previous experiences pale in comparison. Seriously... I plan on going back every week if I can. It was THAT GOOD. Your life will be better having tasted this thing. Get down there now! read more

Cute French bistro! Great service, great food, great prices. We had the early bird menu for €19 each & the house white wine making a grand total of €54.50! The interior was intimate w/ warm lighting and positively French decor. Spot on! Loved every minute. Must go for yourself. I'm stuffed. read more

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Charming French restaurant that as one of the other reviewers suggest is Paris on a plate. The shared starter of Camembert Chaude, basically a whole chunk of melted cheese stuffed with garlic and cold meats on the side was fantastic. Not the healthiest I admit so I opted for starter salads (ehm, two of them hmmm) to counteract the guilt of the gluttony. Happily this was a good call, the chicken with pear, blue cheese and walnut salad was a great choice, although it probably didn't exactly compliment the salmon tartare on the side..which, in retrospect, who orders salad on the side of a salad?! I had mentioned in passing to our french waitress that it was my dining companions birthday, so much to our delight when the Creme Brûlée came out (which I have to add they flamed at the counter immediately before serving, yumyum)they had a little candle and sang happy birthday, which was brilliant! We moved outside after eating to finish off our wine, mulling over how french the setting feels even outside the restaurant, our delusion was quickly squashed when a slightly unstable, mildly pushy Dublin native came over tapping us for change. If he'd only had a French accent we'd have felt like we were in Paris, possibly even just off the Champs Elysses. read more

Love this place, the food is amazing and the service too! Perfect for aperitif or dinner but also for a coffee! Definitely worth trying! read more

A Croque Madame is a simple dish - Basically a toasted ham & cheese sandwich with a fried egg on top. Hard to get wrong you'd think, but I've had many croques, some even in Paris, which disappointed - Greasy wannabes, processed pretenders, in a cheap sliced pan. Lunch at Chez Max is a lovely way to get lost in another world for an hour, and their Croque Rocks! Two (2!) perfectly runny eggs over fresh toasted French bread, cheese melted, great ham, lightly dressed salad. Best of all it came with a glass of wine & a coffee for under a tenner. I'm coming back for dinner sometime but for now, Max - C'est Magnifigue! read more