If you're looking for a fun outing and not sure where to go, taking a trip to Max Brenner isn't a bad idea. Unless you hate chocolate, then bad idea.
I took a date here and we both enjoyed ourselves. We visited on a weekend night during Vivid, and though the rest of the shopping centre had closed, Max was quite busy. All two dozen or so tables were taken when we arrived, but we quickly grabbed one once some people left. Ordering was quick and painless, but because they were busy and understaffed, it took about 15 minutes for our items to come out.
We tried the American hot chocolate, the 80s milkshake, and the chocolate fondue for two. This is entirely too much for two people, but hey, you only live once right? The hot chocolate came with a pair of marshmallows. The liquid was rich and smooth, and the marshmallows were a nice touch. Warmed my belly and my heart. The milkshake was very pedestrian in my opinion. It was supposed to be a chocolate milkshake but I barely tasted any chocolate at all. Consistency was a bit on the thin side, but the lack of flavor was most disappointing. Just tasted like sweet milk. The chocolate coated vanilla ice cream on top is nice for show, but doesn't add anything to the shake itself, and is hard to eat off the side of the glass! Pass on this item. As for the chocolate fondue for two, this was the highlight of the night, but wasn't perfect. Loved the freshly cut bananas and strawberries for dipping. A handful of marshmallows also came for dipping which were also yummy. The milk chocolate was warm, rich and creamy, two big thumbs up. I'm not a dark chocolate fan, and while I didn't dislike Max's, I didn't like it nearly as much as the milk chocolate. And though I love me some banana bread, I found it odd for dipping in the fondue. It was fresh and tasty, but dipping in the chocolate didn't add much to the bread. (It's also a bit tricky to dip since it's bread and it falls apart easily when fresh)
A visit will run two people around $20-30, but if you're in the mood for dessert, or just looking for a fun place to visit that's slightly out of the ordinary, Max Brenner provides a mostly enjoyable outing. Until the tummy ache sets in, of course. read more