Our favorite for a relaxing, elegant, delicious meal. Service is excellent. Cocktails are exactingly made. Food is conservatively, but elegantly, plated. read more

My boyfriend and I were made to feel unwelcome at Max Downtown. We were told to "get the fuck out" at 10:47 pm on a Saturday night by the two bartenders, older gentleman and a younger woman, after being told, politely by our server, that they were to close at 11pm. The bartenders (from over 12 ft away) became aggressive and told us to get the fuck out. I will not be back to a Max group restaurant, ever. I have been a server for over 6 years and I have no idea why I was treated this way, regardless of the guidelines. I will never be back. *edit : we came back after having a nice meal with my parents. It did not happen again. ^edited again: our server was charming, nothing was wrong, the oysters were DELICIOUS, the fires were INCREDIBLE, BUT WE WERE TOLD TO ...."GET THE FUCK OUT" this sounds so ridiculous but it happened. I'm completely flabbergasted. read more

I took my girlfriend here for her birthday dinner. The seating and ambiance are lovely. Our waiter was very engaged and helpful. We felt like fast friends. They really made her birthday special. The food is delicious, especially the wild mushrooms and the special wagyu beef my girlfriend ordered. Be warned the prices are a little steep, but for that special occasion there is nowhere else in Hartford. read more

My guest and I stopped in here for a drink because we were downtown. The place is very elegant, fancy and mature. I loved it. Andrew was our waiter in the tavern. We had never been here before so I had him bring us 2 different martinis that they were known for. We came back with an Espresso Martini and a French Martini. They were very good. We will surely be back for their dinner! Well, I'm back! I came here for Valentine's Day with a special someone. The hosts accommodated my special needs (putting the roses I had given them out on the table so that they were present by the time my date and I sat down) and I really appreciated them for doing that. We started off with a bottle of wine, calamari and a bowl of their carrot bisque. The calamari was the absolute best I've ever had. I will get it every time I'm here. My date had the King Crap Alfredo and I had the 16 oz. New York Strip with a side of truffle fries. It was good, but not worth the $39.95 that it costs. I'll try a different cut of meat next time. Bruce him self (our waiter) made the experience even better with his humor, charm and just personality. I loved Max Downtown and I'll certainly be back. read more

On October 18, 2021 I attended my brother's daughter's wedding dinner which was beautifully done. I especially loved the black bean soup which was served as an appetizer course and I was wondering if you would consider sharing the recipe with me. My email address is stabnick39@comcast.net. Thank you very much for considering my request. Christina Stabnick read more

When you want a to celebrate a special dinner, this is the place. They get it right every time. If you are in Hartford at lunchtime and you want a terrific place to meet a colleague, great lunchtime fare. read more

Had a Negroni in the bar before getting our early reservation after matinée theater. Tried out the Hartford Restaurant menu and found it quite good. Started with the Pepper Bacon which was a super meal in itself. It's on the regular menu and I would order it in a flash. Along with the terrific bread I was beginning to fill up. The Prime Rib was a luscious medium rare slab and so tender. The fingerling potatoes added just the right touch. A pour of Bordeaux was the perfect accompaniment and caused me to take the Chocolate Decadence to go. Just tried a slice and I am heaven. Patrick was the perfect server for a perfect meal! read more

Max Downtown - Bars Near Me - Hartford, Connecticut

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Best meal hands down we have had in a long long time. The service was spectacular (from Thomas), and the food was so good. They timed everything out perfectly, and everything was cook exactly as we asked for. The portions for food this high level is actually great. The filet oscar and baked alaska were A+. Most of all, despite what you hear, we commented on how we felt safer eating here, than any shopping, at work, or really going out anywhere. They did a great job spacing out, and making sure all safety protocols are followed. Great job! read more

Max Downtown - Bars Near Me - Hartford, Connecticut

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It had been a couple years since we've been to Max Downtown and they never disappoint so it was time to go again. Have you ever had a meal so good that you talk about it for days? Well that was what we experienced this fine evening. Our server was Jimmy and he was EXCELLENT. He was attentive, gave recommendations, friendly, and just made our experience that much better. I had a cowboy bone in rib-eye on his recommendation, and it was top three steaks I have ever had at a restaurant. We decided to carb load this night so we went with the Mac and cheese and the loaded baked potato which tasted like something only in your wildest dreams. Chef sent out a complimentary appetizer, and little taste of dessert and both were wonderful. Jimmy knew we had the night off with no kiddo and so he also gave us a little Prosecco to toast the occasion. You cannot go wrong with the attention to detail, service, and excellent food in this fine establishment. I can't wait to go back again. read more

Subpar food, and remarkably bad service. I went with a party and will not make that mistake again.

I visited Max Downtown last Saturday for dinner at about 7:15pm. It was a busy night in downtown with several events taking place. We quickly found on-street parking and walked over to Max Downtown. We made reservations prior and were quickly seated. The waiter went over the specials, provided water, and took our drink orders. I HIGHLY recommend the Paloma and/or the Local Lemonade. Both drinks tasted fresh and were refreshing. They had enough kick, but still tasted delicious. My girlfriend ordered the Starlight Gardens Greens. It had greens and fruits. I ordered the Native Tomato Gazpacho. The Gazpacho is HIGHLY recommended for a hot Summer night. It was plenty spicy, but not overwhelming, plenty refreshing, and very tasty. The meals ordered were the steak with blue cheese whipped potatoes and the prime rib with blue cheese whipped potatoes. Each dinner brought enough to be satisfied and have some to take home. The meats were cooked to perfection. The crunchy onions were the perfect topping for both! For dessert my gf had the s'mores palette and I opted for the White Chocolate and Pistachio Trifle. It was the perfect way to end an amazing dinner. From the service to the drinks ansfood everything great! Max's is highly recommended! read more

Max Downtown - Bars Near Me - Hartford, Connecticut

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Love Max's for happy hour and dinner. We had the most amazing date night last Saturday with the most amazing service. The filet mignon with the peppercorn cognac sauce was to die for. read more

Max Downtown - Colossal Shrimp Cocktail Whipped Ricotta Toast w/ Prosciutto di Parma - Bars Near Me - Hartford, Connecticut

Food and service were great, the bone in strip was incredible. I wish my date was as good as this restaurant, unfortunately she isn't

Came here for dinner, and really enjoyed it! The happy hour deals are exceptional and they have some really good apps for relatively inexpensive. I also got the chefs cut of the day which was a hanger steak and I was very impressed. Really cool cocktail bar vibes... would suggest if you're in the area. read more

My husband & I were downtown for a concert at the Bond Ballroom. We decided to make an early dinner reservation at Max Downtown to eat before our event. I haven't been to Max for a number of years, and my husband has never been to the restaurant. Our server, Molly took excellent care of us, answering all our questions and making great suggestions! We had an amazing dinner that was thoroughly enjoyed! Our shrimp cocktail and lump crab cake appetizers were great. And the steaks were ordered for our entre were outstanding, done perfectly! Molly, thanks for making our evening a special one. We look forward to visiting again soon, and having you make more great suggestions!! read more

Business travelers beware A group of 7 of us went in for dinner and drinks on Monday night. It was our first team gathering in 2+ yrs and we all traveled from across the country to be there. We had a few rounds of drinks and wanted to close the tab before ordering our dinner. Three very kind coworkers agreed to just split the tab evenly. When we proceeded to order dinner we were told "you can only do one check". I mean come on this place is full of business travelers you are telling me you just stopped the practice.. Fine not the end of the world but inconvenient for sure. We proceed to order our food and another round of drinks but now the drinks are starting to be less and less. I would explain it like the never ending salad bowl at Olive Garden the first one is full and the next one is half full. Then our server disappeared for what felt like 30 minutes. Food came out and I'd say 50% of the party was not happy with the over quality for the price. We then proceed to want to leave and one of the kind coworkers couldn't find the Card they used to pay the 1st bill. We literally hadn't moved in 4 hours. We searched around the table floor etc. she was sitting on a chair so no issues of it falling in the seat. The server said they checked every book and found nothing. Well by the time we got back to the hotel someone had charged over $5000 to their credit card. read more

Outstanding as always Max's does it right every time. Good food service and ambience! read more

The husband and I had a dinner date on Sunday. We made reservations at 4pm. As soon as we entered we were greeted and even offered to have my coat checked which I appreciated very much. The place was beautiful and the atmosphere was relaxing. Our server named Abe was FANTASTIC. He did not rush us at all. He knew the menu very well and even offered good suggestions since it was our first time eating at Max Downtown. We started off with a cheddar biscuit like bread that was warm and cheesy melt in your mouth. The butter was lightly dressed in olive oil topped with pink Himalayan salt. At first I thought that was strange but boy was I wrong! It gave it a little extra goodness, was not needed because the bread was perfect but why not?! Abe recommended the tempura battered buffalo cauliflower which we ordered. Hands down best I've ever had - it came with their house made blue cheese dressing. I normally don't use but I tried it and was won over. I ordered the sword fish and the shared sides were Brussel sprouts and Mac and cheese. Everything was so delicious, literally no complaints! My husband ordered the Kansas City style steak which was very good! Of course no meal is complete without dessert! Ordered the baked Alaska. I have a wicked sweet tooth and boy was this guy amazing. My husband thought it was too sweet for him, so I had no problem finishing it myself. We also ordered the cookie plate. The cookies were warm, delicious and chocolate goodness covered my fingers. Max Downtown exceeded my expectations and I left as a satisfied customer. I would totally go back and enjoy another meal! But I would ask for Abe if he is working, he definitely made our night pleasurable too. read more

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We went here as a Valentine's day dinner after I got a gift card as a present. The menu was simple, as it was a narrowed down selection of just a hand full of appetizers, entrees, and desserts to ease the kitchens busy evening. However, in the options there was surely something for everyone. I ordered the lobster bisque, the "surf & turf", and the creme brûlée. My company ordered caesar salad, steak au poivre, and strawberry cheesecake. Everything was, in short, delicious. The lobster bisque stood out to me as particularly delicious, perfectly seasoned, flavorful, and decadent. Combined with the fresh baked cheese bread they're dishing out, it is heaven. The creme brûlée was perfectly prepared and was the perfect end to the meal. The cocktail of choice was some sort of vodka lemonade concoction, but was delicious. The service was prompt and friendly, and they even offered to take a picture of us together posed in a corner they said was photogenic and it came out lovely, great evening provided by a great place. read more

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Welcome back, Max! After a disappointing experience when they reopened after renovations last fall, we came back last night and had an amazing dinner. I had the swordfish special, which was excellent. Others had the salmon and the NY Strip Steak au Poivre, which were cooked perfectly. We all had the special Southern Strawberry shortcake, which was so good! What really stands out was the service; everyone we interacted with was friendly and professional. Shout out to our server, Chris, who was very helpful and enthusiastic. read more

Max Downtown - Swordfish special was excellent! - Bars Near Me - Hartford, Connecticut

We really enjoyed ourselves. The service was great and my whole family enjoyed our dinner.

My wife and I have eaten at Max several times and loved it every time. They have the most cortious staff members who go out of there way to make things right. Burgers are juicy and cooked to your preference to perfection. i am salivating to go back there as i write this. Highly recommended. read more

Max is a great place for dinner, excellent atmosphere. Also I guess a common place for business lunch/dinner. We don't visit downtown restaurants because parking usually hard to find.Max has valet service. Also couple of garages just down the block and around. If ur a vegetarian u have to put together a meal by ordering the sides. And if u eat only chicken there is just one dish on the menu. We ordered bruschetta (made vegetarian upon request) and for the main course we had the only dish "lemon garlic roasted chicken". The chicken was so tender... I have never eaten anything like it before. It was seasoned only with salt but was ok (wouldn't come here particularly for that).... It was served on a bed of polenta and a side of broccoli rabe (which was bitter) drizzled with a tangy sauce. For dessert we had cheesecake pops (on the house for the birthday boy) really really delicious. The prices were reasonable,$25 for entree, $10 for apps, $8/9 for dessert.... I wouldn't call it expensive for a place like that in Hartford. A meal for two would cost $80 avg. The service is just too too slow I almost took a nap between courses. Overall a fine experience.. I would definitely recommend. Oh I forgot to mention, one of the side plates were chipped off and my dinner knife had left over residue....not ok,hence the 3 stars. read more

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So many things to love about Max! Wonderful location in the City of Hartford, which melds together urban excitement with sophisticated calm and refined hospitality. This is largely accomplished by its convivial staff and in my particular experience a gracious waiter and host, Tomás. He was incredibly polite, professional, accommodating, efficient, not to mention humorous. He really enlivened our dining experience, though not being overbearing. When I think of an ideal server, I think of him. The food itself achieves high marks. Our table had an assortment of starters, entrees, and desserts. And from the first to last bites, all immediately could not help but appreciate the choice ingredients, as well as the culinary artistry of their fine chefs. The cooks on the steaks, i.e., NY Strip, Filet Mignon, Ribeye, were on point, and all were very well-seasoned. Regarding desserts, we tried pretty much all of them! The chocolate soufflé, coconut bombe, Alaska ganache, key lime cheesecake. Zero complaints - and some of the best iterations with respect to each. (Funnily enough, if I did have to offer a critique, it would be the coffee not being fresh/hot enough. I ordered a coffee with my dessert, and it was a bit lukewarm and stale. Everything else was perfect. So, of all things, coffee! Of course, this is very minor and tepid coffee shall not overshadow the aforementioned.) Furthermore, I appreciate that Max does not sacrifice quantity for quality. Rather, they serve quality food, and they do so in generous portions, leaving guests feeling happy and satisfied. I can't wait to go back - and I certainly will have no hesitation in recommending Max Dwntwn to others. read more

Very good spot. Great steaks and solid bourbon and wine selection. Cool decor and ambiance. You won't be disappointed

My wife and I shared the tomahawk steak. Our meal was excellent! The steak was cooked perfectly. Everything was perfect from start to finish. Our server, Peter, was one of the best we have ever had anywhere from New York to Paris! This is a must go restaurant if you're in the Hartford area. read more

Abel and Raf were amazing and very accommodating! Ambience and the food was top tier. Definitely the best and most efficient steakhouse in Hartford. Can't Miss!!!!!! read more

I have stopped by here twice now, most recently earlier last night. They couldn't have been two more different experiences as the first time was with a party of 6 in the dining room while last night was by myself at the bar. The inside of the bar area is decorated nicely and somewhat simply with some wood tones as well as a nice and bright white (marble?) bar. Their liquor display is quite impressive, especially the scotch, boubon and whiskey area which I heard the bartender say was 165 bottles! The bar area actually feels quite bright and cheery which is odd as I remember the dining room being quite dark and cramped. Whenever I arrived to the bar tonight I was greeted by a friendly bartender and then given 4 menus to choose from. There was the tavern menu, the happy hour menu, the daily specials and the main dinner menu. Sadly the one I wanted the most was the one I didn't get, the Hartford restaurant week menu which may have only been available in the dining room. In any case I decided to order the happy hour pretzel as well as the happy hour Buffalo cauliflower for appetizers and then the butchers cut of the day (hangar steak) for my entree. The happy hour menu here at Max's is actually quite impressive and exciting as they have a number of appetizers and drinks at $6 or less which is awesome. After only a short wait my pretzel and cauliflower came out first. I first tried the pretzel which was actually a little disappointing by itself as it was too soft for me. However it also came with some pastrami dip and mustard. Both were delicious and I loved the fact that the mustard was spicy enough that it ended up being a real sinus cleanser. After I had finished that I next tried the Buffalo cauliflower. There was a ton of it and it was delicious too! Think about a nicely fried chicken wing in a Buffalo sauce and substitute in cauliflower instead of chicken. That means that the sauce was tasty and yet spicy while the breading was cooked perfectly and had a nice and crispy exterior. It was good enough that I think I could eat that almost every day. As a matter of a fact I will be stopping at Max's the next time I am in town specifically for this dish. After I had finished my appetizers my steak came out. It was plated interestingly in a cast iron plate with the steak on one side on top of a dressed onion and lettuce salad with a side of fries on the other. The steak was cooked to a perfect medium and was nice and tender. Meanwhile the fries were crispy on the exterior and soft on the interior while being nicely seasoned. Last but not least was the salad which had a nice dressing of vinegar. It wasn't bad but seemed to be a weird choice as a bed for the steak and also left the taste of onions in my mouth for a long time afterwards. The bottom line for me is that I would head back here again in the future. Between this trip and my last trip (seafood tower, steak and dessert), the food and service was pretty great and I can't wait to eat some more of that Buffalo cauliflower. read more

Everything was super delicious but the baked Alaska was phenomenal! We will definitely be back next time we're in town.

The man and I saw a recent Uconn game at the XL Center and knowing we were going to be drinking, we decided to stay in Hartford. So from there...we decided on a nice date night out. Max more than satisfied that. First off, they were SUPER accommodating with my Celiac. The server broke down everything I could and couldn't have--and there really wasn't much. The nicest surprise? They have gluten free bread, they make from scratch. It was delicious!! For dinner, I went with the lamb chops special--it came out perfectly cooked; nice and rare. My boy went with the steak and fries...he was very, very happy. We also had sides of asparagus and mashed potatoes; both were perfectly seasoned. The service was fantastic--we were late for our reservation, but they didn't bat an eyelash (to be fair, I did call!) Our server was extremely polite and so funny, at the same time--he definitely knew the menu, front to back. Drinks were on point (I had a fabulous French martini.) The decor of the restaurant is lovely as well--intimate, without being cramped. We didn't check it out, but the bar side looked like a nice place. Funny note: on the way out, while waiting for our cab, there was a doctor waiting with his wife (donning her fur coat, head to toe) who was a bit...sloshed. They were HILARIOUS....and my man found it even more hilarious that the doc started hitting on me, when his wife walked outside. Granted he was about 70...all in good fun, I suppose! Will definitely head back, if we are in the area again! read more

Max Downtown - Lamb special - Bars Near Me - Hartford, Connecticut

Been here many times service is always on point. Seafood tower is great starter. All menu items are great.

Wonderful service they really go above and beyond to make sure you're satisfied. The food is delicious and the cocktails are great! The wine list has lots of great options and the atmosphere is nice for a group or date night. Will be back read more

Great food and owner is very attentive and engaged with the customers. Every time I seen him he's always helping out and the past birthday for my wife I went there and they went up and over with complimentary and attending to us. Needless to say they got a great tip that night read more

We decided to splurge a little on a special day--and are we glad we did! Everything about this experience was ideal and memorable. The presentation was perfect: It wasn't too fussy; it complemented the atmosphere, which is elevated but not stuffy. And the service was definitely spot-on as well. Our server was hyper-efficient, helpful, and genuinely friendly (no performative cheeriness here). And the star of the afternoon--the food. It was superb; everything we ordered was excellent. We started with a lump crab tostada that, had we each ordered two would have made a spectacular meal. (BTW, the bread and butter are yummy!) But we're glad we moved on to entrées that were great. The scallops were plump and sweet. The roasted chicken was perfect--crispy skin and moist. All the sides we ordered were beyond delicious. And though the portions are generous we left room for dessert; we shared a dreamy crème brûlée. Clearly, we love this place. And we are honored to have this opportunity to sing its praises! read more

Love this place. The new vibe, post-reno is classic, while sleek and modern. Service is perfect as usual. This time I got the shrimp tacos... excellently prepared and perfectly spiced. Always come here! read more

Max Downtown - Bars Near Me - Hartford, Connecticut

Came to Max Downtown to give it another shot and I was not disappointed at all!! The food was absolutely amazing and the service was phenomenal. Our waiter was one of the most attentive servers I've ever had, but he didn't come by too often leaving us well cared for but able to engage in nice conversation. The manager also stopped by and made sure everything was great. My boyfriend got the prime rib and he enjoyed every bite, it was cooked perfectly. My meal as well as the appetizer and even our dessert did not leave anything left to be desired. Highly recommend, it is clear the owner, service staff, and chef care about providing quality service. read more

Came here Saturday night for date night. We had a reservation, but idk if it was totally necessary the restaurant did have plenty of space! We came ready to eat so jumped in with appetizers- skip the mozzerella not worth it but get the roasted oysters with kale and bone marrow delicious! For our main courses we opted for steaks and sides to share! The hanger which was the speciality was amazing we like rare steaks and they were rare on the cusp of blue- perfect! We shared fries, Brussels and Mac and cheese. Next time I think I would spring for a mashed potato. I loves brussel sprouts but be prepared for a heavy does of mustard. For dessert we shared the baked Alaska. I'm usually a chocolate only gal but something about the salted caramel ice cream that lit up my mouth. I just wish they lit it on fire in front of us the presentation was anticlimactic. For a date night this is a great place. Quiet enough to have an intimate conversation and service (thanks Chris!) Makes you feel like a queen. If you do drinks, apps, dinner, dessert be prepped for a bill over $200. We had a gift card, but I don't know if I could justify this outside of that. The bar area is very cool and the cocktails are great-would totally come back fro a happy hour situation (monday-friday) read more

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My wife and I had a wonderful dinner here last night! We started off with the grilled octopus appetizer and it was delicious. For dinner I had the halibut special with chive gnocchi kale and a romesco sauce. My wife had the sesame tuna it came with a sticky rice and fried mushrooms. Both meals were excellent the fish was cooked to perfection. For desert we tried the coconut bombe it was also fabulous. The pastry chef dropped off a little piece of the desert special for us to try and the waiter gave us some desert wine at the end on the house. Service was top notch our waiter was very attentive and funny. All together it was a great dining experience! read more

While I have not eaten indoors since COVID-19 struck, I have always enjoyed everything about Max's. The atmosphere, service and food have always been top-notch. It's nice that they offer takeout, which I will take advantage of while we're in the midst of this pandemic. Or do outdoor dining if offered. read more

5 stars all the way for this amazing establishment. This restaurant was right across from our hotel so it was the perfect find. Our server Peter was so amazing at recommending the perfect dishes and appetizers for everyone in our party, and he succeeded the food was amazing for both the adults and our daughter. Janet was also amazing and so attentive. When there was a minor spill Janet was right there before I even had to ask anyone. Such an amazing restaurant with PHENOMENAL service and great food and drinks. Highly recommend. read more