Hipster spot that has many good offerings but tends to be 10/10 on the heavy creams and butter and rich cheeses. Utterly not anywhere near the international attention and rankings it receives. Truly, the emperor is buck naked. That said, if you get there early and they have some of their lighter fare still available, the service is good, the setting is nice, and the wine list is very solid. Simply be aware that most of their offerings are insanely rich and best tasted rather than swallowed or anyone without a cast-iron stomach is going to be hurting later. read more

Welp, Anthony Bourdain is no dummy - Maximo Bistrot is tasty. Maximo had great contemporary food choices that combined local ingredients with a euro flair. We had the calamari, octopous ceviche, green salad, asparagus. I had the duck, which was super good. We shared the french toast, creme brulee, and chocolate tart for dessert. All very good. Favorite appetizer was the ceviche and salad, the duck was amazing, and the french toast dessert was the highlight. YES I left with a food high and woke up with a food hangover. Worth it. Service: one of the reasons I think this deserves a 4 vs a 5. The servers were not attentive, slow and a bit unfriendly. (And it wasn't because we were obnoxious American tourists, we had a couple locals in our group). Logistics: make a reservation... in advance. We had to wait a week to get our party of five in. Menus are in Spanish only. Bring a translator (unless you know the Spanish word for fennel off the top of your head - then, hats off to you). read more

Might be the best chicken breast I've ever had. Sheeeesh . Everything else was very good. Mezcal cocktails here are awesome, as good as any top bar in the city. read more

I ate lunch at Maximo twice during a three week trip to the DF. If you are looking for traditional Mexican fare, this is not your place. If you are looking to spend 100 pesos for a meal, this is not your place. If you are looking for creative modern cuisine in a relaxed but elegant setting, this is your place. I thought the food was outstanding. Maximo can be added to the list of my "Top Ten Favorite Meals." Service might be an issue for some non-Spanish speakers, but the waitstaff is patient and a few people can help translate the menu. The lunch menu is creative and varied and touches on a variety of price points. I think the Trumpet Mushroom and Potato appetizer is probably one of the best dishes I've ever eaten. Perfection for my palette. Fish dishes and baby suckling pig were both amazing as well. The mussel appetizer is also a nice choice. During my first meal, I was dining alone, and the chef sent out a house salad, gratis. I thought that was quite classy. Don't miss ordering a special Aqua del Dia. It's a great 20 peso drink. They have a good cocktail and wine list as well. My only complaint relates to the outdoor dining area and cigarette smoking. If you are seated near the large windows inside, the cigarette smoke can pour into the restaurant. Not pleasant. And the smoking diners could not care less. read more

One of my favorite spots in Mexico City. The tasting menu is amazing and they even accommodated for my boyfriend who doesn't drink alcohol and is lactose intolerant. We were a group of 6 and it was so fun to try everything together. Such a special experience. read more

Nice upscale but casual restaurant. Small-ish menu choices but food was delicious! Came with a petty of 12 and were a few minutes early. They wouldn't seat us! Had to wait. If you are a picky eater this may not be the place for you because of the short list of choice but the fish was delicious, pasta was great as were the mussels. read more

Lived up to everything it was billed to be. Wife's first time to try lengua de res. This is a place for the beautiful people, so you might sit next to a table full of the rich and famous and their bodyguards. We got the very same, if not better, service and attention. read more

I'm not sure how this place is HIGHLY SUGGESTED with this place being hard to get reservations. We weren't MIND-BLOWN by the food, we thought his other restaurant, Lalo!, is better. I'm sure in CDMX, the food is spectacular. For our groups taste, the only thing was blew our mind was the cheese honey dessert platter. Portions are more for individuals, not group share (1 bite of each dish). We ordered the following: Octopus cerviche: this was good, refreshing! Kanpachi, yuzu kosho: it was okay Sea Urchin Tostada: It was okay, not enough uni flavor. Lacking that uni creaminess. Red Snapper, dashi, pico de gallo: Oh, we did agree this was the best dish besides the dessert cheese platter. Grilled octopus: It was good, the sauces paired with it went well with it. Lamb: Skip this dish read more

Five stars for the food. We shared five dishes. They were superb. Usual food prepared wonderfully with interesting and simple twists. The squash soup was warming to the soul; the baby corn nicely prepared; the artichokes in its own broth with tarragon; the beets presented nicely and the snapper with creamed eggplant and fish sauce. This menu represented the use of usual ingredients used uniquely. The kind of restaurant that makes those that like to cook among us say: 'Why don't I try something like that.' The prices compared to the other ridiculously expensive places as with Quintinil and Puhol guarantee that you will have received value in your meal. The service not so good. And I did not have expectations in a restaurant like this of white glove service. Never returned or asked for my drink order. Would have like another piece of bread to collect some of the remaining broths and sauces, allowed the customers next to us to double up in their chairs making our experience somewhat uncomfortable and certainly claustrophobic, cannot read the menu given the lighting inside where we sat and the placement by the door a little too chilly for full comfort. read more

The tasting menu was phenomenal. Extremely solid and simple yet nothing like what I had tasted before. The space has no frills but the food is one of a kind experience. read more

Delicious fresh interesting combinations of flavor and ingredients. Wonderful service. Great drinks. Intimate atmosphere. We had octopus - grilled and ceviche. Red snapper. All cooked perfectly. A must try. read more

Maximo - Grilled octopus - México, D.F., DIF

We came here after we saw it on No Reservations. So glad we came! We didn't make a reservation but since locals eat at around 830 we were able to be seated at 7. The service and food were spectacular. We had the salad, beets, the red snapper, and ceviche. I have no critique on anything. They were so amazing! The mole they served with the bread was so good and I probably could have eaten that all night. If I had a bigger appetite I would have ordered more! Quick side tip: they add tip before they swipe he card so make sure you add your tip (typically 10-15% here) before you "cierra la cuenta" (close the tab). read more

I'm my eyes, the best contemporary restaurant in CDMX. Prices are good for the greatness of the quality in the food. Would always pick this spot over quintonil, Pujol or whatever other fine dining spot. read more

Maximo was the best meal we had during our week in Mexico City. We came for lunch, and strangely, it seemed like every patron at the restaurant was American. Between the two of us, we got the octopus ceviche, lobster tostada, stepped bass, and lechon. Everything else was good, but the lechon was absolutely fantastic - juicy and fatty, with deep porky taste. The skin had the perfect amount of crunchiness - not too hard or too soft. There wasn't necessarily anything super unique about the menu (would've been pretty standard back in San Francisco), but the food itself was really top notch. read more

Definitely amongst the giants pound for pound. With an authentic mexican twist, this hidden gem boast a wide array of dice star dining guaranteed to satisfy your palate. Definitely romantic and definitely worth fighting for a spot in this great establishment read more

My god. I'm completely taken back by the food here. I'm a huge foodie (none of that self proclaimed bs), and food is a main point of my international travels. This has to be one of the best dishes I've had in my life, in many restaurants literally around the world. Reservation only. I was lucky that they still seated me for my reservation even 20 minutes late, unfortunately traffic in CDMX is insane and unpredictable. I started off with a Mexican ceviche, which was delicious, not overly spicy and it completely blended in well and complimented the dish. It came with a side of purple corn chips. For the hero, I ordered the wagyu ribeye cutlets with mashed potato with a reduction and spinach. This was one of the best dishes I've had in my life. The server didn't even ask for the temperature (which shows that the chef cares to make sure the beef isn't over cooked) and it came in a perfect medium/medium rare. It was amazingly seasoned, and almost melted in my mouth. The spinach and mashed potatoes were and amazing mix and completed the dish perfectly. I also ordered a pairing red wine which pushed the taste of the dish even further. All in all, I will dream about the wagyu beef I had here, and hope that I can return one day for it. read more

another foodie gem tucked in roma norte, maximo bistrot. as soon as you walk in, you may think you are back in the states since most patrons are either american visitors or expats. we selected the 4 course tasting menu: scallop aguachile, roasted local porcini with parmesan cream, red snapper with pico de gallo, and australian wagyu ribeye. the highlight was definitely the scallops, cool and refreshing. transitioning into dessert, we were given a palette cleanser of corn husk sorbet with mezcal. dessert was panna cotta with sorbet. in total, the 4 course menu turned into 8 and each one had its own part in contributing to the exquisite dining experience. A MUST TRY, IF VISITING! read more

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Great food great service. Chef and servers will take time to explain how your food is prepared. read more

Maximo - Octopus - México, D.F., DIF

This was a dining highlight for me. It is quaint and intimate, and the menu is perfect for foodies. I'd call it gourmet French comfort food. The ingredients are elevated, but there is a charm and warmth to the food and location that make this very inviting. I tried a few things, but the hands-down standout were the mussels (meijillones), accompanied with this decadent wine-lemon-herb sauce that I kept sopping up the house bread with. My dining partner had the short rib and kept asking me for more samples of my broth. His was good, but mine was better. :). They house-make sodas and agua frescas and various sorbets (flavors vary daily), which are definitely worth trying. I had the rhubarb soda, and it had the perfect flavor without being exceedingly sweet. Definitely make a reservation, and plan to take your time eating. There are seats outside, or inside next to windows, so it's a great spot to people-watch and enjoy a good drink and meal. read more

I was visiting a friend in Mexico, and he suggested we visit this restaurant. The place is beautiful but not presumptuous, relaxed without being casual. When it comes to the food, I am a vegan, so it makes it's a bit of a challenge to find nice places with vegan-friendly options right off the menu. That seemed the case here. The menu had pretty much no options for me. However, upon speaking with the staff they just said "don't worry, we'll prepare a special menu for you". What followed was course after course of the most deliciously and beautifully prepared dishes I've had. Such amazing flavors. Every single dish was an experience, much like the restaurant itself: simple, elegant, yet meticulous and tantalizing. The staff was very attentive and knowledgeable. I would eat here night after night. read more

I love Massimo Bistro because of its uniqueness. The place is tiny, which I like, the food is very good and the service is also very good. The menu is very focused (I think they change it everyday - not sure about this) and it meets my highest standards which a hint of pretentiousness. It's a great place to take a date to, it's not where Mexicans go to socialize. I would go back if I can ever get a reservation. read more

My husband and I had dinner here per our friends request! It was an incredible dinning experience. It started with a wait in the upstairs bar where we enjoyed delicious cocktails. The staff was excellent and friendly! Every dish we ordered was amazing. We started with amazing oysters and martinis and then tried just about everything on the menu. Highly recommend this spot! read more

One of my favorite stops in Mexico City thus far. To start, I had the Alaska cocktail...it's a earthy lemony sweet concoction. It was my type of drink all around. For Apps, I tried the heirloom tomato salad and asparagus with hollandaise. They both were fresh and juicy, accompanied by a light dusting of shaved cheese. The pulpo (octopus) was by far my fav, grilled to perfection with a delicious carrot purée one sweet one savory. And for dessert...the baked cheese! Heavenly! read more

Maximo - México, D.F., DIF

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Tasty, well executed, pricey. Cute sidewalk dining. My beef was very good. And the eggplant dip was tops.

I had the 4 course tasting menu which turned out to be more like 7 courses after they surprise you with awesome treats. The wine pairings were amazing. I went for lunch, would love to try dinner sometime. This place is a must! read more

One of the best meals of my life. The service was spectacular and the dishes were even better. Cauliflower app is a must. Make reservations.

Maximo Bistrot was hands down our best dining experience in DF. Stared off a little odd with all the window tables and outdoor spaces empty but us being sat in a dark corner space by the service area and directly under a speaker, but after our friends arrived to join us we were moved to a very comfortable outdoor table and things got better and better from there. The wine list had some delicious Mexican wines and we opted for a rose' which was very nice. The food, well, the food was above and beyond. Seriously, everything we had was beautifully plated and so incredibly flavored. The service was great as well. We can't wait to come back and all definitely send friends. read more

Excellent place for lunch or dinner. Change menus depending on the season. Really enjoy coming here and sitting in the tables they have outside. read more

most hurried, "GTFO here already i'm taking your almost full plate, you look like you should be done with your meal anyway" service I have ever experienced. unpleasant experience, made worse by the fact that our expectations were so high. how was the food, you ask? I wouldn't know. they took the food before i was finished. skip this place. lotsa of hoopla for nothing. read more

Went to Maximo last night for dinner. The food was really good. The eggplant dip had an soil flavor that we didn't enjoy too much. The bread by itself tasted nice. Nice selection of international wines. The chocolate dessert was awesome specially with some spanish red wine. Nice ambiance, super cozy. I loved the darkness of the place, it was a plus. t read more

Really good food. Good service. What you'd expect from one of Mexico City's top restaurants.

I admit I was drawn to chef Eduardo Garcia's story (featured in the NYT food section) and his time also at Pujol's (recently named the 20th best restaurant in the world). He opened his own restaurant in Roma - a fun hip and gay area of Mexico City. The service is great (still mostly in Spanish). The menu a mixture of French, Italian and Mexican fusion. The prices are definitely much higher than other great Mexican restaurants but he packs them in as reservations were hard to get. The olive tapenade paste with whole wheat baguette was Delish. The appetizers or starters were large and for me could have served as the entree- but plenty good to share. We had an amazing fresh hummus and asparagus with hollandaise, which was good but not as interesting as the hummus, which texture was especially nice (not creamy like most hummus) and topped with cured olives and micro greens. I would have been happy with that as my entree. We had ravioli with spinach and risotto with Parmesan as the entree, both of which were small portions (e.g. 1 ravioli) so had we not had the starters it would not have been enough. They were both perfectly cooked- as risotto can be tricky and at most places it's often undercooked, but this was perfect. I'm big on texture. We shared a creme brûlée, which was a bit over carmelized but still nice. In fact, all the desserts looked interesting. Chef Eduardo Garcia was in the kitchen and sometimes popped out to talk to what appeared frequent guests. read more

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Out of this world! Everything was amazing, especially the artichoke soup, young corn and their cocktails. Highly recommend this place.

They gave us grief for being 20 minutes late at our Sat dinner resy and put us at this cute bar upstairs bc they gave our table away. After my wrath came down upon them, they seated us soon after. So don't be late if you dine here. Solid meal but not too different from nice Italian restaurants in nyc. The lobster tostadas were decent. It was my first time having raw lobster and I prefer my lobster cooked. My suckling pig was delicious with crispy skin. I had a bite of my gfs wild boar gnocchi which was bland to me. She loved it. I also tried our other friends' mushroom ravioli and the truffle risotto. Both were average with the risotto being better than the gnocchi and ravioli. The pastas fell short of the top restaurants in nyc. The chocolate macadamia nut tart however stole my heart. It was rich nutty and not too sweet, just how I like it. Cute place with solid food. All of us enjoyed it. read more

The beets in goat cheese is divine. Thin slices of roasted apples (I think) on top. The Jamon made me cry.

Simply delicious. Asparagus was perfect, best Ive ever had actually. Chicken and Seafood dishes were cooked perfectly. The Creme Brulee was spot on and exactly the way it should be. It is by far the best lunch spot in Mexico City only 2nd to Astrid & Gaston which was my favorite for dinner. read more

Nearly 4 months ago, I used Maximo Bistrot's 'open table' online service to book myself for a 7pm slot for March 11,2016. I was traveling to MX for the first time, and this was my very special treat to myself. On March 10, open table confirmed my reservation and I got a reservation number. The email said, 'If you aren't able to honor your reservation, please let us know immediately using the above link, as other diners would love to have your spot.' I get to Maximo Bistrot on March 12, at 6:45pm, and the sign says, 'we are closed till March 14. Thank you for your understanding'. I flew back to the US on March 12, 2016. So much for reserving ahead. Maximo may have wonderful food, but I would have hoped a restaurant this successful would know how to warn reserved customers of its closure. read more

The grilled octopus was very good. But I asked in English and Spanish for no cilantro in the food and the server said ok. Two of four dishes we ordered had a LOT of cilantro, like a sauce that was literally cilantro blended up. One of them had bits I could still eat but one was a pasta covered in the sauce. When we asked the manager if we could change, he said yes but he also came back and told us there is not any cilantro at all in the food, and in fact they don't even keep it in the kitchen. That is complete bullshit as everyone in our party tasted the cilantro and it was overwhelming, not questionable at all, and there were 3 sauces with cilantro as a main ingredient. I hate to be picky, but I don't appreciate someone outright lying and telling me some bullshit like it isn't even in the kitchen and the chef doesn't use it. I told the manager that there is in fact a lot of cilantro and he kept arguing with me and saying there's not. So I finally said ok I don't want to order anything else, just the check please. Because if he's insisting it's not there, then how could I order something else and know it won't have cilantro? After an incomplete meal they didn't even comp us a drink or even the water! Not cool to try to gaslight me into eating something that literally makes me puke. read more

This place has a varied selection of items to choose from. We shared the kobe beef, pulpo, and braised pork. Everything was flavorful and well-presented. The cocktails were a little disappointing. We tried the strawberry gin cocktail but it was very sweet. The ambiance is very intimate and the service is pretty average. I would come back. read more

The food and experience at Maximo's was perfect. We sat outside watching the life of CDMX stroll by while enjoying a great meal. A delicious amuse of ceviche to start. Our main dishes were excellent. Postre was also right on point. Just wish we had visited again before leaving. Obviously, with the amount of global praise for the chef, booking in advance is essential. read more