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    Max's Brick Oven Cafe

    3.8 (94 reviews)
    ModeratePizza, Italian
    Closed Closed

    Max's Brick Oven Cafe Photos

    Business Info

    MAX'S BRICK OVEN CAFE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Romantic
    Quiet
    Good for kids

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    Recommended Reviews - Max's Brick Oven Cafe

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    Reviews With Photos

    Florentine Pasta
    Sabine F.

    Second to me visiting Max's .Today I had the Pasta Florentine and my husband the Lemon Oregano pasta. We shared both dishes and we liked the Pasta Florentine beat because it was much more flavorful thsn the Lemon Oregano Pasta. The service here is always superb. The food came out so fast today. It seemed like we just placed the order and 5 min later the food cane out. Our waitress Maddue was super friendly and recommended the Florentine because ilif its flavor.

    Cesar salad
    Chelsea A.

    I was passing through Paducah and this is one of the top restaurants that came up on my search. I came by around dinner time on a Friday evening and no doubt-- it must be one of the best places around because it was so busy it looked like everyone needed a reservation! They had a lovely looking outdoor area that was enclosed for the winter. It felt casual enough for me to be in jeans and sneakers but the white tablecloths gave it an elevated, cozy ambiance. I was lucky to grab a solo seat at the bar for my meal. I had a glass of their house wine and a Cesar salad that came out very quick despite their obvious rush of customers. The pizza came out shortly after and the people hanging out at the bar were friendly enough to tell me a bit about Paducah history while I waited for my food. Max's seems like a true local favorite and I was happy I stopped in. The prices were really agreeable and the thin crust pizza was filling without being too heavy on the stomach.

    Classic Lasagna
    Brent S.

    We always enjoy eating here. The atmosphere is great & the food is always tasty! Try the Lasagna or the pork chop or really anything. You can't go wrong.

    Menu
    Stephanie H.

    We tried Max's after it was recommended by a friend. Called for reservations the morning of our visit and booked right at opening. When we arrived we were seated immediately. However, we were placed in the very back room and off to the side. It was a bar area that was not in use at the time and had doors that opened to the outdoor patio and bar area. There was a strong smell of cigarette smoke in this room, even though we were the only ones in there at the time. There was no one in the main dining room so I was unsure why we were placed in such a bad location. They placed us right next to a stained glass window. Unfortunately, that window was swarming with flies the entire meal because of the traffic in and out to the outdoor bar area. I also killed multiple ants on the window ledge and the table throughout our dinner. For an appetizer we had the smoked salmon dip. It was served with cucumber, tomato, and crackers. For our main entree we ordered the special, which was a bone in pork chop with gravy, and the ribeye, both were served with buttered broccoli and mashed potatoes. The food was just ok. Service was great and our waitress was very attentive. Unfortunately, I don't think we were impressed enough with the food to try it again, and honestly the placement next to the window with all of the insects was frustrating given an empty restaurant at the time of our arrival and reservation.

    The Aurora
    Jennifer B.

    Max's is my best friend's favorite restaurant so when she's in town, we usually end up here. I love the atmosphere here. I do love sitting out on the patio on a nice day to enjoy my meal and company. On my most recent visit (this past weekend) we sat outside and ordered their signature brick oven pizzas. I ordered the Aurora and my friend ordered the Wood Fired Chicken pizza. Both were delicious, but I think I preferred the white parmesan sauce on mine more. The crust is crispy and thin, my favorite. It was overall a delicious experience. I thought the pizzas were reasonably priced for quality and quantity, as well! On other visits, however I wasn't as impressed. If you go and grab appetizers, their pizzas, and drinks, I'd say you're good to go. I ordered the Chicken Marsala back in the fall. I felt it was honestly something I could have whipped up at home myself. The salad was spring mix I could have bought at Walmart. The "tonight's vegetables" were VERY similar to Bird's Eye frozen veggies. The food was good...but it wasn't like any Chicken Marsala I've ever had. My friend ordered the Greek Chicken and it was sort of the same ordeal. It reads wonderful on the menu, but when it came out I was sort of unimpressed. Disclaimer though, my friend said her meal was super good and she enjoyed it very much. This is just my opinion based off what I saw. If the prices were lower, it would make sense. But paying $20 a plate for frozen veggies isn't really worth it to me, I'll stick to the pizzas! Drinks and service are wonderful here. I've always had a wonderful experience with all the servers and hostesses. Overall Max's is a great place for dinner, I'll definitely be back in the future.

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    6 months ago

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    5 years ago

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    2 years ago

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    2 years ago

    I am a Paducah resident and this is my favorite restaurant. Love the food, the staff are awesome and the atmosphere is wonderful.

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    2 years ago

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    3 years ago

    Consistent great food and cocktails. Their wood fired pizza and a classic margarita are a must. Love the dip on the appetizer menu

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    2 years ago

    This place was wonderful!! Food was superb, but more than anything the waitress was beyond perfect. Jackie!!!

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    2 years ago

    Excellent food with phenomenal service. Our server Jackie was excellent. I would highly recommend.

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    3 years ago

    This place serves food as good as the hot dog stands in Chicago. Highly recommend this lil place out on highway 62

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    4 years ago

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    6 years ago

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    5 years ago

    Awesome place. Great atmosphere! Great food! Great waitress (Dallas)! I recommend it to everyone.

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    Page 1 of 3

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    Freight House - Spicy beer cheese spread and crudites and crackers

    Freight House

    4.3(360 reviews)
    0.2 mi
    $$$

    The way to a man's heart is through his stomach. I'm in…read morelove. My heart Melts when I eat here. ( pass through once a year ) It's the highlight of my culinary year The flavors are earthy simple and complex. All at the same time. Spices never overpower the intended mouth music. I wish I could dine here regularly.

    I'm finally having a chance to review our visits to Freight House back in November!…read more My husband and I took a little trip to Paducah, and the main reason we chose this location for our vacation was Sara Bradley's restaurant Freight House. We both are fans of "Top Chef" and since her restaurant is within reasonable distance of home, we planned a trip around it. In fact, we made reservations for two nights in a row, to take in as much of the menu as possible! Between the two different days, we tried a number of appetizers, entrees and desserts. If I were to do this again the same way, I would do one day of apps and dessert and one day of entrees, just to spread things out a bit. What we ate: - Fall pickles: I enjoyed this, with the bit of chili heat, especially the cauliflower - Stuffed Mushrooms: I love mushrooms, and these blended creamy, sweet and hot with a filling of cream cheese, berry BBQ sauce and smoked jalapeno - Pistachio and herb chevre cheeseball: a fresh cheese enhanced by nutty and Herby notes - Smoked bologna: my husband's choice; very meaty and there was a lot of it - Spicy beer cheese spread: a very Midwestern feeling appetizer with tasty veggies and crackers Entrees: -Shrimp and grits: my choice: comforting southern food with lots of flavor - Duck fried rice: his choice: rich rice offset by more delicate vegetables - Sticky ribs: my choice: the pumpkin spice and coffee liqueur glaze worked well for a cozy, wintry meal - Braised pork shoulder: his choice; served with beans and cornbread, this was another hearty, comforting meal with a Southern twist. Desserts: - Winter creme brulee: this was my favorite, flavored with mulling spices, orange and pomegranate We also enjoyed a seasonal sorbet and the fall spice cake. We had the same server both nights, Elizabeth, who was good at making recommendations, and also staggering the small plates on our small table so we wouldn't be overloaded. Chef Sara was in house the second night, bringing dishes to tables. The setting is relaxed, not overly loud, with moody lighting. Overall, we would certainly return to Freight House!

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    Large Bottle of Sparkling Water

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    Stella's

    Stella's

    3.7(45 reviews)
    0.0 mi

    Service provided from the moment we walked into Stella's. I enjoy a good Bourbon. Dever, the…read moremanager, was very knowledgeableand took the time to give me great advice as to which choices would suit my taste. He was right on. Aaron our waiter was fabulous. He has learned the trade as a professional. engaging, informative, entertaining and very attentive. Both men adapted to support me, as I have a hearing deficit. Speaking directly, articulating clearly and never missed a beat throughout our entire meal. Anyone one who tries Stella's will not be disappointed. Lauragv

    There are nights when offering a critique feels unpleasantly simple. Diners risk little more than…read morethe cost of a meal and the disappointment of an evening gone sideways. Still, it's never enjoyable to recount an experience that falls short at every turn--especially when the failures were preventable. My visit to Stella's, regrettably, was exactly that. From the start, it was clear that the staff lacked even a foundational understanding of Celiac disease. Questions about gluten safety were met with visible uncertainty and no real assurance that the kitchen could confidently prepare a safe meal. That uncertainty became reality when my entrée -- a steak and baked potato -- arrived with gluten on the plate. Not near it. Not questionable cross-contact. On the plate. Naturally, it had to be sent back. This misstep kicked off a cascade of delays that stretched my wait time to nearly an hour, even though we were among the very first guests seated at 5:00 p.m. Meanwhile, my dining companion's meal arrived correctly and on time. I insisted they eat, because by the time my corrected meal showed up, theirs would have gone stone cold if they had waited out of courtesy. The absurdity didn't stop there. The to‑go order I placed after we were seated--intended for someone else--was finished before my actual in‑house entrée ever arrived. Even the wine I ordered to accompany the steak made its way to the table long after the pairing was relevant, arriving more like a begrudging afterthought than part of a well-paced dining experience. When the final bill reached $250, it underscored the frustration even more. At that price point, diners are not paying for mediocrity. They are paying for competence, safety, professionalism, and a level of service that respects their time and their dietary needs. It is not unreasonable to expect top‑notch service when the tab climbs that high. And this incident is not isolated. Increasingly, restaurants in Paducah that position themselves as "quality dining" are missing the mark on training, pacing, and basic hospitality. Yet, as a community, we lack a consistent or constructive way to hold establishments accountable or to encourage them to maintain standards worthy of the prices they charge. If we hope to preserve both the integrity of our dining scene and the value of our wallets, we need better mechanisms for clear, honest critique -- and for restaurants to listen. Stella's, on this visit, offered little more than disappointment and a glaring reminder that good intentions are no substitute for proper training, coordination, and care.

    Photos
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    Bar

    Stella's - Parmesan Potato Gratin

    Parmesan Potato Gratin

    Stella's - Smoked old fashioned

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    Smoked old fashioned

    Max's Brick Oven Cafe - pizza - Updated May 2026

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