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    Max's Es-Ca

    4.1 (250 reviews)
    ModerateItalian, Bars
    Open 11:30 am - 11:00 pm
    Updated 1 month ago

    Order Max's Es-Ca Takeout or Delivery

    Max's Es-Ca Photos

    Business Info

    MAX'S ES-CA ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Live music
    Good for groups

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    Recommended Reviews - Max's Es-Ca

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    My new favorite place to eat!!! Everything from the staff to the food was absolutely perfect!!! Highkey recommend EVERYTHING!!!!

    Pecan pie
    Anna C.

    The Max's Es-Ca experience was really more than I expected! My husband made reservations for my birthday/date night! The parking lot was packed but they have valet! We started with drinks- I had a cucumber mint martini OMG so freaking good and refreshing! Appetizers I had little neck clams on the half shell! So fresh, yum My husband had the burrata salad so good! For entrees we had zuppe de pesce, and I had the pan seared tuna! Everything was expertly prepared! Our waiter Gregory was so sweet and attentive! The service was impeccable and I cannot wait to go back!!!!!

    Jumbo lump crabmeat cocktail & lobster cocktail
    Matthew C.

    My ideal night here is eating dinner at the bar with Johnny, the bartender, serving us our food. He gives off such great energy and always remembers our drink orders even if we don't come back for a few months. Special thanks to him for always making my experience here a good one. The food is really good! They have a fairly large menu, so you definitely have options. The tomahawk for 2 was delicious, but sliced a bit too thin in my opinion. I really have never had a bad experience or meal here....It's always been pretty consistent for me. I recommend making a reservation because it's always so crowded.

    Beef Wellington
    Vadim B.

    Amazing food and great attentive service! We visited Max's Es-ca in Aug 2022 to celebrate a family event. We were absolutely impressed by the quality of food and service! Every dish we tried was delicious and was served exactly as ordered and at the right time. The place is quite expensive but it is certainly worth it! Appetizers: Tuna Tartare - it was so perfect that we finished it in no time and ordered one more. Burrata Mozzarella - soft and delicious. Fried Calamari - good as it's supposed to be. Mesclun Salad - such a great combo of greens, goat cheese, walnuts, and other ingredients that we ordered a second one. Mains: Beef Wellington - few of us ordered it and we all loved it! Soft, tender, perfectly cooked to order beef in a fresh fluffy pastry, complimented with a bed of extra smooth mashed potatoes and some creamy sauce underneath! Yummy! It was just hands down delicious and the best dish of the night! Rack of Lamb - the meat was so tender that it was melting in the mouth! Though no doubt the dish was overall delicious I would however suggest adding a bit more color with some spices or herbs. Also, the breadcrumbs crust had a very subtle oily taste note which it would be better without. Montreal Crusted NY Strip Steak - the steak was juicy and cooked exactly as ordered. My son gave it 5 stars :) Desserts: Pecan pie, Tiramisu, Fried Ice Cream - all great and delicious. We highly recommend this restaurant. It's outstanding!

    Tuna tartare
    Sam C.

    The ambiance in this restaurant is very welcoming. The service by Johnny is awesome. The food is very well prepared and delicious.

    Medium steak, mashed potatoes, and veggies.
    Sarah R.

    Great place to dine if you're in Staten Island. Appetizers were varied and plentiful, penne alla vodka was delicious, and the main course was excellent!

    Amazing jumbo shrimp cocktail.
    Joseph C.

    Food is always great. The service is top notch and attentive. The ambiance is soothing and enhances the dining experience. You cannot go wrong at Max's Es-Ca.

    cucumber mint!
    Steph W.

    I decided to take my mom out to dinner so we stopped by Max. this place has a great vibe. no music (or so low you cant hear it) but its obeisance is amazing. the bartender and cooks are great. Christina is the best!! she gave us great service and offered her opinion. ill definitely return for lunch

    Seafood linguini

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    2 days ago

    Nice atmosphere! Great service and excellent drinks and food! One of my favorite restaurants!

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    6 months ago

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    10 months ago

    My sons & I went for New Years for the first time and The food was delicious & ambience was fun. The staff was also pleasant.

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    4 years ago

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    11 months ago

    Order delivery and the best fried shrimp, shrimp parmigiana, raw oysters and esca burger.

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    11 months ago

    Food is ALWAYS top notch, as is the service. Fun, lively atmosphere as well. The go-to Italian restaurant on Staten Island

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    1 year ago

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    5 years ago

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    3 years ago

    Love this place. Me and my friends were there a few days ago and had a great time. Would definitely go back

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    6 years ago

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    2 years ago

    Great food , service , Atmosphere, always a great time and place for dinner , the service was great,

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    2 years ago

    Very Disappointed with the food and the service, will not give this place my time and money again

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    3 years ago

    We live relatively nearby and love this place! The tiki bar in the yard is lots of fun and the food is always on point.

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    Page 1 of 7

    Ask the Community - Max's Es-Ca

    What does "Es-Ca" mean?

    Ho , so the es-ca. Was just a combination of last names. In italian the word esca means fish bait

    Does the outdoor dining have any heated lamps?

    Yes they do.

    View All 4 Questions

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    Ariella's Restaurant

    Ariella's Restaurant

    4.6
    (38 reviews)
    1.8 mi

    Went there with my daughter and fiancée on a Saturday night. We sat at the bar. Was pleasantly…read moresurprised on how delicious the food. The drinks were a hit as well. Nice little spot on New Dorp Lane. Can't go wrong here. Bartender was excellent.

    I rarely leave negative reviews, but this experience was disappointing from start to finish…read more Unfortunately, there was very little to enjoy about our visit. The biggest issues were the poor food quality, terrible service, and the overall lack of value. The service was extremely slow, and the restaurant is so small that it felt cramped with barely any room to move comfortably. We spent approximately $160 for one pasta dinner, one salad with chicken, a kids' meal, and we only drank water. Considering what we ordered, the price was outrageous. It was also strange that the pasta dinner was only a few dollars more than the salad. The most concerning part of our meal was the chicken. Both the chicken on my pasta and the chicken on the salad were undercooked and pink in the center. We immediately stopped eating it because we were concerned about getting sick. Thankfully, we didn't, but only because we chose not to continue eating it the staff did nothing to correct the issue and our food just sat there. To make matters worse, I specifically requested my dressing on the side because of a food allergy. Instead, the dressing was poured all over my salad, and there was an excessive amount of it. When someone tells you they have a food allergy, that request should never be ignored. I also have to question the authenticity of some of the glowing reviews. Based on our experience, it's hard to believe they reflect the same restaurant we visited. The overwhelmingly positive ratings simply don't align with the food quality, service, or overall experience we had. Between the poor food quality, painfully slow service, an incorrect order despite an allergy request, the cramped dining room, and outrageous prices, this was one of the most disappointing restaurant experiences I've had. I won't be returning, and I certainly wouldn't recommend it. There are plenty of better restaurants on the Island in nicer areas that have great food and good service.

    Photos
    Decor
    Decor
    Special chicken sandwich
    Special chicken sandwich
    Lobster BLT

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    Lobster BLT

    Max's Es-Ca - italian - Updated August 2026

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