If you're 40 and over, just looking to have a drink with some friends and listen to some hit classics this is the place for you. If you want a good meal, this place IS NOT for you. The food was below average. I've had better frozen meals. I made the mistake of ordering the Black Cod fish with rizzoto which was terrible. The taste and texture of the fish with the rizzoto tasted as if it were a frozen 30 day old meal reheated in a microwave. My girlfriends stuffed shrimp seemed as if they used frozen crab meat. Again texture and taste was below average.Her mother had the filet mignon which was a below average dish. Chefs need to understand the difference between a rare steak and a raw steak, the line is thin but there is a difference. Appetizers were no better. First "italian" place i been to that can't make calamari or eggplant parm. Waitress service gets an A. She knew the menu and specials and checked on the table appropriately. and FYI the Sangria taste like wine just mixed with sprite. Horrible. All in all if you're looking for a good meal don't waste you're money on this place. If you're looking for a decent hang out (looks like a scene out of mob wives) this at least a decent scene to have a drink and dance a little. read more

Catching up on some reviews but I was at Max's Es-Ca about a month and a half ago. The food was pretty good. Cold seafood platter tasted fresh and definitely enjoyed it. Braised beef short ribs were probably one of the better that I have had in some time. Unfortunately, I could be speaking out of UNIMAGINABLE HUNGER. It was obvious from the moment we walked in that they were seriously understaffed. I believe they had some function curtained off next to the main restaurant. But, when we were seated there was not one single server in the entire dining room with a packed house. Not sure if it was a scheduling thing or just not being able to handle the rush but man we waited FOREVER. I;m almost inclined to answer "Not Sure" under "Waiter Service" below the review lol. Could have been a fluke, and I would gladly change my review if it is. Food may have been good enough to make the second effort, but waiting as long as we did with very little attention given definitely took away from the food experience for sure. Let's see what happens next time! read more

Was in the area and went to check it out. If you don't know the owner or workers they relegate you to the tent which can be an ice box if you don't speak up. They did turn heat on but still felt like eating in a garage. Food was passable but severely overpriced. Four people over 250 bucks with one drink. Will not go back but it wasn't terrible. There are better more reasonable places nearby. The prices just don't equal the quality or atmosphere. read more

I was there Saturday night with three other couples. Service was very good so I couldn't understand the sporadic delivery of our main course. Several dishes came out far from hot and we ate in shifts so who got an entree ate while it was warm I am a vegetarian which is no problem for me because I can always find something. I found pasta primavera and I was very disappointed that it was as bland as bland could be. The noise level was truly unbearable and each person in my party found themselves screaming or just not hearing any of the conversations at our table. The noise was then enhanced with music from a DJ Lastly, the cost was definitely not $$ it was $$$-$$$$ Never going back needless to say. read more

5 stars for Danny our waiter! 3 stars for the food! 0 stars for ambiance and deafening noise level! One more thing, Mozzarella Caprese appetizer was served on a very warm dish, practically cooking the mozzarella , tomato and peppers. Very unappetizing! read more

Lovely place! The hostess kennedy was soooo lovely!!! Had a whole conversation with her and she seemed to enjoy her job!! Love to see that from young kids these days. Will come again read more

Prime time with my lady, getting ready for a double cut New York strip, and my lady is having the Orange roughy, drinks are cold food is hot and Delicious as always. We weren't sure where to go tonight but we knew always a great meal and great service at Escas. If you haven't been here you need to come EAT here. Sitting at the Bar for dinner tonight. Thank You Max!!! read more

Absolutely great! Delicious and interesting meal. Tuna with avocado. Beef Wellington, beignets with raspberry filling, pistachio Gelato...OMG! Cannot wait to go back. read more

Max's Es-Ca - Italian Near Me - Staten Island, New York

Came for lunch. Had appetizers. Shrimp, octopus salad and fried calamari. Absolutley delicious. Definitely coming back for dinner.

Food is very good, place is super crowded had to wait 15 mins even with an reservation. Also super loud, if you want a nice quiet dinner, this isn't the place. I had tables we were in between screaming to get others attention, they didn't know each other but I guess that's to way to make new friends here. read more

The food was excellent! I ate everything that I ordered, loved the beverages, and even the breads and garlic and oil that were set out as starters. What I did not like what how the manager handled a call from me the following day when I attempted to explain an issue I had with a possible credit card over billing and how the waitress explained things to me. If a manager says "I understand that you are sensitive" and responds to any further comments that I make in a professional manner as if there is no possibility that his staff have made a mistake, making comments such as "we hire brown people" and generally doesn't truly listen to the concerns the customer is explaining, then that isn't good customer service. The manager's position was to defend his staff and to explain away any concerns I had. You're not listening, and that's fine. I don't have to return, and I don't have to recommend your restaurant to anyone who needs to make sure they feel equally comfortable despite their appearance. The fact that you are an immigrant has no bearing on how your staff may treat others. Saying these things are deflections; they don't get to the root of the issue. Your brown staff were wonderful to me. They were not the issue, but it seems that you don't take that seriously. read more

The bomb digs. Calamari, spring rolls, filet mignon bruschetta, burgers, cheesecake -- all of it. If I hadn't been there for lunch I'm sure dinner would have been just as good. The beer selection could use work (basic mainstream, bottled), but that's the only issue. I'll happily take some sangria instead. Great bar layout too -- curvature works well for a group of people. read more

This is one of the best Italian restaurants I've ever tried in the island. My friends and i had the clams and were pretty good, I had Penne allá Vodka with chicken and boy was it delicious. My bf has pork chops with mashed and spinach, pork chops were a bit dry but good. My friends had some other pasta and Caesar salad and was good. But overall, the service was fantastic and super friendly. I will definitely return .. read more

Excellent restaurant. Good service. High quality food. A little pricey, but worth it! Update: went two times recently. It was hit and miss. Ordered a big seafood sampler....the shrimp and lobster were great, but the crab and calamari were terrible. Ordered white sangria...and it tasted like dirty tap water. Bartender didn't realize his seltzer gun was broken. Make another sangria pitcher for me which was no better. Disappointed. read more

Yesterday 10/9/21 we hosted a bridal shower for my daughter at Max's esca.... We were blown away by everything from the food to the service to the staff. A big shout out to Casey and Danny.... We'll definitely be back for dinners and more couldn't speak more highly of this place! The New York Strip Steak was out of this world. All the food was fantastic. read more

Had dinner last night, popped in around 6:30 with no reservation, party of 4. Although, the restaurant was very busy, we were seated within 5 min. We had the calamari..caesar salad for apps, delicious! Between the 4 of us we ordered the short ribs, stuffed shrimp, tortellini & fillet mignon, which was cooked to perfect temp..Everything was Fantastic. We Can not wait to go back! A++ read more

Food is great, don't trust the online menu, Each of the three items we ordered (Fried Calamari, short ribs, pasta carbonara) had a price different than the menu online. When I picked up and asked about it, I was advised that some third-party websites had an outdated menu. This could be reasonable, but when they placed the lunch/dinner to-go menu in my takeout bag it had the same prices I was expecting (that of the online menu). Despite this, the food traveled well and it was an enjoyable meal. Calamari is above average, carbonara and short ribs were excellent. read more

Beautiful restaurant with a lovely but not stuffy atmosphere. The food is just well done. Anything you have will not disappoint. I'm a pasta girl myself and it's really made with care. Service is excellent. Vey friendly staff. I would love to have my next party here. Parking is a little tricky with the small lot, but they do have valet. Enjoy! read more

I started going to this restaurant recently maybe two months ago!! (I'm from Brooklyn so still learning Staten Island) So since my discovery of Max Esca, I have been here 4-5 times. Every time I enter this restaurant it's a wonderful experience from the hostess desk to the moment I leave. The food is delicious, the service is EXCELLENT, the owner, Max is always on the floor greeting his customers and getting feedback on the food and service. The dessert and drinks are so tasteful. The atmosphere is beautiful - with families, friends & couples laughing and talking, enjoying their meals. This is one of my favorites on the island! Love it! read more

Mixed Crowd Casual Extra Special people. Music Mix is great. You may want to enjoy dinner and then celebrate the evening with dance. The cocktails are strong soooo One and Done is the way to go . Cheers! read more

Thank you so much!!! Today I had lunch with two of my friends at Max's Es-Ca. The outdoor area is beautiful!!! Spacious and airy. The food was amazing!! Everything was delicious. The wait staff and servers were so polite and accommodating. We had my friend's little support dog with us. We were more than happy to eat on the beautiful patio. Everyone was so kind. So so happy with our experience today. Thank you to everyone there. read more

We went to celebrate a friend's birthday. This was my first time there, other friends present had been there before. The food was so incredibly fresh! It was so obvious that they use fresh ingredients. My wife has several food sensitivities and they were incredibly accommodating. The best part was Briana, our server was FANTASTIC! She suggested a combination of 2 dishes to accommodate my wife. We gave our orders, from drinks to appetizers entrees and she remembered everyone's orders, which were not straight off the menu orders without writing anything down. We were a party 11 people! Every order was perfect! That's service!! We started with several appetizers that were some of the best I have ever had. Calamari, light and crispy, delicious red sauce, watermelon/feta salad, so refreshing, bruschetta filet mignon with horseradish sauce so tender and a few more I cannot recall but they were delish I had the balsamic pork chops with cherry peppers, sauteed spinach and mashed potatoes. So tasty! And the cappuccino was so smooth and not very strong. Briana brought over a beautiful dessert tray with various options for the table. The blueberry bread pudding was absolutely amazing! Texture, flavor all delicious. Carrot cake, not too sweet, the jelly beignet was very good as well...I cannot reiterate how incredibly delicious everything that our table ordered was! Highly recommend this place! read more

Went to Max Escas yesteray with family. Food and service was very good, The only things I could say is that they are very pricy. Over what other restaurants might charge and I don't recommend the th mussels and grilled octopus as appetizers. The mussels were very small and overcooked and high priced and the grilled octopus was cut in small pieces along with pieces of potatoe which made it look like more octopus and it was smothered in arugala. Both also not worth the price. On the whole the food was good. read more

Our go to restaurant. Consistent and delicious. It can be crowded on weekends with a very lively bar scene but still worth the trip

Been here many times always perfect. I'm not a huge fan of most Staten Island places but the food here is always great the outdoor set up is the best on the island. And the staff is awesome. Always nice and so attentive. read more

After leaving this restaurant I was already planning the day that I will be coming back. Everything that I ordered was delicious. The appetizer, course, and dessert. The Sangria was wonderfully made. All the staff were really nice! I have no complaints! I recommend this place to everyone! read more

I love the food! But no happy hour? Not happy . 99% of restaurants/bars have happy hour in the entire country! I hope Esca reads this!

Visiting the Staton Island are for work, I had the pleasure of meeting Chef Max and had the privilege of tasting some of the best Italian food and house made deserts I have ever had! The bar is really nice too, the Sangria is delicious and the staff is super friendly and hospitable. I honestly do not understand the 1 and 2 star reviews, makes no sense whatsoever!?? Bottom line: If you're looking for a place to grab a Delicious Italian meal that feels like a warm hug, along side some great drinks in a beautiful ambiance, Max's Es-Ca is the place to be! read more

God awful. Make a reservation people still get seated before you because they "know" them. Menu is different on weekends but there is no notification online or elsewhere regarding that. They leave the door open while people are eating dead of winter for the DJ to set up. Food was not prepared the way it was requested. The prices are lower on the menu but they charge you more. Just god awful avoid at all costs read more

Love love love. Finally was able to go here for dinner after hearing my boyfriend rave about it. Food was excellent, waiter was on point making sure our drinks were filled at all times. Multiple thumbs up for that. I had the salmon it was perfect And the mozzarella carozza ... I still dream about it. It's a must try. read more

We have been here before. Went on Sunday for their Sunday Sauce. I had the grilled octopus, very fresh and great lemony taste. Sunday Sauce was fantastic, sweet and hot sausage, meatball, braciole and a ton of pasta. I couldn't finish it. My wife had the crispy coconut shrimp, very tasty and the tortellini Alfredo which was also great, drinks were above average as was service. A bit pricey but you get what you pay for. read more

Love Esca's! Their food is amazing!! Cozy inside and their outdoor dining is great now too; even in colder temperatures is definitely warm!! Great selection of appetizers too!! Definitely recommend. read more

We had a party at Max's Es-Ca and it was great. The food was delicious and there was plenty of it. I was visiting from Florida and was looking for great food and it delivered. I will definitely return when I am in visiting. read more

Our first time in this restaurant and what a horrible experience! We came to this restaurant for a birthday celebration with a party of 8. When we were given a table, the server, whose name is Patricio did not acknowledge us. We sat down and had to wait 30 minutes for the server to take our drink orders, another 30 minutes just for the appetizer orders and 30 minutes later the server finally took our entree orders. We waited for our entrees for over an hour. The restaurant was not busy, therefore there is no reason why we waited so long for service. We took it amongst ourselves to go to the bar since our waiter disappeared on us. A small group of four people walked in after us and was served and left the restaurant before we received our main course. Eventually we received a high bill which was expected. The bill was paid for in full with no problem and even tipped the absent waiter a decent amount, despite the poor service we received. At the end of the night, Patricio (our waiter) made a huge scene and requested a higher tip. We explained that he was avoiding us the entire night, but he continued to insist on a higher tip. We have never experienced such a lack of professionalism in any food establishment. We made a complaint to the manager on duty, Johnny, and nothing was resolved. As per the manager, he continued to make excuses as to why we received the poor service on a slow night. No action was taken against the waiter for the scene he caused. This has been by far the worst experience we've had in any restaurant and we will never recommend this restaurant to anyone. read more

I've gone to Es-ca's here and there for the last few years, and I am ashamed to say I haven't written a review sooner. We've been there for funeral/retirement & birthday dinners (not all at the same time lol) as well as dinners & lunch. The service is friendly and attentive. And we have never had a bad meal. Just came back from a late lunch/early dinner. The table ordered: Winter salads, eggplant rollatini & vegetable napoleon. Dinners were seafood and pasta (very generous with seafood!) & short ribs that were exceptionally tender. While Italian restaurants are ubiquitous on Staten island, the mix of choices have something for everyone. It's a good reliable comfortable place. No problem recommending Es-ca's read more

Must go to!!!' You will love them The seafood was super fresh Steak was like butter Plus, parking avl. read more

Awesome spot and awesome atmosphere. Food was superb. I had the seafood fradiavlo which was cooked just right. My wife had the veal milanese which was like butter. Excellent choice. Would go back there again. read more

The food as Es-Ca is excellent in our opinion, and the service is wonderful.

Great times always, spent my last 2 bday dinners there and had such a nice time. The staff was on the ball and the drinks were flowing.. The music was great with the classics pumping and the dance floor opens up which is great you don't have to get in the car searching for a place to dance or hear music.. The food is always delicious can't wait to go back.. read more

Had dinner in early October with my buddies. Grew up on SI and have to say i was pleasantly surprised on how good this restaurant was. I live in Miami now so coming home I didn't know where to go. This place prepared great traditional Italian dishes and a great steak as well. It was busy and deservedly so. Service was very good If you live here you should go. If visiting you should definitely go. Enjoyable and not overpriced read more