My wife and I came on a Thursday evening. We reserved our table online and received a courtesy call not too long later. Even with all the protocols in place, the ambience they have provided with outdoor dining was still magical. It was drizzling a little when we ate, but the outdoor heating was more than enough to keep us comfortable throughout our whole experience. We had the butternut squash ravioli and the grilled sand dabs, which came with vegetables and capers. Both were absolutely delicious. For dessert, we had the chocolate mousse cake with fresh raspberries and raspberry coulis sauce. The mousse cake was not too sweet and balanced perfectly with the tartness of the raspberries. Chef Max really knows what he's doing. Service was exceptional as well, and we felt very well attended to. We are most definitely looking forward to coming here again during our next stay in Pacific Grove, which we hope won't be long. Food was delicious, service was great, and we felt safe and cared for. read more

I'm picky about my Sanddabs. Their sandabs have just the whisper of a crispness while still being very tender. White wines chilled to ice-cold. Such a meal. read more

Max's Grill serves some of the most exquisite food I've eaten in my life. I am SERIOUS. Have traveled a LOT, have eaten at many top rated restaurants in cities all over the US. I don't have a clue why this place is not rated the best restaurant on the Monterey penninsula except for the fact that it's not in a scenic location. If you check out Chef Hisayuki "Max" Muramatsu's credentials you will just scratch your head. Okay enough. We dined here because I was looking for a reasonably priced eatery on one of the last nights of our 3-week vacation. I dug deep on Yelp and hit on Max's Grill. So many 5 star reviews! We were greeted by Max's wife Yuko, who was a gracious and attentive hostess and server. My husband started off with the French onion soup which was outrageously tasty. The broth was thick with flavorful onions and magic ingredients ???? and topped with a combo of swiss and mozzarella cheeses (we asked) . OMG. Pinching myself it was so good. I ordered the mushroom soup which was the day's special. Another win. This soup was truly special and spiced just perfectly - I don't know what was in it, but I would die for the recipe. My husband ordered the grilled halibut which was the special of the evening and I ordered the calimari steak. Again both were fabulous. Cooked to perfection. I will give a shout out for the calimari because it was so amazingly good. Really, really good. Neither of us had room for dessert - wish we had, but it was not to be. Again, I don't understand why this establishment is not given more attention. I'd give it 6 stars if it were a choice. read more

Max's Grill - Mushroom soup - Seafood Near Me - Pacific Grove, California

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During this SIP period we've decided to check out and support local restaurants that we haven't frequented before. This week we were wowed by Max's grill. It's easy to understand why classically trained Chef Muramatsu was named best chef in Tokyo not once but twice. My husband enjoyed the duck confit and hardly came up for air between bites. And I enjoyed the most tender short ribs EVER. The sides were perfection as well and cream brûlée topped us off. Generous portions gave us leftovers the next day so the goodness continued. We shall return and hope you'll stray off the busy Main Street eatery's and visit this charming side street restaurant, You'll be rewarded with amazing food. read more

I really liked the food and the waiter was nice to us. The crab cakes were amazing. Definitely a lot of crab insides instead of filler like most places. read more

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Started with the soup of the day which was a cream of mushroom. It was delicious. I had the fish of the day which was salmon with pesto, roasted potatoes and vegetables. It was cooked perfectly. I was too full to try dessert. read more

Max's Grill - Yummy cream of mushroom soup - Seafood Near Me - Pacific Grove, California

One of the best meals I have ever had. Yuko was so welcoming and attentive. Everything -- from the house made bread and butter to the tempura ahi tuna rolls to the butternut ravioli to the duck -- was delicious and beautifully presented. We look forward to returning the next time we are in the area. It's a gem! read more

It's the Best Restaurant we had the pleasure of dining in Monterey/Pacific Grove. The family run establishment has charm. The food was terrific ! My only complaint is that we didn't eat here everyday for dinner. The food was delicious ! Everything was cooked perfectly. Service was great our server was courteous and so sweet. My only complaint is that I live in Las Vegas, and can't dine here more often. read more

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The chef is an award winning chef from Japan and previously chef at Anton & Michel in Carmel ,but this place in Pacific Grove is a hidden gem. Recommended to us by our B&B manager ( Gosby House); it did not disappoint. The mushroom bisque was absolutely one of the best I've ever tasted. Main courses were cioppino and sand dabs ( special of the day). The cioppino broth was heavenly- flavors of saffron, seafood and tomato all combined to create a complex delicious sauce for the shellfish. Definitely planning to return soon. Do not pass up if you have the chance. read more

The service was great and so was the food. We had the mushroom soup, duck our way and braised short ribs. Everything was presented well and tasted great. This is a little place off the beaten path and I'm really glad we took a chance. read more

My husband and I have eaten at Max's grill in Pacific Grove for years as a Friday night date. Lucky for us they have opted to continue to stay open for Take out during Covid 19. From 4pm-7pm you can call in and order for pick it up. It takes thinking out of the box to make food look attractive in the box, even after you have kept it warm in your oven at home. They have done that! We love Max's Grill and love the owners. We will continue to support them. The Schatz's read more

Our experience at Max's could not have been more pleasant and enjoyable Yuko, the wife greeted us and we were served she and Max' son and daughter. The meal was excellent and the service superb. Cannot wait to ho back. read more

We always eat at Max's for dinner when we come to Monterey. Well, after our experience this time, we decided to skip it next time. The food was just okay. We remembered it as exceptional but it wasn't this time. Our waiter was very good and friendly. The owner was so preoccupied with this couple with a child that it was weird. I don't think they were relatives. I remember the owner being equally friendly and welcoming but we didn't get that feeling. She spent more time with the family than the other customers. The restaurant got very busy but her focus was this family. My ahi tempura was average. The ahi was too big for some reason. I've had ahi tempura before at other restaurants and it was a lot better. Wolfgang Puck has a great recipe. My surf and turf was average, too. The tempura batter wasn't light and fluffy like it should be. It was slightly overcooked. My husband's sand dabs were just okay, too. He said the sauce was sparse but good. The squash soup was delicious. We used to recommend them. read more

The food and services were terrific.. best mushroom soup, crab cake and exceptional rack of lamb

Excellent, have been here several times. The food and service were great on each occasion. My rack of lamb was fantastic, and my daughter and wife loved their dishes as well. The last time was on short notice, on New Year's Eve, after the power went out in the entire Beach Tract. They squeezed us in after I explained our circumstances. The the single waiter and a woman who I'm guessing was a part owner did a great job of serving, even though the restaurant was full and very busy. Will definitely go again. read more

On the recent vacay, the wife and I strollled into Max's to try their offerings. The place was a little less busy than I would have expected, but everything was clean and tidy and we were seated right away at a small table by the door. The waitress, I believe, is part of a duo who own and run the restaurant, the guy being the chef. I went ahead and ordered the cioppino as I was in the mood for some delicious seafood near the sea. When it arrived, I was happy to spy some really large prawns lounging in the bowl along with his friends the scallops and the muscles. All of the seafood was fresh and tasty and I liked the lightly tomatoey broth as well. Good flavors. Not my all time fave cioppino, but good. I would have preferred slightly more of everything in terms of portion, but I'm not complaining. Service was prompt and friendly and we enjoyed our experience at Max's. read more

Max's Grill - Cioppino - Seafood Near Me - Pacific Grove, California

The food was delicious. The cioppino was great! Get the shrimp spring rolls. They are out of this world. I was impressed with the food and service. The desserts (mango mousse and cream brûlée was outstanding. Will go again. read more

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My adult son and I enjoyed a delicious Thanksgiving dinner here tonight. Portions were generous, service was excellent and low noise level was a delight. Highly recommend this lovely but casual restaurant, read more

My husband and I came here at 8:30 on a Saturday night, just 30 mins before their posted close time. We were looking for some fresh seafood off the beaten track from the usual Wharf tourist traffic. To be honest, after seeing the restaurant, we almost didn't go in. No customers on a Saturday night and the decor is pretty bleak. All bad signs. It looks like it used to be a Chinese restaurant, and they just didn't change anything. There was only one other table seated when we arrived, but we were welcomed in and promptly shown a table. We both ordered the $25 3-course prix fixe menu which included shrimp spring rolls, a grilled sand dabs entree with steam veggies and roasted potatoes, and creme brûlée for dessert. We also ordered the spare rib starter which was tasty but really needed a sauce. The prix fixe menu was EXCELLENT. The shrimp spring rolls were hot and fresh. The sand dabs were perfect with a decadent lemon beurre blanc sauce and not a single bone!!! I wish it came with pasta instead of potatoes, but the spuds were really good, anyway. The creme brûlée was the perfect finish. The service was also fast and friendly. I think the restaurant could benefit from a makeover and a new name. Max's is a pretty commonly known franchise with mediocre food. If you don't stop to look at the menu for this place, it's difficult to know it's different. Really glad we came here. A real diamond in the rough. read more

Max's Grill is our favorite dinner spot when visiting Monterrey. My favorite items on the menu are the rib eye and the poached pear with Brie. But quite honestly have had most items they serve and love everything. We have had thanksgiving dinner twice with 10 or more people and the service has always been fantastic! read more

I cant believe its been 6 years since our last visit, but I'm glad we came back. As before, the the food and service was superb. I had the cioppino paired with a glass of their French Rose house wine, which was perfect. My wife had the duck which was to die for. I'm so happy this place survived the pandemic, it will be our go to spot when we return. Great chef!!! read more

best Salmon in Monterey. A wonderful French Bistro , fair prices for a complete meal. One of my favorite places in Monterey area.

We just had a fabulous dinner at Max's Grill! You must have the Shrimp egg roll it's amazing!! The pot roast is tender, moist and very flavorful, the mushroom soup is rich , creamy & so delicious & the butternut squash is equally tasty! Wonderful family owned & operated restaurant, you will be pleasantly pleased!! Marlies & Gary Wilson read more

Max's Grill - Seafood Near Me - Pacific Grove, California

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First time eating here and it was absolutely the best. My husband likes to cook and often says (after eating out), that is was okay, but tonight he said it was the best spring rolls he has ever had as well as the Tempura shrimp. It was well served, prompt and every bite was delicious . I had a crab cake appetizer and it was served with a wonderful salsa and sauce. Love this place and highly recommend! read more

The food was delicious - I had the spinach salad (super fresh and well-balanced with beets and blue cheese) and the Cioppino (amazing broth and very generous portion size of giant prawns and mussels). And the outside patio with heaters felt safe and comfortable. The staff was very sweet and accommodating for my vegan daughter. read more

Those who live in San Francisco Bay Area might think there is a branch of the NY style deli sandwich restaurant in Pacific Grove (you know, where you can get pastrami, sauerkraut, corned beef, roast beef, matzoh ball soup, Beaver....mustard that is), and even the restaurant's logo from the website looks remotely familiar (and has that California Pizza Kitchen kind of visual). But rest assured it is nothing of the sort. In short, yes...another restaurant in Pacific Grove that is of uncompromising quality and a price point that doesn't require me to grab my ankles Shashank Redemption style, while keeping the wallet pain to quite a minimum. In other words, getting maximum bang for your buck without getting banged. I love it. Chef Hisayuki "Max" Muramatsu has a very interesting bio, Tokyo born, French trained. But before you break out the Iron Chef French card, the menu is not reflective in that sense. Again if you visit Monterey Peninsula, "SF style high end dining" should not even be part of your mindset. However for what they have set out to achieve, Max's really suits the MTY peninsula, along with its approach to no nonsense California French. Max's wife, Yuko, works front of house and does right by all the guests. I have a soft spot for mom and pop style places, and this is no different. But even more attractive, because we have that bargain / cheap / A$N gene in all of us somehow, is the stunning $25 prix fixe 3 course menu (and it gets a tad cheaper if you dine during early bird hour, which I think is you put your order in before 6 pm!). I pretty much knew what I wanted: House bread - baked and made in house. Online menu says ciabatta(?) but it was more like a baguette. Either way, quite tasty, even if not toasty warm. Apps: Tempura Sand Dabs served with house made tartar sauce and tempura sauce Yes I know...two courses of sand dabs...it was nice to compare and contrast. I must say that Chef Max knows the Edo approach to tempura. While the batter is a tad thicker than high end tempura restaurants in Tokyo, Taipei, or Hong Kong, the frying technique is solid where the exterior is crispy and not light. Best of all the batter is done very nicely and easily surpasses even the nicer Japanese restaurants in SF Bay Area. The interior remains moist and flavorful. Very nice to have two dip sauces so you can alternate; both work very well. The flavor of the "tsuyu" / tempura dip sauce is also just right. This is great fusion; local fish, Edo style sensibilities. Probably my favorite dish of the night. 3 course: Baby Spinach Salad With walnuts, blue cheese and pomegranate syrup. Done right! Sand Dabs sautéed in white wine and butter with capers, served with grilled vegetables and saffron rice. Really enjoyed this prep of sand dabs, though I must give the upper hand to the tempura version out of pure preference. The balance of the creamy sauce, and the tartness of the capers made the sand dabs taste brighter and radiant. Signature Mango Mousse dessert. Looks beautiful, though a tad too sweet for my liking. The alternative was to substitute this for a glass of wine, but I got dessert instead. This meal was overall more satisfying than the Monday 5 course at Il Vecchio, even though the styles are completely different. Local/American fish doesn't have much of a great taste or texture to it, and I'm not a huge fan of general American/Western preparations, but the sauté was done nicely and who can forget the tempura approach (which blows away fish & chips, and is lighter than say a Chinese deep fry salt and pepper approach). This style of California French is different than what many are used to, but is nonetheless very enjoyable. Thank you Max's Grill! ごちそうさまでした! read more

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Husband whips up good eats behind the scenes, while Wife holds down the front of the house. We were almost uncomfortably well fed, starting with delicious warm bread & butter (or olive oil & aged balsamic vinegar.) Bf went the prix fixe route ($25), choosing dessert over the glass of wine option (Chef did an awesome strawberry mousse--more dense & flavorful than other mousse desserts I've tried), tomato bisque for his starter (thick & creamy & salty; I tasted a hint of parm), & chicken piccata for his main dish (capers, lemon-butter sauce, white meat chicken, rice pilaf -- slightly better than your average piccata.) I had the shrimp eggrolls as an appetizer, which came with a sweet chili sauce (such a familiar combo!) & an heirloom tomato salad as my main. I was thrilled with the equal amounts of mozzarella, tomatoes, & figs. Mixed greens were slightly overdressed with raspberry vinaigrette, but overall, still a wonderful pick. Skip the overhyped restaurants right on Lighthouse Ave & go a half block down to Max's Grill on your next Monterey adventure. read more

Max's Grill - Heirloom tomato & mozzarella salad - Seafood Near Me - Pacific Grove, California

Excellent food and service. We ordered French,l onion soup and salads. For main dish braised rib, duck and ravioli. For dessert Mango mousse and creme boule. read more

Max's Grill - Duck - Seafood Near Me - Pacific Grove, California

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We were looking for something to eat in Pacific Grove after a long drive of almost 8 hours. Everything in town ( it was a fridaynight) seemed loaded with people, but Max's grill did not. We were not sure if the restaurant was ok, but wanted to try anyway. The interior looked old and the logo dated, more like a logo of a fastfood chain. The waiting staff was very friendly and interested in our journey and serving was quick. We got offered some handmade bread (according to the waiter) with oil. We ordered the Ribeye steak which was big and covered with blue cheese and vegetables on the side. We loved it! We also ordered a dessert: a lovely chocolate mousse cake with delicious raspberrysauce. I think this restaurant is a hidden gem. If the exterior looked better, maybe it would attract a lot more customers. The name Max's grill sounds more like a fastfood restaurant too, while the food is excellent! read more

Max's Grill - Main course: ribeye steak - Seafood Near Me - Pacific Grove, California

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I chose this place for my anniversary dinner upon a recommendation from a friend who grew up in the area. I was quite pleased with the service and the price. We took advantage of their Sunset Dinner Menu (5-6pm) for $14.95 which includes soup or salad and an entree. Yuko greeted and sat us down and Nick, our waiter, was delightful to talk to. The bf and I started with the spring rolls that were tasty and had a skin that was perfectly flaky. The mushroom bisque was enjoyeable and it had mushroom bits that made the texture more pleasing. I also ordered the sand dabs and the flavor had the right amount of acidity to sweetness. The white wine and butter sauce from the flatfish added something more to my saffron rice. The bf ordered the braised lamb shanks and it was good and tender. We ended our meal with the delectable mousse cake. I hope their butternut squash ravioli is still on their menu for the next time we visit! read more

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Great little find on a rainy day in Pacific Grove. The owners Max and Yuko gave us great service and a great meal. read more

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Sunset Menu at Max's Grill is by far the best dinner deal I have found in this area. For $14.95 you get a starter choice of their housemade soup of the day or garden salad or caesar salad. For the main course, they offer a wide variety of entrees including housemade raviolis, braised lamb shanks, sand dabs, chicken piccata and so forth. I decided to order their Bistro Fillet Steak: broiled steak topped with green peppercorn-mustard sauce, served with red potatoes. My friend decided to get the Chicken Piccata: sautéed in butter and white wine with capers, served with grilled vegetables and saffron rice. The steak was tender and succulent with a beautifully charred exterior. As for the sauce, it gave the meal a subtle kick of heat from the peppercorn counterbalanced by the tartness of the mustard. The accompany medley of tomatoes added a great acidic note to the meal and the potatoes was the perfect starch component to the meal. Moving on to my friends dish, I thought the portion was quite generous. The chicken was moist and seasoned well however I found that the butter and white wine sauce was too strong. The flavor of the wine was extremely predominated throughout the dish masking everything else. To end the meal we ordered the Hawaiian Mango Mousse Cake. The cake was extremely moist and airy. As for the mango mousse, it felt like we were eating an actual mango. While the texture was a tad off, I appreciated the lightness of the dessert and thought it was a great way to end the meal. Overall Thoughts Best dinner deal in the Monterey area. Great portions for a reasonable price without sacrificing quality or taste. read more

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We were stopping through Monterey for the night on the start of a very long road trip. We had a lot to celebrate and wanted a quiet, nice place to enjoy a really great meal. Maxs exceeded those expectations. We have been to Monterey several times and I really wanted to avoid the average touristy over priced places. Maxs was reasonably priced enough to go all out. We started with the crab cakes, always a hit or miss dish. They were perfectly crisp on the very outside and tender and flavorful all the way through with almost nob reading and all crab. And they were huge.Couldn't get better. We then moved on to ordering a half bottle of wine, which I absolutely love when those are provided. My husband and I can't finish a bottle between us in one sitting and the 375mL are perfect if you want a glass and a half each. He ordered the 3 course prix fixe dinner with a spinach salad, chicken picatta, and warm bread pudding dessert. All three cooked/prepared perfectly. I ordered the cioppino, a dish newly introduced to me. The broth was savory but not overpowering, and the seafood was plentiful and tender. An excellent dinner. But as we all know, no matter how great the food is, the service makes or breaks your meal. I probably could have been eating cardboard and not realized it with the epic service we received. I'm ruined for life from working in fine dining for too long and I can't enjoy my meal if the timing is off or the server is lacking in anyway. I wish I wasn't like this, but I can't help it. From the greeting to the wine presentation to the perfect timing between our 4 courses, our server ( who I'm pretty sure was the owners wife) was incredible. We left feeling on cloud nine. If you want a great meal and service but don't want to pay astronomical prices, this is the place for you. read more

Max's Grill - Cioppino - Seafood Near Me - Pacific Grove, California

Was visiting the area and came here at the recommendation of the boss. She knows how much I love French food and told me about the chef who was Japanese but trained in France and that if I was willing to driving a little outside of Monterrey - that it would be worth my time. Well the woman was right! We were on a weekend end/ road trip adventure so this was sort of part of the agenda. We drove a little, got lost a little, got worried a little since we have never been to Pacific Grove but found ourselves in a quaint part of town. Parking: 5 stars Street, Free and found a spot really close! Ambiance: 5 stars This was the first restaurant we tried while visiting the Monterey area. White linen restaurant, great mood lighting, noise level was perfect. This place is really cozy and I was excited to be here. I love smaller restaurants that have great acoustics. This place is great for dates and smaller not so rowdy groups. Food: 5 stars They started the night off with an amuse bouche which always merits extra points Gnocchi Amuse Bouche- Gnocchi served over red pesto sauce. Largest gnocchi I have ever had served warm but the sauce could have gone one or 2 degrees higher. Sand Dabs- Ok I never had a sand dab in my entire life and didn't know what to expect. The girlfriend looked perplexed when I said I never had one and asked what it would look and taste like. She did her best to explain but I think the waiter did a better job- meh but it didn't matter - I never had it, so I was going to try it. I don't have a benchmark but I like the texture and buttery flavor. There was nothing complex or exciting other than my own excitement about this dish - I expected something that tasted like sand but it didn't, the dish was flavorful would try a sand dab again. Surf & Turf special: wasabi crusted lamb shank with crab cake served with asparagus and potatoes. I loved the Japanese take on this dish. Everything about this dish was perfect. Pesto crusted Halibut served with potatoes and ratatouille- I tried a bit of this, the halibut was moist, the pesto was flavorful but I enjoyed the ratatouille most. My surf and turf was better Mango mousse- Fluffy, light and flavorful. A great way to end the meal without feeling to full SERVICE: 5 stars Family owned Business. I believe Max's son was serving us. He was attentive, humble very polite and quite surprised when I told him that we came based on a recommendation from Los Angeles. He shouldn't be surprised- This place is great! read more

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We tried this place back in October while vacationing in Pacific Grove based on the reviews we read here. So, this trip we made a point to go back again and weren't disappointed. Max's wasn't a one hit wonder. We started with butternut squash ravioli. Not my fav but I don't like squash. It's my GF's fav though. She's had it both trips. Very sweet, piping hot when served. For a main entree I had the roasted Lamb Shank in a red wine sauce. Extremely tender, very tasteful, and the sauce was just enough. It didn't overwhelm the flavor of the meat, simply added to it. And know I'm not someone who likes sauces. My GF had the pan-roasted salmon and scallops. Salmon ws perfect, flaky, moist, and the scallops were perfectly done. We also had a nice bottle of Morgan Pinot Noir. On Tues - Thurs. they have 20% of bottles of wine. Total bill with tip was under $90. An excellent value for a tremendous meal. The owner is very nice, ambiance is good, quiet and simple, with just the right style of music piped in. I'll go back again when I'm in the area. read more

Vacationing from Florida we knew we had to make a reservation early so January we called and made our reservation for March 15 at 6pm and received a confirmation email for that date and time ( see attached). That evening we were running 30 minutes late and tried to call the restaurant to push back our reservation back. We got an answering machine saying they were closed on Tuesdays....... So no dinner there that night and had to find other options. Wednesday the day after we received a call and a lady stated "yes we are closed Tuesdays" I stated to her we had a confirmation for that Tuesday you gave us........ she stated "you can come now....." No apologies, no explanation, nothing!!! Ruined our first night. Please skip this place!!! Find something else!! read more

Delicious food, homemade pasta raviolis, and lovely service. Food was carefully prepared and cooked to perfection.

This is a nice find in Pacific Grove and relatively inexpensive. Max's has a three course prix fixe menu for only $25 consisting of an appetizer, main entree, and a dessert or a glass of house wine. If you try this option, always get the sand dab in meunière sauce for the main entree. Very yummy! If you want to order from the regular menu, get the Max's Cioppino (prawns, scallops, tuna, salmon, leeks, and fennel in saffron-tomato broth). The sauce is seriously yummy! By the way, this place is kid friendly too. They make the best pasta with butter sauce. The place is laid back, the servers are attentive, and the owner is super nice. And it's a great value. Check this place out! read more

Max's Grill - Raspberry mousse with fresh strawberries! - Seafood Near Me - Pacific Grove, California

What an amazing little place!! The menu has so many delicious choices it was hard for me to choose. Bread service was GOOD. Wine list SAD, however I understand that it's a small little place and they did at least have the bare minimum wines by the glass/bottle. Back on the happy notes. Service was friendly and knowledgable and everyone one at our 14-top was extremely satisfied. I had the Cioppino and it was phenomenal!! The Sand Dabs I also tried we're great! I definitely recommend this place for tourist and locals all the same. A cute, quaint, and possibly romantic place to have a delicious dinner. read more

Max's Grill - The Cioppino! - Seafood Near Me - Pacific Grove, California

Always a great meal there! For T-day, we had the prix-fixe Turkey meal, which was excellent. Wonderful desserts and wine as well. read more