So, because it's the start of Houston Restaurant Weeks, the boyfriend and I made reservations here...he had never been to Max's and I haven't been in a few years. We were both looking forward to it! Luckily we had reservations because the place was completely packed on a Saturday night and we sat right down. Now...it was probably one of the worst tables in the restaurant but who cares...we were inside and we were sat immediately. Because it was HRW, the menu was definitely smaller as was the wine list. But we didn't care, we knew what we were paying for. To make a long story short, we ended up with 2 glasses of pinot noir, max 'n cheese, pan borracho, 2 caesar salads, a kobe burger, a grilled cheese with tomato soup and 2 apple pies in a glass. Now, I know that sounds like a lot of food but everything was in smaller portions than was they would normally serve. So, that was good b/c we were still stuffed at the end of the meal! Plus, it was fun to try a little of everything! The food was very delicious and very fresh. I would definitely recommend the max 'n cheese, pan borracho, kobe burger, caesar salad. The grilled cheese sandwich was good but it was built with too much bread therefore too soft. The cheese it was made with was very delicious though. So, all of that food plus the wine was $90 without tip added yet b/c of the HRW deal. It would've been WAY more normally b/c it was a 4 course meal. Max's is definitely a fun place to enjoy wine, especially in the company of a group setting. It stays open until 2:00 am on the weekends afterall! Just beware, they crank up the music kind of loud after 8:00 pm so don't go there if you're hoping for a lot of conversation. read more

This is my second year to try Yelp Eats and I chose Max's Wine Dive this time. My experience, in a word, was FRUSTRATING. It takes a lot to piss me off... I am a very patient customer and all I expect is polite service and good food. I left Max's Wine Dive feeling resentful and sort of embarrassed for dragging 7 friends along. After reading previous reviews, I went to dinner with some apprehension but tried to stay optimistic about the food. Upon entering, you can see that the layout and ambiance is all out of whack. The restaurant has a hallway-feel to it and the crowd is pretty loud. The music was very random, to say the least, and I just couldn't get a feel for the place. We were sat in a gigantic booth that was both too long and too wide. I could barely hear or talk to my friend who was only one person away from me. So, we order drinks. My friend says that the waiter was very condescending when she mispronounced the name of the wine she requested. 3 out of 4 of us ordered off the Yelp Prefixed Menu and the 4th just ordered the haute dog. About fifteen minutes later, 2 more friends show up and order their food. Thirty minutes later, 2 more friends show up and order their food, and our party is complete. Let's do the math... (15+30) = at least 45 minutes passed before we even got our first course. I was really praying for amazing food because the waiting time was absurd. The macaroni and cheese was good, but I have had equally scrumptious (if not better) mac and cheese elsewhere. Also, it's hard to understand how a mac and cheese can have too much flavor, but maybe they can chill out on the salt and truffle oil. Equal parts of us ordered the fried chicken and the kobe beef burger. Somehow, the people who showed up last got their food first, leaving the other half of the table to wait another 30 minutes for the entrees. Although our waiter asked each person how cooked they would like their burger, the burgers ended up being placed in the middle of the table in no specific order. The kobe beef burger was nothing special. We had more fun playing with the ketchup than eating the burger. My first piece of chicken was so moist and juicy, but, as Rapper's Delight has stated, my second piece of "chicken [tasted] like wood" And, somehow, the collard greens did not taste good. They were mushy and salty as hell. I was seriously disappointed. My friend that ordered the haute dog, waited almost an hour for a dog that came out overloaded, salty, soggy, and messy. I can make a better HOTdog at my house for less than 2 bucks. By the time she got her food she was so pissed about the poor service and wait time that she had lost her appetite. The dinner came to a very underwhelming end when we received our chocolate cake and bread pudding desserts. They were all too sweet and no one even finished half. And to top the spoiled sundae with a rotten cherry, we received a bill with an automatic 20% gratuity. They had not warned our table about the inability to split checks in the first place. No one at the table thought that the servers deserved 20% tip. It felt like typical "auto-gratuity slacker syndrome" where the server knows that they will be tipped reguardless, therefore, they slack off in service. Yes, I made that up, but it's totally real. We had to call the manager over and he didn't help until I directly asked him to take the 20% tip off so we could figure out our own amount. I expected more out of this place and have never left a restaurant so disappointed. The most horrible thing about it is that I'd dragged 7 friends along to experience the nightmare. The service was terrible and they rarely visited our table. The food isn't much compensation. And the ambience is hectic, and I really think they missed the mark on whatever they were trying to do. I hate writing the bad reviews, but the experience was just that bad. I guess it's safe to say that I will not be returning to Max's Wine Dive. read more

I'm disillusioned with Max. The food isn't bad, it's just not what I want. I first went almost two years ago, shortly after it opened. A friend and I had been drinking wine at my place when hunger hit us at 11:30pm. We wanted to grab another glass while we ate and being that we weren't in the mood for Chapultepec, we headed to "this new wine bar up the street" that served food. I liked it. It had a rustic wine bar feel to it. Giant tables with booths surrounding them. Many appetizers whose descriptions were amazing. The one I liked best was chicken with corn cakes. Also, it was a wine bar; there were many great wine choices. It perfectly fit our needs. As time went on, the seating slowly morphed into many smaller booths and more bar satellite bar tables. The menu had been somewhat established, and in my opinion not for the better. Gourmet comfort food is kitschy, but not very appealing to me. The food is good, but not THAT good. I'm not really into undoing a week's worth of hard work in one go for the same amount of money I could drop on a cute top. See, I'm usually not that vain and vapid, but I think the menu choices just irk me that much. Back on point, the wine choices had changed, but were still great. I went for dinner this time (pre-theatre), and opted for a "healthier" chicken tortilla soup. Not so good with huge chunks of chicken. I also sampled the Drunken Bread. Eh...wasn't impressed. Most recently, I went for a friend's birthday. The company was great, the food was good, the wine could have been better. The restaurant had thankfully changed its policy in regards to separating checks for large parties. The food menu was essentially rooted in place (not necessarily for the health conscious) and the wine choices had completely changed and downsized. The seating had morphed (again!), and not necessarily for the best. I liked the original wooden tables and benches. They lent a slight old world wine cellar vibe. Now everything was replaced with not so expensive mobile tables that are more befitting of a strip mall restaurant. Great for fitting the maximum amount of people inside, but it's become a little basic and bland. What a shame. I got the boar gnocchi. I never eat pasta, but due to the lack of healthy-looking dinner options, I dove into gluttony. I should have gone with a half order. Too heavy. Tasty, but really thick. So it all comes back to disillusionment. I thought it served it's purpose and concept well as a wine bar with small plates and appetizers. Now it's just a little awkward as a restaurant. Trying desperately to forget its past, and running up ahead to catch up with the Mid-towners. So middle school of it. read more

In a word? Liked it. Well, that's two words, but you get the idea: this wine bar meets comfort food bar meets art bar in a strip mall I found to be a semi-elegant mashup of clever presentation in a larger generic mall setting. I tried on the pot roast which I genuinely enjoyed (ironically paired with a grenache followed by a Lone Star, figure that one out). Farrah postulated that maybe they drop some butter on the grill when things are slow to get folks talking about the food, and I kind of hope that's the case. Heaven knows I was starving by the time that my pot roast hit the table, and I made short work of it. Staff was on top of it, casual yet well timed, friendly without waxing over-the-top affable. Rumor has it that these guys are opening a Max's in Austin soon, and I'll definitely darken that door. Thanks for subverting the obvious, Max. Even winos need a little variety. read more

I freakin love Max's. However, the second time I went (last month), I was disappointed with the prejudice attitude that our server had. I work in the industry so I know about the whole "black people don't tip" stereotype. But I have always strived to give all ethnicities great service (partially because you never know who you're serving). Well our waiter was obviously rude from the moment we sat down (he was the heavy set guy with all the hair on his face. Seeems like he would've been super cool if we weren't black :-/ ). But he was rushing us through our meal. I made freakin reservatios yo! DO NOT rush me to get out of here. I almost didn't want to tip him just based on his attitude alone. But I know the industry so of course, I left him 20% and we were out of there in 45 minutes flat! He didn't offer dessert so even on my 2nd visit, I have yet to try any of their desserts (eventhough i was DYING for dessert this visit.) I think next time I go, I'm going to sit at the bar. Nonetheless, the food is always on point. I am never dissapointed with the food. But if you're black, beware. read more

This is a great place to have a great glass of wine and some fried chicken. I'd say it's more of a date night place or a place to go to catch up with a friend. It's pretty quiet and has a really great atmosphere. read more

We'd heard all the buzz about Max's, and had to give it a try. The menu items looked promising, so we parked ourselves in a booth, soaked up the vibe, and began our adventure. I ordered the Kobe burger (I love a great burger) and my girlfriend had the fried chicken. The chicken was OK, not bad, but nothing special at all, and not remotely worth $18. The burger was good, but not stellar, and not worth the price ($18). Very juicy but ultimately somewhat bland. It reeked of a chef trying too hard -- fancy ingredients are great if they make the dish better. Here they just seemed to provide more adjectives for the menu, and nothing for the pallate. For this style of burger, there are better options around town, and none cost over $12. The fries, on the other hand, were outstanding, better even than Barnaby's benchmark. A pleasant surprise. But the worst thing was the service. The restaurant was not busy, our order was wrong (and dropped off by someone else) and we never saw the waitress until we had to track someone else down to get our check. It's a pity. Max's is a clever concept, but its execution falls short. Good fries, though. read more

I had two other brunches I could have gone to today, but I opted out of them because of my schedule and because I was really hankering to try Max's. I went solo, and this turned out to be a problem. First, when I told the hostess, there was only one in my party, she seemed to suppress an eye roll , and then she said, "Well, would you like to sit at the bar?" When I looked around, plenty of booth seats seemed to be available, so I said, "I would prefer not to." She then got a bit of an attitude and said, "Well, we only have tall tables available otherwise. I hope THAT will be okay." Considering that I am five feet tall, was not atl impressed with her communication skills (seriously, she came off "mean girl"), and would have definitely preferred one of the booth seats, I almost said, "No, I will go somewhere else." My mistake was that I remembered how I took the long drive out there which prompted me to go along with a tall table. Not only was the tall table ridiculously small and wobbly. I saw a small table next to it (a short one) stay free the whole time I was there (about an hour). The server was nice enough, but it did take him way too long to get my food order after he got my drink order. At least my fried egg sandwich came quickly. While the bread and the bacon on the sandwich were superior, the rest of it was lacking. The eggs were not fried "hard", so this meant the egg yolk dripped all over the place, which isn't so great when lettuce and tomato are included on the sandwich. When my server brought my check, he NEVER in the fifteen minutes I stayed there came back to pick it up and none of the other servers during that time so much as made eye contact with me. I had wanted to pay cash but I decided to offer a credit card. My cash amount was not enough to cover a decent tip. But I waited and waited and waited. So what did I finally do? Paid cash. I have not tipped anything below 10% (usually I tip 20+%)in literally decades, but guess what my server got? about 25 cents. After the lousy service, I thought it was justified. All he would have had to do to get a better tip was pick up my credit card and make the transaction. His loss. I will be avoiding Max's from this point forward. My assessment is their food, though edible, is not nearly good enough to make up for what is lacking in service and personality. Plenty of "dives" may be short on ambience, but they don't end up costing me 23.00 for a beer and a sandwich, and they sure do deliver a whole lot better when it comes to customer relations. I could have gotten a far better fried egg sandwhich at BB's for about 1/2 the price I could have gotten comparable homemade chips at Bowl with DIVINE costumer service For what I paid at Max's I could have gotten a comparable meal with far better service and more smiles and much, much better seating at Black Walnut. Sorry to wine about your dive, Max, but this is a competitive business, and this customer is voting with her feet and her yelp review. Your signs asked for votes for some restaurant competition that puts you in the top 4. I want to know what your three competitors are. I am wondering if I should avoid them too. read more

Being a bit of a ladies man, I have taken 2 girls here so far while I was around that part of town. I must say it is a great place to take someone on a date. Both times I have gone we were helped by a lovely lady named Tay who made us feel right at home. To be honest I don't know my wines like that but I know that ladies love wine and she seemed to know a lot and made some great recommendations. We had some great chitchats with her, I would even say she helped things go smoother for me. The place itself has a very nice atmosphere. I would definitely recommend going here as part of a date if you'r into having a few girls like me or even just a special one, you cant go wrong. read more

I've been spoiled by the Max's in Austin, so this review is not gonna be the best. First of all, Chicken...no waffles? First time I had the fried chicken and waffles, I knew Max's was the only place I would visit whenever I craved the special southern high carb treat. Imagine my surprise when I look over the menu and realize the houston location serves chicken with...(barf) griddle cakes. I say barf because these are NOT pancakes! "Griddle Cakes" are some cornmeal + corn concoction that doesn't even go well with maple syrup. The dish failed on so many levels- not only was it missing the key ingredient *cough* WAFFLES, but the cakes were not delish. The waitress...If I can't get waffles, can I at least get service with a smile? She acted like she was too busy to wait on our table, had this "yea whatever" attitude" AND left a few items off our order. I had to wait about 10 minutes just for butter for my "griddle cakes" because no waitress/waiter was in sight. The only thing that brightened my day was the mimosas- downed 2 and I think I saw a unicorn trot through the front door as I was leaving- good stuff! read more

Even with phenomenal food, this place only garners 3 stars from me. There were many great things about this place, but so many misses that I just cannot justify giving it a higher rating, nor can I encourage people to put this on the top of this priority list. We were seated promptly and lucked into a booth. It took a good 10 minutes before we were even greeted by our waiter, but since we hadn't decided on anything yet, it wasn't a big deal. Once he came back, we were ready and went ahead with a bottle of wine (ridiculously affordable) and our food orders. I went with the grilled cheese sandwich and tomato soup with a side of fries. We were initially going to order two sets of fries, but our waiter assured us that one serving was more than enough. I'm so glad he did because between the three of us, we could barely finish our one order! My sandwich was actually phenomenal. It was the best grilled cheese sandwich I'd ever had and all the flavors melded into a wonderful, gooey mess on my plate. The bread was especially delicious and I think they used a garlic butter sauce to make it so golden brown. On the menu, this entree was supposed to come with a pickle salad and a tomato soup. When we didn't see our soup, we asked the waiter and he pointed at our tumbler of clear liquid and claimed that was our soup. We assumed it was dressing for the salad. I tasted it and though it was somewhat tomato-y, a shot glass of warm tomato juice does not constitute a soup. Another fun thing that happened was a typo on the receipt. One of the entrees was listed at a certain price on the menu, but the receipt came back a dollar higher. Sure, a dollar may not sound like a lot, but when you're paying that much for a meal, it doesn't feel good to have more taken out. The other troublesome things about this place were in the service and the atmosphere. The music was way too loud for a restaurant (this isn't a club, people!) and since it was a jukebox, we had a strange assortment of music ranging from Garth Brooks, some techno remix, and 80s jams. Coupled with the indifferent service from our waiter and hipster wanna be diners, I was ready to go at the end of the night. In the end, if I'm going to pay $38 (without tip!) for just myself, I expect better service, better atmosphere, and more food. Oh, and it would be nice if the menu accurately reflected what I am to expect from my meal. read more

I went on a Sunday night and, luckily, did not have to deal with the valet debacle at all! It was busy but not so busy that we got lost or forgotten by the bartender. If you've got less than 4 people, sit at the bar. It's a lot easier. Entree portions are out of control large. If you aren't that hungry, split something or get an appetizer. I had the scallops over a butternut squash risotto which was better than I'd expected. Desserts are also extremely large but worth sharing. If you've got a problem, ask for Mike - the head chef. He only wants his patrons to have a good experience. (And, he told me that if the valet gives you trouble, either move their cone or run it over. Don't let the parking be a deterring factor.) read more

Maxs is an old staple of mine. They're owned by the same person who owns the Tasting Room chain as well. You can never go wrong with their home style comfort foods. I met my guy for brunch today and he had an omelet with French toast and I had the gluten free chicken wings and Jake cakes. This was my first time trying the pancakes and they were so delicious and different because of the bell peppers inside of them. The chicken wings were sooooo good as always and flavorful! Because of the gluten free batter, I didn't feel stuffed at all. The orange juice and grapefruit mimosas is a great way to wash it all down! I'll always continue to come here whenever I crave their gluten free chicken! :) read more

MAX's Wine Dive - Yummy buttermilk cakes and gluten free fried chicken wings. - Wine Bars Near Me - Houston, Texas

Good news or bad news first? Lets go with bad! Bad news: Its loud. I bet most people will say its loud. It is loud. Loud music is, and will continue to be played here. But its not so bad. Just use it as an excuse to lean in close(r) to that special someone. Good news: The service although not the speediest on the planet is good service with a smile, and they're more than ready to make a suggestion for you if you're having trouble. The wine selection was really varied, and very reasonably priced (especially at happy hour). The food is some serious comfort food where the main ingredient is probably butter (but there's never too much ?) And last, but not least, who doesn't love a good reverse happy hour? Thus concludes good news, bad news. read more

i won't bore you with anything but the facts...ok and a little of my opinion. the Creme Brûlée French Toast is perfect and delish! the potatoes are yum tum and have a nicely seasoned spice to them the fried chicken wings were seasoned perfectly and fried without being greasy. the scene is meh, lots of people who are doing too much(enter a little of my opinion) read more

I'm on both sides of the fence about this place. Although I like their brunch items, their dinner however... ummm, not so much! I don't know whether to give it one star or five. So to be fair, I'll average it out to a three. I like the fact that it's a wine bar that serves upscale comfort food. What I don't like is the limited seating situation for large groups. Expect your group to be broken up for parties of eight or more. BRUNCH: They open their doors early for brunch on Sundays, 9:00 am. I never knew people eat so darn early on the weekends. Was here at 9:30am and it filled up pretty quickly. I had the Jake's Cake and Wings. That's basically Max's version of wangs and waffles. Four fried chicken wings served atop three cornbread griddle cakes with buttered maple syrup. The wings are not seasoned or fried as well as breakfast club, but good none-the-less. They're big and plump as well. The griddle cakes were moist and fluffy. Dense enough to stand up to the syrup. You had bits of corn in the griddle cake. My friend ordered the Creme Brulee French toast. The French toast was just as amazing. 2 Texas toasts sliced in half... the edges were crisp while the center was soft and chewy. Amazing thing about this dish was the creme brulee taste! It's like breakfast and dessert in one. The brunch items are heavy and definitely not for the diet-conscious. DINNER: I've ate here several times for dinner. Bar food gone classy! I try and try to like it, I just can't seem to come around and do so. I've had the fried egg sandwich, the Texas Haute Dog, and others - Fried Egg Sandwich: Toasted ciabatta bread, pan-fried eggs, applewood smoked bacon, lettuce, tomatoes and black truffle aioli. I would pick up the sandwich and my fingers would be coated with grease from the buttered bread. The flavors are big and brawling, but salty as well. I could not taste the flavor of the aioli at all, maybe in due part to the bacon's overpowering flavor. The sandwich felt so dry, it was hard to swallow down. - Texas Haute Dog: all-beef hot dog on a Slow Dough Bread Co. baguette served with fried onion strings, venison chili, jalapeños and cotija cheese. I thought the venison paired well with this dish. Good snap on the dog. However, when I ordered the chili on its own... The complexity of the venison meat was lost and the chili wasn't good. Least favorite dish among all my friends who've tried it. Now I've had other entrees like the berkshire pork chops and the fried chicken. I cannot really critique because it's been years since I've ordered either one. You might be wondering why I keep coming back if the food's not that great. Weeelll, other than the first time... my friends wanted to eat here. Don't get me wrong... I love the energy of this place. The concept is brilliant; they're the pioneers of gastrobars/lounges in Houston. And after several years under its belt... Max's is still hip and bustling as ever. It's loud, so don't expect a relaxed atmosphere. Great for people watching. I just wish the food was a bit lighter and not as greasy. read more

If you don't drink wine and you don't like fried chicken, don't bother reading this review. I go to Max's for 2 things: Wine and Fried Chicken. I have never ordered anything else except the addition of mac and cheese, and the big ass brownie. I might be lying to myself but this is the most guilt free tasty delicious fried chicken that I have found. And that's not even counting the gluten free option. The chicken is served on top of mashed potatoes and greens. The mashed potatoes are pretty boring but the greens really make up for any lack of taste. The mac and cheese is creamy and full of cheesy flavors. The biggest brownie aint so big; and if you're ordering it to go, keep in mind that it's a la mode, which they don't tell you. We will continue to go to Maxs just for the fried chicken and wine and be 100% satisfied and content. The service is always nice and speedy at the bar where it's easiest to find seating. This location is so small that it fills up quickly, so make a reservation if you don't like eating at the bar. The beer selection is small and unexciting to say the least. This location has only valet parking which is the standard bs for Houston parking, but there is a few street parking spots on the side streets. read more

Ok fine, maybe 1 star is harsh if I haven't even been there yet. But the reason I haven't been there is their own fault, because I tried! Tuesday I tried to go, but I couldn't find a parking space. Mostly it is because they pride themselves on valet parking, which means that they block off all possible parking spaces so that you are forced to valet. I think that is dumb. Also, the 1 valet was so backed up that it would have taken 15 minutes just to get my car parked for me. There should be a law against trying to provide valet parking if you own an establishment in a strip mall. Wine Bar or not, strip malls don't deserve valet parking. read more

A very interesting restaurant, we happened to be there for an early dinner during happy hour (1/2 price on certain appetizers.) We tried the following: - Nacho Mama's Oysters (fantastic! I really wanted to get more, but was convinced the trying other things would be more rewarding.) - Pan Borracho (MAX's famous "drunk bread") (also fantastic, messy, but tasty.) For dinner, I had the grilled cheese sandwich, which was served with a literal shot of tomato soup. The sandwich (and the soup) were fantastic...but messy, and greasy. I ate about half, and figured that since it was cheese it wouldn't reheat well. My fiance took the leftovers to work the next day and discovered that the sandwich reheated quite well, and was still fabulously messy. We had several different waiters during our meal, and they didn't really seem to talk to each much, but the service was excellent, the staff knew their wines, and made excellent suggestions. I look forward to going back to try more of Max's menu. read more

if you're interested in wine, better places for it - but the food can be good (albeit expensive for quasi diner food). The decor is ok: one brick wall lined with booths, the other a long bar, some seating outside to gaze on the strip mall parking lot, and TV's to watch sports. We sat at the bar. As pointed out in other reviews, this is in no way, a dive bar. Our server knew surprisingly very little about the wine on the menu, being unable to answer questions about specific wines. The selection is not varied in comparison to Reef, 13, and other places around town. The fried gator arrived undercooked initially, and then overcooked and absolutely tasteless the second time - no seasoning in the batter, and especially large chunks of chewy gator. I've sampled a lot of fried gator in new orleans (which has been better) so I'm not sure what the disconnect is. This appetizer was terrible. The fried egg, bacon, and tomato sandwich was flavorful, fattening, greasy, and good. The bread was substantial enough to hold its own against the fried food (maybe the leaf of bibb lettuce helped). An excellent well-constructed sandwich. My companion loved the ($29) strip steak, and said he would go back for it. We parked behind the strip mall and so had no problems with parking, or obviously, valet. *They do not serve food consistently until 2am as claimed, so it's best to call ahead and double-check if the kitchen is still open. read more

I really want to love Max's. I really do, but it came up short... Here's the run down: Atmosphere: Fun, but cramped. A booth runs along one wall of the place, there are a few high tables that go down the middle, then the other end of the place is one long bar. There are also three 2-seater tables on the same wall as the front door. I made reservations three weeks in advance, and got a table right next to the front door... nice. Granted, it was Valentine's, and all of Houston was out for dinner, but when I booked the table she said they didn't have any reservations yet. Wouldn't you think the first person to book a 7pm table would get something better than right next to the front door? I would think so. We enjoyed our dinner with all of the people waiting for a table, just inches away... Wine Selection: Great! Prices were fairly marked up, but that's normal. Lots of good California wines, I love it when I know a lot of the wines on a menu! Try the Jade Mountain blend - so good! My husband did note a disappointingly small selection of Italians on the list, but what are you gonna do (read that last part with a Soprano's accent and it's way funnier!)? Food: Overall, very tasty. I had the fried chicken with some kind of heavenly honey sauce. Seriously, it took me back to having chicken mcnuggets at McDonald's and dipping them in honey - and I mean that as a huge compliment! It was scrumptious. Also served with greens (yum!) and fluffy, buttery toast (not un-like the toast that comes with the chicken strips at Whataburger - another bonus) The only set back was the mashed potatoes that came with - they were really dry and honestly tasted like something from KFC. Sorry for all the fast food references, but it was fried chicken, what else am I supposed to compare it to?? The hubby had the Kobe burger and it was really good. Not the best burger he's ever had, and not quite worth $18, but still really good. Service: Good. Not too pushy, and for such a busy night I would have thought our check would have arrived way before it did. It was actually nice not to be rushed. Our server also made some great recommendations - the chicken for example, and was overall very nice. Overall feel: I liked it. I'd probably like it more if it weren't slam packed on Valentine's day, but I still liked it. The food was good, the service was good, the wine was good, the atmosphere was slightly lacking, but it was a busy night. I want to go back, and possibly love it someday. We shall see... read more

Had my birthday dinner here a while ago. The wine selection is pretty good. had the fried alligator for an appetizer which was delicious. then had a burger which was equally as great. all of my friends loved their dishes as well. there really werent any complaints from anybody except for someone got a grilled cheese sandwich which was "bland" but really, who gets that... a little pricey, but its a "wine dive" so its only expected. One complaint that i did have was that the seating sucked and was relatively small. Not really good for large parties over 10. place is pretty hoppin later at night and makes for a pretty good atmosphere. definitely recommend trying it out! read more

If I were grading solely on food? Five by five. Great fried chicken, great chicken fried steak, great eggs-any-style with great bacon, great grits. Unfortunately, that one fateful brunchy Saturday, our waitress started off by saying "i'm hungover," and then proceeded to prove it. Out of the four people in our party, she got the pregnant lady's order wrong. Lemme repeat that: She got. The pregnant lady's order. Wrong. Good thing Preggo was feeling nice and mellow that day and didn't make an issue of it, and her (wrong) dish was mighty tasty as well. Server also forgot OJ that was asked for twice. read more

Can you say Busy, busy, busy! Came here on a Sunday morning for brunch and it was packed and poppin, with only bar and outside seating available. Only seating available was at the tail-end of the bar. (Side note: This is not a good place for anyone to sit) After Flagging down the bartender I ordered the creme brulee french toast with 2 of their infamous chicken wings, boy oh boy! Sooo good. The french toast tasted like cake. Light, Fluffy and Soft. Delectable. The chicken was fried to perfection, with a nice season in the batter. The food here is great, the service i presume is probably better if you actually reserve seating through open table, or if you get a good seat at the bar. read more

They are famous for their fried chicken, but it's very forgettable. The menu advertised jalapenos in the batter, but I couldn't taste even a hint. Worse yet, the chicken was dry. I immediately regretting not trying the fried egg sandwich, though the thought of three eggs in one day makes my heart hurt. The husband and I shared mac and cheese for an appetizer, and that is basically all I can have of it. However many cheeses are used make an INCREDIBLE mac, but my stomach was unforgiving later. So good, but so greasy. Their burger is supposedly one of the best in the state, but it was just a good burger. Overall, I can see Max's appeal and would love to give their happy hour a spin. But for dinner, it's entirely too much grease. read more

I really like Max's Wine Dive. The Washington Ave location has the best chicken I've tried in Houston so far. Even better than the newer location in Montrose. The crispy, succulent chicken has just enough spice to give it a kick, and the flavor jumps at you with every bite. The chicken breasts are always juicy, and although they don't serve wings with dinner entrees, you can order them at brunch. Max's isn't all about the chicken though. They have great mac-n-cheese and their collard greens are on point. Ditto for the shrimp and grits. Their menu changes regularly so don't be afraid to try something new. They have regular specials (chicken-fried lobster tail, anyone?) as well as a good happy hour menu (chicken wings!). They also have an extensive wine list...for you to enjoy with your chicken. I've always had good service at Max's no matter how busy it is. Although the Fairview location is closer to where I stay, I like the Washington location better overall. read more

My friends and I pay Max's a visit on a weekly basis. Good luck finding a table on a Thursday - Saturday without a reservation. We usually go on Tues or Wed (which are still busy days) and the server or hostess usually tries their best to 'squeeze' us in w.o a long wait. I enjoy the effortless trendy atmosphere and not to mention the extensive wine list. We always get a bottle of their Cabernet coupled with a few of my favorite appetizers: the rib basket, to-die-for truffle Mac & Cheese, and their seasoned fries. We usually go to Max's to have vino & small bites to eat... but the few times where I did order an entree, their baked cod and pot roast made from Kobe beef cheeks are amazing. I love the scene and their servers are very knowledgeable of the wines and super friendly. Only con would be limited seating. read more

Brunch: Chicken Fried Steak and Eggs ($16): 5/5 - Chicken-fried 6 oz. Prime NY strip steak with truffle gravy, grits or home fries and two fried eggs - I ordered the jalapeno cheese grits which were pretty good considering I don't usually like grits. It could have used more cheese. I love how they cook their eggs sunny side up because it's too runny. The chicken fried steak was fabulous. The truffle gravy delicious. It's a great deal for only $16 considering their dinner version with the mushroom gravy is $24. Mimosa ($3): 4/5 - very nice - not too much juice, larger than a champagne flute Happy Hour and Dinner: Chicken Fried Prime NY Strip & Eggs ($24) - House-made jalapeño and buttermilk-marinated 6 oz. Prime NY Strip steak smothered in spring mushroom gravy with two sunny-side up eggs and bliss potato hash Nacho Mama's Oysters ( 1/2 Dozen $9 / Dozen $17): 3/5 - Crispy fried Gulf Coast oysters and garlic aioli on fried wontons with house-made habañero salsa and fresh cilantro - It was really good - but I think a tad expensive for what you get. Killer Calamari ($7): 3.5/5 - Semolina-crusted tender squid, fried and served with a classic marinara sauce Southern Fried Chicken Tenders: 5/5 - House-made jalapeño and buttermilk-marinated chicken, deep fried slow and low - I've never had better chicken tenders - it's the same batter as their southern fried chicken - not greasy - nicely seasoned batter. Between the brownie and the bread pudding - I liked the brownie more. The bread pudding was not custardy enough for me. The serving size is HUGE. Ambiance: 5/5 - it's a busy atmosphere, but intimate with a NYC feel. Service: 5/5 - it's always been very attentive without being pushy. read more

On a Monday night, this place wasn't busy and crowded which is great. I was able to listen and talk to my friend over a glass of wine. We didn't really try the food but we did try the cheese plate. It was good. Good pairing with a glass of wine. One day, I will come back to this place and of course try their food. I know that their menu ranges from grilled cheese sandwich to fried chicken to wild boar pasta. But I think I would want to get the max & cheese. Hehe... read more

Retract any positive feelings towards this place. Seems like they've lost their great attitude towards customer service and providing a high level of service in exchange for their high prices. Friend parked in the parking lot across the street designated for Max's, went to Max's and then came over in front of 360 to meet up and make decisions on where to go next and found her car getting towed less then 10 mins later when we made a decision. Talked to the Max's manager (John) and he said there is nothing he could do as he looked at my friend's receipt from Max's. In truth, it's Max's authority to allow towers to tow cars in that lot. Shady business means no business from me and my friends. DO NOT ENCOURAGE THIS BEHAVIOR FROM THIS PLACE AND STOP GOING HERE read more

The first time I came here, I remembered a good experience, however, my second visit for HRW was not as great as I remembered. We came around 9 on a Saturday night and it was not super busy. We got our water and then we ordered our wine. The wine I order "Bosio moscato" was really good. The server took a really long time to come back and take our order. Two of us ordered from the HRW and two of us from the regular menu. My boyfriend got the fried oysters nachos which were really good! My sister got the truffle mac and cheese was good as well. She also got the burger as her entree and it was not relly good. She barely ate it. My boyfriend got the fried chicken. It was not as great as I remembered. The honey that we got to wasn't as good as I remembered. It tasted like regular honey... I also got the calamari for $18 and it looked so sad... I was extremely disappointed. We were also very upset at our waiter. The food took forever to come out. He was never to be seen, and if we saw him, he never came by our table. When it came to getting the bill, one of my friend was so angry he got up and went to someone that worked there and asked for the bill. He also went up to give our credit card to pay. I'm not sure if I'll be returning here anytime soon. read more

Love Max's wine dive. They have a decent wine selection and the staff is very knowledgeable. If you are stuck in the dark about what wine to order do not be shy. Go ahead and ask. You will be greeted with a warm smile and a staff eager to learn your likes and dislikes. You will be guided in the appropriate direction and pleased with your glass. The Food is savory and hearty. Even though, I found some menu options more, how would I say, on the heavier side. The appetizers, soups, salads, and entrees worked with the pairing of wines. As a warning, some dishes are quite intense. For example, I witnessed an individual handed a chili dog. This is not the typical chili dog. It was the largest chili dog hugged my a voluminous bun, drowned in chili, sprinked with cheese. This entree could only be tackled my using a fork and knife. I'm not sure how one would fully enjoy this entree to only wash it down with a glass of wine. As a warning, come with an empty stomach and be prepared to be stuffed, but happy. The bar has a great social scene. Although, I recommend coming with a friend or two. Why? Because the large and vibrant crowd can be over whelming. If you are prepared to be loud, drink, be social than Max's Wine Dive is your ideal location. Be sure to dress in something fun and flirty if you are a gal. And gentleman, don't show up in tee shirt and jeans. Be sure to wear your newest oxford and some stylish jeans. The noise factor and the wait for a table can be a draw back, but if you are ready to drink and chat with your friends, and possibly some strangers, than head to Max's. You will not be disappointed. read more

No more truffle oil! Yuck! I recently went here for Houston Restaurant Week. The experience was very mixed but my final verdict is that I don't think I'll be back, thus 2 stars. The restaurant is loud, REALLY loud. The 7 of us were seated in a booth which was pretty comfy and our server was definitely above average. She was on top of orders and our bill all evening. We ordered wine and then food off the HRW menu. Unfortunately, our waitress brought the wrong bottle of wine to some of the people at our table, and I was surprised when she didn't offer to do something about it. Our food was overall below average. The fried oyster appetizer was very good. The tomato soup was gross and like red tasteless dishwater. The pan borracho was mostly bread and lacked much else. The fried egg sandwich was not good. It was huge and the ingredients looked great but unfortunately it was DRENCHED in truffle oil. The truffle oil was completely overwhelming and destroyed the taste of everything else! It was completely ridiculous! The southern fried chicken was a very large portion and was fine. The chicken was good quality and tasted good but nothing too special. For desserts, I ordered the chocolate chip cookies. Chocolate chip cookies are some of my favorites when it comes to dessert, but these were bad. The cookies were just bad sugar cookies with chocolate chips stuck in them. I didn't even finish them and I typically love love chocolate chip cookies. I tasted a friend's brownie and was very unimpressed. Overall the food was all over the place from the awful (tomato soup, fried egg sandwich, and chocolate chip cookies) to the good (oysters and fried chicken) but nothing was great. The service was good; our waitress even split our bill for us, which was a task in our case with 7 people with some couples mixed in. The HRW menu is a good value at Max's but not that tasty. I don't like that valet parking is really the only parking option. Also, it says "complimentary valet" on the sign, but as I got in my car the valet held my door open waiting for a tip. Yes, I gave him some money, but the way he acted, it was absolutely a requirement for him to close my door. *sigh* I don't like valet. read more

Been here 6 times.... Service awesome Discounted price bottles of wine after they have been open for a day or two. The crowd is nice on a week day night, other than that stay far away from this place for brunch on a Saturday and a Sunday doesn't bring the best crowd. mostly all Mashed potatoes are good, chicken fried steak is good too! Another experience during on a weekday: No plastic wear ? When I spend $195 on a Togo order ? Well won't order this for my office again for lunch! Had to go next door to Molinas and get some ! They have probably saved you guys more than once. read more

I went to Brunch here, the Hostess Mariah was extremely helpful and friendly that the wait seemed minimal she continued to bring water, and mimosos during my wait. Once I was seated the food was definitely worth the wait. The chicken and waffles by far beat the breakfast club that I've gone to for years! Ladies and Gentlemen we have a new brunch spot in Houston! We will definitely be back thanks to Mariah's hospitality and the great food! read more

Great place to hang out and relax. The service is prompt and knowledgeable, and really friendly to converse with. We went with a sizable group, so we pretty much had a sampling of the menu. Everyone was raving about the Frites, but I didn't see what all the fuss was about. The Sliders, while overpriced for the portion size, were excellent, as was the Max and Cheese. For the entrees, I went with the Kobe Beef Burger, which was delicious. However, I think I preferred the Yankee Pot Roast. The Grilled Cheese and Wild Boar pasta also drew rave reviews, and I think we all wanted to try the Haute Dog, but none of us could justify paying $14 for it. Maybe next time. The prices are all a little extravagant, but supposedly they use as much local-bought food as possible. Plus, their wine menu isn't too badly priced at all, so you're defraying a little of the cost there. The waiter was definitely knowledgeable about his wines. The bottle our resident wine connoisseur asked for was out, but the waiter recommended another excellent, similar bottle. It's all out of my league, but I was impressed. The best part of the whole meal? Without a doubt, the dessert. We ordered a sample of them, and they were all phenomenal. My recommendation? Come here for the wine, maybe order a dish or two to share, but definitely stay for the dessert. You'll go home a winner. A couple negative points: the place is rather small, so go early unless you want to be stuck hanging out at the bar. As you can imagine, it's a tad difficult for large groups (we squeezed seven people quite uncomfortably into a booth). And parking, parking, parking. Circle around to try and find street parking; otherwise, bite the bullet and valet. read more

I was here for my birthday and had the Prix Fixe menu for Restaurant weeks for my birthday. The Mac and Cheese was ok (not like Mom's) and the Caesar Salad was uneventful. The fried chicken came with a Breast ,Leg and thigh (no scrimpy wing) Collards (Delish, needed some hot sauce) mashed potatoes and a triangle of texas toast. For desert I had the Thin Mint Brownie which was pretty good. While the food was ok, the wine was really good. We had a bottle of prosecco to celebrate my birthday (mmm.) and a red that I cannot for the life of me remember the name of. But it was delicious. You can get all of these things elsewhere, but what really makes this place great is the ambiance and the waitstaff. There is Real art on the walls (not generic reproductions) which I love and our server was a really nice guy (and we tipped him well!). Tip: This place is small and trendy and PACKED on regular nights. Make reservations via Open Table or calling. Max reservation is 8. Free valet They have bottles of any wine you taste for you to take home. I am going to have to try the brunch! read more

I didn't intend on eating at Max's Wine Dive last night, but it was one of the few places that was open at 11pm on a Tuesday leaving from downtown. Though last night was not my first time going to Max's, it was my first time experiencing their reverse happy hour which was from 11pm to closing (midnight on Sundays, Mondays, and Tuesdays). I was really craving their fried chicken, but I knew there was no way I was going to finish it all so late in the evening, so the happy hour menu it was. My date and I ordered the buffalo sliders (3 sliders topped with grilled onions and a pickle, with ketchup and mustard on the side), rib basket (4 or 5 yummy short ribs glazed in a sweet asian style glaze), and a portabella carpaccio (this was my healthy dish to balance out the rest lol, consisted of a portabella mushroom topped with arugula and I forgot the cheese that was along side of it). The food was good as always (though both my date and I were very disappointed in the sliders), ambiance was great, but really dislike the close seating which can fill up pretty quickly. As late as it was, the place was nearly full with seating being somewhat limited with the exception of their little patio area outside the restaurant. Will definitely go back again, but will go earlier so I don't feel so guilty eating the fried chicken. read more

The word "dive" in the name is such a misnomer for me, especially when it comes to a wine bar, but anyway I'm a fan for sure. I've been coming here for about a year and a half every couple of months or so, so I'll break it down: LIKES: *Max's Fried Chicken - not too greasy and the skin is so crisp, the meat inside moist. Deee-licious! *Wing Cakes - served only on brunch on Sat. & Sun, the wings are cooked just like the friend chicken on the regular menu, but they sit atop the fluffiest and most delectable griddle cakes - not too sweet and the syrup tops everything off. *Kobe Beef Burger - ok, seriously there is freakin BRIE on it! aaaand it's Kobe beef. *The atmosphere - vibrant, but NOT annoying-I-wanna-get-the-hell-outta-here packed. I find it's a nice place to hang out with friends or some one-on-one time with the S.O. *The staff - seem to be very knowledgeable about the wine. I am no expert myself, but I appreciate that they cater to my questions when I have them. Things that are kinda ehh... *Mac-and-cheese - nothing I'd write home about. It was decent. I always love proscuitto. *Banana and nutella crepes - they weren't that flavorful. Just ok. *Seating is very limited. I especially haaaate the tiny circular tables for two. It can barely fit two entrees and glasses on there. *The pricing is not enough to where I can go there as often as I like. Food prices run a little high. If you do get wine by the glass, you have to commit to 2 glasses. read more

Not quite what I was expecting, being in a strip mall, etc. But, so it goes in Houston. We went for a friend's birthday - they accommodated the large group easily. Though I can't say too much about the wine selection since someone at the table had already made those decisions before I arrived. We enjoyed what we had though. We were suspicious of the fried oysters initially since we aren't used to seeing them served this way. But, they were amazing. The oysters themselves were HUGE. I'm told this is a "gulf oyster" thing. Highly recommend. I ordered the fried egg sandwich. It was alright. The bread was too crunchy/hard, so it was difficult to bite into. That combined with runny yolks just made for a mess. It tasted good enough, but I have enjoyed many other egg sandwiches a lot more than this one. I also tasted matt b's pimento grilled cheese. It was...gross. But, I think we just don't like pimentos? Our mistake probably. Deserts were simple but good. I'd skip the bread pudding (it was a little dry) and just go for one of the brownie things. They had a great dark chocolate brownie w/ chili. Overall a fun casual place. Food seemed to be MUCH more enjoyed by those eating meat though. So as long as you eat meat, you'll probably like it quite a bit more than I did. read more