MAX's Wine Dive
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I was charged $70-something, and honestly, I was really disappointed with my experience at Max's Wine Dive on Washington. The guy working the bar was really friendly, so I will give credit where it's due. BUT my chicken came out undercooked TWICE. The first time, I took one bite and there was literally blood coming out of it. I sent it back, was very nice about it, and didn't make a big deal. The second plate came out... SAME PROBLEM. At that point I was completely grossed out. I ended up taking the chicken home, where it sat in my fridge until I eventually threw it away. I'm not sure if they're still working out the kinks since the restaurant recently reopened, but for what I paid, I definitely expected better--especially when fried chicken is supposed to be one of their signature dishes. I personally wouldn't recommend going right now. If you do decide to try it, PLEASE cut your chicken open and make sure it's fully cooked before taking a bite. I wish I would've done that the first time. Definitely not the experience I expected.
I met up with a friend and his family for dinner on Saturday evening. I'm unsure if they made a reservation but we were seated promptly and provided water. We were also informed that the menu was available via QR code. Our waitress came shortly after (maybe within 5-10 minutes) and took drink and food orders. Some of us hadn't been ready to order drinks yet since it's on a different tab than the dinner menu online. It took a while to get her attention to come back, but we eventually flagged her down. The drinks and food came out promptly and our waitress checked on us a few times to ensure orders were correct. I got the OG cheeseburger (no pickles) with truffle fries. The burger was pretty solid but a little on the salty side. The cheese (actually, unsure if that was cheese now that I think about it) on the fries were a little hard and honestly unnecessary. The fries themselves were delicious though and I appreciated that they provided the mayo and ketchup separate so you could add it yourself or simply use it to dip the fries. I've been here once before for brunch so this was my first time for dinner. The music was nice and the decor was cohesive. I didn't go to the bathroom so I can't speak to the cleanliness. Overall, I thought it was a pretty good experience and I plan to return for happy hour in the near future.
If you're looking for an unforgettable dining experience in Houston, look no further than Max's Wine Dive on Washington Avenue! Having frequented this gem for over a decade, I can confidently say that their food and service (for the most part) have been exceptionally consistent throughout. The quality of their food is truly outstanding, from their legendary collard greens to my personal fave - the mouthwatering Cracklin' Chicken. Everything is delicious! The atmosphere is vibrant, sultry, and upscale, blending chic and cozy perfectly. The entryway is a standout, featuring amazing lighting and lush seating, making for the perfect photo op. Their wine selection is top-notch, and their service is impressively speedy without sacrificing quality. They are incredibly accommodating, and truly made my last visit feel special. Their prime location combined with ample parking ensures convenience for all guests. Whether you're there for a casual evening, Wednesday Steak Night or a grand celebration, Max's Wine Dive never disappoints! My only feedback is towards service and management - update the menu with what's actually available. The lead waitress basically told me when I picked a Chardonnay out of stock she would just select something comparable for me. I asked if it was house Chardonnay but didn't receive a clear answer. That was off putting, this is a wine themed restaurant and I want to know exactly what I'm drinking. Also, if I ask for the notes in a wine, I expect the waitress to be informed or find out but my question was brushed off.
This was an interesting experience with mixed reviews. The 2for Tuesday deal was amazing. A drink and selected entrees for 20 bucks. The deviled eggs were amazing. The chicken had absolutely no seasoning. However it was perfectly crunchy, which was weird. The empanada was delicious. This is not a bad happy hour for Tuesday. I wouldn't mind going back. Service was also a little different but overall, I enjoyed my experience.
As you can see from the pictures the food looked great. Well it tasted great as well. The chicken and waffles were both chewy, and crispy at the same time. The waffle batter was sweet and the chicken flavored for my taste buds. The service was ok but maybe that was because of how busy they were. I didn't enjoy the way the place is set up because you don't have much room to move around.
Our friend suggested this place so he knew the food was good. We stopped in on Friday and I was surprised that they were serving brunch. The music was good and fit the brunch ambiance, but I felt the music was slightly too loud because it was a group of us. It seemed like it was blaring on that side of the restaurant. It's not brunch unless you can find chicken and waffles. I mean the legit chicken and waffles with fried chicken not chicken tenders. I not only found chicken and waffles with fried chicken but also the "hot" one that's more like Nashville hot. I was pretty impressed with the size of the fried chicken and how perfectly cooked and not dried out! I'd give it a 9/10 just for the perfect crispness and how moist it was. The chicken was nicely marinated or brined. The only thing lacking was more heat and flavor on the "hot". I love spicy so the waitress suggested collard greens because it has a little kick to it. I tasted the little heat, but was too sour for my liking. I've never had collard greens cooked with vinegar for that sourness before so I wasn't expecting that. I found out from my friend that it's the southern way and every place makes them different. It was cooked just right but I'd prefer them prepared without that flavor. I'd definitely be back for the chicken and waffles.
8/10 Ambiance is nice, it is small & cozy. Cute for a little date night or happy hour vibe with your homegirls. I really enjoyed the music playlist. Service was excellent. Now to the food, I got the HONEY BUTTER CHICKEN BENEDICT & H-TOWN HOT FRIED CHICKEN. Both were delicioussss- The only thing I would not get again is the grits, but other than that I will be back. I'm not a fan of grits, and this shows me why lol
I've been coming here for years and it truly used to be one of my favorite neighborhood spots. The service was always great, the staff was warm, and the prices felt fair for what you received. It had that comfortable, local vibe where you could relax and enjoy a solid meal without feeling like you were splurging. Unfortunately, my recent visit was really disappointing. For three pieces of chicken and two sides, my total came to $44 -- for one person. That pricing feels completely disconnected from what the dish actually is. What made it even more surprising is that the cost of that simple chicken plate is now the same as some of the newer menu options like crab legs and crawfish. That just doesn't make sense. On top of that, the ambience has shifted. What once felt like a cozy neighborhood restaurant now feels more "upper echelon," and not necessarily in a way that enhances the experience -- just in a way that justifies higher prices. I understand that costs go up and businesses evolve, but longtime customers notice when value changes this drastically. I truly miss the balance this place used to have between quality, service, and reasonable pricing. I hope they can find their way back to what made it special in the first place.
Not too crowded on a late Saturday evening when we came for a late dinner/drinks. My friend who used to work here always talked about the delicious fried chicken so I was very much looking forward to trying it.. Got the Chicken waffles, fried chicken and tried out a few appetizers like the brussels sprouts and truffle fries. The food was okay, the portions were great though- very generous. The chicken tenders were massive and seasoned well. I could barely make a dent in my waffles and we both had to get to go boxes.. (Waffles are not your typical Belgium waffle in that it seemed more buttery perhaps with the buttermilk recipe) I was not a fan of the "frozen kool-aid", not sure why it was recommended by the waitress but it was literally just champagne and kool-aid pre-mixed, not sure what I was expecting lol, but in my sober state would not opt for any pre-mix high sugar cocktails. I will say the wine list here is extensive, and if we hadn't been already drinking liquor I would've opted for a glass here and enjoy the vibes at the bar. It had the feel of a sports bar more than wine with some TVs showing games and somewhat louder ambiance. Overall it's an upscale comfort food place, good for brunch and a few glasses of wine, they also have happy hour on the weekdays from 3-6 (check out the menu!)
We visited this location for brunch. Upon walking in, we were greeted promptly. When i asked about the chef special, the waiter didnt know. He asked and never got an answer. We decided to go ahead with our order. The food was good. The drawbacks for me was 1. The music was a little louder than my liking and 2. The bathrooms were terrible. They smelled gross and there was mold all around the sink. Although the food was good, i dont think ide go back
2 years ago
This is Legendary Chicken Fried Lobster Tail Dinner...the lobster is amazing but the unsung hero is the greens! I have tried the fried chicken...hot it's a must have if you are a fried chicken aficionado. They also have fun frozen wine drinks that are good if you want an option to a glass of wine. The hot is not too hot, but the chicken is fried to order and it's gonna be a wait. Get a drink and get comfortable it's definitely a good date vibe! The wait staff is knowledgeable and ready for orders from the time you sit down. read more
6 months ago
1 year ago
1 year ago
I was so hungry and the sandwich was so good so I took a picture only of half of what I ate, but I can tell that was one of the most delicious sandwich I ever had the chicken sandwich. It's one of my favorite and also the burger is so good!! Highly recommend about the service and the prices super affordable and worth every penny every time!!! read more
2 years ago
I love Max's Wine Dive, but this was my first going for dinner instead of brunch. The service was still very good, but I think the ambiance and space was so much better at the Fairview location! Regardless, I think the food for dinner was okay. I did my usual order of chicken and waffles for dinner, but it didn't hit the spot like it usually does for brunch. So from now on, I think that I will stick to Max's for brunch only. read more
Haven't been here in 2 years, I'd say MAX'S is worthy of an updated review I suppose. We made reservations for brunch on a Sunday afternoon and the place was not very packed, thankfully! Our server was great, very attentive and ensured we had what we needed. The playlist they had on was a vibe. The food was great and so were the drinks. I've been back to MAX'S since starting this review and having it sit in my drafts so clearly I'd return. They are doing good things so check them out if you're looking for a chill spot for brunch. read more
Business owner information
Laurie H.
Thanks for dining with us! We appreciate your review!
4 years ago
Well well well, what can I say....went to Max's and they delivered!! I'm not from the south and was on vacation. I knew I wanted some southern comfort food and Max's Wine Dive was suggested. It was my first time at this restaurant and I'm so happy I went. Pulling up it was a smaller parking lot....pretty much a strip mall but we were able to find parking easily. I was instantly greeted by Kierra and sat at my table with people that were waiting on me. It was happy hour and hunny I love me a happy hour. I Instantly ordered a class of Rose to get my Friday started. I was in the mood for some good ole fried chicken and ordered The Famous Fried Chicken. Baaaaybeeee, it was a hit!! Totally hit the spot! The chicken was so crunchy and the flavor hit my taste buds like no other. I also tried some fried devil eggs. I have never in my life had fried deviled eggs and I can tell you they changed my life...you hear me! The food was so fresh and also came out pretty fast. Cameron and Kierra assisted us and they were super sweet! They didn't miss a beat! Checked on us often and made sure we had what we needed at every moment. My cousin ended up joining us later and they made sure to accommodate us and seat her at our table. Those two ladies made my first time at this restaurant a good time. I honestly can't wait to come back. There were so many other things on the menu I wanted to try. read more
4 years ago
I haven't been to this location in years. Unlike the Montrose location, there is plenty of parking. The yummy food... every time I have came to Max's in the past, I never got the shrimp and grits. I have no reason why. What I do know is that I have been missing out for YEARSSS. In MY opinion, them Grits are THE bomb. Very flavorful. My friend ordered a side order of French toast. These were good too. The only downfall is delay/forgetting our initial drink order. Whenever our frozen drinks came out, the full presentation wasn't delivered, but the drinks were still good. I've always had an enjoyable experience at Max's. read more
Go there and get the chicken. It is perfectly seasoned perfectly fried. It was literally delicious. Also very good was the collard greens and the rice pilaf. Our servers name was Tim. He was awesome. Made great recommendations. I had the fried chicken meal. My cousin had the salmon it was cooked perfectly not overdone very flavorful delicious my other friend had the seafood pasta. The flavor was good but the sauce it's self was very very watery so they need to thicken up there roux a little bit more. And my final friend had the braise short rib, she said that the meat was flavorful, but it wasn't as Tinder as she liked over. All the meal was great the red velvet Oreos taste better than the brownie in my opinion, because the brownie with a little bit dry, but I would return back to this place of business. read more
Max's has such a good vibe inside. It's really intimate and has nice music. That being said, they are supposed to be known for their chicken but my parents and I all thought it was subpar. The menu says it's supposed to be fried with jalapeños and other flavors. I'm not sure if it's only the tenders, but the regular chicken is not very flavorful. But the thing that really let me down was the French toast. It's 2 pieces of bread cut diagonally. Not even Texas toast but the regular small loaf of bread. I was so disappointed when the waitress brought it. The only part I thought was good was the waffle my mom ordered, everything else was subpar. Also the mimosas are $5, but they're the tiniest mimosas I've ever seen. read more
Business owner information
Laurie H.
Nicole, thank you for your review and we're sorry you had a less than…
3 years ago
Great Sunday Brunch. Spectacular fried lobster tail with the smothered crawfish sauce. Fluffy red velvet pancakes. Great ambiance, professional customer service...Loved the experience, thanks will return. read more
2 years ago
The food is fresh and definitely well made and presentation is great. I ordered the spice chicken sandwhich with truffle fries. The chicken sandwhich was breaded, seasoned well and juicy. The truffle fries had no truffle oil and sprinkled with Parmesan and were not considered truffle fries. The garlic aioli lacked garlic or flavoring. The service was great and the spot has good ambiance to sit at the bar or at a table to chill. read more
Unfortunately I have to update my review due to food poisoning. I truly had a great time here and thought the food was delicious. However the food was extremely greasy and salty which was prob the reason. From the start, we knew the truffle fries had too much truffle oil but I ignored it. Such a shame because it was actually a good restaurant. I do not recommend for those who cannot tolerate greasy, salty, fatty foods. Pains me to write such a bad review but I ended up In the ER 7 hours later so I feel like I had no choice but to report food poisoning from eating here. read more
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Laurie H.
We apologize for the experience because this is never the experience…
4 years ago
This was my first time dining here in many many years! The experience went well. The chicken was sooo delicious! The greens were amazing too! The only thing I had a problem with is, a side of Mac n cheese was $10 dollars and the container was only 1/2 way filled. I definitely wasn't feeling that and if I would've noticed it before I left with my to go, I would've asked them to put more in the container or asked for a refund. Other than that, everything was pretty good! read more
6 years ago
It's Easter Sunday funday and I reserve my table cause I wanted some fried lobster! I'm so glad I'm reserved!!!!! This location is booked up and people are continuing to walk in to get a table. We stared off with water and a pomegranate mimosa.. (good & strong) my food order was the chicken fried lobster, greens and smothered potatoes. I assume my food would take a minute before being ready so we ordered the fried deviled eggs. But that wasn't the case, food came out right behind my drink. Lobster was overly battered but I like it, potatoes were perfect for me and the collard greens were a little to salty for my liking. Fried deviled eggs were actually better than I thought. Weather was perfect so we asked to move our party to a outside seating and it was accommodated easy. read more
Business owner information
Laurie H.
Thank you for your review Shermika!
1 year ago
2 years ago
Came here for a happy hour on Monday and it was awesome. Really great priced wines for happy hour and it's all day in Monday! Loved the Malbec that was on the menu. What really surprised me were the appetizers. They had fried deviled eggs! I love deviled eggs in general but the fried part adds a unique texture to the dish. I didn't love the smashed potatoes but either way extremely affordable HH prices. I'll be coming back read more
Business owner information
Laurie H.
Hi Martha! It is so great to hear that enjoyed your experience with…
6 years ago
Came here for a Sunday brunch. We made a reservation the same day but were still able to get a booth. They are enforcing social distancing, which I loved to see. All the workers were wearing masks, and you have to wear a mask to enter. I've heard a lot of great things about this restaurant, and I think that overall it lived up to the hype. Service was pretty good and fast. I love me some shrimp and grits, so I had to see what their take on that classic dish was like. Overall I enjoyed it. I wasn't really feeling the poached egg on top, but it didn't spoil it for me. Instead of ordering individual mimosas as, we got a couple bottles of Prosecco ($30 each) and tried all the different juices they had available (orange, pineapple, and grapefruit). I didn't like the fact that our booth was right next to the restroom. Like RIGHT next to it. So we had to endure people walking past us and into the bathroom the entire time we were there. Also they were missing a couple mimosa flavors we wanted to try. Overall though, it was a good experience, and I'd come again. read more
Business owner information
Laurie H.
Thanks for sharing your experience with us Preston!!
3 years ago
Great music. Great ambiance. Small walk space and small tables, were my only complaints. Love that you can see the cooks at work. The servers were excited to tell you about the food. Everything came out fairly quick, with a full house, and hot! First time in Houston and was told this was one of the must try places. Will definitely spread the word and will go again if I'm in Houston! read more
Business owner information
Laurie H.
Hi Veronica! It is so great to hear that enjoyed your experience with…
This is my second go round here. I have not been here in years. This was the Washington location with decent parking. Our waitress was on point. She continued to check on us. The food presentation was good. I just needed a little more seasoning. That is my personal opinion. The greens tasted like granny was in the kitchen with a little sweetness. I got a side to go! The Birria burrito was pretty good as well. Overall it was a good visit. read more
1 year ago
8 months ago
1 year ago
3 years ago
We arrived shortly before closing time, but our server Tim didn't even seem phased. We had the fried pickles and some really good burgers when dessert came out at the perfect moment! Red velvet covered fried Oreos, à la mode! read more
2 years ago
4 years ago
Gem in the city.. came expecting a dive bar but we got 5 star food & 10 star service! Chef let us try a fried jalapeño duck - honestly I almost licked the plate! ( I would have never ordered it- so glad he suggested it!) All wine options and beer options are available! Don't come for mixed drinks- none to be had. read more
3 years ago
The service was great , the food we loved will recommend this place to anyone, and will go back soon been a while. read more
4 years ago
Max's has never let me down. Their fried chicken is top tier. They have the best grits in houston. The French toast is perfect. I order A La Carte because I like little parts of so many dishes and it's always worth every single penny. Service is great. Everyone is nice. Everyone is attentive. read more
4 years ago
Okay food is delicious but the place is hella small! Like hella small. You need reservations don't just pop up there's no space lol read more
4 years ago
It was great! Service & Food were so on point. Everyone in our group enjoyed their time there. Loved the art on the walls too! read more
Business owner information
Laurie H.
Hi Trell, It is so great to hear that enjoyed your experience with…
2 years ago
4 years ago
Decided to try this place while visiting Houston recently. I was not disappointed at all. Service: 5/5 no issues Food: 4/5 I had chicken and waffles and I would definitely come back to get them again Vibe: 5/5 I liked the place even with the good music playing in the background, my friends ands I could still hear each other speak read more
3 years ago
Food was okay . Not sure if I would run back. The devil eggs were delicious though especially because I don't even like them but these were very good. Chicken was dry and fried way too hard in my opinion. read more
2 years ago
More info about MAX's Wine Dive
4720 Washington Ave
Ste B
Houston, TX 77007
Washington Corridor, Rice Military, The Heights
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(713) 880-8737
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https://maxswinedive.com
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If you are wanting to order gluten free only, is everything that comes on the Fried Chicken plate gluten free (waffle, greens, sauce, etc)?
The CEO of the company was diagnosed with celiac disease and retrofitted all his kitchens with celiac-safe food prep areas and fryers. Look for "AGF" on the menu.
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