I'm between a 3 and 4 but I'm rounding up since a couple of trusted folks have advised that maybe this particular seasonal menu just isn't for me. I was so excited to try Maxwells Trading. Went with a friend for dinner after having booked our reservation weeks out. My initial reaction is that the scarcity is being manufactured because there were quite a few empty tables for a Friday night.. maybe they just don't have full staff? The staff they do have are friendly and helpful! I would say, though, the service is not quite as on top of it as what other restaurants of this price point and formality level tend to offer. Things like waiting for water, rate of dishes being cleared. Again this could mean they simply need more staff. The food was a mixed bag and I just expected better. The sweet potato and fish were outstanding. Chicken was absolutely meh, tartare was only ok (really missing some textural interest in my opinion). whoever is making that artisanal dip needs to try the one at Longman and Eagle... This one is a lacking. The space is nice with a good amount of room between tables which I appreciate for privacy and comfort. It's a good volume level overall, another big plus. It's a pretty space but a little boring overall. The strongest area of excellence is beverage. The wine list was interesting and balanced and the cocktails we tried were outstanding and beautifully made. I'd come back if invited! Probably wouldn't suggest when there are so many other wonderful spots in this range. Hoping for better in the future and wishing this team well! read more

This restaurant is a GEM! The food is so good, I have been thinking about the eggplant and mushroom clay pot for the last week! Cocktails and wine choices were excellent. Husband had a Sazarac and it was perfection. Ambiance and service were great! But that food though...!!! Is a brunch menu in the future? read more

Meets the hype. Chicken was extraordinary (roasted). Every dish was creative, suprisiing, super fresh, nicely spiced, cooked perfectly. I was sad to leave. read more

First off the vibes and overall aesthetic of this place is amazing. Our server was lovely and attentive. Drinks were great as well. I'd recommend the Cosmopolitan cocktail-it was sweet and strong. My friends also enjoyed the Queens Park Swizzle cocktail. Downside is some of the dishes fell short and were a bit underwhelming. Between three people they recommended 2 dishes per category, but we skipped out on the first section entirely and were still incredibly full. It started off strong with the French Onion dip and Whipped Ricotta with hot honey. Each dip comes with 2 pieces of fluffy, soft griddle bread. We then got the Soup Dumpling Tortellini, which I didn't particularly like. It might be an acquired taste, but it was oddly sour. The Clay Pot Rice was a hit and probably the best thing we had overall. The pork belly was tender and flavorful. Now unfortunately the mains weren't as good and were a bit disappointing. The King Salmon was just okay, nothing special. The Pork Katsu was dry and I personally didn't think it paired well with the spicy diced peaches. We ended dinner with the Royal Milk Tiramisu, which was divine. It has a strong tea flavor, but it pairs well with the sweetness of the chocolate and hint of saltiness from the hazelnut. Could be we just chose things that didn't suit our palate, but likely wouldn't go back, unless just for the vibes and a few drinks/starters. read more

See all

Very good food and wonderful vibe. Comfortable and we were able to order many dishes to try a variety and we liked all of them. Service was terrific. Love the decor. read more

1. Clay Pot Rice - Yamagata koshikari, pork belly, lap cheong, shiitake, yuba, kale 2. Black Cod - fennel, endive, enoki mushroom, lime 3. Japanese Eggplant - Magnolia Grill confit tomato, herbs w/ scallion pancakes 4. Prosciutto & Gnocco Fritto - caprino cheese, black currant-pepper jam 5. Basque Butter Cake - confit apple, miso caramel, apple cider sabayon 6. Royal Milk Tiramisu - black tea mousse, praline chocolate, caramel hazelnut Really solid food and overall experience. I'll just say all of those listed dishes taste good with a few shortcomings: 1. Claypot rice should be crispy on the bottom. At least that's how the traditional dish is supposed to be. 2. Basque Butter Cake should be paired with a heavy sweet flavored cream or ice cream. 3. The scallion pancakes that come with the eggplant need a ton more scallion! Service was excellent. Great attitude by the staff and they were on top of changing out plates and silverware at our table. I like the rehabbed warehouse design and spaciousness between tables. read more

See all

I really liked the ambiance of this restaurant. It's industrial, yet upscale, bright and open. The entire menu really sounds appetizing. We ordered a variety of dishes and honestly enjoyed them all. The one dish I would pass on is the forbidden rice pudding for dessert. I normally would love that flavor combination, but the texture of the rice pudding was not what I expected and ended up not even finishing it. read more

See all

Somehow snagged a last minute reservation on a Saturday! Everyone has been talking about Maxwells Trading and it was everything we hoped for and more. So many unique flavors and dishes - I couldn't describe this cuisine in just one word. We started with Japanese eggplant with a homemade bread. Next we had the clay pot rice - definitely worth the price and had 4 different kind of mushrooms. This dish had such a cozy feel. The pear tortelloni was very special, lots of savory flavor with the almond pesto. We ended with the chicken on a bed of collard greens. The chicken was so juicy and flavorful. Great selection of drinks, wine, NA cocktails. Wonderful and friendly service. What I enjoyed most was not sitting so close to a nearby table. There was plenty of space to spread out and not be in other people's conversations. Open Tuesday-Saturday so snag your reso! read more

10/10! We were here to celebrate a birthday and every dish we had knocked it out of the park. The server was great and gave us a snack to start because we were starving before ordering all items and she timed everything perfect. We had an early reservation and immediately all tables were full. Bravo Maxwell Trading, a new west loop must try! read more

Maxwells Trading - Clay pot mushroom rice - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

Wonderful evening at Maxwells - beautiful space, great vibe and excellent service. Dined with a large group so we were able to try a lot! cucumbers - nice dish great flavour but I didn't love the pairing with the silken tofu, french onion and whipped ricotta dips - WOW! Only criticism would be you get more of a 'swipe' of each dip, a bigger/deeper portion to dig into would be appreciated, the bread is unbelievable, little round donut-like bready pockets, I've never had bread like it...the Caesar was great. Moving on to the sweet potato - unbelievable again - creamy curry sauce with a perfectly cooked sweet potato just sitting packed full of flavour, the zucchini stuffed pappardelle - so much flavour beautifully cooked and unique flavour blend, to finish - the chicken and the steak as mains, both epic. Wouldn't skip a thing, we also tried the panzanella which is more like a soaked piece of bread with plums - very good but would recommend serving this as an app as it doesn't really say 'main course' - beautiful dish though, only regret is not getting dessert read more

Maxwells Trading had been on my radar ever since I heard about it. It hasn't even been six months since they've opened, but they managed to cement themselves as Chicago's best new restaurant. And after dining at Maxwells Trading four times now, not only do I agree, but I believe this is one of Chicago's best restaurants, in general. Why? Well, when people think of "Chicago food", the first thing that comes to mind are Italian beef's, pizzas, hot dogs, etc. Or beloved Chicago institutions such as Peqouds, Mannys, Al's, Calumet Fisheries, Billy Goat Tavern, and so on. But in my opinion, nothing embodies what Chicago is all about more than Maxwells Trading. Spearheaded by Erling Wu-Bower, Josh Tilden, and executive chef Chris Jung, Maxwells Trading offers fantastic dishes of the New American variety. While the majority of the food here leans into Asian flavors, you will find dishes that draws inspiration from Italian, French, and Peruvian cuisine. The latter of which is evident in a delicious chicken a la brasa. But in my opinion, Maxwells Trading excels with dishes that feature Chinese, Japanese, and Thai flavors. You would think this a restaurant that offers cuisine of the fusion variety, but I believe the food is here is a the embodiment of New American cuisine and of what Chicago food is all about. The restaurant is located in the Kinzie Industrial Corridor and takes residence in a large warehouse space. The interior is sleek, modern, and has a very upscale but unpretentious vibe. The space is large, inviting, and impressive. Jazz, rock, hip hop and soul music fills the room and you will often see Erling Wu-Bower on the floor paying close attention to tables, checking in with the hostesses, having a quick chat with customers, and cueing up records on a turntable located at the end of their bar. I've even seen this guy sweeping the floor every now and then. This is all indicative of someone who is truly trying to provide a top notch experience for his many customers. I also respect the fact that he once tried to add tripe as a breakfast item at a hotel he worked at. Throughout my four visits here I have been lucky to sample a variety of dishes. I've had the Suzuki tartare, gnocchi fritto, Japanese eggplant, French onion dip, whipped ricotta, Japanese sweet potato, soup dumpling tortellini, the clay pot rice, the Loaf Lounge marbled rye, chicken a la brasa, the turbot, a magnificent basque butter cake, and the royal milk tiramisu. All of them are delicious and cooked to perfection. I didn't find anything to be underwhelming at all. In my opinion the stand out dishes are the the griddle bread with the French onion dip, the Japanese sweet potato, the Loaf Lounge marbled rye, the chicken ala brasa, the claypot rice, the turbot, and the basque butter cake. My favorite dish is the clay pot rice which features pork belly, lap cheong, shiitake, yuba, and fava beans, and Yamagata koshikari. The flavors in this remind of eating in Chinatown as a child at various dim sum restaurants. The basque is one best desserts I've ever had, in general. But you really can't go wrong with any of the food here. Order whatever looks interesting to you! My only knock on this place is that sometimes they will play jazz, and I can't stand it. I just personally hate jazz music and I say this as someone who performed in an acclaimed high school jazz band who earned very high marks at competitions throughout the state. I refuse to go to the Green Mill because of my disdain for the genre. I find it disheartening to see reviews on here proclaiming that the food is bland, subpar, and nothing special. That is just insane to me. I realize that people have different tastes and whatnot, but c'mon. I imagine a majority of them have been through a lot throughout their life and must have endured a tumultuous upbringing. They need some sort of creative outlet but are devoid of imagination or talent, so they come here with overly critical opinions. But underneath it all, they're saying, "Please, listen to me! Anyone, PLEASE LISTEN TO ME!". Anyways, the food here is outstanding. This place is truly something special and one of the best restaurants in Chicago. Do yourself a favor and keep an eye out for reservations. They're hard to come by, which is more than understandable in my opinion. A++ read more

See all

Amazing food, ambience, service and staff! I love small plates and this place did not disappoint! The marbled rye and the ricotta cheese- delish! The corn caramelle: the cutest pasta (like wrapped candy) ever, with the perfect pesto sauce Bone in steak: served with lettuce wrap and 3 different kind of sauces: was really good too! My husband got the Cesar salad- it was huge! No way could we have finished it, which is sad, because it was really good. Had a citrus-sy dressing, and some ingredients I have not seen in a traditional Cesar salad, so was definitely unique and very yummy! For dessert we got the butter cake which was also amazing! Overall great experience in this Michelin mention restaurant! Can definitely go again and would recommend if in the area!! read more

See all

I've experienced my fair share of renowned chefs, from: Thomas to Daniel to Rupert and Bobby and not to forget Charlie or Evan; all unbelievably accomplished chefs (to say the least). Then, last night, I come upon this young chef named Erling Wu-Bower whom I never heard of before and who absolutely blew me away; like blew me away where I questioned what planet or even what galaxy he came from? Yes, he was just that good! Everything going on here at Maxwell's Trading was exceptional and definitely rivaled every name I mentioned above! Chef Erling is so talented I dare anyone to go up against him. My #2 son (out of four) who lives in New York came here to Chicago for his birthday. My wife, I, son #3 who lives here in Chicago and his fiance got seated exactly on time, which was just how good this place ran. There wasn't an empty seat here, even at 9:30 on this Friday night; what signal is that sending? The menu was so eclectic, that we were grumbling on what to order. We ended up with: * Heritage Pork Katsu - crispy pork chop, apple, celery root, wasabi, Steen's-mustard vinaigrette that was so good we ordered another helping of this dish * Chicory Caesar - which is my cherished salad I could eat everyday had radish, fennel, crimini mushroom, breadcrumb, parmesan cheese, caper vinaigrette * Whipped Ricotta - TRC hot honey, burnt lemon that was so good, we used our index finger to get every ounce of this serving * Suzuki Tartare* - nasturtium, coconut, peanut, lemongrass, chili - just GREAT * Japanese Eggplant - Magnolia Grill confit tomato, herbs that was sublime * Japanese Sweet Potato - Siam style Thai green curry, basil just as excellent as the eggplant * Pear & Taleggio Tortelloni - arugula-almond pesto, pecorino, breadcrumb my favorite dish * Black Sea Bass - salted black bean, ginger, garlic, watercress, Liv's soy sauce that was so good this is where I got realization of Chef Erling coming from another Galaxy * Our desserts were Royal Milk Tiramisu and Forbidden Rice Pudding that topped off this dinner in the best of ways. The staff here was so well trained and the atmosphere was so comforting that it made this night very special (could you tell by my writing). Sometimes (but very rarely) an inventive / creative individual comes along who just has the skills and powers to pull off a dinner like we had last night. All I can say is - BRAVO! read more

Wonderful and creative food, good wine list, great atmosphere, and service. One of one favorites in the city.

My literal favorite restaurant in Chicago. The food is INCREDIBLE and the ambiance is so unique and cool. It feels like you're sitting at a trendy restaurant in south east Asia. Highly recommend the French onion dip and the bread. Service was impeccable and the drinks were strong and tasty. Would go back every week if I could! read more

See all

Busy vibrant place. Food is meant to be shared and we ordered one or two dishes from each category. For drinks, recommend the Vesper. A mix of gin, vodka and lemon. Server fave us some great food recommendations. Give this place a try as you won't regret it. read more

Had one of the most fantastic meals in a while in Chicago at Maxwell Trading. This restaurant has an innovative take by blending Asian flare with American/Italian cuisine. There was not a bad dish ordered, but there were definitely some favorites. The must-have beginning was the suzuki tartare. The fish was super fresh, and the coconut was super subtle. For dunks, definitely do not skip on the French Onion Dip and hummus. Paired with the scallion bread, these dips are hard to stop eating. The whipped ricotta was good, but it was a bit sweet for me personally. The soup dumpling tortellini was another must order. We liked the hay and straw, but the acid could be a little overwhelming at times. The chicken was good, but some parts of the skin were a little burnt and lent to an acrid flavor. Besides that, it was cooked to perfection. There is no doubt I will be back!! read more

See all

Loved everything about this place. The food was excellent, the drink selection was great & ambience / aesthetics are top notch. Highly recommend for a night out or if you're in town visiting - you won't be disappointed. read more

See all

Delicious! Came here before it got put on the Michelin list. I followed them on Instagram and it lived up to the hype - the Japanese sweet potato Thai curry was so complex and rich and flavorful. We loved the grill bread and whipped ricotta, we definitely got extra bread. I want to come back and try all of the other dips. The chicken was juicy and flavorful. We liked the fettuccine, it was fun to try a meatless "carbonara" since I usually can't have pork-based carbonaras. The drinks were bright and yummy. The vibe is cool and swanky, I felt cool walking in. It's a really good parent place or place for date night or girl's night for a lil celebration - it was a fun random weekday night celebration with my friend, but a bigger group would mean you could try more things. Definitely recommend! read more

See all

A great meal in a lively space. Still a hot ticket to get a table with service a little spotty at times. The french onion dip and griddle bread was excellent-rich without being cloying. The suzuki tartare was on point and a must try. Love the interplay between the lemongrass, chili, coconut and peanut. The highlight was the bavette steak salad-bright acidic flavors with umami to keep you wanting more. For dessert, don't sleep on the basque cake. Price point of $18 may be steep but worth it. read more

See all

To start, we were running late. I had made reservations months before and had been waiting to go. I hated the idea of having to miss out. When we called they were so understanding. Phew! When we arrived, we easily found free street parking. I guess with being not smack dabbed in the middle of the West Loop, this is one of the perks. When entering the building, the space was airy yet warm. The wooden seats were comfortable (slightly surprised) as that is not always the case. The menu itself was unassuming in what would wait us. It was a diverse selection of cuisines blended together. Luckily, I had received some recommendations to help. The server was also helpful to ensure we had a well rounded coursing. All items are interested to share. Things we ordered: soft shell crab, French onion dip, soup dumplings, and hot clay pot. I also had a glass of rose and my friend had an old fashion (nicely balanced and not overly boozy.) French onion dip has truffle and chive and is puréed. It contains cream cheese which is a game changed. The bread it's served with is also wonderful. Someone tried to remove it since we ran out to bread. We weren't having that. Someone even licked the spoon before we handed the dish over. The soup dumplings are also a must. They had a great umami and not oily. Everything was great. We were full, but not uncomfortable. We will definitely be back! read more

Maxwells Trading - Clay pot - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

Overall (8.547/10) rec(y) vibes(9/10) vtm(6/10) A beautiful place with packed tables making for a slightly loud but bustling atmosphere. Food portions were reasonable for the price range/type of restaurant and put unique twists with familiar asian flavors. Service was excellent and served a delicious sparkling wine complimentary which scores bonus points in our book! Would for sure recommend. Drinks: (93/100) Last Word 93 Fruit (Non-Alcoholic) 91 Free Sparklng Wine: not scored (91) +2 Food: (92.333/100) Average Japanese Eggplant Griddle Bread 94 Japanese Sweet Potato with Green Curry 94 Corn Caramelle 92 New York Strip 91 Dessert: Rice Pudding 90 Royal Milk Tiramisu 93 Scores weighted (50% food, 10% drinks, 20% value to money, 20% vibes - service/atmosphere/bathroom etc) read more

See all

The hype is real. Let me add to the chorus of good reviews. We've been here twice with friends. Both times everyone enjoyed their meal and experience. This place reminds me of what the West Loop food scene used to be. Before it was filled with corporate restaurant groups and commercialized restaurants. It's just darn good food without over the top Instagram-able cheap frills. The place is still very esthetically pleasing however. Staff is well trained and professional. Big, comfortable bar that accepts walk-ins. The focus is and should be on the food. It's all outstanding. read more

See all

Upon entering, I loved the industrial/modern interior. We started with the prosciutto & gnocco fritto which was my least favorite dish of the night. The gnocco fritto was light and airy just not a big prosciutto guy. Next came the hummus which was awesome. The bread was tremendous and even fluffier than the prior. The third dish was my favorite: the Japanese sweet potato. It sat in a nice Thai red curry but the creme bruleed top made it perfect. I could order just that and be happy. The fourth dish was the clay pot mushroom rice. So many different mushrooms and very good rice which was both soft and crunchy depending on where in the pot it was. The soy sauce that accompanied it was sweet and paired great. For the two mains we got the sea bass which was tender but lacked in flavor and then the pork belly which may have been slightly overcooked but had a phenomenal marinade. Finally, we got the red bean brownie sundae which wasn't too sweet but had just enough with the ice cream and banana. Overall, the timing was great and everything was delicious. Each dish had a textural element with some kind of crunch that elevated it. read more

See all

An instant favorite in Chicago. Every dish we tried was crafted with unique flavors, and the service was super warm and welcoming. As many others have noted, the French Onion Dip and Japanese Sweet Potato were the stars of the meal. The French Onion Dip was incredibly rich and umami-packed, and when paired with the fluffy griddle scallion bread, it was simply chef's kiss -- we could easily have been content with just that for our entire meal! The Japanese Sweet Potato had a caramelized layer on top that contrasted nicely with the soft texture of the potato and the spice kick from the green curry, which created a delightful flavor experience. We also enjoyed the Bone-In Strip, which came with veggies and three dips reminiscent of KBBQ, and the Corn Caramelle, featuring a fun texture and deliciously corn-flavored filling, and the Pompano seasoned with Cantonese egg sauce & paired with scallion. The heirloom tomato appetizer was refreshing, though the tofu was more medium-firm than silken. The Japanese eggplant was flavorful, though more of a side-dish than a spread. The Basque Butter Cake was a highlight, with a perfectly crispy exterior and a moist, buttery interior. The rice pudding, however, fell a bit flat, as it was too soft and lacked the firmer texture we typically expect with rice pudding. read more

See all

Each item was perfectly balanced with flavor and texture! My friend and I had NA drinks, Tart and Fruit, refreshing and not overly sweet like most NA drinks. We split, Beets and Pears, French Onion Dunk, Japanese sweet potato,Heritage Pork Katsu and Royal Milk Tiramisu. Loved it all and savored every bite. Perfect amount of food. Great ambiance and plenty of free street parking. read more

We had dinner for 2 here on a Friday night. Inside, it's very spacious, with simple and sleek decor. I love the huge wrap-around bar. They had a limited beer menu - no IPAs The Japanese eggplant seemed to be marinated in a vinegar sauce, garnished with mint and cilantro and served with a scallion pancake. There were some big salt flakes, so every few bites tasted salty. I didn't love the flavor profile and wouldn't order it again. The stuffed pappardelle was my favorite dish of the night. The noodles were long and had nice texture. Very good flavor and the cauliflower was cooked nicely. The Japanese sweet potato was really interesting. They steam it over 3 hours. It's homogenous and super soft inside and it's finished with a sweet glaze on top, that gives it a crispy sticky texture on top. It's served with a curry sauce. Though it was very unique, I didn't really like how soft the potato was and I thought the chai/ all spice flavor was overpowering. The Bavette steak was marinated and cooked well. It had a lot of flavor and I liked eating it with the lettuce wrap and didn't use much of the sauces. The basque butter cake was rich and thick. My husband really enjoyed it. Overall, a lot of interesting food. Each dish seemed exactly what they wanted it to be. I just think many of the flavor profiles weren't my taste. If we come back this season, I definitely want to try the fazzoletti and clay pot rice. FYI- there is ample free street parking nearby. read more

I ate solo here as my friend ended up with a delayed flight and I wasn't going to miss this reservation! The staff were very friendly and accommodating of the change. I wanted one of everything on the menu, genuinely. The French onion dip with a gin martini in an ice cold glass is just the sexiest and most delicious thing you can do for yourself, I mean I don't know what could be better. The dip was rich in flavor but light in texture, and those griddle breads they serve it with are just so savory and warm. The Japanese sweet potato was likely the best thing I had, the curry really smacks with a ton of flavor, and enough spice for anyone to tolerate but also enough to remind you it's a good solid red curry. And the potato is BRULEED. For dinner I was between the pork belly and the black sea bass. I went with the sea bass and thought it was great although the sauce it sat in was a touch on the thin side. I was so full that I didn't get to have the basque butter cake for dessert but I'll absolutely be back ASAP for it. Service was amazing, Eliza was very helpful!! read more

See all

We ordered the Grilled Mushroom & Lettuce Wrap, French Onion Dip, Hay & Straw Fettuccine, broccoli, and Basque Butter Cake. Everything was great! I really enjoyed the french onion dip! The bread it comes with was so good we asked for more. read more

See all

Every now and then, I see raving reviews about Maxwell and it's been on my list for a while, but it's kind of one of those restaurants where I'd be okay without ever trying but there's somewhat of an interest. Being that we wanted to try something new, we ended up at Maxwell on a Friday night. The location was interesting being it's on the far end of West Loop because it doesn't seem like many things are out there; however, I'm not complaining because parking was so easy. The restaurant itself is really big. You don't really see that kind of space in the city. Between two, we shared the whipped ricotta dip with griddle, katsu, sweet potato curry, corn caramelles, and the basque butter cake. Everyone was raving about the griddles, but I just felt like it tasted very similar to frozen scallion pancakes without the scallion. Nothing wrong with that but very overpriced for what you get. Two griddles is definitely not enough for the dip. We had to put way more dip than we usually would on our griddles just to finish it. The whipped ricotta was more so on the sweet side since the hot honey was not hot at all and kind of tasted like a jam. We were actually in between ordering the french onion versus the whipped ricotta so maybe that's on us.. but it just was so unforunate to have this dish taste like dessert. The next dish was the corn caramelles which was the best dish of the night. It was a Thai pesto flavor with candy caramelle shaped pastas. The corn crisps on top was such a good play on texture. There is only about 8 caramelles though and if you want to put it in perspective.. for that price, it comes out to $3 each bite. The pork katsu was also really good. I've never seen or tasted a katsu that resembled so much of a steak. It was definitely on the fattier side but boy it was goooood! I wasn't a huge fan of the vinegar sauce and the cantaloupe salad was really not necessary. The Japanese sweet potato had good flavor and is such a great vegetarian option but it got pretty sickening for me. I did end up dipping the katsu into the curry which toned down the vinegar sauce. We ended our meal with the basque butter cake which was good at first because the sweet tooth was so strong but it quickly got tiring to eat because it was so plain and dry. Overall, this place has all the date night vibes you'd want but for the price and quality of food, I just know for sure there's way better options within a mile radius. Also, understand it was a busy Friday night but all our dishes came out so slow and the waiting period in between each was like 10-15 mins.. Our dinner went over 2 hours which didn't make too much sense for what we were having. read more

See all

Incredibly unique and well executed dishes! You must order a dip because the bread they serve it with is AMAZING. This hybrid between a scallion pancake and naan must've taken years to perfect but it was so worth it-- fluffy and soft with just the right amount of chew. I was excited to try the bruleed Japanese sweet potato with Thai curry, and was it was an explosion of fall flavors and spices! My only critique is that the curry overpowered the delicate flavor of the Japanese sweet potato. The soup dumpling tortellini was a fun dish and I could drink a whole bowl of the broth! The roasted carrots were a favorite dish with all the flavors going on and the delicious spoonbread. Do not skip dessert! The basque butter cake was a standout. read more

See all

TL;DR Great attentive servers, dishes came out quick, wonderful cocktails, & thanks to some Yelp research we had some of the best dishes, chicken, onion dip, basque butter cake and corn caramel pasta. Details to come... Vibe and atmosphere is fairly casual but the food is elevated. read more

My wife and I loved our visit to Maxwells Trading. The ambiance was casual yet trendy and inviting. The food was innovative - Japanese sweet potato and clay pot mushroom rice were memorable. The service was friendly. Can't wait to go back! read more

Maxwell's was excellent in every aspect. Free parking is plentiful. The space is modern and cool, much bigger than I expected. Staff was friendly. Drinks were strong and that's a good thing! And best: the food was excellent. Had the Cucumber Tofu and the Gnocco to start. Opposites. They attracted. Both delicious. Then Leek Papardelle with crawfish. So good. Finished with Sea Bass in a deep Asian broth. Also excellent. One suggestion: the broth is so good I was using a spoon for it. The Bass was great but the sauce was maybe not thick enough for the fish. I found myself wanting something that great sauce stuck to. Minor wish. Ended with scrumptious basque cake. No complaints at all. Great time, great restaurant. read more

We had a wonderful experience at Maxwell Trading! We had a group of 4 which allowed us to try multiple dishes across the menu. The Brussels sprouts, French onion dip, sweet potato and pork belly were just a few favorites. The service was outstanding. She was very knowledgeable about the menu and even brought surprised us with a birthday dessert. I will go back to Maxwell Trading - if I can get a reservation. read more

WOW Maxwells Trading is an amazing new restaurant! You need to visit before it gets super popular and is hard to get reservations! We got reservations the same day for a late dinner and loved everything about this place. The ambiance is minimalistic warehouse vibes with large windows, cool ceiling, and modern lights. It's so elegant and chic! And the food is spectacular. Every dish we ordered was wonderful! Bees Knees cocktail ($13): sooo delicious and smooth! Great start to the meal Mushroom and Lettuce wrap ($12): such a great burst of flavors! Japanese eggplant ($16): soooo good! The bread that came with it was pillowy soft and so yummy Fazzoletti ($26): also really delicious and it came with a decent amount of lamb meat Black cod ($37): fish was perfectly crispy on the outside and very flaky on the inside. The portion was a bit small for the price but we thoroughly enjoyed it Tiramisu ($14): to top off this amazing meal we tried the tiramisu which was PHENOMENAL! The best tiramisu I've ever had! For some reason parts of it were very cold (would've preferred the whole thing to be room temp) but other than that very minor unexpected discovery it was fantastic! Overall Maxwells Trading is an exceptional restaurant and I would love to visit again! The service is also professional and pleasant. You can't go wrong with any of the food! read more

See all

Love the vibe, great service and delicious food! We sat at the bar on a busy Saturday night. We had the best bartender/server, Emily! We loved the following, burrata, tartare, clay pot mushroom rice and butter cake. Try the grasshopper martini! I'm also into orange wine and they had a nice one by the glass. read more

I'm not normally a fan of small plate restaurants, but this one delivers. Odd neighborhood choice, but once you enter, the space is modern and simple, with an open energetic atmosphere. The wait staff was very attentive. The menu is inventive and every dish we had tasted on point with surprising flavors. Recommend. read more

Nestled in a very unassuming part of West Town, Maxwells Trading shines like a beacon in the night in so many ways. We live in West Town and I rehearse at the Music Garage around the corner so I thought I might have had the address wrong as there is literally almost NOTHING around. They are very welcoming and right away you can see something is special about this place. The vibe is casual but elegant and upscale without being snooty. The food is brilliant and beautifully crafted but it doesn't shout "we are so cool" like most "foodie restaurants". We had the beet salad, the mushroom clay pot rice and the red fish. All were superb and beautifully prepared. Great wine list with many reasonable selections. The only slight miss was the Gin Gimlet (that was a bit too sour for my taste) but everything else was just spot on. The service was attentive without being annoying and THE SPACE is warm with an intimate feel even though the room is pretty large. One of my absolute favorite restaurants...I cant recommend it enough. read more

A tough reservation to get these days. Ended up with a 5pm on a Wednesday time slot. Would say you could probably get in at the time (and definitely to the bar) without a reservation. Vibes were open, airy, Scandinavian. Made the place casual and approachable in a good way. For 2 people we split the: -Prosciutto & Gnocci fritto (5/5)-a cool twist to prosciutto & cheese eating with with the fritto which was basically a savory donut -French onion dip (5/5)-the scallion pancakes provided a unique Asian twist to a very American dip -Hay & straw (4/5)-another unique dish, with it being pasta you'd think it would carry Italian flavors but the chili crisp it came with brought Asian influence in. The chunks of potatoes in there were different as well-didn't seem to add too much -Bavette Steak Salad (2/5)-was influenced by other reviews to get this dish. The bitter greens plus sourness of the grapefruit along with the herbs they sprinkled it with just didn't do it for me. That being said the steak itself was delicious but the whole dish together was a miss from me -Basque butter cake (4/5)-dense and delicious, the caramel and apples gave it more fall flavors while the rest of the menu was catered towards the spring season, still good though Wanted to mention the drinks were equally as tasty as they were pretty (both mocktails & cocktails)! Overall I very much enjoyed Maxwell because of the uniqueness and twists they do on traditional menu items. Finally a west loop restaurant that feels different than the rest. read more

Maxwells Trading - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois