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Max's Restaurant
3514 State St, Santa Barbara
Phone: (805) 898-9121
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Reviews by the General Public
Great food – terrible service, 10/20/2009
Reviewer: CWB
from Santa Barbara, CA
My fiancé and I live about 2 blocks from Max’s but we had never eaten there or heard anything about the place. We’re big breakfast fans and when we got our discount cards this year we decided to give it a shot. The restaurant was full when we got there, which is usually a good sign, unfortunately it meant that we waited several minutes for anyone to appear at the front. Once they did, they sat us right away, but then we sat for another 10 to 15 minutes before anyone spoke to us again. My breakfast quesadilla was delicious, but again it took an awkwardly long time for our food to arrive and no one ever came by our table to tell us what was going on. We had to flag someone down twice to request waters. To top it off, our server never checked on our food but about 3 minutes after the food arrived he dropped the check and walked away without saying anything! We were significantly younger than the majority of the clientele, but we are local breakfast lovers who are willing to pay for (and tip on) good food and service. Sorry Max’s, we’ll stick to Cajun Kitchen from now on.
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Dinner Not There , 10/20/2009
Reviewer: Jan
from Santa Barbara, CA
We were excited to try Max's for dinner as we do enjoy their breakfast/brunch. We thought perhaps they would add table linens and candles to the tables to change the look for their new evening service. That was not the case. We also found the entrees very mediocre and missing basic culinary appeal and an attractive presentation. They were out of white wine to go with our fish. The entrees were overpriced and when we tried to use our discount card as described in their directory, the offer was 1/2 of what was expected. Also,the manager here really needs to be aware that visiting with only one table multiple times and ignoring all the rest of the tables is really rude and offensive to her other customers. Sorry, a bad taste in our mouth created by the dinner sevice that obviously they do not have ready to execute.
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Everything But The Eggs, 7/5/2009
Reviewer: Paul
from Santa Barbara, CA
What you'd expect from a local breakfast place, good coffee, food and decent service. Coffee is a little steep, $2.35, and some items are more than what you'd want to pay for at breakfast. The pancakes and bacon were both excellent. The eggs however, both mine done over medium and my wife's that were scrambled both tasted like cardboard. I've never had eggs that tasted like nothing until Max's. The rest of the food and service was good enough to warrant more trips and hope the egg blandness was a fluke.
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Enjoyed Our Breakfast, 6/8/2009
Reviewer: Anne Rollo
from Vancouver, WA
When asked where to meet up for breakfast, my father (who lives in town) suggested Max's on upper State St. Arriving early, a hostess offered to seat myself and spouse. We chose to wait till all arrived. We finally chose a table close to the front, sat down, then realized a table towards the back would be more intimate. The staff was very friendly and accomodating about the change. The casual, laid back, artsy feel of the restaurant made for a relaxing meal. I enjoyed one of the scrambles and heard no complaints from the rest of the party. I am still contemplating purchasing one of the paintings.
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Best Breakfasts by far in Santa Barbara, 4/23/2009
Reviewer: Michael Genung
from Fair Oaks, CA
We visit Santa Barbara often and have lost track of how many times we've been to Max's, usually for late breakfast but sometimes lunch. For consistent Quality and Value, it's by far the best. The Service for us has never been a problem whatsoever. I prefer "attentive service" but not obsessive "hovering." For me, I prefer just perceptive and attentive. Max's a coffee shop not a "fine restaurant" and I love the unpretentious aesthetics,the art work / "art show" touch, the "ambiance" and the owner. Henrietta is a doll and her smile makes you put your sun-glasses back on she's so bright! "Two thumbs up", enthusiastically~!~!~!
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fresh food, older waiter a lil out of it, 3/14/2009
Reviewer: chase
from Santa Barbara, CA
so, i just went to max's for a late breakfast, and how the special pear, cranberry pancakes, which were very good. my friends bacon and waffle were good as well. the only problem was it took a few minuets to be great(due to host seating ppl so it was fine) and it took sometime to be greeted when setting at the table when it was not that busy. the hostess eventually took my drink order, then a second later the server ask what we would like to drink. only had one refill, which was disappointing because the coffee was very tasty. i left my cup hanging on the edge and when i was done i got my refill. over all people were nice, just be on top of the coffee and the drinks. people said good bye and were nice. another complate was when he asked us if we wanted refills, we were done eating, pushing our food forward with the paper napkins on it, and he allowed them to sit without addressing them, but other tables seemed happy and the food was good so i will be back
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Best Veggie benedict, 1/1/2009
Reviewer: Mark
from Santa Barbara, CA
I can always count on a nice breakfast at Max's! I order the veggie benedict and substitute the arichoke hearts for avacodo.(they don't charge for the substitution).Veggie benedict with perfectly poached eggs, sauteed mushrooms, cooked spinach with sliced avacacado on top! They give you extra Hollandaise sauce too! I order the potatoes without onion and they do that for me too. The regular coffee there is good for what it is. If you order a french press, it is even much better. I have been there 20 times and have had a great breakfast good service every time.
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Average, 12/31/2008
Reviewer: Mike
from Santa Barbara, CA
Nothing too special, but the food did come to the table hot and everything was fresh. Service was good but it seems like something is missing. I can't figure it out...maybe it's just that they go through the motions here without any enthusiasm, which makes the place and the food seem boring.
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Great food, spotty service, 12/12/2008
Reviewer: Vernon Dozier
from Santa Barbara, CA
This is best place in Santa Barbara for breakfast period. The waffles are especially delicious, the light fluffy omelletes are excellent and they always have great specials such as pumpkin pancakes. The coffee is good, the food is always fresh and health minded and you don't walk out of there feeling like you ate a dump truck full of greasy food.
With that said the service has had it's problems. Sometimes they take too long, can be forgetfull and at times downright rude. Some also take your order without writing it down (showing off their great memorization skills) only to screw it all up so you have to remind them of things they forgot.
The owner is great and she is very hands on. You'll see her working all areas of the restaurant like all great owners do. I just wish she would get control of the poor service problem.
Even though I have problems with the service, I always tell people "You gotta try Max's." You won't regret it...
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Recommended by friends as we were passing through
Reviewer: Ron Gilead
from Palos Verdes, CA
It was our first experience here as we were passing through town due to a horse show. We enjoyed the ambience and our waitress was most delightful. She seemed like someone who should work for 'The Chamber of Commerce' in promoting Santa Barbara. She also offered great suggestions as for our choice off the menu. The menu was wonderful and most engaging - fabulous ingredients are combined here. We rate our food as excellent and our conversation with Kerry was informative and friendly. We hope, certainly that she is appreciated by those who employ her. We will be back many times!!!! Thank you. Ron Gilead from Palos Verdes
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Best breakfast we've had in a long time ...
Reviewer: Elizabeth
from Los Angeles, CA
We were visiting Santa Barbara & stayed at a hotel on upper State Street. We happened to drive by Max's & noticed that they're a breakfast & lunch only restaurant which is exactly what we were looking for ... breakfast! I must say, my husband & I had a hard time deciding on what to order as the menu is quite extensive & everything sounded delicious. We settled on omelets - hubby went for the gorgonzola & I had the artichoke. Truly outstanding. Great service & the interior is very clean & airy with beautiful artwork displayed. Great service, delicious coffee - we will definitely return to Max's on our next trip back.
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I love Max's
Reviewer: kim
from Palmdale, CA
I love Max's, the food, the service, the atmosphere, everything.
The service at Max's is great. They treat you like family, they are freindly and happy to see you when you come in and the food is awesome. Everytime I am in town, my sister and I go at least once.
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Good place
Reviewer: Neil
from Santa Barbara CA
I went there with my parents for my birthday on a Sunday around noon. It was easy to get in (they accept reservations), the menu gave us a lot of choice, every dish was excellent, and the service was also good. We had a great time.
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Friendly, welcoming, excellent food & service.
Reviewer: Mary A. Wood
from Santa Barbara
From the moment you enter to the moment you leave, you will be treated with smiles and excellent service. The food is fixed to your satisfaction, is tasty, fresh, healthy, and presented on an attractive plate. I really appreciate Henrietta, Nora, Inez, Nancy, Carlito, and the entire staff: thank you..
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Max's Review
Reviewer: Priscilla Stessen
from Santa Barbara, CA
I just recently moved here and was recommended this restaurant from a friend. The food was pretty good, but when I arrived it was extremely busy and I had to wait 10 minutes for a table, which was fine, except for the fact that there was no busboy in sight and it was evidently impossible for much of anyone else to clean the tables because everyone was so busy. My waiter was very friendly, yet there was a woman walking around talking to everybody, sort of annoying.
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They just can't get it right....
Reviewer: Mike
from Santa Barbara, CA
I keep trying to like Max's, but they just can't quite get it right. On Sunday, June 22, the service was extremely slow, but when the servers do come out of the back, they were very nice and pleasant. My coffee came right away, but my wife's tea and the actual order taking was 20+ minutes later. The breakfast was nothing outstanding, nor was it bad. Just kinda blah. I prefer the much more spartan but better food and better prices at Steve's Patio. I just wish Max's could get it together.
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very disappointing
Reviewer: Kathryn
from Santa Barbara
The best thing about this place is that the hostess was very prompt and kind. However we waited for our server to take our order for about 20 mins (it was not particularly busy). We would have been fine if they had apologized to us for the wait when they finally came; which they did not. By the time we got our food, it was not how we ordered it, but we were so hungry we decided to just eat it as is. The food was mediocre. The sauce should come on the side so as not to overwhelm the plate. I was disappointed that the server never checked on us to see how we were doing, if we needed anything, never had waters brought to the table, we had to flag down additional staff to bring us the bill. It was not the best experience I've had in a restaurant.
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