Marche' L.A.

It's refreshing but ultimately not satisfying when chefs try TOO HARD but have not mastered the basics. Too many sweet sauces which mar the simple pleasures of the food. What good is adding a puree of you can't taste it...or listing all the ingedients on the menu but offer so little on the plate that you can't taste them? It's just too many and conflicting tastes. It sure is interesting but underneath all that the food was mediocre. We had the Belgian fries and they were nothing like the great fries found in Belgium or at the cheap chip shops in NY. They were undercooked and fries at many of the fast food places were just as good if not better! The pork underneath the applewood smoked bacon, celery puree and honey glazed applees...was dry! The service was good but not great and was miffed when we asked for an Arnold Palmer to be remade since it came clear when there should be tea in it. My companions and I felt that as much as they did wrong they did right. On the other hand they are trying which is refreshing. So as I read the other revews people either love or hate this place. We're the rarity that falls inbetween. This above average dining and I'd try it again....just not rushing back. more

I had high expectations after reading the review, but those expectations were blown away. The food at Max was amazing! I had that Miso glazed chilean Sea Bass and it was out of this world. My husband had the pepper steak - it was likewise wonderful! The service was amazing and the wine great. Highly recommend. One of the best meals I have had in a long time! Pros: Great Food, Great Service, Great Wine! Cons: Small space with tables close together, but still nice and cozy. more

We were pleasantly surprised by this place, one of the best restaurants we've been to in the Valley. Great pan-asian food, hip decor, and great service. Not as loud as some of the other reviews stated, nor were the tables as crowded as some of them say, we went with another couple and could easily hear each other talk. Seemed to be a small cove in the back that was quieter for couples on a date, you might want to ask for that area. Miso glazed chilean sea bass was unbelievable. Peanut crusted butterfish and bbq baby back ribs were also good, but fish is definitely their specialty here. Hamachi carpaccio and lemon grass soup were also great starters. more

I suspect that people who have a negative experience are far more likely to write a review than those who have little about which to complain. Thus, my desire to add another perspective. Max is a tremendous restaurant. I've dined here five times over the last 18 months and on each occassion, the food has been remarkable. The bread waiter DID make the rounds (too often, for this rotound belly) and the wait staff is par excellence -- no rudeness; nothing but cheerful promptitude in my experience. And no, I don't own the place; I just enjoy fine dining and Max does it. Yes, the place is bit loud and far from spacious -- a group of 4 is about max at Max for conversation. But for terrific food and great wine, you can't beat Max -- Valley OR Westside. Pros: food, wine, waitstaff Cons: small space, loud more

the place is pretty small, but very tastefully decorated. their menu seems to change rather often, but there's always something interesting to try on it. the seafood dishes are always a good bet, as well as the steaks. for dessert, the granny smith apple galette can't be beat. more

why do people spend good money on crappy food? ambience is important to me but so is FOOD! i had the sea bass & it was only ok. the veggies were SO salty but no real flavor. not worth the price. you don't have to be a chef to know how to oversalt food, right? worse, we sat outside b/c it was such a beautiful summer evening, but the noise from the street totally killed it. ventura blvd is busy & all i could hear throughout the evening was the roaring of cars & buses. waiter was way too chatty & loud w/the other guests--i had to wait till he finally shut up to be able to talk to my date. tables very close together: another guest was eavesdropping, i think. i've had much better dining experiences--don't bother w/this one. more

We kept saying after dinner, "So disappointing!" This is a claustrophobic hole of a restaurant. The food is horrible. Nasty Salmon and Shortribs. It was an effort to wash the taste of the risoto from my mouth. The sauces had an awful taste that clung to my throat. The chef covered the bland food with salty, overpowering sauces. The bread boys drop off a single slice of bread. After finishing your one piece of bread you wait a long time. When you think your food is coming another slice of bread is plopped on your plate. The bread was good so I can see why they guard them. All three, hungry people at my table refused to finish the food. We left the restaurant saying, "What a disappointment, the website looks cool, the menu looked appetizing and it got a 9.2 rating. How did this happen?" I hate this place. Pros: two pieces, of soft bread Cons: tasteless food, bad tasting food, inedible food more

Incredible experience. The waiter introduced us to his favorites from the menu, and he was ON THE MONEY! The Chilean Sea Bass soaked in Miso was TO DIE FOR. I was in ecstacy, as it was indeed the best fish dish I have ever had. The wine selection is impressive, and the dessert? Fuggetaboutit! As a NEW YORK transplant, I have to say that this place is tucked away beautifully in the Valley. I wouldn't want it to become the next hot place, lest I be unable to get a table:) more

Always Elegant and clean. Always great food. Always great service. Pros: Great value, Fun people more

This place wouldn't shine if it was on the west side. I find reviews of restaurants in the valley tend to be generous at times due to the lack of fine places to dine. rude staff with average dishes and a small crowded dining area. Pros: flattering lighting Cons: rude staff , no alcahol,only beer/ more

The dining was superb on a Saturday night at 8:00. We had a reservation, arrived on time and were seated immediately. Claustrophobics can dine on the outside patio. Our waitress was helpful in describing the flavors of the various recipes and was comfortably attentive. The entrees were unique and delicious. The Smoked BBQ Salmon with kabocha squash-corn ratatouille and spinach risotto was a wonderful blend. The Pepper Steak was medium rare and sliced to present its perfect pink interior. The portions were not overwhelming, but not miniscule, either. Contrary to a previous review, the bread guy came by the table twice, but we could have had more if we had asked the busboy. All of the orders demonstrated a thoughtful and unique combination of flavors. If you are looking for something other than an espresso after dinner, try the MAX Blend tea. It wont keep you up all night, either. Pros: Unique variety of ver, Friendly service, Ambience more

I've recently had dinner here four times. The Bad: noise level (it is extremely difficult to hear dinner companions w/o leaning right into them and yelling), very tight seating, one slice of bread per diner (you are offered bread sometime after being seated, but instead of a bread basket you get one small slice of bread placed on your bread plate. This would be fine if the bread waiter offered more but he will NEVER come around again. Ask for more? Good luck. The Good: the food (delicious), service (always very professional, real waiters, not actors). more

We were seated immediately without reservations at 9pm on Sat. It was an intimate spot at the back of the restaurant which helped block a lot of the noise. We started with the Lumpia, which was delicious. I had the 1/2 chicken with garlic mashed, sauteed spinach, olive tapenade, and a veal au jus, also excellent. My boyfriend had the trio of pork which was wonderful but not for the faint of heart. For desert we tried the Jackfruit and sweet corn icecream with tapioca - excellent as well. We ordered a bottle of wine and a Port and a Medeira with dessert. With tip, the tab was very reasonable. The service was excellent and I will certainly be going back to try some of the other items on the menu. Yes, it is very loud but you'll be too busy eating to notice. Pros: Excellent food, Great service Cons: Loud, No liquor license yet more

i called ahead and made a reservation and at that time I told them that this dinner was a birthday celebration, and please do something specialk, and also when I got to ther restaurant, I told the hostess the same thing....NOTHING was done, except as we were walking out the door the waiter yelled at us saying..Happy Bithday. POOR service !~ Pros: decor was nice Cons: load, tables too close, bad parking more

Traveling to LA from a city literally consumed with dining, I found the light flavors and balance in the dishes at Max were refreshing. The small room was soothing and the staff friendly and accomodating. more

The food was the best I have had in a long time. The filet is the best filet I have ever had. The Rival Tort Dessert..... to die for. Pros: great food, good service, good energy more

Went to Max on Sunday at 5:30 room was pretty quiet. filled by the end of the night and was pretty loud. Dining room is crowded and put six adults at a fairly small table. The food was great but getting refills on ice tea and coffee was non existant. Prices very fair for the quality of the food Pros: food, desert Cons: busboys, noise more

Great Seafood but my NY strip was tasty but tuff. more

There's more to dining-out than pleasing one's pallet. I took my girlfriend to Max for a celebratory dinner on a fall Friday. The menu was full of tasty dishes, more original than the average fusion. We had the tuna tartar and crab ravioli appetizers, the filet mignon and Moroccan chicken entrees, and a white chocolate cake desert. The food was delicious, but we found the main room too loud and cramped, and the patio area too hot (heaters were on). Fortunately, the hostess seated us Goldilockses in a secluded area inside to the right. A tip for you hopeless romantics: Get one of the two corner tables in that area. They are far quieter and more romantic than the rest. You can sit at 90 degrees to your date in enough privacy to sneak the not-so-occasional kiss without disturbing/distracting other diners. Pros: Good Food, Good Service Cons: Noisy more

A group of us came here with high expectations from all the recent good press: these were largely met, though I'm not sure if I'd put Max in the great category yet. The room is standard-issue Valley storefront (i.e., can be noisy and a little cramped), but the fusionish food (almost retro-'90s!) was generally interesting and quite well-priced, if sometimes lacking in subtlety. Everyone agreed that Indian-style cod with vegetables and basmati rice was a great dish: the kind of thing you come back for, especially at the low price. Solid desserts, but the wine list seemed random and probably could use work -- there were few surprises on it (except if you're into collector-priced '80s cabernets) and not too much to choose from under $40 a bottle. more