Max's Opera Cafe

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601 Van Ness Ave (at at Turk St)
San Francisco, CA 94102

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(415) 771-7300
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Max's Opera Cafe - San Francisco, CA
Reviews
( 2 )
( 3 )
( 5 )
( 1 )
( 6 )

Best

I was born and raised in NYC, but have lived in Cal for 42 years. Aside from Cantor's in LA, Max's comes closest to a NY Kosher deli like the Stage deli on the west coast. For a t...

Worst

They aren't ashamed of it, in fact they are proud of it, but this is the most fattening restaurant around. Portion sizes are HUGE and the fat content is out of control. Pros: ...

How to lose customers. 9/19/2010

Now I've had three sorry times at Max's. A friend got sick from the food, I was served dried up dark colored off tasting pastrami and the maitre d' refused to seat me when I was up next in spite of a room full of empty tables. He said he had to first write down the names of all the people in line and I'd have to wait until he did that and then wait again until I was called. I left. Whatever happened to good service? It is astonishing how many people put up with this kind of treatment. The maitre d' seemed overwhelmed by his job and was testy in his manner. Bad public relations! more
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Horrible Treatment 7/14/2010

We used to enjoy this restaurant. My wife and I ate here at least 10 times a year for at least 5 years. Max's served excellent NY style Deli food in a convivial setting. Our last 2 visits have been so disappointing we do not intend to return. Management of this particular Max's has changed, and both food and service have both gone downhill. Pros: Good Location. Dinner rolls are excellent. Cons: Food, Service, and Management more
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Arrogant Awful Service 6/17/2010

Horrible greeting by staff, horrible treatment by manager, insufferable arrogance. Save yourself some trouble: Go to Jardin and enjoy the experience instead of being treated like the cattle these people believe you to be. Feh. Pros: They're Not The Only Game in Town Cons: They THINK They're The Only Game in Town more
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The closest thing to a Kosher deli in No. Cal 5/1/2009

I was born and raised in NYC, but have lived in Cal for 42 years. Aside from Cantor's in LA, Max's comes closest to a NY Kosher deli like the Stage deli on the west coast. For a time they had that crappy lean pastrami that was dry and tasteless. They finally got back to the real thing. There is no such thing as lean pastrami. If you want that crud go somewhere else. Max's makes no apologies for their style of food, generous helpings, varied menu, and fast service. If you vant romance go to Absinthe where you can get looked down on and sneered at or just ignored by the waiters if you aren't a wine expert. Pros: Has real fatty pastrami like the Stage deli in NY Cons: Always busy, but efficient more
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Forgettable 6/23/2008

Max's, an upscale diner, was just an average restaurant. It was close to our hotel, which made it a good choice. The food and service was just average. However, the giant mushroom appetizer was very good! The menu is versatile and the dress was mixed. Some people were in jeans, others in khakis. We were first seated in a booth by the bar, which was noisy, so we moved to a move private booth where we had an enjoyable family meal. more
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Horrendous service, and they nickle and dime you! 11/15/2007

Absolutely horrendous. I had to pay extra for potato salad and extra for a pickle. Im not cheap but, after paying 16.00 for a sandwich. I mean come how much does this stuff really cost. I also have complained to the mangement and they are rude and could care less. I use to like this place, but no more. Cons: parking, service, prices more
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Something For Everyone 7/6/2007

Great spot for a before and after stop to the Opera.I especially enjoyed the wide selection of menu items, and found the menu prices fair for the the city.Service was good,after taking into consideration that everyone around us was in a hurry,because they couldn't manage their time and stressed out the staff.Nobody's perfect,yet I truely enjoyed my experience in your establishment-See Ya Soon-jjj Pros: Great Food-Reasonable Prices For A SF Restaurant-Given The Portions Cons: Parking more
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If you care about your arteries... 9/4/2006

They aren't ashamed of it, in fact they are proud of it, but this is the most fattening restaurant around. Portion sizes are HUGE and the fat content is out of control. Pros: A pleasant way to eat yourself to a heart attack Cons: Boring ambiance. And the fat! Prices are too high. more
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They no longer have the Chinese Chicken Salad Lite 8/6/2006

I used to come to Max's Opera Plaza at least once every two weeks to either eat in or take out. And I always got the Chinese Chicken Salad Lite. I know for a fact that this was one of the most popular items on the menu. Well according to a waiter this salad simply takes too long to make and they got rid of it! Nothing at Max's is healthy now. If that doesn't bother you that enjoy. Pros: Great Desserts, Big Portions Cons: No healthy options more
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Good food- not great- and too expensive 7/23/2006

The sandwiches are good and HUGE so very easy to share- but it is WAY too expensive for the kind of food it is. It's a good place to go before a show because they'll make sure to get you out before curtain call, but I'm sure you can find a better and cheaper place close by. Pros: Good food, fast service Cons: too expensive more
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Famous Reuben Sandwich 5/29/2006

I explained to the waitress to make the Reuben with pastrami because I don't like or eat fatty meat and the pastrami had been historically lean. I was served a fatty, gristly Reuben sandwich. I was able to salvage a percentage out of 1/2 sandwich. I then asked her to just make 1/2 Reuben for me to take home with lean meat. When I got home I discovered I was given two pieces of bread and more fatty pastrami, no Reuben. I called and spoke with the manager and she told me that I needed to order lean and suggested it was somehow my fault. What part of English don't these people understand? Has service and food quality become so poor at Max's that people are expected to accept whatever is served! Pros: not crowded Cons: bad food, bad attitude more
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maybe if you're local + lazy 5/2/2006

i live in the building, so i eat there when i get too lazy to cook or walk somewhere else the food's decent and you do get large portions (no room for dessert) so splitting meals works best otherwise, you could cook for yourself and do as well or better slider's makes much better burgers for less the take out guy told me if i took it cold and microwaved it for x minutes, i'd save $2 and he said that's all they do, microwave it they have the warning bout how their take out sucks max's rules of service are fun and all, but, honestly, who's gonna call the employee on any of these - technically, max owes me a couple free dinners, riiiiight Pros: large portions, location, live music Cons: price, large portions, sometimes crowded more
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great food, large portions, good value! 1/7/2006

when i'm in the mood for a good burger, i always think of max's -- i don't care about all the other strictly ""burger"" places. nothing beats the size, taste, and value of those at max's. not to mention the other items on their extensive menu. if multiple people in your party can't agree on a cuisine, go to max's -- they have everything from salads, deli sandwiches, pasta, american, and more. Pros: food, service, value more
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User review by deja_vu 11/26/2005

Good food, but a little over-priced--$33 plus tip for a meat loaf dinner but then that includes salad, dessert and split charges. You can save those charges by asking for a separate plate, instead. Pros: good food, fast service, singing Cons: split charges more
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A little over-priced 3/14/2005

There are many over priced diners in California and Max's is certainly one of them. Portions are indeed huge, but the quality is mediocre and the price is still high. Except to pay over $10 for a sandwich here. They have recently closed a location in SOMA - so hopefully people are starting to realize that the place is often a ripoff. more
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STAY AWAY!!! 5/19/2003

Althought the food is plentiful - don't ever come in to get take out. It is as expensive as being served, but the portions are MUCH smaller. Complete ripoff. When I asked to speak to the Manager, he couldn't have been more disinterested in my concerns or opinion. He was downright dismissive. I'll never go back. For my money - I'd go to East West Deli on Polk Street. They are much nicer to their customers. Pros: Large Menu Cons: Take out is lousy, Management rude more
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Scrummy DESSERTS 8/25/2002

The food, especially the desserts, are exceptionally great! If you don't like the food, its not because the food was bad, its because you just don't like the menu item. more
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It depends on which location .. 8/17/2002

The quality of the service, etc depends on which Max's location you go to. The one on Van Ness Avenue is dreadful and my rating applies to only that one. Yet, the one on Third Street is great. Go figure! Cons: Poor Service, Terrible Floor Plan more
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Menu for Max's Opera Cafe


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Editorial

  • In Short
    This New York-inspired restaurant features singing waiters, many of whom are training for the stage at the nearby San Francisco Opera House. The fledgling vocalists lend a...

  • 9/8/2004 Provided by Citysearch
Additional information
  • Hours: Su-Tu 11:30-10, W-Th 11:30-11, F-Sa 11:30-11:30
  • Payments: American Express, Visa, Master Card
  • Neighborhoods: Civic Center, Northeast
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