Max

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51 Avenue B, New York, NY 10009-7441
New York, NY 10009

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(212) 539-0111
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Max - New York, NY
Reviews
( 25 )
( 35 )
( 6 )
( 9 )
( 15 )

Best

This little hole in the wall Italian restaurant is fantastic. A rustic, down-to-earth, no reservation needed home cooked place that serves phenomenal pasta. You need to come hun...

Worst

I've been hearing about this place for a while, but I don't know why. From start to finnish, every thing was OK, just OK. The service left a lot to be desired, to much ""beautiful...

ALL AROUND BAD SERVICE! 7/18/2004

Wow, its great to know Im not the only one upset with Maxs service! It sucks because I really liked the pasta. Its basic Italian cuisine, but tasty and affordable. However, the waiter was awful and when I asked for the manager to complain about the service, the hostess pointed at our waiter! I couldnt believe it! My first time dining at Max was fine, but my second and last time at Max was so bad, that I was so ashamed and embarrassed that I invited my friends to try this place out with me. I will never dine there again and I hope the proprietor of the restaurant fires his manager/waiter after reading all of these common complaints. I would in a heart beat! Pros: affordable, good pasta Cons: , bad service more
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NEVER EAT HERE 7/8/2004

Wow, I just left Max, and must say it was nearly the worst dining experience I've had in years. The hostess made us wait for a party of 3, and the dining room was nearly empty (after 10pm). When we were sat they put the 3 of us on a 2 top with a folding chair for the third person, even though there was 2 empty tables next to us. We asked if we could use the table next to us, seeing a still empty dining room, but they insisted, ""NO!"" The entire time we dined at this cramped table, the placed remained empty and the smug waiter was nowhere to be found. The worst service ever. Pros: , decent food Cons: , nasty, rude service more
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Not very good 3/5/2004

Food was average, wait was long, and the service.... terrible. Don't bother. Pros: Not much Cons: , Wait more
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so good 1/30/2004

went last night and it was so good! it's cheap, and didn't wait long for a table, and had some good italian wine! Pros: inexpensive, good food more
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Bad food and Bad service 12/30/2003

I have been going to max since it opened few years ago, but every time i went there the food and service got really worst. Talking to people they all think the same. I wanted to try a last time and unfortuantely for max it will be my last. The service was really bad even if the waiter was nice the only 2 times he came to the table, we had to pay for an extra dish that we dind't want. I left very unsatisfied with the food. Pros: cheap Cons: bad service, bad food more
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great cheap italian 9/9/2003

where has this place been hiding? i was walking around my neighborhood, looking for a good cheap italian place when i stumbled upon this tiny spot, packed with people shoveling pasta into their mouths. figuring they must be on to something, i went in. the $9.95 rigatoni with meatballs and sausage ranks as one of the best pasta dishes i've ever had, at any price. bruschetta was tasty. slow service, but well worth the wait. Pros: cheap, good crowd, great food Cons: tight space, slow service more
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Almost perfect for comfort Italian 9/9/2003

I like this place, I REALLY like this place. This is what Frank used to be, before its charm and essential goodness began its downward spiral. Having said that, I have to say: more lamb in the lamb ragu, please! It's no fun digging through that delicious spaghetti and sauce, trying to excavate for specks of lamb. The salmon with capers arrived charred on the bottom, underscoring its potential for greatness. The service is a little flaky as well, but the overall package is one I willingly accept, as long as they don't go the way of Frank... Pros: Pasta is delicious, Prices Cons: Wine selection - eh more
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What's all the hype? 7/12/2003

I've been hearing about this place for a while, but I don't know why. From start to finnish, every thing was OK, just OK. The service left a lot to be desired, to much ""beautiful people""attitude, the food was decent, nothing to write home about. I thought the room was done well considering it's about the size of my closet. Nice wine selection though. Pros: wines Cons: service, attitude, space more
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OK place.... 7/7/2003

Wasn't impressed by this one. Waited too long for a tiny table, waited too long for a waiter, waited too long for a simple, basic bowl of pasta....... paid too much for wine. OVER RATED! Pros: decent food Cons: cramped, slow service, pricey wine more
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great recommendation 6/25/2003

as a san francisco native, I am use to exceptional food at good prices, and on my recent visit to the city some friends wanted me to try MAX - well, we all had an amazing meal. I would descibe the cuisine as coastal itialian meets french decadence. I had the black seafood ravioli - to die for - and my boyfriends lasagne was so potent and desnse you could not stop eating it or at least until he was completely filled. You have to try this place once!!!! Pros: food, service, patio Cons: bathroom more
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Pasta With the the Aloof, Please. 6/20/2003

These people with silly rants about ungracious behavior have obviously never been to Italy. I loved this place! The food was beyond belief; expertly delivered pasta blessed with an orthodox Italian al dente. The stoic waiter was polite without being overtly gracious. He left my wife and I alone, without ignoring us, to enjoy our meal. Oh yes, and the price is right too. Not a back-alley mugging like the majority of east village hold outs. Visit if you have the moxie fellow brethren. Pros: Wine selection, Staff, Food Cons: Sunday patio access more
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I LOVE THIS PLACE 5/9/2003

Best italian in New York. Friendly waiters and service. I go 3 times a week. it's excellent value....and the freshest ingredients. whoever says it's not good, doesnt know good italian food if it hit them in the face. anyway, it's better for me....i dont have to wait too long if most people don't get there... Pros: Food, Wine list, VERY Friendly staff Cons: Wait in the winter more
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Good food 4/14/2003

Love the food and the atmosphere. Be prepared for a hangover from the cheap wine - but it's worth it! Pros: food, service, atmosphere Cons: hangover! more
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Cold Lasagna anyone? 3/9/2003

Bad service, and the food-is authentic italian supposed to be cold inside lasagna? My lasagna was cold inside, and watery. I also tried the fettucine but whatever, it's ok. more
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Best Cheap Italian in the City! 2/19/2003

I have yet to find anything to compare to the level of food that Max has for the same price range. They have the best gnocchi I have ever had. Highly recommended! Pros: Food, Price, Ambience Cons: Location more
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inconsistent but still recommended 2/15/2003

I've eaten at Max twice. The first time, the food was absolutely amazing...I thought it was just as good, if not better, than Lupa. The other time that I ate at Max, it was disappointing. Mainly because I'm vegetarian and I ordered a special that the server told me was vegetarian -- and it came with sausage. Ew. Then I ordered something else and it wasn't that great. Still, I would recommend this place. It's not very expensive and my FIRST dining experience here was VERY memorable. Pros: reasonably priced, very flavorful! Cons: packed! more
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Great Italian Food 2/6/2003

If you dare to venture into LES, fight the yuppie crowd, and put up with the long waits and marginal service, you will be rewarded with extremely good authentic italian food at very affordable prices. This is not the place to bring your clients or your mother, for that matter...but it's a great place to hang out and enjoy good food with your friends. Pros: Food, Prices Cons: Crowd/Wait, Decor, Service more
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authentic italian--even the service 12/22/2002

The food was the freshest, lightest, most authentic Italian I've had in a long time. Fresh pieces of basil and tomatoes on everything. The only problem was that they pretty much leave you alone, even when you want the check (just like Italy!) Decor is sort of homey, with mismatched tables and plates. Not a good place to go if you want a quick meal, but by far the freshest and most authentic in the neighborhood. Pros: food, inexpensive Cons: crowded, slow service, no credit cards more
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Maxed out! 12/16/2002

I've eaten at Max numerous times and have mostly enjoyed the food and service. It's reasonably priced and pretty good (it's no Babbo let's face it but it's also about 1/8 of the price). Last Monday I ate there for the last time! Two tables were smoking in the front dining room during our meal. If you've eaten there you know how small and cramped it is. Instead of asking them to put out thier cigs, the manager brought over ashtrays! Also we discovered they have no dish washer machine and just rinse with cold water and re-stack for the kitchen. more
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Good homestyle cooking 12/7/2002

I have been here a few times over the years. The food is always very good, it does have a homestyle cooking feel and is good value. The service was good (I've always been here early in the evening) but I can believe that it would great crowded at the peak times in the evening (like every other NYC restaurant). Pros: good food, good value Cons: small size more
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Menu for Max


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Editorial

  • Young, thickly-accented waiters work a narrow room of fewer than 30 seats. Occasionally, Italian hip-hop that sounds suspiciously similar to Public Enemy circa ""Black Steel in the Hour of Chaos""...

  • 10/6/2005 Provided by Citysearch
Additional information
  • Payments: Cash
  • Neighborhoods: Downtown, Alphabet City, East Village
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