Full service deli and piano bar with a side of low carb items
Reviewer: Jason
Total Reviews: 992
Reviewed: 3/18/2005
Rating: 7
My photo gallery
I just heard about Maxs from the jatboard and needed to investigate what I was missing. I had gotten off work and was in the mood for a pastrami sandwich. I dont know what got over me but before I placed the order I switched over to Skylar Special (turkey, swiss, and bacon). If you have read my other deli reviews, I have a soft spot for Club Sandwiches or maybe its the bacon....oooohhhh bbbaaaccooonnnn.
I went to the Burlingame location off Bayshore and could not believe the parking situation there. It sucks and I almost left. They are about 30 parking spots too short and to make matters worse, they share the lot with the adjacent motel. Granted, its Friday night during the dinner rush, I parked in the red zone.
There was long line of people waiting to land a table, bar was packed, and there was a pianist playing some tunes. I couldnt hear him too well as Maxs is one of the loudest restaurants Ive been too. I got my sandwich to go and couldnt wait to leave this place.
For $11, this better be one hell of a sandwich. The menu even said guarenteed leftovers. I highly doubt there will be leftovers, the bag felt a little light.
potato salad - I NEVER eat this stuff but for jatbar, I will have to. Well, I hate to say it, but its good stuff. From my very limited experience in eating potato salad, this is some of the best stuff Ive had. I know this might not mean anything to you seasoned buffs out there but I liked it.
bread - wheat breat, 6 or 9 grain, nothing I cant get at the market
cheese - swiss and no complaints
bacon - cmon...give me more bacon, I paid $11.
turkey - Im positive this turkey is sliced right off the bird. Its definitely not the stuff you can get at the market but the turkey was dry dry dry and more dry. Pictures wont lie, take a look at #4 and #6.
I think Im being generous with a 7 but looking at the menu, there are plenty of other choices for everyone and the dessert case was a worth mentioning for you sweet tooths. The club sandwich was disappointing and would rather grab the ones at Dennys. For $11, its very expensive and I could not recommend ordering it again. I will return for the famed pastrami and I hope to get my moneys worth next time.
You can always count on Max's to fill you up with some quality food. I went there for lunch and ordered a chicken sandwich. While I was waiting the waitress brought a basket of soft and WARM (this is key) rolls to nosh on while I wait for the meal. The bread tastes like its bakes in house, points for authenticity!!. I get my chicken sandwich with fries and the thing is enormous. I barely start on the fries after the sandwich and Im full. The quality of the chicken was top notch. Very moist, not overdone, with great seasoning. I will make many return trips to Max's as their menu is like a short novel. So many choices (they even have low carb section)
Reviewer: ne00
Total Reviews: 165
Reviewed: 8/18/2005
Rating: 7
My photo gallery
Ate at Maxs in San Jose (1620 Saratoga Ave. The one without the Opera). The portions here are huge and the deserts are so big its almost embarrassing to eat by oneself since everyone is staring at the giant portion. The deserts here are as big as the ones at Flames. A slice of cake is literally ¼ of the cake.
Maxs slogan is “Everything Youve Always Wanted to Eat.” Now how can you resist a restaurant like this? There menu is packed with choices, a bit intimidating to read through but they give you enough time to scan through the menus without rushing you and they are their to recommend popular dishes.
My friend and I arrived around 4:30 for an early dinner. Being this was my first time I couldnt decide or knew what I wanted to eat. My friend suggested I order one of their “Award Winning Sandwiches.” Reading the menu was like watching VH1s video pop ups (the music videos with those pop up notes). My friend said Maxs is know for their “Famous Reuben” on rye so I couldnt help but order it, although I was a bit wary ordering a sandwich for 11.50. This sandwich better be damn good for being so much. The menu warned “Caution: Maxs has determined the Reuben to be so juicy, it drips!” My friend ordered the bacon cheeseburger which was not cheap either at 10.50. We also ordered a full pound of French fried with BBQ Salt as our appetizer.
The fries was very tasty, enough flavors and spices that we didnt even need ketchup. We devoured the fries as fast as they were served. Next our meal arrived. I was not the bit impressed with my Reuben sandwich. The pastrami was a bit on the dry site, the only thing dripping was the Thousand Island dressing because the sandwich was warm and the rye bread stated a bit stale. I sent the other half of my sandwich to my friend and he passed over half his bacon cheeseburger. For the price he paid for this cheeseburger, wed be better off at juicy burger or Kirks for less. There was no justification or overall quality for the burger to be so expensive.
The food we ordered was not appealing. I couldnt even finish half my Reuben due to lack of taste. Our drinks we ordered was not being topped off, in fact since we started eating our drinks were only topped one time when it could have been topped off three times by now. The place was not overly crowded but there were plenty of customers.
When we first entered through the front door we saw the portion sizes of the deserts and just had to order some. The prices were a bit high but for the serving size it is worth it. I ordered the macaroon cookies ice cream Sunday which arrived in this huge goblet full of 3 scoops of ice cream, crumbled macaroon cookies, chocolate syrup, whipped cream and a cherry on top. People in the restaurant were staring at it and very embarrassing I would be eating this alone. My friend ordered a slice German chocolate cake and the slice was not only tall but thick, pretty much ¼ of the entire cake. We couldnt even finish our desert, not that it wasnt good but was just too overwhelming to finish.
While I was eating I took a peek at all the dishes other people were ordering. The portions here are huge. The entrees and soups look good and should be plenty for two people to share. I should have probably ordered an entrée but the prices are higher.
Bottom line: Plenty of parking within San Jose location, Maxs is in a shopping plaza. Portions are big at Maxs. Everything I want to sample at this place only because its not available at other restaurants I frequent. Great deserts to share among two to three people per order. Expensive for diner style food. Service varies from time to time, our drinks were not topped off frequently enough. Probably have a better experience going to the Opera version of Maxs.
This place is so hit or miss. Some nights they've got great service and you can get a fabulous pastrami on rye. Other nights the service is surly at best and the sandwiches are dry and dull. If you're in the mood for the food at Max's (pastrami or corned beef sandwiches, classic meat and potato dishes, double stuffed potatoes) go to the one in Palo Alto or Redwood City for more consistant food and service. I figure if you're in Burlingame, there's no excuse to settle for a subpar meal with so many other great options in the area.
“Tender, melt in your mouth corned beef on St Patty's day. The only thing good about the sandwich was the corned beef. Not a single ounce of fat on the meat. Excellent corned beef. Best I've had.”
