Chez Max — Restaurant in Épernay

One of my best experiences ever.

We were lucky enough to get a booking calling the evening before for a Sunday lunch…. How lucky we were.

Chez max is a cute, homely and lively restaurant - catered brilliantly by the owner and team. They worked tirelessly all afternoon, catering to 30+ better than most places cater for half that. Coffee’s, preparing steak tartare, deboning fish, cheese carts, popping corks etc. etc.

It is such an easy 5 star as all categories were:

Food. Drink. Service. Value for money.

Oysters with vinaigrette 10/10

Scallops ceviche with truffle 8/10 (truffle a tad overpowering it lacked the freshness you usually get with ceviche (more vinegar maybe?) but the ceviche quality was amazing.

Scallops cooked 9/10 - interesting pairing of sauce, I liked it however…

Steak tartare 10/10 my first experience with mince as opposed to high quality cubing, and it was actually fantastic. The texture was fantastic, so smooth and the preparation at the table is worth it alone. Served with chips and salad

Fillet steak 8/10 - dauphinois potatoes so tasty as a side, and they nicely split the portions for my partner and I which was appreciated. Steak came a little blue, we ordered medium rare (but enjoy rare) and it was a tad chewy as a result but still yummy. If we are lucky enough for a next time we would have the sea bass as it looked insanely good served to the next table….

Cheese 10/10 - love a choice

Creme brûlée 10/10 - huge portion, silky smooth and tasty

House champagnes 10/10

Bread 10/10

Still full and it’s 9pm

Thank you for a great experience and appreciated your work ethic whilst...

Highly recommended, I loved the sweetbreads (which can be hard to find), and the veal and beef was cooked correct (rare, as asked) and the entrees were covered in the wonderful sauces you would expect from a traditional french restaurant. The house champagne we had for lunch was good, and there was a wine list and other drink menus with extensive options to choose from.

Unlike some other places we visited which cater primarily to tourists, this is a restaurant filled with locals and and was quite popular and busy. Despite our lack of French and bringing a young child (unusual in such restaurants, particularly in Europe) they treated us wonderfully, helping translate the menu and even offering my young daughter a special child meal complete with gift. A very friendly place, full of life and authenticity.

I also recommend the bakery across the street about 1 block down to the left (Maria Beving Boulangerie-pâtisserie), as well as a view of the swan filled river just behind the restaurant itself. These and the authentic French dining experience at Chez Max helped make our trip to the Champagne...

If you are going to be in the area, book a reservation for this restaurant as early as possible! From the moment we walked in the door the staff was extremely accommodating. We were in the area visiting Moët et Chandon, as American tourists. They spent as much time as we needed discussing the menu and showing us how to use the various language and menu options they have (on a e-tablet). Everything we had was delicious and extremely well prepared. My wife and I are both fairly well traveled and appreciate food We both agreed this was one of the better meals we have had. Each course we had was better than the next and it felt like an authentic French dining experience. The desserts were really incredible. Can’t recommend this...