Max's Restaurant Bakersfield, Cuisine of the Philippines — Restaurant in Bakersfield

My husband and I were ecstatic that a new Filipino chain restaurant opened in Bakersfield, but our experience today (Wednesday, August 23) left us disappointed (1 star).

We were seated at our table around 12:15/20, but was never serviced for over 20 min. I understand it's during the lunch rush, but that is no excuse to leave customers completely ignored! My husband had to ask the hostess for assistance. When our server finally came to our table (around 12:40) she claimed she was never told we were there. Yet, she and the other server kept looking at our table, but neither came by to assist us.

We waited another 40-50 minutes for our food (it came around 1:25/1:30). We ordered lumpiang shanghai for appetizer, the crispy pata (which we knew in advance that it would take 20 min to cook), kare kare, lechon kawali sisig, garlic fried rice and regular steamed rice as our entrees.

While waiting, we received no refill service of our drinks and our appetizer was not sent before our meal. When the food came, the kare kare was cold and the eggplant in it was raw. The lechon kawali sisig was also cold (how that is possible when it's served on a hot plate, I have no clue! 🤦🤷). The Shanghai came after the entrees and its accompanying dipping sauce was terrible. The crispy pata and the garlic fried rice was the only thing that tasted fresh and appetizing. We also asked for lechon sauce (Mang Tomas) and it never came. Again, after our food came, our server was nowhere to be seen. No one checked in on us or asked if we needed anything else. We were completely IGNORED. My husband had to ask for containers and the bill. To give you an overall time frame, we were there from 12:15ish-1:50pm and the majority of that was waiting on staff and being ignored. Tables who came AFTER us left BEFORE us!

The positives: hostesses were nice; the crispy pata was juicy inside with a lovely crunchy exterior; and the garlic fried rice was delicious.

Negatives: Service was TERRIBLE! The kare kare was cold, bland and the eggplant was severely under cooked. The lechon kawali sisig was cold, flavorless, and tasted of old meat. The wait time is extensive. Received no acknowledgement.

Would I recommend? To be determined. I like to give second chances (and even 3rds)...we are all human. I suggest not to go during lunch! Maybe to-go orders (minus kare kare and lechon kawali sisig).

Update Second chance given today (Sunday, September 3, 2023).. 5 star for today's experience!

We were a party of 12 (7 adults, 5 kids 7 years old and under). Because my husband and I didn't have a good experience prior, we decided to arived 30 min before the restaurant opened with a game plan in hand. Fortunately we were the first in line, but a line formed shortly behind us. Once the doors opened, we were the third party to be seated. Our plan this time around was to order everything (drinks and food) once our waitress sat us down and asked for our drink order. I am happy to say this experience was a complete 180 from before. Our waitress (different from the two who were there the first time around) and other staff was quick, attentive, polite, and overall they treated us with respect! I did notice if you party is 4 or less, especially 2 ppl, the wait is much longer with the staff being more attentive to larger parties.

Given my two experiences, I give this establishment 3 stars. Food is decent (crispy pata is a huge hit!); service is either a hit or miss; front entry...

A Taste of the Philippines Done Right: My Experience at Max's Restaurant in Bakersfield Max's Restaurant in Bakersfield is a true gem for anyone craving authentic and delicious Filipino cuisine. From the moment you step inside, you're greeted with a clean and genuinely nice vibe. The atmosphere is welcoming and comfortable, making it a pleasant place to enjoy a meal with family and friends. One of the standout aspects of my visit was the great staff. They were attentive, friendly, and clearly passionate about the food they serve. Our server was knowledgeable about the menu, offering helpful recommendations and ensuring our needs were well taken care of throughout our dining experience. Their warm hospitality truly enhanced the overall enjoyment. Of course, the star of the show is undoubtedly the amazing Filipino food. Max's delivers on the promise of authentic flavors and well-executed dishes. We had the pleasure of trying a few classics, and each one was a delight. The [mention a specific dish you enjoyed, e.g., crispy pata] was perfectly cooked with incredibly crispy skin and tender meat. The [mention another dish, e.g., sinigang] had that signature sour and savory broth that was both comforting and flavorful. Every bite transported me straight to the Philippines. Whether you're a long-time fan of Filipino food or looking to try it for the first time, Max's in Bakersfield is a fantastic choice. The combination of a clean and inviting ambiance, exceptional service, and truly delicious and authentic dishes makes for a memorable dining experience. I highly recommend giving Max's a visit – your taste buds...

TLDR: Service could be better but the food absolutely makes up for it! Will come back!

I am Filipina and I have no issues saying that most Filipino restaurants just do not do Filipino food justice. So I almost didn't bother to even try this place bc I've been so disappointed too many times. However, my mama said she wanted to come here so Mama got what she wanted and I'm so thankful to have gotten a chance to try this place out! The food is great and authentic to the flavors of the Philippines. As in, I almost cried when I took my first bite and the flavors reminded me of my birth country. Memories of street bbq's and family gatherings came piling in and all the emotions with it! Wow! This is a must try for any Filipino food enthusiast!

But the service is a whole different story. Don't get me wrong, all the employees are absolutely nice and all wore a smile. But organization was lacking and it affected everything from wait time to employees forgetting what they've been requested to do. One waitress took my son's glass to get a refill and never came back with it. Our actual waiter forgot our lumpias. As in, we never got it and it was on our bill. Halo halo took over 20 minutes to get. We requested for our bill 3x! We were there for a total of 2 hours when really, it should have only been one. There was constantly a line outside the door. If they were more organized, this place would run smoother. Instead, we got to watch the employees run around like chickens without their heads. Thankfully, I enjoy being with my Mama and the...