Max Bar & Bistro at Eastman Place — Restaurant in City of Rochester

Were invited to RPO at the Max, a wonderful exploration of music held in the very intimate Atrium at the Max setting. Decided to treat ourselves with a 3-course dinner at Max of Eastman Place. Called in advance and were told the dinner was in the $28-32 range. Were seated to learn that the prix fixe was, in fact, $37. Considered a la carte items from the menu, but the prix fixe actually seemed the better "deal," so decided to splurge on the nearly $40 dinner. First course: choice between two fairly pedestrian salads - caesar and a house option. Caesar was fine, but certainly wasn't exciting. (The beet salad from the regular menu was honestly a lot more inviting.) Second course: choice between tagine chicken, salmon and pasta with veggies. I'm not normally a chicken person, but the tagine preparation and accompanying Moroccan elements intrigued me, so I went that route. Chicken was very moist, so no complaints there (except maybe price, in that chicken on a menu is rarely as expensive as fish, and I'd passed up salmon, which honestly sounded boring). Third and final course: choice between apple crisp (or was it described as a crumble?) and an olive oil cake with raspberry sorbet. Even though the cake sounded more unusual, I caved to the crisp/crumble, as I'm a sucker for apples. Dessert came out. It was swimming in oil, and nowhere was evident the crisp/crumble aspect. I sent it back. The waiter (attentive as all the wait staff, who worked well as a team) apologized, and, while I expected he might offer the other dessert in its place, said the apple dish hadn't looked quite right (then why did he serve it in the first place?) and sent it back for a replacement of the same. Only problem is that the second was really no better. I'm not picky - particularly not about desserts - but I didn't get passed having just a couple bites. So all in all, I paid $37 plus tax and tip for chicken and some Romaine lettuce. I didn't think the atmosphere (decor was kinda "eh") or the food warranted what we spent on dinner. Good thing the experience didn't diminish the high we were on from an awesome...

This is a very quaint place to go have dinner or just dessert after seeing a show downtown Rochester. It is very upscale fine dining classy. This is a dress up kind of restaurant. I only found out about this restaurant because my husband and I saw a show with the RPO and when looking through the program I happened to come across an ad for the restaurant and asked someone if this was still a place to go to. Sometimes there is advertising that is old. So we were glad to hear it was still open. My husband and I just ordered drinks and dessert. My husbands dessert was really good. It was a cream brulee. Creamy custard and melted sugar on top that you break with a cookie on top. I ordered the caramel bread pudding. Mine was ok only because it looked like it was scooped out of a container and ploped onto a small dish. Half was slightly warm and the other half cold and it was dry not any kind of bread pudding I've had before. It also had a caramel drizzle on top and vanilla ice cream on the side. It did taste good but the presentation was not the best. Maby if it wasn't so late and we were there during the early evening time it may be better. But really regardless of what time it is even if it's a half hour before close the consistency should be the same no matter what time it is. It seemed like less effort was put into it compared to the crem brulee. The desserts cost $10 each. I got a glass of wine that was $13 and it was just half full. My husband got a black Russian that was $12. Over all a nice quiet intimate setting and good service. Definitely go try...

So, a Manhattan is not difficult to make. 2 ounces of bourbon or rye; one ounce of sweet vermouth. Add to ice, stir until very cold and drain into glass and add cherry. It should always be served up( w/o ice). My wife and I stopped in for a cocktail this evening. She ordered a blackberry cocktail of sorts and I ordered their Manhattan, which was described in the bar menu as being served up. The bartender took our order and returned promptly with our drinks; putting one down in front of my wife and one down in front of me. I should mention here that there were no other patrons in the bar area. I took a sip of my drink and recoiled. I have a Manhattan two or three times a week and this was not a Manhattan. My wife sampled her drink, which was served on the rocks and we agreed that the bartender mixed up our drinks. When the bartender returned, we pointed out her error and she said" It happens". "It happens?" Maybe at a busy party but not when we are your only customers. If she had apologized this would have been forgotten ( regardless of the fact that my Manhattan was not served up as advertised). But no, she shrugged and said "It happens." We won't be returning to your...