Maxine's Cafe — Restaurant in Culver City

Maxwell's has great food and good service, with one exception. I don't recommend bringing a group larger than 6 or 7 to sit together. We've been here twice; first time with a group of 9 that the staff made pretty clear they did not enjoy serving (we made it as simple as possible with just one check and our entire group arrived together). Our second time was worse. Admittedly, we thought only 11 people were coming, but ended up with a group of 14. They split our group, which is perfectly fine at a smaller cafe like this, but it was the attitude of the staff that made the difference. The host that seated us made it clear that a group of our side was an inconvenience, and one he'd rather not have to deal with. The waiters then rushed us to order, pay, and clear our tables as quickly as they could. I had to turn away offers to take my plate with food still on it and my full cup of coffee 3 times before I had even paid the check (which we once again just paid on one check per table).

Overall, we were a bit disappointed with the service for our large group. I understand it can be difficult, but we try to be gracious and understanding in a smaller location like Maxwell's. It was the attitude and actions of the staff that led to a 3-Star review.

I'm planning to come back to Maxwell's because the food is really that good, but never again with a large group. It's not worth the disrespect...

Formally known as Maxwell‘s up until 2020 this location has been a popular breakfast spot for many decades. It can get quite busy during certain rushes, but we stopped in early this morning and did not have to wait at all to be seated. It’s quite small on the inside, but they have table, counter, and outdoor seating options. Our waitress was really friendly and everything that we ordered came out very quickly. It is a bit expensive compared to some other breakfast options, but that is most likely due to its location. Parking is also pretty easy, your best options will be in the neighborhood behind the restaurant or on Washington.

They have a lot of great options on the menu, but I went with my favorite breakfast dish, which is the Eggs Benedict. I chose the Bomb Benedict because you choose your own protein and I went with the Louisiana Hot Sausage and really enjoyed it. It was pretty spicy with strong flavors and the eggs were cooked perfectly. I just loved the combo overall. I also ordered a Biscuit on the side and thought it was one of the best Biscuits that I’ve had in a very long time. It was giant, fluffy, and everything that I hope for when ordering a Biscuit. I would stop here again just for the Biscuit, even though I’ve already dined in at this place many times over the years. I would recommend and will be back again many times...

Maxine’s Cafe has a retro vibe compared to your typical branch diner. The owner of the restaurant is friendly and welcoming, which would often give a good first impression, and thankfully, the food did follow suit. 🫡 The variation on the menu was also plentiful to choose from.

The food: Classic Breakfast w/ Waffles 🧇🥓🥔🍳 (10/10): The texture of the waffles was satisfying, although I do think a melted butter would have been better to go along with it, but then again, it’s all about personal preference. The eggs were cooked to perfection and I liked how they were not soaked in oil. 😨 The potatoes were fresh and seasoned to perfection. Also, the sausages were juicy and not too salty. With that said, the portion given was definitely acceptable. 👌🏼

Classic Breakfast w/ Pancakes 🥞🥓🥔🍳 (8/10): This version is basically the same as 2x2x2 but with no fruits and instead of waffles, i got the pancakes. I thought their pancakes were too soft for my liking, but then again, everyone’s tastes are different.

With all that in mind, the only downsides that I have to say about this place is the space in this restaurant is kind of small for my liking and parking spaces are kind of limited. Nevertheless, if you happen to be in the area, this brunch restaurant is...