Max's Restaurant, Cuisine of the Philippines — Restaurant in New York

Sigh. I really wanted to give this a positive review based on my personal experience eating at the original Max's in Quezon City a long time ago, but we always have to be honest, so here goes..

First off, this location opened just recently (last week I believe). Their phone number, even though is listed, is not "activated" yet (as per the hostess), so if you want to order for takeout you would have to visit them first.

Expect long wait times because this is a popular franchise. They have to figure out how quickly they could serve out food and inform the waiting customers how long (I was promised 30 minutes, ended up waiting for an hour - this was lunch time around 11:30am)

The hostess was nice and patient, albeit a bit nervous (is this her first time doing this job?). The seats are crowded - they have limited space to work with, and it looks like they crammed in as much chairs as possible. If you don't want a little bit of your personal space invaded, maybe try the corner seats.

Now onto the food. Their menu offerings are fewer compared to the ones on their main website - they said that the kitchen is a bit small - so they can only sell the crowd favorites. We ordered the fried chicken (of course, this is their most popular dish), chop seuy (stir fried veggies), lumpia shanghai (mini fried egg rolls - Filipino version), pancit palabok (a rice noodle dish with pork and shrimp base sauce), and daing na bangus (marinated fish).

None of them were memorable. The chicken was salty and dry. The chop suey was drowning in it's own sauce. The lumpia tastes just like what you could buy in the frozen section in the Filipino store. The pancit noodles were overcooked and soggy and did not have any bits of meat as far as one can see (side note - do they really put carrots in pancit palabook as this is a first for me), and the fish is too dry as well.

The bill came up with a little over a hundred dollars - a tad more than what I would pay for but what can we do - our economy is in the tank right now.

Let me focus on the fried chicken. The restaurant boasts of their "sarap-to-the-bones" chicken with original blends and spices. All I could taste was salt, and lots of it. Even their flyer says best enjoyed with banana ketchup and worcestershire sauce. That means if you're only having the chicken by itself, you're missing out on the whole "Max's Fried Chicken" experience.

I guess I set the bar too high? I don't know. In any case, I am not sure if I will give this place one more shot as the food tastes as generic as some other Filipino restaurants along Roosevelt. The previous establishment before Max's was also the same. Maybe there's a curse in that location. Who knows. But one thing I know - you better be with a fun and patient group when you dine here, this way you get to enjoy at...

Ambiance and Service: My visit to Max's in Queens, amidst a serene snowstorm, offered a stark contrast to the bustling, multi-floored New Jersey counterpart, known for its vibrant Filipino community. The Queens location, a cozy single-room establishment, initially greeted me with an empty space, likely due to the weather conditions. However, as my meal progressed, more patrons began to trickle in, filling the room with a warmer atmosphere.

The staff at Max's Queens truly shone with their friendliness and helpfulness. They went above and beyond, assisting me with directions, especially since the seven train was not operational that weekend. Their kindness was a beacon in the snowy weather, making me feel genuinely cared for. The server, a delightfully talented young individual, added to the homely vibe with beautiful singing, creating an ambiance that felt both comforting and unique.

Culinary Experience: Despite the exceptional service, the culinary journey at Max's was underwhelming. I opted for the 'Sinigang ng Bangus' - a classic Filipino dish known for its tangy tamarind broth and rich flavors. Unfortunately, this rendition fell short of expectations. The fish served was disappointingly thin, small, and excessively bony, detracting significantly from the overall enjoyment of the meal. Moreover, the soup lacked the authentic tang of tamarind, tasting more like a pre-packaged mix one might find at a local store. This was a letdown, especially considering the homemade quality I've experienced in other restaurants and from family-prepared versions of the same dish.

Final Thoughts: In summary, Max's in Queens excels in creating a welcoming and intimate atmosphere, greatly enhanced by their attentive and amiable staff. However, the culinary aspect was a letdown, particularly with their rendition of 'Sinigang ng Bangus'. While the food did not meet expectations, the phenomenal service and the rarity of Filipino cuisine options in New York City might compel me to revisit. I am inclined to give Max's another chance, perhaps to try their famed fried chicken, hoping to find a dish that aligns with the warmth and quality of...

Oh the anticipation for months, waiting for this to open. This actually used to be Rosario's Ihawan's spot which was one of our favorites in the area before. Finally came last Saturday late afternoon, thinking it might be better with the post peak lunch hour.

The good:

Nice redecoration of the space to make the vibe 'Max's'

Krispy Sisig from Dencio's (didn't realize this was a thing and is part of the Max's menu now, wasn't before!)

Kare Kare (but didn't come with Bagoong) Garlic rice was good and came in good portions

Areas of opportunities (giving them a bit of grace since they've only been opened for a few weeks):

Chaotic welcome (or non-welcome) process

No other way to reserve except get there and attempt to be part of the list but no tables until 45 mins at least and not even guaranteed.

Resorted to doing take out and btw they told us that they don't answer their phone number on the menu card ever so forget the number in the menu, you still need to show up and order and come back again to pick it up.

The staff looks so stressed and unhappy and it was showing in their customer interactions. They barely acknowledge excited customers coming in to introduce the Max's brand.

Pancit Canton was soooo bland, why? :(

And painful as it is to say this, the fried chicken was sub par and wasn't up to the glorious Max's fried chicken taste that the brand is known for. How?! :(

Overall 3.5 out of 5. Sincerely hope the owners and management takes the feedback seriously (feedback is a gift after all!) and works through all these. Hoping to come back and support again once they've hopefully improved. Also, attention to detail in everything, please.

P.S The space is also obviously too small for a Max's. Consider expanding outside perhaps? Some potential for an outdoor space there.

And please get on with a proper reservations program: Yelp, Open Table, Resy. Do yourselves and your customers a favor or it'll...