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Bar Max

3.7 (12 reviews)
Closed • 4:00 pm - 10:00 PM

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Jon B.

Went to this place recently. Had been here before under a different name and enjoyed the vibe. I checked the reviews and it looked promising. We tried it again and the service was good and is a small place to hang out and get some drinks, so thats fine, the food however was pretty bad. As someone who have eaten at every max restaurant this was disappointing. We went there because hey we can get some drinks and some good food. Max's is right across the street so couldn't understand what was happening here. We got the Mac and cheese and the calamari (as i have never had bad calamari before). The mac and cheese was underwhelming, pretty bland, no real flavor. The calamari honestly was pretty bad, like they just fried the calamari, no seasoning, just put in on a dish on top of greens and a sauce that also had no flavor. It was so bad that I had to ask the waiter if they were related to Max restaurant group. She confirmed this was the case and honestly couldn't believe it. Any menu item from Max's across the street happy hour would have been way better, so dont understand what happened here. On top of that, those 2 dishes w a beer was $49. Mind you these were tapas style sizes. Doubt will stop again, maybe for a drink and thats it. Hope it improves as it is really hurting the Max name. As I went back to the reviews I realized they were from a long time ago so something must have changed. This time however a 2star feel generous.

The celery cocktail
Lanasha R.

This spot used to be Bar Piña but I love what Bar Max has done with the space! Since I know the area well, the location is easy to find but my friends did have some trouble getting confused with Max Downtown across the street. The red on the walls is a gorgeous color! I haven't caught this spot in the day time yet but I'm sure it's a stunner. There's ample seating inside and the chairs are comfortable which I appreciate. Since the windows are so big, there is a bit of a draft so I opted to keep my jacket on. I think in the future I'll try sitting at the bar if there's room. The bartenders are amazing! I believe his name is John and he was super accommodating and friendly. I had the intention of trying something different but went with the tequila based celery cocktail and had noooo regrets! I think I may have found my new fav downtown cocktail. It was SO refreshing and light but the smoked celery salt rim had me sold. Unfortunately we missed the kitchen but their menu had some items that caught my eye. I'll have to try them out next time. They have live music and DJs on certain nights. I'm happy to see such lively spots popping up

$1 oysters from 4-6 weekdays!
Madi C.

Great drinks and staff. Frequent Max for the "buck a shuck" oysters during weekday happy hours!

Clams on the half shell and the Bulldog Cooler
Mike L.

After a BUSY day in the office, I felt like it was time to have a drink. So, Bar Max caught my eye. I walked in (entrance is on Haynes St., not Asylum st., so heads up), and I was instantly attracted to the decor. Modern day items but with a 30s-40s era appeal. I sat down and was handed a menu. Happy Hour... cocktails and raw bar? Say less. I ordered a Bulldog Cooler and some raw clams. The drink was made quickly and the raw clams took a bit (at $1 a clam, it's understandable there's a demand). But when they arrived, amazing. FRESH horseradish and ketchup for cocktail sauce. I took a bite of the horseradish and my sinuses cleared instantly. But on a clam on the half shell, perfection. Super cold, shucked so there's no biting on the shell needed, and just the right salinity to know this came from the ocean. The Bulldog cooler was the right choice (gin, orange juice, bitters, ginger, and club soda). It paired so well with the clams. The bitters and ginger helped to combine notes from the clams while the acidity of the orange juice added some bite to the clams as well. The gin and ginger both combined to quell the heat of the horseradish but also make the sharpness stand out as well. Overall, Bar Max is fantastic. The service is outstanding, the drinks perfect, and the food was excellent. Might be a Friday evening post work tradition

Oysters

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2 months ago

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2 months ago

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11 days ago

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4 months ago

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2 years ago

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2 years ago

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2 years ago

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2 years ago

Excellent and upbeat, fresh atmosphere, food best ever servic great Romantic but entertaining enjoyed our night,easy reservation as well

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1 year ago

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2 years ago

Love it!!! Nice to have those 'Goodwin Days' back! Classy and fun. John is great! Well dine, Steve! ​

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Hook & Reel Cajun Seafood & Bar

Hook & Reel Cajun Seafood & Bar

3.5(53 reviews)
2.6 mi•Behind The Rocks
•$$$

First time at Hook & Reel with my family! Drinks and food were so delicious. What really made the…read moreexperience was our server Jay. He was super attentive, quick with drink refills, knowledgeable about the menu, and even gave our nephew candy! Can't wait to make this a family tradition. Shoutout Jay!!!!!

Food FLAVOR was great, but the quality of food and service were kinda disappointing:…read more First issue- We got our boils before we got our drinks. We had to flag down another server to ask for waters to drink with our food, because our server hadn't brung us our ordered beverages yet. And then, when we finally did get them, my FROZEN margarita arrived at the table already MELTED. Second issue- Majority of my muscles came EMPTY, as if the meat was overcooked out of their shells before being put into my bag. So I didn't even get many muscles. And their "sausages" were not the typical thick round sausages they have advertised on their ads and that you see everywhere else. They were literally THIN FLIMSY SLICES OF PORK LIKE HAM. That was very upsetting, they didn't even have a sausage-like taste. However, other than those two issues, everything else was great! We got crab legs, shrimp, muscles, corn, potatoes, boiled eggs and lobster tail in our boils. We both got the special blend sauce mild. The flavor was good.

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Hook & Reel Cajun Seafood & Bar - Dining area

Dining area

Hook & Reel Cajun Seafood & Bar - Sweet Potatoe fries

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J. Gilbert's Wood-Fired Steaks & Seafood - Filet

J. Gilbert's Wood-Fired Steaks & Seafood

4.3(975 reviews)
4.2 mi
•$$$

J Gilbert's in Glastonbury, Connecticut…read more I got the 10oz sirloin with creamed corn (with bacon ) and potato au gratin -- everything was super flavorful and cooked perfectly. Total comfort food but elevated. My husband went with the burger topped with an unreal shallot jam and sweet potato fries... and yes, it was as good as it sounds Such a solid spot for a cozy steak night.

Oh man it hurts me to right this review. Because we have loved J Gilbert's for so long, but…read moreunfortunately it just not has been the same for a while. We were there celebrating after a very tough stretch for my wife so we needed a good night out. Our salads actually had brown lettuce in it. When we told the server she did not even seem to care or know what to do and actually said so do you still want them. Then my wife's scallops were way overcooked (I did not even think that was possible) and I ordered my burger Med Rate and cane out Ned Well. Again ghe server did not even seem to bat an eye. It was really about attention to detail and the steps of service. None of them were there. We saw employees walking past empty tables with dirty dishes and not help clear, and saw no teamwork. Maybe I am being to critical because I have been in this business for 35 years, but mayybe someone a manager or other employee will see this and will do something. Because that night no one came over to say they were sorry

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J. Gilbert's Wood-Fired Steaks & Seafood - Frozen Flavors

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Wine

The Capital Grille - Filet Mignon – hand-cut classic perfection.

The Capital Grille

4.2(519 reviews)
0.4 mi•Downtown
•$$$

We went on a whim for happy hour. The quality we've had during regular hours was always excellent…read moreand we wondered what a smaller, less expensive menu would bring. It was all we wanted and more. The sliced strip steak was perfectly done on a chimichurri base. The small lamb chops were also perfect. Other dishes were equally outstanding. After we paid and called for the car to be brought (handy valet parking!), my wife was complimenting the server for her great work. My wife for mentioned it was my birthday and the service made it special. Little did we know. The server said "wait here", disappeared for a couple of minutes, and returned with two small desserts. They were on a happy birthday plate. Gratis! We will return with friends!

The sliced strip steak served over chimichurri was cooked perfectly, and the lamb chops were just…read moreas exceptional. Every dish we tried was outstanding. What truly made the evening memorable was the service. After we had paid and called for our car (the valet parking is a great convenience), my wife mentioned to our server that it was my birthday and complimented her on the wonderful service. To our surprise, she returned a few minutes later with two complimentary desserts beautifully presented on a "Happy Birthday" plate. Such a thoughtful gesture made an already fantastic experience even more special.

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The Capital Grille - Lobster Mac 'N' Cheese – Made with freshly poached lobster and topped with a Grana Padano crust.

Lobster Mac 'N' Cheese – Made with freshly poached lobster and topped with a Grana Padano crust.

The Capital Grille - Jumbo Lump Crab Cocktail served with housemade mustard sauce.

Jumbo Lump Crab Cocktail served with housemade mustard sauce.

The Capital Grille - 14 oz Dry Aged NY Strip au Poivre finished with our housemade Courvoisier Cream for a decadent finish.

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14 oz Dry Aged NY Strip au Poivre finished with our housemade Courvoisier Cream for a decadent finish.

Max Fish - Lobster bake

Max Fish

4.1(631 reviews)
4.3 mi
•$$$

I haven't been here in quite a while. Notice how WIDE my parking spot is. The restaurant is located…read moreon 110 Glastonbury Blvd in Glastonbury, CT. This may be, perhaps, the best Happy Hour I have ever seen anywhere. It's EVERY DAY from 3:30-6. The food item options are huge (20-25) plus three dessert choices. There's are also seven quality mixed drinks, three beers and seven wines! OMG! The bartender recognized me! I haven't been here since January 2025 (1 1/3 years ago). She is even knew where I sat! The menu is unchanged except for a few minor things. For my first drink, I'm having the Max Manhattan made with Old Overholt Rye, Cinzano Sweet Vermouth, orange bitters and orange twist. This has a nice garnish and tastes great! For my first food item, I'm getting a Caesar Salad made with romaine lettuce, garlic croutons and Parmesan cheese. The smell of cheese is quite strong! It's a good portion. This tastes good! Crunchy croutons and tasty lettuce. For my next food item, I'm having a Salmon lettuce cup. Nice presentation! It's on a bed of ice and a lemon to sprinkle. This is quite good! Next up, I'm having a Cup of Clam Chowder. I believe these are house-made croutons. This came out quick! It's nice and hot! Tastes great! Well, with a little hot sauce that is...I like the classic music here. For my next drink, I'm having an Old Fashioned made with Old Forester Bourbon, simple syrup and Angostura bitters. Damn! Nice presentation (the Amarena cherry on the wooden stick) and a great tasting drink! The bartenders are good here! Very attentive! For my next food item, I'm having the Steamed Mussels made with soppressata, capers, shellfish stock, spring herb butter and Pernod butter. I love the focaccia! It is heavily buttered. The mussels are real good! For my next food item, I'm having the Scallops A La Plancha made with mustard spatzle, pea puree, asparagus and mushroom cream. This is good. It's heavy due to the pasta. It's like an entree. To wash this all down, I'm getting a bottle of Pellegrino sparking water. I like this stuff! For my next food item, I'm having four (Buck a Shuck) Cherrystone clams and four Oysters of the Day (only $1.95 each). These are good! I love the cocktail and vinaigrette sauces (with the crushed pink peppercorns). Sprinkle that lemon! For my next drink, I'm having a Happy Hemmy made with rum, grapefruit juice, lime and vanilla extract. What a great drink! Very unique taste! This has kick! For my food item, I'm having the "Baltimore Style" Shrimp Cocktail made with Old Bay Seasoning and stone ground mustard. OMG! The shrimp are big These are great! I love that mustard! For my next good item, I'm having the Blackened Fish Taco made with pineapple salsa and aji verde. I love it! This is easy to eat. For my last appetizer, I'm having the Happy Burger made with lettuce, tomato and cheddar cheese. I miss this badly! This is delicious! It's a well-seasoned burger let me tell you! For dessert, I'm having the Creme Brulee. This is the cutest Creme brulee ever! On a Happy Hour menu?! This is a first anywhere! My favorite dessert! This is great! For my final drink, I'm having the Gin Gimlet made with Greylock Gin, simple syrup and lime juice. This is good! It's light so it's easy to drink at the end of my meal. That's 11 food items I ate and 4 mixed drinks. What a fantastic meal here!

Had an incredible dinner at Max Fish and it honestly delivered across the board…read more Started with the lobster bisque -- silky, rich, and absolutely amazing. The clam chowder was just as good, thick and loaded with flavor and ingredients in every bite. The grilled octopus with potatoes was a standout -- perfectly tender (not rubbery at all) and packed with flavor. Oysters were fresh, crisp, and just straight up delicious. For the main, the paella was -- rich, loaded with seafood (shrimp, scallops, calamari, mussels, clams), and cooked perfectly. Paired it with a light beer which helped cut through the richness and kept everything balanced. Service was on point and the ambiance made it a great overall experience. Definitely a spot I'd go back to.

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Max Fish - Bar dining area

Bar dining area

Max Fish - Fish & Chips

Fish & Chips

Max Fish - Lobster pasta

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Lobster pasta

Bar Max - bars - Updated July 2026

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