Great service. Fun atmosphere. Menu is always changing. Chef Oliver is an artist! The sashimi pizza is a requirement!! read more

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Café Maxx what can I say this place was unexpectedly a five star restaurant. I don't mean that in a bad way because they are actually just that. I mean because the name is Café Maxx so my friend and I went in thinking that it was just a café that serves little meals and toast. Boy were we wrong and gee are we happy we stumbled onto this great find all thanks to Dine Out Lauderdale. Ladies and gentlemen they have a bar area here for dressy casual seating but come on in and get a little fancy for an intimate dining experience. They have been open for over 30 years so this is a staple in the neighborhood . Yet they have managed to always refine their menu keeping it classic and contemporary. The food was delicious, you can not get a better deal if you're coming here or looking into the Dine Out Lauderdale list this is your place to stop. Come here, don't go anywhere else. Lol Ok besides that they have a regular menu which is inclusive and so has vegetarian and vegan options. Their menu changes everyday with the exception of a few items. That way everything is fresh and trust me it's fresh. The wine selection is extensive, the bread basket you receive upon arrival has a variety of focaccia, flat bread, crackers and wheat, but you have to let them know you want because there's a lot of bread. Let's just say we left here happy and the service definitely made it a memorable experience. This was a Lauderdale Dine Out win. read more

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Food was very good, that's why I would give it 5 stars. However price comes with location so have it a 4. You have to love the atmosphere, of The "Who's who" of Fort Lauderdale. $50 - $80 for steak .. when you know how to cook then it's hard to pay. If you don't know how to cook steak ...it's wonderful meal by all means enjoy spending $$$$ but will pay and enjoy. I still enjoyed. read more

We haven't been there in a while so we decided to try it. We have been looking for a good Sunday brunch restaurant. This is the second week in a row we've been there the food was so fresh and delicious . Everything was homemade. Our server Deb was great! I highly recommend this restaurant.! read more

Cafe Max is a very underrated restaurant with spectacular dishes and phenomenal service. Nothing else needs to be said. GO. read more

Food was really amazing! Service was great.. Prices were as expected but not outrageous. Can't wait to try their brunch!

Our first time here after a recommendation. Hard to park! No place in the front, $20 for valet in the front, $7 for valet to park you out back. Too long of a walk in the rain, the dark, or if you are older because around the block out back is the only place to park. Dark and old looking inside. We placed our order and the waitress, Jane, who stated they only serve bread to the table if it is requested. So we requested it. We should have known to not order food after this bowl of stale and disgusting "bread" products were brought to us. Well, we ordered 4 different meals, and 3 of the 4 were not worth the cost. One meal was penne pasta with chicken. It came with 5 small cut up bite size pieces of chicken in the pasta, and each piece was dry, overcooked. Normally an entire chicken breast would be cut up with the pasta. The pasta would have tasted ok, but they put a salad on top of it with some type of balsamic vinaigrette. It did not go at all with the crème sauce on the penne. It was disgusting, and the salad dressing pooled at the bottom of the bowl, causing the penne to drown! They charged $34 for this bowl of nonsense. Two of our meals were shrimp and scallops which consisted of 2 shrimp and 2 scallops...for $60! Way overpriced for this meal. It's not even an upscale restaurant, so they have no reason to charge such a price. The scallops on both plates were undercooked and had to be brought back for further cooking. Now on to the bathrooms!!! OMG! The bathrooms are right next to the kitchen! When you are walking into, or out of the bathrooms, the food prepared for people is lying out, inches from you as you walk by. So unsanitary! And Jane, when we told her the scallops were undercooked, gave us two small plates, told us to put the scallop pieces on them and she will take them to the kitchen to be cooked further. We have never seen this done before. This place was a huge let down. The hostess Joanna, was super nice though! :) read more

I had a beautiful fillet believe it or not I like my meat medium well it came out medium was not happy. I just wanted a fillet. I didn't want the sauce peppercorns I could deal with it, but would definitely not a read more

Cafe Maxx - Soup of the Day - Seafood Near Me - Pompano Beach, Florida

Just left the café and I have to say the food was decent but when you're charging $70 for a steak and you want peppercorn sauce and they tell you, the chef won't do it. I think that's really cheap and stingy. Then when we finish the meal it was an anniversary and birthday celebration. They didn't offer us anything!! They weren't gracious or generous at all after spending over $500 for that table. I will never come back because they don't do anything to get you back. Most restaurants would be generous to help you celebrate a special occasion. read more

Actually giving it 3.5 stars. Service is some of the best around. Ambulance is very nice. Very busy restaurant. Food is fresh and well prepared though unremarkable. It's a solid Good food. Not going out of my way to eat here but won't say no to friends wanting to meet there either. Bartenders give you a very good whisky pour so that's nice right there. read more

Not many of the restaurants I went to when I first moved to Florida still exist (Mark's Las Olas, Chef Allen's, Norman's), but 15 years later, Cafe Maxx is still chugging along. Though I'd only come here once before (in the days before yelp), I don't believe much has changed at all - for better or for worse. The place is a real throwback, and some of the dishes look like they've been unchanged possibly since even before my time; The "banana lime shrimp," on a skewer resting atop mashed potatoes, looks like something Sonny might've sat down to in an episode of "Miami Vice". Our table had a variety of dishes on our Sunday night visit. The appetizers were healthy in size, but the penne-based "Mac and cheese" was unremarkable; the aforementioned banana lime shrimp was well presented, but obscured the main ingredient; and the "Asian bbq meatballs" (again featuring mashed potatoes, which must be made in bulk each evening) failed to impress. Main courses: the "sweet onion crusted snapper" approached greatness, but the accompanying "gaufrette potatoes" were... wait for it... mashed! Again. The shrimp scampi featured some nice sized seafood, but the pasta and scampi preparation weren't distinctive. The "berry glazed roast duck" was more satisfying. Desserts included a decent flourless chocolate cake, a strange espresso panna cotta, and the winner: a carrot cake heavy with pineapple influences. Our meal was good, but not great, and while classics like bbq and fried chicken joints don't need to ever change, fine dining isn't immune from the ravages of time. read more

Cafe Maxx - Seafood Near Me - Pompano Beach, Florida

You walk in and the smell of the restaurant is amazing!! Makes you hungry if you aren't already!! I came here early in the week for the Tuscany Wine Tasting. 6 wines and 2 appetizers for $35 plus tax and gratuity. The wine tasting is held in the back and it was a tad on the tight side. The wine selection was terrific and so was the appetizers served with the tasting. This event featured wines from Tuscany. 1 white and 5 reds. They have these tasting events, dinners and cooking class monthly and even twice a month. I plan on coming back to another event and possibly catching Crave while it lasts!! read more

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Absolutely wonderful experience. Drinks, appetizer, dinner - all well above expectations. Staff were attentive and made excellent suggestions. The roasted Brussels sprouts and tuna pizza were standouts as appetizers. The caramelized onion red snapper is to die for. read more

Thanksgiving Dinner! All covid protocols in place inside & outside. Thankful for Cafe Maxx since 1984! Impeccable service & innovative cuisine. All our favorites enjoyed...tuna sashimi pizza, duck smoked ravioli, butternut squash soup, three peppercorn filet, macadamia snapper, Parmesan pork chop, chicken orecchiette pasta. Thank you Chef Oliver & Darrel for another memorable holiday evening read more

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Best restaurant in Soth Florida hands down! Every single time we go out we try to go somewhere else we always end up saying we should have gone to Cafe Max! We have had everything on that menu and we literally love it all! Ambiance and service is superb as well! read more

First time tried this place to tell the truth many ppl recommended it to me. So i decide it to try it and went with my best friend.Hostess was beautiful and sweet she acommodate us .As soon as we sat down I had to wash my hands and went to the bathroom on the way back i was crossing through the kitchen and i heard the spanish basser who barley speaked english with the frisbee in his hand yelling and saying to the servers that my friend is drunk and he smells. Went back than 3 servers changed on the table till the time i had to asked who is my server so i can order and she said that they all work together. We ate food was good brussle sprouts were awesome and meat was tasty. I believe the servers and the busser are there for a long time and they can disrespect their customers .We both work at hospitality business but ......It had to reflect on the tip . read more

I went to this restaurant on a Thursday night for a pharmaceutical dinner. It doesn't look very appealing to the eye from the outside but the saying"don't judge a book by its cover" applies to Cafe Maxx. The place has tasteful decoration, perfect service and the food was very good. I had steak and it was cooked perfect. For dessert I had the chocolate lava cake...omg!!! It was warm and melted in your mouth. Definitely worth the calories. read more

Cafe Maxx - Seafood Near Me - Pompano Beach, Florida

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First off, for fine dining I didn't think it would be in a shopping plaza. I thought this place was going to be divine.. truly disappointed. We started off with the Brussel sprouts which were burnt and the eggplant milanese was tasteless without the caper sauce. I order the scallops and shrimp entree which was nothing special. The only entree that was good was the filet mignon.. Deserts were okay as well. And it took 45 minutes to receive our meals when the place was empty. Not worth the price tag whatsoever. read more

this restaurant has been around for lots of years. If you've never got the opportunity to try it, make sure you do. Everything is always delicious. We went because it was restaurant month and it was available to get to taste it without breaking the bank. It's a very expensive restaurant always crowded. But always leave satisfy with a well-made well served dinner many choices from meat fish chicken. read more

I thought it was good but not great. We were there for brunch. I'm not an egg eater so trying to find something that would work was a little different. Service was good read more

This week's duck breast with pumpkin risotto- no tricks, all treats in this dish. All dishes are amazing and love the rotating menu. The smoked ducked ravioli are to die for! Steaks are always cooked to perfection . The bartenders Valerie and Ron always take good care of you, too! read more

Cafe Maxx - This week's duck breast with pumpkin risotto- no tricks, all treats! - Seafood Near Me - Pompano Beach, Florida

Food was excellent! Service was good-had to ask for water refill several times. For $350 I would especially better parking accommodations. read more

This little gem is delicious. I mean seriously delicious. The snapper was perfectly prepared, the salmon had amazing seasoning and was cooked to perfection as well. The filet mignon was tender and nice and juicy and salads were great! We finished our meals with the cookies and cream bread pudding which I felt was only OK and the apple tart with caramel and cinnamon gelato which was superb. read more

Duck-was received well Raw fish, the same Celery soup, excellent Caesar salad good, though much dressing (would have liked cheese on it) I asked for onions and anchovies which I got) Friday they were busy, but we took a chance, at 7:15, and they seated us immediately. One excellent bus man- Juan - And Tom, the server very attentive! Easy Parking in front with an attentive valet from pompano Beach ($3.). Martini was ok, very good lemmonchello. $173 for three of us. read more

Really really really good martinis! Ice cold! Good selection of wine. The servers are excellent as well as the bartenders. Great place to go on a date. It is old skool with white table linens as well. I came at an unfortunate time -a car crashed on the side street of their building. It was kind of funny to me because I was on a date that ended as a 'train wreck' so I should have see that coming. Food is really good. I had the sashimi pizza and one of their wonderful salads. Def a great place to host a special occassion. read more

Love this place. Food is always fresh and delicious. Ambience and lighting spot on. Valet parking.

We have been coming here for about 30 years. We went there last night and it is still a fabulous restaurant with great food and service. Darry and Oliver really know how to run an awesome place. Dr.T read more

Best food in pompano beach! My go to spot to Celebrate and bring friends. Ricardo is the best!

We had several appetizers and a few entrées all were very well executed. The service is consistent and friendly great place to celebrate a birthday! read more

I went to a wine pairing event held by the folks at Wine Watch (haven't been yet? check them out too!). It is located in a strip mall and quite the hidden gem. Valet parking was complimentary. Cafe Maxx served appetizers during the pairing. We then chose to stay for dinner and see what else they had to offer. That turned out to be a great decision. Every single thing we ordered was outstanding. I won't even describe each one in detail because there was no bad choice amongst these. We all kept picking at each other's plates to try it all. This is what we had; Crispy Fried Calamari with tropical fruit BBQ Beef Brisket Point Reyes Blue Cheese Crostini Stuffed Mushrooms Spring Rolls Sea Scallops Pad Thai Bananas Foster's Bread Pudding Fallen Chocolate Flourless Cake Creme Brûlée Bourbon Pecan Pie The interior is very quaint because of it's dimmed lighting. Decor is simple and understated. We asked to be moved from the regular table we used during the pairing to a more private booth. The waitress we had during the pairing was great. The one we had during dinner was just OK. She seemed to disappear quite a bit. A couple of the wines we chose from the list were not available and that was disappointing. When we did find one that was available, it was not served at the right temperature. It might not be a big deal to some people but it is to me. Ultimately, the food was memorable enough. I would like to return and try more items from their (ever-changing) menu. Perhaps we will have better luck with our wine and service then. read more

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We came here for Dine Fort Lauderdale 2021 and the food was excellent. Actual menu online was different from the restaurants menu. My party of four all had the onion crusted fish and oh was it devine. We all enjoyed all three courses. Only drawback was that the Waiter closed out our check without asking if we wanted coffee or anything else. Will definitely be back. read more

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We went for the dine out Ft Lauderdale menu and it was amazing. It is a three course meal for $35. They didn't rush us and provided good service throughout the meal. They bring you warm bread...focaccia, white, and raisin. they will bring you butter upon request. I started with the Asian meatballs. It is a large serving for an appetizer. It is served over saueteed zucchini. The meatballs had a little spice to them. They were very good. My friend said they were the best meatball she's ever had and she doesn't usually like meatballs. For my main course I had the chicken al a vodka. It is served with a creamy red sauce. It had pancetta in it and peas. Very tasty. For dessert I had the hot chocolate lava cake. It is a smaller version than normal but super rich and topped with ice cream and chocolate sauce. It was amazing. I also tasted the key lime pie(very mild and not tart), the carrot cake with pineapple and coconut (YUMMY), and the coffee cheesecake (not much flavor). Overall, it was a great dining experience. The place offers nice ambiance and it is quiet so it's easy to carry on a conversation. There is a bar area with about 10 seats right when you walk in. It is an open kitchen. You can valet park or park in the strip mall parking lot for free. I have been here twice before and will definitely return again. read more

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Food wise, it's definitely one of the top restaurants in the Lauderdale area. The menu is made up daily and always with the very best and freshest of ingredients. Because of the fact of the changing menu it would be difficult to recommend any particular item. The menu is always creative, unique and inventive. I am always hit by something I have either never tried or never hear of previously. For example, Caviar Pie was on the menu during my most recent visit and they also have dishes not often seen in South Florida like fresh Hog Fish Snapper. The chef at Café Maxx is well known in the area and rightly so. He instructs various cooking classes and his preparation are always done in a unique, creative way that enhances every culinary experience I have ever had at Café Maxx. The drawbacks? Well, the décor doesn't amount to much and neither does its location which some have best described as being "strip mall chic." It's also pricey. An appetizer, salad, entrée and a couple of drinks will probably set you back a full Franklin....$100; but it could be more. However, for those who enjoy the uniqueness and creativity of culinary arts served in an unpretentious atmosphere, the experience is well worth the price. As for any hints I might pass on, I'd suggest that unless you are going there intending to be a part of a wine tasting group, schedule your dinning experience for another time as things tend to be loud and the wait staff generally becomes confused. read more

Cafe Maxx - Main Dinning Area - Seafood Near Me - Pompano Beach, Florida

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Took my wife out for her birthday and the experience couldn't have been better. The staff was attentive and helpful. The appetizers, entrees and deserts were delicious and we had left over appetizer and entree for tomorrow. A really special evening. read more

This place was perfect. We did this for a date night (my choice) it was perfect to get dressed up but not too much and have a great meal. We ordered the Tuna Pizza and Cesar salad as appetizers. He doesn't eat sushi and he even enjoyed the tuna pizza. lets wait a minute and realize what heaven tastes like... the tuna pizza was phenomenal to the point I will come back again and just order back to back but now in all seriousness.... we ordered for our entrées the duck raviolis and the chicken Alfredo pasta. Both meals were very well. For a random night out and expected to be a higher bill we walked away With a wonderful memory and evening. Very very very nice place, loved the inside, the atmosphere was pleasant and yes everyone was following the safety guidelines. Tables are white linen table clothed with wood tables and dining benches. read more

I don't usually go to restaurants a whole bunch in broward county but this place took me by surprise my Husband said it was the best grill cheese he's ever had and the server was amazing and speedy . I enjoyed the espresso and the shrimp and grits it was superb will definitely come back and I recommend this place to anyone . read more

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We haven't been here in ages. The food, as always, was amazing. The people watching - even better. Face lifts and boob jobs and giant lips. It was a circus of people. The wait ftaff was pleasant but aloof. We had the snapper with carmelized onions which was very good. The duck and smoked mozarella ravioli were great. Good wine selection. We had a bottle of Row 11. It was a nice dinner. I didn't feel particularly at home or comfortable. The whole place felt a little stiff. Could be all the botox. I'm not sure I'll be running back but the food is great. read more

Cafe Maxx - Black bean soup - Seafood Near Me - Pompano Beach, Florida

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BRUNCH! So awesome. I met Chef Heather when out dining. She told me about her restaurant and I just had to bring my brunchophile son! She kindly came out to say hi! What a cheffy foodie scene! Start with the sashimi pizza, studded with caviar, drizzled with balsamic reduction and the most delicate thin crunchy crispy crust. We ordered the cinnamon bun which is a must. Then shared the chef's omelet which had steak tips this Sunday. We also had to order the french toast bread pudding and a side of the HOUSE CURED Canadian bacon- who does this?! What a GREAT brunch. Chef Heather ROCKS! She chefs here MTW and Sunday brunch. Great fine dining experience. Wish I could give 5 more stars. Thank you, Heather!!! read more

great food relaxing environment charming ambiance stellar service if you haven't been, try it you won't be disappointed read more

My issue is with the valet company they use. As I was sitting behind a car waiting for a customer to pull out, one of their attendants came up in front of me and put a cone to block that spot I was waiting for. I was shocked because I knew he saw me waiting patiently wait for that spot. As I asked him what he was doing he told me to go F**K myself to go park somewhere else. When I said I'll move the cone to park there, he said go ahead and I'll have your car towed bi**h. When I called the restaurant they took my name and number, still waiting for a call back. It is hard to believe that a restaurant would employ such a person to represent their company. read more