The staff were genuinely warm and welcoming from start to finish. Our waiter walked us through the brunch menu and pointed out the vegetarian-friendly options, which I really appreciated. We shared the guacamole, chilaquiles divorciados with mushrooms, and a couple of maxi martinis - everything was fresh, flavorful, and really well done. They also brought out a tres leches dessert for my sister's birthday that was so good. You can tell there's a lot of care behind both the food and the hospitality here. Definitely looking forward to coming back! read more

Maximo is the progressive Mexican concept of the Local Foods restaurant group, which I really welcome! There are so many interesting dishes that I'd love to try the next time I visit. Since it was a double date, we opted for the tasting menu, 5 items at a very affordable $45 per person. Oysters were fresh, and with interesting ingredient combinations, one more acidic, one more savory. The squash blossom tetela was kinda like a large samosa/dosa (if you need a reference to another food item), and the salsa de tomatillo had a kick! Very delicious. The masa cornbread was the thing I was most looking forward to. Great presentation, interesting use of ingredients, such as onion, definitely more on a savory cornbread than sweet. Afterwards they provided some pineapple with spices as a palate cleanser. Personally, I think the onion overwhelms The main was a truffle sope with short rib. The base is kind of like a thicker tostada, which holds up well with all the ingredients on top. Love the use of the huitlacoche and mole negro. For dessert, a buñuelo, a dough fritter, with rum and ice cream. A few notes: (1) oysters could be shucked better, one of mine had a shell piece. Fortunately, I don't think I broke a tooth. (2) The sope is great, but somewhat one-dimensional, very similar flavor profiles, needs something acidic/bright to balance against or else you're just 'slogging' through it (3) Diner experience and execution: the tetela is a bit difficult to cut through with a knife, and the cornbread should come with a spoon given the bowl. (4) Service was pretty good, though the timing of the sope came a few minutes too early, as we were eating the pineapple cleanser. As I'm typing this, I realize maybe the pineapple was to be eating along with the sope? If so, this wasn't explained to us. Parking is okay. Restaurant isn't terribly crowded, and there's outdoor seating. Reservations highly recommended. Overall, a very excellent showing by the restaurant group. The tasting menu offering is perfect for a date/double date. They have somewhat flown under the radar (at least in my circles, restaurant news), but the folks living in the Rice Village / Bellaire area know what's up. I give Maximo 4 excellentes, out of 5. read more

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Came back last Sunday with my family because I have been wanting to try out certain dishes here. I was reluctant considering my last experience but decided to give it another try. We ended up having Daniel again as our server and let's just say he was a totally different server this time around. He was actually hospitable and engaging. I honestly thought maybe he was having a bad day the last time we dined. I was hoping he didn't recognize us because I didn't want any special or unwelcoming treatment just wanted a great experience. Needless to say, he did recognize us and after we closed out our ticket, he made a point to apologize for his demeanor. We were really appreciative and appreciated him redeeming himself. As for the food, everything was delicious just as I was expecting! We will most certainly be back!! read more

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We went as a small group for dinner on a Friday night, with reservations and sat indoors. There is excellent attentive staff to greet you and help you with the door and it's a romantically lit, medium loud, small footprint interior with maybe a dozen booths/tables inside and about the same in patio seating. The food is Mexican fine dining, and we all had the tasting menu. I personally loved the themes and the food was all beautifully thought out. The last star is missing because some of our food was not hot enough and the ice cream dessert was too icy. I would definitely come back because the flavors were great and I can't imagine getting this unique food anywhere else. I truly was inspired by the earthy flavors in the recipes. read more

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We had the most amazing dinner at Maximo! We got married earlier in the day and they made our night so special (they even threw flowers on us ). The food was beyond incredible and our waiter was AMAZING. My favorite dish was the hearts of palm appetizer. read more

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Intimate outdoor seating area and excellent service. Chef Adrian Torres is a young upcoming chef with a great vision. Happy to hear of a place that allows him to be experimental and showcase his creativity. Tasting menu had character and the colors of each dish remained cohesive. read more

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I've been here 3 times since December. Twice for brunch and once for dinner. Always great food. Always great service. It's really just a neighborhood eatery (not my neighborhood, but that is the feel of the place). You can dress up for a night out, or go as you are. Highly recommend! read more

I was SO looking forward to trying this restaurant so we went today. I wanted the $49 fixed price menu and my wife wanted to order some à la carte items. The server informed us that we couldn't do that. We all had to order the fixed price menu or as he put it "I guess you'll have to come back by yourself, then". He said that ordering the special menu plus some à la carte items would "stress out" the kitchen. I fail to understand that logic so we just simply left. That's a shame. I want to be clear that my review doesn't judge the food but the service and the concept of ordering from the menu. read more

I've always seen this place but never tried it out until now and I'm so glad I did try it with my Fiance! When we went it was on a Thursday night around 6:30PM. It was not busy inside the restaurant, with only 3 tables including ours and 1 couple outside on their patio. It was a rainy, cloudy day so not too many people out and about. We were given the choice of a booth and our server came by very quickly to get our drink orders and waters. As we browsed the menu, we decided to order their guac for an appetizer and the crudo. I really enjoyed the guac and will definitely come back for that. It's very unique and different because it has sesame seeds and the chips provided were so crispy! For our entree, we ordered a few tacos and the short rib mole. We both enjoyed the mushroom tacos so much we ordered another set after we demolished the first set of tacos. To round out the dinner we got the banana dessert which was banana presented in 3 ways, and I really loved the presentation! Overall, the food was great, I would come back to enjoy the food again. What I couldn't enjoy was that our server was very social but didn't pick up that I wanted to spend more time talking with my fiance. While I can appreciate he was attentive to check on us to see how each dish was tasting incase something didn't come out correctly, I wished he wouldn't have stayed to chat longer with my Fiance and given us the chance to just talk together. (my personal preference since we are also currently in our wedding planning stages so have lots to cover). We definitely will come back again for the food- not a great place for larger groups than 6 as the interior is very small and quaint. Great for couples and small groups of 4 or 5 however! Price and reasonable for the food you get. :) read more

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I had a great time at dinner here! I have celiac (gluten-free) and I'm vegetarian and they had a few options available. They were aware of ways to minimize cross-contamination in the kitchen for gluten, and they also do not use any gluten in their fryer, which is great. The ambiance was nice, the service was friendly, and the drinks were unique and delicious! The tetela in particular was a unique dish that was a great balance of crunch/soft texture with a delicious sauce that it was served over. The cauliflower asada was also delicious and flavorful, with a great presentation. I look forward to seeing their rotating menu and hopefully more vegetarian gluten-free options the next time I visit here! read more

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Yallll get here and quickly! The food is 10/10. Service exceptional. Presentation immaculate. I am truly a fan of the Local food group and their variety of offerings via their restaurants. I think Maximo has dethroned Local foods as my fave. They have revamped the menu and were offering a tasting menu. Let me tell you something, get closer! Run here don't walk! They started with charbroil and raw Oysters. I do not do raw oyster but these raw Oysters were phenomenal and now I may change my tune lol! Secondly we had a crab costra, covered in a cheese with cute little doll ups of sauce my favorite! The menu continued with a masa cornbread cake with a savory butter and cavier. Stay with me I'm taking you on a ride here. Next we cleansed our pallete with pineapple and taking before receiving the award wining truffle sope short rib. Yall everything was so damn good and we topped it off with this cutesy bananas custard in a shape of a banana and a bunuelo. Perfection! Additional shoutouts to the chef who cultivated this menu and pull elements from his Mexican heritage to formulate it. Now I'm greedy so I ordered the highly recommended mushroom taco and a fish taco again excellent. Lastly we had the Tres leches cake. Big wow and a demonstration as to how fish the ingredients are that they use. I a person who are lactose intolerant did not experience and gut issues after eating it! Kudos Local foods good! Kudos to the chef you have crafted an excellent menu and I will be back! Also I had a frozen margarita with tajin it was also 10/10 and a good size! Free street parking available across the street. They offer indoor and outdoor door seating and they have a bar. read more

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This place is amazing!!! I've come here 4 times now!! It is a Houston gem. The food is of quality. It is creative. My friend from Chicago was so very very happy!!! Chef Adrian came and talked with us. So nice. Sincere. Humble. read more

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One of the greatest restaurants I have ever been to, time and time again never ever disappoints! The food, the ambiance, the hospitality! My favorite spot in all of Houston and anywhere I have ever lived!! read more

Chef was so polite Food was great I love the experience I did chef testing But also try mushrooms taco I love the desert read more

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By chance Maximo fell back on my radar. It's a cut intimate space perfect for date nights. Love the enclosed patio. We got to sit at a window table by the front door. Our server Geoff was entertaining and informative for the evening. He was great! We had a tough time deciding between the tasting menu (which is arguably one of the best deals in town) vs à la carte. In the end bc we love variety, decided on the latter. Guac- more mexicanized version served with nixtamalized chips. Ok, nothing I would have missed. Tuna tiradito- beautiful presentation and super umami and tasty. Duck breast from tasting menu- well cooked. Chicken Milanese- very filling, solid. Pepper (poblano) forward sauce as expected. Again the decision paralysis hit when it came to dessert- Geoff was kind enough to gift us one so we could have both! The Bunuelo was definitely a hit, not too banana-y in terms of the fake flavour, I thought it was perfect. Got to munching leftovers tres leches and even then it was still really good! Will have to see if the menu changes at all to finally do the tasting maybe! read more

Everything for us as a family if 4 (including 2 children under 5) was just awesome. The staff is very attentive and considerate of families is what I gathered. Definitely a nod to Mexican culture and its respect to La familia. There's a small children's menu and I will say the chicken and beef tacos were amazing. Heck me and the wife wanted to eat them after sampling a bite. Every dish that we ordered: Roasted oysters (not gulf oysters FYI) Doraditos Saudero (not the viral saudero from Mexico City) Tiradito de hamachi (who knew peaches and hamachi went together! If you love ponzu and yellowtail at your favorite sushi spot you will LOVE this!) Taco plate (MUSHROOM TACOS!!!) Pork belly carnitas (pickled cauliflowers? YAS!!!) Wagyu carne asada (butter melt in your mouth!) Was a smash! The waitress Solida even offered immediately to comp some tacos which we hadn't even asked for. All three tacos beef, chicken, and MUSHROOM were amazing. This is NOT Mexican food you'll find at your favorite taco truck (Elena's number 2 on wayside) or even Houston icons like El Jardin on Navigation, but elevated Mexican food unlike anything I've had before. I could not believe there are people with creative palettes like this. I asked my wife if the food was better than Pujol in Mexico City and she replied YASSSSS! The ambiance isn't really isn't fine dining and as a family I was extremely thankful. To top it off a gentleman named Rene whom I imagined was the manager stopped by our table (every table it seemed) and the conversation was genuine. The people and the food have made this my favorite restaurant. I can't wait to go back in September! Thank you again Solida and Rene for an incredible night for a foodie and his family! read more

Stopped in for a girl's brunch since we had been looking for a while. We had tried previously however they were closed for a winter break. First impressions was frustrating. It was a group of four of us. Instantly the waitress/hostess told us we should have had a reservation which is funny since I had been checking but it had told me online that they didn't take reservations for brunch. To start, we had guacamole which was I felt was a tad pricey for the portion we got. I have that pictured with the chips provided. For the brunch menu, they had a variety of dishes made with uniquely sourced masa. I choice the masa cornbread Benedict. The cornbread was great. The sauce could have had a tad more flavor. Overall the quality of the food was good. I believe the portions for costs from everything from drinks to foods were a bit off. I liked the concept and I'm curious about dinner. read more

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This group don't seem to get anything wrong! I love Milton's & tried Maximo for the first time last week.. service was good, food was delicious! read more

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Great service & food! We've been there multiple times! Last night they had new items to the menu. We had their duck mole! Amazing! Crispy on the outside and juicy and tender! We also had their pork belly dish! It was so delicious with all the flavors combined together! Can't wait to go back! read more

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Worth the hype and they really earned that Michelin star. Out of the 6-7 dishes ordered) apps and entrees included I have to say I am obsessed with 4-5 of them with the others being just a little too showy and less good flavor. The service was the most exceptional I have had in the city by far and the restaurant is beautiful too. Would love to come back for happy hour food and just drinks/ dessert to try even more. read more

I loved the food at this place. However I wouldn't be going back. Upon arrival we where greater by the hostess and she asked how many for our party we said two. She guided us to our very small community booth. My husband and I are both 5"11 tall and were getting really tired of a lot of restaurants that want to squeeze tables in and people like sardines. Like why??? Wouldn't you want your guest to be comfortable. Anyways We requested if we could get another table that was next to it. She said yes but that we would have to be done by a certain time bc they already had it reserved for another party. We said ok no problem it was 3 hrs from that moment. Our waiter greater us and wanted to tell us a whimsical story about Mexico and the restaurant. We opted for not hearing the story. That's another thing I don't understand why do restaurants want to tell us a story about what ever when people go out to eat to enjoy the food and their own company not to add the waiter to the meal too. Also I'm from Mexico City and my husband and I go to Mexico twice a year I think we know a few things. Btw the waiter was great even though he had a few silly remarks that it was not necessary. The waiter asked us maybe 3 times all thru out the meal if we where in a hurry just bc my husband and I knew what we wanted to eat, we didn't ask for guidance" or the whimsical story. We ordered the moletes and he asked why not the chapulines and we said oh not tonight. We finished the moletes and the waiter stopped by our table and said "oh you thought you could escape the chapulines well they're mixed inn in the sauce. It almost felt like he was waiting for us to finished them to kind of one up us. We just giggled and said oh that's fine we just don't want to actually see them and hear the crunch. He then proceeded to say a fun fact which I forget what it was bc i immediately knew it wasn't true. Anyways we're enjoying our food and everything came out great. I wanted another drink but the waiter was busy which I understood. He finally comes by and I order my second drink. My husband and I start to realize my frozen margarita was taking a bit too long to come by and we notice the waiter is busy. So I decided to let the waiter know to cancel my drink and we could have the check. Again the service was good and we didn't feel any kind of negative towards the place or the waiter. My husband goes to the restroom and I look out towards the window when I suddenly feel someone put their leg almost like sitting next to me I look next to me and it's a guy that was so close to my face we could have kissed accidentally. Without him introducing himself he tells me is everything ok. I was a bit shocked that I was like what? He repeated himself and I responded with yes everything is ok. He leaves quickly and then the server comes by gives us our check. Everything was good and we dont feel any kind of negative feelings towards the waiter or the whole experience. We get it places want to be different and stand out. We noticed a lot of people loving to hear the story, doing the chef menu, and or being guided on what to eat. My husband and I are just not that type of people and therefore we wouldn't go back. But it was good food read more

This was a favorite restaurant before its switch to a "2.0" menu. I unfortunately don't enjoy the new concept nearly as much. It's tilted more "genuine" Mexican--elevated celebrations of masa, etc--but it all seems a little overly keen to impress. An enchilida with three dots of salsa, a tostada served on a ceramic geode, unremarkable mole on an igneous rock... IDK. I still love the vibe of this place, although it did feel like some regulars were receiving preferential service. I get it--but in a small place like this the impact of something like that is magnified. The margaritas are still probably the best in the city. I'd like to try again, but between the media buzz and Michelin nod, I can't shake the feeling that people "want" to like this place because it's progressive. read more

We came to Maximo with a group of four to try the $45 tasting menu, which featured five curated dishes. Unfortunately, the experience was mixed--and not just because of the food. One of our friends is pregnant and wasn't able to eat everything on the tasting menu, including the raw oyster. We politely asked if she could order off the regular menu while the rest of us did the tasting, but our server, Soledad, had to bring over a manager. We were told that everyone at the table had to do the tasting menu, no exceptions. We asked if substitutions could be made, but the manager insisted it was "too much to substitute." In the end, we went ahead with the tasting menu for all four of us and shared the items our pregnant friend couldn't eat. To their credit, the manager did offer us complimentary chips and guacamole, which was appreciated. However, the more meaningful gesture would have been to show a bit of flexibility and accommodate our pregnant friend's dietary restrictions. Ideally, we could have all enjoyed the tasting menu while she ordered what worked for her from the regular menu. [TASTING MENU] +Chargrilled Oyster, Raw Oyster, and Mignonette Sauce - The raw oyster was bright and fresh, but the chargrilled one didn't stand out - 3/5 for the chargrilled oyster, 4.5/5 for the raw oyster +Squash Blossom Tetela, Epazote, and Salsa de Tomatillo - Nicely done. It looked like a flattened samosa, and the salsa de tomatillo was a highlight - 4/5 +Masa Cornbread with Chicatana Butter and Caviar - An interesting idea, but ultimately forgettable - 3.5/5 +Truffle Sopé with Short Rib, Huitlacoche, and Molé Negro - I didn't taste any truffle and found this dish underwhelming - 3/5 +Buñuelo with Vanilla Custard and Banana Ice Cream - Easily the best part of the night. The banana-shaped ice cream was great and paired well with the buñuelo and custard - 4.5/5 Service throughout the night felt disorganized. Our server seemed unsure at times, and the bill process was clunky enough that we had one person pay just to simplify things and Venmo later. In the end, the food was fine, but nothing left a lasting impression. The lack of flexibility with the menu and uneven service left a sour taste. I wouldn't rush to return. read more

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Wonderful place. Went for my birthday. Service was amazing, food was superb and the place is so cute. If you want great food for good price, this is it! read more

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Great spot. All the tacos which were small and street style and looked amazing. I ordered the chicken mole quiche and it was quite filling and good. We also tried the guac which was unique and tasty. There were many dishes with tree nuts on their menu. There was someone seated near us with a tree nut allergy who managed to find items that worked for them but they did make sure to mention their allergy. I'd order the same items on a future visit. Pleasant service, outside and inside seating. read more

Maximo - Quiche - Mexican Near Me - West University Place, Texas

Great little brunch spot with a patio spot near Houston medical district. It's in a nice area to walk off the meal after. read more

Maximo - Papas bravas, roasted oysters and chilaquiles divorciados - Mexican Near Me - West University Place, Texas

This cozy restaurant has got hospitality and food down pat. The small dining area made us feel like we were eating in a chef's home, only opened to closest family. Every morsel of food tasted homemade and carefully crafted to provide a flavor experience. We tried the tasting menu and it was a delight. Our server did well with timing and explaining each dish's detail with enthusiasm. The cocktails were delicious and unique. I'll be back! read more

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I will definitely be coming back here!! We wanted to check this place out because it got a bib gourmand on this year's Michelin guide, and we specifically wanted to try the 5 course tasting menu for $45. Safe to say it did not disappoint. We also got the additional $30 alcohol pairing with the tasting menu, and I personally thought it was worth it. We sat outside, and it was so cute, and the weather was amazing for this. I love the fountain outside because it makes you feel really serene and peaceful, and I like how separated the tables are outside because you're like one among 6 tables. Inside looked a lot more intimate and crowded. The service was amazing. Our waiter explained what every drink and dish we received was and what was in them, and there was one person (maybe the manager?) who was always walking around to each table and checking in if we ever needed anything and just overall being really attentive and nice. The first dish was a tuna tostada, and the tuna was to die for. The quality was insane, and I've rarely had tuna that melted in my mouth like that and was sliced nice and thin. The only qualm I had with that dish was that there was a little bit too much chili oil on it, so it felt like there was an extra layer of oil I didn't need on it. The masa cornbread and the enchilada dishes were both super delicious and solid because the sauces on the dishes were so tasty. The enchilada dish had 3 sauces that you mix together to make one, and it tasted kind of like a mint chutney!! So good. The masa cornbread was made so well and was so fluffy and light. The flavors of the sauce paired really well with the saltiness of the caviar. The duck dish was my absolute favorite. The duck could not have been prepared better, and everything on the dish had purpose and was meant to be there. I loved how cute the dessert dish was with the banana ice cream, but I personally thought it could have been sweeter just because the sherry it was paired with was incredibly sweet. The best part of the night was that they were so kind to give me a free tres leches because we were celebrating my birthday!! And it wasn't even a small dessert. The tres leches was quite big considering we had just finished a 5 course meal. The strawberry jam on it made it one of the best tres leches I've ever had. Overall, the tasting menu had a great progression where I started to feel full after the duck dish right in time for the dessert. Will definitely come again. read more

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Excellent food and lovely ambiance. Honestly the pricing for the quality of food and skills displayed is unbeatable. I sat at the bar and honestly it was so enjoyable to interact with the staff throughout the dinner. I have to come back for brunch. I ordered about two things from every section and the only thing that fell flat were the roasted oysters. They were tasty but flavor wise felt more muted than all the exciting flavors from other dishes. Thanks to all the staff! read more

Oh, I like it here. I like it bc it's quaint, not sprawling- feels intimate and like therefore greater care can be taken. I like it because it feels intentional. I like it because there is parking. I like it bc you can see clear thru to the back of the kitchen. And I like it bc the bartender was enjoying himself, and it showed. He sent me his fav taco, sat next to the one I originally ordered. He sent me mushroom which I don't like but I LIKED the taco, people! Drink was as-advertised: boozy and smoky. App was a wonderful play on Guac with that tomatillo chimichurri. Friggin yum. Fish taco was well done, the pickled fresnos really set it off. I have to come back and try the charred broccolini, the cauliflower and the shrimp tostada before I give my final star. But, Maximo, good show! Two word review: truffle masters. read more

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Great food, great service, and ambiance! Definitely going back and strongly recommend for others. Perfect date night spot or place to take out of town guests. read more

Maximo - Wagyu Carne Asada and chicken Milanesa pasta. - Mexican Near Me - West University Place, Texas

We were so excited to go. I made a reservation. We sat down to order and the waiter informed us even though they have a long list of à la carte items that if one person orders the $45 tasting menu the other person is required to order it also. Where is the logic in that? I didn't want to order the tasting menu and the answer the waiter gave us was, "We don't wanna stress the kitchen. Then come back by yourself." read more

This is a great neighborhood Mexican spot. The tacos are very tasty, especially the fish one. Overall, excellent food. The place is well decorated, but it's small. read more

Maximo - Mexican Near Me - West University Place, Texas

Food was great. The tres leches was perfect. Great date night spot. Great service as well. read more

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Simple yet deliciously prepared dishes. We tried the chef's menu to experience a bit of everything. The flavors were delicate and the presentation on point. Our waitress was attentive. The desserts had just enough sweetness, exactly how I like it. The sangrita tango was very refreshing. read more

Maximo - Squash blossom tetela - Mexican Near Me - West University Place, Texas

Truly great brunch experience, already can't wait to go back. Their electric frozen marg was so good and refreshing, not to mention very sizable! We ordered the mole Benedict and sope de papas with shrimp chorizo and both were great. Service was friendly and attentive and the interior is decorated very tastefully. Their outdoor space also looked really nice. Overall highly recommend read more

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Me and I friend decided to check this place out for dinner, their wine selection is good. We shared the crudo, the tiradito and the short rib. Food was absolutely delicious. Then we ordered a tres leches for desert, unfortunately, that one was not so good, it was too dry for a tres leches. We really enjoyed the atmosphere in the place, not too loud or too quiet and service was ok. read more

I got the steak and eggs and hamachi both were really good I ordered to go the gave me the wrong order first but quickly fixed it will definitely be back to try other dishes read more

Incredible! After eating here we learned the chef has been nominated for the Rising Star award. Don't miss it! Reasonable tasting menu, presentation was stunning, and great cocktails. read more

Maximo - Mexican Near Me - West University Place, Texas

I was anxiously waiting for El Toro to reopen and excited to see Maximo. We went on a weekday evening (probably Wednesday) and parking was a breeze across the street. We considered sitting outside with the many other outside diners, but I was wearing jeans in June and couldn't take the humidity. A table inside opened up right as we entered. Seating was pretty tight, but still comfortable. Started with the salsa and house-made chips! Very flavorful!! We tried taco plate with the soup (later found out from a friend that she loves that same soup served at Lee's Den)! The fungi taco had three different mushrooms, delish! read more

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