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Max's Bistro & Bar

4.0 (843 reviews)
Closed 11:00 am - 9:00 pm

Max's Bistro & Bar Photos

MAX'S BISTRO & BAR ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Trendy
Moderate noise
Good for groups
Happy hour specials

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Chicken
Tiana F.

Came to Max's on a Saturday night. Had the Brussels which were great. Finally a restaurant that doesn't drench them in balsamic. The calami was good. My meal was the roasted chicken with leek and mushroom risotto. Sad to say I was disappointed. It lacked flavor and almost just felt like it was cream risotto. There wasn't any spice or salt it kind of tasted like nothing. The chicken was okay with the gravy that didn't have flavor. We also got the Dulce de Leche bread pudding that was very very soggy. It was mushy and not great. Overall the service was great, tons of parking, clean restaurant. I did like the indoor lighting, it wasn't too dark but very clean. Overall I probably wouldn't come back unless someone else suggested it. For my plate, a soda and dessert the total was about $58 before tip. I was disappointed but overall hope they add more flavor to their food.

Short Rib served over Mashed Potatoes 4/5
David U.

FOOD: The presentation of each dish was spot on. The portions were just right to - Boy that's a big burger. The sweet potato fries , bread and Birria short rib starters were delicious. The specials: Alaskan Halibut over risotto 5/5 Max Burger 5/5 $24 Kale Caesar Salad with Salmon 5/5 $27 Short Rib w/ mashed potatoes 4/5 $42 Filet Mignon w/ potato gratin 6 ounce 4/5 $58 Kids Menu 5/5 Teriyaki Salmon & Chicken Fingers SERVICE: Spot on with water refills and checking on us AMBIANCE: Festive & Colorful. The local artist Tomas displayed some beautiful paintings throughout the restaurant. If I ever win the lottery I'll buy one or two. SUMMARY: Overall it was a great first time experience and will most likely be back to try the 16 oz Angus Prime Rib.

Julianne G.

One of Fresno's nicer fine dining establishments. I have been here for dinner in the past but haven't been here for their lunch before, so wanted to try one of their salads. I didn't make a reservation but wish I had. They were actually pretty busy on a Thursday afternoon, and their tables are really close, not giving me enough privacy to talk. It was actually kind of creepy, because the small table we were given was across the aisle from a table but right next to our faces was glass that you could see the other diners right immediately next to you. The service was excellent, though. Our waitress took great care of us from start to finish, made sure our drinks were always filled and made sure we were happy with the taste of our lunches. She even offered to change my friend's sandwich when it looked like she wasn't eating it. The food: I ordered the Chinese chicken salad and it honestly seemed a little small. It's a little less expensive than a few of the other salads on the menu so maybe that's why. It had a small amount of shredded chicken, a few peanuts, crispy noodles and red pepper, and lettuce. My preference would be a little more cabbage than what it has. My friend ordered the spicy chicken sandwich. The slaw and pickles were awesome and the chicken coating was good; however, the chicken tasted a little rubbery. I am hoping we just picked the wrong items this day. Some of the other salads on the menu looked good, and the sweet potato fries are the bomb here, so I will definitely be back to try something else.

Plate #2, meat under seasoned, potatoes were not good! How can you not serve worthy potatoes? The portion should larger, too.
Greg S.

Post-workout day recovery meal: First time eating here. Considering all the weight lifting I'm doing, many meals are focused on protein along with whatever else I'm ordering. With my target (Maxes) in focus, I reviewed the pictures/reviews on Yelp as I often order based on which pictures appleal to me. I hit the website directly to preview the menu PRIOR to even going. I knew what I was going to order so headed over. The restaurant was a nice comfortable temperature. Thankfully, the music was not loud at all! The restaurant is nice enough, fairly roomie, so no complaints there. It seemed to be filling up at a brisk pace.. I also spotted lots of to go orders! The service here was excellent, but the food left me wanting... enough, so that I stopped off at Whole Foods to act as the chaser! :) I ordered the filet mignon with asparagus that was served on a overly cooked puck of bland potatoes... I ordered the meat to be cooked medium and so it was, perfectly! The meat was under seasoned and would've been much better if it had been salted earlier. There's no salt shakers on the tables. When I see that, I usually expect that the food would be seasoned well. That was not the case... The asparagus was cooked perfectly, but the potatoes were complete miss. The small portion was too small.... And it wasn't something that when you tasted it you wish that there was more of... Potatoes rarely disappoint me, but they did here. Not rich, tasty and tasted old and a LARGER IMPROVED portion would have been nice. It's like the cheapest ingredient in the kitchen so please size better and change that dud version! Because my pecs are demanding, I ALSO ordered the Chinese chicken salad. While good, that's not something I would order again... Starving from my previous days workout, I ate everything. The meal was not large enough for any thought of leftovers.... Honestly, I thought the food would've been much better than it was. I left still hungry... My lunch was $70 plus the tip. I would definitely return at some point to try dinner, especially if they start making the chicken Marcela again! Most people would enjoy eating here... IF their pecs are as needy! -G

Thanksgiving dinner to go
Mary Lou S.

Thanksgiving dinner to go? You bet!! We stopped by to pick up Thanksgiving dinner for two (pre-ordered), since it was just gonna be me and the hubby on Thanksgiving day. The girls at the table outside were very helpful and friendly. It didn't take long for our order to be ready. Fast forward to dinner time...there was so much food! Salad, rolls, turkey, stuffing, fresh green beans, mashed potatoes and gravy. Even huge slices of pumpkin pie! Everything was great! Thanks, Max's Bistro, for making dinner so easy!

Filet Mignon
Tiffany R.

I had only been here before for their brunch but this time we went for dinner, we were with a huge group of friends but nonetheless the waitress was attentive and got everything correct. The food was great! Came out hot and fresh. My only complaint was the filet mignon wasn't tender enough. It was very rare and chewy. But other than that everything else was great including the short rib. We got their dulce de leche bread pudding to go and that was the cherry on top!! Very very tasty!

Up close Deliciousness!!
Ashley L.

8/11/25 Lunch date! Great! The restaurant is VERY classy & nice! We had waters and both got avocado turkey sandwiches with side salad. Waiters & waitresses cater to your every need! Our waters were refilled constantly and after a small wait, we received our lunch! It's A LOT! Really fresh & DELICIOUS sandwich. He thought his was GREAT too! Fresh & tasty side salads too! Both have leftovers too! Great service & GREAT lunch! Thank you Max's! Highly recommended!

Scallops and Parmesan Risotto
Raechel K.

It was really busy and we didn't have a reservation, but I got lucky enough to grab us seats at the bar! The bartenders were kind, courteous, and fun. The food was brilliant! I had the Scallops on Parmesan Risotto. The bread with oil and balsamic was also immaculate.

Filet Mignon
Muriel T.

The filet minion was perfectly cooked medium and seasoned just right. The Ahi tuna on the tostada was out of this world amazing! The french quarter shrimp had great flavor. Staff were super friendly, Sierra was always there for us and was very accommodating. The place had good seating and nice fine vibes.

French dip
Joy S.

Location: Max Bistro Date: August 22, 2025 Service: Birthday Dinner Party Located in Fresno on Westbrook Avenue is Max's bistro and bar. I was invited there for an event for a friend's birthday dinner. This establishment offers private dining. It's quiet all usually is busy when not too busy. I have been there before for a previous event and the food is always amazing. The price is on Point for the area. Myself I ordered the orange soda and have the filet mignon with asparagus and potatoes au gratin. He was for a table of 15 people. Our server was Michella overall did a outstanding job serving and assisting us at the table of 15 people. The birthday girl she was having a fabulous time they even offered gave her a $75 gift card for her party which she is able to use at anytime when if she chooses. I had a great time socializing with everyone and seeing people I haven't seen in a long time and enjoying laughs. Great food is a great experience at Max bistro bar. Check out the photos attached to this review.

Nancy B.

Thank you Max's for an amazing birthday celebration today in your beautiful private room for parties. Service was exceptional as always and table set lovely.

Hosted a bridal shower at Max's and JJ was so helpful through the planning process-answered all my questions and was very kind. Our group ended up being smaller than planned and JJ and the staff were so gracious and allowed us to hold the shower in the back area as planned. Clay and staff did a wonderful job taking care of us the day of the shower. So welcoming and helpful and food was great. Highly recommend!

Short Rib
Kevin L.

This is definitely one of the Top 5 fine dining places in town. We started with some of their craft drinks, mine being the Apple A Day. Excellent. Next was the French Quarter Shrimp with the shrimp cooked perfectly. The sauce it was in was so tasty. Chopped wedge salad was next and it was good but there was a ton of blue cheese on it. Could have done with less. The main courses were the short rib, whose sauce and was outstanding, cooked to perfection and the roast chicken with mushroom risotto was also juicy and flavorful. Just a great experience and great food.

French Quarter Shrimp

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21 days ago

Excellent food. Everything is great. I hadn't been here for a while. Would really like to try out their Sunday brùnch.

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27 days ago

Fantastic local restaurant with great service and high quality ingredients. They also have a great wine list and cool art.

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2 months ago

We always take out of town guests here. Food is always good. And our server was attentive. We'll be back. Try the meatloaf.

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Ask the Community - Max's Bistro & Bar

Do they have gluten free options like pasta?

Is Max's open on Sundays?

Yes and they do brunch.

We have out of town guests in about a month who require outdoor seating. Can Max's accommodate them? This would be a lunchtime party of five.

Is there outdoor dining?

There are 2 tables on the sidewalk between the door and the parking lot, so you'd have people always walking by you to get into Max's. The inside is nice, with a bar area… Read more

What are the lunch hours?

Max's website lists a daily opening of 11:00 am

Reservation needed for lunch?

Negative. Rolled in around 12:30 on Friday and got a seat right away.

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Heirloom

Heirloom

4.6
(3k reviews)
3.3 mi
$$
Locally owned & operated
Locally sourced ingredients

Heirloom is one of those restaurants that makes Fresno feel like a real food city. 3k reviews and a…read more4.6 doesn't happen by accident. The menu is New American done right. Everything feels intentional, like someone actually thought about why each ingredient is on the plate. I've been here a few times and tried different things each visit and nothing has missed yet. The portions are satisfying without being ridiculous and the presentation is genuinely nice. The space is beautiful. Modern, warm, well designed. Good for a date, good for a group, good for just treating yourself on a random weekday. The bar area is great too and the cocktails are solid. Service has been consistently good every time. Attentive but not in your face about it. Prices are reasonable for the quality, especially for a restaurant this polished. Its on Fresno street which is easy to get to. Honestly Heirloom just delivers every single time. Its my go-to recommendation when someone asks where to eat in Fresno and wants something a step above the usual. Never disappoints.

My friends and coworkers have raved about this place forever. After avoiding it due to the long…read moreline, we finally gave it a try. I'm so glad we did! The line went fast, and everyone there was so friendly. The place looks really nice inside and has a cute outdoor seating area. Due to the summer heat, we ate inside but noticed they had little fans on the outdoor tables to keep the bugs away which is much appreciated. The flavor of the food was delicious! The surf and turf was not only good but it was gorgeous!! I am obsessed with the flavor on the shrimp. The only complaint we have is half of our food was cold. The surf and turf and the tri tip was cold, but the chicken was steaming hot and the carbonara was nice and warm. The flavor and cook in the tri tip was good. The carbonara was really good, and the chicken was super tender and had a nice flavor. I can't believe it was only $6 to add on 2 chicken breasts to the pasta. The salmon burger was also good, it was just a little messy to eat. The patty broke into a few pieces that would slide out which made the avocado slide out much easier. The fries were also good. Something that really stood out to us was the size of the portions. You definitely get a bang for your buck here. I would love to return and try one of their salads. They looked phenomenal!

Photos
Heirloom
Heirloom
Heirloom

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Elbow Room

Elbow Room

3.9
(1.2k reviews)
1.3 mi
$$$

Stopped in Fresno for a late lunch/early dinner after visiting Sequoia National Park and on our way…read moreto Yosemite. We were starving so we might have ordered too much food than we could finish lol. We ordered the jalapeno cheese bread, caesar salad, new york strip steak, and a chicken milanese sandwich. We sat on the patio as it felt more casual since we were wearing our hiking clothes. The food was average and filled us up quickly. The french fries and onion rings were really good and probably my favorite out of everything.

My husband and I went to the Wlbow to celebrate my birthday. We ordered Steak Bites and Brussel…read moreSprouts for appetizers. The steak bites were tossed in a soy sauce and laying on a bed of red cabbage and had green onions and sesame seeds on top. The Brussel sprouts were roasted and sitting on top of a whipped goat cheese with a bourbon glaze on top! I think the sprouts were out favorite! I had a Peruvian dish called the Lima Saltaldo and he had the Prime Rib with green beans and mash potatoes. For dessert we had the Crème Brûlée. One thing to note is if you order your steak make sure you ordered it a temp above how you like it. For example if you like Medium Rare order it medium. Apparently they cook their steak a step down. My husband eats his steak medium rare and they brought it out rare. He wasn't thrilled about that, but said the meal was still good. Ambiance is nice, you can go casual and or dressed up for your meal. The Elbow room does make you feel like you step back into a classics steak house.

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Dry Aged room
Dry Aged room
Sauted Portobello Mushrooms
Sauted Portobello Mushrooms
Crème brûlée French Toast and Mimosa

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Crème brûlée French Toast and Mimosa
Saizon

Saizon

4.5
(1.1k reviews)
6.1 mi
$$$
Locally owned & operated
Romantic vibe

The staff was incredibly friendly and attentive, and the food exceeded expectations. Beautiful…read morepresentation and a cozy vibe. Highly recommend!

This place is gets so busy that you have to have reservations 2 weeks prior. We were lucky to find…read morea 9:30pm reservation on a Saturday but only for the patio. We got seated right away. They had a huge bar, lounge area, and an open kitchen with a lot of staff members working. Both inside and outside was nice with dim lighting. Very modern interior design with their tables, chairs, house plants, and neon signs. The service was top notch. The person came by to serve us water noticed our table was pretty wobbly so he fixed it instantly. I thought that was great for them to notice the small details. They always came by to fill our waters 4-5 times. They also remembered we were celebrating an anniversary so they offered us complementary champagne. Our waitress Celeste was very excellent. She gave suggested me dishes that I couldn't decide. We ended up getting the chicken taquitos ($17), the pork chop ($36) and the prime sirloin ($36). Food was delicious and everything tasted so good. I like the roasted Brussels spouts flakes on the pork chop and even though the sirloin was medium it was still very tender. Even the one time our water cups were empty she noticed and apologized and came back to refill them. The chicken taquitos were very good as well. Bathroom is a little small with only three stalls and one sink but the staff was nice enough to direct me to them cuz they saw I was looking around. Overall is a very good experience. I can see why they're very busy and I hope to come back to try their other dishes!

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Saizon
Saizon
Saizon

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Max's Bistro & Bar - seafood - Updated July 2026

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