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    Max's Es-Ca

    4.1 (250 reviews)
    ModerateItalian, Bars
    Open 1:00 pm - 9:00 PM
    Updated 2 months ago

    Order Max's Es-Ca Takeout or Delivery

    Max's Es-Ca Photos

    Business Info

    MAX'S ES-CA ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Live music
    Casual
    Outdoor seating

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    Recommended Reviews - Max's Es-Ca

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    My new favorite place to eat!!! Everything from the staff to the food was absolutely perfect!!! Highkey recommend EVERYTHING!!!!

    Pecan pie
    Anna C.

    The Max's Es-Ca experience was really more than I expected! My husband made reservations for my birthday/date night! The parking lot was packed but they have valet! We started with drinks- I had a cucumber mint martini OMG so freaking good and refreshing! Appetizers I had little neck clams on the half shell! So fresh, yum My husband had the burrata salad so good! For entrees we had zuppe de pesce, and I had the pan seared tuna! Everything was expertly prepared! Our waiter Gregory was so sweet and attentive! The service was impeccable and I cannot wait to go back!!!!!

    Jumbo lump crabmeat cocktail & lobster cocktail
    Matthew C.

    My ideal night here is eating dinner at the bar with Johnny, the bartender, serving us our food. He gives off such great energy and always remembers our drink orders even if we don't come back for a few months. Special thanks to him for always making my experience here a good one. The food is really good! They have a fairly large menu, so you definitely have options. The tomahawk for 2 was delicious, but sliced a bit too thin in my opinion. I really have never had a bad experience or meal here....It's always been pretty consistent for me. I recommend making a reservation because it's always so crowded.

    Beef Wellington
    Vadim B.

    Amazing food and great attentive service! We visited Max's Es-ca in Aug 2022 to celebrate a family event. We were absolutely impressed by the quality of food and service! Every dish we tried was delicious and was served exactly as ordered and at the right time. The place is quite expensive but it is certainly worth it! Appetizers: Tuna Tartare - it was so perfect that we finished it in no time and ordered one more. Burrata Mozzarella - soft and delicious. Fried Calamari - good as it's supposed to be. Mesclun Salad - such a great combo of greens, goat cheese, walnuts, and other ingredients that we ordered a second one. Mains: Beef Wellington - few of us ordered it and we all loved it! Soft, tender, perfectly cooked to order beef in a fresh fluffy pastry, complimented with a bed of extra smooth mashed potatoes and some creamy sauce underneath! Yummy! It was just hands down delicious and the best dish of the night! Rack of Lamb - the meat was so tender that it was melting in the mouth! Though no doubt the dish was overall delicious I would however suggest adding a bit more color with some spices or herbs. Also, the breadcrumbs crust had a very subtle oily taste note which it would be better without. Montreal Crusted NY Strip Steak - the steak was juicy and cooked exactly as ordered. My son gave it 5 stars :) Desserts: Pecan pie, Tiramisu, Fried Ice Cream - all great and delicious. We highly recommend this restaurant. It's outstanding!

    Tuna tartare
    Sam C.

    The ambiance in this restaurant is very welcoming. The service by Johnny is awesome. The food is very well prepared and delicious.

    Medium steak, mashed potatoes, and veggies.
    Sarah R.

    Great place to dine if you're in Staten Island. Appetizers were varied and plentiful, penne alla vodka was delicious, and the main course was excellent!

    Amazing jumbo shrimp cocktail.
    Joseph C.

    Food is always great. The service is top notch and attentive. The ambiance is soothing and enhances the dining experience. You cannot go wrong at Max's Es-Ca.

    cucumber mint!
    Steph W.

    I decided to take my mom out to dinner so we stopped by Max. this place has a great vibe. no music (or so low you cant hear it) but its obeisance is amazing. the bartender and cooks are great. Christina is the best!! she gave us great service and offered her opinion. ill definitely return for lunch

    Seafood linguini

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    26 days ago

    Nice atmosphere! Great service and excellent drinks and food! One of my favorite restaurants!

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    7 months ago

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    11 months ago

    My sons & I went for New Years for the first time and The food was delicious & ambience was fun. The staff was also pleasant.

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    11 months ago

    Order delivery and the best fried shrimp, shrimp parmigiana, raw oysters and esca burger.

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    1 year ago

    Food is ALWAYS top notch, as is the service. Fun, lively atmosphere as well. The go-to Italian restaurant on Staten Island

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    3 years ago

    Love this place. Me and my friends were there a few days ago and had a great time. Would definitely go back

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    6 years ago

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    2 years ago

    Great food , service , Atmosphere, always a great time and place for dinner , the service was great,

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    2 years ago

    Very Disappointed with the food and the service, will not give this place my time and money again

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    3 years ago

    We live relatively nearby and love this place! The tiki bar in the yard is lots of fun and the food is always on point.

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    Page 1 of 7

    Ask the Community - Max's Es-Ca

    What does "Es-Ca" mean?

    Ho , so the es-ca. Was just a combination of last names. In italian the word esca means fish bait

    Does the outdoor dining have any heated lamps?

    Yes they do.

    View All 4 Questions

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    People searched for Italian 133,973 times last month within 15 miles of this business.

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    Del Porto Ristorante

    Del Porto Ristorante

    4.7(189 reviews)
    6.0 mi

    This is an amazing dining experience and by far one of the best Italian restaurants I've ever had…read morein the States. Really extensive menu with very reasonable prices for the quality and quantity of food. The spicy calamari is a must try and every entree and pasta are worth trying, too. Met one of the owners (two brothers) and this is a family run business with a benefit to the community. I will definitely come back on the next visit to Newark and would highly recommend if you're in the area (especially if you are staying at Newark airport overnight!)

    I went here for lunch today with my husband and brother-in-law. The ambiance outside was very nice…read more It reminded me of the islands. The food, however, is another story. For appetizers, we got zucchini chips, fried calamari and mussels. The calamari was fried too hard and it had a very salty, spicy Chilean type sauce over it. The zucchini chips were thinly sliced, lightly battered with Parmesan cheese sprinkled over them. They were decent but nothing to write home about. In fact, after having about six or seven of the zucchini chips I began to experience heartburn from the grease. For entrees, my husband had the chicken parm. He said it was too thick and should have been flattened more before frying. It was also very breaded. My brother-in-law ordered the chicken and waffles and he said the chicken tasted day old so after having a bite of one piece of the chicken he pushed the chicken aside and called it a day. I called the waiter over and informed him about the chicken tasting day old. He didn't try to change it out or take it off the bill or get a manager. He just apologized by saying I'm sorry. My crab Mac and Cheese was decent. It wasn't seasoned the way I would have liked but the huge, plentiful chunks of crab made up for that. I ate a third of my dish and packed the rest for home where I will doctor it up to my taste. I've never been to this particular restaurant before. The only reason we came today is because my brother-in-law was here on business and staying at a hotel in the area.

    Photos
    Del Porto Ristorante - Lychee martini

    Lychee martini

    Del Porto Ristorante - Fried Calamari

    Fried Calamari

    Del Porto Ristorante

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    Mansion Restaurant

    Mansion Restaurant

    4.2(32 reviews)
    3.8 miGreat Kills

    I've been eyeing this restaurant for a while, and today was finally the perfect occasion--Father's…read moreDay! We made an early reservation and were greeted with a warm welcome. We chose to dine on the first floor, which has a chic, elegant vibe with beautiful décor and a relaxing ambiance. There was a special set menu for the day, and the selections did not disappoint. I had the Burrata Salad followed by the Branzino--both were fresh and flavorful, and the portions were huge! I couldn't even make a dent in my main dish. My husband enjoyed the crepes and the seafood linguine, and he was just as impressed. The kids' menu was a cute touch, especially with the clever dish names. When I asked my 10-year-old what she was having and she replied, "I don't care," I was caught off guard--until I looked at the menu and saw that "I Don't Care" was actually the name of the mac and cheese! So creative and fun. Drinks were great too--strong and satisfying for my husband, and I was happy to see a solid mocktail selection for non-drinkers like me. The only downside? There were only two dessert options available. I was hoping for a bit more variety, especially since everything else exceeded expectations. Overall, it's a 10/10 experience, and I absolutely can't wait to go back!

    Overall for NYC it's a good 4 but a 5 for that area of Staten Island…read more Everything is very good. Food, Service, Portions, Value, Staff, etc. This is the first pasta with meat sauce I've had in a loooong time that actually have meat in its sauce. Posting a pic. Very, very good overall and worth a visit.

    Photos
    Mansion Restaurant
    Mansion Restaurant
    Mansion Restaurant

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    Pastavino

    Pastavino

    4.4(211 reviews)
    3.0 miStapleton
    $$$

    The food was great, but I'm giving 5 stars because of our server, Terry. This was my first time at…read morePastavino, and I already had good expectations based on other reviews, but the service was so on point. Terry was one of the kindest and most patient waitresses we've had. She took the time to give recommendations especially for the kids, kept checking in throughout our meal, and made sure we always had what we needed. I know some people might say, "Well, that's their job," but you can tell when someone really puts their heart into it and truly wants to make sure you have a great experience. We also had someone joining us later, and she never made us feel rushed or inconvenienced. She stayed patient, continued checking in, and was genuinely kind the entire time. The food was very good. I had pasta with clams and it was delicious. Our drinks and apps were delicious as well but great service can completely change an experience, and Terry really stood out and made our visit enjoyable. I'll be back for sure!!!!

    My fiancé and I made a reservation. Upon arrival, we were greeted with smiles at the doorway. We…read morewere then led to an area against the wall where every other diner was. I wish we had been sat in an area showing off more of the restaurant and its decor. The service was ok. It wasn't anything memorable. However, the owner (?) came over to us a few times to ask how everything was. We ordered a couple of cocktails. They were pretty pricey, coming out to ~$20 per drink. The branzino was delicious. It was everything I hoped for in a bite - buttery, soft, with some crunch and nuttiness from the hazelnuts. It all blended together very well. My fiancé ordered the maiale. His order was also very good and he enjoyed it.

    Photos
    Pastavino - Inside

    Inside

    Pastavino - Although this is suppose to be focaccia it is not.. with meatball (chop meat)  and mozzarella

    Although this is suppose to be focaccia it is not.. with meatball (chop meat) and mozzarella

    Pastavino - Frozen espresso martinis + picante margarita

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    Frozen espresso martinis + picante margarita

    Enoteca Maria - Gluten-free gateau au chocolat

    Enoteca Maria

    4.2(553 reviews)
    3.7 mi
    $$$

    Wonderful experience! Portions are larger than expected and wonderful. The staff was incredibly…read morekind and when ordering the lasagna the Italian Nonna personally came out to make sure we liked it.

    I came here shocked to see that this place wasn't all 5 stars, and saw a lot of the bad reviews…read morewere about getting a reservation. I'll start off with that I was able to get one, and I am so glad I did. Theres a warmth of nonnas that's made this one of the most unique dining experiences out there. You can feel the love of nonnas cooking in each dish and the joy it brings them. They have a rotating selection of Nonnas along with their classic Italian menu. The Italian menu had food I've never really had before, all executed so well. I had an entire lambs head (not for the weak), so I got to eat cheek, eye, brain, etc. nonna maria had to come teach us out to cook it but it was a fascinating dish. The rabbit was also fall off the bone which I was just so pleasantly surprised by. It came with potatoes and carrots so it just felt so homey. Nonna Elizabeth was Puerto Rico was the featured chef and she made salted cod fritters, which at first, I was like it sounds interesting, but it was so well seasoned I ended up loving it. Got a pork and rice dish also, and the rice was so fascinating. It had olives in it and the pork was well seasoned. They really make you feel valued and that you're in nonnas kitchen. Everytime you go, you're going to get a different experience with the featured Nonna. For real, try this.

    Photos
    Enoteca Maria - Bar with Joe (the owner) in the background

    Bar with Joe (the owner) in the background

    Enoteca Maria - Banana Pudding

    Banana Pudding

    Enoteca Maria - Meatballs

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    Meatballs

    ‘O Sfizio Ristorante - Linguine Capri - I loved the fancy floral touch!

    ‘O Sfizio Ristorante

    4.4(91 reviews)
    5.3 miAnnadale

    My good friend and I meet at 'OSfizio's every few months - a midpoint between PA & Queens…read more Yesterday we learned that Genaro is no longer working there, he left to open his own business (good luck to him, he was always very accommodating). We met Mario, co owner, as soon as we stepped in. He welcomed us with open arms & provided wonderful recommendations for meals & drinks. They have a brand new menu so there are many choices that would please anyone/everyone. We started with their toasted homemade bread & pepper spread - soooo delicious!! We each had pasta - ravioli with vodka sauce & rigatoni with a bolognese ragu - both yummy! We split the peanut butter/jelly lava cake with vanilla ice cream - heavenly!! This place never disappoints - will be back in September. Highly recommend!

    So , I have passed osfizio for a while now. We thought maybe it was a good idea to finally try it…read moreout. In the past it was a bagel store. The outside pretty much looks the same . We looked for a spot. it's extremely hard to find parking in this area.. there is a small lot but seems like it gets filled quickly. We didn't have reservations but it was rather early and didn't think it would be hard to get a table. We walked in and a cute older man was energetically running around waiting tables and making drinks. I think he was the owner. He was funny and super nice. He seated us. There was two super large parties in the restaurant. They were loud and tbh obnoxious! We looked at the menu and we settled on some light options. Fried calamari 19 , a salad( Pera ) Bibb lettuce with Gorgonzola, candied walnuts , poached pears in a balsamic glaze 18 we added salmon and a meatball pie 21. Tiramisu So let me break it down for you. We had hot bread with a beautifully seasoned tomato sauce. It was really amazing! It really set the tone for the meal. The fried calamari was really good. Crunchy, fresh and not dripping in oil. Lightly seasoned and the sauce was perfect with the calamari. The only thing the portion was small for the price! The pizza came out and again this pizza was like a personal pizza again the price is off . I wasn't impressed with the cheese they used. It didn't seem like fresh mozzarella. First impression there was way too much sauce the crust was like a wafer. Super thin! I wasn't impressed. I took a bite and the sauce tasted raw ! Like not cooked. Had an unpleasant taste. I actually got a little nauseated. Moving on we order the Pera salad and wanted to top it with salmon. We expected a full salad and salmon right on top. It might have been our fault for not asking the price for the salmon but that's what we wanted. Anyway our salad comes and literally it's a side salad with a 3 or 4 oz portion of salmon. Super small. We couldn't believe it. We were still hungry so we order a tiramisu. It was light, fresh and just a simple dessert. This place is by far not a date place. It's loud and somewhat chaotic. You def can tell the owner is busting his ass. It's really unfortunate The food is not consistent with taste, flavor and consistency . Which is a shame. The price point of the food is way too expensive for a place on Staten Island! Speaking of price we get the bill and the price for two side salads and a small piece of salmon each 80 F'ING DOLLARS!! The guy literally ripped us off ! We pay the bill as we both shake our heads and walk out and the owner goes " hey make sure you tell 5 friends to come visit" yea sure and get ripped I would have loved to say! Patrons be aware!

    Photos
    ‘O Sfizio Ristorante - Love this place and staff!!!

    Love this place and staff!!!

    ‘O Sfizio Ristorante - Tiramisu

    Tiramisu

    ‘O Sfizio Ristorante - Two glasses of Cabernet wine  Cheers!

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    Two glasses of Cabernet wine Cheers!

    Max's Es-Ca - italian - Updated August 2026

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