There may be a lot of Italian food in our neck of the woods, but it's all very forgettable. So, the addition of Max's is a big "Hooray!" in my book. We dined late on a Sunday night, about 45 minutes before they close -- staff was gracious and never made us feel rushed. The service was really excellent; these guys really know what they are doing. Food was excellent. So beyond the Italian we've had lately, we were both a little giddy. Bread was a little crisp on the outside and warm on the inside, with a delectable pesto olive oil dipping sauce. From my husband, "I could have made a meal out of just that!". The stuffed mushrooms on special reminded me very much of those my family makes every year for Thanksgiving. I had the Gamberi Cucina - giant shrimp, with the most delicate alfredo sauce and perfectly cooked pappardelle. My husband went with the Calamari Bellisimo -- really unique flavors and tender calamari. We finished up with the ricotta cake, moist and flavorful, and a walnut caramel tart, with a chocolate drizzle that I just wanted more of. Yum. We will be back. read more

The last attendance we had an unfortunate seating arrangement where our party was eye to eye with, what may be called 'friends 'n family' of Vincent D'Onofrio's character from "Men in Black." We informed hostess when leaving. Haven't been able to courage back since. :( read more

After reading all of the positive reviews I was sure this place would be great. My husband and I were truly disappointed with not only the service but the food as well. Nothing we ordered was good. Their lasagna looked so good that I couldn't resist. It was tasteless and smothered in watered down sauce. The guys behind the counter were so standoffish. My husband who is talker and gets along with everyone said he would never go back. Sad. read more

Fantastic local Italian eatery. Good variety of food that is all delicious. They even make fantastic pizza. It has become our go to place for takeout. Friday nights are very busy for takeout so you might have a hard time calling in. Stay persistent, worth it. read more

this place is pretty solid. I grabbed a half sausage parm for lunch and this thing was massive., a little light on the quantity of sausage in my hogie, but respectable. I also grabbed a side of brussel sprouts, which was seaasoned but not overly dry, but the real kicker was my mini cheescake-in-a-cone thing. this was novel, and tasty, and a little overpriced but whatever it was novel. The staff were friendly, and i liked the ambience. Unfortunately, Max's is well off the beaten path, but i'd take my girlfriend here for a date, or some coworkers for a lunch. Max's eatery, worth it. read more

Love this place. From their grandmas pie to their sandwiches lol it's fresh homemade bread set them apart. Never had a meal here that wasn't 5 stars. Plus the people who work here are very nice and accommodating. read more

We hosted a Baby Shower at Max's and the staff and service was great. We created a small menu for our guest. The food we ordered was great ( fresh and tasty- love their coconut shrimp appetizer). I would recommend this place for a gathering or just a dinner night out. Oh, did I forget to mention- great cappuccino and desserts! read more

This place is outstanding, food is alway great! The service from the owners, counter help to the wait staff always make ya feel welcome!!

Visited Max's tonight (Wednesday night) and was extremely satisfied with the food. I took our waitress's recommendation and was very happy. Unfortunately, I can't say the same about the service. There was only one waitress working for the whole restaurant and she was less than attentive. I had to ask her to clear our appetizer plates when our dinner same and we sat for a very long time waiting to have our food wrapped up. Finally a young man took our food and prepared it to take home and she appeared with our check. The music was a bit loud but we were sitting right under the speaker. The selections they were playing were good. I would definitely go back because the food was extremely delicious. But it was disappointing after several friends recommended Max's that the service was not good. read more

You simply cannot get better Italian food in Hunterdon County! Walking into Max's brings back great memories of having meals (a meal is whole-day event when you are Italian) with the family off the boat in Jersey City. It is authentic, traditional, put your whole heart and soul into it type of food. The Market is frequented at least every other day by us now. Like a kid in a candy store, escarole pie fresh from the oven--to die for. Best eggplant parmesan this side of Jersey. We are so spoiled and delighted to be able to head over to Max's to see what he has been cooking today. There is no need to leave the county when Little Italy is just down the street! read more

See all

What truly makes a restaurant or business stand out for me is exceptional service. When you enter Max's, there is always someone to help you with a genuine smile on their face. And help they will! They give recommendations and go out of their way to help you find what you are looking for. I was once sold goat cheese out of their refrigerator because I walked in looking for it, and I was accommodated. I have not had the opportunity to eat in at their restaurant, though judging by the take out food, I would not be disappointed. The take out is solid. Pasta entrees for $12? Comes with salad and fresh bread. I'm sold. I can barely get a cold cut sub for that price. BYOB and they are next door to a Bourbon Street liquor store. How convenient! This is such a pleasant treat for our neighborhood and I am happy they are here. I will make it a point to join them for more meals in the future. Thank you Max's for the incredibly friendly and warm service to accompany your delicious Italian food! read more

We love Max's!!! They have so much fresh amazing food, great selection, everything is delicious and the staff is awesome!!

Delicious Italian food, nice clean restaurant! We were happy with our in house dining experience! Used this restaurant to cater my NYE party, got lots of compliments on taste! Portions were very good! Will use them again! read more

We popped in here for an early lunch after peach picking near by and were greeted by very warm and attentive staff. The food was delicious both off the menu (mushroom gnocchi) and what they had displayed out front. Their bread and sauce is really tasty. Loved it! read more

What a great place to have near by They have amazing food so many options if your looking for a great meal on the run they have an awesome option "Grab n Go" real food - ready to go - all the time read more

Went there last Sunday for the first time since it replaced Casola's. After all the noisy, loud music, and screaming ladies out for a night we have experienced in NY and elsewhere, this was an oasis of of good food, good service, and peace and quiet! Pleasant, unobtrusive music of opera mixed with oldies had us singing. Table decor is top-notch: large wine glasses and large water glasses on linen table cloths. Our waiter and the food were exceptional. We live nearby and will be there often. Thanks Max! P.S. The raviolis in the freezer are to die for. Take some home! read more

Stumbled upon this after a soccer game- almost left based on the outdoor signage- looked like a chain - glad we didn't! Great Italian food- nice restaurant area. Wish we lived closer as the pre-prepared food also looked great. Give it a shot- you won't regret it! read more

Terrible sandwich, all lettuce and very little meat or cheese, I won't be eating there again.

The olive bread & garlic knots are to die for. Also the 10 grab and go are so damn good.

This is a great BYOB restaurant. Food is good and service is very friendly. They also offer great options for take out.

Food was very good and waitress was awesome. She was super attentive. We were a large group and she was so nice and went the extra mile. Would definitely go back! read more

I tried this place on a whim. I'd been stuck in traffic for 2 hours, and all I could think about was a sandwich. I walked in and the guy who greeted me was very friendly and outgoing. I told him I'd never eaten there before, so he walked me through what they had and what their specials were. After looking at everything, I decided on a hot pastrami and Swiss sub with mustard (can't go wrong with a classic). Checkout was quick, and when I got home and tried my sub, it was FANTASTIC. Absolutely earns this place a 5-star rating from me. read more

This was our first time eating at Max's as we just moved to Tewksbury. The food at MAx's is 5 star quality, but I am giving it 4 stars because the restaurant and take-out counter are open to each other making it feel like a 3-4 star place. That said, dont let any of this get in the way of dining here... the food is really very, very good. We come from Staten Island which is a very Italian town and the food here is fully up to par ! Great food, great value. read more

... A diamond in the rough!! Our initial visit to Max's new restaurant venture was a "Foodies Delight" Started with tripe in a tomato sauce...texture , taste, aroma and temperature EXCELLENT.( the best I have had in 15 years since leaving Brazil) The entrées, broiled salmon with veggies... Ordered by the wives... Beautifully done .. Crisp on top and moist underneath.. I ordered the seafood pasta... To repeat myself ... The best I have ever had...aroma ( you could smell sea) freshness, temperature,texture ( result of perfect cook time) ...outstanding ! These folks are using top quality ingredients, and preparing them in excellent fashion. As a final treat and surprise we ordered Max's (Mario) daughter "ricotta cheese cake variation" ... A different texture , appealing taste, lovely presentation, and well worth a try. As to the physical venue ... It's austere, but the food offerings totally make Max's Market a must ... read more

I guess all the reviews must not apply to take out. After reading I had very high expectations that this was going be something better the the run of the mill pizza shops. Order some subs which were on the expensive side. They were standard, lots of bread, little filling and definitely nothing to write home about. When I showed up the staff was not friendly, in fact there were no other customers but they acting like I was bothering them. I will perhaps try again to see if the dining in experience is better but not rushing to find out. Very disappointing. read more

Their grab and go deals are good, and I have had some very good dishes. They rarely make good veggie dishes, usually quite lifeless. Often go a little garlic happy. And, they really need to control their urge to bathe everything in red sauce. Not to mention, not very good red sauce. read more

We went for lunch. We were unimpressed and won't be returning. The decor was just bad. The food was forgettable.

We are new to this part of Hunterdon County and the previous owners of our home suggested this place and recommended the Grandma Pie and I am SO glad they did. We've come twice in one week for dinner here and it was delicious. I anticipate this will be a regular place for us and can't wait to go back and try something else next time. read more

Love the food! Love the atmosphere! Love that it's BYO! I would definitely recommend it!

This place is awesome, the food is always delicious; however, I just had the pleasure of tasting their lasagna for the first time. Let me preface this as, I do not really eat lasagna the pasta is usually over cooked, it is too cheesy and the sauce is bland. This lasagna is the best lasagna I have had in a long time, only second to my great aunt's straight outta Italy. This is what lasagna is supposed to taste like. It is perfect. read more

Just had our first dinner at Max's. As promised, the food was outstanding! Take a bottle of wine and get ready for a culinary experience. The only reason I gave it 4 stars was the seating arrangement. Tables for two are a bit too tight. It would be great if they could figure out a way to make the dining area five star like the food. Still, I would highly recommend it. BTW, the take out looks fabulous too. read more

I've been hearing about this place for a while and finally had the chance to try it. The food is amazing and the ingredients taste fresh as can be. Also, is very kid friendly and the staff were all very kind. Would highly recommend this place read more

We love Max's! After almost 10 years of looking for a go-to restaurant in the area where we would look forward to dining at regularly, FINALLY we are thrilled to say we have found our establishment. Awesome food! And the service is friendly and fantastic! They are extremely accommodating and make you really feel like it is a pleasure to serve you. The take-out menu is outstanding, and we look forward to having Max's cater our next party. Thank you, Max's, for opening in our area. You have customers for life! read more

I was there before to pick up food for home and I did like the ambiance so I went with my wife after we reserved a table. we had mussels and zuppa di pesce, great, you can BYOB, the service was great, warm, we felt at home. great desserts and selection. recommended. read more

The food served in the sit-down restaurant is some of the best in the area - especially if you like seafood or salads. The take-home food is also great. We survived on Max's food for months when there was no food store in town and we still return frequently. The staff and servers are very friendly as well and this gives it the feel of a real home-town place to eat. read more

Great place! This type of Italian specialty store is much needed in the area! We just brought home their frozen homemade cheese ravioli along with their Sunday meat sauce, and it was delish! I highly recommend this place and I'm looking forward to having more of their dishes. Wishing Max's much great success! read more

Recently took a ride out to Califon to meet a group for dinner. You enter into a deli/market area - very nicely decorated, and stocked with Italian specialty foods and a case of delicious looking desserts. Next time saving room to try some of them! We were a group of 8 with reservations, and were seated immediately upon arriving. The dining room was mostly full, but we had a table that accommodated us all comfortably. Our waiter greeted us and opened the bottles of wine that we brought. Several plates of bread and a pesto dipping oil were brought out. I would say, it was awhile before our order was taken, but since we were visiting with friends, we did not mind. Perhaps the waiter was taking a cue from us - not sure. When I saw Chilean Sea Bass on the Specials Menu, I knew that's what I was having. Its one of favs, and not often offered. My meal was absolutely delicious. Chilean Sea Bass was cooked to perfection, and was cut into large pieces served over pappardelle pasta with spinach in a white wine sauce. The sea bass was cooked to perfection. Two others at the table had the same, and they loved it as much as I did. Others that raved about their dishes included Chicken Francaise, Eggplant Rollatini, and Penne Alla Vodka. Even though, Max's is quite a drive for us, I can definitely say we will be taking a ride out there again! read more

What an incredible place. Max and his staff are superb. The food is excellent and is a great value. You can't go wrong.

Excellent spot and a great option for Italian take out, cold cuts, sandwiches, and specialties. I got some cookies, cheese, stuffed mushrooms, and the Italian meat pie (excellent). They also have great breads and you can dine in or take out. They have a large selection of Italian cold cuts and cheese, as well as pasta and sauces in the cold case and freezer. read more

I happened to drive through Califon recently and passed by Max's Market & Eatery. We often visited a previous restaurant & pizzeria that Max had owned and I wondered if this was the same "Max." I had to go in and check it out. It is! I ordered an eggplant parmesan wrap and it was so delicious. That was only a few weeks ago and we have been back numerous times picking up sandwiches, meals to go or dining in. We even picked up trays of stuffed shells and eggplant parmesan for our Easter dinner. Love the Primavera salad, Pasta Fagioli, Valdostano, Pork Osso Buco (not always on the menu), Chicken Parmesan, Stuffed Shells, Eggplant Parmesan, Linguine Bolognese, olive bread... need I say more? These are only a few of the choices. Everything we've ordered has been excellent. If there is something you want and it is not on the menu, they will do their best to make it available for you if they have the ingredients (within reason of course). There are always vegetarian choices available, too. The portions are large and the prices are very reasonable. Beverages are available but if you want alcohol, Max's is BYOB. Bring your favorite wine or beer and enjoy a wonderful meal. If you're stopping in spur of the moment and decide to dine in but really wanted wine with your dinner, there is a liquor store next door. Max's also has pizza (dine in or to go). There is even gluten-free pizza. Already thinking about what to order on on our next visit. read more