Had a chopped salad, very good, with very fresh vegetables. My main course was the Norwegian salmon, which was seasoned and cooked to perfection. My wife had the lobster bisque, which was more bisque than lobster. Her scallops were very good with a large portion. Service was amazing with a very attentive waitress. Ambiance was well done with a nice intimate feel. read more

Max's Oyster Bar - Chopped salad. - American Near Me - West Hartford, Connecticut

I have been a long-time Max reward card holder and have been to most of the Max locations around Connecticut and Massachusetts My recent visit to Max Oyster Bar was the most disappointing thing so far On a date, we ordered two meals that I have had many times: the scallops, and then we also tried the jumbo shrimp with pasta The scallop with risotto was not bad, not very flavorful, not like I remember The shrimp was way overcooked, like any seasoning, and the pasta came with like 10 pieces of pasta with peas, overall very disappointing, and I don't think I'll be going back anytime soon read more

The inside was fancy since there were many more elegant than usual wooden tables and chairs, but it was a little cramped since the walkways were narrow. The New England clam chowder was rich and creamy. Although the lobster roll was decent, it was expensive for the portion size. The fries that came with the lobster roll were delicious, crispy, and had the right amount of salt. read more

Max's Oyster Bar - American Near Me - West Hartford, Connecticut

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Had the hot seafood tower and raw oyster! The food was great and the service was wonderful. read more

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Came here for the first time with my sister during their social hour. It was packed and clearly a popular spot at all times of the day! The drinks were pretty good and the food was delicious! Our waitress was very friendly. We had a wonderful evening and the ambiance is nice. read more

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We should have written this update much sooner. We really enjoy our visits to Max's. The seafood is consistently a treat, the service is wonderful, and the restaurant's atmosphere is so casually upscale (if that makes any sense). And now they've added Buck-a-Shuck Mondays, which is yet another reason to drop by. Which we cheerfully did, and put away a couple of dozen PEI oysters, fresh, tasty, and nice-sized. And their tangy mignonette is just about the perfect complement. Congratulations to their shucker, who is skilled at this important task. Once sated with oysters, we reveled in an Ahi Tuna poke bowl, scrumptious and with yummy seaweed salad and edamame, and an expertly prepared swordfish, moist and expertly flavored atop romaine. The chef is smart and an artist. We added a side of fresh spinach because it was indeed fresh and lightly flavored with garlic. We do love spinach, and this alone is worth a trip. Our server Matt gave is flawless service; attentive, never rushed, alert to our needs and cheerful. The seating inside is large yet not crowded, and there's a handsome bar. In good weather the front patio is welcome (though the day we were there the weather wasn't encouraging anyone to go outside). read more

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Omg the hot seafood tower. I've never had anything as good. My favorite restaurant in Connecticut hands down. All the max restaurants but this specifically. If anyone knows anywhere else that does a hot seafood tower I would love the recommendation read more

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I returned to Max Oyster Bar for the $1.00 raw oysters bar on Mondays only. I also had my favorite point Judith calamari. My mom had there clam chowder and the fresh seard trout with a flavorful salad. The service is impressive and our waiter Matt has been apart of the Max Oyster Bar for many years. He is very curious and attentive to your needs. The ambiance is cozy and comfortable. My mom had the festival Gelato she loved it. They also have an awesome music selection. drop into Max Oyster Bar for their delicious raw bar or their delicious fresh seafood dishes. To all my Yelpers let's continue to eat our way through the world. #Foodie4life!! read more

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Great food, but for the prices the portions are tiny. We had to go get pizza after. Also, our waiter was not very attentive and our appetizer came after our meal. If the prices were $10 cheaper, then I'd say it's worth it, but not at about $35 a meal. read more

This place was amazing and top notch from the oysters in the beginning to the hot towels at end, the food and service were wonderful. The ambience is set for dining alone or in a large group. I will come back the next time I'm here visiting a friend. Fantastic service read more

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I don't know which was better - the service or the food. Both were excellent! One of the best seafood restaurants I have been to. We had fried oysters, salmon and steamed lobster and they were all exceptional! read more

I had a work lunch at Max oyster bar and wanted to keep it fairly light so ordered the tuna poke bowl. It was very good and came with sushi rice, raw tuna, a spiced mayo, edamame, pickled cucumber, kaiso sarada, and fried wontons. I thought that all the elements worked very well together and it was super fresh. I'd order this again in a heartbeat. read more

The food at Max Oyster Bar is always fantastic. I have gone there many times but have not been there in a while. Tonight I decided to order to go and I'm sure I'll enjoy every bite of my seafood paella however the interaction with the host at the front desk was far from stellar. I gave her my name and was told I had to show my order on my phone. No smile, no welcome to MOB. She proceeded to get my order, sat the bag and drink on the lectern and that was that. Not even a "thank you." Again, this is no indictment on the restaurant. Bartenders Jeff and Laura are incredible. Maybe it was just a bad day, but this experience means I won't be going back anytime soon. The paella didn't disappoint! read more

Max's Oyster Bar - Max's Paella - American Near Me - West Hartford, Connecticut

A quick review for a quick lunch. I wanted a lobster roll and decided to hit Max's for a Friday lunch. We got a table outside quickly (it was around 1:30pm). We both ordered the hot lobster roll and I've got to say, it was not my favorite. I know lobster rolls are going to be expensive and I don't mind paying well for a tasty roll. This wasn't it. Mostly tail meat and the flavor was slightly off. $35 a pop for what I imagine was about $10 of lobster. The hostess and our waitress were both kind and welcoming. I will look elsewhere for a hot lobster roll in the future. read more

Stopped by for dinner with my team and it was a very nice experience. The service and the food were very good. The team really enjoyed the experience. The restaurant has amazing very nice decor. read more

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I visit this place with a friend who is an ex-client. We still come to catch up even though it's no longer funded by an expense account. We come for the wide variety of oysters and they never disappoint. Service is always pleasant and efficient and they have a pretty decent wine selection. read more

I went to Max oysters bar a couple days ago for a work dinner. Located in the center of west Hartford. Good ambiance nice dim lightening with light music in the background . It was busy for a Thursday. However our waiters were fabulous . It was raining so I had to start of with the cappuccino which was good , perfect to warm me up . For starters I choose the jumbo crab cake served with side salad which was really good. Crab was declious . If you like crab it's a great , however it is very filling , so make sure you have a good appetite! Next we got the ceased salad , which was okay , fresh veggies , light dressing . Finally the appetizer I got the Ny strip served with mashed potatoes and asparagus! The steak was cooked perfectly ( I asked for medium and I got medium )! You get what you ask for and free flavour is all there . I loved the mashed potatoes and asparagus was cooked perfectly as well . Now the most important part dessert ! If you go to max oysters you have to get the chocolate beignets!! They are sooo good and delicious ! I always get them every time I come ! read more

Max's Oyster Bar - Caesar Salad - American Near Me - West Hartford, Connecticut

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Oysters were size of a pea. Buck a shuck. But come on. Bartender would not take max card.

I went there last night with my family and found the experience to be very average overall. We ordered a variety of dishes, including lobster, oysters, swordfish, a seafood hotpot, and even a regular hamburger, and all of us agreed that the food was just average in taste. The atmosphere, however, was very nice and had a festive, holiday feel. The staff was friendly, including our waiter, Chad. At one point, we considered changing our reservation to another restaurant in West Hartford Center for our party of six. We then learned that cancelling the reservation would result in a $25 per person charge unless it was cancelled at least 24 hours in advance. Based on this policy alone, I would not return to this restaurant. While I understand the reasoning behind it--and recognize that some other restaurants have similar policies--it left a negative impression and was enough to deter me from going back. read more

We ventured into West Hartford this evening to have dinner at Max's oyster bar. We hadn't been there in quite a while so we thought we would give it a try again. We started with some clam chowder that was just terrific, full of potatoes, onions, and clams, and just the perfect thickness. My wife had never had ceviche before, so we tried the bay scallops ceviche, which I thought was fantastic, but the wife was a little less enthusiastic. Tangy with lime combined with chopped scallops, red onion and veggies it was great if you're a ceviche fan. She had the Norwegian salmon. It was beautifully prepared and if you enjoy salmon, it was right on point. I had the fried fisherman's platter and compared it with my favorite place to go for such a dish which is of course Lenny and Joe's. The fried fisherman's platter came with two pieces of whitefish, three large shrimp and three scallops with fries. The scallops did not appear to be deep-fried, but breaded and lightly fried while the whitefish and shrimp were beautifully fried with a light coating. Overall, the dish was very good. Our server this evening was excellent, stopping by on occasion, but never intrusive and she was a delight who earned a very good tip for her excellent service. Max's Oyster Bar continues to serve high-quality seafood in a lovely atmosphere. We sat outside this evening and enjoyed what was a magnificent late summer evening. Highly recommend read more

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We're at Max's right now! The Food, Service & Cocktails are Fantastic! We come here fairly often and they are always Great! read more

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What a great place!!! Atmosphere is elegant and clean and let's be clear that is the first thing that wraps you up in this place. Our service was a bit delayed on a busy Saturday night, but the staff made up for that delay and was very apologetic. Everything was on point, the wine was the perfect temp and tasty. The food presentation was very nice and the taste was everything you wanted it to be. And the desserts...mmmm! read more

Went for lunch on a Friday. Waitress was friendly and prompt. I ordered the corn salad for an appetizer. It was delicious! Fresh and light. My husband ordered the clam chowder. Said it was yummy. For our main meal, I ordered the fried oysters, and my husband got the fisherman's platter. I love fried oysters and always get them up at the Cape. These oysters were fishy and burnt. I noticed they were Pacific oysters, so I'm not sure if that is why. They were quite small, but I didn't mind that part. I brought them home and my teenager, who eats anything, said how fishy they were! My husband's fisherman's platter was not very good. The 2 fried shrimp needed cocktail sauce, but they were the best out of all the fish. Hours later, he said he wasn't feeling well from our lunch. I wanted to love this restaurant, but, unfortunately, I cannot recommend it. read more

Recently went to Max's on a Friday night for a small intimate birthday group celebration. There's a small room in the back that we used that was perfect for an Eat, drink and mingle type of night and celebration. Service was excellent! We had a few apps through out the night such as sliders, rossitto balls, raw bar tower, steak and cheese and more .. it was perfect! Would love to go back for happy hour . Everything is delicious! If you love seafood this is the place for you. read more

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This restaurant has their heart in the right place but their Colossal Lump Crab Cake does NOT have lump meat. They also fully encase it in bread rather than lightly breading it (light bread is usually a lot more flavorful than the heavy bread case). The drinks and desserts my table got were great, though! read more

I was in CT for the first time for a quick work trip. My manager asked one of the staff at our hotel for some dining suggestions and this was one of the suggestions so we decided to check it out and I'm glad we did! There is street parking all around, but you may have to walk depending on how busy the area and other businesses are. We were able to find a park right across the street and around the corner. We arrived a little early for our reservation, but were able to be sat then. The inside is very nice! The lighting was calm and inviting and I could tell this was a popular restaurant. It was busy, but not annoyingly crowded. We were greeted promptly and the staff was friendly and attentive. We started with drinks. The cocktails change periodically, so be sure to check the current list when you arrive or online before you go. I ordered a glass of Rosé and it was good. After ordering our entrees, the bread came. It was really good. I loved the flavors! For my entree I ordered the Herb Cracker Crusted Cod and it was DELICIOUS! I ate the entire plate. The fish was cooked perfectly and the Brussels were delicious! The flavors all complimented each other well. My manager and co-worker ordered the Paella and Hot Lobster Roll and they were both pleased! They ordered Espresso and tea for after dinner, but I don't drink either so I ordered the Raspberry Sorbet and OMG so good! Flavorful and light! Definitely recommend if you are in the area and if I return to this part of CT I would return to Max's! read more

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Tim V at the bar and Ron (the older distinguished gentleman ). made my entire night. Amazing service 10 stars. I ordered the oyster sampler as it was delicious lobster bisque and a cocktail that Tim V created that has me feeling euphoric read more

Poor customer service/issue resolution. Super disappointed in the way they dealt with a reservation issue.

I love this restaurant so much! The food was amazing delicious. The steak was cooked so nicely and was so soft and juicy. I would definitely come here again. read more

Max's Oyster Bar - Steak Frites comes with salad fries and steak - American Near Me - West Hartford, Connecticut

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My husband and I came here on a Friday night for the first the time. We made a reservation online which was super easy to do but it looked like they still accepted walk ins around 5:30pm (definitely picked up towards the end of our stay so I would recommend making a reservation). We opted to sit outside and loved the ambiance. My husband ordered a chowder for an app and loved it! Great sign! We also have been eyeing their seafood paella for a while now and knew we wanted to share that. This meal is gigantic! It lived up to all the hype. The seafood was super fresh and the rice was top notch- not dry at all and with a nice kick! It came with scallops, mussels, chicken, chorizo/ sausage, clams, calamari and shrimp- it was fantastic! Even with the two of us we still had some to take home so come hungry if you order this dish! Service was super quick, friendly, and accommodating. We even were greeted by their manager Michael who was the nicest person! He suggested we get the molten lava beignets for dessert and I'm so glad he did! Those were fantastic! Totally would get those again. Thanks Max Oyster for a great experience- we will definitely come back and add this restaurant to our weekend rotation in the area! read more

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First time here, the scallops for lunch were exceptional. The service was excellent, the ambiance is upscale but not stuffy.

Good range of oysters choices, tried some of them. Fish and buns are also pretty good. Atmosphere was American style. Service was ok, probably can improve on speed. read more

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We had an amazing dinner tonight. Started with the clam chowder,lobster pasta and a lobster roll finish with crème brûlée for dessert and our waitress Jaden did a phenomenal job!!! Great ambience right on Farmington ave. we had an amazing evening. Next time we come back to visit from AR we will definitely be back! read more

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Had a business client lunch today. Lobster roll was very good, fish and chips also good. Server was fast and attentive. Clean interior, bright, modern vibes. read more

We were lucky enough to go on a Monday. $1.00 blue point oysters were on the menu, very delicious. The lobster bake was fabulous. My husband loved his lobster pasta. read more

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Max's Oyster Bar has been a favorite of ours for 20+ years, so it has always been a must when returning to visit West Hartford. The food just wasn't the same on our recent visit. The chowder was just okay and the chopped salad wasn't even close to what it was for years--slim on veggies and the dressing lacked flavor. As for service, well, we were accustomed to having a more attentive server in the past. It wasn't particularly busy, so I'm not sure what happened there. The ambiance generally speaking was the same, but the restrooms weren't terribly clean or well maintained. read more

Food and service Is very good. The noise inside can be loud. When weather is nice sitting outside is lovely.

This is one of my favorite West Hartford restaurants! Classy, upscale, elegant environment, with attentive service, and truly delicious food! You can tell that their chefs are highly skilled because everything I have ever had here has been fantastic-- from their sushi, to the clams, oysters, and fish, to the bread, wine and desserts. If you want a great meal, highly recommend Maxs! I've been here many time and their happy hour is a great value and wonderful too! read more

This establishment consistently attracts a large crowd, yet the service remains exceptional. I frequent this restaurant because the fish dish is always a reliable choice. Our waitress provided outstanding service during my brother's birthday celebration, ensuring the occasion was memorable. She patiently addressed all our inquiries regarding the menu and parking without hesitation. Additionally, the total cost was significantly lower than that of a restaurant named The River, while we received a greater value here. I highly recommend this venue for couples looking to savor the oyster appetizers, entrees, or desserts, as there is no chance of disappointment. With a dim light and low music background I would always recommend. read more

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The quality of Max's Oyster Bar is consistent and great. The wait staff is friendly and funny, the dining room is social and warm, and the menu is well designed with quality dishes that remain alongside the changing dinner specials. This time, we ordered the Chilean sea bass and it was a standout for sure--it was cooked perfectly with a crisp outside and fatty delicious taste on the inside. The red curry paired well with the sea bass, showcasing the thoughtful dish design by the chef. read more