Walked in and was impressed with the NEW look. The upgrade from the last time I visited was definitely noticed. I ordered a frozen drink which was good as well as the deviled eggs for starters. For my entree I ordered the chicken and waffles. The waffles had a slight crunch on the outside but the inside was fluffy and airy; the chicken was seasoned well and moist! This was a great choice for a quick brunch with friends. I just wished the tables were a tad bit bigger and there was a little more space between tables for passing. 8.5/10 Shoutout to Liz for the great service and Zee for having us. read more

used to really enjoy Max's Wine Dive, but this visit was extremely disappointing from start to finish. We were seated about 20 minutes after our reservation time, and the service throughout the meal was inattentive. The menu also lacked important details. I ordered the avocado smash, but the menu did not mention that it comes with eggs. On top of that, it was served with sliced avocado instead of smashed avocado, and the salmon was served at room temperature. When I asked for the order to be corrected, I specifically requested just toast with smashed avocado. Instead, they brought toast with cream cheese and avocado mashed on the side, which still was not what I asked for. I also ordered Max's Original Chicken. The chicken was overly salty, and my sides were incorrect. I specifically asked for no breadcrumbs, and although that part of the order was repeated back to us, the mac and cheese still came partially covered in breadcrumbs. It looked like they remembered the request but simply tried to scrape or avoid part of it instead of remaking the dish properly. I brought this to the server's attention after already dealing with the avocado toast issue, and it still was not corrected. The Nashville hot chicken sandwich was also overcooked and looked burned. For the quality of the food and the poor level of service, the automatic 18% gratuity was not warranted. Overall, this was a very disappointing experience. This is not the same Max's Wine Dive I used to love, and I won't be returning. read more

I used to love this location and went there frequently. I hadn't been in several years but thought it would be fun to go for my birthday about a month ago. We made a reservation and arrived a little early. No one was at the front to seat us, but we thought they may be seating someone else, so we waited a minute or so. After realizing no one was coming, we went to the bar and asked the woman who was bartending. She said she would seat us, and after a few more minutes, she did. There was no shortage of tables. We sat and waited some more for at least five minutes. The part that bothered us was that there were two employees standing and talking to each other near the bar during this entire time. One of them seemed to be a manager. We hadn't been addressed by any waitstaff, hadn't received menus, not even been acknowledged and told that they'd be right with us. One of the kitchen staff was delivering the food to tables, which isn't typical. We felt bad for most of the staff, because it clearly seems to be a management issue that is impacting their jobs and the performance of the restaurant. Greeting, seating, and getting customers started is the basics, and if you're understaffed, which is totally understandable, managers should be assisting. After we got tired of waiting (it was an uncomfortably long time) we just left and went somewhere else. Unfortunately I can't speak for how the food or wine are today. The new decor is ok, but I think I prefer the moodier, previous look. This experience was disappointing. read more

Ambience is worse after their renovation. Music taste was bad and now they started charging 20% gratuity automatically. In a dive bar Wine was ok but you should except 5/10 service and 5/10 food read more

Buffalo wings are awesome. And the DJ during brunch was awesome. Z the owner really welcomed us. I would recommend this place if you enjoy fried chicken. I'm giving five stars because of owner and good food but staff seemed distracted where requests had to be repeated which was a cause of frustrations but we were also provided free champagne that really made us feel better. Place is highly recommended read more

We made a reservation and arrived today to a locked door! We drove from League City and even sat in traffic because we were eager to have their gluten free fried chicken. I'm so disappointed! read more

If you're looking for an unforgettable dining experience in Houston, look no further than Max's Wine Dive on Washington Avenue! Having frequented this gem for over a decade, I can confidently say that their food and service (for the most part) have been exceptionally consistent throughout. The quality of their food is truly outstanding, from their legendary collard greens to my personal fave - the mouthwatering Cracklin' Chicken. Everything is delicious! The atmosphere is vibrant, sultry, and upscale, blending chic and cozy perfectly. The entryway is a standout, featuring amazing lighting and lush seating, making for the perfect photo op. Their wine selection is top-notch, and their service is impressively speedy without sacrificing quality. They are incredibly accommodating, and truly made my last visit feel special. Their prime location combined with ample parking ensures convenience for all guests. Whether you're there for a casual evening, Wednesday Steak Night or a grand celebration, Max's Wine Dive never disappoints! My only feedback is towards service and management - update the menu with what's actually available. The lead waitress basically told me when I picked a Chardonnay out of stock she would just select something comparable for me. I asked if it was house Chardonnay but didn't receive a clear answer. That was off putting, this is a wine themed restaurant and I want to know exactly what I'm drinking. Also, if I ask for the notes in a wine, I expect the waitress to be informed or find out but my question was brushed off. read more

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I met up with a friend and his family for dinner on Saturday evening. I'm unsure if they made a reservation but we were seated promptly and provided water. We were also informed that the menu was available via QR code. Our waitress came shortly after (maybe within 5-10 minutes) and took drink and food orders. Some of us hadn't been ready to order drinks yet since it's on a different tab than the dinner menu online. It took a while to get her attention to come back, but we eventually flagged her down. The drinks and food came out promptly and our waitress checked on us a few times to ensure orders were correct. I got the OG cheeseburger (no pickles) with truffle fries. The burger was pretty solid but a little on the salty side. The cheese (actually, unsure if that was cheese now that I think about it) on the fries were a little hard and honestly unnecessary. The fries themselves were delicious though and I appreciated that they provided the mayo and ketchup separate so you could add it yourself or simply use it to dip the fries. I've been here once before for brunch so this was my first time for dinner. The music was nice and the decor was cohesive. I didn't go to the bathroom so I can't speak to the cleanliness. Overall, I thought it was a pretty good experience and I plan to return for happy hour in the near future. read more

MAX's Wine Dive - Maxs Og Cheeseburger - Wine Bars Near Me - Houston, Texas

This was an interesting experience with mixed reviews. The 2for Tuesday deal was amazing. A drink and selected entrees for 20 bucks. The deviled eggs were amazing. The chicken had absolutely no seasoning. However it was perfectly crunchy, which was weird. The empanada was delicious. This is not a bad happy hour for Tuesday. I wouldn't mind going back. Service was also a little different but overall, I enjoyed my experience. read more

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As you can see from the pictures the food looked great. Well it tasted great as well. The chicken and waffles were both chewy, and crispy at the same time. The waffle batter was sweet and the chicken flavored for my taste buds. The service was ok but maybe that was because of how busy they were. I didn't enjoy the way the place is set up because you don't have much room to move around. read more

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Our friend suggested this place so he knew the food was good. We stopped in on Friday and I was surprised that they were serving brunch. The music was good and fit the brunch ambiance, but I felt the music was slightly too loud because it was a group of us. It seemed like it was blaring on that side of the restaurant. It's not brunch unless you can find chicken and waffles. I mean the legit chicken and waffles with fried chicken not chicken tenders. I not only found chicken and waffles with fried chicken but also the "hot" one that's more like Nashville hot. I was pretty impressed with the size of the fried chicken and how perfectly cooked and not dried out! I'd give it a 9/10 just for the perfect crispness and how moist it was. The chicken was nicely marinated or brined. The only thing lacking was more heat and flavor on the "hot". I love spicy so the waitress suggested collard greens because it has a little kick to it. I tasted the little heat, but was too sour for my liking. I've never had collard greens cooked with vinegar for that sourness before so I wasn't expecting that. I found out from my friend that it's the southern way and every place makes them different. It was cooked just right but I'd prefer them prepared without that flavor. I'd definitely be back for the chicken and waffles. read more

MAX's Wine Dive - H Town Hot Fried Chicken - Wine Bars Near Me - Houston, Texas

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I've been coming here for years and it truly used to be one of my favorite neighborhood spots. The service was always great, the staff was warm, and the prices felt fair for what you received. It had that comfortable, local vibe where you could relax and enjoy a solid meal without feeling like you were splurging. Unfortunately, my recent visit was really disappointing. For three pieces of chicken and two sides, my total came to $44 -- for one person. That pricing feels completely disconnected from what the dish actually is. What made it even more surprising is that the cost of that simple chicken plate is now the same as some of the newer menu options like crab legs and crawfish. That just doesn't make sense. On top of that, the ambience has shifted. What once felt like a cozy neighborhood restaurant now feels more "upper echelon," and not necessarily in a way that enhances the experience -- just in a way that justifies higher prices. I understand that costs go up and businesses evolve, but longtime customers notice when value changes this drastically. I truly miss the balance this place used to have between quality, service, and reasonable pricing. I hope they can find their way back to what made it special in the first place. read more

MAX's Wine Dive - Check out - Wine Bars Near Me - Houston, Texas

8/10 Ambiance is nice, it is small & cozy. Cute for a little date night or happy hour vibe with your homegirls. I really enjoyed the music playlist. Service was excellent. Now to the food, I got the HONEY BUTTER CHICKEN BENEDICT & H-TOWN HOT FRIED CHICKEN. Both were delicioussss- The only thing I would not get again is the grits, but other than that I will be back. I'm not a fan of grits, and this shows me why lol read more

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Good food but struggling service, and not cheap. We had a table for 7 tonight, not busy at 6:30pm on a Sunday. Service went well (good timing on drinks and taking orders; the wines on the menu weren't available) until entrees. Two friends ordered the cracklin' chicken, which didn't come out until AFTER the rest of us had finished eating our fried chicken entrees. Weird story was given when asked. Bills came and an auto tip of 20% was added for the group size (ok), but no comps were given for the incredible wait time. Additionally, the head waitress tried to charge my husband 3x the cost for a side biscuit, saying the menu was out of date; when pushed, she gave us the listed price. The support waiter was kind and attentive. Again, the food (when it came) was good but they need to work on their service and menu! If the digital menu is out of date, please print some cheap ones. read more

Team on a Thursday night for happy hour. Beautifully decorated friendly staff. Great prices on the happy hour menu and great appetizers. Parking is good. We will definitely visit again. read more

Went Max's for Easter brunch. Have been there many times for Easter. My Shrimp and Grits were perfect, my Wife's fried chicken was great but her sides were overcooked potatoes and inedible collards. The ambience was terrible with loud pulsing tech music being played at maximum volume. We couldn't hear our waiter or gave a table conversation. . This is our last visit. read more

We visited this location for brunch. Upon walking in, we were greeted promptly. When i asked about the chef special, the waiter didnt know. He asked and never got an answer. We decided to go ahead with our order. The food was good. The drawbacks for me was 1. The music was a little louder than my liking and 2. The bathrooms were terrible. They smelled gross and there was mold all around the sink. Although the food was good, i dont think ide go back read more

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Not too crowded on a late Saturday evening when we came for a late dinner/drinks. My friend who used to work here always talked about the delicious fried chicken so I was very much looking forward to trying it.. Got the Chicken waffles, fried chicken and tried out a few appetizers like the brussels sprouts and truffle fries. The food was okay, the portions were great though- very generous. The chicken tenders were massive and seasoned well. I could barely make a dent in my waffles and we both had to get to go boxes.. (Waffles are not your typical Belgium waffle in that it seemed more buttery perhaps with the buttermilk recipe) I was not a fan of the "frozen kool-aid", not sure why it was recommended by the waitress but it was literally just champagne and kool-aid pre-mixed, not sure what I was expecting lol, but in my sober state would not opt for any pre-mix high sugar cocktails. I will say the wine list here is extensive, and if we hadn't been already drinking liquor I would've opted for a glass here and enjoy the vibes at the bar. It had the feel of a sports bar more than wine with some TVs showing games and somewhat louder ambiance. Overall it's an upscale comfort food place, good for brunch and a few glasses of wine, they also have happy hour on the weekdays from 3-6 (check out the menu!) read more

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This was my second visit at this establishment, first visit wasn't it. Glad I came back to try their brunch. Everything was phenomenal. Casual restaurant. Service was attentive. Mimosas were mimosing and food was outstanding. Can't wait to return. read more

MAX's Wine Dive - Creme Brulee French Toast with Max's Fried Chicken Wings and cheese eggs - Wine Bars Near Me - Houston, Texas

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I had to come show some love to Max's Wine Dive this spot brought back some real nostalgia for me. We used to have one in Dallas, and I've genuinely missed it. First off, the Famous Fried Chicken is still that dish. Perfectly crispy on the outside, juicy on the inside, and packed with flavor. It's one of those meals you think about long after you leave and it absolutely lived up to the memory. What really made the experience stand out though was the service. Liz was incredible attentive, friendly, and made sure everything was on point without being overbearing. You can tell when someone actually cares about the experience, and she definitely does. Also, shoutout to Zee for keeping the vibe and quality strong. It's not easy maintaining consistency, especially when people come in with high expectations from past locations, but this one delivered. If you're in Houston and want comfort food done right with a great atmosphere, this place is 100% worth it. I'll definitely be back. read more

I've lived within walking distance of Max's Wine Dive for about ten years and it's been one of my go-to spots. Unfortunately, I have to lower my rating from five stars to two after my most recent visit. We were very disappointed. I completely understand that businesses need to evolve and that prices go up. That's not the issue. What I really miss is the open kitchen. Watching the chefs prepare food in front of you was always part of what made Max's special. Now, a mirrored wall blocks the view, and while the remodel looks modern and trendy, it feels like the "dive" atmosphere that gave the place its charm is gone. Still, I'd happily adapt if the food and service stayed consistent. When we arrived for our reservation, the restaurant was about half full, and we sat at the bar. Despite that, no one greeted us except the water server for nearly ten minutes. When we finally placed our drink order, it took another while before we received them, and both were disappointing. My michelada was warm, and my spouse's Bloody Mary was so spicy it was almost undrinkable (and we both love spice). We planned to stay and order food, but another twenty minutes passed without anyone checking in. The bar staff seemed busy, but with so few guests, we weren't sure why it was taking so long. After waiting more than half an hour with no acknowledgement, we decided to leave. Even closing out our tab took a second reminder. I'll give it another try in a month or so, but I truly hope the service and consistency return to what made Max's Wine Dive such a neighborhood favorite. read more

This place NEVER MISSES!! The food, the decor, and the ambiance is a 10 out of 10. Did I mention the DECOR??? read more

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Food was great, large portions for price. Chicken was tender and flavorful. Wish there was more seating but we had a reservation so that was helpful. Our waitress was nice but then after 1.5 hours she seem to want to rush us out - so minus the star for that read more

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We dined in on Thursday night. There seemed to only two people working the dining area - covering serving, cleaning, and the bar. Restaurant was about 80% full so things moved slowly. We ordered wine and had to go through a list of all those that were sold out. So disappointing. Ordered the GF fried chicken (my go to) and they no longer offer hot honey. Also, our waitress never wore shoes - working only in her socks! We love Max's but they'll need to make some improvements bf we return. So sad. read more

MAX's Wine Dive - Crispy Deviled Eggs - Wine Bars Near Me - Houston, Texas

One of my favorite restaurants in Houston. The friend chicken is some of the best in Houston. It isn't consistent however but when it is done correctly, there isn't anything better in Houston. It's a cute place for a date night also read more

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The combination of a restaurant that specializes in fried chicken and boasts a great wine selection is pure genius in my opinion! Absolutely delicious food and fantastic service! It's a rather small restaurant so best to secure reservations especially on the weekends. My personal fave is the southern fried chicken drizzled with the chipotle honey that comes with mashed potatoes and the most delicious collard greens! We also tried the fried deviled eggs with bacon jam- yummy!! The empanadas were good as well and the sauce that accompanied them truly next leveled it! read more

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They add 18% automatic gratuity, which is fine, but I didn't add additional tip since I felt that was sufficient for our bill and what we ordered. Luckily I keep my receipts and checked my credit card statement and sure enough they added extra $5 tip on my bill. Not cool. Check your receipts if you come here. read more

It's just four of us- a small group, and we see it's not a busy night which is good, right? Being that it's a Friday night, I would expect it to be busy. Well, after a few minutes of waiting to be seated, (because no one was at the hostess podium) we get asked if we have a reservation by the waitress/bartender who I later suspected is probably the new owner. I was thrown off a little because it's clearly not packed, we see several open tables, and we're not a huge party so why would we need a reservation? And it's not like she asked just to check us in if we did, she said it with an attitude like we were SUPPOSED to have a reservation. I just brushed it off but that let me further know not to have high expectations for this place. We get sat, rudely. She just said y'all can sit right here and left. We didn't get a warm greeting, no menus, not even a "your waiter will be right with you" and just went to work behind the bar along side a younger gentleman. Our group is sitting at the table not knowing if we're gonna get menus or if someone is going to come take our drink order, so we looked at the menu online and came up with our order. She comes back to our table and we all order our appetizers, drinks and meals at the same time and she had the nerve to say "dang! More food?!" as she was going around the table grabbing everyone's orders. First of all, is this not a restaurant where you order more food? Second of all, Isn't that what you would want for your restaurant business? I was baffled at her comment because what is with the attitude. I can understand if it was a long day, but that's still not an excuse to give attitude to your customers. After she left the table, I just hoped that she got everything we ordered correctly. A little while later, We got our drinks and we got a few of the appetizers out. We got the calamari and peppers and the jalapeños gave it a zing that it needed. We also ordered the wings for our table and those were good too. I asked about the champagnes available and she said "I honestly don't know, we just have whatever is cheap" I'm like ok...I guess whatever you have is fine. The rest of our food came out and it was piping hot, which I took as a good sign because it's better than cold or lukewarm food which I was afraid of from the experience so far. I got the fried chicken meal with the 3 pc chicken, mashed potatoes, collard greens and Texas toast. The only thing good about my plate was the Texas toast. Everything else lacked flavor. It's like they don't have salt in the kitchen at all. The toast was the only thing that was good cause it had a buttery flavor. The greens were sweet and the mashed potatoes had zero salt. The chicken was hot and juicy but it needed sauce. I thought the chicken was marinated in a jalapeño buttermilk or something like that. It definitely tasted like raising canes unseasoned chicken. Amanda brought out some sauces to dip in and that was the only thing that made the chicken taste better. My sister ordered the Mac and cheese and that also lacked salt and probably cheese. It was like smothered pasta noodles with zero flavor. We tried to enjoy the rest of our night and make the most of it because we were hungry and this was the only place close by that was open late enough for us to get a decent meal. What was expected to be a decent end to our fun girls night immediately turned into an unbearable experience. The finishing disappointment to our night was when we were all ready for our checks. She brought out one check and wanted to evenly divide the check between the four of us. That's not what we wanted to do. We wanted to pay for the items that each of us ordered for our table. She said ok just put your cards down and I'll split it. She leaves to let us finish up and get our payment ready, but we were weary that she was gonna charge the wrong card. So when she comes back, we explained to her that we want it split by what each person ordered because we weren't sure if she would remember whose card belongs to what order. She then proceeds to condescend us by saying she's worked in the business over 10 years and would remember who ordered what. She takes and splits the ticket. Tell me why this experienced waitress came back to the table several times and asked us who ordered what. She just embarrassed herself by condescending us and then not even doing a simple task that an experienced waitress could do. The new ownership changed how the place looked, but kept everything on the menu and wine list the same when in reality, they don't even have the full wine list stocked since she said they keep whatever is cheap. I wish they would have hired more staff and come up with a better way to execute service because this was a shitshow dressed up as bougie dining. read more

Max's has always been a classic brunch spot to me in Houston. I hadn't been to this location in a while because I preferred the Montrose location. Sad that it closed, but the original is still going strong on Washington. You can dress up, or be casual here and it is a nice location. Food. Probably top 3 best waffles I've had and it's probably 1 or 2. The fried chicken was juicy, crispy, perfectly fried and flavorful. I also had the collard greens and mac & cheese for my sides. Both were really good. The last time I went, I came for brunch with two friends, I made a reservation in advance, and I was seated right away. We ordered a bottle of Prosecco or two... So that we could have lots of mimosas. There is a parking lot, with self parking. Sometimes it can't get full on the weekends. read more

MAX's Wine Dive - Wings N Waffle Brunch - sub dark meat - Wine Bars Near Me - Houston, Texas

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Service is great and so is the food! They have good specials as well. Chicken is made perfect and you can see them cooking in the kitchen as you eat. read more

MAX's Wine Dive - Wine Bars Near Me - Houston, Texas

Parking is free and there were up front parking Saturday evening surprisingly. I loved that. lol Tiny restaurant so don't plan on bringing a big party greater than 6. Make reservations if you can. We had a party of 4. There's no mixed drinks other than a paloma and wines. Not extensive drink menu. Scan QR code for menu choices. We had the cheese board and added meats. I ordered a paloma. It was good. I always get the fried chicken as my entree . It's so perfect. The greens were yummy. I thought the cracklin chicken would have an outer layer crust of cracklins. Nope. It's just roasted chicken. We also had the side of brussels. It was good but better if it was crispy-- it's not crispy. Everything came out piping hot. I had a great dinner. read more

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This was a wonderful firstt experience dining in the establishment. There was a small error in the beginning, but the manager Zeke immediately corrected everything and made our experience fantastic for My Husband's Father's Day meal. Zeke thank you for making everything right read more

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This is Legendary Chicken Fried Lobster Tail Dinner...the lobster is amazing but the unsung hero is the greens! I have tried the fried chicken...hot it's a must have if you are a fried chicken aficionado. They also have fun frozen wine drinks that are good if you want an option to a glass of wine. The hot is not too hot, but the chicken is fried to order and it's gonna be a wait. Get a drink and get comfortable it's definitely a good date vibe! The wait staff is knowledgeable and ready for orders from the time you sit down. read more

MAX's Wine Dive - Chicken Fried Lobster Tail Dinner - Wine Bars Near Me - Houston, Texas

I was so hungry and the sandwich was so good so I took a picture only of half of what I ate, but I can tell that was one of the most delicious sandwich I ever had the chicken sandwich. It's one of my favorite and also the burger is so good!! Highly recommend about the service and the prices super affordable and worth every penny every time!!! read more

MAX's Wine Dive - Hot Chick Sandwich - Wine Bars Near Me - Houston, Texas

All went well with our visit. The food was good, service was good. It's small so I would definitely make a reservation.

The wine selection and wine was good as was the fried chicken and fries but the burger seemed cooked from frozen and the Mac n cheese was a gloopy mess. The restaurant looks cobbled together and 2 lights burned out in a smokey production while people were sitting under them at the bar. They should close until the place is renovated. There was 1 waitress who was nice but distracted. This is a disappointment from the Montrose location that I visited years ago. read more

I love Max's Wine Dive, but this was my first going for dinner instead of brunch. The service was still very good, but I think the ambiance and space was so much better at the Fairview location! Regardless, I think the food for dinner was okay. I did my usual order of chicken and waffles for dinner, but it didn't hit the spot like it usually does for brunch. So from now on, I think that I will stick to Max's for brunch only. read more

MAX's Wine Dive - Chicken and Waffle Dinner - Wine Bars Near Me - Houston, Texas

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Haven't been here in 2 years, I'd say MAX'S is worthy of an updated review I suppose. We made reservations for brunch on a Sunday afternoon and the place was not very packed, thankfully! Our server was great, very attentive and ensured we had what we needed. The playlist they had on was a vibe. The food was great and so were the drinks. I've been back to MAX'S since starting this review and having it sit in my drafts so clearly I'd return. They are doing good things so check them out if you're looking for a chill spot for brunch. read more

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The food is fresh and definitely well made and presentation is great. I ordered the spice chicken sandwhich with truffle fries. The chicken sandwhich was breaded, seasoned well and juicy. The truffle fries had no truffle oil and sprinkled with Parmesan and were not considered truffle fries. The garlic aioli lacked garlic or flavoring. The service was great and the spot has good ambiance to sit at the bar or at a table to chill. read more

MAX's Wine Dive - Spicy chicken Hot Chick Sandwich w/ truffle fries and garlic aioli - Wine Bars Near Me - Houston, Texas

On my most recent visit to Houston, I had the pleasure of visiting Max's Wine Dive. It is a cute little spot that emphasizes the fun of having friend chicken with wine and/or champagne. We enjoyed one of their French toast and fried chicken tender combos along with a frozen mimosa beverage. Honestly, the food was better than I expected it to be for such a small cute little restaurant. I would visit again if I find myself in the area and in need of a quick lunch or dinner. read more