Dear Tom M and Grace M, I was present as a customer during the entire public altercation . There was absolutely no reason for the scene or the foul language your party used or personal assaults on one of the most professional restaurant owners in the lakes area. In my opinion, an apology to the owner is in order. We did witness the owner try to work eith you on seating your large party. What is sad is that you only would have waited 15 minutes to get your requested table! Your response was unfortunate and unprofessional. My entire family respects this restaurant and will always support them through thick and thin. Well worth the wait. read more

Upscale restaurant on the pier. I was very impressed by the menu. Lots of steak and seafood. Our waitress was delightful. She was very helpful in suggestions of food and wine. I was able to meet the new owner, he came over and introduced himself. Very nice guys who genuinely cares about his business and customers. The food was delicious. My salmon cooked perfectly. My friend was raving over her steak. Pricey but worth it! Nice patio to overlooking the water. read more

Maxwell's Beach Cafe - Salmon - New American Near Me - Arnolds Park, Iowa

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Emily was wonderful, food was quick and good. Great location, nice view. Order the salad, with fruit, goat cheese. read more

Maxwell's Beach Cafe - Ole love the fish and chips - New American Near Me - Arnolds Park, Iowa

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I came here with my wife because they have gluten free options and are right next to the amusement park. I have celiac and since they have a gluten free menu I felt it would be safe to eat here. I ordered a hamburger with a gluten free bun. Literally right as I finished my meal I was informed by our waitress that I may have been given the wrong bun. Cool. A few min later some else comes (I presume this was the owner) and proceeds to tell me they may have messed up. I don't think he ever used the words "we know we gave you the wrong bun". If this ever happens in the future, you need to be 100% clear that you messed up. Someone with celiac needs to be 100% certain about what just happened. They covered the meal, but I am still dealing with the consequences of having eaten gluten. It ruined our day trip to Okoboji as we had to go back home to South Dakota afterwards. We had day passes to the park and barely got to use them ($100 down the drain plus gas and time). Please train your employees to take celiac/gluten sensitivity more seriously. It is not something to be taken lightly. I would encourage you to learn more about Celiac by reading "Celiac Disease A Hidden Epidemic". read more

We are at Arnolds Park every summer, but this was the first time eating at Maxwell's. They had one of the wife and I's favorite wines so it was off to a good start. We were there as a family and our middle son sometimes has a hard time finding something he would like. We all enjoyed our meals. My prime rib was cooked to perfection and very tasty. It is served with a horseradish sauce, and I kinda prefer Au Jus. This is not a cheap meal, I think for the 4 of us plus a bottle of wine, the meal was over $150. That withstanding, I would return. read more

Good food service was a little slow it is right by the concert we went to that night .

I loved their food and great customer service. my family and I had a great time . Totally recommend

Never disappointing! Very relaxing, awesome food and everyone there from the kitchen to the servers, just everyone and everything about the place is very special!!!! We were there again tonight with a couple and had another very awesome experience with the Aji tuna, sockeye salmon and the frogs leap wine! Thank you again for another experience at Okoboji They always make everything right, sometimes there's something you may question but they take care of it always! read more

One of the nicest restaurants in the area. We've only dined in on the patio, which has lots of shade umbrellas. The wait staff is always pleasant. Food is good. We had the Southwestern Wrap with chicken substituted for turkey and the Mahi Mahi tacos. The Dragon Berry Mojito was delicious. read more

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Great place, great food, beautiful view of the lake enjoy coming here with family! W

Maxwell's is an Arnold's Park staple and wants very badly to be 'the fancy place' in that area. The prices are steep, which you'd expect from a fancy place--but the overall middling quality of the food does not justify the price. This time around I had the macadamia nut encrusted halibut and my wife had the yellowfin tuna. We both agreed that the quality of the ingredients was above average, but the preparation was just so-so. However, service is fairly quick and has always been friendly. I get the feeling that amongst college kids in food service over the summer, Maxwell's is the best place to work and therefore they get the best waitstaff available. So, if you go to Maxwell's, you'll appreciate the service but will not be wowed by the food. The bill will be higher than you imagine it should be, but the view (if you sit outside) might just be worth it. read more

Maxwell's Beach Cafe - Yellowfin Tuna - New American Near Me - Arnolds Park, Iowa

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We dined here several times this summer. We have eaten inside and outside on the covered patio. The location is right in the middle of all the action at Arnold's Park and depending on where you sit, you have a nice view of the lake. The staff is friendly and always hustling! It's some of the best food in the area and has a great cocktail menu too! read more

Fantastic from the moment we walked in the door. The staff was attentive and knowledgeable. Can't wait to go back!!!

Maxwell's is a summer time lake favorite for many reasons. This is our date night and family get together spot. Best calamari, walleye, seafood specials and wine list! Servers are the best and many are return college students who work their tails off so tip big people! Awesome lunch spot with great salads and burgers. Make reservations well in advance and enjoy! read more

Went here for both a lunch and dinner on a recent trip to Okoboji. Their lunch menu is very casual and affordable. We got the Italian Nachos as an appetizer and then I got a veggie sandwich. Both very good. Come evening, Maxwell's has a much more upscale vibe and menu and is a great place to celebrate a special occasion while looking out at the lake and Arnold's Park. Everyone working there was very accommodating and friendly. I ordered the herb-crusted walleye that came with a lemon-cream dill sauce. Maxwell's also offers an extensive wine list. I'm no connoisseur, but it seems as though there would be something available to please anyone! read more

Service was prompt initially but slow after ordering. Food was good but not exceptional. Menu was uninspiring. French fries were unexpectedly very good. (and I usually dodge the fried starch!) Atmosphere on the open air seating was very nice, overlooking the lake and the park in the very center of things (my iPhone typed "thongs" for "things"... also accurate) A 'light' lunch for 4 adults and 2 children (aka kid's menu) ran us a little over $80. Would recommend for drinks and the French fries but for lunch, not worth the price. read more

Huge patio for those that enjoy sitting outside. Food is pretty tasty and the portions are big. My pasta dish was really good but a tad bit salty for my general eating preferences. Service is GREAT and the toffee sticky cake is a must for dessert. We would eat here again. The owner stopped by our table and chatted with us for a while...NICE touch! read more

Maxwell's Beach Cafe - SHIITAKE BEEF PAPPARDELLE - New American Near Me - Arnolds Park, Iowa

Great food, service and relaxing environment perfect for the lakes area! Can't wait to visit again

Always a good choice for a special meal in Okoboji. Fine dining , great setting. read more

My husband and I have been coming to Maxwell's for years, and it's always been one of our favorites. Unfortunately, last evening we did not have the same experience that we've had in the past. The food was good, but the service was lousy! Our server had a bad attitude and ran around the restaurant like he was overwhelmed, but was the only server that seemed this way, and it was not overly busy. Upon ordering drinks I ordered a apple juice for my son who was away from the table, and the server responded rudely "I don't know who was sitting there! Do you want a large or what?!" I don't know many adults that order apple juice to drink and there was clearly toys and children's menu on the table! I told the server prior to ordering that we were out celebrating my parents wedding anniversary and wanted to make it a special night. He responded with just "okay!" Throughout the meal our drinks were never refilled so we had to drink water instead of our ordered drinks. He never went over a dessert menu and never even offered us dessert! Not once did anyone ask (I saw both owners at the restaurant) how our meal was. You can't charge Fleming's Steakhouse prices and not have the service to go with it! read more

Where to begin. I ordered the Canadian Walleye which said Herb Encrusted, it was encrusted but had no flavor. My husband (not one to send things back) ordered a Sirloin Med-Well closer to well and it arrived with blood all over the plate and his whipped potatoes, when the waiter set it down I said no way is that well done with all that blood. Another from our party order the Prime Rib Med and was very bloody. I feel if they are going to charge the prices they charge the chefs and wait staff should at least know the difference between Rare to Well done. Definetly won't be going back it's not any better than it was 3 years ago when I was there. I should have taken some pictures. read more

This place has no respect for their customers. I would highly suggest finding somewhere else to give your business to. Very upsetting.

Great place to grab a drink! Also amazing restaurant experience when you're hungry. My favorite place on the lake to get a soup & a cocktail. Incredible views of West Okoboji Lake. Fantastic staff. Great owners. Fun atmosphere. read more

Maxwell's Beach Cafe - Soup & a Cocktail - New American Near Me - Arnolds Park, Iowa

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Reservations at 7 pm. Finally got our food after 2 hours of waiting. Came cold and expensive! Soup was inedible! Undercooked lamb chops.

Always great service and food. Appreciate the owners concern with spacing and safety during these difficult times. Have an Oban and a glass of wine and enjoy the sunset read more

Maxwell's Beach Cafe - a glass of wine and a wallet - New American Near Me - Arnolds Park, Iowa

Maxwell's is an absolute Gem. Organized, Clean and the best Vibe in the upper Midwest for lunch or dinner. They are a historical place for families to have special moments. For visitors to the Lakes to get a world class experience. I have been a fan for over 28 years. Anyone who sees this place other than a home run experience for great food and atmosphere has serious issues. The new owners have not missed a step and are adding a beautiful twist to make it theirs without any deviation which made Maxwell's special. FYI not relative of them! Grateful patron. SJF read more

Fine dining, friendly hostesses and wait staff, great location, easy parking, love this restaurant. The pineapple jalapeño margarita is my happy place. read more

Ava was our server this evening and she did a wonderful job taking care of our table of many kids and adults. The birthday dessert and espresso martinis were a huge hit for our family along with tasty meals. Owners stopped by to say hello and chatted with us about our experience. Highly recommend! read more

I wanted to give Maxwell's 3.5 stars, but will give them four because they had Nordeast in IA. We ate on the patio, which was the right choice. Inside was much nicer, and a more "mature" crowd, not what we wanted on our family vacation. Whatever you order, get the fries! They are fantastic. I had their special farm raised cheese burger, very good. We saw items come the tables around us, looks like they have great appetizers, kinda wish I had ordered the muscles. A fun twist - they serve the kids meals on frizz-bees! The girls loved it and there is a nice open space next to the cafe that you can toss them around at. read more

Fish tacos (blackened Mahi-mahi). Nice clean dish with homemade coleslaw with guacamole. Not to bad. Not the best, but not to bad.

Now here is some excellent food in the Arnold's Park amusement park and shopping area. It has indoor and patio seating with a nice view of the lake. My friend and I went at lunch time. There were few other guests but service and meal preparation were still slow. We had the prime rib panini with grilled onions, cheddar, garlic spread and horseradish dip. Very good. We also had their cheeseburger made from locally raised Iowa beef. It was delicious! Best burger I've had in a long time. Fries are crispy and seasoned - yum! Coleslaw, nothing special. I'd like to go back for that cheeseburger... Mmmmm..... read more

We walked in this evening with no reservation, but they had a last minute cancellation so they were able to seat us! We were so thankful for squeezing us in. The scallops pasta was delicious along with the filet mignon. It was cooked perfectly! We finished the evening with listening to the concert on the patio! Great service, food, and drinks! Will be back again! read more

So glad to be in Okoboji! So glad to go to Maxwell's! the food is the most consistently delicious, and the service the most consistently efficient. We enjoyed the scallops as well as the filet mignon along with salads, grilled asparagus and creamy mashed potatoes. read more

Anyone who gives this place less than 5 stars does not know good food if it hit them in the face! The patio is the perfect location for a meal lakeside! Even on chilly days they turn the outdoor heaters and it leaves the customers comfortable. The indoor dining is elegant and the menu here is superb! This place is the best fine dining menu in the lakes area. Might I suggest the calamari, flatbread pizza, and Italian nachos for appetizers! For meals the fish tacos, burgers, steaks, lobster, and lamb have all been amazing! You can't go wrong with anything you order here! read more

I have been coming to okoboji since I was a little girl, I am now 21. Every year my family and I had loved going to Maxwells! This year we were disrespected beyond belief. My family and I made a reservation 2 weeks in advance for 13 people and were denied seating tonight. They called the day before to say they had a party before us that may take long so they could fit us at 7:30 but only for 10.... HUH. Like sure we'll draw sticks to see who doesn't get to eat dinner tonight. OR we could come in at 9 but in there own words "our kitchen will probably be tired by then". We then explained that we made our reservation a while in advance and wanted it to be accommodated and they said, okay we will make it work. Fast forward, we arrive and we are yelled at, belittled, and called liars when we showed up. We were forced to leave and thank goodness we found another reservation. Which on a Friday night for 13... is almost impossible. So disappointed and baffled. My childhood favorite restaurant is now owned by a man who's customer service is worse than the 2 year old that I babysit. Thank you PRIME for getting us a table on such short notice! read more

Could have gotten 5 stars but the service was poor. Seems like the girl may have been having a bad day so I understand. Will definitely be back to give them another shot. Cool place! read more

Maxwell's Beach Cafe - Dinner with a view - New American Near Me - Arnolds Park, Iowa

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What a fantastic spot. We were pleasantly surprised by the entire experience. Great food, fair prices and exceptional service. The location is great too. Our server was a very nice young lady who goes to school at Stanford and spend the summer at this nice lake. She was knowledgable, friendly, and very pleasant. We will be back again soon, and will ask for the same server as well! Definitely worth a visit. read more

Best meal in Okoboji. Fantastic service. Wonderful location on the boardwalk. Very family friendly. We let the kids go back and forth between the park and rides. We will definitely return! read more

Maxwell's Beach Cafe - Wow. Best prime rib with savory seasoning!! All for a bargain with great views and service. - New American Near Me - Arnolds Park, Iowa

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I admit I didn't go in.... This time. It was mid afternoon and a scan of the menu didn't entice me to go in. Have eaten there many times, food ok, a bit pricey. Be sure what you are looking for, we encountered different menus inside vs. outside. read more

Can't beat the patio menu for value! Generous portions and way more variety than the ubiquitous burger bar! Chicken salad croissant sandwich was moist and huge. Italian nachos were a unique, culinary treat! read more