Max's Grill

Loved finding this little hidden gem. The food was outstanding. A beautiful meal from a classically trained chef. Not what you would expect from the name of the establishment. So glad we read the reviews and decided to dine here. Our server was attentive and extremely courteous. He was very professional but also humourous and personable. I highly recommend this amazing little spot.

We frequent PG (5-6 times a year) just to get away from the Bay Area eat race. We have amour favorite restaurants and this place just made our top list. It has a quaint family atmosphere and the staff (the lander and a server) were super friendly. Our server Christian was knowledgeable about the menu and answered our questions in detail. For the appetizer, we ordered tempura sand dab and it set the bar very high. It was battered and seasoned perfectly and the fish was flaky and light. I ordered the short ribs and I will have to say that it's one of the BEST meals I've had in the area. The meat literally melts in your mouth and did not have a lot of fat. The vegetables and potato au gratin were cooked perfectly but the sauce was the highlight. It was creamy, had layers of flavors and piping hot. My wife ordered the fresh made ravioli stuffed with porcini and shiitake mushrooms and bri cheese topped with herb butter sauce. She absolutely loved it! If you're in the area and are looking for a great place to eat with the atmosphere to match, then try this place. You won't be disappointed. We will definitely be back!

I had the local wild-caught Sandabs and they were absolutely delicious! And the crab cake was excellent!

Max's Grill is a gem in Pacific Grove. The most delicious food presented in a caring and personal manner. Calm and quiet, great place for a romantic dinner or just getting together with friends. Definitely order the mushroom soup - best I've ever had!

Max has a history in the restaurant industry, as a chef at some of the best restaurants in Carmel. He went out on his own and started Max's Grill years ago. We wrote a review a year ago, and just went back Saturday night for a special event. What struck me then, as every time we've gone, is that it seems nobody knows about this place, and that's wrong. I had the Cioppino in a tomato-saffron sauce. Perfect! My wife had a Chicken Alfredo she said was delicious. Service was friendly, on point. Max knows what he is doing and does it well.

OMG. The mushroom soup and butternut squash raviolis are amazing!!! You need to come here. Matthew is a very informative and attentive server

Good value. Great birthday meal. We brought our own Chopsticks to battle over the aps. A+ on the ribeye. Get the ravioli too. But first it has to be sand dabs and salmon rolls in the tempura style.

I honestly can't say enough good things about this restaurant. This is the best service on the peninsula and the nicest most welcoming and accommodating staff. On top of hospitality and service, the vibe and ambiance is perfect. Food and wine is bomb too. To the staff, sincerely, thank you so much

We reserved a table for our party of 18 for a 70th birthday celebration. Our group included all ages, 8-75 year olds with varying dietary issues. The staff at Max's was incredibly accommodating, attentive, friendly and gracious. We had one of our favorite meals here in Monterey during our long weekend. Between us, we ordered a variety of appetizers, soups, salads and main courses. Everyone was extremely pleased and satisfied by the meal. We will, without a doubt, return on a future visit.

Traditional French technique makes Max's a delight. We had buttery soup, rich crab cake, and phenomenal short ribs. There could be some who would be disappointed at a lack of modernization in the dishes, but traditions exist for good reason.

I had the ravioli, fresh baked bread and a nice Pinot. Delish! The cafe is clean and my server was attentive and kind. I dined there when there wasn't a crowd but the place gets busy. I recommend Max's.

Thank you Max and Yuko! We had an amazing experience. The service we received was amazing, really personal, and the food, exceptional! We had creamy mushroom soup, swordfish, chicken piccata, and ice cream. Everything, and I really mean everything, was exceptional. You could really tell from the food that the chef is special. Max's Grill is a gem.

Great find in the area. Had a couple of pasta dishes and dessert and everything was delicious. Service was also spot on.

What a wonderful place to have a nice dinner with the love of your life. The service was excellent. The nice lady serving us treated you like family. Was one of those finds that are hard to come by. Definitely not for the kids. Definitely for parents night out place for sure.

Suprisingly great food. Limited menu selection meant great items. Home-made soup that is really homemade. PS, the couple that runs the restaraunt are wondful folks - attentive, kind and ready to help! Thank you for a lovely family meal.

Amazing food, my best dining experience of this trip. Charming little restaurant, I had the mushroom soup and Max’s Cioppino, both were outstanding packed with flavour and a bounty of seafood in the Cioppino. I only wish we could eat there again tomorrow. Family run business great food and service be sure not to miss it!!!

First time experiencing Max’s grill and the food was out of this world! Definitely going to be a repeat customer whenever we pass through Pacific Grove/Monterey. Absolutely amazing customer service, beautiful and cozy atmosphere. 10/10 would recommend.

Unassuming and delicious delight here. We have lived up the road for 10 years and always pass by but have never tried Max's until two weeks ago, and we've already been twice. I feel like it's easier to get a table here than some other places in the area, parking on the street is easy etc. The food comes out so fast, service is attentive but not overwhelming. It's a smaller menu, but everything has been so good. Mainly some classics and upscale food, I loved the special sand dabs, I tried the short ribs next. Dessert is great. I love the fresh bread that everyone gets at the table. Wine selection is beautiful too. I'll be coming here as a regular spot now. Thank you Max's

Highly recommended! Excellent service and friendly staffs. We arrived before closing time and we were still accommodated. It was our first night in Monterey and we didn't know Restaurants close early. The foods were fantastic! Dishes were perfectly prepared and delicious. The best Shrimp and Veggie Tempura I have tried! Thanks to the staffs for making our first dinner in Monterey memorable!

The crab cake appetizer was amazing. I highly recommend it. We tried both raviolis (butternut squash and mushroom). Both were good.

The food is so delicious. Then the customer servers the best. I love this spot. Thank you so so much.I'm enjoying my family.

Max's Grill has fine dining food at the approachable price and atmosphere. I was first impressed by simple warm bread and butter. Then the appetizer of ravioli, creamy and flavorful. Then I got a special menu of the day. Pan fried Sand Daps. When I ordered, I expected it to be grilled and I was afraid that it will be greasy if it was fried. However, the fish was so smooth, moist, with a crust that is not greasy at all. The side of gratin is also smooth with the right level of creaminess. Well, what else can you ask for? I would love to try their dessert but we were already full. I saw many local seniors came to enjoy this place on Thursday nights so its place is definitely trustworthy. I would love to come back an try Cioppino and dessert as well.

Cannot overstate how good the lamb chops are. Taste is incredible, and presentation is picturesque. Matt is an excellent server, very kind, very knowledgeable. The chef is fantastic!

Yoko is so sweet. Outstanding menu and wine. The best service and the food is outstanding! They are also kind enough to provide gluten free options. Great food and service🍷😊

Excellent selection of food, great prices, and amazing service. They're known for their delicious Cioppino, Duck, and Rack of Lamb.

The French Onion soup was stellar with melted gruyere on top; Family LOVED the Sanddabs, even moreso their fresh, local crabcakes. I got duck, very natural, and enjoyed it with merlot. Added photos of the current menu, (about 25 items) Prices $15-40

Exquisite food. Extremely polite and attentive waiter. The bisque was incredible!!! Short ribs super tender and tasty. Really great restaurant - thanks :)

Saadi Karaman

First time experiencing Max’s grill and the food was out of this world! Definitely going to be a repeat customer whenever we pass through Pacific Grove/Monterey. Absolutely amazing customer service, beautiful and cozy atmosphere. 10/10 would recommend.

Grace Marquez

Unassuming and delicious delight here. We have lived up the road for 10 years and always pass by but have never tried Max's until two weeks ago, and we've already been twice. I feel like it's easier to get a table here than some other places in the area, parking on the street is easy etc. The food comes out so fast, service is attentive but not overwhelming. It's a smaller menu, but everything has been so good. Mainly some classics and upscale food, I loved the special sand dabs, I tried the short ribs next. Dessert is great. I love the fresh bread that everyone gets at the table. Wine selection is beautiful too. I'll be coming here as a regular spot now. Thank you Max's

Ycel Diego

Highly recommended! Excellent service and friendly staffs. We arrived before closing time and we were still accommodated. It was our first night in Monterey and we didn't know Restaurants close early. The foods were fantastic! Dishes were perfectly prepared and delicious. The best Shrimp and Veggie Tempura I have tried! Thanks to the staffs for making our first dinner in Monterey memorable!

Summer

The crab cake appetizer was amazing. I highly recommend it. We tried both raviolis (butternut squash and mushroom). Both were good.

Tee Ponsukcharoen

Max's Grill has fine dining food at the approachable price and atmosphere. I was first impressed by simple warm bread and butter. Then the appetizer of ravioli, creamy and flavorful. Then I got a special menu of the day. Pan fried Sand Daps. When I ordered, I expected it to be grilled and I was afraid that it will be greasy if it was fried. However, the fish was so smooth, moist, with a crust that is not greasy at all. The side of gratin is also smooth with the right level of creaminess. Well, what else can you ask for? I would love to try their dessert but we were already full. I saw many local seniors came to enjoy this place on Thursday nights so its place is definitely trustworthy. I would love to come back an try Cioppino and dessert as well.

Binhbac Vo

The food is so delicious. Then the customer servers the best. I love this spot. Thank you so so much.I'm enjoying my family.

Wilson Howe

Cannot overstate how good the lamb chops are. Taste is incredible, and presentation is picturesque. Matt is an excellent server, very kind, very knowledgeable. The chef is fantastic!

Cynthia

Yoko is so sweet. Outstanding menu and wine. The best service and the food is outstanding! They are also kind enough to provide gluten free options. Great food and service🍷😊

Jesse

Excellent selection of food, great prices, and amazing service. They're known for their delicious Cioppino, Duck, and Rack of Lamb.

Gabriel Moore

The French Onion soup was stellar with melted gruyere on top; Family LOVED the Sanddabs, even moreso their fresh, local crabcakes. I got duck, very natural, and enjoyed it with merlot. Added photos of the current menu, (about 25 items) Prices $15-40

Elizabeth Gray

Exquisite food. Extremely polite and attentive waiter. The bisque was incredible!!! Short ribs super tender and tasty. Really great restaurant - thanks :)

Max’s Grill always has very fresh food, great service and a relaxed atmosphere. The pricing is the best on the peninsula. Many places charge way too much for the quality they produce. Max’s is a wonderful neighborhood place with a highly trained chef. I’m fortunate to live near by!

Crab cakes, creamy soup (I forgot the name) Both amazing starters!!! You have to believe me and the other people that have descoverwd this treasure in PG by accident. My wife had the mushroom Ravioli. The favor was amazing. I had the rack of lamb. The sauce was awesome. Lamb cooked to perfección. The scallops were amazing. I am going to run out of adjectives here. You just have to go. The customer service was awesome. Our water knows what he is doing and knows the menú. We felt at home here. While I am writing this the waiter came over and said something so funny "I overheard him tell the other water that it was the best laughed he has gotten for rhat joke." We HIGHLY recommend this wonderful restaurant.

We are here on a Sunday night in April with some trepidation since we were the only customers. The food is classic French with great flavors and fresh food. I had the braised short rib and my wife had the mushroom ravioli. Flavors and service were on point. The only negative is that this is classic French style with rich heavy sauces. We would have skipped the appetizers had we known in advance. So go there hungry.

WOW, Max cooked the greatest culinary experience on our trip for 4 weeks in Canada and the USA. They right away served a cold glass of water and some delicious homemade bread with butter. That was first time on our trip and extraordinarily was the bread the best we experienced so far. Max had 3 specials of the day: Mushroom soup, Alaska halibut and Monterey bay sandarbs. It was in many ways simple plain dishes, but remarkable well prepared and tasted absolutely delicious. Indeed very good value

Max's Grill is a real gem. The owner is welcoming and lovely. The food, beautifully prepared and presented, and isn't needlessly fussy. The flavors are true. If i lived in PG, Max's would be on my sort list most frequented local restaurants.

As a local, this is my new favorite restaurant: gourmet food, FRESH vegetables, tasty entrees, and.sensible portions. There are no cocktails but a good assortment of wines and beers. The restaurant is quiet so you can actually hear what your dinner companions are saying as opposed to the noisy restaurants where one has to practically shout to be heard. Get a reservation on their website and enjoy a great dining experience!

La Cote Bleue was grea! A little rough around the edges I think it's a new restaurant and just getting their feet under them. Fish and chips were fantastic, the fish was well breaded tasted good and the tartar was great! The chips could have used a bit of salt. Wine selection was good and my Wife's seafood pasta was fantastic. The creme brulee was delicious and well portioned and the pot de creme was good! (But maybe should be in a different style of glass) Would go again!

Claude Teisen-Simony

WOW, Max cooked the greatest culinary experience on our trip for 4 weeks in Canada and the USA. They right away served a cold glass of water and some delicious homemade bread with butter. That was first time on our trip and extraordinarily was the bread the best we experienced so far. Max had 3 specials of the day: Mushroom soup, Alaska halibut and Monterey bay sandarbs. It was in many ways simple plain dishes, but remarkable well prepared and tasted absolutely delicious. Indeed very good value

Jim Williams

Max's Grill is a real gem. The owner is welcoming and lovely. The food, beautifully prepared and presented, and isn't needlessly fussy. The flavors are true. If i lived in PG, Max's would be on my sort list most frequented local restaurants.

Bill Roe

Max’s Grill always has very fresh food, great service and a relaxed atmosphere. The pricing is the best on the peninsula. Many places charge way too much for the quality they produce. Max’s is a wonderful neighborhood place with a highly trained chef. I’m fortunate to live near by!

Daniel Anderson

As a local, this is my new favorite restaurant: gourmet food, FRESH vegetables, tasty entrees, and.sensible portions. There are no cocktails but a good assortment of wines and beers. The restaurant is quiet so you can actually hear what your dinner companions are saying as opposed to the noisy restaurants where one has to practically shout to be heard. Get a reservation on their website and enjoy a great dining experience!

Michael Jordan

Crab cakes, creamy soup (I forgot the name) Both amazing starters!!! You have to believe me and the other people that have descoverwd this treasure in PG by accident. My wife had the mushroom Ravioli. The favor was amazing. I had the rack of lamb. The sauce was awesome. Lamb cooked to perfección. The scallops were amazing. I am going to run out of adjectives here. You just have to go. The customer service was awesome. Our water knows what he is doing and knows the menú. We felt at home here. While I am writing this the waiter came over and said something so funny "I overheard him tell the other water that it was the best laughed he has gotten for rhat joke." We HIGHLY recommend this wonderful restaurant.

Fuzzy Rodriguez

Another amazing upscale eatery in Pacific Grove!! I ordered the Sand fans..as I've never had this before..lightly and tastefully breaded, tender and flaky...oh! had the Caeser salad, fresh and crispy..an excellent dinner as was.my waiter Matthew, friendly and professional..do go if ur in Pacific Grove!!!

Bruce Blumberg

We are here on a Sunday night in April with some trepidation since we were the only customers. The food is classic French with great flavors and fresh food. I had the braised short rib and my wife had the mushroom ravioli. Flavors and service were on point. The only negative is that this is classic French style with rich heavy sauces. We would have skipped the appetizers had we known in advance. So go there hungry.

The food and service is fantastic. The decor is slightly dated. The wild mushroom soup is out of this world. Prices are reasonable for the area. Typical specials include local seafood. Portions are generous. While there is no dedicated parking there is typically plenty of on-street available.

Lovely intimate restaurant with pleasant service. All of our meals were delicious and worth the wait. So much flavor and lovely presentation. Family restaurant with welcoming smiles. Will definitely be back!! Worth the price and lovely memory made. A gem!!😋

The food was AMAZING! We had calamari steak (which I didn't know was a thing) with capers and potatoes, butternut squash ravioli, and tuna rolls, and my gosh if it wasn't all perfect! The kids tried and liked everything, too!!!

We were looking for something to eat in Pacific Grove with everything in town ( it was a friday night) seemed loaded with people, but Max's grill was less busy than anything we strolled past. We chocked it up to their being located on a side street and it was to our luck of the night as we soon came to realize with our meal choices and service. The wait staff was very friendly, attentive and service was quick. We received fresh bread with dipping oil immediately upon being seated so being the bread lover that I am and a hungry gal I was happy to partake. I ordered the 'Fish of the Day' Salmon with pesto sauce, seasonal veggies and potatoes and my husband the other 'Fish of the Day' special Swordfish that I quickly swapped plates that became my dinner for the night. LOL The Swordfish was cooked to perfection with an absolute delicate matching sauce that melted in my mouth. This dish as the other also came with seasonal veggies and potatoes that were just the right amount and seasoned enough to let the true flavors shine through. My husband and I shared the Garden salad that was perfectly balanced with a house made dressing, drizzled over the freshest greens. I will say this was a wonderful dinner start to finish with my bubbly Prosecco to compliment my dinner wonderfully. Max's Grill is a cozy restaurant that made for a lovely evening with delicious food on our October getaway. Thank you again to the staff and Max's Grill - Enjoy!

Blair Bush

The food was AMAZING! We had calamari steak (which I didn't know was a thing) with capers and potatoes, butternut squash ravioli, and tuna rolls, and my gosh if it wasn't all perfect! The kids tried and liked everything, too!!!

LK Bashor

We were looking for something to eat in Pacific Grove with everything in town ( it was a friday night) seemed loaded with people, but Max's grill was less busy than anything we strolled past. We chocked it up to their being located on a side street and it was to our luck of the night as we soon came to realize with our meal choices and service. The wait staff was very friendly, attentive and service was quick. We received fresh bread with dipping oil immediately upon being seated so being the bread lover that I am and a hungry gal I was happy to partake. I ordered the 'Fish of the Day' Salmon with pesto sauce, seasonal veggies and potatoes and my husband the other 'Fish of the Day' special Swordfish that I quickly swapped plates that became my dinner for the night. LOL The Swordfish was cooked to perfection with an absolute delicate matching sauce that melted in my mouth. This dish as the other also came with seasonal veggies and potatoes that were just the right amount and seasoned enough to let the true flavors shine through. My husband and I shared the Garden salad that was perfectly balanced with a house made dressing, drizzled over the freshest greens. I will say this was a wonderful dinner start to finish with my bubbly Prosecco to compliment my dinner wonderfully. Max's Grill is a cozy restaurant that made for a lovely evening with delicious food on our October getaway. Thank you again to the staff and Max's Grill - Enjoy!

My husband and I ate in Max’s Grill in Pacific Grove. We ordered some fish, Caesar’ salad, and soup. The salad didn’t look fresh but I ate it. After we ate I could feel something that’s not right in my system. That night I had stomach issues and I felt like I was gonna vomit. I felt bad I got sick. I will never go back there anymore. It’s a nightmare!

Been here before and remembered it was good so made reservations. Also still had a strong rating. Service was absolutely horrible. Took forever and food was only so so. Wine selection was small and not diverse. We literally heard same song 4 times. It was the opening song for an Austin Powers movie. Did not fit mood for nice dinner out. We wont be going back.