Max's Oyster Bar
West Hartford, CT 06107-2102
Phone: (860) 236-6299
- Price:
- $$$
- Best of Citysearch:
- After-Work Bar 2007, Romantic Bar 2007, See and Be Seen Bar 2007
- Hours:
- Mon-Sat 11:30am-2:30pm, Sun 11pm-3pm, 4pm-9pm, Mon-Wed 5pm-10pm, Thu-Sat 5pm-11pm
Editorial Review for Max's Oyster Bar – by Ben Williams
The Scene
Young professionals flock to this West Hartford hotspot to pop in for cocktails and Bluepoints or stay for a group blow-out. The dining area is surprisingly large, but without a reservation, expect to wait over an hour for a table or a seat at the bar on weekends. Red leather banquettes offset the clubby dark wood decor, while tables along the far side of the room are at stage-level, offering good people-watching. Double-team service just manages to keep up with the crowds.
The Food
Seafood isn't all that's on offer here, but it far outshines the steak, sushi et al that round out the menu. The oyster selection is worldwide and varies from day to day, as does the fresh fish catch; Oysters Rockefeller are particularly excellent. Inventive touches abound, from the papaya cucumber salsa and creamy polenta that accompany juicy blackened swordfish to the tomato broth that adds flavoring to diver scallops.
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User Reviews for Max's Oyster Bar
06/23/2007 Posted by roberthulet
This restaurant is a bustling, New York-style place with New York-style prices. That being said, there are some fine things to be found here. My advice would be to focus on the specials of the day. We've found menu items to be disappointing, or over-the-top mish-mashes of tastes and textures when more simplicity would do. The oysters are good; but for the sparkling freshness one expects of a restaurant which specializes in these crustaceans, it disappoints too frequently. One order which contained four oysters which were actually so bad as to have a pungent odor was taken back cheerfully and other, better specimens replaced. Service was very good but they were slow on the draw to re-fill cocktails on more than one occasion. We like to take first-time visitors to West Hartford here, because beside the service and array of culinary delights, it's a very, very beautiful restaurant. But we don't go at night any more because the bar becomes unusually loud and worse, the servers fawn over the bar patrons, striking up conversation with regulars, leaving us feeling left alone in the wilderness in the dining room. The same experience happens when one of the many celebrities who frequent the place shows up; everyone drops the tables belonging to hoi-polloi like us and surrounds the table. We were surprised they didn't offer to shine the shoes of a gentleman who showed up, with entourage, in a limousine. I'd suggest lunch here to be able to enjoy the experience and cuisine and not feel hopelessly un-cool. Drinks were generous and a good value. The wine list, while overpriced, is outstanding.
Pros: Gorgeous restaurant professionally conducted
Cons: Don't go unless you're wearing Armani Coutoure or Dolce & Gabbana
08/06/2006 Posted by jodella
Well, the ambiance is awesome. The place was loud and bussling. The decor was retro. Our server must have been having a bad night, but she still was polite and helpful. I would recommend reservations. The food was good, but not what everyone raved about. It was overpriced for the portions received.
Pros: atmosphere.
Cons: $$$, and if you dont like it loud.. dont go here
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