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

02/02/2006 Posted by loves2eatyummyfood

I have been to Max's on more than one occasion and will continue to go back as often as possible. I will admit that it is loud, but that's part of the fun! The oysters are just fabulous and if you haven't had the sushi style tuna, you have not lived! The waitstaff is attentive and knowledgeable. (Plus they don't ask how your doing right after you put a bite of food into your mouth!) Certainly the place to be if your looking for a good time. If you want a boring dinner at a restaurant where there are no people, go to...well, I don't know, those are the places I stay away from.

Pros: Food, Service, Atmosphere

Cons: n/a

01/15/2006 Posted by dadoc

Plain, bad food! Will never go back. Spent a lot of money, but went home with a badly upset stomach.

11/03/2005 Posted by marieslots

Just have a few words for this place- If you are not a snob do not enter- If your not pretentious you probably will not enjoy it- If you have no idea what really good food is you will love it- Make sure you are ready to spend a lot of money on little food, awful atmosphere, and a terribly "know-it-all" minded staff. As for the atmosphere - utilitarian and posses a feel as if starch was sprayed in the air, not a great place for a romantic conversation your going to have to scream to your date to be heard. A little advise to those that run the place - Create better acoustics, come down from your ladder, and start living in reality! This restaurant is located in the center of West Hartford and is that nice, yes, but you need to realize youre not in the village!!!!!

Pros: none

Cons: management's attitude, food, atmosphere

10/26/2005 Posted by sydestepper

I have no idea why Max's Oyster Bar would be well thought of, by anyone who knows how to cook mac'n'cheese and shake a good cocktail in their own home. The food is less than notable, and the only thing great about the drinks is a 25% retail markup compared to any other restaurant in the area. It does not take a critic to know the difference between decent and cheap commercially frozen cheesecake. If Max's is going to middle man entrees and desserts while charging consumers upper mid range prices, shouldn't they at least care about the quality of what they are peddling. If your date is cheap and drunk, she will be impressed by the bill, and numb to the prepared food isle of the grocery store taste. The crowd is wannabe cool dudes, and girls that like them because they drive a luxury line of japanese automobile.

11/25/2003 Posted by joygirl

While the ambience, food, and drinks were all good and the prices were ok for what you got, what really makes us keep going back is the service. Every time we have gone we have had a different, wonderful server. Someone who we didn't have to look for when we needed something, yet, we didn't feel like they were hovering. Hats off to the staff!

Pros: Great Service

08/26/2003 Posted by gsarafian

Granted that I'm a recent transplant from NYC, but I really don't see what the fuss about this place is all about. I ate there once and 2 of us had seafood dishes priced in the low/mid $20s. Was good, but nothing great. Ambiance is ave (just dark), and extremely loud. Wine list is good. For this price range, take a drive to Boston or NY for the real deal, or go someplace in Hartford that has some character. gs

Pros: people watching, wine list

Cons: price, noise

12/25/2002 Posted by njh

Casual elegance, wonderful food, excellent service, good wine list. Small, comfortable, intimate.

Pros: ambience, great food, casual

11/12/2002 Posted by sktuckey

The food's good, but certainly not worthy of the pomp and circumstance. I will say though, the service is generally very good.

Pros: Raw bar, Service, Happy Hour

Cons: Pretense, Over priced