Max's Oyster Bar
West Hartford, CT 06107-2102
Phone: (860) 236-6299
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
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