Cafe Maxx

I went here for a birthday dinner with my girlfriends. The food was delicious and I can see why locals enjoy it. However, the atmosphere feels a bit old-school and could use some updates. The service was also confusing — the servers seemed unsure at times, passing responsibilities back and forth, which made the experience less smooth. Overall, the food is great, but the place itself is not really my vibe.

Was a little nervous because of the mixed reviews, but this first visit was excellent! Great service, delicious food, nice vibe overall. Carpaccio was great, nice variety of flavor with good veggie accent. Scallop appetizer was perfectly prepared. The onion crusted yellowtail was also excellent, beautiful texture and taste. My dining partner had some allergies that the server and chef were super accommodating on. Definitely looking forward to visiting again!

We had the crab cake appetizer. Then the 22 oz cowboy sirloin and scallops shrimp w mushroom risotto. The corn spinach with the steak was incredibly delicious. The steak was well cooked and very flavorful. The scallops and large shrimp and risotto was also tasty. Great meal although quite pricey.

It was my first time at Cafe Maxx and a very nice experience! We sat at the bar and our server (wish I had gotten her name) was friendly and professional. We started with the Tuna Sashimi Pizza. I wasn’t sure what to expect from a Tuna Sashimi pizza but, let me assure you, it is absolutely amazing. The tuna sashimi was served on a thin, crispy crust. It was drizzled with wasabi sauce and sprinkled with caviar. It was a perfect portion for one person as a full meal or a great appetizer for sharing as well. The flavors and textures of this appetizer are perfect together. A MUST try! We also shared the Duck & Smoked Gouda Ravioli which comes as 2 or 4 raviolis. This dish came out a little cold so we asked for it to be warmed. The bar tender was professional in handling this. Taking our dishes and bringing them back hot. Also a very good dish. I liked how the sun-dried tomatoes were a little crispy. This is a richly flavorful dish with the duck and the Gouda. The bar area was a little warm. Maybe that was because we were sitting by the door. Next time I will request a table or sit closer to the kitchen but I do look forward to having the Tuna Sashimi Pizza again soon!

The food was excellent! The slaw that accompanies the jumbo shrimp is sublime! Goat cheese and mixed berry salad is bright and fresh. $70 Peppercorn crusted filet was cooked perfectly. Dessert was decadent. Upon arrival, the host didn’t appear for 10 minutes and appeared to be on his phone a lot. Aside from that, it was a pleasant dining experience.

Made a reservation for a 50th birthday for my husband on a Sunday night. They were not busy at all, maybe 5 tables filled in the whole restaurant. Took over 20 minutes for our server to come get a drink order. We rarely saw her and had to flag people down to fill our waters, they stayed empty most of our meal. The food was decent, nothing amazing. The Caesar salad was recommended and it was warm, barely dressed and all croutons. Our bill was $190 for 2 people without drinking alcohol and before tip. They did nothing for my husband’s 50th at all, not even a mention and it was noted on the reservation, definitely not the service you should get for paying this premium. To top it all off, I went to the ladies room and the first stall I went into had feces in a dirty toilet and not flushed, the second stall was dirty and not flushed as well, they must not keep up with the bathrooms, that is not acceptable for me in a high end establishment. I did inform the hostess of our unhappiness when we left. Would not recommend. Very disappointed.

Thrilled with our experience here. We made reservations and then read a few not so positive reviews on the way. This made me slightly nervous, that we had made the wrong call. Lets just say they must not know good food! If you love delicious, unique, dishes, with just the right blend of ingredients, bursting with flavor, cooked to perfection, this is the right place for you! If you are on a budget, it is not. Recommend the yellowfish tuna sashimi. Highly recommend the strawberry-guava glazed grilled duck breasts and Ancho chimichurri skirt steak.

Will certainly be going back here! A true gem of a restaurant- yellowtail was cooked to perfection, the sushi pizza was extraordinary & the duck raviolis were so good the world seemed to stop during my first bite! Big yum!

The dim lighting and decor inside is nice and upscale. The hostess had a big smile and gave a warm welcome. Fair warning it is payto park outside so make sure you download the app. The server was excellent. She was so nice and had a lot of great suggestions. She even crumbed the table, which speaks to the high class service. I ordered the blackberry smash cocktail and they did have a kick to it. Overall, I enjoyed it. Things started to go left when she asked if we wanted bread for the table. What came out was the consistency of a cracker mixed with mulch from a playground. It was hard as a rock and had no flavor. I didn't care for the focaccia they brought after either. At this point, I had a little hope for the meal lol but when the food came out, the presentation was top-notch. I ordered the duck breast and my partner ordered the filet mignon. Both were cooked to perfection and the flavors were out of this world. I'm not a big risotto person but the guava seeds in it gave it a very nice flavor. I would come back again and try other items on the menu because it looked very interesting. The scallop appetizer was a little bit salty, but the watermelon salad was excellent.

We came in with no reservations and were seated right away. Five stars for Jan! She is an efficient server that was friendly and attentive. The Tuna Pizza was excellent! The scallops with the mushroom truffle risotto was good. However I didn't taste the truffle, and needed to add salt. The braised beef was tender, however needed more flavor. Possibly needs to cook longer for the flavors to meld together. We have a portion for take home, we suspect tomorrow the flavor will be better. For dessert the butterscotch bread pudding with ice cream and whip cream was excellent. The winner though for the evening was the tuna pizza for sure. We look forward to coming back and trying something else on the menu. There's something for everyone. Valet is out front, as well as metered parking that you use a credit card for. Restrooms were clean which was great to see. We will be back soon! Enjoy!

Everything was soooo delicious! Such an incredible and underrated restaurant - it doesn't have the glamorous ambience of Brickell/Miami Beach, but an iconic establishment since 1984. Chef Oliver Saucy is a culinary expert - the flavors were absolutely incredible and one of the tops restaurants I've eaten at in South Florida! Came here for a work event - we enjoyed the private room in the back. The octopus appetizer was UNREAL. Thinly slice octopus with shallots, capers, olives, arugula and perfectly crunchy crostini. I could eat this every single week. It's 5 star quality and better than typical grilled octopus dishes. The tuna salad pizza was topped with wasabi cream cheese, caviar, spicy mayo and placed on a paper thin and crispy cracker. Such a flavor bomb and perfect texture! They also have an assortment of excellent salads. For main course, I had the grilled chicken and penne pasta with roasted butternut squash, leeks, cippolini onion, pumpkin seed, and feta. It tasted like autumn! Our group also enjoyed the fish, lamb chops, steak, and shrimp scampi dishes. For dessert, the flourless chocolate cake was a hit - super decadent and rich cocoa flavor! Cannot wait to be back!

A familiar spot, I've been a sporadic customer for decades, and Café Maxx never disappoints The room is cozy and animated, a pleasant place to be. Our waiter was outstanding, cheerful and efficient ....and I think this was the the best meal that I have ever eaten there. The scallops with my risotto were large, numerous, and most of all, delicious. The rice was beautifully seasoned in a lovely creamy sauce with mushrooms. At first, the dessert menu seemed a bit too familiar, but our simple bread pudding was absolutely scrumptious, the best I have ever eaten I will not wait so long to go back

41 years open same location stated going when they. Opened. The kind of food you sit and smile as you eat. I moved away about five years ago we went past it and made reservations. As good as the day it opened then last week my daughter asked how was it so we went Saturday night. Full not an open table I had. Duck ravioli appetizer wow. We also had caviar pie a must since they opened still serve it dinner. A triple peppercorn filet. Cooked beyond perfection a fried potato cake various vegetables salmon was outstanding. Fabulous wine list with knowledgeable staff I can't say enough no restaurant is open 41 years. And is as good as day 1. The owners still cook they are back there doing still proves. Skill and passion everlasting Expensive a must try Pompano Beach Atlantic ave

Nice ambiance seating space for groups or couples. Just the right amount of light and elbow room for othe guest. This is a local resturaunt that makes fresh pasta. The dishes are a bit over priced but nice to enjoy with a date.

Nice surprise once you enter the restaurant as it is located in a strip mall and could easily pass for a casual eatery. However, once inside the atmosphere was more than I could imagine. Casual dining with low lighting that could pull off romantic dinner. We came here on a Monday evening so we did not have to wait for a table. When my dinner arrived it looked blanched And unseasoned....However the chicken and lobster tasted pretty good and it was filling. Service was standard, kept the glasses filled with water and came by enough not to be a bother.

After living in Ft . Lauderdale for like 40 years, I'd never been to this well regarded restaurant., before. That was a mistake.... It is marvelous!! Great , comfortable decor, beautiful Bar, with friendly service! Our Sashimi Pizza was so clever, and tasty! The Caesar salad was great, and my Filet was fantastic! Very creative, being served over a bed of Scalloped Potatoes, with a great sauce.... They have an extensive Desert list, and the Crème Brûlée was so creative, and one of the best I've ever had !! Go and enjoy!!

Tried out Sunday Brunch at Cafe Maxx, it was delicious!! The service was great, the food was even better. Cute family ambiance in here, not super slammed but still packed. Check out photos of the Carbonara with Sunny Side up Egg and the Countrystyle Eggs Benedict. Couldn't decide which was our favorite! And don't sleep on the cappuccino, they sprinkle cinnamon on top and give you a. Cute sugar stick. YUM 10/10

One of the best restaurants I've eaten in in a long time. Virtually everything we had was soot on. Tuna pizza, firecracker shrimp, caviar pie were all excellent. As were the main courses, Farrow Island, salmon, yellowtail snapper, filet, etc. only Chisolm would be the fillet was a little undercooked. Waiter was great as well.

Wow! Amazing food and a perfect birthday for my dad! Jessica is a gem and saved the night.

This restaurant is a really little nice cozy restaurant, it kind of felt like we were sitting in someone's living room! Super homey. We started off with the tuna sashimi pizza, buffalo cauliflower and caviar pie. The pizza and the cauliflower were WINNERS. The tuna was sooooo fresh, it was like butttaaa! The cauliflower was super flavorful and delish. The caviar pie was a little confusing and disappointing, it was like eggs?? With fish eggs?? And cream?? And served with whole wheat toast, just very confusing. also just want to note it was fish eggs (roe) not caviar. The main meal we got was a trio of yellow fin tuna and salmon sashimi with wasabi rice truffles. The rice truffles were OUT OF THIS WORLD, they did not taste like wasabi, they were similar to risotto balls and so creamy and delish, a must order! The fish was super fresh! The place was cozy, the service was awesome, and the food was great! We will def be coming back :)

Great place for a date night or to celebrate an occasion! The the lighting is dim and gives a romantic vibe. The food is spectacular and the menu changes daily. The service is attentive and you do not feel rushed during your experience there. I HIGHLY recommend the tuna appetizer pizza, the flavors are amazing. Also the carrot cake was to die for!

This place is great! I think it remains one of pompanos hidden gems and it never disappoints. It's located in a corner of the plaza where there is plenty of parking. As soon as you walk in there is a bar with some limited seating and then you are taken to the main dining room. The tables are a little close to each other but not uncomfortably close. They don't have any daily specials as their menu changes every day. They have a great split of seafood steak and pasta dishes. They also have a "lighter" menu and you can make substitutions. I had the lighter version of the filet but paired it with the flavorful au gratin potatoes. They also have a huge selection of wines, we didn't order dessert but the table next to us did and they looked amazing!

Everything was fantastic! Food ,presentation, service! The food combinations are so unusual! Everything is fresh!

Excellent service! We came for an early dinner and our server was helpful with the menu and wine list. Get the tuna pizza, it's worth the hype!

Food was good. Service was marginal at best. We had to continual ask for things and after multiple asking finally got requested items. The bus boy was rude. I have never experienced that level of rudeness.

This is a lovely place to say the least. The waitress and staff were all very kind. The restaurant is dim but enough lighting to make your way through. We didn't have a reservation but were accommodated immediately. The blueberry mojito was awesome, not too sweet and the bartender was generous. The Sundried Cherry & Goat Cheese Phyllo Triangles were tasty and the crab cakes were everything I expect and then some. I would come back for sure.

We went to Café Max for the dine out Ft Lauderdale menu last night. It's the first time I've been in perhaps a year, though I've been many times over the past 35 years. Cafe Max never disappoints. The food was delicious, especially the shrimp dishes, my friend ordered. The firecracker shrimp on Asian noodle slaw is a great first course and the jumbo shrimp scampi was delicious. I had cashew and macadamia crusted snapper, which was very delicate and nice, the third friend had the fillet which she said was perfectly prepared. Where some restaurants in Fort Lauderdale pretend to participate in dine out, but give you three choices that seem to be the stingiest possibilities on their menu, Cafe gives you over 10 choices each for the first course and second course and five to choose from for dessert. Service was good and the whole thing was a great value. If you've never tried this restaurant, I suggest you go between now and the end of September and take advantage of this offering as a way to sample it.

It's absolutely the best restaurant in Pompano Beach. I am also a culinary Institute graduate and when I want the best food wine and service. This is where I go.Im going there for Christmas and I can't wait. Happy Holidays.

Another fantastic evening at THE MAX. Ron the bar manager puts on a fantastic show. Always perfect drinks food and hospitality This is why Cafe Max is # 1 and will stay number 1 regardless of prices Carry on the great work

Terrible food. No place to park unless FORCED to valet and alone will cost you $7 plus tip. Rude barter. Why even go there ?!?!

Must eat here every thing was truly delicious and fresh don't hesitate to come here and enjoy a delicious brunch definitely coming for dinner

Our first time here after a recommendation. Hard to park! No place in the front, $20 for valet in the front, $7 for valet to park you out back. Too long of a walk in the rain, the dark, or if you are older because around the block out back is the only place to park. Dark and old looking inside. We placed our order and the waitress, Jane, who stated they only serve bread to the table if it is requested. So we requested it. We should have known to not order food after this bowl of stale and disgusting "bread" products were brought to us. Well, we ordered 4 different meals, and 3 of the 4 were not worth the cost. One meal was penne pasta with chicken. It came with 5 small cut up bite size pieces of chicken in the pasta, and each piece was dry, overcooked. Normally an entire chicken breast would be cut up with the pasta. The pasta would have tasted ok, but they put a salad on top of it with some type of balsamic vinaigrette. It did not go at all with the crème sauce on the penne. It was disgusting, and the salad dressing pooled at the bottom of the bowl, causing the penne to drown! They charged $34 for this bowl of nonsense. Two of our meals were shrimp and scallops which consisted of 2 shrimp and 2 scallops...for $60! Way overpriced for this meal. It's not even an upscale restaurant, so they have no reason to charge such a price. The scallops on both plates were undercooked and had to be brought back for further cooking. Now on to the bathrooms!!! OMG! The bathrooms are right next to the kitchen! When you are walking into, or out of the bathrooms, the food prepared for people is lying out, inches from you as you walk by. So unsanitary! And Jane, when we told her the scallops were undercooked, gave us two small plates, told us to put the scallop pieces on them and she will take them to the kitchen to be cooked further. We have never seen this done before. This place was a huge let down. The hostess Joanna, was super nice though! :)

Cafe Max is a very underrated restaurant with spectacular dishes and phenomenal service. Nothing else needs to be said. GO.

We haven't been there in a while so we decided to try it. We have been looking for a good Sunday brunch restaurant. This is the second week in a row we've been there the food was so fresh and delicious . Everything was homemade. Our server Deb was great! I highly recommend this restaurant.!

It's a yes from me! So tasty and unique brunch options for after church on a Sunday. Definitely will be back to try more off of the menu.

Food was really amazing! Service was great.. Prices were as expected but not outrageous. Can't wait to try their brunch!

After hearing so many great things about Cafe Maxx, I decided I needed to take a drive north to check it out. Well I am here to say that Cafe Maxx delivered on the goods the night we were there- great food, friendly service and finely poured drinks. We asked for a table inside as the patio is really a few tables in front of the restaurant overlooking the parking lot. The restaurant is small and even though we were there early, it was packed with plenty of regulars as the owner and wait staff welcomed many by name. We were shown to a 4 top not far from the door and began to look at the menu. Our server, Ricardo, was over in a flash, taking our drink orders, offering suggestions and making sure we had everything we needed. It's always great to have a server who knows his stuff and seems to like what he does. We started with a range of appetizers from the crab cake, to the potstickers and tuna sashimi "pizza" . They were all outstanding- from the spiciness of the potstickers to the unusual flavor combinations in the pizza. The appetizers change regularly so know before you go that you may not see these on the menu when you go. For our entrees we had the filet of beef, half chicken and scallops. They all came beautifully plated and tasted even better. And there was so much food that dessert was out of the question but if I had had room- they have a large dessert menu (I just had to look even if I couldn't eat it) including pecan pie, and an apple tart that were both calling my name! So be smarter than me and visit Cafe Maxx as soon as you hear about it and not wait like I did. The food and service will impress.

I have been coming to Cafe Maxx for years and Chef Saucy never fails to impress. The menu is well thought for any foodie looking to enjoy local fish with international execution. The bar is probably my favorite small bar to enjoy a pre dinner drink, romantic onyx counters, great service wine selection and cocktails. Must tried here are any of the specials, crusted mahi, caviar pie, any fresh catch. Honestly you can't go wrong here

Just left the café and I have to say the food was decent but when you're charging $70 for a steak and you want peppercorn sauce and they tell you, the chef won't do it. I think that's really cheap and stingy. Then when we finish the meal it was an anniversary and birthday celebration. They didn't offer us anything!! They weren't gracious or generous at all after spending over $500 for that table. I will never come back because they don't do anything to get you back. Most restaurants would be generous to help you celebrate a special occasion.

While I have always enjoyed cafe Maxx, this time while my open table reservation was for 6 people and requested a corner table, I arrived and they didn't have the table I requested and only had the reservation for 2. They made space in the middle of restaurant but the hostess never said she was sorry. He attitude left a bad taste in my mouth. (Her only answer was "The food will taste the same") The dinner was as always good, I had the tuna pizza which has always been great! The Ceasar salad was also good but the pasta was delivered "cold". Not the best night at Cafe Maxx.

I thought it was good but not great. We were there for brunch. I'm not an egg eater so trying to find something that would work was a little different. Service was good

Absolutely wonderful experience. Drinks, appetizer, dinner - all well above expectations. Staff were attentive and made excellent suggestions. The roasted Brussels sprouts and tuna pizza were standouts as appetizers. The caramelized onion red snapper is to die for.

Great service. Fun atmosphere. Menu is always changing. Chef Oliver is an artist! The sashimi pizza is a requirement!!

I had a beautiful fillet believe it or not I like my meat medium well it came out medium was not happy. I just wanted a fillet. I didn't want the sauce peppercorns I could deal with it, but would definitely not a

Actually giving it 3.5 stars. Service is some of the best around. Ambulance is very nice. Very busy restaurant. Food is fresh and well prepared though unremarkable. It's a solid Good food. Not going out of my way to eat here but won't say no to friends wanting to meet there either. Bartenders give you a very good whisky pour so that's nice right there.

Food was very good, that's why I would give it 5 stars. However price comes with location so have it a 4. You have to love the atmosphere, of The "Who's who" of Fort Lauderdale. $50 - $80 for steak .. when you know how to cook then it's hard to pay. If you don't know how to cook steak ...it's wonderful meal by all means enjoy spending $$$$ but will pay and enjoy. I still enjoyed.

First time tried this place to tell the truth many ppl recommended it to me. So i decide it to try it and went with my best friend.Hostess was beautiful and sweet she acommodate us .As soon as we sat down I had to wash my hands and went to the bathroom on the way back i was crossing through the kitchen and i heard the spanish basser who barley speaked english with the frisbee in his hand yelling and saying to the servers that my friend is drunk and he smells. Went back than 3 servers changed on the table till the time i had to asked who is my server so i can order and she said that they all work together. We ate food was good brussle sprouts were awesome and meat was tasty. I believe the servers and the busser are there for a long time and they can disrespect their customers .We both work at hospitality business but ......It had to reflect on the tip .

Best restaurant in Soth Florida hands down! Every single time we go out we try to go somewhere else we always end up saying we should have gone to Cafe Max! We have had everything on that menu and we literally love it all! Ambiance and service is superb as well!

Café Maxx what can I say this place was unexpectedly a five star restaurant. I don't mean that in a bad way because they are actually just that. I mean because the name is Café Maxx so my friend and I went in thinking that it was just a café that serves little meals and toast. Boy were we wrong and gee are we happy we stumbled onto this great find all thanks to Dine Out Lauderdale. Ladies and gentlemen they have a bar area here for dressy casual seating but come on in and get a little fancy for an intimate dining experience. They have been open for over 30 years so this is a staple in the neighborhood . Yet they have managed to always refine their menu keeping it classic and contemporary. The food was delicious, you can not get a better deal if you're coming here or looking into the Dine Out Lauderdale list this is your place to stop. Come here, don't go anywhere else. Lol Ok besides that they have a regular menu which is inclusive and so has vegetarian and vegan options. Their menu changes everyday with the exception of a few items. That way everything is fresh and trust me it's fresh. The wine selection is extensive, the bread basket you receive upon arrival has a variety of focaccia, flat bread, crackers and wheat, but you have to let them know you want because there's a lot of bread. Let's just say we left here happy and the service definitely made it a memorable experience. This was a Lauderdale Dine Out win.

Food was excellent! Service was good-had to ask for water refill several times. For $350 I would especially better parking accommodations.

this restaurant has been around for lots of years. If you've never got the opportunity to try it, make sure you do. Everything is always delicious. We went because it was restaurant month and it was available to get to taste it without breaking the bank. It's a very expensive restaurant always crowded. But always leave satisfy with a well-made well served dinner many choices from meat fish chicken.

First off, for fine dining I didn't think it would be in a shopping plaza. I thought this place was going to be divine.. truly disappointed. We started off with the Brussel sprouts which were burnt and the eggplant milanese was tasteless without the caper sauce. I order the scallops and shrimp entree which was nothing special. The only entree that was good was the filet mignon.. Deserts were okay as well. And it took 45 minutes to receive our meals when the place was empty. Not worth the price tag whatsoever.

This little gem is delicious. I mean seriously delicious. The snapper was perfectly prepared, the salmon had amazing seasoning and was cooked to perfection as well. The filet mignon was tender and nice and juicy and salads were great! We finished our meals with the cookies and cream bread pudding which I felt was only OK and the apple tart with caramel and cinnamon gelato which was superb.

Took my wife out for her birthday and the experience couldn't have been better. The staff was attentive and helpful. The appetizers, entrees and deserts were delicious and we had left over appetizer and entree for tomorrow. A really special evening.

This week's duck breast with pumpkin risotto- no tricks, all treats in this dish. All dishes are amazing and love the rotating menu. The smoked ducked ravioli are to die for! Steaks are always cooked to perfection . The bartenders Valerie and Ron always take good care of you, too!

Not many of the restaurants I went to when I first moved to Florida still exist (Mark's Las Olas, Chef Allen's, Norman's), but 15 years later, Cafe Maxx is still chugging along. Though I'd only come here once before (in the days before yelp), I don't believe much has changed at all - for better or for worse. The place is a real throwback, and some of the dishes look like they've been unchanged possibly since even before my time; The "banana lime shrimp," on a skewer resting atop mashed potatoes, looks like something Sonny might've sat down to in an episode of "Miami Vice". Our table had a variety of dishes on our Sunday night visit. The appetizers were healthy in size, but the penne-based "Mac and cheese" was unremarkable; the aforementioned banana lime shrimp was well presented, but obscured the main ingredient; and the "Asian bbq meatballs" (again featuring mashed potatoes, which must be made in bulk each evening) failed to impress. Main courses: the "sweet onion crusted snapper" approached greatness, but the accompanying "gaufrette potatoes" were... wait for it... mashed! Again. The shrimp scampi featured some nice sized seafood, but the pasta and scampi preparation weren't distinctive. The "berry glazed roast duck" was more satisfying. Desserts included a decent flourless chocolate cake, a strange espresso panna cotta, and the winner: a carrot cake heavy with pineapple influences. Our meal was good, but not great, and while classics like bbq and fried chicken joints don't need to ever change, fine dining isn't immune from the ravages of time.

You walk in and the smell of the restaurant is amazing!! Makes you hungry if you aren't already!! I came here early in the week for the Tuscany Wine Tasting. 6 wines and 2 appetizers for $35 plus tax and gratuity. The wine tasting is held in the back and it was a tad on the tight side. The wine selection was terrific and so was the appetizers served with the tasting. This event featured wines from Tuscany. 1 white and 5 reds. They have these tasting events, dinners and cooking class monthly and even twice a month. I plan on coming back to another event and possibly catching Crave while it lasts!!