Max's Seafood Kinsale

We feel very lucky to have managed to get in to this little gem of a restaurant on our last night in Ireland. A short menu of freshly made dishes. Great! All options were imaginative, packed with flavour and beautifully presented. Portions were a perfect size - not too big. We cleared our plates at each course - no waste and we were replete. And to accompany the lovely food, we enjoyed a bottle of reasonably priced French vermentino, which we have taken details of and hope to find again. We finished with a small glass of the ‘sticky’ of our choice wi the our deserts. Staff were all charming. We loved this place. Get there if you can.

Underwhelming food, given price and vibe of the restaurant. Boiled veg and dry potatoes, with poor presentation and a confused menu (Asian/French/Irish?) complimented inexperienced young staff. Good wine selection and ambience. Much better options elsewhere.

This fine dining restaurant in Kinsale is a true gem, where the French chef’s skill shines through in both the presentation and the flavors. The dishes are a perfect balance of classic techniques with creative twists – like the slow-cooked pork belly paired with braised red cabbage and a tangy rhubarb compote. I started with a delightful goat cheese and beet appetizer, featuring a buckwheat shortcrust and red onion pickled in mead and honey. My husband opted for sautéed squid with linguini and mussels, which was cooked to perfection. For the mains, we enjoyed a fillet of hake, sautéed and served on a bed of leeks with zucchini, cherry tomatoes, and a pink peppercorn and parsley sauce. My husband’s pork belly was tender and flavorful, beautifully complemented by the cabbage and rhubarb compote. We ended the meal with a stunning crème brûlée, made with real vanilla beans and expertly caramelized. To top it off, the restaurant has an extensive wine list, offering excellent pairings to match the refined flavors of the menu. This restaurant is a must-visit in Kinsale for anyone who appreciates fine dining, creative flavors, and a great selection of wines.

We've been in Ireland for over a week eating at great places, but Max's is far and above the best dinning experience and food/wine we've had. It's a lovely family run restaurant, the daughter was our server, mom our sommelier/host and dad chef. A true gem! Thank you for a lovely evening!

Amazing experience. The monkfish was like two huge chunks of lobster meat. The staff went out of their way to accommodate my wife’s lactose intolerance.

Good food and decent service. Dinners come in two courses, a starter and a main with an optional desert. I started with the scallops and then got the sea bass while she got the baked brie and then the monk fish. They also had turf options like pork belly and lamb, while tempting we passed since seafood is in the restaurant name. All were good but not great. They had a good wine selection and the bottle we opted for was outstanding, a Spanish Albariño. We finished with sticky toffee pudding. There were a few service misses, like butter on the table but needing to ask for bread with the starter, but overall good service. The restaurant definitely worth a try if in town.

We had the pleasure of meeting the owner after a wonderful dinner. What a fabulous restaurant they run. The food is a class above the rest, as is the service. I thoroughly recommend this place

Lots of fresh local seafood. The sticky pudding was a highlight. The staff is very friendly.

Absolutely LOVED our dinner here! Our Airbnb was just across the street so extremely convenient. They said the didn't have an opening but to check back later and they could probably fit us in, so we went down to The Tap Room, had a pint and came back. My sister has been craving lobster but it's not on any menus. We were seated at a great window table, and they said there was an added starter which was a grilled half lobster. SOLD x 3. It's a fixed price with many choices. One had the sea bass, one the pork belly and one the lamb. All were unbelievably great with beautiful sides, and because it's Ireland, a bowl of salted roasted potatoes. We split a bottle of great wine and made the trip back to our B&B in about 30 seconds! Max's is near the harbor and city parking on Main Street. Best meal of our trip so far, and we've eaten out for 2 1/2 weeks.

We had the good fortune of dining here on our recent visit to Kinsale. Not only was the cuisine outstanding, but also the prefix dinner was an astounding bargain given the stellar quality of the food. It's no surprise that Max's has a Michelin rating. To anyone staying in Kinsale, we'd urge you to reserve a table at Max's.

We had the best time at Max's. Service was sublime, food was absolutely incredible, we all around just cannot recommend dinner here enough.

We decided to go to one of the most recommended places in town and showed up RIGHT when they opened their doors because we had heard of a dinner special. Our entrees actually ended up being not on the special list, so most of us opted for the Monkfish, lamb, or white fish in sme really yummy butter sauce. To kick things off, we ordered the Brie and soba noodles appetizer - both which were very tasty. Amazing service and good wine for a decent price.We ended our meal by sharing a chocolate torte and a berry shortcake with crispy biscuits - both were very delicious and the fresh berries were the star to me, as produce in Ireland has such a short growing season! If we lived in this area, this place would be where we'd go to celebrate all our special events!

OUTSTANDING service and food! We had a large group and an infant who they catered for, even offered a crib! Everything we tried from the appetizers to main dishes to dessert were delicious! The staff is extremely friendly and even stayed open late for us. Go here! You won't be disappointed.

I had such high hopes for Max's. Alas, it did not deliver. I have read reviews online (gasp... other places than Yelp!) and all sound positive. However, my experience was just not that amazing. First of all, I felt that the menu lacked a few basics and some organization. It was hard to find something lunch-appropriate and we were unsure of what came with what. The chef clearly had vision for what food he/she was in the mood to cook for the season and it reflected as much in the menu. I felt that the chef's current obsessions made the menu lopsided. For example, it was hard to find a dish that didn't contain shredded ham. I'm not a huge fan but I settled on something that I felt would go well. Unfortunately, I felt it failed and found myself eating around the ham element of the dish. I also took issue with the fact that after being seated in this tiny restaurant, it took a waitress 20 minutes to ask for our drink order. I actually had to flag someone down. We were seated in very plain sight and the wait staff literally had to pass by us each and every time they went to the kitchen or bar. I was quite insulted that I had to ask for attention.

While visiting Kinsale with my family, we stopped at Max's for a nice dinner. The restaurant is very small, although it was expanded in recent years. The menu changes frequently and is somewhat limited, which I appreciate. This is not your American chain restaurant with a mega menu or a greasy chipper. Focusing on a handful of entrees allows them to produce meals of the highest quality, and our dinners were no exception. I had the early bird menu and selected soba noodles with slow roasted duck, followed by Ray fillet with pink peppercorn and lemon butter sauce.l, which was absolutely fantastic. My wife had the butternut squash soup appetizer and monkfish for her entree, which was perfect. Our children ordered off of the children's menu and both devoured their selections (pan fried fish with pasta and chicken medallions). The setting was gorgeous and the staff were extremely friendly. We were very comfortable, not rushed, and enjoyed spending a quiet meal as a family after a long day. One thing that is different from a U.S. Restaurant is that the pressure to rotate a table is low. You can take your time, enjoy wine and coffee, and nobody will hurry you on. Also, there is no army of waiters and while you will be checked on occasionally, you may need to seek attention. This is typical in Ireland, and suited us just fine, but it will be important to know for "yanks" visiting Ireland.

We had a delicious meal at Max's our first night in Kinsale. As stated by others, the early bird menu is a good idea and I started with a delicious bowl of seafood chowder. The base was cream with a little tomato. Only slight disappointment was the seafood content seemed to be exclusively fish but maybe my bowl missed other goodies. The brown soda bread accompaniment still made this a great appetizer. Hubby had some grilled mussels which he raved about. I tried one and it tasted great but high on garlic so I had to be careful with a slight allergy. We both settled on the ling fish of the day which was delicious. It was lightly grilled/breaded and served with some very fresh vegetables. Really lovely dish and we both enjoyed our first experience with ling. We were really full by now but having seen rave reviews about the Creme brûlée we had to try it and were not disappointed. It was really really good. I pride myself on making a good brûlée but this is going to help me tweak my recipe a bit to take it to another level!!

My mom and I ate at Max's on my birthday and we couldn't have been more pleased. This was, by far, the best meal we had in Ireland!! We had the scallop appetizer, which was perfectly done. Mom had the fish of the day and she said it was the best fish she had ever tasted in a restaurant. I had lamb, which was amazing!!! For dessert, I had the chocolate cake, which was not sweet at all and was perfect. Mom had the rhubarb tart and adored it. The staff was super nice and extremely attentive. I would go back to Kinsale just to have dinner at Max's again. Wonderful experience.

Max's is another addition to my Best of Ireland list. We knew the night was going to be great with the first bite of some wonderful brown bread served with a fresh, salty, and garlicky olive tapenade. I started with an oyster medley - prepared three different ways. The oysters themselves were fresh and delicious, while the cooked recipes were original and tasty. My monkfish was served with a smoky, roasted paprika sauce. It gave the hearty fish a nice covering flavor. The spices were used cautiously and avoided overwhelming the fish's texture. My wife had a generous portion of pork belly. I got to enjoy a few bites of the incredibly tender meat, also in a delicate sauce. Even after all that, I could not resist dessert. Spiced peaches and dried apricots served with mascarpone cheese, cream and crumbly almond biscotti. The variety of textures in the fruit made added a depth to a dish that hardly needed the help. Our evening was punctuated by great service - friendly and attentive despite the place being totally full all evening. The facade is a pub, but inside the restaurant has an updated look with accents of its former self. They offer an Early Bird to 19:30, which is a good deal.

Eight of us showed for dinner and the owner had no problem accommodating us together. Food was first class. Owner spent considerable time chatting with us... lots of good food and laughs. Menu was not extensive but plenty to choose from for everyone in our party. Highly recommended!

This was a great dinner. Again, we had our B&B make a reservation for us to hit the early-bird menu (this is key if you're looking for a great value). We were seated promptly, and ordered a delicious crisp white wine (good price). I had the mussels baked with garlic and herbs (delicious) to start. Abby had soba noodles with duck to start, and she loved it. We both had the hake with an herb parmesan bread-crumb crust (which was okay, but not inspirational), and we finished with a molten lava chocolate tort with ice cream that was to die for. Abby says it was tied for the best desert we had the whole trip. We enjoyed this place a lot, and had a great meal at a reasonable price. It was very romantic.

We loved the staff and the restaurant. We dined tonite on the recommendation of our host. I ordered the scallops starter and a local white fish which was beautifully presented and delicious. My wife ordered monkfish which was excellent as well.our other couple both ordered fish. All the foods were prepared and presented beautifully. The atmosphere was comfortable and warm. The staff were present and answered all of our questions which lead to a wonderful dining experience.

Really welcoming and accommodating restaurant for kids. Food is excellent and good value. Had the seafood chowder, scallops, lobster, hake and rack of lamb between two of us and then the sticky toffee pudding. All excellent would love to come back

Friendly staff. Goat cheese tart and mussels appetizers are really good. They have a great early bird special (before 7pm) that includes a discounted prix fixe menu. Great value. High quality food.

My friends and I were visiting Kinsale on vacation (or holiday if you please) and we had the good fortune to stumble upon Max's while exploring the city. The atmosphere is very nice; very clean and welcoming. The menu options, along with the daily specials are fantastic. I opted for the three course dinner special on the menu. The tomato and basil soup was very welcomed after the cool, windy day we spent walking around the city. The second course, their venison plate (which was a special of the day if I'm not mistaken) was superb. Many places I've been to seem to over season their game birds and meats, Max's was right on the money; perfectly seasoned, and incredibly tender. The creme brulee with a small glass of port rounded out the meal. I could not have been more satisfied. Kudos to the staff on a fabulous establishment.

Wandered in while looking for an Early Bird special for a dinner in Kinsale... Amazing starters and entrees! The wine selection is great too. Service was great, nothing to report here. The restaurant's two rooms are really pretty and cozy (but not cramped), with beautiful wooden tables and chairs

My family and I went to Max's on a recent Saturday evening and we were very happy we did. Everything was very good - we had mussels and langostines to start - both were very good - the mussels were served in a half shell filled with bread crumbs, the langostines were served with a delicious buttery sauce. I had the pork belly for the main which was also very good and my wife enjoyed the hake. For dessert we had sticky toffee pudding - which was fine and warm chocolate cake which was very good. I also appreciated the wine options - my wife and I wanted different types of red wine and they offered a half bottle in both - I had a delicious full bodied red from Ribera del Duero. The service was very relaxed, but good - very Kinsale - my daughter spent a good part of the meal in the small garden and the staff was fine with her enjoying herself. I would definitely go back, in fact, I look forward to it.

Fantastic service, great ambience. Entree was a teensy bit overdone (monkfish). Dessert (molten chocolate cake) was some of the best pastry I've ever tasted. Wine list was a bit short.

Great dinner in Kinsale. Stopped in on a cold night in March. Food was top notch; butternut squash and celery soup of the day. Duck breast cooked just right and the Hake was flavored perfectly. Reasonably priced for food that was many notches above pub fare. Didn't try the desserts but they looked like winners, too.

Visiting from Chicago with family. Best meal on the trip so far. Great fresh sea food, great kids menu. Best place to get a break from Pub food... for my wife anyways, I love pub food!

Video - Max's Restaurant and Wine Bar review http://danidave.blogspot.com/2010/05/video-maxs-restaurant-and-wine-bar.html Our reception at Max's set the tone for what would follow - an exceptional dining experience with all the ingredients. Anne-Marie, the jovial Irish co-owner, welcomed us to one of the ten tables laid out across the wooden flooring. Max's has an intimate atmosphere, with the perfect size for a dinner for two or a group of friends. A stone fireplace complements the elegant decor, creating a warm ambiance. As we deliberated over the choices in the varied menu, we had an animated conversation with a local couple who have been living in Kinsale for 20 years. Ted Whitaker believes that Max's is one of the best restaurants in town, and that French chef Olivier has a healthy respect for food. After recommending a wine from a choice of 10 different countries, Anne-Marie went through the daily specials, which included lobster, John Dory, sole and monkfish. For starters we had stuffed mushrooms with goats cheese, and baked langoustines with chilli and olive oil. For mains, it was monkfish and the roast rack of Irish lamb with dried apricot and cider sauce. We were impressed with the variation in the menu, evidence of how Olivier is not afraid to offer original flavour combinations. The matuta honey gave the mushrooms a sweet tang and the langoustines were succulent whilst firm. The rack of lamb was cooked to remarkable perfection, and the monkfish was lightly seasoned and served with chilli sauce. During our desserts, we spoke further with Anne-Marie, who told us that Max's had been open for 11 years and that she had met Olivier at a pub in Clare. Olivier explained that he had plans to go to Canada, but never made it after meeting her - lucky for Ireland who now has such a masterful chef cooking on its shores.

Really great food. The staff were so accommodating, as one of us had a dairy allergy. Highly recommended for lovers of French cuisine and seafood.

Anyone seeking a fine dining experience coupled by a low-key and eclectic atmosphere should definitey make Max's a priority dining venue. This was our second time in Kinsale (and dining at Max's) and we were pleased to get last minute reservations, as this place is a hot spot frequented by locals and tourists alike. You can't help but to be drawn in by the cozy, intimate ambiance of this bustling little foodie paradise. The waitstaff were friendly and extremely attentive throughout our dining experience. Throughout the evening we sampled a variety of wines and the owner, Ann Marie, assisted us with an excepional recommendation that went perfectly with our main courses. Two members of our party ordered the Hake (exceptionally decilicious) and the other two ordered the lamb, which was absolutely superb. We thorougly enjoyed our dining experience and would most definitey encourage anyone planning a visit to Kinsale to add Max's to their itinerary!

Worst family experience Our family has ever experienced. After arriving for our reservation the staff noticed we had kids with us and told us our table was in the middle of the restaurant and not suitable for children. They made no effort to accommodate us even though we could see other tables that would serve our party size. The manager went as far as blaming my wife for not telling them we were bringing kids. If you hate children this is the place for you.