Max Restaurant

Brought me and my seven girlfriends here for my 23rd birthday on a Sunday night and although the room is definitely tight, it makes for a cozy atmosphere. our server, Sam was super patient and gave great recommendations! I will definitely be coming back here soon as me and my friends cannot stop talking about how good this food is. all the food was absolutely incredible and tasty but the ravioli definitely was my favorite. so glad I chose my birthday dinner here!

Neighbor gem in Tribeca! Top-notch food with friendly staff who make you feel like friends no matter where you are from. We loved the Fettuccine with Max’s meat sauce, Spaghetti with clams, and mushroom ravioli in addition to the Tartufo for dessert. Although we live in Williamsburg (Brooklyn), we’ll definitely be back for dinner at Max’s!

Ordered from here recently, the Calamari was 21 pieces of Calamari for $18. The food is good, the portion sizes have gotten smaller through the years, on every dish, to the point that it's kinda ridiculous.

We were so hungry, I forgot to take photos of our meals, but the food was delicious! It's difficult for me to find bruschetta on this side of the Atlantic that I truly enjoy and this was very good! The calamari fritti was probably also the best I've had! It's a very cute, cozy restaurant with a rustic Italian flair. The service staff were friendly enough, but it did feel a bit like we had to ask for attention (ask for bread, if you'd like it, as it is served prior to or with your meal but they don't seem to offer). I'd definitely go back!

A friend was visiting from out of town and we went to Max. The space is small but comfortable, the staff was very friendly and attentive. The food was amazing. We started with the bruschetta and truffle fries as starters. I ordered the Ravioli in Truffle cream my friend ordered the Squid pasta both dishes were absolutely delicious, full of flavor. We were too full for dessert. The potions are generous and the proces are reasonable! I definitely recommend this place and plan on going back soon!

The food was good. The drinks were great but the service was amazing!!!! I’ve been to all the best places in nyc and this is one of my favorites! Especially for dates!

Stopped here for dinner on trip to NY with son. The food is delicious! Good atmosphere, good staff. Had the spaghetti with clams, and son had fettuccine. Good place to take your partner out for a nice dinner.

Really tasty pasta and quick service. Nice, casual, dark and comfortable environment. Gnocchi texture was like pillows and the squid ink pasta was perfectly spicy and shrimp has the perfect texture too. It is a little chilly if you sit by the window on a 15 degree night but otherwise super yummy

Max's has my favorite lasagna! The entire menu is fantastic too! Great neighborhood spot.

I went on a Monday evening and there was a short wait of 5-10 minutes. However, the day I went I believe they were short staffed and we had to wait quite some time for a server to give us water & to place our order. No worries since I got to spend more time with my friends! I enjoyed the burrata & eggplant paremsan. Very heavy on the cheese. Not too many vegetarian options. Affordable as well.

Cute little spot in Tribeca. The gnocchi was really good and Caesar salad was a nice size. I wish the pasta came with bread. Service was just ok. I walked in with no reservation and it was no problem.

Casual Italian bistro with a pleasant outdoor space, it feels very authentic. There are about 10 - 12 pasta choices and 6 other mains including chicken and eggplant parms. The wine list is not super extensive but there are some classic Italian choices on there like the Chianti and Montepulciano. The wines are about $16 per glass which seems slightly above average. I would recommend the oricchetti but they ran out of that on my last visit, so I went for the carbonara instead. Carbonara sounds simple but it is a difficult dish to make well and this chef absolutely nailed it. Chicken parm was very good, tender and thin with the right amount of breading and sauce. The portions are very generous overall, so it is fairly good value for money and nice to share several dishes if you have more than 1 - 2 people.

Ai Gamberi salad is best summer salad in NYC. Healthful, delicious, with shrimp, avocado and citrus olive oil dressing. Very superb parmigianas, pastas, and branzino. Generous portions. Awesome community restaurant. Sauces are excellent and flavorful. Max' never disappoints!

I don't understand how a place with amazing food can be so below standards with service!!! We ordered the truffle fries for starters along with the Burrata which was amazing! The side bread and oil was really good too. I ordered the ricotta and spinach ravioli which was so soft and melted with every bite. The sage seasoning was the right amount and it was truly the perfect dish. It did feel a little cooler than the temperature it should've been at but it makes sense why: The service was EXTREMELY slow. I don't know if they understand how severely short staffed they are but they need to hire more people for the amount of clients they get. I'm convinced my ravioli was sitting for a few minutes at the chef's station before it was brought out for me because the waiter probably was serving multiple tables. The person at the bar took our order for drinks and had to be reminded 3 times for forgetting one. The main dishes didn't arrive long after we were done with our starters. This really needs to be looked into because the food and restaurant in itself is really cute. The restaurant has a very rustic charm and great for dinners and drinks.

Went to Max on one of the sweltering days last week. We had a nice table indoors by an open window, which made for a great breeze. The service was friendly but very infrequent towards the end when they understandably got busy. We had to try to find him just to close out and leave the food was pretty good but could have used more parmesan and flavoring. I was warned that it was spicy, but spiciness is certainly relative. A word of caution: the bathroom door does not fully latch, so be mindful if you need to use the restroom.

10/10 meal. Everyone at the table had a delicious meal! Will definitely go back!! Child with us also enjoyed the meal!

anyone leaving other then 5 stars is not a new yorlet. they don't know what they're talking about. come to max's and be cool to your server or bartender and you'll be treated like family. it's Italian not americanz. ps I have more vowels in my last name than consonants

My daughter and I enjoyed a Monday dinner here. Quiet and yummy! She had the Ravioli Ai Porcini and I had the Orecchiette Pugliesi. The ravioli was super rich and she could barely finish it!

I had dinner here on a Thursday night with a large group. I ordered the porcini ravioli and eggplant parmigiana, and both tasted great. The main issue I have is that the prices were a bit too high all combined.

While picking up some furniture for our new home, we were in Tribeca on empty stomachs. We walked around the streets of Manhattan and found this quaint little Italian restaurant. We took a look at the menu and asked the waiter, "How long is the wait for a table for 2?" He had replied, "no wait, come right on in." What a good decision that turned out to be. Here is my review of Max. Food 4/5: - started off with some lukewarm bread and olive oil - Highly recommend the truffle fries as it is a large portion for 2 people and very flavorful. They are not heavy so you can eat a lot and still have lots of room for the main course - We ordered the Fusilli al Pesto and loved it. Perfect amount of food for 2 people to share. - Good selection of vegetarian options Service 5/5: - We were seated immediately and had a lovely waiter who made sure we were enjoying our experience Ambience 5/5: - beautifully decorated interior that has the charm of a classic Italian restaurant. - The outdoor seating also looked very welcoming, however we didn't have coats so we opted for the indoor - Perfect place for a date night or grab food with friends

I suggest the picture of bread on their profile is changed because you can't even order some bread with your drinks while deciding on food. Try to order apps, can't order that either without ordering the main dishes too. That's when I should have walked out, but we were already settled. Just as I thought, main dishes come before I even finished my appetizer. Appetizer was pane tartufato- supposed to have burrata but was more like a spread of cream cheese on toast with some prosciutto hidden under all this arugula. Service was mediocre, at the end felt rushed which for a tiny place I understand they want to turn tables quick. So if you're looking to take your time eating and talking, this is not the place. The pasta dishes were just ok. Why would I go back when there are so many other better Italian places within walking distance. Left feeling disappointed and wished I had gone somewhere else.

I had an Aperol Spritz, Caesar Salad, and the Truffle Fries. AMAZING!! Literally best caesar salad I've ever had.

Can't believe how many times I've walked by this place and never thought to try it. Loved the food and had some great wine too.

Came here on a Thursday night with a reservation. The service was pretty timely and friendly. The Cabernet wine tasted pretty good and I thought my pasta was a 4/5 star dish. I got the rigatoni with meatballs and sausage. The portion was very filling. Interesting portion between meatballs and sausage. There was one long link of a sausage I had to cut up and then about 3 big meatballs that tasted a bit burnt yet also mushy but really tasty with the seasoning. I liked the ambiance and atmosphere of this place. Definitely good for a date night or dinner with friends!

The food and wine were outstanding and the waiters were attentive, but not overbearing. Our courses arrived at a comfortable pace and the atmosphere was initially like a bit of Italy in Manhattan...until the hostess decided the table needed to be turned over. We had ordered desert, which SHE delivered along with the $210 bill, announcing that she had reservations waiting. We were shocked; the waitstaff must have been similarly surprised, since they arrived with our tiramisu, not knowing the hostess had already been there, hastily moving things along. Espresso? Aperitif? Forget it. In all our years of dining around the world, I have never felt as pushed out of a restaurant as we were here. It ruined a lovely dinner that was otherwise highlighted by excellent food and wonderful waiters. We dined on May 3, 2024. Perhaps the managers will read this and replace their fast-food hostess with someone who values the culture of dining out.

Love this place. There are not many tables so it feels intimate, and the staff is so attentive. The restaurant was extremely well-managed. As someone with food allergies and dietary restrictions, I felt like I was in excellent hands. Food and wine were delicious. We only ordered pasta dishes, but they were all yummy. Bread was also served fresh with olive oil.

The meat sauce was very good but paired with the fresh past... amazing!!! The pasta was perfection!

The staff here is lovely and this is my favorite neighborhood joint! Seriously might be some of the best pasta i've ever had in my life. The meat sauce is to die for... never had anything like it. You can tell the dishes are fresh and home cooked.

Some of the best food I've ever had. Lived in Manhattan for a while for work and this was probably my very favorite place. The pasta is out of this world, the fettuccine al sugo toscano dish is one of my favorite dishes ever. the steak and fries were also very good.

Beware. This place charges 4.00 for a tiny glass of soda. They also don't tell you that the refills will cost as much. When called out on it they say, "I thought you knew." How? How could anyone know? It's not written anywhere that I could see. Food was ok. My lasagna was like eating pieces of the sun it was so hot but hey what do I know about food temperature. Service was sub-par. You're in New York. There are plenty of other places to spend your money!

We went to this place on a whim when we were looking for a spot to eat (party of two). They have both indoor and outdoor seating (we sat inside), and have everything distanced for COVID. They also take your temperature when you are seated. The ambience isn't anything incredible, but it wasn't bad. Just a basic small restaurant in Tribeca, with a tiny bar inside. The staff was really nice and sweet, and had great recommendations and descriptions for everything on the menu. We did not order any appetizers, but they did start us off with two little pieces of bread each, and some olive oil. I definitely think the oil could've been seasoned, and they could've spared a few more pieces of bread, but it was still good. They have a bar inside, but the only drinks they make are the ~6 on the drink menu, since the servers make the drink (there is no bartender). We both got the Aperol Spritz. The drinks were good and refreshing, especially since it was 90º outside. My only issue with the drinks is that there was a lot of ice, and they were served in a wine glass, so it was already pretty small. Because of this, I really can't justify the $15 a drink price tag. There was nothing special about them to justify the price, and we almost spent as much on two drinks that we spent on two entrees. Also, there are no drink prices on the menu. I didn't even think about asking since I didn't think they would be so high, but I really should've. For dinner, I got the Spaghetti del Marinaio, which is their house-made squid ink spaghetti, shrimp, and spicy marinara. Overall it was really good. The pasta was perfectly cooked for fresh pasta - light and springy, great chew, and even thickness. There was a good amount of shrimp, and it had a lot of flavor from the sauce. The sauce had a lot of flavor, and nice little bit of heat. I really think this entree was a 5/5, and I felt the $23 price wasn't bad for what I got. My guest got the Penne in Tomato Sauce - a simple dish, but they did it well. The pasta was cooked well, and the simple sauce had a lot of flavor. Sometimes places overpower these sauces with the basil, but we felt like Max did a great job with the limited ingredients, and made a really good dish. $17 wasn't bad for the simple dish, as they give a pretty good amount of food. I've definitely had better at this price in Manhattan, but for here, I'll allow it. Overall, I am giving Max a 4/5. I feel the food was pretty good, the staff was super nice, and I enjoyed the vibe of the restaurant. Their design could use a little work on the inside, since it just kinda looks like a box with a big bar that serves 6 drinks. I am deducting it so much for the price though. I felt the meals weren't too bad in price, but those drinks really brought it down. The bill came out to over $90 with two entrees, two drinks, and tip. $30 for two very small drinks at a place like this is way overprice, and there's no way to justify them. I would return to Max, and do recommend people try it. If you're weary about spending too much, just make sure you realize the prices first. There are better places in the city, but if you're in the area, might as well stop by at least once.

I had a problem. I was in the middle of TriBeCa with literally nothing to do. (Forgetting about my internship) I also even had a bigger problem. I had an empty stomach! Who can relate to that? (Cues chirping crickets) I then referred to my trusted handy dandy sidekick G-O-O-G-L-E, and I searched up best lunch pasta spots near me. The first restaurant that showed up after serafina (sorry, we don't do chains in nyc unless a 2 am drunk run to McDonald's, just to pass out before we finish our meals) was a place called Max's restaurant. Now I've heard it before as it's known for being "That Italian restaurant across the street from the Odeon" but I've never been. So, I grab my empty stomach and my curiosity to try it. This rustic cozy location is unusually quiet during lunch times in the city and I like it. The manager was friendly and he went outta his way to make sure everything was okay and even commenced a bit of small talk. Service was very rapid and to my delight the menu is affordable for the quality. I did mention it's affordable? For the appetizer I chose Max's meatballs. The three American sized meatballs are bathed in homemade red sauce and garnished with a generous amount of parmesan cheese. Now for the meatballs themselves? The texture and the execution of the dish actually remind me of my Italian "house Grandma" (It's a long story) calling us "Dinners ready!" from across the meadows where we lived. They aren't of the best quality but they are as close as you will get for this affordable price tag (note: affordable does not include college kids like myself). The semi dryness and semi bland of the meatballs balanced well with the well seasoned sauce. As my grandma would say "You need to taste the food and not the salt!". Now the fettuccine bolognese I ordered was delicious. The food comes with a vast amount of... well, food. On the bolognese alone can fill someone up. The rich and creamy tomato flavored meat sauce is definitely of the pinnacle dishes this restaurant offers. The use of cream isn't particularly my favorite pasta type (see what I did there?) but I can see this being the favorite signature of the dish. The fettuccine did an outstanding job of soaking up the sauce and the generous once again cheese portion. After all this is an AMERICAN Italian restaurant. So what is the result? While this didn't exceed my impossible expectations in Italian food, this place did come with a WoW factor: for the AMOUNT of food and the QUALITY at an AFFORDABLE cost (once again doesn't apply to college students). So would I recommend this place? Depends. If you are looking for upmost quality at any price point, then sadly no. But for the majority of New Yorkers looking for a deal of quality and generous amount of food at an affordable price, then yes.

We really wanted to love this place. We were in Tribeca on a rainy Sunday and stumbled upon this place. The ambience is nice and cozy. The service is friendly and attentive. The food though wasn't great. The Gnocchi was over cooked and soggy. The skirt steak was dry even though we ordered it medium rare. Best part of the meal was the French fries. Sadly we aren't likely to return.

My brother raves about this place but I was definitely not impressed by the ambiance nor the food. It's not a big space so can see it filling up. Location is great - right on S Broadway, just north of Duane St. Looks like they do a brisk take out / delivery business which also makes for a chaotic mood. Service was good - neither stifling nor absent - a strong point of Max. Our party of 3 adults and 3 children shared the meatballs and octopus salad - both were very good. I had the strozzapreti alla boscaiola which I was very much looking forward to - strozzapreti, if authentic and home made can be heavenly. Unfortunately - and I know I can be a bit of an Italian food snob - they used gemelli pasta out of a box...disappointing! The sauce was fine but basically it was a glorified carbonara with mushrooms. My daughter had the fusilli with pesto and my son rigatoni with meat sauce - both were good. Dessert choices were basic: tiramisu, tartufo (industrially made) and salame di cioccolato. We tried the latter two, which were fine, although the chocolate was a bit dry. Here's a big negative: Max only has one bathroom. We were around 6/7p on a Sat night and there was constantly a line - sometimes 4 deep. In a city where there are tons of great Italian restaurants, you can pass on this one.

Good service and nice relaxed atmosphere. Got the lasagna and it was just average. A bit soggy and overly salted. Calamari was nice and decent tiramisu. Servers were nice.

Sunday afternoon finds us hungry and ready to eat an early dinner before heading out of the city. Where to eat, my suggestion is Max. The space is clean and simply appointed. We arrive just after opening so we find ourselves to be the only ones in the restaurant. We order a glass of wine and begin our dinner experience. The server gives us just the right level of service as we order. Shortly after our food arrives. It is hot and delicious. I will definitely be back during dinner rush to see if we get the same experience but for now .... 5 stars! Ciao.

Max is a hidden neighborhood gem. I live 3 minutes away and have never noticed it. Seating is tight inside, but the vibes are great and the pasta is delicious. Went for the first time tonight, and ordered: Beef meatballs w/ tomato sauce ($12) - these were outstanding, great value (3 large meatballs) and they were the best I've had in a long time. Misto di Vegetali alla Griglia ($15) - Avoid ordering!! This is Eggplant, fennel, zucchine, red peppers & arugula as an appetizer. The ingredients were fresh, but it was pretty boring. Grilled filet of salmon ($27) - my girlfriend ordered this (trying to stay healthy and avoid ordering pasta). She said it was average. Homemade fettuccine w/ Max's meat sauce ($18) - I ordered this and it was outstanding! I would imagine this is why you go to Max. Definitely get the fettuccine with meat sauce! They don't have sorbet, and they don't have decaf coffee.. so we got the check! And I was pleasantly surprised to see how affordable it was for Tribeca. Will definitely be back!

I've been on Yelp since 2013. I use it nearly every day, but I've never written a review...until today. I just ordered a mushroom pizza (with olives) on Seamless. The pizza came with nearly all olives. I love Kalamata olives, but there were way too many. It was pretty much inedible. I called the restaurant and talked to the owner/chef. I asked for a refund, which would have been $17. He told me he saw the pizza and stood by it. He was pretty stubborn and rude. He refused a refund. Anyway, here are pictures. You judge... The reviews on Max seem to be going downhill, so maybe this is how they now operate. I live in the area and order from the restaurant all the time, but I guess I'm done now. Also, I'm just going to void the transaction with my bank. So, I guess it works out in the end. Thanks for all the olives and pretty crappy customer service, Max!

This place is delicious ! Seating is cramped but it's still great ! Make reservations bc they open late and get crowded quick !! Had the pasta with shrimp it was suppose to be spicy but it wasn't as spicy but then again I get it bc sometimes people don't like excessive spice but still delicious Service is excellent everyone was so friendly

I mistakenly chose Max to celebrate my birthday with five of my girl squad. This is based on our past experience at their original location around the corner. Hard. Lesson. Learned. My girl friends were there at 5pm racking up a tab at the bar since our reservations were at 6pm. I strolled in at 6:30 just after appetizers arrived. As a New Yorker, we all know 6pm is EARLY for dinner and sure enough, the restaurant was half empty when I arrived. Our waiter was nice enough, but I noticed that he was rushing us to order. Fine. We ordered. Our plates literally came out five minutes later! If you know Max, their claim to fame is that food is fresh and made to order. But five minutes? Seriously? By the time our dinner arrived, it was around 6:55. I know because the table next to us started filling up. In fact, one of girls at the table was oblivious to how close the tables were from each other that her butt knocked my entire glass of water into my lap! So yes, I was very much aware of time. After that debacle, I kept a close eye on the other table afraid they would knock my wine over too! Max definitely overbooked because there were six girls at a table for four. Violation, much? Let's just say if there was a fire, I would have burned since there was no clear path for me to exit my seat, let alone the restaurant. But that's not the icing on my rotten birthday cake. After I had only taken four bites of my dinner, two bites of soapy-tasting spaghetti and two bites of bland eggplant parmesan, the manager (55-yr old, long stringy blond hair, and oversized black-rimmed glasses) took our plates away. She didn't ask, "Are you finished?" Instead, she asked, "Would you like that wrapped?" Um, sure lady. Thanks. After the manager came back with my dinner-to-go, my girl friends and I inquired about dessert. She verbally delivered the dessert menu, started taking our orders and then said, "To be honest, I can't serve you dessert because you were late." Ex-squeeze me?! My girl friends were quick to remind her that they had been at the bar since 5pm! The manager retorts, "Exactly! That's why you were late!" We then asked for the check and as we waited, she continued to argue with us about why we were rushed our of the restaurant. I have so many words re: the manager's IQ level and lack of business acumen, but I will spare you, dear reader. All you have to know is that Max Tribeca is done. It's not the same and it shall never be. The food is bland at best, and the service? The manager working on Feb 11, 2020 needs to be let go. Even by NY standards, she's a vile and toxic person who should not be anywhere near the service industry. Please spare yourselves the trouble and go elsewhere. It was 7:25pm when my girl friends and I headed over to Primo's for cocktails and dessert. As their name implies, the service was primo! Max could learn something from Primo's. Or Max can spare us all and just close shop.

What a gem.. not sure how this was my first time at Max...my husband and I live in the area and wanted to try a new restaurant...I looked at the menu, read some great reviews and booked a reservation. The service could not have been better. Our waiter Leo was attentive, friendly and always present to make sure we had everything we needed. We ordered octopus carpaccio (one of my favorite foods- Max rocked it), Caesar salad and the meatball appetizer... the meatballs were delicious- very large portion. We decided on the Pollo al Limone to share as an entree.. terrific terrific terrific. The service, food and restaurant were fantastic.... cannot wait to return. I already made another reservation and look forward to sharing with friends and family

My friend and I were around the area and decided to pop into Max for a late lunch. It was 2pm on a Friday and we were the only ones in there. We were seated immediately, given menus, and served iced water. Not feeling particularly monstrous since this was actually my second lunch and my friend is on her bride-to-be diet, we decided to order one salad and a pasta to share. While we waited for our food to arrive, we were served complimentary bread. The bread is your typical sliced loaf bread at room temperature served with plain olive oil - nothing exactly exciting. The pasta we ordered was the spaghetti del marinaio, which is squid ink spaghetti with shrimp in a spicy tomato sauce. The tomato sauce was nicely tangy, however I felt that with so much sauce it really overpowered the subtle flavors of the squid ink. The sauce was not spicy at all. We actually had to ask our waiter for some cracked black peppercorn to be sprinkled onto the pasta as well as a side of red pepper flakes. The portion of pasta dish itself was rather generous and there were plenty of shrimps to go around. For the salad we ordered the del pollaio which is grilled chicken, fennel, apple, avocado, celery, tomato, frisee with lemon vinaigrette dressing. The salad served as a great counterbalance to the pasta. It really adds a fresh and lighter component to our lunch. I apologize in advance for being "that person" who posts a picture of some gosh darn salad but it really was much better than I had expected... you know, for a salad. Overall, I think this restaurant has some decent food however I would not go out of my way to come here. Service was attentive and friendly.

This is such a great little restaurant. There were 6 of us and everyone got something delicious - from chicken to steak to pasta. A little find in an area that the streets cross crows my eyes because even though I'm a native New Yorker I always get turned around downtown! I recommend talking to the wait staff to find out what is the special or the highlight for the evening. All ages can go here- so it can be a date night, a family night or a couples evening! I love the versatility of it!

Best Italian food for me. Love this place and they have changed so many times. Not many people at the restaurant in-door and out-door served. Place is bigger then before.

AWFUL food. The Wine both red and white was cheap. We both ordered the Caesar salad and the dressing was sweet and tasted like mayonnaise. The romaine lettuce was stale and not fresh. The bolognese sauce on the pasta was too creamy and also had sweet aftertaste to it. We only finished half the dish. Finally we tried the Tiramisu, and it was probably one of the worst I ever had. The food at the old location was mediocre at best so I stopped ordering after a few tries. When they moved to the new location and I had hopes that they might have upgraded the food. What a disappointment. Tribeca has so many good options for Italian. Max is definitely a pass...

I'm not one to write bad reviews. I am pretty easy going but this dinner compelled me to write a review. I really thought this was going to be a great experience. Max seemed like a great restaurant in terms of ambiance and feel but the food was bland and the "special" grilled shrimp salad was pathetic. The heart of palm tasted like it came from a can. My friend had the Caesar salad with chicken and she said it tasted like mayonnaise. The olives and wine were good. We spoke to our waitress/bar tender and she shrugged her shoulders as if we were annoying her. Pictures of my salad before returning it are attached. Apparently the couple at the end of the bar also returned their food. Perhaps they were having an off night.., insert shoulder shrug...

Max used to have a East Village location. It closed a while back and I finally made it to the Tribeca location. I loved and still love the Fettuccine al Sugo Toscano (Homemade fettuccine w/ Max's meat sauce (beef)). I can't remember if the price has gone up but the quantity is the same as before. Also tastes the same. Bruschetta was good. I didn't like the rigatoni (too al dente for me). It will take me a while to get through the menu here. But, if you're a beef eater, get the fettucine! Came on a weeknight and it was not crowded. Tiny joint - cozy atmosphere and slightly warm.

I recently moved back to TriBeCa after having been away for five plus years. Max used to be my go to local at its Reade Street location, which was cozy and quaint. This was my first weekend back in the hood and decided to give Max a try for old times sake. I made a 7:30pm reservation and arrived promptly. And it went downhill from there.... I had made a reservation for 2 for outside. The table that the hostess offered me was right at the front door, which is the staging area for anyone trying to get a table. All that I could say was......ABSOLUTELY NOT!!! After waiting for about 15 minutes, my guest and I were ushered to a marginally better table. So now we place our order for an over priced, mediocre wine and then order our dinner. My guest and I ordered three courses which we split. The first two courses, the calamari frites and the gnocchi, were decent enough. The real problem was with the Secondi, which was the breaded chicken with arugula and tomato, which was so overcooked that it was dry and the bottom was actually burned. It was absolutely horrible. In addition, the timing between courses was ridiculously slow. The table next to us had their entire meal before we even were served our second course. It was an absolute amateur hour. When our issues were presented to the manager, we got a look of total shock and something marginally passing as a apology and that was about it. Whatever. So, in summary, the magic is gone. The new location is without any character. The prices have increased. The quality of the food has gone down. And, the service was abysmal. Net-net, this restaurant is a total pass. You Have All Been Warned!

I was told about this spot over 7yrs ago. But 7yrs ago they were in a different spot. The spot I was first introduced to Max's Lasagna was a dark, romantic secluded restaurant. So when I was going to be in town with my husband I thought it would be a great idea to bring him here. Well they moved. The new spot is light and airy and more family lunch crowdesque fibe. No bueno for a romantic date. But, let me tell you they still "put their foot" in that lasagna. We stuffed our faces with macaroni and their gravy and wine and salad... All to die for. So not romantic anymore but still awsome food!

Food: First time here and ordered the Spaghetti Alle Vongole which was spaghetti with clams in a white wine garlic sauce w/ extra virgin oil. It was delicious. A large number of small clams. Very flavorful and the small clams had very sweet flesh and cooked just right. The spaghetti was just the right semi hardness and was all completely coated with the sauce. There was a bit of sand in a couple of the clams but that's something I don't mind that much. Ambiance: Great place for lunch and romantic dinner. Small dining area with close tables and chair and very cozy. The manager was receptive. Service was good. Will definitely try again when I am in town.

A first and last. Nice ambiance but that's about it. Had the max's meatballs which were over cooked and dry and had the Orecchiette Pugliesi which was doused in so much oil it could fill a gas tank and had no taste. Bartenders were nice enough but when I complained about the meatballs I was told this is the way we cook them. Not really an apology or offer to do anything else. Won't be going back.

Overall, my experience at Max was pretty good. The food is delicious, the space is so adorable and intimate, but the service is a tad spotty. My friends and I arrived about 30 minutes before our reservation. We had a drink at the bar, and the place was mostly empty at that point. As soon as we were ready to sit down, the hostess was a bit weird about bringing us to our table since one of my friends was running late. But the restaurant was really filling up at this point, we had a reservation, and we were ready to start ordering appetizers immediately. Reluctantly, the hostess seated us and then put a little pressure on us to order quickly, making a comment about needing to turn over the table. We had the Burrata special, which was possibly the most amazing thing I've ever eaten! We also shared a Margharita pizza. For my meal, I ordered the Spaghetti al Vongole, which came with over a pound of clams...it was an incredibly generous portion. I loved it! By the time we were leaving an hour and a half later, the restaurant was empty again, so the whole table weirdness seemed really moot. Still, I'd go back to try some more pasta dishes!

We were referred to Max by the incomparable Heather McMahan. Turned out her fiancé Jeff was actually at the restaurant, so we sent him and his friend of round of Peroni's! Max has a great vibe because it's casual looking, but in an elegant way to where you wouldn't feel out of place in casual clothes OR even in more formal night out attire. The food was classic tuscan style fare that was expertly executed. The server was great and attentive. We'll be back during our next trip to NY!

We came here for a couples date night with a friend who had been here before and loved it. However, we did not have a similar experience. We ordered manhattans to start and they tasted like they were made with sour mix. Goes without saying but they were not good. For apps, we got calamari and bruschetta, which were both tasty. For dinner, we ordered rigatoni, orecchiette and the spaghetti. The orecchiette was fine, rigatoni was decent and the spaghetti tasted like burnt plastic. The sauce on the rigatoni had traces of that taste but was not as pungent as the spaghetti. We were pretty disappointed in our experience here.

Oh, Max.... I had an early dinner here with a co-worker, and it was an interesting (but generally pleasant) experience. He picked the place and said it was cozy and that most of their pastas were housemade. It's definitely cozy, in a good way - there's seating for maybe 40, so make reservations on weekends for sure. The wine list is well chosen and a bit overpriced with most glasses in the $12-15 range. I picked homemade ricotta raviolis which were supposed to be served with sage brown butter but instead arrived with tomato sauce. I pointed it out and it was returned (a little too quickly) with a sauce of...melted butter. So clearly, they just washed off the tomato sauce and melted some butter in the microwave - no sage, etc. Disappointing. So, I'm finishing up my food and chatting away and I see something on the wall, headed right for my co-worker....a giant roach, like the size of my thumb. So that was pretty unpleasant but the staff apologized and comp'd us a glass of wine. I mean, what are you going to do? It's the city, these things happen. The staff really was the highlight here - everyone was really nice and they were happy to let us chat (tables weren't full) which I appreciated. Probably wouldn't go back because the food overall was pretty "meh".

Good place. Food was fine and the service was great. Conversation was difficult due to the extreme noise inside. The restaurant wasn't packed yet it was deafeningly loud. I would recommend sitting outside for personal comfort. Lasagne was overcooked. Everyone enjoyed the fried olives and pasta dishes.

One of my favorites in NYC - Rigatoni Siciliana, Eggplant Parm, and Bruschetta are special.