Max's South Seas Hideaway

We had a great time. The kids loves the bonfire and the drinks we had were the non alcoholic and they were amazing. It was a little dark so you might need your flashlight till you get used to it. Out hostess told us all about the restaurant and the decorations. We did ask her about them. They have a fish tank upstairs. I should have taken more pictures but I didn't. We will go back again. The nacho fries were good too!

Our 4th time at Max's and we will certainly be back next time we are in town. Great tropical drinks! Awesome Appetizers! Delicious chicken and waffles (a little bit spicy if that is not your thing)! Best Key Lime pie (outside the Keys and except for my girlfriends) Food and drinks were delivered to our table in a timely manner and servers were attentive. But the main attraction here is the atmosphere. Worth taking the time to wander around a bit, even if you've visited before!

Came here with my wife for our 6-month anniversary 😊 I had intermittently wanted to go here for years, so I was excited 😁 It looks somewhat unassuming on the outside, but then inside you're greeted with a beautiful tiki interior! It's well laid out and definitely gives you a tropical vibe without feeling gimmicky. To start I got the Puka Punch. That was an awesome rum drink, maybe the best I've ever had! It had a wonderful fruity flavor without being overpowered by the rum! Be careful, it'll sneak up on you fast 😂 While my wife and I were browsing the menu, we were intrigued by the Spam Musibi. I had heard of it before but never tried it, we both decided to order it. We were both shocked by how good it was! It wasn't overly salty despite having spam in it, and the overall flavor was just surprisingly good! Normally I'm not a big fan of fried sushis, but this one was exceptional. For my entree I got the Budai Jjigae, which is basically ramen with some Hawaiian fusion. Again, I was surprised how good it was! Once the spam, the mushrooms, kimchi, and all that stuff melds together, it has great flavor! The texture of the ramen itself was lovely too! It also was a bigger portion than I thought. And finally dessert. I had seen the Bonfire dessert ahead of time, and my wife and I both decided to share one. We both were a little worried it'd be gimmicky, but to our delight it wasn't! It's a fun little dessert that's tasty too! The chocolate cremosa is the best part, it is to die for! I could eat a bowl of just that 😂 Overall this was a very fun experience! Definitely a fun date or group place to go try out and I will definitely return at some point 👍🏻

Great drinks (cocktails and mocktails) and food was amazing! Service was a little slow, considering it was a Wednesday and they weren't very busy. We ran out of drinks and water. But the atmosphere is great, and it was a fun time. I would come here again for sure.

We were there with a party of six on a busy concert night. The food was much better than I expected. I had the moco loco which was outstanding. The Pu Pu Platter had a wide variety of eats from egg rolls to chicken satay and couple of short ribs all seasoned perfectly. The staff was very friendly and upbeat maybe they sampled some of the forty specialty drinks!! It is a little dark inside and the restroom situation is not optimal so they get 4 stars there.

First visit, and we were blown away by the tiki decor and seamless theme throughout the restaurant (according to the website, one of the largest tiki collections in the world). The drinks were good, plenty of choices, although I would opt for the happy hour specials to save a little. The food was great, especially the chicken wings! The only negative is how dark it is inside, especially entering from a bright day. Your eyes will adjust, but it’s a little jarring at first. It does add to the ambiance.

Mind blown ! This place has its own reality. The decor transports you into their world. The drinks are delicious and the staff are super friendly. This place is the coolest bar I've ever visited. I can't wait to come back.

One of my favorites for sure! super unique place with good food and several specialty drinks to choose from. Love the Pupu Platter and tableside bonfire/S'mores. Their burger is also one of the best around. The service is always very good and the Hawaii vibe is very cool. Love all of the decor, soft lighting and great island music. Reminds me of a tiki bar in Maui! The boat bar upstairs is awesome too. The whole place is full of very interesting and entertaining island decor. We've been here with groups of friends and family, but it is also a great restaurant for a nice date night. Highly recommend checking it out. Mahalo Max's Seaside Hideaway!!

Ok, this place gets 5 stars for the atmosphere alone! I've always wanted to visit a Tiki restaurant and this place certainly lives up to its hype. The decor is amazing, go upstairs to check out the fish tank if you get a chance. The food was decent but the star of the show are the cocktails. We also split a pu pu platter. and that was fun. the staff are friendly and everything came to the table in short order. If you are looking for a one of a kind evening out in GR give Max's a shot!

I had not visited Max's in a couple of years, and I'm happy to say its strengths are still standing: the theming and decor are charming, the drink menu is extensive and diverse, and it feels like a unique experience. Service has always been good and attentive, even when busy. What disappointed me this time around was the food quality and pricing. I know costs have gone up pretty much everywhere, but you pretty much can't get a dish here under $25, and the sandwiches/burgers are all around $18. That's a $30 meal with a tip, not including drinks, and not much on the menu here is worth that much for me. Stick to it for special occasions when you want something different.

Came here on a cousin date, got the scorpion bowl to share and the zombie. The zombie is SUPER strong!!! We ended up dumping it into our bowl to share because the sips were barely making a dent, so we had to use the big straws to make it through. We got the pupu platter and locomoco to share, as well as a side of broccolini. Our favorite was the locomoco. The sauce was on the thicker side, like a light gravy, and it mixed so well with the rice. We sat upstairs and loved the vibe. It was a little bit lighter and felt more casual. The main floor is darker and feels much more intimate. Our waitress was super friendly. We had an excellent time!

Extremely dark!!! Had a hard time reading the menu and seeing where to go. Bathrooms are downstairs. Had the marooned drink and didn't like it at all and bartender let me switch drinks. A lot of choices to choose from. Jerk chicken tacos were good (spicy). The pineapple salsa was amazing!! Best I ever had! And it also came with like a corn thing that was pretty good too!!

LOVE this place. This weekend marks my second visit here and I'd come back over and over. The ambience is my favorite part - it truly feels like you've been transported to a tropical island. Certainly a nice place to go in the winter when you're completely over the freezing cold of Michigan! Our food was on point again this visit. The crab rangoons are huge and the chicken satay is so tender and delicious. My Mom loved the spring rolls. We also shared the drunken noodles and even got another order of spring rolls togo. Our waiter was stellar and very attentive! Another highlight for me is the nonalcoholic drink menu section. Make sure to check out the entire upstairs and the beautiful salt water tank!

Everything you want a tiki bar to be, with a space suitable for a big group... a bachelorette party here would be amazing. The food was delicious. My pearl diver cocktail was not very pearly, but was very good. Super special ''hidden' spot for a date night

This place is seriously sooooo cool!! The ambiance makes you feel like you're faaaar far away from wherever you came from, I wish I'd taken more pictures of it honestly! The drinks are AH-MAZING!! The bartender we had was awesome too and even checked about any allergies either my boyfriend or I had to make sure even our drinks were safe!! I'd never had that experience at another bar! He washed everything he made this drink in to prevent any cross contamination for me and I was so thankful, considering they do have a wideeee variety of drinks! (I have a nut and tree nut allergy) A heads up, it's pretty dark feeling in there when you first go in there until your eyes adjust, but it's awesomeeee!! Thank you for an amazing experience!!

OMG. This place is an UNBELIEVABLE GEM. If you were wondering where everything went from that big Tiki estate auction went all those years ago--this is where. TWO STORIES OF TIKI SPLENDOR. Food was amazing. Drinks...amazing. Service...yep, amazing too. You could walk around here for hours and still not take it all in. Truly unbelievable. If you have no other reason to go to Michigan--now you have a reason to be here. This is worth a plane trip just to spend some time here. JUST AMAZING....

This is our family birthday celebration location. We are a posse of 8 and we love this place. Nice diverse menu where everyone has a favorite dish. The drink menu is fun, creative and varied. We have never had bad service. Very hip tiki decor that SHAG would approve of!!

This place has an incredible Happy Hour (aka Aloha Hour) with many of their specialty tiki drinks available for $6 and food options for $10. The ambiance here is impeccable and it's obvious that a ton of care was put into the decor. My friend and I each enjoyed two cocktails and a food item and were both very pleased! The Aku Aku drink was super refreshing and delicious. I had the fried shrimp And rice (can't remember what it's called) and it was bomb. I would order that over and over again. Perfection! I absolutely loved my experience here and look forward to introducing some other friends to this cool spot!

Great ambience! Fun drinks! Good eats! AND!!!! They have tableside S'mores. What more do I need to say?!!! Hahahaha The s'mores.... House made marshmallows and graham crackers! They are so good! No artificial tastes like the store bought kind we grew up with. Don't get me wrong.... I'm eating any kind of s'mores at every opportunity. Before indulging in the s'mores we shared the Hulu huli ribs...the fries and a green salad. The ribs were tender and fell off the bone... The salad was crisp and fresh. Would definitely come back again if I'm in the area.

I simply love Max's. Every time I go there they make me happy. This time we showed up early with no reservations and they sat us in the corner lounge area which is my favorite place to be honestly. We ordered the pu pu platter, a ginger salad, ribs, and the spicy shrimp. Every piece of it was great and provided leftovers for the next day. Oh, did I forget the zombie drinks. If you like rum, you will love the zombie drinks and be careful they are super strong.

What a gem!! We made a dinner reservation here mostly for the tiki ~vibes, but the whole experience exceeded expectations. The food was so delicious! And we weren't even trying to order the best on the menu, mostly because we had a heavier lunch so we were looking for a lighter dinner. A lot of options on the menu sounded delicious but too heavy. We ordered: - Tiki Tacos with Smoked Jerk Chicken, Poblano and Pineapple Salsa, Cilantro, Onion and a Side of Elote Corn Salad - Ginger Salad (Mixed Greens, Tomato, Cucumber, Red Onion, Ginger Dressing) - Chicken Satay with Soy Yuzu Marinade, Thai Peanut Sauce - Side of Broccolini Everything was DELICIOUS, with generous portions. The tacos were so flavorful and juicy, the chicken satay cooked perfectly. We really weren't expecting much with the ginger salad, just wanted to add more greens, but this was actually so good!! It was huge and the dressing was light and zippy. The Broccolini side actually came as broccoli. It was tasty but a little heavily sauced. I also tried their Caipirinha, with Guava. Luscious! Not super boozy but very refreshing and tasty, and the guava made it unique. Service was friendly and the dedication to the theme was impressive, with every inch of the walls and even the ceiling designed to fit the tiki ambiance. Super enjoyable time and would definitely recommend checking this place out!

It is a unique dining experience with tiki and totem south-seas style decor, food and drink options to match. Our table of 6 was seated close to kitchen door, but the real negative was how cold it was in there. I had vegan Curry veggie bowl, Jasmin rice. Way too heavy on the cauliflower (to be fair, it is the first item listed) but....made it bitter, hardly any coconut Curry flavor. Wouldn't get it again. Hubby enjoyed Max's burger and waffle fries (very good). Fun (overpriced) drinks.

What a fun spot to grab a drink! Near downtown, the space is large and decorated like you're in an island jungle. The menu is very large with drinks for any type of person. If you enjoy more sweet and refreshing drinks, order the Puka Punch. It comes with passion fruit and pineapple and is very large!

The menu can get a bit pricey, but the food and drinks are always great. Also, the vibe of the restaurant is perfect for a night out with friends!

Absolutely loved this place. Such an amazing Tiki bar and restaurant that we randomly came across while wandering around Grand Rapids while there for the weekend for a wedding. The tiki atmosphere rivals some of the great tiki bars across the country. The food was unbelievable and the drinks...perfection! Our waiter (and later our bartender when we went upstairs for another drink) suggested the perfect drinks based on what we liked. I wish we had something as great as Max's in the Detroit area. This will be a must-do whenever we return to GR.

Ok who the heck knew Grand Rapids had a Tiki Bar and a good one at that. Sat at the bar and just had drinks, the service was great, drinks strong and the atmosphere excellent. Reminds me of the Trader Vic's Restaurants. Will be back!!!

What a great spot! Very cool decor and atmosphere (it is very dark inside as a warning, if that's not something that works for you), and we enjoyed everything we had. The poke bowl was huge and very fresh - definitely can get 2 meals out of it. My daughter wanted the s'more dessert tray and I didn't expect much, but it ended up being really yummy (and fun).

This place is an adventure. You walk in and feel like you have stepped into the Hawaiian islands. The decor is fantastic and the vibe is to relax. There are 3 levels and 3 bars and one is shaped like a ship. Also a giant fish tank on the third level. A must for kids. Now their drink menu is bigger than their food menu. So many choices. I chose the aku aku which is rum pineapple mint so refreshing The food makes you feel like a Hawaiian luau. Poi poi platters spicy shrimp and so much more. I got the green curry hummus with fried naan bread. My companions got the drunken noodles spicy shrimp and vegan green curry Everyone was happy content and full A must go to place

We have wanted to try Max's for quite a while - but it feels so far away (45 minutes ). Picked a Saturday in early February to have a late lunch/early dinner - Around 4pm. The place was already packed. We didn't make a reservation I assumed we would be able to sit at the bar, but it was full. We waited about 20 minutes for a table in the lounge, next to the bar. This place was very unique and reminded us a lot of restaurants and bars we went to in Honolulu several years ago. The vibe is retro and kitschy. we loved it! We started with the crab rangoons and they were good! LOADED with crab. And we did splitsies on Max's Loco Moco and the chicken & waffles. Both entrees were so good! We really enjoyed their take on chicken & waffles, lots of interesting flavors that we hadn't had with chicken & waffles before. If you've never had loco moco, I highly recommend it! Very unique! It ended up being a lot of food! We took home leftovers! Service was great and we loved our trip to the bathrooms in the basement - the art in the hallway is stellar!

well-decoarated, fun cocktail bar in downtown grand rapids! street parking and parking garages. party of 4 on a fri night w/o a res. tables were booked, but we got full service at the bar. the drink menu is super fun, descriptive, and right on theme! our drinks were delish and service was good. the food menu def has something for everyone but the reviews on food are mixed. spring rolls were good but tasted like the frozen kind. drunken noodles were quite salty. jerk chicken tacos were great! chicken satay and ginger salad were meh. the place is a bit dark and loud, better for drinking than for eating. i would come back for drinks and vibes but maybe not dinner.

I always pass by this place and I'm so glad I finally checked it out! I loved the way everything looked inside. The island decor made me feel like I was on a boujee vacation lol. I really appreciate their diverse menu catering to different cravings like burgers, tacos, sushi etc. I got Max's loco moco which was delicious beef, a smash patty, veggies on rice topped with a perfectly fried egg. I had never had anything like it and I was very impressed. My friend got the tiki tacos which had jerk chicken seasoned with pineapple salsa. It came with a corn salad which she unfortunately did not enjoy as much as the tacos because she thought it was elote corn and not a cold salad. However, our server was understanding and let her switch it out with a side of waffle fries. The drinks were amazing and they have a lot of exotic drinks that you would not find anywhere else. It is on the pricier end, but I think they earned that since the atmosphere transports you to another place and the food for me was amazing.

Phenomenal service! Phenomenal atmosphere and ambiance! Even more Phenomenal food!!!! Been here three times now and ever time they crush!!! A Grand Rapids must for when I'm in town!

The atmosphere is sensational. You are taken into a completely different world. The lighting is a bit dark, but I feel like it adds to the vibe. We ordered some drinks which were good. They are strong. The pu pu platter has a little bit of every appetizer and all of it was delicious. The main entrees were good as well. The ramen was more of a stir fry though. The sauce was thick and not like a broth at all.

We went in with a large group, at 3:30 pm. We walked in & no one was there. We started to go up the stairs. Then we're greeted rudely & told not to go up there. So we asked for a table of ten. The hostess told us no they can't accommodate that size. We asked maybe a few smaller tables. They told us no right away. Did not even try to accommodate. They said we should have called for reservations. We called earlier in the week and was told reservations weren't necessary. We drove two hours to get there. Their rudneds probably cost them at least $500

This is a really unique bar in downtown Grand Rapids which I feel like you have to know what it's about as it's a little hidden off the main drag. Once you walk in you're immediately transported to a tiki wonderland and it's hard to picture walking from 29 degree weather into here! We sat at the bar as it was pretty busy on a Saturday night and proceeded to look over the lengthy drink menu. Woah these drinks are strong ! Haha be careful and come loving rum because these are heavy! Not exactly cheap but I think for the ambience and the craft cocktails it was great. Service at the bar was. A little slow but because they are making every drink from hand , you have to factor that in. The only reason I knocked it down a star was the lack of TVs . I definitely think they are going for a Caribbean feel and they don't want to have TVs at the bar to interrupt that overall feel of the restaurant, but it's just not something we're used to especially with a ton of college games on. Would highly recommend you stop in for a cocktail! Their food looks really good too so I would love to come back and try that out as well!

Once again, an absolutely phenomenal experience at Max's. The Drunken Noodles were so good. My husband had the ribs and they were so flavorful and fell right off of the bone. Our server was a sweetheart and very helpful with the drink menu. You cannot beat the vibes here. It is dark, but it is so beautifully done. You truly feel immersed in a tiki bar/restaurant.

I really enjoyed this meal. The fired chicken and the Mac were so incredibly delicious. My drink was strong but I expected nothing less. The decor in the restaurant was fun and very on-theme. Staff were prompt and friendly. Definitely recommend a trip here

Wow. The food was amazing, the decor is outstanding. We have been there before so we were ready for this. The waiter we had? I was too embarrassed to ask his name after he told me, I forgot, and we had a great conversation, but he managed to make perfect better.

For so long I avoided this place because after trying to dine twice and being told there was a 2 hour wait I was like whatever. Especially after seeing less favorable reviews. I was an idiot. Max's is actually rather wonderful! Yes, it is on the pricier side but the food and drinks are fantastic. Food is Polynesian inspired and incorporates lots of spices and flavors. The cocktails are complex and the juices used in them are made fresh daily. It's not just sugar filled. The bartenders know how to mix rums to create various flavors and elevates drinks. It's not just tiki drinks; it's a rum bar. Now the decor. It is immaculate! And authentic. I received a tour by one of the owners who took my boyfriend and I around and explained much of the artwork. A lot was collected from older/closed tiki bars while many Polynesian artists were contracted for pieces for the place. So many artists were used that each booth is decorated differently and with that artists' take on tiki. It's rather magnificent to learn about. While downstairs is more tiki, the second floor is ship themed with an impressive ship bar. A third story will be coming soon! Being downtown, parking is pretty much parking garages or the lucky on street (pay for) parking, or Uber. Depending on how many drinks you consume, you might need one! This place is the real deal.

An absolute must-visit for any Tiki Bar fans, Max's South Seas Hideaway is a gem in downtown GR. Keep in mind this isn't just a "tiki-inspired" joint, from the drinks to the food choices (the chicken satay, brussel sprouts and green curry hummus were a recent highlight), it's authentic and delicious. No overly sweet or syrupy libations here. The drinks are matched by the decor, with hundreds of tiki artifacts, totems, etc lining the walls. It's truly a show-stopper of a place. Knowledgeable servers are also a key part of the mix; don't be afraid to have them help you find your perfect cocktail. Have been here many times and look forward to returning!

They've clearly invested a lot into this place to nail the tiki theme perfectly - but - that unfortunately seems to mean that you'll also be investing a lot in your meal. The food is really good and there's more variety than I expected (Sushi, Burgers, Tacos, Curry, etc.) but you should expect to pay $20-30 per dish and the portion sizes are not extremely generous. Drinks range $10-20 each so those likely add up pretty quick as well, very easy to find yourself paying over $100 for two people. It's worth going to once in a blue moon for the unique novelty experience but definitely not a place I'd go regularly. If that's what you're after though, it's a good choice.

Came here on a Sunday night around 8:45, had to wait 5 min for a table. We had drinks - Blue Hawaiian, Marooned with a movie star and A rocki's mana on the rocks. Server was super friendly and the vibe was really chill. Drinks were tasty but they all had A LOT of ice in them. Heard good things about the Brussels but as someone who always orders them when they're on the menu, I was slightly disappointed.

Truly a gem! I genuinely forgot I was in Grand Rapids and not on vacation. The entire experience is immersive from start to finish! Plus, you really can't go wrong with anything on the menu. I tried the Rum Runner and ended up having two - so good! If you like drinks that are more sweet and a little sour, I would highly recommend. Beside the incredible theming and delicious food/cocktails, the staff add another layer of pure magic to the experience. Everyone we encountered from start to finish was absolutely amazing, and had so much wonderful information about the restaurant. More interested in exploring on your own? Go on a self guided art tour of the first floor - keep your eyes peeled for QR codes that will tell you all about the artwork in each area. Disney fans - discover enchanting elements from both the Polynesian Resort and the Enchanted Tiki Room. The Pu Pu Platter? Straight from Bugs Life. They also have several spaces with varying capacities for private events!

Maybe I'm just old, but the drinks where almost pure alcohol and not entirely enjoyable. My husband drinks burbon straight and even he thought it was a bit much. We did point it out to the waitstaff and it was still a little too strong with corrections to the next round. We tried 5 different drinks (between 2 people- but didnt finish any of thiem)- wanted to try a few more but by the time we were done we were feeling drunk. Food was great though and the server was really trying. We were just expecting enjoyable cocktails but maybe they are going more for the college bar experience, which is fine too, just not something I'm interested. Very cool decorations and atmosphere. I had been to Maxs a few years prior and the drinks were spectacular and they definitely snuck up on you. So maybe it was just an off night too. Definitely will not rule this place out.

Great cocktails in Grand Rapids! Max's is such a cool spot! The ambiance is legit a moody, tiki hut vibe and the service is great. Our waitress helped us pick out our drinks from the humongous menu of cocktails. She described the top favorites and the flavor profiles, which was so helpful. I can't remember what I ended up getting here, but it was so good and so strong! You definitely get your money's worth when drinking here. The food also looked really good - can't go wrong w/ waffle fries! But we just got drinks during our visit. Very cool spot!

First time at Max's. Our server was very friendly and prompt. We had made a reservation since we were coming prior to a concert. She did a great job getting us out on time for the event. The food and drinks were delicious. I really enjoyed the Blue Hawaiian. The portions were large! My friend and I ended up splitting the Korean Poutine. I would definitely recommend that dish. The ambience was neat. Everything was decorated with a South Pacific/tiki theme. My only complaint is that it was quite dark. At first it was hard to read the menu! Otherwise had a great experience!

This is my favorite place in GR! The bartenders are so awesome! The drinks are great and they have the best crab Rangoon's!! This is the place I take all my friends when they visit! Gotta try the smores board!

Many rice dishes. If you do not like rice, which I do not - beware most of the menu is rice. All the cocktails are sugar bombs just kiddie bait loaded with sugar neither artisan nor craft. The ambiance is cool, the service is good. Not a spot for the discerning diner.

What a darling place. It's a vacation spot, I feel like I'm in Hawaii!! I had the chicken satay (all by myself as a meal) and it was very filling and delicious. The service was a little slow despite coming on an empty night. Not a lot of people there. Our waiter kept forgetting to bring the water though he kept saying he was going to. The place though, that venue and the drinks were very awesome!! I just had the standard Blue Hawaiian, nothing very extravagant but they did a nice job. There are SO MANY things to look at!! So cool.there are several decorated rooms and each booth has its own look.

What a cool! Find this place is open 7 days a week and is worth stopping in to see. Love drinks and their tiki bowl is a must The waitress brought our drink tiki bowl and to the table and lit a fire. Since Trader Vic pioneered the shared bowl drink during WWII this was a must staple for this location; blend of orange, lime, vanilla, orgeat and a blend of Jamaican rums. We had a large group so we got a booth upstairs. The bar and other locations throughout are just as unique and perfect for groups or couples. Reservation should be a mother's place was packed even though it's open 7 days a week. Prices are expensive but you get what you pay for. We had sushi, we had pasta and we had drinks. Great night to remember. Definitely dropped over a $100 not including tip.

Speakeasy style place with Excellent Drinks. Outside may send you to pass by. Don't pass. It ain't what you think. Come on in!! Service is great, food is really good. Drinks are different and cool. Bring your "want to be with" person and have fun!

It's astonishing that McFaddens was transformed into a stunning and highly detailed tiki bar! The interior is very cool and truly transports you to a tropical tiki bar. Great environment. I don't drink alcohol so I can't vouch for the actual cocktail menu which is of course a big part of the experience and menu. But our server was quick to offer and recommend mocktails for us, recommending a large one that comes in a pineapple to share. You can tell it's made with actual fruit juices and not mixes, very fresh and delicious. We opted to share the pupu platter and the Korean poutine. The poutine was really tasty but how can you go wrong with loaded fries. The pupu platter was of course visually exciting with the little fire lit tableside. It included 5 different items and most were good, I particularly liked the satay. I do knock a star because the ribs on the pupu platter were seemingly cut very badly. They were tender and fell off the bone but then when we went to eat the meat, we found several bone fragments in every piece. Also they were out of spam, so we couldn't order the tempura musubi roll, which my husband was actually really excited about before even arriving. But overall a cool experience and I'd recommend it as something different to try.

We came into Max's on Friday at about 5:00 PM and were able to be seated right away. Coming in, it was fun to admire all of the decor-the walls are lined with beautiful art pieces, paintings and of course tiki mugs. Personally, I am not the biggest fan of rum, but there was plenty for me to drink and enjoy, and the bartender was happy to make a swap from rum to tequila for me. Here is what I enjoyed. El Chicon-this was delightful, and actually spicy as described. This was a smoked spicy and sour delight. Mezcal + ancho Reyes liqueur + smoked lime = a great time. Marooned with the Movie Star -this is where I asked for the rum to be swapped for tequila. I loved this as my second cocktail-it was sweeter and less intense than the first, but the ginger beer was a nice touch to the citrus and sweetness. They have some tiki mugs locally made that they sell as well as some shirts on their website. I wish we had spent more time here-we enjoyed our conversation with the bartender and looking at the art. This is by far one of the most unique tiki bars we have ever been to!

The tiki decorations, wall art, various lighting fixtures, multiple bars, and seating nooks make this place so unique! You can tell much thought went into the ambiance of this place. There's so much to look at; it's like a museum and restaurant in one. They have something for everyone on the menu. Everything was seasoned and cooked very well. Very well as in all the meat was very tender. We had the chicken wings, ribs, and chicken skewers. The service was very good. For being inside, we felt transported to the Polynesian Islands!

Pretty disappointed on my last visit. My friend and I arrived during happy hour, and were able to get an order of spring rolls in before it ended. They were really good, and the sauce that comes with them is great! There are 4, so it was a good size for 2 to split. We ordered drinks, and things were going well, though our server asked many times if we were ready to order and we were still chatting. It did feel a bit rushed. We had made a reservation for 4 of us, though there were only 2 of us when we checked in. At one point when our server asked again if we were ready to order we let him know we actually had a 3rd friend joining us. He then informed us that our reservation was ending in 40 minutes and we would have to forfeit our table. We were also told that when our party dropped from 4 people to 2 that it decreased the time of our reservation. -Why does the website not state ANYWHERE that there are time limits on reservations? - Why were we not informed prior to this moment when our reservation would be ending? I understood when there were capacity restrictions still in place that restaurants had to set limits on reservation times. I understand that some places are still short-staffed. I understand that it was not our server's fault that this time limit was in place. What I don't understand is why there was such a lack of transparency on the time limit. When we spoke with the server we did say that we understood that it wasn't his fault, we were just confused by it, and wondered if there was anywhere else we could be moved to so we could actually order food. He got a bit huffy with us, said we'd have to speak with a hostess, and then left. We were actually planning to order another drink before closing out, but he didn't come back for probably 20 minutes. The hostess came over and said she could get us seats at the bar, which was absolutely fine with us. When we finally got our tabs we were moved to the bar upstairs and everything was fine. Once we were at the bar the service was great, the drinks were good (though my beer tasted pretty soapy - probably from how they clean the lines), and the food was decent. I ordered tacos and they come with a massive side of elote salad that would've been better with a side of tortilla chips to go with it. The whole experience left us pretty annoyed. If I go back I will probably plan on just getting drinks. I love the tiki vibe; the ambience is very well done, but for the price and the fact that we did have a reservation, I think we could have been treated to a better experience.

If you're in Grand Rapids and appreciate tiki cocktails, this place is a must! I love how the exterior is so unassuming and you walk in and it's a, "WOW"! Excellent selection of cocktails, solid appetizers and outside of something Disney would create, probably the most elaborate Polynesian themed interior you'll see. I swear you'll think you're somewhere like Duke's in Hawaii. If I lived in Grand Rapids I'd go during there during the cold winters and imagine I was somewhere warmer drinking a tiki cocktail at the beach. The bartenders know their stuff and treat you great. Definitely recommend!

Service was great, drinks were great, but the food was meh. The environment is pretty unique especially for the area, but if you want good food there are much better places especially for the price.