Very disappointed in the service. The order was wrong, twice. We also sat at a table for over 10 minutes before anyone came over to us. A nice lady came by and asked if our server had been with us. I said no, and then shortly after our waiter came over and said he didn't understand why she (the woman who came over at first) didn't just take our drink order. That set the mood for a very stressful dinner. While the food was excellent it was hard to enjoy our food because of the mistakes and quite frankly we were ignored by our server. When we finally could get the check it was wrong and it took another 10 minutes to get he attention of the waiter, who didn't even ask just took the check and said he knew it was wrong! If you knew it was wrong why did you give it to us? We wanted to enjoy this place, but sadly the lack of attention and service made for our dining experience lackluster at best.
(1)
Sara B.
Found Maxine's through Yelp after not being able to get a table at Glacier Brew House. WOW! I'm so glad we came here. The food is creative and fabulous- and for the exceptional quality it was actually affordable. We tried almost every small dish, they were each uniquely plated and gorgeous. Delicious main courses and desserts, and a fabulous yet reasonably priced wine list. We had a sommelier recommended Tempranillo for $32/bottle. Our group of foodies from Berkeley, CA and Boston, MA were all impressed! The service was also really friendly and fun. Would absolutely return if I'm back in Anchorage. Highly recommend. It doesn't look like much from outside but has a great sunroom and a romantic homey inside dining room and bar. Highly recommend!
(5)
Lard Belly E.
I'm still stoked about this place and have had a variety of different items on the menu. I would say the steak is pretty darn good, though the last two times someone in my party ordered it the steak was extremely grisly and fatty, and the fries were really oily and flacid. I ordered the Halibut Cheeks, but they were subsituting the filet for $26 instead of the stated $31 because they were out. I didn't care for the presentation, though the goat cheese rav was pretty good.I like the well rounded beer and wine list. All in all I'm still a fan and I think I am a duchess check in. Woah check me out! The last time I and one other person was there celebrating a birthday and the whole time from start to finish was 3 hours. Dude rarely checked on us and held my credit card hostage for over a half hour. He was busy hanging out with his friends in the bar, though he was really apologetic. I guess everyone has an off day.
(4)
Rhianna B.
Now positively one of the best dining experiences I've had in Anchorage. Service is excellent, and its outrageous how hard it is to choose something from the menu. Our group sat outside on the patio, which they can open up for good weather. The entrees are moderately sized, and any leftovers that you have will be just as good the next day. The venue itself may be off-putting for some, but we were told that they are moving to a new location downtown that will better accommodate their awesome menu.
(5)
Antonio Z.
The service was perfection, this could have been because we were the only table in the restaurant at the time we walked in, but perfect nonetheless. I had the Beef Cheeks and it was delicious, brazed in Cabernet and, well, amazing. The reason why I give this place 4 stars instead of 5 is because the place smelled of mildew, and the vegetables that came along with my beef cheeks were not to my liking (they were cooked exactly how they should have been, just not my taste) Other than that, bring your butt to this place if you want to try Mediterranean food, or Spanish food with a Mediterranean flare (true Spanish food...not tacos or whatever) you will love it!
(4)
Nikita C.
I've never had a bad meal here! Cute and quiet little place, friendly servers and always wonderful food. You got to try the Brie and fig flat bread just to start.
(5)
Damien F.
I like this restaurant. The service is good, the food is frequently great. The food: The food is good bordering on great most of the time and is better then most restaurants here in Alaska. The only issue I have with the food is that sometimes they get so creative that they miss. On the other hand they are taking risks and trying things. There are misses on occasion but in general they do a good job. The service is good but not perfect. The prices are average for this area. If you are coming from somewhere like Portland, OR just remember you are spoiled for price and quality and for this area Maxine's is a good quality for a reasonable price and give them credit the produce and food they have to work with is not what you have in the lower 48. Don't go here in a hurry, it is not meant to be that kind of dining experience. The building and environment is okay. They have done pretty well with a building from the 70's but it is not the best dining environment in town. That said it good enough to enjoy. The location is no picturesque and don't expect any views. There is limited awkward parking but not as bad as say Moose's Tooth or Bear's Tooth. Go to Maxine's to try something new and have a nice slow meal with a few friends.
(4)
Shannon C.
Love that this place has a dedicated vegetarian menu that is actually good. The ambiance does not match how good the food is but still one of my go to places. Not a fan of sweets but their chocolate molten lava cake is divine.
(5)
Jen K.
My husband and I had just arrived in Anchorage and we were staying nearby, so we decided to check this place out. Admittedly, we almost bailed when we saw the restaurant from the outside. (It looks a bit sketchy!) But we stuck with it, and I'm SO glad we did. I got the vegetarian chorizo poblano pepper, and it was delicious. My husband got the Alaskan fish tacos and he thought they tasted amazingly fresh. The portions were huge, the service was great, and the whole meal set the bar high for dining in Alaska.
(5)
W. Ryan M.
This place was a hidden Gem While in town on my many business trips: whipped out my phone Yelpped for 4+ star place. Man I got one. The only reason I didn't give 5 stars was because there was some smell in the back where I was sitting... And it was not pleasant. Think... Old Person/ funeral home type smell. Don't let that detour you. Try this place out. Just incase pick a table NOT back the back exit door. The waitress, older - seemed to have ties with the business I think- Super helpful on picking things for menu option. When she said something superb 'frenchie' and my expression went.. (o.O) She went back and explained it. Amazing food. Couldn't be happier with it. It was such a small place they even timed when I was done my appetizer to swap plates and roll right into me entree. I def. will be going back again.
(4)
Noelle S.
The food is excellent!!! Had a really hard time deciding. If you're looking for something different from the norm this is the place. You have to read the entire menu before you can decide. There are so many interesting items. Had an awesome separate vegetarian menu. Excellent wine list. The decor does not seem to fit the menu. However it's a great small quaint restaurant that you can have a conversation with the person across from you.
(5)
Barry S.
Really good. My wife loves Maxine's. Perfect balance of great food and classy comfortable atmosphere that is never pretentious.
This place doesn't look like anything from the outside, and the decor is tired, but the food is fantastic. Excellent menu and an eclectic wine list. I had the heirloom tomato salad, which came with a basil granita. I also had two small plates: the chicken fried duck livers, and bacon wrapped potato/scallops. My dinner mate had the pork shoulder barbecue platter. All the food was fantastic and very fairly priced. The wine menu had sufficient depth that there was something for everyone. This is one of the top restaurants in Anchorage. Overlook the decor, go for the food.
(5)
Rusty S.
We've been there twice; the first was nice, quiet, and amazing. The second, the atmosphere was not quite as good. These people are great with flavoring the dishes - they can make some very interesting stuff very tasty. However, I have questions about the quality of meat that they use; we've had lamb, chicken, steak, and pork there, and they're very savory, but they're often tough or grizzly. This place is living in a powder keg and throwin' off sparks - if they can get better quality meat, they'll explode.
(3)
Ana N.
I had heard such great things, especially when this place was in Girdwood, and was very disappointed. The winner was for sure were the prosciutto-wrapped scallops. That's why I gave two stars instead of one. We ordered a "large plate" of seared tuna and the large plate was 2 ounces (maybe) of tuna on a plate the same size as our appetizer. It was NOT large and would have been fine if an appetizer and not a $30+dish. We also ordered the duck confit. Before ordering, I asked if the duck confit was moist, and the unnecessarily snobby waiter said, "we are a nice restaurant so of course it's not going to be dry." Well, he failed to mention this nice restaurant servers "duck confit" wrapped in dough and deep fried. Like a few shreds of duck in a thick wonton. I was appalled. Who would even call that duck confit?????? I wanted to get out of there as quickly as possible, embarrassed I made such a big deal about going here only to have such disappointing meals and service. It's a shame. I am sure some things on the menu are fantastic, like the scallops. But our experience was horrible, and the waiter's attitude didn't help. I have been to dozens of nice restaurants all over the world, and friendliness over snobbery is the rule. At least if you want people to come back.
(2)
Crystal B.
I had never been to the Maxine's in Girdwood, but took notice when this opened up on Fireweed in Anchorage. I booked a reservation through Open Table and when we arrived...we were quickly seated in a nice booth. I have 2 words - PORK BELLY. It's life-changing. The decor is outdated for a new restaurant (seriously - get an interior designer and get a clue!) and they push wine too much. Not everyone likes wine, and I'm sorry, server, if my bill is less because of it. Aside from that, the food is fantastic...which is really the most important thing of all.
(4)
Amanda C.
I really admire Maxine's for their approach to cuisine. They make almost everything in house, including the things people never make themselves like bread, french fries, dressings, etc. The creativity is off the charts compared to most restaurants in Anchorage. That said, I have had a few bumps in every trip to Maxine's. One time it took almost 1.5 hours to get our food; we were a party of 6, but still. Yowzah. Another time, I ordered the chicken caesar and it turned out to be iceberg lettuce and chicken from the coq au vin. To Maxine's credit, they comp'ed the salad since they had tried to sneak in the iceberg lettuce, hoping I wouldn't notice. In terms of taste, I've been a big fan of all Mediterranean offerings (kabob and meze platter). The soup (thanks to Lard Belly E!) is also pretty delicious. But remember, Maxine's is not without its hiccups. If it weren't for the foibles, Maxine's would at least be 4 stars.
(3)
Half Empty C.
Yeah, I'll come back and check you out real good like. Just wanted to let folks know this place should be your next new adventure, or on your short list of decent places in town. --All your food servers should have a glass of wine before service--
(4)
Adam W.
We went here a few weekends ago. We didn't realize it before going, but Maxine's was doing a special "Sader" menu that night. Everything that came out was interesting and fantastic. We were extremely happy with the food. Drawback currently are the service and the ambiance. The place itself is awkward. There are two sections. One section is like a dark cave, not very inviting. Then there is the "outdoor" area which is covered with a weird plastic top in rain/winter. This section has sufficient light, but the plastic covering is horribly ugly. Also, the art is weird. In general, it's not a very pleasant place to sit and relax. Also, the service was kind of weird, although not terrible or anything. But food is most important. The food was excellent, so it gets 4 stars. I'll be back.
(4)
Laura B.
My friend and I went for lunch. The food was great and the service was attentive. I thought the location and interior was fine. There was a slight mix up with our food- my friend's order was just in the kitchen still, so that was straightened out quickly. We split the Meze which was outstanding and my friend got the kebab wrap while I got the Korean tacos. Both of those were super great, too. We had a tough time deciding because while the menu wasn't huge, everything on it looked awesome. Will be going back soon to try more. I need to try it for supper as well, but it's nice and convenient for a good lunch place and quieter than many places we usually go.
(5)
Meagan F.
We went on a Saturday night and it was not crowded at all. We had (what we thought) was plenty of time before our movie start. However, after the server brought us our apps, he ignored us for 30 minutes. Seriously - a table of 4 was seated after us, got their meals, and we hadn't been checked on once. When he finally did check on us, he realized the orders for our entrees were never placed in the computer. While we appreciated the offer of free desserts, because the service took so long we didn't have time for it. I hesitate to return. I am very dissappointed because I loved them in Girdwood. But all I hear about at their new location is terrible service.
(2)
John O.
As far as Anchorage goes, Maxine's is as good as it gets. We ordered a wide variety of appetizers and all were excellent. The menu is innovative and unique (more eyebrow raising than say Glacier Brewhouse). The presentation is what you would expect for fine dining and the quality is to match. The service was very good as well. The prices were what you would expect from a nice restaurant. If I were looking for a quiet, romantic night out, out of all of the restaurants in Anchorage, I would choose Maxine's. Very well done.
(5)
E B.
While visiting home I found this new restaurant through Yelp. I'm a vegan with a lot of food allergies so finding a good restaurant is genius! They were so great about my questions and food was DELISH! Bonus: Good meat options for the non-vegans too. However, not good for kids. Definitely a date-night or adult-only spot. I hope this place has continued success so I can eat there again on my next visit back home!
(5)
Darae C.
The sign said "Mediterainean" & the web said, "Bistro," sounded good so we went in at 5:00 as walk ins because we couldn't make reservations before 6:45 The server seated us at a small wooden varnished booth, fork with dirty knife rolled in a nice napkin, poured us some water out of re-purposed (greasy looking) wine bottle with no ice. We each ordered a nice glass of wine and we we attacked by several fat little fruit flies. They had the door open and I think there was a battle with the traffic noise and the music. The traffic won (finally) and the turned the sterio down. I didn't like listening to their voice mails on speaker either. I ordered the Vegetarian Dinner for $25.00 I expected more than 3 very small potatoes drowned in cream sauce, poured on top a (beet smoothy?) and a crude artichoke sliced in half on top of that... That's it, 3 small potatoes and an artichoke! No bread. My husband was happy to have ordered the burger which he kindley shared, i enjoyed the pickels. The kitchen help had dirty clothes,no aprons. When finished, I asked if the owner was in and it was a yes, I was going to offer a kindly curtique but he took off to the kitchen, (did he know?). The back of his pants looked like he'd been camping for 2 weeks in them. Where did all those great reviews come from? I don't know. I was expecting something better than my lousey cooking. The one star goes to the server.
(1)
Melissa W.
I've been here for a lunch several times but last night (Monday) was my first dining experience. They've recently changed their hours and are now open 7 days a week but for dinner only. We were a party of 2 and were seated immediately. Water and bread were served pretty fast. Note: the oil on the table tasted garlic infused and was delicious. They are going with the whole "no ice" trend that seems so popular these days. Drives me crazy. The waiter was prompt and told us about the specials. We ordered the Brie & Fig Flatbread ($11), a side salad, the soup of the day (a butternut squash bisque), Saltimbacca ($24), the vegetarian special and the lava cake. Things arrived in a timely fashion and tasted wonderful. Vegheads take notice! They do more than a token veggie burger. The risotto zucchini was amazing! Companion enjoyed her veal and it looked terrific. Portions are reasonable, service was good. In the past lunch service was extremely slow to the point of frustration, so it was a nice change. Cozy atmosphere. Cute 2-seater booths. Great date spot. Side note: the bathroom was at least 95 degrees. I thought I was going to have a stroke. So, if you need to warm up...go there!
(4)
Bonnie S.
Went once before, and were not that impressed. Im glad we gave it a second chance. Went on a Sunday night and had their Sunday supper--fixed price menu. We were blown away--local salad greens and nasturtiums, homemade mozzarella combined with tasty pungent vinegraette. Followed by a huge platter of locally grown veggies--zucchini, peas, fingerling potatoes, along with corn and broccoli. All were delicious. We both chose the same main dish--albacore tuna, with a fantastic spicy garlic aoli. We loved our dinner, AND it was very reasonably priced, considering quality of ingredients, and amounts of food. We will be back for a Sunday supper SOON!!!
(5)
T C.
I came here, coincidentally, with a very handsome Yelper who happens to have also reviewed this bistro. We hadn't been to Maxine's before, and came here on a whim because we were about to head to Roadhouse for the 1,000th time this month. I was pleasantly surprised with everything. I thought it was more of a Greek-style place, but maybe I mistook it for what was in the building before (which I presumed was an all-out Greek restaurant). It wasn't very crowded, and it's small but cozy. It was also a bit dark; we saw other customers decline a table near the wall where it was strangely positioned and dim. We sat at a table against the window, and it was pretty cold. I guess you'd expect that from a building that seems to have been around for awhile. The booth seats were also far from the table. If you wanted to have a quiet conversation, you'd have to move in close, unless you wanted the whole restaurant to be privy to your discussion, such was the case as a table behind us. Our server was very friendly and helpful. He seemed pretty busy, as he ended up being the only server toward the end of the evening. But that didn't seem to impede him; he was very attentive and nice. We had some bread to nom on before our meal. The garlic-infused olive oil was really delicious. I wish the bread was warmed or toasted, though! It would have really brought that garlic oil flavor out even more. The tomato bisque soup was awesome. As many places in town tend to have some sort of cream-of-tomato soups available, this one definitely is up there as one of the best. The cheesy bread floating on top was a tasty touch. He had the bangers-and-mash, which looked super fancy, and I had the mac-and-cheese. It was prepared differently than conventional mac-and-cheese, and it was delicious. My only gripe was that there were just a bit much of breadcrumbs on top, which made it a little saltier than I would have preferred. Anyway, I'm glad we took the gamble. I'm wary to try a restaurant out, if I hadn't heard about it from friends or seen it on Yelp, but this was great. I'm definitely going to come by and try their lunch menu, and give dinner another spin. I think this might join the list of regularly-visited restaurants.
(4)
Sonya S.
This is the land of impressive, but tiny, food..the lamb was the most exquisite four bites ever!
(4)
Megan M.
Never would have found this funky place without advice from a local! We loved the salad, wine list is excellent and the variety of the dishes is great. We ate on Sunday so we had the 'family style' sides and loooved the roasted potatoes. Very reasonably priced and the chef sources locally. :) I thought the atmosphere and service was fun- a nice mix of 'fancy but okay to wear jeans' kinda place.
(5)
Chiep P.
Got sat in the sunroom, heater came on once and went out. Service took forever even for water. Ordered soup and pork belly for apps. Tried to order surf and turf but was told they were out. Pork belly was good, maybe because are server told us it was the last order. Had the roast chicken and lamb for dinner and while we were about to start on our dinner. The next table starts to order their apps and what do we hear them order, surf and turf. Ok.....bistro! Where's my surf and turf? Couldn't finish my dinner after that:p
(3)
Jen A.
The new location lacks the charm of the former location. The food was great, when it finally arrived, but the service could use some improvement. My dinner was given to the wrong table. The waiter failed to mention this when he dropped off my boyfriend's dinner. My meal arrived about 15 minutes later, when i was finally able to order another glass of wine, as the waiter seemed to be avoiding us rather than letting us know what was going on. 15 years in the service industry has taught me that honesty, a sincere apology, and an offer of free dessert will go a long way toward keeping people happy, but none of the above happened. I'll still be back though, as Maxine's was one of my very favorite restaurants when it was in Girdwood, and hopefully i'll have a better experience next time.
(3)
Mark S.
Customer service was terrible. Will never go there again, hostess and bartender were not very customer service oriented.
(1)
Jackie P.
Really good! I met a friend for Sunday night. It was one of the few places open. They had a set menu, which I was not aware of when making the reservation. We sat on the outside patio which was nice but a little dirty/rundown. Menu started at $27 for dinner. It comes with salad, bread, and a side veg platter. The bread was REALLY good! All of the veggies were grown in the valley and tasted really fresh. I had the lamb shepard's pie. It was really very good. I liked everything I ate there. I was surprised I liked it that much. My only beef was the prices seemed a little high to me.
(4)
Jerry R.
I had the halibut cheeks pan seared, home- made pistachio and goat cheese raviolis, blood orange beurre blanc and lemon-truffled arugula, all excellent. A warm cozy atmosphere, great service, and innovative menu make for a grand dinning experience.
(5)
Kelly T.
My experience at Maxine's was a disappointment after much anticipation of new menu items. I went to Maxine's on a Monday. My friend and I arrived at 5 pm. The restaurant was not busy because that was the time it opened. There was two adults and a two year old in our party. We were sat in a two person booth even though there were larger booths available. So my friend shared a seat with her child. You can imagine how uncomfortable that is. It's my belief that the Maxine's staff was offended or annoyed by a child being brought to their establishment. Or else judged my party based on its appearance and decided financial gain was not likely. I say this because the service we received after our poor seating was less than satisfactory. I might not even refer to it as service. We waited for our food for an hour. We also had to several times track our server down for additional needs. We were there two hours total. This experience offended me. And I have to say I can't return where I feel so unwelcome.
(2)
Emily M.
I went here for my anniversary dinner. The wine selection was great and they sell a lot of good wines by the glass. The food was delicious and the menu was interesting. The only drawback is that I didn't think the quality and portion size was truly reflected in the prices (i.e. Double Musky prices without the mega size portions or the overwhelmingly good flavors). Nevertheless, I'd eat there again.
(3)
Rick B.
This was our second time visit to Maxine's. The first time was about 2 months ago, and everything was amazing. Service, timeliness, and taste of everything was perfect. The second visit, not so good. The service was okay. One of the highlights my wife and I looked forward to was the garlic-infused olive oil and bread that starts the dining experience. We were met with straight olive oil and bread that was nothing to write home about. I did ask the waiter what had happened to the olive oil. His response was that nothing had changed. The waiter removed the olive oil and sampled it. He returned with the correct garlic / olive oil and proceeded to check the other tables. The appetizer we chose was "surf and turf." Outstanding is all I can say. My daughter ordered the chicken fingers and fries with apple juice from the kids menu. Turns out, no juice, only soda or water. They were out of chicken fingers, too. She settled for the kid's cheese pizza. I ordered Maxine's BBQ. Sounded interesting. My wife had the Philipino chicken adobo. I also had the oatmeal stout and my wife had a glass of Riesling. The cheese pizza was fresh from the oven, lip scorching hot, and the cheese was burnt. Not really a big hit with my daughter. I sampled a few bites of the chicken adobo and thought it was an excellent dish. My wife also enjoyed the chicken, but by the end of her meal, not so much. She said the savory elements of the sauce became too heavy toward the end. I must say her rice -- simple white rice -- was butchered. How they destroyed such a simple side is beyond me. Mushy, gooey rice should never be served. It was way over cooked. The BBQ dish - wow -- totally missed the mark. Smoked pork shoulder, purple potato salad, baked beans, and coleslaw. The pork flavor was okay but the meat was terribly tough and dry. Epic fail. The purple potato salad was very nice. The baked beans were good. The coleslaw lacked flavor. I left a comment card suggesting the smoked BBQ pork be removed from the menu. Crème Brule' for desert was very good. Overall, we were both disappointed with the experience. When you drop over $100 for a meal, you expect more. I don't have a problem with the prices if the quality and consistency of the food is commensurate with the price. Still, I can't recommend Maxine's. Doubt we'll go back. At these prices, I expect an excellent experience every time, and my little girl should get a good meal, too.
(2)
Michael K.
We had Mother's Day brunch at Maxine's for our first experience. Everyone enjoyed their meal and the service. I would have liked more choices, but being it was a Mother's Day Brunch special menu, I guess I can understand. We will be back soon to try their regular menu. The obviously have a talented Chef and we look forward to trying their regular menu.
(4)
Judith M.
Had dinner this evening. Roasted garlic and Meyer lemon bisque excellent. Surf and turf appetizer delicious,as well as creative and pleasing presentation. Husband's halibut cheeks moist, tender, tasty. Service good, love that you get a wine bottle of water on the table. Only drawback, temperature somewhat cold in the restaurant. It is located in building that was Greek Corner for years, then the Grape Leaf. They've done a good job inside with decor -- fun art! Will be back.
(4)
Tracy W.
Quaint place; great food. The tomato basil pesto flatbread is excellent. I had the Korean tacos: pulled pork and kim chee. Very tasty.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : No Good for Kids : No Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Intimate Noise Level : Average Good For Dancing : No Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only Happy Hour : No Best Nights : Tue, Wed, Thu Coat Check : No Smoking : No Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : No Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
Erica B.
Very disappointed in the service. The order was wrong, twice. We also sat at a table for over 10 minutes before anyone came over to us. A nice lady came by and asked if our server had been with us. I said no, and then shortly after our waiter came over and said he didn't understand why she (the woman who came over at first) didn't just take our drink order. That set the mood for a very stressful dinner. While the food was excellent it was hard to enjoy our food because of the mistakes and quite frankly we were ignored by our server. When we finally could get the check it was wrong and it took another 10 minutes to get he attention of the waiter, who didn't even ask just took the check and said he knew it was wrong! If you knew it was wrong why did you give it to us? We wanted to enjoy this place, but sadly the lack of attention and service made for our dining experience lackluster at best.
(1)Sara B.
Found Maxine's through Yelp after not being able to get a table at Glacier Brew House. WOW! I'm so glad we came here. The food is creative and fabulous- and for the exceptional quality it was actually affordable. We tried almost every small dish, they were each uniquely plated and gorgeous. Delicious main courses and desserts, and a fabulous yet reasonably priced wine list. We had a sommelier recommended Tempranillo for $32/bottle. Our group of foodies from Berkeley, CA and Boston, MA were all impressed! The service was also really friendly and fun. Would absolutely return if I'm back in Anchorage. Highly recommend. It doesn't look like much from outside but has a great sunroom and a romantic homey inside dining room and bar. Highly recommend!
(5)Lard Belly E.
I'm still stoked about this place and have had a variety of different items on the menu. I would say the steak is pretty darn good, though the last two times someone in my party ordered it the steak was extremely grisly and fatty, and the fries were really oily and flacid. I ordered the Halibut Cheeks, but they were subsituting the filet for $26 instead of the stated $31 because they were out. I didn't care for the presentation, though the goat cheese rav was pretty good.I like the well rounded beer and wine list. All in all I'm still a fan and I think I am a duchess check in. Woah check me out! The last time I and one other person was there celebrating a birthday and the whole time from start to finish was 3 hours. Dude rarely checked on us and held my credit card hostage for over a half hour. He was busy hanging out with his friends in the bar, though he was really apologetic. I guess everyone has an off day.
(4)Rhianna B.
Now positively one of the best dining experiences I've had in Anchorage. Service is excellent, and its outrageous how hard it is to choose something from the menu. Our group sat outside on the patio, which they can open up for good weather. The entrees are moderately sized, and any leftovers that you have will be just as good the next day. The venue itself may be off-putting for some, but we were told that they are moving to a new location downtown that will better accommodate their awesome menu.
(5)Antonio Z.
The service was perfection, this could have been because we were the only table in the restaurant at the time we walked in, but perfect nonetheless. I had the Beef Cheeks and it was delicious, brazed in Cabernet and, well, amazing. The reason why I give this place 4 stars instead of 5 is because the place smelled of mildew, and the vegetables that came along with my beef cheeks were not to my liking (they were cooked exactly how they should have been, just not my taste) Other than that, bring your butt to this place if you want to try Mediterranean food, or Spanish food with a Mediterranean flare (true Spanish food...not tacos or whatever) you will love it!
(4)Nikita C.
I've never had a bad meal here! Cute and quiet little place, friendly servers and always wonderful food. You got to try the Brie and fig flat bread just to start.
(5)Damien F.
I like this restaurant. The service is good, the food is frequently great. The food: The food is good bordering on great most of the time and is better then most restaurants here in Alaska. The only issue I have with the food is that sometimes they get so creative that they miss. On the other hand they are taking risks and trying things. There are misses on occasion but in general they do a good job. The service is good but not perfect. The prices are average for this area. If you are coming from somewhere like Portland, OR just remember you are spoiled for price and quality and for this area Maxine's is a good quality for a reasonable price and give them credit the produce and food they have to work with is not what you have in the lower 48. Don't go here in a hurry, it is not meant to be that kind of dining experience. The building and environment is okay. They have done pretty well with a building from the 70's but it is not the best dining environment in town. That said it good enough to enjoy. The location is no picturesque and don't expect any views. There is limited awkward parking but not as bad as say Moose's Tooth or Bear's Tooth. Go to Maxine's to try something new and have a nice slow meal with a few friends.
(4)Shannon C.
Love that this place has a dedicated vegetarian menu that is actually good. The ambiance does not match how good the food is but still one of my go to places. Not a fan of sweets but their chocolate molten lava cake is divine.
(5)Jen K.
My husband and I had just arrived in Anchorage and we were staying nearby, so we decided to check this place out. Admittedly, we almost bailed when we saw the restaurant from the outside. (It looks a bit sketchy!) But we stuck with it, and I'm SO glad we did. I got the vegetarian chorizo poblano pepper, and it was delicious. My husband got the Alaskan fish tacos and he thought they tasted amazingly fresh. The portions were huge, the service was great, and the whole meal set the bar high for dining in Alaska.
(5)W. Ryan M.
This place was a hidden Gem While in town on my many business trips: whipped out my phone Yelpped for 4+ star place. Man I got one. The only reason I didn't give 5 stars was because there was some smell in the back where I was sitting... And it was not pleasant. Think... Old Person/ funeral home type smell. Don't let that detour you. Try this place out. Just incase pick a table NOT back the back exit door. The waitress, older - seemed to have ties with the business I think- Super helpful on picking things for menu option. When she said something superb 'frenchie' and my expression went.. (o.O) She went back and explained it. Amazing food. Couldn't be happier with it. It was such a small place they even timed when I was done my appetizer to swap plates and roll right into me entree. I def. will be going back again.
(4)Noelle S.
The food is excellent!!! Had a really hard time deciding. If you're looking for something different from the norm this is the place. You have to read the entire menu before you can decide. There are so many interesting items. Had an awesome separate vegetarian menu. Excellent wine list. The decor does not seem to fit the menu. However it's a great small quaint restaurant that you can have a conversation with the person across from you.
(5)Barry S.
Really good. My wife loves Maxine's. Perfect balance of great food and classy comfortable atmosphere that is never pretentious.
(4)Megan C.
Very good food. Felt like a classy restaurant. I had the Vegan Thai Lettuce Wrap which was a little spicy but good. Dessert was delicious creme brûlée.
(4)Joe V.
This place doesn't look like anything from the outside, and the decor is tired, but the food is fantastic. Excellent menu and an eclectic wine list. I had the heirloom tomato salad, which came with a basil granita. I also had two small plates: the chicken fried duck livers, and bacon wrapped potato/scallops. My dinner mate had the pork shoulder barbecue platter. All the food was fantastic and very fairly priced. The wine menu had sufficient depth that there was something for everyone. This is one of the top restaurants in Anchorage. Overlook the decor, go for the food.
(5)Rusty S.
We've been there twice; the first was nice, quiet, and amazing. The second, the atmosphere was not quite as good. These people are great with flavoring the dishes - they can make some very interesting stuff very tasty. However, I have questions about the quality of meat that they use; we've had lamb, chicken, steak, and pork there, and they're very savory, but they're often tough or grizzly. This place is living in a powder keg and throwin' off sparks - if they can get better quality meat, they'll explode.
(3)Ana N.
I had heard such great things, especially when this place was in Girdwood, and was very disappointed. The winner was for sure were the prosciutto-wrapped scallops. That's why I gave two stars instead of one. We ordered a "large plate" of seared tuna and the large plate was 2 ounces (maybe) of tuna on a plate the same size as our appetizer. It was NOT large and would have been fine if an appetizer and not a $30+dish. We also ordered the duck confit. Before ordering, I asked if the duck confit was moist, and the unnecessarily snobby waiter said, "we are a nice restaurant so of course it's not going to be dry." Well, he failed to mention this nice restaurant servers "duck confit" wrapped in dough and deep fried. Like a few shreds of duck in a thick wonton. I was appalled. Who would even call that duck confit?????? I wanted to get out of there as quickly as possible, embarrassed I made such a big deal about going here only to have such disappointing meals and service. It's a shame. I am sure some things on the menu are fantastic, like the scallops. But our experience was horrible, and the waiter's attitude didn't help. I have been to dozens of nice restaurants all over the world, and friendliness over snobbery is the rule. At least if you want people to come back.
(2)Crystal B.
I had never been to the Maxine's in Girdwood, but took notice when this opened up on Fireweed in Anchorage. I booked a reservation through Open Table and when we arrived...we were quickly seated in a nice booth. I have 2 words - PORK BELLY. It's life-changing. The decor is outdated for a new restaurant (seriously - get an interior designer and get a clue!) and they push wine too much. Not everyone likes wine, and I'm sorry, server, if my bill is less because of it. Aside from that, the food is fantastic...which is really the most important thing of all.
(4)Amanda C.
I really admire Maxine's for their approach to cuisine. They make almost everything in house, including the things people never make themselves like bread, french fries, dressings, etc. The creativity is off the charts compared to most restaurants in Anchorage. That said, I have had a few bumps in every trip to Maxine's. One time it took almost 1.5 hours to get our food; we were a party of 6, but still. Yowzah. Another time, I ordered the chicken caesar and it turned out to be iceberg lettuce and chicken from the coq au vin. To Maxine's credit, they comp'ed the salad since they had tried to sneak in the iceberg lettuce, hoping I wouldn't notice. In terms of taste, I've been a big fan of all Mediterranean offerings (kabob and meze platter). The soup (thanks to Lard Belly E!) is also pretty delicious. But remember, Maxine's is not without its hiccups. If it weren't for the foibles, Maxine's would at least be 4 stars.
(3)Half Empty C.
Yeah, I'll come back and check you out real good like. Just wanted to let folks know this place should be your next new adventure, or on your short list of decent places in town. --All your food servers should have a glass of wine before service--
(4)Adam W.
We went here a few weekends ago. We didn't realize it before going, but Maxine's was doing a special "Sader" menu that night. Everything that came out was interesting and fantastic. We were extremely happy with the food. Drawback currently are the service and the ambiance. The place itself is awkward. There are two sections. One section is like a dark cave, not very inviting. Then there is the "outdoor" area which is covered with a weird plastic top in rain/winter. This section has sufficient light, but the plastic covering is horribly ugly. Also, the art is weird. In general, it's not a very pleasant place to sit and relax. Also, the service was kind of weird, although not terrible or anything. But food is most important. The food was excellent, so it gets 4 stars. I'll be back.
(4)Laura B.
My friend and I went for lunch. The food was great and the service was attentive. I thought the location and interior was fine. There was a slight mix up with our food- my friend's order was just in the kitchen still, so that was straightened out quickly. We split the Meze which was outstanding and my friend got the kebab wrap while I got the Korean tacos. Both of those were super great, too. We had a tough time deciding because while the menu wasn't huge, everything on it looked awesome. Will be going back soon to try more. I need to try it for supper as well, but it's nice and convenient for a good lunch place and quieter than many places we usually go.
(5)Meagan F.
We went on a Saturday night and it was not crowded at all. We had (what we thought) was plenty of time before our movie start. However, after the server brought us our apps, he ignored us for 30 minutes. Seriously - a table of 4 was seated after us, got their meals, and we hadn't been checked on once. When he finally did check on us, he realized the orders for our entrees were never placed in the computer. While we appreciated the offer of free desserts, because the service took so long we didn't have time for it. I hesitate to return. I am very dissappointed because I loved them in Girdwood. But all I hear about at their new location is terrible service.
(2)John O.
As far as Anchorage goes, Maxine's is as good as it gets. We ordered a wide variety of appetizers and all were excellent. The menu is innovative and unique (more eyebrow raising than say Glacier Brewhouse). The presentation is what you would expect for fine dining and the quality is to match. The service was very good as well. The prices were what you would expect from a nice restaurant. If I were looking for a quiet, romantic night out, out of all of the restaurants in Anchorage, I would choose Maxine's. Very well done.
(5)E B.
While visiting home I found this new restaurant through Yelp. I'm a vegan with a lot of food allergies so finding a good restaurant is genius! They were so great about my questions and food was DELISH! Bonus: Good meat options for the non-vegans too. However, not good for kids. Definitely a date-night or adult-only spot. I hope this place has continued success so I can eat there again on my next visit back home!
(5)Darae C.
The sign said "Mediterainean" & the web said, "Bistro," sounded good so we went in at 5:00 as walk ins because we couldn't make reservations before 6:45 The server seated us at a small wooden varnished booth, fork with dirty knife rolled in a nice napkin, poured us some water out of re-purposed (greasy looking) wine bottle with no ice. We each ordered a nice glass of wine and we we attacked by several fat little fruit flies. They had the door open and I think there was a battle with the traffic noise and the music. The traffic won (finally) and the turned the sterio down. I didn't like listening to their voice mails on speaker either. I ordered the Vegetarian Dinner for $25.00 I expected more than 3 very small potatoes drowned in cream sauce, poured on top a (beet smoothy?) and a crude artichoke sliced in half on top of that... That's it, 3 small potatoes and an artichoke! No bread. My husband was happy to have ordered the burger which he kindley shared, i enjoyed the pickels. The kitchen help had dirty clothes,no aprons. When finished, I asked if the owner was in and it was a yes, I was going to offer a kindly curtique but he took off to the kitchen, (did he know?). The back of his pants looked like he'd been camping for 2 weeks in them. Where did all those great reviews come from? I don't know. I was expecting something better than my lousey cooking. The one star goes to the server.
(1)Melissa W.
I've been here for a lunch several times but last night (Monday) was my first dining experience. They've recently changed their hours and are now open 7 days a week but for dinner only. We were a party of 2 and were seated immediately. Water and bread were served pretty fast. Note: the oil on the table tasted garlic infused and was delicious. They are going with the whole "no ice" trend that seems so popular these days. Drives me crazy. The waiter was prompt and told us about the specials. We ordered the Brie & Fig Flatbread ($11), a side salad, the soup of the day (a butternut squash bisque), Saltimbacca ($24), the vegetarian special and the lava cake. Things arrived in a timely fashion and tasted wonderful. Vegheads take notice! They do more than a token veggie burger. The risotto zucchini was amazing! Companion enjoyed her veal and it looked terrific. Portions are reasonable, service was good. In the past lunch service was extremely slow to the point of frustration, so it was a nice change. Cozy atmosphere. Cute 2-seater booths. Great date spot. Side note: the bathroom was at least 95 degrees. I thought I was going to have a stroke. So, if you need to warm up...go there!
(4)Bonnie S.
Went once before, and were not that impressed. Im glad we gave it a second chance. Went on a Sunday night and had their Sunday supper--fixed price menu. We were blown away--local salad greens and nasturtiums, homemade mozzarella combined with tasty pungent vinegraette. Followed by a huge platter of locally grown veggies--zucchini, peas, fingerling potatoes, along with corn and broccoli. All were delicious. We both chose the same main dish--albacore tuna, with a fantastic spicy garlic aoli. We loved our dinner, AND it was very reasonably priced, considering quality of ingredients, and amounts of food. We will be back for a Sunday supper SOON!!!
(5)T C.
I came here, coincidentally, with a very handsome Yelper who happens to have also reviewed this bistro. We hadn't been to Maxine's before, and came here on a whim because we were about to head to Roadhouse for the 1,000th time this month. I was pleasantly surprised with everything. I thought it was more of a Greek-style place, but maybe I mistook it for what was in the building before (which I presumed was an all-out Greek restaurant). It wasn't very crowded, and it's small but cozy. It was also a bit dark; we saw other customers decline a table near the wall where it was strangely positioned and dim. We sat at a table against the window, and it was pretty cold. I guess you'd expect that from a building that seems to have been around for awhile. The booth seats were also far from the table. If you wanted to have a quiet conversation, you'd have to move in close, unless you wanted the whole restaurant to be privy to your discussion, such was the case as a table behind us. Our server was very friendly and helpful. He seemed pretty busy, as he ended up being the only server toward the end of the evening. But that didn't seem to impede him; he was very attentive and nice. We had some bread to nom on before our meal. The garlic-infused olive oil was really delicious. I wish the bread was warmed or toasted, though! It would have really brought that garlic oil flavor out even more. The tomato bisque soup was awesome. As many places in town tend to have some sort of cream-of-tomato soups available, this one definitely is up there as one of the best. The cheesy bread floating on top was a tasty touch. He had the bangers-and-mash, which looked super fancy, and I had the mac-and-cheese. It was prepared differently than conventional mac-and-cheese, and it was delicious. My only gripe was that there were just a bit much of breadcrumbs on top, which made it a little saltier than I would have preferred. Anyway, I'm glad we took the gamble. I'm wary to try a restaurant out, if I hadn't heard about it from friends or seen it on Yelp, but this was great. I'm definitely going to come by and try their lunch menu, and give dinner another spin. I think this might join the list of regularly-visited restaurants.
(4)Sonya S.
This is the land of impressive, but tiny, food..the lamb was the most exquisite four bites ever!
(4)Megan M.
Never would have found this funky place without advice from a local! We loved the salad, wine list is excellent and the variety of the dishes is great. We ate on Sunday so we had the 'family style' sides and loooved the roasted potatoes. Very reasonably priced and the chef sources locally. :) I thought the atmosphere and service was fun- a nice mix of 'fancy but okay to wear jeans' kinda place.
(5)Chiep P.
Got sat in the sunroom, heater came on once and went out. Service took forever even for water. Ordered soup and pork belly for apps. Tried to order surf and turf but was told they were out. Pork belly was good, maybe because are server told us it was the last order. Had the roast chicken and lamb for dinner and while we were about to start on our dinner. The next table starts to order their apps and what do we hear them order, surf and turf. Ok.....bistro! Where's my surf and turf? Couldn't finish my dinner after that:p
(3)Jen A.
The new location lacks the charm of the former location. The food was great, when it finally arrived, but the service could use some improvement. My dinner was given to the wrong table. The waiter failed to mention this when he dropped off my boyfriend's dinner. My meal arrived about 15 minutes later, when i was finally able to order another glass of wine, as the waiter seemed to be avoiding us rather than letting us know what was going on. 15 years in the service industry has taught me that honesty, a sincere apology, and an offer of free dessert will go a long way toward keeping people happy, but none of the above happened. I'll still be back though, as Maxine's was one of my very favorite restaurants when it was in Girdwood, and hopefully i'll have a better experience next time.
(3)Mark S.
Customer service was terrible. Will never go there again, hostess and bartender were not very customer service oriented.
(1)Jackie P.
Really good! I met a friend for Sunday night. It was one of the few places open. They had a set menu, which I was not aware of when making the reservation. We sat on the outside patio which was nice but a little dirty/rundown. Menu started at $27 for dinner. It comes with salad, bread, and a side veg platter. The bread was REALLY good! All of the veggies were grown in the valley and tasted really fresh. I had the lamb shepard's pie. It was really very good. I liked everything I ate there. I was surprised I liked it that much. My only beef was the prices seemed a little high to me.
(4)Jerry R.
I had the halibut cheeks pan seared, home- made pistachio and goat cheese raviolis, blood orange beurre blanc and lemon-truffled arugula, all excellent. A warm cozy atmosphere, great service, and innovative menu make for a grand dinning experience.
(5)Kelly T.
My experience at Maxine's was a disappointment after much anticipation of new menu items. I went to Maxine's on a Monday. My friend and I arrived at 5 pm. The restaurant was not busy because that was the time it opened. There was two adults and a two year old in our party. We were sat in a two person booth even though there were larger booths available. So my friend shared a seat with her child. You can imagine how uncomfortable that is. It's my belief that the Maxine's staff was offended or annoyed by a child being brought to their establishment. Or else judged my party based on its appearance and decided financial gain was not likely. I say this because the service we received after our poor seating was less than satisfactory. I might not even refer to it as service. We waited for our food for an hour. We also had to several times track our server down for additional needs. We were there two hours total. This experience offended me. And I have to say I can't return where I feel so unwelcome.
(2)Emily M.
I went here for my anniversary dinner. The wine selection was great and they sell a lot of good wines by the glass. The food was delicious and the menu was interesting. The only drawback is that I didn't think the quality and portion size was truly reflected in the prices (i.e. Double Musky prices without the mega size portions or the overwhelmingly good flavors). Nevertheless, I'd eat there again.
(3)Rick B.
This was our second time visit to Maxine's. The first time was about 2 months ago, and everything was amazing. Service, timeliness, and taste of everything was perfect. The second visit, not so good. The service was okay. One of the highlights my wife and I looked forward to was the garlic-infused olive oil and bread that starts the dining experience. We were met with straight olive oil and bread that was nothing to write home about. I did ask the waiter what had happened to the olive oil. His response was that nothing had changed. The waiter removed the olive oil and sampled it. He returned with the correct garlic / olive oil and proceeded to check the other tables. The appetizer we chose was "surf and turf." Outstanding is all I can say. My daughter ordered the chicken fingers and fries with apple juice from the kids menu. Turns out, no juice, only soda or water. They were out of chicken fingers, too. She settled for the kid's cheese pizza. I ordered Maxine's BBQ. Sounded interesting. My wife had the Philipino chicken adobo. I also had the oatmeal stout and my wife had a glass of Riesling. The cheese pizza was fresh from the oven, lip scorching hot, and the cheese was burnt. Not really a big hit with my daughter. I sampled a few bites of the chicken adobo and thought it was an excellent dish. My wife also enjoyed the chicken, but by the end of her meal, not so much. She said the savory elements of the sauce became too heavy toward the end. I must say her rice -- simple white rice -- was butchered. How they destroyed such a simple side is beyond me. Mushy, gooey rice should never be served. It was way over cooked. The BBQ dish - wow -- totally missed the mark. Smoked pork shoulder, purple potato salad, baked beans, and coleslaw. The pork flavor was okay but the meat was terribly tough and dry. Epic fail. The purple potato salad was very nice. The baked beans were good. The coleslaw lacked flavor. I left a comment card suggesting the smoked BBQ pork be removed from the menu. Crème Brule' for desert was very good. Overall, we were both disappointed with the experience. When you drop over $100 for a meal, you expect more. I don't have a problem with the prices if the quality and consistency of the food is commensurate with the price. Still, I can't recommend Maxine's. Doubt we'll go back. At these prices, I expect an excellent experience every time, and my little girl should get a good meal, too.
(2)Michael K.
We had Mother's Day brunch at Maxine's for our first experience. Everyone enjoyed their meal and the service. I would have liked more choices, but being it was a Mother's Day Brunch special menu, I guess I can understand. We will be back soon to try their regular menu. The obviously have a talented Chef and we look forward to trying their regular menu.
(4)Judith M.
Had dinner this evening. Roasted garlic and Meyer lemon bisque excellent. Surf and turf appetizer delicious,as well as creative and pleasing presentation. Husband's halibut cheeks moist, tender, tasty. Service good, love that you get a wine bottle of water on the table. Only drawback, temperature somewhat cold in the restaurant. It is located in building that was Greek Corner for years, then the Grape Leaf. They've done a good job inside with decor -- fun art! Will be back.
(4)Tracy W.
Quaint place; great food. The tomato basil pesto flatbread is excellent. I had the Korean tacos: pulled pork and kim chee. Very tasty.
(4)