Max's Opera Cafe

Now I've had three sorry times at Max's. A friend got sick from the food, I was served dried up dark colored off tasting pastrami and the maitre d' refused to seat me when I was up next in spite of a room full of empty tables. He said he

We used to enjoy this restaurant. My wife and I ate here at least 10 times a year for at least 5 years. Max's served excellent NY style Deli food in a convivial setting. Our last 2 visits have been so disappointing we do not intend to

Pros: Good Location. Dinner rolls are excellent.

Cons: Food, Service, and Management

Horrible greeting by staff, horrible treatment by manager, insufferable arrogance. Save yourself some trouble: Go to Jardin and enjoy the experience instead of being treated like the cattle these people believe you to be. Feh.

Pros: They're Not The Only Game in Town

Cons: They THINK They're The Only Game in Town

I was born and raised in NYC, but have lived in Cal for 42 years. Aside from Cantor's in LA, Max's comes closest to a NY Kosher deli like the Stage deli on the west coast. For a time they had that crappy lean pastrami that was dry and

Pros: Has real fatty pastrami like the Stage deli in NY

Cons: Always busy, but efficient

Max's, an upscale diner, was just an average restaurant. It was close to our hotel, which made it a good choice. The food and service was just average. However, the giant mushroom appetizer was very good! The menu is versatile and the

Absolutely horrendous. I had to pay extra for potato salad and extra for a pickle. Im not cheap but, after paying 16.00 for a sandwich. I mean come how much does this stuff really cost. I also have complained to the mangement and they are

Cons: parking, service, prices

Great spot for a before and after stop to the Opera.I especially enjoyed the wide selection of menu items, and found the menu prices fair for the the city.Service was good,after taking into consideration that everyone around us was in a

Pros: Great Food-Reasonable Prices For A SF Restaurant-Given The Portions

Cons: Parking

They aren't ashamed of it, in fact they are proud of it, but this is the most fattening restaurant around. Portion sizes are HUGE and the fat content is out of control. \r
They aren't very nice to their waitstaff either...\r
Oh, and for

Pros: A pleasant way to eat yourself to a heart attack

Cons: Boring ambiance. And the fat! Prices are too high.

I used to come to Max's Opera Plaza at least once every two weeks to either eat in or take out. And I always got the Chinese Chicken Salad Lite. I know for a fact that this was one of the most popular items on the menu. Well according

Pros: Great Desserts, Big Portions

Cons: No healthy options

The sandwiches are good and HUGE so very easy to share- but it is WAY too expensive for the kind of food it is. It's a good place to go before a show because they'll make sure to get you out before curtain call, but I'm sure you can find

Pros: Good food, fast service

Cons: too expensive

I explained to the waitress to make the Reuben with pastrami because I don't like or eat fatty meat and the pastrami had been historically lean. I was served a fatty, gristly Reuben sandwich. I was able to salvage a percentage out of 1/2

Pros: not crowded

Cons: bad food, bad attitude

i live in the building, so i eat there when i get too lazy to cook or walk somewhere else
the food's decent and you do get large portions (no room for dessert) so splitting meals works best
otherwise, you could cook for yourself and do as

Pros: large portions, location, live music

Cons: price, large portions, sometimes crowded

when i'm in the mood for a good burger, i always think of max's -- i don't care about all the other strictly "burger" places. nothing beats the size, taste, and value of those at max's. not to mention the other items on their extensive

Pros: food, service, value

Good food, but a little over-priced--$33 plus tip for a meat loaf dinner but then that includes salad, dessert and split charges. You can save those charges by asking for a separate plate, instead.

Pros: good food, fast service, singing

Cons: split charges

There are many over priced diners in California and Max's is certainly one of them. Portions are indeed huge, but the quality is mediocre and the price is still high. Except to pay over $10 for a sandwich here. They have recently closed

Althought the food is plentiful - don't ever come in to get take out. It is as expensive as being served, but the portions are MUCH smaller. Complete ripoff. When I asked to speak to the Manager, he couldn't have been more disinterested

Pros: Large Menu

Cons: Take out is lousy, Management rude

The food, especially the desserts, are exceptionally great! If you don't like the food, its not because the food was bad, its because you just don't like the menu item.

The quality of the service, etc depends on which Max's location you go to. The one on Van Ness Avenue is dreadful and my rating applies to only that one. Yet, the one on Third Street is great. Go figure!

Cons: Poor Service, Terrible Floor Plan