Chez Max

First of I saw a couple of negative reviews: those are delusional…:-)
Had an exceptional dinner this evening at Chez Max. I travel a lot for business and really appreciated this rare French jewel in northern Virginia. Had a perfect steak with an amazing au gratin potato ring & French green beans & wonderful Bordeaux I highly recommend: perfect…

We love French food, so we were excited to give Chez Max a try. I’m giving this 3 stars, though I’m a bit disappointed overall.
The lobster bisque was very small and I couldn’t detect the tiniest piece of lobster in it. I wouldn’t order it again. Otherwise, our appetizers and entrees were ok. Nothing spectacular. Overpriced. Perhaps we were there on an off night.
The ambiance is not much to speak of. It felt a bit rustic. The dishes are all classic French, which is a nice touch. Plenty of classic French dishes to choose from on the menu.
Dinner for two ran around $ 200. Overall, we were underwhelmed. We’ll try it again and see if next time is any better.

There are not many places you can order Duck and feel like Precious Pup with wrapping your arms around your stomach as you go Huuummmmm as you float in the air.

Mediocre food. Hate to say it because I love to support local businesses. Kir Royale was lovely. Artichoke heart appetizer right out of a can. Steak clearly not a high quality cut of beef… no amount of buttered, creamy mashed potatoes can make up for that. Hubby had fish that was completely bland. Don’t think I’ll go back. Too expensive for average to below average food.

Too expensive to try. The food was alright but just not worth the price tag. The selection was good, not too much and not too little. The portions are also a bit too little for what it’s worth, bread is also a bit dry. The black Angus strip steak was a little dry and the lamb chops were kind of too chewy.
The service was of appropriate quality, prompt when necessary and friendly. Again, the price makes it not worth it. I would put two and a half stars but I don’t know how to on my phone.

Good: Friendly owner/​maître dee, quaint atmosphere, and decent appetizers.
Bad: Horribly bland entrees (lamb chops, steak, and crab tartar), below average service, and overpriced for the quality of food/​service.
I had to move our bread and appetizer plates to the neighboring table to get them out of the way (they weren’t cleared between courses).
At $ 200 (appetizers and entrees), I was extremely disappointed.
One interesting point: average age of 60 among a full restaurant of patrons (at 45, we were by far the youngest customers). Surprising considering we arrived at 9pm.

I know this restaurant regularly receives high marks, but I had a less than stellar experience. I took my mother and three of her friends to dinner there to celebrate her birthday. We all ordered entrees with the standard salads to open. The dressing was so bland that nearly everyone at the table used salt to spice up the lettuce. The venison I ordered arrived lukewarm, and it being a cold night, I was loath to eat it. I was so hungry, though, I didn’t want to wait for the waiter to take it away and bring me another. Plus, he was difficult to flag down, and he never stopped to ask us how we liked our meals. He seemed too busy trying to serve the table of 10 behind us.
I will say that everyone else at our table seemed to have wonderful meals. Their dishes were warm, and I salivated over the tastes they gave me. Sadly, I had a repeat experience of lukewarm food for dessert. The apple-​peach tart was not warm enough to melt even a quarter teaspoon of the ice cream scooped on top, and although the waiter recommended it as one of their best desserts, I thought it was only so-​so being too doughy. In the end, I spent more than $ 300 and didn’t enjoy my meal at all.

An excellent French restaurant in the ‘burbs with food that is spot-​on. I think it is surely as good as Auberge Chez Francois in Great Falls. The garlic mussels and dover sole were superb.
Annie, the blonde French hostess, also owns the restaurant, and she could not be more lovely. Kristen commented that she and her boyfriend were appropriately dressed but stuck in a corner because of their skin color. I don’t think she should feel offended. My husband and I have been in corners as well, and I have not taken it personally. I think the hostess does that for couples because corners offer more privacy. Romance! Amour! The man in the middle of the room was clearly entertaining clients and he was loud. I was happy to be off to the side. Definitely worth a visit, everyone!

I haven’t heard of most of what’s on the menu the few times I have been here. I mean the food is good, if you know what to order. The soup, I think last time I went I got lobster bisque, it was good My main course though left a lot to be desired. No thanks. The service was terrible as well for the $ 200 something check at the end of the meal. Nope!

I am French and I was looking for a traditional authentic French restaurant in Richmond for a while. Can Can was the first restaurant people recommended me. I enjoyed the decoration and the ambiance but was a bit disappointed by the food, which was not as delicious as I expected.
My boss recommended Chez Max, I finally went tonight with my husband and we both LOVED it.
1) Staff: the staff was very nice and polite. The food was served quickly. Our glasses of water were regularly refilled without asking. Recommendations were made when requested. We met the owner. She is French as well, she was welcoming and kind. We noticed that she was really caring about the people there, spending time with everyone.
2) Food: It tasted like home! As soon as we sat, we were served some bread. The bread was really good (crusty on the outside, soft in the inside). The typical entrée is around $ 25 – 30 but it really worth it. My husband took the veal and I took the lamb. Each entrée includes a salad to start with. The salad was simple and nice, perfect to open our appetite. The lamb was perfectly cooked (I asked medium rare) and was melting in our mouths. The veal was very tender. We took an Opera for dessert that we shared. It was sooo good! I usually don’t like sweet treats but that one was particularly delicious.
3) Décor: The décor was nice. There are several rooms, which is really charming and differs from the typical «one room» restaurant. The lights were subdued and there were some small lamps on each table, very romantic.
Conclusion: Chez Max just became my new favorite restaurant in Richmond, VA. I will recommend this restaurant to anyone who enjoys delicious food. I will definitely go back!!!

Very underwhelmed. Waited for 10 minutes at the door for the hostess to acknowledge us (we were the only people there). Getting our water refilled was torturous! And the food was just blah. Nothing special. When I’m paying $ 17 for a small appetizer that has 3 bites to it, those 3 bites should blow my mind! These didn’t even entice me to finish the other 2 bites. Ordered the special, which was swordfish that was completely flavorless other than the grill is was cooked on. Splurged and got the chocolate soufflé, which was flat, runny & cold in the middle. Also, had the Lava cake which had no lava cause it was overcooked. Food wasnt disgusting is the only reason I’m giving it 2 stars.

The ambience and service are excellent, especially given the restaurant’s weird suburban location. Sadly, the same cannot be said for the food. The menu is stuck in the 80s, a mixture of provincial French dishes and attempts at «contemporary» cuisine. It was my first visit (and will be my only one), so I decided to go with classic, usually reliable dishes.
My steak au poivre, ordered medium-​rare, arrived cooked well-​done. A friend’s veal chop also came overcooked. The seafood crêpe on special was soggy (a companion ordered that and offered me a taste). Worst of all, the soufflé au chocolat I ordered for dessert came with an icy, frozen spot in the center. Obviously not fresh. That’s never acceptable, but especially not with what they’re charging for it.
If you’re going out for a fancy, high-​dollar meal, don’t waste it at Chez Max just because the dishes are expensive and it seems like a Very Fancy Impressive Place. Richmond has a wealth of terrific and inventive restaurants, where your food will actually be cooked the way you ordered it, and you’re better off going to one of them.

We came early (5:30 pm) and didn’t need a reservation, but it was packed when we left around 7:30 pm. The atmosphere and service were both great, until it got too loud, due to the large amount of people there. The food was pretty good for a French restaurant in the US — we’d just been to Paris a few months ago, so there’s really no comparison. Enjoyed the lobster bisque, escargot, and salad. They let us split the lamb chops for an extra fee; maybe we’re just not lamb chop fans, we weren’t blown away. First time trying chocolate soufflé, enjoyed it! Excellent place for a special dinner, if you don’t mind the price.

This Restaurant has the best of everything ie: atmosphere, presentation, drinks, food. Wonderful event for a special night! The owner is a delight. Very gracious.

This was a bit of a toughie. The appetizers here were 5 star status all the way. The dessert was perfectly portioned and perfect on the taste buds as well. As for the coffee, add 4 or 5 packs of sugar and a splash of milk and you’re in Miami sippin’ on the perfect cortadito. Our waiter was very attentive, helpful, and kind.
I’m sure that by now you’ve noticed what’s missing from this review. The entrees were drab. I had the veal cutlet and it tasted like Banquet salisbury steak. The mushrooms completely overpowered what should’ve been a delicate veal flavor. The characteristic tenderness of veal just was not present either. The plating of the entrée was amateurish as well. That, I admittedly noticed from the photos on Unilocal before dining at Chez Max. For the best experience, stick with apps, salad (very good), seafood, and dessert. My boyfriend’s fish was tasty.
Back to the strengths, the escargots were delightful – full of garlicky herb flavor and balanced perfectly by a dreamy, can’t-get-enough-of-it puff pastry crust on top of the ceramic serving dish.
However, I must add that, Little Miss Hostess, my boyfriend and I did not at all fail to notice that although we walked into a practically empty restaurant because it was shortly after opening for dinner, you stuck the appropriately-​dressed couple of the wrong skin color in the corner away from everyone else. Even with the restaurant having filled quite a bit 40 mins later, somehow we are still the only ones seated in the corner behind a wood post, next to the view of the lovely of the parking lot and Patterson Avenue. I wonder why we ended up there, despite the fact that the table was intended for more people and there were smaller tables available where everyone else was sitting. Perhaps the manager and the rest of your lovely customers can figure this one out.
As far as attire, cocktail dresses or little black dresses for women and suit with jacket or shirt and tie for men.

My friend and I decided to try Chez Max out as one of our restaurant tour stops. This place is tucked back in the corner of a shopping center that makes it seem out of place. Almost like the building was an after thought. While there have been other restaurants in this specific location, this was the first time I have been inside the building.
It was well decorated with a very cozy and comfy atmosphere. The hostess was very welcoming as soon as we walked in, even though it became immediately apparent we were probably underdressed. We still received excellent service even though we were in jeans and polos.
Bottom line is this is a nice restaurant. Right on par with Buckheads or Ruth’s Chris.
The food was great. It really stood out for me. I had a bowl of the lobster bisque and one of their special entrees for the evening. I didn’t know I was a fan of french food until after this visit as everything tasted great. It is pricey but once you walk in you will understand why.
It’s perfect for date night. I will definitely be back… with a date next time.

Disappointing. We went to Chez Max hoping to have a special experience. The setting is warm and lovely, but the food was average, small portions, well-​presented, and over-​priced. In advance, I told of our daughter’s birthday and it was forgotten. We will not return.

Delicious food and wonderful service. The atmosphere is a bit lacking and needs an update but that is what makes this restaurant what it is. The food is so fabulous we will definitely be going back!

One of the best (if not the best) French restaurants in Virginia/D.C. We went to a top French restaurant in Great Falls (near D.C.) last weekend and Chez Max was far superior.
Chez Max is not a flashy restaurant but the quality and consistency offered by the Chef’s dishes keeps me coming back for more. I am also impressed by the professional attitude of the staff.
* Make sure you make reservations, and not the day you intend to go.
* Try and look nice for dinner.
* You should find a babysitter.
* Don’t be in a hurry, but don’t worry they are not slow.
(Dined at Chez Max over 10 times)

Slow moving, and good.
Best for special occasions
Make reservations.