$$, Bar Scene, Brunch, Date Spot, Dine At The Bar, Happy Hour, Lunch Spot, Outdoor Dining, Private Rooms, Open 7 Days
Formerly Hemingway's Key West Grille, this newly swankified place still has a cozy brick front room, and a shady open-air patio available during pleasant weather. But the decor and menu are both a little more polished, and the restaurant has added a lively bar scene along with an unbeatable happy hour menu. Menu items at Max Gill & Grill include fresh fish daily, salads, calamari, fresh selection of oysters, our famous cioppino, lobster tails and grilled items like hamburgers, slow smoked ribs and Colorado lamb roast. Max Gill and Grill offers brunch, and delicious dinners, stop by or make a reservation today.
I have met the owner of this place and they are very nice. I'm not huge on seafood but their food is exceptional. It is a very comfortable place and great service.
Posted 01/27/09 | Report Abuse
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This restaurant is in such a great neighborhood. Even better - the food is to die for. I've had the Ahi Tuna Salad, the whole crabs, the lobster rolls, etc. Everything has been fantastic every time I've come. This is a great place to bring a bunch of friends on a Friday night and just relax, eat and drink.
Posted 08/20/08 | Report Abuse
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Great place to go for drinks and appetizers after work!
Pros: Great Happy Hour
Cons: None!
Posted 07/29/09
We ate there January 2009, and it was less than adequate. The ribs were "reheated" from the night before, the seafood was "old, grey and certainly not fresh." The wine list was so overpriced that we opted for iced tea instead.....we should have gotten a clue when we walked in at 12noon to an EMPTY restaurant. The fireplace was nice but certainly not worth "$60- for- two -nice !" You're better off going to the grocery and cooking your own seafood !
Posted 01/08/09
I have been to this place twice so far.
Both times the food was awesome, the seating was prompt (surprising for how busy they are usually),
the waiter and waitress were both fantastic, the food was brought out very fast, and it was a cozy layed back environment.
I absolutely loved each visit to this place!
There were only two downsides.
The first, we ordered two entree's and one appetizer, and ended up hungry still, and that costed a little over a hundred dollars. (only a problem on the second experience)
and the second problem, was the noise. which is only the restaurant's fault for being so excellent, that every one wanted to be there!
But all in all, I very much enjoyed each visit, and there are negatives to be expected every where, the good places just have less.
Therefore I am entirely satisfied with Max Gill and Grill, though I never made it there when it was hemingway's, so I cannot give a before and after comment.
Also the ribs were amazing!
Pros: Good food, service, people, and environment
Cons: The second visit, we were given small portions for a lot of $$$
Posted 05/16/08
After hearing that Hemingway's changed over to Max Gill & Grill, I decided to bring a few people there to try it out. The atmosphere is a bit similar to Hemingway's (very Floridian and a bit upscale), but the menu is much better! We had king crab, swordfish, raw 'Asian' oysters (to die for), fish and chips, cioppino, and more! Everything was great! The waiter was very cool and comped us a drink that we didn't care for. The prices are not unreasonable, but don't expect Long John Silver's. There are a few items for the non-seafood lover, but this isn't really the place to take them. I'm surprised to hear about some of the bad reviews, but I think they are just flukes. Definitely going again!
Posted 05/14/08
Our family went to Max Gill and Grill for the Mother's Day brunch, and were very disappointed. The food looked like it had been prepared and put in the chaffing dishes the night before and cooked way beyond the point of being fresh or appealing. Some of the seafood on the buffet smelled very bad. The one good thing on the buffet was the ceviche. Almost all of the other items were barely edible. To add insult to injury, they charged us the full $28 for our 2 year old when it said on the reservation website that kids under 5 would eat free. When challenged about the charge, we were told that our son had been observed to eat a couple of plates of food (our son is a very light eater). If you can't put a good buffet together for Mother's Day and are just in it to make a profit, don't bother wasting your customer's time.
Pros: Ceviche
Cons: Everything else
Posted 05/11/08
We went to Max Gill & Grill as part of Denver Restaurant Week for the $52.80/couple menu. We had 8 in our party and arrived at 6 pm on Sunday. We were immediately told that they were "out" of ribs and no substitution was offered (at least not one that would fall within the $52.80 per couple price range). As the $52.80 menu was heavy on seafood, there really was only one other choice for those in our party that didn't like seafood - an adequate but unmemorable roasted half chicken. It seems to me that if one of a restaurant's specialties is ribs and they advertise that dish on a special menu for a promotional week - the ribs should be available. The waitress did come back and say we could order off the regular menu, but that there was no other pork or beef substitute that would fall within the $52.80 deal. The martinis were very good, but the service was very average. Definitely won't go again!
Pros: martinis were good!
Cons: they were out of their advertised special; average service
Posted 02/25/08
I have been 4 or 5 times now because I live so close and the atmosphere is very good. We hoped that the change from Hemingway's and with the owner from Wash Park Grille getting involved, this place would get better but thats not the case. Instead we got increased prices with the same quality of food. A large menu with no stand outs and not one thing my friends or I have tried that makes you think "I'll get that again". Service has been very good but with weak drinks and average food, we typically leave somewhat disappointed. The whole Gaylord dining scene needs to step it up. To live so close and find yourself constantly driving elsewhere to eat is disappointing.
Pros: Ambience
Cons: Average food
Posted 05/09/07
I was here once for happy hour and was disappointed.
The wine is a good deal at 3 bucks, but the appetizers for half price were at best, average.
The steamed littlenecks were in a bland broth and way overcooked. The chips with the guacamole and trout dip was good, but the trout dip was lacking in fish and heavily laden with cream cheese. My friends liked the oysters at .75 cents each.
Our server was more concerned with serving those who were diners, eating at tables not for happy hour. She said she would be right back with us but didnt return for a really long time. It took her forever to get our drink orders and then forever for her just to take our food order.
There is little room to sit at the bar and it is overcrowded.
I would go here for drinks again but probably would avoid getting fish here. Im not too convinced that this is a true fishhouse. They cannot cook clams.
Posted 04/07/07
We had a great time at Max Gill and Grill. The Pomegranate Mojito and crab legs were fabulous. There was a nice price range of options and the bar scene looked fun as well with a DJ setting up in the evening!
Pros: Great food and good prices, fun bar scene
Posted 04/06/07
What a great addition to the Old South Gaylord Block. We have tried Max Gill and Grill four times now and have yet to be disappointed. We have taken friends and family to enjoy lunch, dinner, and even their weekend brunch featuring a do-it-yourself Bloody Mary Bar with more accoutrements than you could ask for. They feature some of the freshest seafood in Denver, including a raw oyster bar, as well as delicious rotisserie style meats so there is a choice for everybody. They even offer some great vegetarian choices. The casual beach side atmosphere is great with a tiki bar next to their back patio. Great place for parties or an intimate dinner for two next to the fireplace. We'll definitely keep coming back!
Pros: Food, Service, Atmosphere, Great Bar-Awesome Happy Hour
Cons: None
Posted 02/10/07
We went to Max's last weekend with a party of 8. We did not make reservations as it was a last minute idea. We were welcomed promptly by the management and hostess. They assured us that they could accomodate us within a short period. We enjoyed a drink at the bar in their very relaxing atmosphere. When we were seated we ordered several appetizers and were so pleasantly surprised by the presentation of the food and the incredible freshness. The Oysters were AWESOME! We each ordered a different plate for our main course to sample the menu and we have to say that all of the meals were outstanding. From the Ciappino to the Lobster, and the Max Salads to the burgers...... all were a masterpiece. Hands down we will all be back to Max's not only for the incredible food and drinks, but some of the best service we have received in a long time. THANK YOU VERY MUCH!
Pros: EVERYTHING
Posted 02/01/07
Stopped in to have a drink prior to a reservation at a nearby restaurant. Ended up having both a drink and appetizer due to the wonderful hospitality of Jeff and Greg. We felt very welcome, felt a bit like Norm walking into Cheers. Everyone was friendly, the drinks were poured well as my extra dirty martini had that lovely layer of floating ice...hmmmm. The crab cake stack was incredibly tasty and well presented served with a vinegary bit of salad that complimented the lovely stack of crab and tarter sauce. Great bar area and friendly service!
Pros: Service, Food, Drink
Cons: None
Posted 01/31/07
This is my first posting, but I felt like I needed to write!!! I visited Max Gill and Grill on Friday Jan 29th during happy hour. The resturant was very busy and highly energetic. When I walked in I was informed that it was Happy Hour and then told the special pricing. I was Shocked. They had EXCELLENT drink specials, and where else can I find $.75 oysters!!! For dinner I had the Cioppino(sp?) and the quality and presentation had me craving more. My date had the swordfish dinner and the cream sauce on it completed the dish. I grew up in San Fran, and I have yet to find a seafood resturant in Denver that has the same quality a coastal city until now. Overall I had fantastic service, great food, and a great dining experience.
Pros: A++
Cons: Parking
Posted 01/30/07
I used to enjoy Hemingway's, but this "improvement" is hardly that. The food is overpriced and I've had better tasting fish at Denny's. I suppose the prices reflect the price of the trendy china they serve the food on? My fiance had a chicken dish with a mushroom sauce that tasted like they'd dumped a whole container of salt into a can of Campbell's cream of mushroom soup. My blackened mahi mahi was ok, but if that's what they consider "blackened", I've got some Cajun friends who they need to speak to. For the prices, you should at least get a salad with your meal. Oh, and skip the cornbread- the little skillet of oversalted yellow goo with green stuff in it sure isn't worth $3.
Wish we'd have gone to the Wash Park Grill instead, we won't be back to Max.
Pros: Wine List looked decent.
Cons: Overpriced, chef's need to go back to school.
Posted 01/19/07
I went to Hemingway's last year and was completely unimpressed by their menu. Everything was fried, and it all tasted like it came from the freezer. I hesitantly went back to the restaurant after the change and was pleasantly surprised. They kept their same relaxing atmosphere, but added culinary excitement. The seafood is flown in fresh, and all the sauces are made from scratch. I have had the most fun sitting and eating dinner at the bar. Anyone would be a fool to not try the new restaurant.
Posted 12/20/06
"I'm lost. Why does this place get a crowd? Surely there can't ..."
