Maxwell's

My Husband and I ate on Mothers Day Sunday 18th March 2012 as a Birthday Celebration and an after dinner meal following going to Shrek the Musical and as a Birthday Celebration, it was a change going to Maxwells as we normally go to Sophie's Diner. We both had the Sunday Mixed Grill which was fantastic and beautifully cooked, the steak was tender, not at all fatty and a lovely flavour. We were seated straight away by a very friendly hostess, even the though the restaurant was busy we were shown a seat straight away, given menus, ask what drinks we would like and the order was taken within a reasonable time period without feeling we were rushed. The meal came very quickly which was great as other places we have had to wait a considerable while. Our Waitress was very polite and chatty. I myself am a Chef and have been in the Catering Industry for over 30 yrs and everything Maxwells had to offer was very good. The price we paid of £14.95 for a two course meal was exceptional for London. The bill for our meal including drinks was just over £20 per head. Would we go back to Maxwells DEFINATELY.
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Mrs S Toogood
9 Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 9
Monday, March 19, 2012

I honestly don't know what's the hype about this restaurant/bar.

I went with some friends last night for some snacks and drinks. Upon arrival, the hostess told us that we need to wait for about 15 minutes for our table. That was fine. We then waited longer than that, to about half an hour (standing, mind you!) even after asking the hostess how long more would we need to wait for a table. She then only told us that we needed to wait for our few additional friends who were going to join us, but she could give us a small table to sit first.

This is really something I still can't understand- why were we only told about this after waiting and standing for 30 minutes?

After being seated, we were served by an impolite waitress who couldn't be more irritated when we merely ordered drinks and some snacks. When our friends arrived later, we asked to be seated at a larger table, and were told that we had to wait AGAIN, and that the latecomers had to go to the bar and wait there, because obviously they couldn't squeeze into the booth with us (because that just "wasn't possible").

When one of our friends pulled up a chair to sit with us, that same waitress then shouted at him for doing so.

The manager then came to speak to us rather rudely, without apologising at the outset for his incompetent waitress/hostess' actions. He told us that we couldn't sit in the booth because not all of us had ordered a main meal, and that the booth could not fit everyone.

This I find really very irritating as

1. The hostesses (there were 2 at the door) failed to mention that EACH of us had to order a main meal to sit at a table (if not, we'd be placed at the bar section- which only has less than 5 tables which could seat a maximum of 4 pax).

2. OBVIOUSLY we know that the booth can't fit everyone, but upon arrival, we had already told them that we're expecting a few friends, and we'd need a large table to fit everyone. HOWEVER, since they placed us at a smaller table, and gave the larger tables to other groups of people, even after we had RESERVED the table, what could they expect out of us?

Imagine if you were there with a group of friends, but was told by this rather discourteous manager to split up, wouldn't you be angry as well?

It was clear that since some of us had ordered food, we couldn't go to the bar to eat (with the small tables they provide for their customers). He couldn't even let us have 10 minutes to finish our food, and then only proceed to the bar for drinks.

This is all very disappointing behaviour and not what I would have expected from a manager at the least. Never going back to the restaurant, even if the meals were free.
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Anon
0 Overall rating
Food 0 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 0 | Value for money 0
Saturday, January 14, 2012

Went to Maxwells in Covent Garden tonight for a work Christmas party. Thought it was a fun central London destination, however really this venue is no better than TGI Friday's or Hard Rock Cafe or any of the other bland, cookie cutter tourist destinations, in fact worse still given the way that I was treated. Only thing - food was quite good, a particular achievement for a large party.

However after the meal, despite having had less than a bottle of wine and having moved upstairs where we were quietly, simply enjoying the company of colleagues,

the bar person took a dislike to me, accused me of being too drunk and tried to have me thrown out. This was completely untrue, vastly unfair and completely out of kilter with the behavior of myself or that of any of my party. Given I was with my work colleagues this was very upsetting, highly embarrassing, ruined my night and left a bitter taste in the mouth of all of those who were present. I am quite at a loss to explain this treatment and given this, the very average food and high prices would really not recommend going to this establishment. This is not somewhere anyone from London would ever go to!!! I certainly will never return!
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Rachel Lyons
2 Overall rating
Food 1 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 3 | Value for money 2
Friday, December 09, 2011

Came to Covent Garden a couple of hour before going to theatre for a bite to eat. A happy promotions girl gave me a flyer for Maxwell's and told us it was happy hour. Excellent. The restaurant was busy a mix of drinkers and dinners, this however did not stop us getting seated instantly (a booth which we requested on arrival) The waiter was quick and attentive, the food filling and tasty, the bill reasonable. The happy hour drinks delightful. A waiter told us on the way out that there was another happy hour from 10 till 11, so after the show we headed back for a couple more.

Well done Maxwells
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9 Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 9
Thursday, October 06, 2011

Wow! It all started with a warm welcome at the door. The pretty door hosts were very friendly and gave us another table when we asked to move downstairs.

The waiter was very friendly and knowledgeable and even recommended a happy hour cocktail that was cheaper than the cocktail i had ordered but similar in taste.

The nachos were a great starter to share and set the tone for the dinner, big portions and value for money! I had the prawn fillet steak and my wife had a salmon nicoise salad and both didnt disappoint.

The waiter was always available even though the restaurant was completely full and he made the whole maxwells experience fantastic!

Maxwells will be the venue of choice whenever i am in Covent Garden.
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Mcdamoman - View all reviews by this user
9 Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 9
Friday, September 30, 2011

this is one of the worst places i have eaten at in a long time. we were on a girly night out. we'd booked in advance which was fine. my issue was with the food and the ridiculously slow service.

id read the reviews which were mixed but it didnt put me off. it was monday night madness not that that should have made a difference.

it took ages for the waitress to take our order - drinks/starter and mains all at the same time. we then waited 30mins for our drinks to arrive - the bar wasnt that busy and there were plenty of staff behind it. and that set the precedent for the whole night. we had to repeatedly ask for someone to take further drinks orders and then we had to chase the orders. the excuse - the bar is really busy - there was no one there!!! our food was less than substandard. you would have thought that a place that prides itself on its burgers would be able to deal with a simple burger order, but alas it wasnt meant to be. aside from taking a long time to get to us, id ordered mine medium rare and my friend medium well done.

when the waiter brought it to us, he threw them on the table, i kid you not the plate actually skittered across the table, without telling us which was which and left. so we opened them and they were identical - well done. called over the waitress to complain and she offered to cook them both some more, uh helloooo medium rare means not so cooked! she wouldnt take mine back, annoyed but ate it anyway. or should i say attempted to. im not usually that fussy about my food and will eat pretty much anything and clear my plate - i love my food - but after taking a few bites i just couldnt eat it. the chips were cold and dry, the burger was poor and bland despite it having chillis and salsa and the salad limp. my friend had a similar problem. we complained and the waitress couldnt / wouldnt do anything about it and there were senior staff able to assist.

we were so fed up with the place that we asked for the bill, which came pretty quick! and paid it

all in all it wasnt a good meal. i can understand why it would be popular with tourists, its got a pleasant atmosphere - cant fault that - and is quite welcoming. and if you go on mondays food is up to 50% off and happy hour lasts all night - cocktails are £3.95, so we ended up having a liquid dinner....

i just hope our experience was a one off...but i wont be going back to test that theory...
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2 Overall rating
Food 0 | Service 2 | Atmosphere 3 | Value for money 1
Tuesday, September 06, 2011

Congratulations Maxwell's team, I have my birthday party here, it was well with all the food, enjoyed it so much, also well entertained with the music. the staff are lovely, good customer service.
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carlene
10 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Sunday, August 28, 2011

was looking forward to my meal here have eaten here before but on the16nov 10 itwas terrible the waiter was pushy and we felt rushed to place our order when my meal arrived my burger was nothing short of raw when l complained l was told l should have stated how l wanted it cooked, failing that the waiter should have asked me how l liked it cooked that was the message that came out of the kitchen. so l felf it was my fault it was not cooked right and we are talking beef burger here not steak. nevertheless they re did my order and i ate it alone as my husband had finished his meal when mine was served. not impressed, i had held a much higher regard for this restaurant
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mrs k lean
2 Overall rating
Food 0 | Service 1 | Atmosphere 2 | Value for money 3
Wednesday, November 17, 2010

we arrived at maxwells early, we had booked for half hour later but they still seated us good start,we were off to the theatre so an hour for five main meals only, would be ample time and they do cater for coeliacs after an hour and one apology our dinner arrived, 3 warmish meals and 2 kids meals ok and running out of time we have no option but to eat our food ,i did speak to the mangeress who said she would have sent the meals back but i didnt have time now , she did remove drinks from the bill and aplogise,i would go back to see if it was just a one off,it was busy but a week night so not sure what was going on
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andy
4 Overall rating
Food 3 | Service 3 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 4
Wednesday, August 25, 2010