Maxim

I have been using Maxim's for about 15 years - it is very consistent. The food is excellent for a "neighbourhood Chinese" and would put many in central london to shame.

By a distance, it is the best Chinese in the local area i.e. before you get to Queensway.

Service is functional rather than welcoming, however it is not meant to be a destination restaurant .

It is pricey but worth it for the quality of the food - there are so many mediocre Chinese restaurants this is not one.
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mcgregor
7 Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 6 | Atmosphere 6 | Value for money 8
Friday, August 06, 2010

Another excellent meal here on Saturday - celebrating New Year and Valentine's Day. Very good food, and swift friendly service. Maxim's crispy duck is fabulous!
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OrangeTreeLover - View all reviews by this user
8 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 7
Sunday, February 14, 2010

We live locally and only discovered this place about 18 months ago, we've been several times and have taken friends on occasion also. It is NOT cheap but the food is very good - the Peking crispy duck is quite the best I've ever had, however I must agree with other reviewers about the quite unacceptable behaviour of the staff, especially the manager who is breathtakingly surly unfriendly and rude. There is one notable exception though - the lovely Alex.

On a recent visit we took four friends who had never been there before and the level of service was unbeleivably bad, from the unsmiling receptionist right through to the rude and arrogant manager. The waiter made a mistake with the bill (forgetting to include a bottle of house wine) we never noticed this, paid and left only to be persued down the street by the manager and made to feel guilty.

Despite the quality of the food we shall never go back to this restaurant, there are plenty of others where the food is as good and the service friendly and warm.
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Peter Hodgson
5 Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 1 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 5
Wednesday, December 02, 2009

Food is good and this place is clean and well presented.

It is a tad pricey though.

However I have avoided going back to this place because they are so rude, the main guy looks down on you like a piece of dirt and hurries your meal up so he an get others on to your table.

Some waiters are nice, but overshadowed by the manager.

If this doesnt bother you, check it out, the food is good, but with so many good and friendly places (and cheaper!) to eat in the area I wont be returning any time soon.
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Jazz
4 Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 4 | Atmosphere 1 | Value for money 2
Tuesday, November 17, 2009

There have been quite a few negative comments about the service. True, it can sometimes be a wee bit surly, and yes they do pull that stunt with the service charge. I've also been overcharged a couple of times, so beware. But overall, I think the service is more than acceptable.

As regards the food, it's great. Fresh, zingy, well flavoured, well seasoned, and not too greasy. The chilli beef is the best I've tasted anywhere - not the overfried Nik Naks textured stuff that you get at lesser Chinese restaurants.

The *real* reason to go to the restuarant, though, is the atmosphere. It's a great space (when you book ask for a table at the front) with lovely recess lighting, and the overall feel is that of a "destination" restaurant, not a local Chinese.

As it happens, I am a local, and I thank my lucky gastro stars for this little gem of a restaurant.
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Alex Weel
9 Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 8
Wednesday, July 29, 2009