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Catering by Max's
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Neighborhood: Lincoln Square5754 N Western Ave
(between Ardmore Ave & Hollywood Ave)
Chicago, IL 60659
(773) 989-4488
5 reviews for Catering by Max's
I'm noticing all these reviews are reviews of Max's restaurant, not Catering by Max's Restaurant. Max's has been a favorite in my family for a long time, but this isn't the right place to rate the restaurant itself.
For my graduation party, we wanted a hot dog cart, which is something that Max's (also the owners of former Fluky's) provides. We'd done this before, and it was a great time. The food is delicious, they were on time, took care of everything, and provided people to dress and serve hot dogs.
We called the owner a month before the party, and asked what the minimum was for catering. He told us guaranteed 50 people was the minimum. We told him we could guaranteee him twice that. He said he'd call us back with an estimate and to get things rolling. We called back several times over the next couple weeks, but either did not get through or were told he'd have to call us back. We finally got an estimate out of him, and he said he'd "have to find someone" to work that day, and would let us know when it was all set up.
Four days before the party, we heard from him again. He told us that because we weren't ordering any sides or anything from them, just the hot dogs, that none of his employees wanted to work the party because they "prefer to work the bigger parties" where they can "expect more gratuity."
"You understand," he told us. No, we said, we don't understand. You're running a business, you tell your employees what their assignments are, and they do them. Then they get paid. No, he said, their business works differently. The employees get all the info on catering jobs and decide whether or not it's worth it. So, we said, we're paying these guys $20/hr plus 18% gratuity for food for 100 people, and it's not enough? Are you kidding?
If you want more money per party, you should put a higher minimum on catering. It's not okay to turn down business because your *employees* don't think it's going to be worth their while when the event will guarantee you double your minimum. What a shitty way to run a business.
Finally, he said he had someone who "owed him a favor" and he'd get back to us.
Apparently it was so much of a hardship for him to get business in a recession and take our money that he had to call in a favor to do it. He made it clear that the entire event was just an annoyance for him and that our money wasn't good enough for his employees.
We found someone else to cater the party, after an absolute panic state since it's pretty impossible to set up a catering job only four days in advance.
Max's owner called us back three days before the party to tell us that he'd called in a favor and we were all set.
We told him where to get off.
In other news, the lady with the hot dog cart from Welles Park provided fantastic service, delicious food, and was actually happy to get the business. She was a blessing, and we'd work with her a hundred times over.
The bottom line: Catering by Max's doesn't want your money, the owner lets his employees call the shots, and they will screw you over at the very last minute. Don't even bother. Not worth the hassle.
For years I've been intrigued by this place- they used to have a sign advising to try their "ghetto fries" and my fiance and I would always say that one day we had to try the fries. That day came and perhaps I was expecting too much, but the food was bland and the ghetto fries were just ok-cheese gloop with sweet chili sauce and other toppings was not tasty. I'm glad my curiousity has been satisfied but I feel no need to return.
Best Italian Beef in Chicago, hands down. I live in San Francisco, and they don't have italian beef's out here. No, I'm not kidding. If you look up "italian beef", THERE ARE NO PLACES. Lordy I'm jonesing for a fix. I come here whenever I'm home.
Max's has amazing Italian beef sandwiches - which has a special hot pepper giardinara mix. Max has buckets of it on the counter so you can add your own.
This has to be one of Roger's Park most famous beef joint. They have had consistently good business going for well over 20 years. They do have other items such as hamburgers, chilli, hot dogs, etc., but if you are coming here to Max's, you got to get the beef. My personal favorite is the beef with sweet peppers.
