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Categories: Restaurants, Bars
Neighborhood: DowntownDowntown Crossing (Orange, Silver, Red)
Park Street (Green, Red)
Government Center (Blue, Green)
The Rattlesnake... opened its doors in the Back Bay in 1990, occupying the small second floor and rooftop patio at 384 Boylston... more »
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I went here the other night looking for some good apps after seeing "Where the Wild Things Are" which is great by the way. I got a pomegranate margarita to start with and it was sweet but hit the spot after my drinking from the night before. We started with some waffle fries which were good, but for $8 the portion size really isn't that great. However, put jalapenos on something for me and I'll love it.
I got the buffalo chicken sliders while the bf got fillet sliders. Now I love spicy food, and these buffalo chicken sliders were yummy and quite hot! I needed two more margs to wash them down. My bf also loved the fillets. I really loved the options of apps, and sliders. This is great snacking food.
I will probably go back and maybe try some macaroni sometime. It's actually one of the most decent restaurants very close to the theater.
I had a dinner date with a friend I haven't seen in a while so I quickly turned to Yelp for some downtown eateries. Chose Max & Dylans based on the reviews. I was not disappointed... which is not surprising since Yelpers always steer me in the right direction.
Arrived a little before my friend. Small bar when you first walk in and a hostess quickly approached me and gave me the option of seating me right away or waiting at the bar. I sat and she brought me up the stairs to the mid level. I liked this level. About six 4-tops and a huge skylight overhead. The natural lighting is nice. The decor is all black and white photos.
My friend arrived and we ordered a bottle of white. $28, not bad. We sat and chatted for a while which was perfectly fine with our waitress. When we were ready to order she promptly came over.
I found the menu to have a good variety of salads, burgers, sandwich's, mac and cheese and entrees. All fairly priced. I had the tuna burger with homemade potato chips.
The food came in a timely manner and was delicious. Tuna burger so good and I want to know how they make their chips, scrumptious! I housed my plate in probably 2 minutes (thank god I wasn't on a date).
All in all this place has a great location, menu, and staff. Chill vibe where you can come for after work drinks or a nice dinner.
I'll totes be back!
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I watched this place get built. I really did. I stayed at the suffolk dorm across the street last summer when this place was being built brick by brick by oompa loompas borrowed from my chocolate factory. I heard it was originally supposed to have some kind of a mayan temple-like design, but fajitas and ritas got pissy wissy about that.
Haha, I love this place. It's great people, great food, and a nice selection of drinks. I also like the decor, the pictures, giant salt and peppers on every table, and cool three-floor structure. It's a great place to have a large dinner or gathering because there's a bar on the 1st and 3rd levels.
The only thing that I will say about the food is the Fried Goat Cheese with sauce appey tizzer. I always ask for extra marinara sauce and pieces of bread. It's a hefty chunk of cheese. More like a wheel of cheese. And they have a late night appey tizzer menu which has some discounted french fries and things of that nature.
Good clean fun here. It's usually crowded on weekday afterwork hours, and I think a little quieter on weekends. I mean, there are bars down Summer St, and Silvertone, Sidebar, Beantown Pub (I drank my first legal beer here), and sweetwater down towards remmingtons, but this place puts me in a good, relaxing mood. It's busy but not chaotic, reasonably priced, and well maintained. If i'm in the area, this is my go-to-place to a drink or meal. Highly recommend it.
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My favorite food has got to be mac & cheese, in any capacity, so I had to try out Max & Dylan's a couple Sunday's ago when I was nursing a hangover. I ordered the Buffalo Mac & Cheese for takeout, it was amazing! The pasta was gomito maccheroni (large elbow macaroni) cooked al dente, there was an abundance of creamy cheese and the buffalo chicken was marinated tenders cut up and mixed in. I've had many mac & cheese dishes and other than lobster mac & cheese and some home cooked versions, this one ranks among my favorites. I'll be back to M&D's in the near future.
Great bar food. I have et to try the mac and cheese that they are so famous for but I love their kobe and filet mignon sliders. I also love their fried calamari and goat cheese. They also make awesome shots- very strong yet fruity. would come here anytime although it does get a little loud at night time. But its a casual, fun hangout place!
With our Project Half Price gift certificate in hand, a friend and I checked out Max & Dylan's this past Thursday night. I've somehow never noticed this place, tucked back in Downtown Crossing. The space is really cute- there's a small, warm-feeling bar area on the first floor, and then dining areas on the second and third floors (with a bar on the third floor as well). We sat on the third floor and it was fairly loud- which was fine, but unexpected. Our food was also fine- good but nothing that left a lasting impression. Our server was really nice- we were in the mood to hang out and take out time and appreciated that she never made us feel rushed. Seems like it might be a fun place to grab some drinks and maybe an appetizer after work, but I probably wouldn't go back for a meal.
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I have to say I have had quite a few beers here at the bar since my last review of this place and my opinion has changed. I like the bar area downstairs. Iike the food and finally after Silvertones this is my go to after work beer joint from now on. I like you guys and am glad I gave you another chance.
xxxooxoxox
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I went back with Melissa the other night. Dumpling app - you pay $2/ dumpling and they are tiny… Read more »
I was here for lunch on a Friday afternoon around 2. The bartender was also our waitress, and took a good ten minutes to come over, even though there was only one other table occupied. After that, it was fine, but even that was unexpected.
I enjoy the restaurant, itself. It's small, but has character. The location is interesting, but I enjoy discovering placess that are tucked away like this.
I had the Lobster Mac and Cheese. It wasn't quite the kind of mac and cheese I like, as the cheese was not traditional, and was a little too liquidy, but despite this, the dish was totally decadent and had big chunks of lobster. My friend had the Mac and Cheese with the Prosciutto and Truffle Oil, which was also quite good.
A Mimosa, and a St. Germaine and Champagne cocktail rounded out our meal, and the drink list was actually quite extensive.
Overall, for 2 dishes of Mac and Cheese and 2 Champagne cocktails, the bill was about $45.
I liked Max & Dylans, but I won't be running back to go a second time.
People thought this was:
Really really really cute space!! I had never been to west street grille? before so I was surprised with the loft-like dining area. Went for dinner around 6 so it was still light out and the light streaming in was fantastic. Drink menu was interesting, menu was fairly interesting as well - the mac and cheeses were definitely different (buffalo chicken?). I had the portobello/goat cheese/tomato sandwich and both it and the fries were delish. 3 stars for the price (a bit on the pricey side) and the service was really good as well. I guess more like a 3.5 stars so I'll knock it up to four if it's another 3.5 next time I go. and I'll definitely be going back!
If you're standing outside deciding to go to max/dylans or fajitas/ritas, I'd pick this 4/5 times.
This was some of the worst food and worst service I have ever experienced dining out in Boston.
I arrived with friends from NYC staying in Boston for the night...we each ordered a different meal. When the meals came it was a disappointment to say the least. The mac and cheese was cold...the sandwich I had was filled with mayo...and the rest of the food was boring, to put it nicely.
After about an hour or so, we were about to order our third round of drinks (I had barely finished my second glass of wine) when the manager came over and told us to get our check and go. She claimed we were being very loud. I looked over at the bar and about ten college aged girls were screaming at the bar..
Yes, we were talking loudly..and everyone else in the bar was as well due to the college students screaming behind us.
Needless to say we were embarrassed for our out of town guests that we would be treated that way at a place where we had told them was 'highly recommended". Our guest were appalled and as we got up to leave they mentioned they would never like to dine at a place like that ever again.
Bad service. Uncooked food. Overpriced.
And they do not allow loud talking on a Saturday night at 10pm.
Myself and my guests will from no one take our dining elsewhere.
If you would like a different suggestion for the Downtown/Financial area to dine out I would be more than happy to suggest a variety of places (other than max and dylans).
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The bar side is much better than the dining side. The dining area is very open, big & loud. You feel kind of on display. The bar side is great though.
The food is good too. Its owned by the same people who own Tavern on the Water so expect great Mac & Cheese selections. Their mixed drinks are consistently good and their Ahi Tuna Salad is fantastic.
Its a great pre-Garden place. You can park behind the restaurant and walk right across the Washington Street bridge (or under it across the locks) for a game or event.
Right down Main St. in Charlestown is Olive's, which has a nice bar, Fig's Bar, Sullivan's Bar and the Warren Tavern if you want to do some hopping after the game. :)
This place is a 3.5 star, but I came away feeling satisfied, so I'm going 4. My friend and I had dinner here before going to the movies a couple weeks ago. It's right around the corner from Lowe's on the common and neither of us had been. The architecture of this spot is cool and makes for multiple types of atmosphere depending where you sit.
There are three levels here and we went all the way to the top, getting to see the various sections. Each one has its own charm and lighting. We were by the bar in a dim, comfy room and the lower levels seemed more for serious dinner daters. It was a Friday so those tables were busy.
I had heard that the Mac and Cheese was ultimate comfort food here and when I saw a bowl of the buffalo chicken MnC come out, I was *this* close to ordering it. But when my friend got a burger I wanted one too and copied her. They were great, and the fries were also just right, crunchy. The prices were fine for that area, where I expect to pay a little more for the location. I'd say solid date spot, especially before a flick.
The best thing about the food at Max & Dylans is that it's available after midnight -- which is sadly, strangely unusual in downtown Boston on a Saturday night. We came out of a movie last night at 11:15, wanted drinks and a little something to eat, and were disappointed to find the kitchens closed at both Teatro and Ivy. Although I've been in Boston for many years now, the New Yorker in me is still confounded at times like that: no food at 11:30 on a Saturday night? Fortunately the manager at Ivy was kind enough to suggest Max & Dylans, just a block away.
I'd been there before, unmemorably. Which is not to say the food is bad -- it's decent. It's all-around decent, in fact. It would get three stars from me based solely on the merits of its food, ambiance & service. It's a keeper worth noting because they keep their kitchen open late. Thanks, Max & Dylans!
People thought this was:
3.5 Stars
This location is very handy and I was really bummed when the last establishment was closed (WSG). The room reminds me of many places in Manhattan, thin like a "railroad apartment", yet cozy. There is enough about M&D's to like, that makes me wish they have enough success to make a decent profit, but not so much that it gets overrun. During lunch you can sit in the sun or avoid it at the bar. The food can be described as pub-food++ with accessible Bistro-like choices. The entree salads are better than average and a value. They have a decent by the glass choices keeping with the affordable theme. I've tried the New Orleans BBQ shrimp a couple of times now and had to ask for more bread to mop up the sauce. The other choices I liked were the Kobe Sliders and the Mac and Cheese.
* NIce, lunch spot, after work or theater alternative.
* Upgrade on Pub Food, entrees are a above average and a value.
* Very chill atmosphere at lunch or early evening, laid back, yet helpful staff
* Pear Martini, Green Tea Martini, Pomegranate Martini
Max and Dylan's strikes you as provocative, hip and trendy as soon as you walk through the front door!
The Hostess was there to seat us, right away I might add on Valentines night. My date and I sat on the 2nd level of this 3 level restaurant in a private little nook we will call the "bondage corner". All areas of the restaurant are decorated with large seductive black and white photographs, which really spiced up our V-day night...
For our drinks I ordered a glass of the Napa Brut and my Date ordered the house Pinot Noir, they had a fairly small wine list but offered great choices.
For our meals we started with the "Oven roasted goat cheese" which was complimented with fresh tomato pan sauce and ciabatta. I ordered the Lobster mac and cheese, which was out of this world!!! My date had the Kobe sliders which he asked to be cooked med-rare, but came out more med-well, he recommends to order them rare if you want med-rare (remember they can always be cooked more if need be)
I digress now, but you get the idea! I loved it, it was fabulous... great for a date or to got relax with your buddies! The Boston common movie theater is right around the corner as well as a million other places- so its in a great location!
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I have gone to Max and Dylans several times for dinner as well as for drinks and appetizers. The restaurant itself has three levels to it, with the first and third levels having bars. The middle level has tables for eating.
They have quite a menu and highlight their variations on traditional mac and cheese. They also so have a variety of other options including many types of salads, sandwiches, sliders, and more traditional entrees. I have tried several of their vegetarian options, including salads, flatbread pizza, portobello sand which and the goat cheese appetizer.
I like the drink menu a lot. The bartenders are quite good and can make nice, stiff drinks. The drinks are reasonably priced, and I feel like since they are served in pint glasses, I am getting a good deal!
The service is good and the atmosphere is nice and comfortable. I have come to Max and Dylans before and after shows at the Opera House. It is in a great location to catch some of the theatre crowds.
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Surpassed my expectations after reading the average reviews here. We were a large party of 8 in to celebrate a birthday. Upon entering it was loud and packed downstairs. I thought, I really hope we don't sit down here, then we were sent to the third floor where it our group was going to be seated. It was packed up there but not as loud as the downstairs. While we waited for others to arrive we had a drink at the bar then the table was ready.
Our server, Rodrigo, was very thorough with the menu, going on each section individually, even letting us know they have chocolate milk too! So we decided to start with 4 appetizers:
Buffalo Chicken Dip: WOW! This was my favorite of the apps.It came fresh out of the oven with cheesy goodness. I've never tasted a dip like this. Just perfect and we all devoured it so quickly. I am already thinking that I need to attempt to make it myself.
Philly Steak spring rolls: Very good. The portion could of been bigger then 2 small rolls but whoever ate them including myself loved them
Calamari: Excellent. Good portion and nice spicy aioli drizzle
Truffle Fries:Yum!
There were many different kinds of mac and cheese on the menu. I am a big M&C gal so had to go with the lobster kind. It arrived in a big bowl with tons of lobster meat-love that! The pasta was curly cavatappi and the cheese sauce was great. Up there with the top mac and cheeses ever!
The whole table got a variety of entrees and finished their plates. The Kobe beef burgers were a hit and I sampled the duck flat-bread which was almost a foot long.
At the end the server came over with a choc cake for the birthday boy. Nice touch!
I could have given this 5 stars but the drinks were weak. I had to send a Bacardi and coke back cause it tasted like it had no booze in it, it came back with some booze on top and it was still weak. Another diner with us sent back his raspberry margarita for the same reason of having no booze. The menu is extremely reasonable for entrees- between $12-$18. Drinks were between $8-$12 and could have been better.
The decor was cool. Although each floor was small, there were large mirrors covering the walls to open it up. The sexy photographs were unique.
I will return again for dinner and I suggest others definitely give it a try!
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Max & Dylan's is definitely worth a try. With small spaces and two sets of stairs, it's not for everyone (limited handicapped access). For a chill sit-down with your significant other or your best girl, it provides a lowkey atmosphere with stiff drinks & tasty snacks.
Let me explain: Max & Dylan's + Friday Happy Hour = empty bar. What does this mean? Well, if you're in the mood to chat it up with attractive randoms, you're out of luck. If you want to lounge and have a relaxed drink with some friends, this place could be perfect -- it's quiet, lots of natural light in the early evening from the space's built-in skylights, and the drinks are strong. Maybe a little too strong. I tried a pomegranate margarita first and the sour mix taste was overwhelming. My second attempt with a straight up Captain & Diet yielded better results but there was so much rum, I stumbled out the door after standing up.
I've also been to M & D's for lunch during the work week. I think I prefer it for this purpose, although service was a bit slow. If your employer is strict about hour-only lunches, this is not the place for you. Check it out for its delicious variations on mac and cheese and their burgers. Delicious, thick-cut french fries, too!
The food looked really good, and I would come back to try it but again, I can only rate this from a small experience on a wine crawl.
I wouldn't come here after work probably because even with 3 levels, its tiny and narrow and just really difficult to manouever. I think it would be good for food though.
I gave it a 3 because I hate small, cramped places but I would give a 3.5 overall if i could.
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I'm not really sure why this place was so crowded on the Tuesday night we were there.
I got there earlier than my brother and sister-in-law and decided to try a mix drink since the other yelpers had mixed experiences about them. I spent that $10 for you, readers. And didn't finish my watery dark and stormy (was there actually alcohol in it? I couldn't really tell). I was seated at a corner table downstairs, underneath an overhang. My brother only bumped his head on the ceiling once or twice, and the protruding corner after one beer. The beer list was decent (saving grace?).
We split the fries with truffle oil for the appetizer, I had the tuna salad, sister-in-law had another salad, and Bro had the much hyped lobster mac n'cheese. Hm.
The fries were hot, that's always nice. I could *kind of* taste the truffle oil, I guess it was a nice little addition to the fairly run-of-the mill fries, but that's pretty much all I can say about it. This might be a nice thing to get if you're just there for a drink or two (get beer or wine for yourself, seriously, avoid the mix drinks) and want something greasy to go along with it.
The salads were decent but overdressed--the lettuce on mine was good lettuce but I couldn't taste it because of all of the oil! The tuna was done really well, though, by really well I mean almost completely rare, which is how I roll with tuna steak. Maybe a straight up tuna steak would be good at this place, I'll never know.
Ok, on to the Mac N'Cheese. Seriously guys? All those people who raved about this stuff--do you really like the cheese to pool at the bottom of the bowl rather than being thick enough to be included in each bite of the food?? The taste was decent (I mean, cheesy lobster is really tough to eff up) but I thought the consistency was pretty nasty. The thin creamy cheese didn't make sense in a signature dish, and my brother started to wonder if he even likes mac n'cheese at all after how bummed he was about his meal. Trust me Bro, let's go to Zaftigs and get some real mac n'cheese before you make up your mind on that one.
I don't plan to go back to this place. I liked the art, but there were so many older people there, it was a little weird to chill out with a bunch of septuagenarians in front of photos of half naked women.
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Really cool atmosphere. This is in the space that West Street Grille (which I still miss) occupied. There are 3 levels, all serving food and drinks.
The menu is pretty varied, from fries and calamari, to sliders, salads, sandwiches and 5 types of Mac and Cheese. The drink menu is also extensive, with 4 mojitos!
We skipped apps and went straight to the main deal. I had the prosciutto mac and cheese, others had the grilled chicken sandwich and the tunaburger. I think when I come back, I'd not order this one. I felt the prosciutto was undercooked and not chopped up enough. But the pasta was tasty and not overly cheesy. The fries looked good as did the pickle.
This was definitely an after-work spot as others mentioned. I did like the vibe so I'll be back.
I saw Max and Dylan's on the Phantom Gourmet and their Mac and Cheese dishes looked amazing...
But for some reason, I didn't get a Mac and Cheese tonight, I got the Blackened Chicken Flatbread. I assumed this was a sandwich, even though their Flatbreads are listed under the Flatbreads section and not the Sandwich section, but that was my bad. It was not a sandwich, obviously, but more like a long, sauce-less personal pizza. It was pretty good; crispy and not very heavy on the stomach.
My girlfriend got the Buffalo Chicken Sliders, which I sampled, and they were juicy, tender, and buffalo-ee. I'm not a huge fan of buffalo sauce, but with enough blue cheese, I'd eat cardboard.
We also shared a bowl of the Homemade Potato Chips. It comes with a little side of melted blue cheese and bacon crumbled on them... They weren't AS good as Johnny on the Side's are, but still scrumptious. I only wish there was more bacon.
For our drinks, I ordered a Todd's Homemade Lemonade which touted that it was a "Secret Recipe", but I'm pretty sure it was just lemonade and lemon vodka. It wasn't bad, but I like my drinks a little stronger. I should have got the Platinum Margarita, which is what my girlfriend got, because it was like the most perfect Margarita I've ever tasted... Though, I like to hold the salt and she dumped all the salt in at once, I think.
The atmosphere is nice; I like the three floors. The bottom and top floor is more for a bar atmosphere, where the second floor, where we sat, is more suited for dates. Not sure how I feel about the seductive photos on the wall, but I liked the three pictures of Boston.
The service was a wee bit slow at first for it being so empty in there, but once she did make it over to the table, she was right on schedule every time after that. A manager also came over to check to make sure that everything was as it should be.
All in all, I can't wait to get back to this place because their menu is full of delicious sounding food, from the apps all the way to the entrees. Good show.
max & dylan's is another place that has me a bit on the fence. typically when i've been here i've either liked what they did or how they did it, but haven't really always been a fan of both.
drinks in a pint glass are good.
stocking gosling black seal is good.
free shoe shines monday through friday from 4:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. are great, and a very unique touch.
the buffalo chicken mac n' cheese is fucking phenominal.
the waffle fries are fantasic. cheesy and the jalapenos add a nice kick.
the kobe sliders are good. the balsamic onions and dressed greens add a nice sweetness. get an extra napkin, though, because they can be a bit greasy.
if you're going witht he flatbread pizza, i'd recommend the margarita. it's good. the beef tenderloin flatbread . . . was not to my taste. i think i was expecting something like mini-steak tips on a pizza. i got something more like steakum. thinly sliced. also, if i'm being honest - i don't know if it was the beef, the cheese or just the dish on that particular night, but it smelled like feet. it tasted ok, but the aroma was . . .offputting. not ordering it again.
the location, near dtx and the theater district, is great. it's a great place to drop in after work or pre/post show/shopping for a bite and drink or two.
the 3 floor layout is nice in that it's never tremendously crowded on any given level, but, because each level is somewhat small, it can feel crowded, especially the first floor bar. still, bars on the first and third levels are nice.
having the women's bathroom on the third floor and the men's room on the first floor is not great. not the restaurant's fault, but still . . . .
if you're going for food, i definitely recommend asking to be sat on the second or third floors. most of the seating on the first floor is in a nook off to the left at the end of the first floor bar. it's right by the men's room, so your meal may fall victim to max & dylan's layout. again, not exactly their fault, but something which detracts.
the layout also makes it tough to bring in a large group. 6 or 7 is one thing, but i could forsee problems with a group of 10 or 12 and would definitely recommend calling ahead if you have more than 6.
so, as you can see m&d's has its plusses and minuses. unfortunately, it seems several of the problems stem from the layout and not from lack of effort. nevertheless, a good, solid place - probably better than it's 3 star average would indicate. i'll go with 3.75 and round up as i'll definitely be back.
People thought this was:
A friend and I stumbled upon Max & Dylans Kitchen & Bar while searching for a place to grab a bite for lunch. Having just opened on Tuesday, they were very eager to seat us and we got "the best seat in the house" right next to a lovely open window, and pretty window boxes of flowers right on the street. The atmosphere was cozy & the decor (at first glance) was warm & welcoming.
The menu itself has several sections that caught my attention. They have a whole listing of different kinds of sliders (Kobe, Filet Mignon, etc.) that looked delicious...and *here's the real zinger* about 5 different kinds of homemade Mac & Cheese! yummmmmm!
They also had tons of soups, salads, sandwiches, appetizers and entrees to whet anyones whistle...and the prices were reasonable. They presented us with a decent wine list of specials & half bottles, but we were not imbibing over our lunch so we passed. It should be noted, however that the entire back of the menu was drink options...worth exploring, I'm sure.
The bartender was very friendly...I give her a shout out because she used to live in DC and I just moved from the district myself, so we chatted a bit about the differences. The waitstaff seemed very friendly and well organized...no complaints there.
I ordered a grilled chicken sandwich with buffalo mozzarella, sun dried tomato jam, and some greens on ciabatta, and my friend had the filet mignon sliders. We were both very happy with our meals...and I must say, the fries that came with my sandwich were darn tasty too!
One thing I must mention, however, once we got a closer look...is the decor....its very...how should I put it...unexpected? Walking in the restaurant it feels very cozy with big open windows, tall bar tables, dark wood...the upstairs has a loft feel and there's bamboo reeds dividing part of the restaurant...very appealing.
A closer look at the artwork, on the other hand, revealed a much, much darker side to Max & Dylans Kitchen & bar. like, a MUCH darker side...think paintings of women's backs/behinds in thong underwear straddling chairs...and racy photographs of women eating fruit VERY suggestively..thighs being gripped, undergarmets being pulled off...CAVIAR BEING EATEN FROM COLLARBONES (wtf?!)...anyway, needless to say, it was quite a surprise contrast to the initial impression. I'm not sure if their artwork is permanent or they rotate artists monthly...but it certainly suggests a feeling altogether different than a cute neighborhood gastropub where you can grab a great sandwich. Maybe the night crowd is a different set? I'm sure I will be back to explore further, though...and nosh on some sliders & mac & cheese! Welcome to the 'hood, Max & Dylans!
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Went here early on a Sunday evening. The place was practically empty, but the food and service were very good. I'll definitely go back on one of their busier nights.
I ordered the lobster macaroni and cheese. It was cooked well, with lots of lobster and the pasta was al dente. The sauce was light and creamy at the same time. I would like to give it a 3.5 star but it's not possible on yelp. The service was a little slow but the food made up for it.
Went to Max & Dylans as a last minute decision. Excellent choice. These guys make a fantastic martini. Anyone who drinks a martini on a regular basis knows not all bartenders get it right. Perfectly chilled, no ice chips floating around with blue cheese stuffed olives. Services was good although a bit slow. The food is great if you are looking for a menu of moderately priced solid items. Flat bread pizza and salads are really well done.
Decor is interesting. Leave the five year olds at home or be prepared to answer questions.
I want to give Max & Dylans 3.5 stars but I'd rather round down then up.
Here's why:
* The side of waffle fries covered in cheese for $6.95 were very good - but since there were only about 15 waffle fries in the order? Not worth $6.95.
* The music was HORRIBLE. Loud, obnoxious, and out of place. I agree with the other yelper who suggested jazz.
* My wine was good but my friend ordered a vodka tonic with lime and they brought him flat club soda with vodka and lime. We were one of two tables eating on the top floor so I'm not sure how he got that wrong. Obviously not a huge deal.
* Aside from that, he we a really nice attentive waiter.
* The lobster mac was very good, but not good enough.
* The philly cheesesteak spring rolls were awesome.
* The shrimp dumplings were very average.
* The kobe meatball sliders were wonderful.
* I loved, loved, loved the decor.
It was obviously a very up and down experience. I feel like the food here will be trial and error... but I'll be back again.
People thought this was:
Max & Dylans is one of your best lunch or dinner spots in the area. They claim to be and they are a cool place to get your eat & drink on. Great app's (always fresh) nice selection of "light food" sandwiches etc. and a nice selection of entrees. Great prices for the location. I don't think they have anything over $20.00. Good strong drinks, cool staff, plenty of parking lots & garages in the area. It's just a one minute walk from the commons. Give it a try , its worth it.
I'm only giving Max & Dylan's 3 stars because I had already stuffed myself down the street before getting here, and so I didn't have room for any more food.
Is it me, or did they make the lower floor a bit smaller? I feel like there used to be more space in the bar area, but maybe that's just me?
We went upstairs to hang out and get some drinks. One guy gave us a whole lot of great attention, I'm wondering if he was the manager. He welcomed us, then he let us keep the table we were sitting at even though it was supposed to be for two new people that were coming to eat, etc..
Once we were seated, however, the service took a nose dive. We apparently had a waitress, but she didn't so much as glance over at us once. I didn't mind going up to the bar to get my own drinks, but still, can you say rude? Guy behind the bar was slow as can be, but attentive.
I liked the crowd, liked the decor, and really liked the looks of the menu. Um, 5 kinds of mac and cheese? YES PLEASE! So yeah, I'll be back, and maybe M&D will get another star or so.
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We went to Max & Dylan's thinking we were going to the West Street Grill (slow = me). There's a doorman, which struck me as odd since the place wasn't THAT busy, but maybe there's a scene a little later in the night.
Anyway....we went for drinks, which were fine, but pricey. My dirty 'tini was a bit too dirty (I like to taste the booze I'm paying $12 for) and there was no stick holding my olives (major 'tini faux pas). The server was nice and handled our group of six with ease. There only appeared to be one bartender working, which seems like a recipe for disaster on a Saturday night.
The music was kinda lame, like it had been lifted from a Kiss 108 dance party mix, which is the last thing I want to hear when I go out. It also got progressively louder. Couple that with the "artsy" photos on the wall of scantily clad, headless women (or were they men in drag?) and I'm not quite sure Max & Dylan's quite knows what kinda bar it wants to be. Does it want to be a hip dining experience to replace the fab-ooo West Street Grill, or does it wish it was located a few blocks east near Faneuil Hall handling tourists and the like? I can't tell, but I may be willing to give it another shot, because the menu did look promising.
People thought this was:
Max & Dylans was just right. The waffle cheese fries with pickeld jalapenos were absolutely wonderful and a perfect size appetizer for 2 or 3 to not fill up. I got the buffalo chicken mac & cheese. It was so different that it took my mouth a few minutes to get used to the mexture of those two tastes. But it was amazing. Very large portion and just the right amount of chicken vs. macaroni. My friend got the buffalo chicken sliders and those were great too. It's definitely not the most buzzin place around town, but we didn't have to wait for a table at dinner time and that was huge. The crowd was pretty diverse, but not a place to go and meet people. More like a place to grab a bite with a few friends, no more than 4 at a time because thier dining room does not accomodate such big parties. I am definitely a fan of Max & Dylans and will absolutely be going back.
People thought this was:
I was referred to Max and Dylan's by a friend, who warned me of the somewhat lewd photographs....and either they changed the photos or maybe I was expecting such photographs, that I wasn't offended by the art inside. What I was not fond of was being seated at a high top table on a barstool for dinner when there were clearly loads of regular tables available just a half floor above.
This aside, I am excited to revisit Max and Dylan's. Everything we ordered met and/or exceeded expectations. To start we tried the Homemade Potato Chips, which were okay. What was good was the blue cheese dipping sauce that came with the potato chips. My dining companion ordered the Filet Mignon Sliders, which should just come standard with that blue cheese sauce, because it made those sliders. I took the opportunity to try the Blood Orange Martini and the Seared Duck Flatbread. I am not a huge fan of oranges. However, blood oranges are of a different breed altogether for me, and this martini was delish! I will be ordering the duck flatbread again. So good!
The service is a little difficult to judge, as the restaurant had not even been open 10 days. As that early point, the attentive service could be due to the recent opening. But overall our wait staff was very attentive and clearly able to answer all our questions.
A final great point regarding Max and Dylan's: The manager tells me the kitchen is open until 1AM. Kudos to late nighters.
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I loved Max & Dylans's predecessor, West St. Grille, b/c they had a nice selection of fancy salads (containing nuts and raisins). To my delight, this new place also has pretty good salads. I had the pear salad, which was evenly saturated with vinegrette. Our table also shared the Rock shrimp mac n cheese, which was just ok as far as pricey mac n cheese goes. A friend noted that his flatbread pizza was described as containing "tomato jam" instead of just tomato sauce in the menu to make it sound fancier.
The interior of the restaurant is unchanged, pretty much, from the West St. days, and it still has a beautiful upstairs atrium room. Sit there.
i think I must've eaten there on the same day as the reviewer above! I'm kind of not that observant, but I did happen to notice some of the Robert Mapplethorpe-esque photography adorning the walls, which featured nearly-naked men AND women.
Anyway, it's nice to have a more upscale dining option in typically dead Downtown Crossing. Still, it's not THAT upscale, and prices are a little high for the small portions served, and the bar-like atmosphere.
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"Put 'er in the corner.. next to the shoe shine guy.."
Okay. So they didn't actually say that.. but last time I was in.. they put us in the corner next to the shoe shine guy (he shines shoes for free from 4-7PM M-F). haha.. Although, it was fine with my friend and I because it was louder in the general bar area and we had a lot of catching up to do.
Anyway..
Because of its location, M&D's is a popular after work destination. From the young professionals to the um.. old professionals (?), this place has everyone taking the edge off after work with an adult beverage. I opted for a Sam and my friend got a classy glass of wine. We also decided to get a few bites. I got the french fries with truffle oil and chives and she got the oven roasted goat cheese with a tomato sauce and some ciabatta slices. The fries were good, but they were just regular fries in truffle oil clothing. Or wording. Didn't taste any different than regular fries. Maybe they made a mistake with them since everyone else seems to love them? The app with the goat cheese came in a large portion. Definitely enough for two, maybe even three depending on how hungry you are. I ended up dipping my fries in the tomato sauce and stealing some cheese. Besides this particular occasion, I've only been in for drinks. I think I need to try more of their food. They have 5 different kinds of mac n cheese that look pretty interesting even if they do seem a little pricey.
The service was pretty quick. I have to admit, I was scared we'd be ignored because we were off to the side.. but they sat two other couples in that little shoe shine alcove. A plus since our waiter kept checking in with us.. a minus because one couple was definitely listening in on our conversation.
The place does have a good vibe to it, although it can feel crowded as soon as you step through the door (their lobbyish area is non existent). If you're claustrophobic, definitely go find someplace else. Could be a cute date place since you have to lean in to chat with the person sitting next to you and the lighting is on the dimmer side.
People thought this was:
I have been here once before and actually really enjoyed the food. The mac & cheese is delish and the french fries are tossed in truffle oil--a nice touch..
However, last night, I was treated so rudely by the manager I will never come back--and this is to their detriment since I live just blocks from the new location in Charlestown I was hoping to visit for brunch soon.
We walked in to find the place jammed, and we were only wanting a seat at the bar. The hostess sent us upstairs to the bar on the 3rd level, where they said two seats had just opened up from people they had just seated. Up we went, to find two people who were seated at a table moving to the openings at the bar, and they offered us their table. We made our move to sit at the table when the manager, who saw it all go down, rudely told us to get away from the table because he had a waiting list. All we wanted was a drink at the bar...but hey my money's as green as anybody else's. I'll just spend it elsewhere.
People thought this was:
we stumbled upon max & dylans after an afternoon in the boston common. at first it kind of reminded me of a hair salon because of the black and white model photos on the walls and the skylight on the ceiling.
also, they were playing smooth jazz in the back...which was kind of cheesy but funny!
it's definitely a very valentines day restaurant, with little tables and the flicker lights.
they have like 6 different kinds of mac n cheese, which is cool!
the fries are addicting, which was a pleasant surprise. i kept on eating them - crunchy on the outside but melts in your mouth. mmmm. and the portabella sandwich was delicious.
it was also reasonably priced!
cute place to bring a date. and don't forget to order the fries.
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Two trips and two type of Macaroni and Cheese enjoyed. I am obsessed with M&C, so the fact that they have a whole menu section dedicated to this delicious dish is an instant plus for me. The lobster M&C was so so, but the buffalo chix version made me very happy. The S&M style artwork put me off a little on my first visit, but we were sat in the skyline pic surrounded mezzanine the second visit, which I preferred. Basically, if you're a Mac and Cheese-aholic like me, give it a try.
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Came here last Friday nite and only because fajitas & Ritas was packed! not even a seat at the bar and all i wanted was a Rita!
so max & Dylans, it is. i have been here before and liked it, so why not!
Coincidentially, the table we got was the same table i sat in when i first came in! weird!
our waiter was a lttle slow but we dealt with him. i ordered the blackberry mint margarita and bf got the sidecar. when he came back with our drinks, he swapped them. i think b/c the side car was in a martii glass and it must've shouted in his mind, "girly drink". but noticing the yellow coloring, i knew this was the sidecar. took a sip and switched. but the blackberry mint was awesome!!!!! the combo of the 2 were excellent!
for food, we werent that hungry since we had a huge popcorn at the movies ( btw Gran Torino was awesome) and we decided on some apps to munch on. we had Lip Searing rare ahi tuna. this come with a side of seaweed salad. the tuna was melt in your mouth soo good, i wish it came with more than 7 peices. ah well.
next!
the blackened chicken flatbread and the proscuitto mac and cheese. yum yum yum! the mac & cheese was better than i remembered last time i was here. this was more cremier and so good on a cold nite.
the service here is not as attentive but its not like he is ignoring us either but did go MIA for a few.
overall, a satisfying meal.
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i think I ruined it with going in with very strong impressions of their mac n cheese.
my friend and i…
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This place was pretty good. Wish I could give 3.5 stars. The buffalo chicken mac n cheese was wonderful. The flatbread was OK. The Ahi salad was very good. I'll go back if nearby.
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Neighborhood: Charlestown
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Neighborhood: Allston/Brighton
Neighborhood: Downtown
Category: Bars
Neighborhood: Downtown
Category: American (New)
Neighborhood: Downtown
Category: American (New)
Neighborhood: Downtown
Category: American (New)
Neighborhood: Downtown
Category: Italian
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