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Max Brenner
Categories: Restaurants American (New) Food Desserts Food Specialty Food Chocolatiers and Shops American (New), Desserts, Chocolatiers and Shops [Edit]
1500 Walnut StPhiladelphia, PA 19102
Neighborhoods: Rittenhouse Square, Penn Center
(215) 344-8150
- Hours:
Mon-Thu 11:30 am - 11 pm
Fri-Sat 11:30 am - 1 am
Sun 9 am - 11 pm
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dessert
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Trendy
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
309 reviews for Max Brenner
Review Highlights
"The pizza was delicious, along with the hot chocolate."
(in 61 reviews)
"Those seasoned waffle fries are excellent too."
(in 30 reviews)
"the peanut butter sauce was phenomenal."
(in 8 reviews)
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309 reviews in English
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Review from Aaron C.
Philadelphia, PA
Went to brunch with my friend. It is BEYOND AWESOME!!!
My suggestion is, don't go with your date if you've never been here, since the food looks so good that it'll blow your table manner away. I just wanna grab those things with my bare hands and shove them down my throat.
We ordered the breakfast skillet and the sunrise burrito, and shared the banana split waffle (Yes we had a lot...). I absolutely love the burrito, a little bit spicy, which is perfect for my tongue. Skillet was a bit too greasy for me but I still love how it tastes. The waffle, well, is the waffle. I'm not too crazy about any sweet things but my friend really liked it.
I read some bad reviews here but none of these things applies to my experience here this time. I was surprised that this place only got a 3.5 star rating. I think it was an absolutely delightful visit, at least for brunch. -
Review from Ettya F.
2/2/2012
I haven't eaten at Max Brenner, and I've only had one of their chocolates - which was fine, considering I like the idea of eating chocolate much more than I enjoy the actual experience.
I'm writing this review solely because I find it invariably fascinating that you can 1) eat dinner 2) get dessert 3) buy a box of chocolates and 4) buy BATH PRODUCTS all in one spot.
And damn, that cocoabutter lotion smells fantastic. It's like Axe for women...that and the exfoliating chocolate scrub. Not only do you get to slough off all those terrible epithelial cells, but you also get to smell like something so enticingly edible. Yeah. Max Brenner is a winner. -
Review from Hazel A.
Philadelphia, PA
2/1/2012 1 Check-in Here
This place was really cute. I loved the decor..and the food was tasty!!! I came here with four of my girlfriends for restaurant week.
I ordered the Chubby Smoked Turkey Club with smoked bacon, dijon aioli, lettuce, tomato and additional avocado. It was a large portion. I could only eat half of the sandwich.. the entree was served with waffle fries dusted with chili and cocoa powder.. the waffle fries were DELICIOUS! There was also this spicy mayo sauce that was so tasty!!!
Afterwards, we decided to share the Chocolate Pizza warm thin pastry topped with double melted chocolate chunks, melted marshmallows and candied hazelnut crunchy bits.. talk about AMAZINGLY GOOD!
I also picked up a love mug.. which I thought was totally adorable. it's a mug in an oval shape... ideal for hugging the mug close to you with both hands as you enjoy your warm beverage on a cold night. The only downfall was that I thought that this place was pretty pricey. I think it's a nice place to go every now and then for a little splurge... or even just for dessert since they have so much to chose from. -
Review from Michael X.
Philadelphia, PA
2/7/2012
Went for the food. Was not that impressed. The location and decor is pretty nice. It was really packed on a Friday evening and we had to wait even with a reservation. The service was alright, it was very busy and we had to wait a while to get to the waitress. The seating area for a party of 3 was quite small. I ordered something to go and they did not have a fork or spoon that we could use. The food is decent, nothing special I have to say. The sundae that I ended up getting was pretty good, better than the food. Would probably go back for the chocolates but not for the food.
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Review from Sue S.
Mt Laurel, NJ
2/7/2012
Went w/ kids(7&9) after a concert on Sat afternoon. Loved smell and deco. But food was pretty bad, considering the price. Kids had chiken nugget and sliders. Adults had sandwich and salad. Just like some comments you should never order anything else than desert there. I had to send back my salad because I couldn't pick out wilted greens anymore. Tips were all brown and a lot of mush things in. Ewww....crouton on the salad were old and little saucer holding dressing had a big chip. I didn't try the sandwich but my husband said it's just average. Portions were on the smaller size. Kids had a desert that you can dip in cholate but too much mashmallow instead chocolate in it so only ate 1/3. Over all, it was not worth $65 for lunch. You can bring your date, but after dinner somewhere, only for desert.
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Review from Tu-van L.
1/31/2012 1 Check-in Here
Smaller than the NYC/Union Square location but the food/dessert/drinks as delicious. No need to say more - come here if you want to indulge in rich, chocolate-y goodness. A warning if for some reason you're not into overly sweet chocolate-y things (which makes me question why you're here in the first place): the chocolate are really sweet. Be prepared to be indulged, if not get some fresh fruit or fries/onion rings to cut the sweetness (though the fries are cocoa dusted and the onion rings have a "chocolate ranch" dipping sauce)......
Listed in: Aye Chocolate!
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Review from Crystal A.
Austin, TX
1/18/2012 1 Check-in Here
Part of me doesn't even know if I really want to write this review. I just don't feel inspired/motivated, and I think that says more about this place than anything I'll write in a review.
My husband and I spent a night in Philly over Thanksgiving break. We went in on a weekday night, not busy at all, and the store looks beautiful. We just wanted a couple of warm drinks and dessert to complete a great night. The menu is great, but I felt like it was missing something. I don't know what it was, but I found myself having difficulty making a decision and it's not because I had too many awesome things to choose from. One of my problems is that the pictures weren't labeled with what dish it was, and the descriptions didn't always match the pictures.
I'm not sure the food justifies the price, and I'm sure this is a great place to go if you're not from around here or if it's a special occasion, but if I lived here I don't think I would go very often. -
Review from christina s.
Doylestown, PA
1/18/2012 Seated via OpenTable 1 Check-in Here
Went to brunch here with three other adults and one child. The adults got pancakes, a mexican wrap, the Maxican Omelet, and the French toast. I got the 'Max'ican omelet with homefries and a biscuit with sugar on top.
My omelet was ok. I've had better at diners throughout the city and paid a fraction of what I paid here. I'm not a fan of homefries but those came with it, and so.. there they were. Nothing to write home about.
The best part of the meal was the biscuit.
Everybody else enjoyed their food, especially the kid-because, you know.. you can wow a child with melted chocolate... And by the looks of it, you can do the same with some adults as well.
Won't go back. -
Review from Flavia C.
Los Angeles, CA
1/21/2012
I must preface this by saying that the 4 star review is only based on the ambiance and the tea since I was too full for what they are known for. I will return to be sure and write an update but don't think i would try dinner since I tend to think that one should stick with what a place is focusing on, as there is a tendency for other items to be sub par.
"I don't invent anything that has to do with chocolate I just put out what already is in people's hearts and minds" or something like that says the founder. I love how thought out the concept is, creativity has and is missing in many new spots and I like the idea that they are fashioning a story. Upon entering you are greeted with amazing aromas and a whimsical and exciting decor with quotes that bring up childhood memories of willy wonka. I think this place is unique and worth checking out with the kids or on a date. If you are worried about your wallet though stick to sharing some chocolate drinks or desserts as the casual nature might lull you into the idea that the bill won't be steep and you would be wrong! The blueberry tea was yummy by the way. -
Review from Lynda R.
Lansdowne, PA
2/7/2012 Seated via OpenTable
Experience was lovely. Food was good and unique. Had a 1:15 Sunday reservation and were seating within 5-10 minutes of arriving. Our waitress was slow slow slow which dampened the experience. A must do try .... at least once.
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Review from Andrea G.
Lansdale, PA
1/20/2012
So my over all review is just okay. If your going for a dessert or desserty drink than its wonderful. The chocolate pizza is amazing but make sure you have someone to split it with because its so sweet. The rest of the food is just okay. Skip the fish tacos for sure but the sandwiches are normally okay.
The bad, really bad is that the wait staff is sooooooo slow. You will be waiting forever, no one will refill your drinks, you'll have to really try to get the waiters attention for everything. This has happened all 3 times I've been here. One way to get by this is by ordering every course (basically everything you may want) up front. Believe me it will save you in the end. -
Review from Yilin Z.
Ithaca, NY
1/16/2012
Ok, let's just say that after brunch.... my friend and I had to sit & rest for 30min and could barely walk because my stomach was SO heavy.
Go there if you have chocolate fever + love super sweet stuff!
Lesson #1 - DON'T order any sweet entrees if you're having dessert!
Lesson #2 - Eat the dessert sloooowly, so you don't kill your teeth or stomach.
My friend and I shared the banana chocolate french toast and steak sandwich.... Gotta admit, the steak sandwich was YUUUM (try it).
The service was really slow even though there weren't many customers.
I ordered a Chocolate Chai, thinking it'd be a flavorful blend between chocolate & chai tea (duh) but the drink was just like normal chai tea. For $6.
For dessert, we got the banana crepe... oh-my-god, please eat it with the ice-cream because the sweetness was putting me into a major food coma. -
Review from Dan F.
12/14/2011
Max Brenner is the kind of place so flawed, so failed, so undelicious, it inspires one of those proscriptive Do and Don't lists.
Since you're reading my review, allow me to share mine.
. . . . . . .
DON'T staff 3.5 employees per table. Math aside it means there's a 100% chance you can never get rid of any of them and jam in a word in edgewise to your dining companion.
DON'T encourage staff to blizzard patrons with an endless stream of insincere commentary and check-ins.
DON'T serve every dish on chipped pottery. Would you want to drink hot chocolate out of a splintered clay fragment? You would not.
DON'T serve bacon the flavor of liquid smoke and the texture of elderly underarm.
DON'T use more than a pound of sugar per entree.
DON'T design your restaurant to look like a rejected Starbucks concept store. Corporate isn't delicious.
DON'T serve Lender's Bagels.
DON'T say "chubby" on a menu.
DON'T sell logo wear.
. . . . . . .
If you skipped the DON'T list, try the DO one:
DO respect yourself.
DO go anywhere else. -
Review from Fawn M.
Philadelphia, PA
The kids loved it, I guess that's all that really matters. I was not impressed with the food but it was my daughter's 12th birthday and she felt like she had the golden ticket to Willy Wonka's castle.
Max Brenner's is perfect for special occasions but not some place that I would consider being a regular as the food left much to be desired. Since I am not a chocolate fan, I was not overly impressed by the desserts either. -
Review from Niyant S.
The fiance and I have come to Max Brenner just for dessert on a few occasions now, and have enjoyed the experience each time. This time around, however, we decided to give Brenner a try for dinner to see if the food stacks up to the dessert, and surprisingly it does!
First of all, the answer is NO, their food does not all incorporate chocolate! This seems to be a common misconception, which I think turns people away from trying a meal here. I decided to go with the Brenner Burger, cooked medium, which also came with a side of waffle fries. The burger was great, cooked just right and really good with this "special" bbq sauce they have. One thing that took it up a notch, in my opinion, was to spread some of the chipotle mayo they give for the fries onto it! Speaking of, the fries were great! They sprinkle them with chili and cocoa powder (yes, ok they do incorporate chocolate in some of their food, but in no way does it hurt), and they taste awesome with that dipping sauce! My only complaint, however, would be that they don't give enough fries on the side...oh yeah, my fiance got a Greek salad, which according to her was really good to!
Of course, no trip to Max Brenner would be complete without ordering dessert! We decided to order (what we thought would be) their ice cream popsicles, which come with things to add. But it turns out they no longer offer that exact item, even though it is still on the menu. Instead, they offer the ice cream (vanilla) in a waffle cone, with chocolate sauce, chocolate wafer balls, and white chocolate shavings to add as you want. All in all, this dessert was GREAT, I mean come on who doesn't love a waffle cone with vanilla and chocolate?
Great service, to with great food and and even better desserts, and I'm definitely sold on this place! -
Review from Vincent J.
Philadelphia, PA
1/26/2012 1 Check-in Here
Love the chocolate fondu and the various hot chocolates. Its a great place to take a date after dinner for dessert. I have never eaten the regular food on the menu so I cannot recommend it.
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Review from Julie S.
Conshohocken, PA
2/4/2012
Had lunch here with a friend. We decided to go here because it was restaurant week, but they apparently don't do restaurant week on Saturday for lunch, which we were unaware of, but with what we ordered it ended up working out to around the same price so that was good. We started with the onion rings with the chocolate ranch dipping sauce--sounds weird but it was good! I had the turkey club and my friend had the Pillow panini. We didn't have much time, so we didn't do dessert but we're definitely coming back because everything looks awesome! I recommend making a reservation, the place was packed! Also, beware there are lots of kids being hopped up on sugar by their parents. Concept is cool, very apothecary-esque and the shop has delicious chocolates to purchase.
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Review from C D.
West Chester, PA
1/6/2012
Took my 9 year old niece and 11 year old nephew to Max Brenner after the Nutcracker. We all had a great time and the kids thought it was fun and they liked the kids menu. Dessert was a big hit with the hot chocolate and table side smores.
We split a flatbread pizza and the corn croquettes. Me and my sister liked the croquettes but the kids thought too spicy.
We wanted to have a fun long meal and did, and paid for it ha - for two adults and two kids it was $130.00. That was with 1 chocolate martini, 1 glass of brut, 2 sodas, flatbread pizza, croquettes, 3 hot cocos, and the tableside smores. It was a Christmas present and we felt it a fun place and good food, great sweets.
We had reservations and that worked out well.
The only negative was a guest next at the table next to ours who had a little 2 year old who was shreaking the entire meal. It was upsetting to see the baby crying so much and literally shaking but the father sat there the whole time and pined her in his arm. I don't know if the resturant could have or is supposed to do anything, but for a special meal it was kind of a bummer (let alone sad to see the baby in such distress). We all like kids and I was with kids - but this was definietly an exceptionally bad situation. -
Review from kathy l.
Philadelphia, PA
12/3/2011
I have been to the NYC and Philly location, Philly twice. The NYC one has more fun things to look at (oddly, women's restaurant has only 2 stalls .... bad!).
This is a dessert place and more specifically, CHOCOLATE. So don't try to go looking for some salad or whatever they serve. Get real. I love love the hot chocolate (disclaimer, then again I never ordered an entree and prob won't go there for food).
Don't even try to count calories when you come here. (Unless they screw it up) Its a perfect 10 which is the only type of dessert you should put in your body anyways!!
-Yours truly,
Chocoholic :) -
Review from Ashley L.
1/12/2012 1 Check-in Here
This is one bald man who certainly knows his chocolate! I walk by this place almost everyday, but it was only recently that I decided to give it a try. We dined late Friday night after seeing a show across the street at the Academy of Music. As soon as you walk through the door you are immediately struck with a wonderful chocolate aroma that they must pump through the vents. The decor is darling, with clever phrases like, "Look mom, Willy Wonka does exist!" elegantly graffiti-ed on the walls.
It was hours after dinner, but we were still craving something salty and sweet. To drink, I went with the waitress's recommendation for the Italian hot chocolate. She claimed it tasted like a melted chocolate bar, which was spot on. It's served in a"hug mug," which was just about the cutest, most clever cup I've ever seen. They sell them in the chocolate shop and I may be purchasing very soon...Then it was time for the entree. If you couldn't tell from my profile, I'm a sucker for anything cheesy. The "Really Cheesy-Really Crunchy Mac & Cheese" entree was an obvious choice. It blew my expectations out of the water. I would go as far to say it was one of the best mac & cheese's I've had in the city! Comes in a huge frying pan-type dish, but I had no trouble finishing it. 5 different cheeses, bacon, crunchy topping with diced tomatoes, served with a side of marinara. Sounds a little strange to say, but the taste slightly mimicked pizza. Perfection! Finally, it was time for the dessert. I'm a huge banana fan, so I went with the Banana Tempura Fondue. Fried banana balls with strawberries to dip in milk chocolate and toffee sauce. My mouth is still watering. Next on my list to try- Banana Split Waffles.
Every detail of this place was thought through, right down to the cute little box they drop the check in. I do admit it is on the pricier side. However; it is well worth it, especially if you only treat yourself every once in a while. Max Brenner, I will see you at my next celebration. -
Review from Robert H.
12/12/2011
Review for coffee and dessert only
After a long day of walking, shopping and drinking, we made our way into MB's to get a cappuccino. Id never been into a MB before but the place was really neat and packed on a Saturday around 330pm. The cappuccino was very good and came with pieces of chocolate. We saw this other couple order a smores plate and decided we would come back the following day and try it out. Next day arrives and we ordered the smores plate which arrived with its own iron firepit, 4 dipping sauces, marshmallows and graham crackers. This is the best restaurant smores ive had by far. Other places that ive seen try and do this just didnt impress me. This was very good and the chocolate syrup and peanut butter sauces went great with the finished sandwich.
Id definitely try this place out if you have a sweet tooth! -
Review from Sara L.
12/10/2011
A walk into Max Brenner's is somewhat like entering Willie Wonka's Chocolate factory for adults.
The sweet smells are intoxicating with an undercurrent of coffee, and you know that alcohol is looming in the wings. The whole experience is a bit overstimulating and commercialized, but you can't argue with the quality of their chocolates. They put out some unique truffle flavors and other assorted confections, all of which I have found delightful.
As far as eating in, I have never sampled their "savory" menu items, and frankly can't imagine eating a meal somewhere so overwhelmingly perfumed with chocolate. However, their cocktails and desserts are sinful and fabulous. The prices are high and the portions are modest, but for an occasional special treat, it is hard to go wrong here. -
Review from Jen V.
Reading, PA
1/22/2012
Didn't even get to have dessert! I called one night to see what time they were open til' because of an event ...(the event started at 11, got there before 10) drove an hour to get there, Parked the car at the garage nearby. Got into the place and the girl told us that we couldn't be served anymore because the "manager" or whomever decided to cut "opening time" short an hour because of the event. Seriously though? Such a huge disappointment. All she could say was sorry which is understandable, but c'mon! I'm done rambling.
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Review from Christine B.
Philadelphia, PA
1/3/2012 1 Check-in Here
The food here is fine, but the hot chocolate and desserts are awesome. I ended up going here for brunch New Years Day. I wanted something near the parade and I wanted a reservation, Max Brenners fit the bill. I ordered a Mexican Omelet. It was good, but not great. The fire roasted salsa kind of over powered the other flavors. Also, the potatoes on the side were kind of flavorless. The sour dough toast was fabulous though. I got a dark hot chocolate, and it was amazing. I would definitely go back for another cup.
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Review from Kayla B.
Washington, DC
12/10/2011
This is one of my favorite places to eat. The ambiance is cool, food is delicious, desserts are amazing and the cocktails are great too.
I recommend trying the burger and this is the kind of place where you HAVE to get a dessert too, otherwise you're doing it wrong.
Great places to go with friends, on a date, go for dinner or just dessert. -
Review from Michelle J.
Jenkintown, PA
1/17/2012
The entrees aren't anything memorable, but then again, why would you go to Max Brenner for anything other than dessert? Try this place out if you're a chocolate fanatic and you'll leave pretty satisfied. A word of caution - just watch the prices.
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Review from Lele E.
10/21/2011
I like the ambiance of this place. I went here after a business meeting and we had a menu with pre-selected items of which we were given the opportunity to sample each item. Outside of the waffle fries being a hard, The food was good. The presentation of the food was nice too. We sampled all of their mini sliders (the cheese steak and burgers were my favorite - they also had pork and chicken.)
The staff was friendly, I'd say go here on a date for a nice romantic setting. Something about that place just oozes romance. I didn't have the opportunity to stay for the dessert portion of the evening, but from what I heard from colleagues it was very delicious. They also had "hug mugs" which appear to be nifty little mugs they use for hot beverages which also doubles as unofficial hand warmers. Very quaint charming little place. -
Review from Nick S.
Philadelphia, PA
1/4/2012
Really creative uses of chocolate throughout the menu. The cocktail list highlights drinks that use chocolate or cocoa in some way in many cases and the hot chocolate menu is unique. The food was good and the restaurant very entertaining in decor. It's worth a visit to experience their take on chocolate as something other than dessert.
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Review from Chris W.
10/11/2011
I love me some dessert so I was excited to finally check this place out rather than the usual peering my head in the windows to see what others are eating.
I tried the peanut butter chocolate sundae which was rich and decadent. Extra dipping sauce on the side made the ice cream melt that much more in my mouth and the hazelnuts provided some nice crunch. Somehow I was not a fan of the pizza with the works though. The bananas were soggy and mushy and ruined the dish for me. Most of it got taken home and still was never touched (unheard of).
The service on this particular night was lackluster. We were not seated until 15 minutes after our reservation and our waitress was absent most of the night. We had to flag someone else down to refill our water with warm tap and no ice while the food came out painfully slow. Prices here are pretty steep for what you get so I expected more, oh well. -
Review from Danielle J.
Baltimore, MD
9/29/2011 1 Check-in Here
I have mixed feelings about this place....
The decor & atmosphere is trendy and cute, though a little on the loud side. 4.5 stars
Service was good. 4 stars
Food was good. 3.5 stars
Value.. meh. 2 stars
The drinks & appetizers sounded pretty good, but were not in budget because dessert was a must.
I had the steak panini, my friend had the tomato basil mozz panini.
My bread was tough & a little too thick, but the steak was good, the panini could have used more sauce. Given the menu description, I wasn't impressed with the fries. I didn't taste anything on them, and the dipping sauce was ok.
I can't believe I paid 16 dollars for a panini. I would have gladly eaten 2 frontega chicken's instead. But hey, this place is known for their desserts right?
On to the highlight of the meal...
The Euphoria Peanut Butter Chocolate Fudge Sundae.
OMG.
Yes, it was d*mn delicious... I love when I eat something and every bite doesn't taste the same, but they're all....just.... mmmm.
I enjoyed the difference in textures... ice cream, whipped cream, bananas, nuts.... the peanut butter sauce was phenomenal.
My only issue was that it was $14 dollars, between two of us we finished a little more than half of it, and we were told it wouldn't freeze well. So essentially I just threw away 5 or 6 bucks. Annoying.
Maybe they should do a half size?
If you're going for dessert I recommend just doing an appetizer and the dessert or maybe splitting an entree. (We both only ate half of our panini and still couldn't get through dessert.)
This place is definitely overpriced, when it was all said and done I paid $40 for a mediocre entree and a dessert, (incl tip.)
I would go back for just dessert. -
Review from Sarah B.
9/21/2011
Boyfriend and I were at Max Brenner today for lunch for Restaurant Week.
The chicken, bacon, and cheddar rolls were tasty. My favorite part of the meal were my corn croquettes.
The kitchen ran out of beans for the bf's skirt steak salad, so they let him pick a substitution: waffle fries. These were supposedly sprinkled with chili and cocoa powders but they didn't taste any different than waffle fries I'd get in the frozen section at the grocery store. Still, it was a nice gesture.
My pizza was disappointing. It's probably my mistake for ordering pizza at an establishment known for its chocolate, but if you can slap together a decent personal pizza maybe it should be scrapped from the menu. It wasn't the worst pizza I've ever eaten but it certainly wasn't the best.
The banana waffle dessert was really sweet and bf finished it. I ordered the chocolate pizza (sigh, pizza round two) and it was what I expected: a nice crust sprinkled with chocolate pieces that had been melted, and topped with marshmallows. I took a few bites before asking for a to-go box for everything. The chocolate pizza is good, but very sweet! I just wasn't in the mood I guess.
The waiter was friendly and attentive enough. It wasn't very crowded considering it was lunch time in Center City so I was annoyed at how long our lunch date took - around 2 hours. I'll probably be back at Max Brenner's for drinks or dessert, but will likely not return for lunch or to try dinner. -
Review from Andrea M.
Springfield, PA
12/11/2011 1 Check-in Here
Came here for brunch after running the Philly Marathon this year. I had passed it several times and figured it would be an easy spot to grab food after the race. The hot chocolate is delicious. If you just want chocolate or dessert, this is probably a great spot to go. If you want entrees, go elsewhere. However, I think this restaurant is proof that chocolate does not, in fact, go with everything. I had the onion rings (sprinkled with chocolate) and chocolate ranch. This was just a bizarre combination. I also had the hang over omelette, this was ok but nothing special.
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Review from Reem C.
Updated - 10/4/2011
My previous review was based on item I had from the lunch menu. This update is provided after my lackluster brunch experience. This past Saturday, I decided to go to Max Brenner to try their brunch because the menu looked very appealing. I always had a desire to have brunch here, but never found myself in Center City on a Saturday or Sunday morning/afternoon.
I ordered the french toast with apples, melted white chocolate, and pecans. When my meal came, I was so disappointed. I swear the french toast was probably part of a frozen microwable pack or something. Nothing about it was appealing. To make matters worse, the apples did not taste fresh. I am almost certain they were from a can.
The only thing decent about my experience was the hot chocolate, yet it is nothing to rave about.
I have no intentions on eating brunch at Max Brenner ever again. Compared to other brunch spots in the Philly area, this place does not cut it. I'll stick to Cafe Lift and Sabrina's from now on when I'm in the mood for french toast or anything dealing with brunch. At least I know I'll walk away satiated and my wallet won't be depleted.
THUMBS DOWN BALD MAN!!!!!1 Previous Review: Show all »
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7/15/2011
When Max Brenner first opened, I went there with a coworker, but I was not impressed with the menu,… Read more »
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Review from Katarina M.
Sunnyvale, CA
10/31/2011
Max Brenner. Supposedly the king of chocolate. Not so much. And damn expensive.
Friend and I came here for dessert. She got a "O.M.G. dark chocolate chunk cookie" and I got a "Mocha Madness" cocktail and the "Melting Chocolate Truffle Heart Cake and Shake"...The cookie was ok. It came with some berries. I could have made the same thing at home. The Mocha Madness was $12 and was maybe 6 ounces of pretty much a White Russian with some more chocolate flavor. And the big disappointment...you know those little chocolate cakes that ooze chocolate out the middle...The ones at Chili's are better.
Overall, I was kind of satisfied with the food. Definitely not blown away. But to pay $14 per dessert and $12 for a skimpy cocktail at a place that is pretty much dedicated to chocolate?...suuuuuper disappointed. -
Review from J K.
Washington, DC
11/11/2011
Don't order anything but chocolate. We ordered a light lunch before we got down to chocolate business. Our three meals came out 5 to 10 mins apart??
Dip trio w/ pita- Hummus was good. The babaganoush and other eggplant dip had strange, unappetizing tastes
Fish tacos- rice was near raw, beans were bad
Margarita pizza panini- yum
A+ for the hot chocolate and peanut butter/chocolate sundae, but the start of our meal was an odd pace and strange taste... -
Review from Tay T.
Philadelphia, PA
12/30/2011
i heard about this place from a friend. very cute trendy restaurant. it smells like chocolate heaven as soon as you step in. the lighting was dim and romantic. it wasn't too crowded when i went.
this is def a good place for a first date or if you just need a little alone time. the drinks are a bit pricey for a college girl like myself... i think my milkshake was 7 or 8 dollars but it was really good! :)
oh yeah small portions.. if you're use to the huge cheesecake factory portions this is not the place for you. you wont need a doggie bag unless you ate before you came. -
Review from Es K.
Woodbury, NJ
12/19/2011
Such delicious chocolatey desserts! It's heaven for a sweet tooth! It's a great spot for some girlfriends to catch up on conversation and enjoy something yummy!
-
Review from Judy R.
Philadelphia, PA
9/22/2011
I went here with a girlfriend for Brunch. The atmosphere was definitely warm, and the presentation of the food was beautiful on cutting board-esque plates.
The waffle fries are to die for. I got the veggie-conscious burger, which was delicious. The bun was honestly my favorite part. It was soft and buttery.
Even the checks were given in little tin gift-like boxes to keep credit cards and pens safe.
The waitress wasn't exactly happy-go-lucky and I saw her complaining at the server station (throwing her hands around) but as a server, I understand that not every day is a great day and it's difficult to pretend everybody is your best friend when you're in a terrible mood. So thumbs up to her for at least trying when she wasn't feeling so hot.
The food is also a little bit on the pricey side so make sure you have some extra cash on hand before you go wandering in.
Definitely a great place for a date, I'll be taking my boyfriend next time :) -
Review from Ariel D.
Philadelphia, PA
11/1/2011
I've been to Max Brenner a few times for hot chocolate during the winter months and have always been happy, but the experience was never good enough or bad enough to write a review until now.
My wife and I decided to have dessert at Max Brenner after dinner the other night and we ordered the S'more which is freaking awesome. They give you a traditional S'more and also a jar that has graham cracker, marshmallow sauce and chocolate. Then there is this beaker of caramel sauce and some caramelized bananas you can throw into the jar. It is sooooo good. -
Review from Kristina L.
Delanco, NJ
12/16/2011 1 Check-in Here
Went to Max Brenner for dinner with some of my girlfriends. We had a great time! Food was good but the drinks were amazing and desserts were out of this world! I would definitely go back for drinks and desserts. It's a fun atmosphere!!
