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Maxwell's Cafe

3 star rating
based on 72 reviews

Category: Breakfast & Brunch

13329 W. Washington Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90066
(310) 306-7829
Hours:

Mon-Sun. 7:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Good for Groups:
No
Accepts Credit Cards:
Yes
Parking:
Street
Attire:
Casual
Price Range:
$$
Good for Kids:
Yes
Takes Reservations:
No
Delivery:
No
Take-out:
Yes
Waiter Service:
Yes
Wheelchair Accessible:
Yes
Outdoor Seating:
No
Good for:
Breakfast
Alcohol:
None

72 reviews for Maxwell's Cafe

Review Highlights   

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"That Sunday morning we had breakfast at Maxwell's." (in 6 reviews)
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"You can even get a cup of coffee while you wait." (in 4 reviews)
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"If you are feeling extremely decadent, get the stuffed french toast." (in 9 reviews)
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Sort by: Yelp Sort | Date | Rating | Elites'
Photo of yuri c.

Elite '09

29

274

yuri c.

Los Angeles, CA

5 star rating
11/12/2009 2 photos

passed by this spot too many times when driving to costco or in-n-out, and at last, i went without any expectations. by the time we were done, i had love-love-looooved this very cozy cafe.

wooden walls, nice waitress, great selection on the menu, not overly priced at all, clean, cute, and decor seems like this place has been in business for a very long time.

when we went in, it was a little past the lunch rush, so we got to choose one of the booths. i ordered the corned beef with scrambled eggs, potatoes, and a side of toasted rosemary bread. it was a just below $10, and it filled me up pretty good. the corned beef was DELICIOUS. man, you gotta try this one.
i really wanted to try their gingerbread man & pumpkin pie they had by the counter, but i will be back next time for some!!

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Photo of Samuel L.

 

6

68

Samuel L.

Los Angeles, CA

2 star rating
9/26/2009 3 photos

Not sure what the lines are for.  This place is too expensive for the quality level of the food served.  Maybe it's the cozy feel of the place as the place is pretty small.

$10+ for some scrambled eggs, turkey bacon, and blueberry pancakes.  Pancakes were decent, but syrup could have been better which kinda lessened the appeal of the pancakes.

Methinks I'll look elsewhere for a breakfast place.

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Photo of Jin T.

 

7

17

Jin T.

Marina del Rey, CA

3 star rating
7/14/2009

I moved back into the neighborhood a block away from Maxwell's so I felt compelled to return, even after reading all the newer (negative) reviews.  In a nutshell:

Would I go back to Maxwells? Absolutely.
Is it the same Maxwells? Not by a long shot.
Would I still wait in line Sunday morning? No way.

Basically, if you're expecting the same food as before, you're setting yourself up for disappointment.  In all fairness, you gotta judge this place as a COMPLETELY NEW restaurant.  Yes, it looks like the old place, feels like the old place, but the menu and food is different.  It's like that movie "Pet Cemetery" where Sparky comes back from the dead.  Except he's not the same dog you knew.  The same could be said for Maxwell's.  In fact, they should simply change the name to Novel Cafe and we can all move on and all stop crying about how it's not the same.    

That being said, I went in with an open mind and a new perspective.  It's a cozy small breakfast place that also drags out till lunch.  They've got a counter and small booths and they serve Farmer Brothers coffee in thick mugs and hopefully you get the picture.  Omletes, egg dishes, pancakes and salads and sandwiches.

If you had never eaten at the old Maxwell's, you probably don't understand what all the fuss is about.  The new Maxwell's is still a decent place to eat and provides a cozy, "breakfasty" atmosphere with a diverse menu.  Service isn't spectacular, but my experience wasn't that bad either.  They refilled my coffee, took away my dishes and were for the most part friendly.  

I had the Spanish omlete with sausage, cheese, black beans and fried tortilla strips on top.  It was a good dish and I would order it again.  The potatoes on the side were cooked perfectly and went well with the gallon of ketchup I usually use.  

There is absolutely nothing wrong with this restaurant if it were to be judged on its own two feet - A new grand opening, hey honey, let's try that new place where Maxwell's USED to be.  The problem is, nothing really shines or stands out to elevate this place as Five Star Stellar.  

So if it's not crowded and you happen to be in the neighborhood, I'd recommend you give this place a shot and judge it for what it is.  If you can't find parking and there's a line out the door, then don't waste your time and come back when it's not crowded.  And given the 3-star food and all the similar reviews, I'm gonna guess that probably won't be too long in the future.

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Photo of douglas r.

 

0

2

douglas r.

Los Angeles, CA

4 star rating
11/15/2009

Even though I used to live within walking distance of Maxwell's I never got around to eating there, until today. So, I can't compare it to what it used to be, only what it is now.

And what I found is a terrific place for a Sunday afternoon breakfast. The place was full and busy but there were a couple of tables available, so no waiting. The waffle was cooked to perfection, the sausage links were juicy and browned, and the apple juice fresh and pure, more like a cider than the typical apple juice served in diners. Service was competent and friendly. Didn't get any of the "I don't care" attitude encountered by some other reviewers. I'll definitely be back again.

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Photo of Brandy L.

 

2

5

Brandy L.

Brentwood, CA

5 star rating
10/22/2009

This place has the best b'fast burritos intown guacamole is very good I love the fact that it doesnt have any red onions!

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Photo of Andre L.

 

0

14

Andre L.

Los Angeles, CA

2 star rating
6/4/2009

I really don't get the hype about this place.
I used to work next door and there was always a long line. I would just order stuff for pickup and felt sorry for those who waited.

The food is pretty good, but some of the other orders are retarded. I remember once going there like an hour or 2 before they closed and said they stopped serving pancakes. STOPPED SERVING PANCAKES AT A BREAKFAST SPOT!?! then their ridiculously overprice Benedict was a joke that I could swallow in one bite (and gain 10 lbs from). The french toast was 2 SMALL LOUSY SLICES OF TOAST that was somehow "frenchified". The ingredients are very low-quality as well. Stuff you can buy from ralphs and make yourself for 1/4th of the price.

If the place werent so damn expensive I might be simpathetic, but for a long line, VERY crowded interiror that was dingy and falling apart, and the inconsistent proportions, I'll probably never go again unless somebody else paid for me.

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Photo of Elle J.

 

0

8

Elle J.

Marina del Rey, CA

4 star rating
7/17/2009

I am a huge fan of the eggplant and goat cheese sandwich. Sounds like it might not be too great, but it's amazing.

Healthy menu offerings at a decent price. Small cafe style restaurant with limited seating accommodations. Quaint but charming =)

Parking may be an issue since you need to find street parking, but I usually park in front of the dealership across the street.

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Photo of Angela d.

Elite '09

17

85

Angela d.

Worcester, MA

2 star rating
8/28/2009

Came here with some friends for lunch.  Prices are decent and it has a dinerish feel to it.  The place is teeny tiny.  Split a mushroom sandwich with the bf which was just ok.  My friend's grilled cheese and tomatoes looked delicious!!! This place is A-ok.  Nothing special, although I hear brunch is fabulous.

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Photo of kristin b.

Elite '09

29

119

kristin b.

Los Angeles, CA

4 star rating
5/19/2009

This is the very first place I ever went to in LA. On the Saturday I was moving in, my mom and I went by this place based on a recommendation from someone at our hotel. I remember it being pretty average and I didn't go back for a long time (about two years)

So I was driving by today and the Eggs Benedict craving hit me. I stopped by, got my eggs benedict and it was much better than I remember. It came with a nice layer of fresh spinach in between the egg and the ham and I was pleasantly surprised. Under 10 bucks (before tip) and I was on my way. This place is PACKED on the weekends so I never venture here unless I feel like waiting around for an hour.

I'd really like to give it 3.5 because it's better than A-OK but I'm not a die hard fan. I like it because it's close to my house but beyond that, there are better places for The Benedict.

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Photo of Brian D.

 

199

66

Brian D.

Los Angeles, CA

4 star rating
3/3/2009

Did anyone ever notice Maxwell's has the same menu as The Novel Cafe (and one other restaurant that I'm now blanking on)?  Not there's anything wrong with that.  The food here is well-prepared, but not outstanding.  And it's best frequented for a weekday breakfast outing.

If you plan on sitting in the plum booths in the front of the restaurant, make sure you have at least two people in your party...

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Photo of Lyndsey W.

 

0

3

Lyndsey W.

Los Angeles, CA

4 star rating
7/2/2009

I was first introduced to Maxwell's after a very bad New Year's Eve hangover, and it was one of the best breakfast's I've had.

The place is very quaint, and they aren't open past late afternoon, but it's such a great little spot.

I was a little nervous the next time I went, for fear that my hangover was the only reason the food was so good, and I had to have been just that hungry.  I was completely mistaken.

For a while, I was going once a week, because I had to try a bunch of stuff on the menu.  The Mango Chicken Salad is awesome, and the Novel Omelette is one of my favs.  All the food I have tried, has been amazing, and one of the server's always remembers my friend and I, and says hello.  He's super friendly :)

I will keep coming back!!

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Photo of Suzy C.

 

15

33

Suzy C.

Marina del Rey, CA

5 star rating
2/8/2009

A few months before moving here, I spent the weekend down here.  I came to a few places and in the back of my mind I kept thinking "Can I see myself living here?".

That Sunday morning we had breakfast at Maxwell's.  The wait was a little long but they have chairs and newspapers to make it a little less painful.  You can even get a cup of coffee while you wait.  

I ordered the eggs bruschetta.  It's a simple dish but man, it was so tasty.   Seriously, I was in heaven and cleaned my plate.  I even considered ordering another serving.  Instead, we got the grilled muffin which was so yummy!  

After breakfast, I had the fatty, full feeling and I could definitely see myself being happy in the area.  We now live nearby and go to Maxwell's regularly.

If you are feeling extremely decadent, get the stuffed french toast.  It's SO good!

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Photo of Adam X.

Elite '09

266

287

Adam X.

San Francisco, CA

3 star rating
Updated - 12/15/2008 2 photos

MY FAV HAMBURGER IN LA (yes over the apple pan) but read on... Photo in the Gallery.

5 stars - for the hamburger made ONLY on the weekend by chef "Augie".

This is honestly one of the most beautiful works of art i have seen in LA. Honestly... The best most beautiful burger anywhere. But... BE WARNED only order from "Augie". The rest of the cooks have no idea what they are doing and you will be disappointed. The Swiss + Avocado burger with the amazingly perfect crinkle pickles, ect was a tower of color. Awesome!

2 stars - for inconsistency in their food (such as the burger)

3 stars - for slow service (i think they believe even though you are sitting there at the counter with an empty glass for 5 minutes, they are being cool by making you wait.

4 stars - for the almost naked asian hostess/waitress.

3 stars - for having lots of whole wheat stuff that makes me feel good about eating, even though I drench my breakfast in butter and sugar.

2 stars - for having only 40 seats in the house and almost always a line.

5 stars - for making it over 20 years in LA..

Photo Added

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1 Previous Review:

  • 3 star rating
    8/5/2008

    Love this place for Lunch. Great Burger. Will get a photo next time.

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Photo of Sara P.

Elite '09

10

120

Sara P.

West Los Angeles, CA

1 star rating
12/13/2008

This is one of the worst breakfast spots I have ever been to. We went on a day when there was no line, no wait. We were seated right away. There were about 6 other people in the restaurant on a busy weekend day - that should tell you something.

The service is a bunch of teens or women in their early 20s who have a lot to learn about being attentive and loyal. More on that later.

I ordered some kind of combo breakfast (eggs, turkey sausage and hash browns). This is a breakfast that's hard to screw up (c'mon, I cld make this at home), but they did. The sausage was awful. It tasted like it'd been purchased at kmart.

My hubby got the banana-walnut pancakes. Can I just say this was the WORST order of pancakes I've ever had in my life? They were undercooked in some parts, burned in some parts, and overstuffed with flour. There was absolutely no taste or flavor to any of the foods we ate. I will say that the coffee was quickly replenished (hence the 1 star and not the 0 stars).

We let the waitresses know, very politely, that the pancakes were not that great and showed her the raw and burned parts. She didn't care AT ALL. In fact, she made some comment like, "take it or leave it."

Even if the service was better, the food here is just terrible. terrible. do not go here. we paid $22 for two breakfasts and 1 coffee and we ended up throwing three-quarters of it away.

avoid at all costs.

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Photo of Alyssa N.

Elite '09

35

85

Alyssa N.

Los Angeles, CA

4 star rating
2/16/2009

Finding a "go-to" breakfast place around your neighborhood is a MUST HAVE and I think I found mine!

My sister and her friend always went to breakfast on Sundays and they always went to Maxwell's.  After hearing it was a decent place, I took my dad who visited from out of town.  It was small little joint with a very friendly staff.

My staple breakfast is usually two over easy eggs with sausage, hash browns, pancakes or waffle, and fruit.  Low and behold, "2 for Maxwells" was exactly what I wanted!!  I ended up getting their turkey sausage and waffle with it and it sure was yummy.

My dad and I came back again with my sister and I had gotten the same thing but the turkey sausage was very very very salty!  I know it didn't taste like that last time??

After reading reviews I think there might be different chefs who do things a little differently.  Nonetheless, I do love this place because of the atmosphere and it is close to my joint!

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Photo of Chainsaw S.

 

11

26

Chainsaw S.

San Pedro, CA

3 star rating
1/24/2009

I don't have any huge problems with this place, but let me tell you about today and you decide.

I used to live in the neighborhood, and I really enjoyed walked to this place, especially on a weekday off, and sitting at the counter and spacing out, making my "to do" list and eating breakfast.

I happened to be in the neighborhood today and decided to stop by, and I noticed the menu changed. I went for a breakfast sandwich, and I was all set to order one with only one slice of cheese, because the last times I've had it, it was engulfed in cheese. So, the menu changed, and I was completely confused about what to order, and I ended up with chilaqules, or something, which tasted all well and good, but it wasn't what I was expecting.

Service was fine, the counter was packed and the man next to me smelled like patchouli, or however it's spelled, I don't know, I'm drunk. So anyway, long story short, it's ok. Not bad. Not great. Okay.

The part I'm trying to forget, and the reason there are only 3 stars is because I could see into the kitchen. There were fruit bowls lined up on the counter to go out with certain meals. One of the waitresses decided to steal a piece of pineapple or whatever, but she stuck her hand into someones dish of fruit that someone was about to eat in just moments. That's not cool. I realize that shit goes down in kitchens that I don't know about.  That doesn't mean I want to see it.  I didn't recognize any of the waitresses from my neighborhood days either, just 6 months ago.

Did I say this was going to be a short story? Hold on, my wine is getting warm.

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Photo of Scott A.

 

355

248

Scott A.

Santa Monica, CA

2 star rating
7/11/2009

I wonder why people line up for this place. The food is bland and expensive. I remember eyeing this place while I was in high school. Went there once and never again...

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Photo of Yasmine T.

 

5

31

Yasmine T.

Brentwood, CA

4 star rating
3/19/2009

I love this place for breakfast,my favorites are the sunshine sandwich, and the omelette's. My co-worker swears by their french toast. I'm not crazy about it for Lunch entrees, however they do have a great Tuna Melt.

I love the waiter, and the crowd.

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Photo of ZumaJay ..

 

17

173

ZumaJay ..

Santa Monica, CA

5 star rating
12/16/2008

I've only eaten there once and I was SUPER impressed.  

Maybe I was hungry...

Maybe I ate crappy meals all week long...

God knows... but they make the BEST breakfast sandwich.  The bread was perfect... the egg.... cheese... sausage... YUM!

The staff was very quick and helpful... the setting is kinda' odd for Culver City... it reminds me of a restaurant in Big Bear or something of the sort... but not in a bad way.

I'm very interesting in going back again sometime soon... just need to go at an odd hour to miss the crowd!

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Photo of Matt H.

 

3

25

Matt H.

Los Angeles, CA

4 star rating
7/21/2009

I went here with my friend for a delicious breakfast. I had the Italian scramble (no tomato) and he had the breakfast burrito (with ham). Order your home fries extra crispy and they'll brown them perfectly.

The food was good, but I wouldn't have waited in line for it over a place like Rae's -- and the prices were significantly higher than Rae's (but whose aren't?). The service was excellent and the menu options were tempting. The parking was street only, but we got lucky.

That's the thing. If you get lucky, you're going to have a five-star time. If you don't -- and you have to search for parking and park far away and wait 20 minutes for breakfast -- you're going to have a four-star time.

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Photo of Michael T.

 

5

13

Michael T.

Manhattan Beach, CA

4 star rating
11/30/2008

I'm kinda shocked to see all the low reviews on Maxwells. I've been going here for years and I think as far as a breakfast diner goes, Maxwells is top notch.

I went to Maxwells a few days ago for the first time in a while and was pleased to see they lowered their prices, which was one of my least favorite things about it until now.

As far as the food, Maxwells breakfast is great. Even though I'm mostly a vegetarian, I can't resist the Hot & Spice omellete. On weekends, they serve Strawberry & Cream Cheese stuffed french toast. Although it's too sweet for me, one of the people I take (aka girlfriend of the week) always get it and love it.

Atmosphere is cool. I like the 'we don't care' attitude from the staff, although they do care and do a great job. My coffee is always full and my order is always right.

It can be a bit busy, but it's worth the wait.

Pros: Omelletes, Coffee, atmosphere... and now the price

Cons: Can be busy, seating is limited

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Photo of Salil B.

 

2

6

Salil B.

Santa Ana, CA

2 star rating
11/6/2008

My GF lives in Marina del Rey, so we had driven by Maxwell's a number of times, and noticed the groups of people waiting outside for a table.  After a number of drive-bys saying "we really need to try that place," we finally did this past weekend.

Sadly it was kinda like the last Indiana Jones movie... the trailers and teasers made it seem awesome but when you finally saw it, you left thinking why do they keep letting Lucas screw up great franchises!?!  

Maxwell's is tiny (25 seats in the place).  The plus side was that if you are headed there for B-fast they offer free coffee while you wait for your table.  Unfortunately, that was as far as the "plus side" went.  The service was slow and apathetic, but honestly I was willing to give them the benefit of the doubt on that b/c the place really was packed.  However, that said, not a single one of our three dishes was beyond mediocre.  Everything was bland and pretty much tasteless.

There really are far better and just as hyped, cute little cafes throughout LA.  Try one of those instead.

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Photo of pren w.

 

0

6

pren w.

Marina del Rey, CA

5 star rating
9/16/2009

my favorite breakfast joint in southern cali. delicious down home stuff. AND they have vegi sausage! you never see that in a restaurant. there is a bit of a wait on weekend mornings especially if there are more than one or two people in your group but its worth it

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Photo of michael d.

 

3

13

michael d.

Santa Monica, CA

2 star rating
4/21/2009

Maxwell's cafe used to be so solid and i recently found out they were bought by Novel Cafe...very sad as its lost is luster and the great food is now mediocre at best. Too bad they sold out.

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Photo of Jaimey W.

 

16

66

Jaimey W.

Los Angeles, CA

3 star rating
4/2/2009

So hearty.  Soooo hearty.  This is a no mess diner.  Go big or go home.

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Photo of Jordan V.

 

15

23

Jordan V.

Culver City, CA

2 star rating
6/2/2008

This used to be my absolute default location for breakfast/brunch. I couldn't get enough of the vegetarian omelette and the breakfast burrito. Loved the servers, the photo-clad menus, all of it.

But now they've gone and broken a good thing. I'm still not clear if it's under new ownership, or if the owners just changed up the management, but there's little remaining of the old Maxwell's short of the decor.

The jumbled-mess-of-fresh-goodness menus have been completely replaced with fancier, more sparse pamphlets of predictable LA brunch fare. Gone are the spanish and bean sauces, the fresh cut turkey, the burritos stuff with more potatoes than your face can handle... all of the the dozens of well-crafted creative breakfast choices have been converted into banal boringness. Now, the omelets are stuffed with all the most likely culprits: avocado, sundried tomatoes, goat cheese, and applewood smoked bacon.

The only improvement I could find were the new roasted potatoes. I prefer them. Barely.

Most important, Maxwell's has lost the lot of seemingly-strung-out post-hipster servers that have honed the craft of their job so finely, they could do it flawlessly after an all-night bender. Instead, they've replaced them with fresh faced 14 year old girls who know nothing about the old Maxwell's and haven't the foggiest idea how to field the friendly ribbing that comes from regular customers after you eff up the thing they love so much. The problem with 14 year olds is that they don't drink coffee, and therefore have no concept of how important it is for you to ALWAYS HAVE IT when you're eating breakfast.

I'm leaving Maxwell's a second star, but only because a new patron may not even know the greatness that once stood where Boring McPredictable now stands, and might even believe the food to be quite good. Which it is. I didn't dislike my meal at the new, sucky Maxwell's, but if I can order the same exact meal at any corner cafe that doesn't require me to drive west of the 10, I will.

The new Maxwell's leaves me feeling as though the owners would have been better off bulldozing the thing and selling it to a luxury condominium developer. At least the memory of the (real) garbage omelet would have stayed in tact.

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Photo of Matt M.

Elite '09

208

313

Matt M.

Hancock Park, CA

4 star rating
3/13/2008

Lots of grief lately on Maxwell's yelpers, what's up?

Yes, it's not as cheap as Denny's or Norms, but it's waaaaay better.

If you want an omelette for 7.99 go to IHOP down on Lincoln.

Stopped in here for lunch today. A nice getaway from work. We use to come here all the time on the weekend for their yummy pancakes. Several healthy options too, like the turkey, spinach and avocado omelette I got for lunch today. It came with toast and a great side of watermelon, cantaloupe, honeydew and orange slices.

Could not get away from splitting a peanut butter chip and banana pancake with JZ. But they allow you to order just one. A perfect side dish.

Service was friendly and attentive, but they can get very busy on the weekends, so don't expect the same on weekends.

Don't bother getting there early to save a table. They will only sit you when your entire party is there.

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Photo of dean y.

 

19

328

dean y.

Hawthorne, CA

4 star rating
4/18/2009

Decent breakfast place-  fresh orange juice-  cool omlettes and specials on the board.  I would go back and try the pancakes.

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Photo of sherri b.

Elite '09

291

140

sherri b.

Santa Monica, CA

2 star rating
12/10/2007

I hadn't been to this place in awhile and decided to come on Saturday for a nice pancake or two.  The menu has changed and i could not find one pancake on it.  so i ordered the special (which was waffle with blueberrys and walnuts) . . . sounded good, right?  NOT.
it was just a plain waffle with a cup of blueberrys mixed with walnuts . . how stupid is that?  it sucked.
i even got yelled at by the waitress for changing stools (the one i was sitting on was broken); she had the nerve to say that all the stools were wobbly and broken. . . lol
oh well, the good news is that they are changing ownership, so maybe they will come back as a better cafe!  i didn't go near the bathrooms, i was afraid.

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Photo of Ken N.

Elite '09

323

274

Ken N.

Venice, CA

4 star rating
3/21/2007

I've got to say, I've avoided this place BECAUSE of the crowds on the weekends, and since I'm such a cheapskate, because there are cheaper breakfasts to be had elsewhere.  But, you know...since the last time I was here, I've actually tried some fancier, trendier, hipper places, and this plain, sunny, yellow, wooden place on the very industrial, Costco + strip malls, shuttered Burger King and burnt out buildings part of Culver City, suddenly looks much better than I thought.  Upon further reflection, and a recent return visit, I have to say, there's a reason for the crowds:  The food is good, the service is good, everyone looks pretty happy, and...the food is good.  

I've had corned beef hash, the eggs benedict, and today, I ordered a patty melt, with grilled onions, on rye, medium rare.  It was bleeding, and I thought about sending it back, but it just smelled so good, and DAMN.  It WAS good.  The home fries were tasty, and downright velvety.  The corned beef hash was clearly home-made and the eggs benedict (I recall) hit the spot in the way only something you'll never make yourself hits the spot.  My wife usually has something more sensible, like two eggs over easy or a breakfast burrito, and she's never had any complaints, but I like stuff that I can't (or am too lazy to) make.

Like I said, everything's just a little bit more than it ought to be, but after spending more for inferior food in better neighborhoods, suddenly, this funky yellow Culver City (though it thinks of itself as Venice, and since it's just a couple blocks south of Venice High, why not?) seems utterly worth it.  Good food, cheerful service, extensive breakfast and lunch menu - sometimes that's all you need to make your day that much better.

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Photo of Alicia K.

 

14

25

Alicia K.

Venice, CA

1 star rating
8/2/2008

Even after reading all these so-so reviews, I was ready to give Maxwell's a chance.  I liked the idea of biking to brunch 5 minutes away.  Anyway, it didn't start well...

1st, they "weren't seating" on the patio.  Beautiful day, 1pm.  Hmmm.  Understaffed much??

2nd, they don't have mochas.  Only coffee.  Then the server told me the "strong" coffee was in the back, did I want some of that?  Well, yes, but why is everyone else getting weak stuff?

3rd, I ordered a couple things so I could take something to my man.  The Garbage Omlette was awesome... the Waffles with Strawberries were not so yum.  ONE waffle came out.  Dry.  After I asked someone, they brought a tiny dish of strawberries.  Then I had to ask for syrup.  Argh.  And the waffle was a large, overcooked Eggo.  No thanks.

To their credit, they immediately took off the waffle (8.75) when I said it was not what I expected.  But then today, I'm looking over my bank account, and they CHARGED ME TWICE!

Unforgivable combination.  I will not be back.

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7

20

Andrew U.

Los Angeles, CA

2 star rating
4/8/2009

unfortunately, i'm giving maxwell's 2 stars.  i've been coming here since i was a little kid and i remember the food being amazing.  it was absolutely one of the best breakfast joints in the westside.  i went here recently after not going for a couple years, and i have to say the food is not what i remember.  

i asked and was told that novel cafe had bought maxwell's about a year ago from the original owner.  that must be it.  the corned beef hash was simply not good...in fact, i'd have to say it was bad.  the french toast with strawberries was decent but not memorable.    

i might be more harsh on this place since i grew up going here, but i think you'll see that it's quality is just not the same anymore.

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18

40

Jessica F.

Los Angeles, CA

2 star rating
5/5/2008

Bad service, mediocre food, and muy expensive!!

The tab came to $65 for just three people, and this is breakfast mind you!  We weren't ordering anything fancy like lobster, kobe beef omelette's   I ordered a veggie omlette with fruit on the side instead of bread or potatoes.  The omlette was okay.  The eggs were oddly thin, crepe thin.  The fruit never came.  I didn't get any refills on my coffee.  All this for a low low price of $18.

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13

94

Kat N.

Los Angeles, CA

4 star rating
10/26/2006

I always have a great breakfast at Maxwell's.  The wait is never more than 15 minutes on the weekend.  Service is friendly.  Parking is relatively easy on Walgrove Ave. or at the meters on Washington.

My favorites are the Strawberry Stuffed French Toast, Eggs Benedict, the huge pancakes, and the basic breakfast with eggs and either the thick bacon or ham.   But seriously, that Strawberry French Toast is GOOD!  I always order it even though I know I'm not going to be able to finish it along with my basic breakfast.

I think I'm going again this weekend =)

There's also a nice thrift shop two stores down.  I find a lot of second hand books there for only 50 cents and a lot of them are relatively new titles.

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Elite '09

66

209

Stephanie W.

Venice, CA

4 star rating
3/19/2007

I tried this place for breakfast after a late night...well worth the wait amongst the crowd.

Everything from the coffee to the eggs and waffle to the corn beef hash (all corn beef). Anything you could ever dream of for breakfast is on the menu.

Enjoy!

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37

164

Nicky C.

Park La Brea, CA

4 star rating
7/31/2006

Tasty brunch spot that the locals love.  Become one of the locals.  

It's reasonably priced with plenty of good food and choices.  The Garbage omlette is enormous and filling.  Sometimes my eyes are too big for my stomach and I go with an omlette and a pancake hoping that someone will share with me, but never regretting over ordering because that's what you have to do with breakfast.  If you don't eat it often, you have to indulge yourself when you do, right?

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Elite '09

274

726

Scott M.

Los Angeles, CA

2 star rating
Updated - 1/7/2009

I don't know why I punish myself by eating here. This is like the 4th time I've said I will never eat here again... especially for lunch now too.

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3 Previous Reviews: Show all »

  • 2 star rating
    10/11/2008

    I have to drop them back 2 stars for another bad dining experience. Don't get the "homemade" corned… Read more »

Photo of melina l.

 

12

94

melina l.

Los Angeles, CA

3 star rating
3/30/2008

This place is just okay. I do love the decor, it's cozy and fun, but mon dieu the waits are long! After that long of a wait, I want breakfast to be ambrosia on a plate, and it just isn't that fab. Nothing wrong with it, and the elation you feel when you finally get seated is a wonderful feeling, to be sure, but well, the food's just okay.

And that's okay, but I can think of six places for which I would rather wait in a long line for for breakfast and pay too much money; and six others that never have any line and DON'T charge too much money, so, that doesn't leave Maxwell's in a great position on the "where shall we have breakfast" list.

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1

3

Andrew C.

Los Angeles, CA

3 star rating
3/29/2009

I lived in Venice several years ago and always swore I was going to check this place out. Well in my quest to find LA's best breakfast joints, I decided to ignore the long line outside and try it out.

The wait wasn't bad and there were plenty of chairs outside, in both the sun and shade, which made waiting enjoyable. We were quoted a 15 minute wait and although I absolutely thought it would be longer, they got people in and out pretty fast and we were seated.

I love the decor, ambience, and feeling I get walking into this place. The unique design makes you feel like you're eating in a midwest log cabin. There are a lot of windows and skylights and even though it does get very crowded, the inside stays nice and cool for the most part.

The service was good but the food was in one word...AVERAGE. Neither of us felt obligated to clean our plates and the $4 side of sausage links I ordered tasted like "Brown N Serve" out of the microwave.

Great vibe but not great food. Maybe the lunch is better???

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4

7

Peter C.

Los Angeles, CA

5 star rating
9/30/2008

Was going to Costco, didnt want to get food there, so i luckily found this place a block or two away.  Been there about 4 times now.

The hamburgers are pretty damn good, and the breakfast items are really good, nicely sized portions too, not too greasy at all, didnt want to take a nap after eating here.

Price wise is pretty average with all the other breakfast spots in the area.

Coffee is good enough when freshly brewed.

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