Chez Max

My best girlfriend and I were looking for a place to have a little wine, some quiet conversation, and hopefully, some good food. And with Chez Max did we hit the jackpot! The good selection of affordable French wines, paired with the Mixed meat and Cheese platter, created a wonderful evening. The serving staff were kind and helpful, and gave us just the right amount of attention.
And the greatest part was the Strawberry Tart. Sweet puddles of strawberry lovin’ was this amazing. I don’t think I have ever had proper French desserts before now, because all previous experiences pale in comparison. Seriously… I plan on going back every week if I can. It was THAT GOOD. Your life will be better having tasted this thing. Get down there now!

Chez Max has been on my list for years, and I finally made it last night although only for some wine. The selection of wines were fantastic and the selection on the early bird was decent.
I chose the French onion soup to start and then had the mussels as my main course. The food was delicious and cost only 19 euro!
I’m delighted I finally tried this — I’ll be back again!

Romantic atmosphere, delicious food, polite and lovely service. Once you’re inside it’s easy to forget you’re in the heart of Dublin.

In my humble opinion the best restaurant I’ve been to during my time in Dublin. The food was topnotch, the ambient french and cute and the waiters put the most effort into our satisfaction. Worth a visit, but be sure to reserve your seats, it’s small

Great steak tartare, great staff, great melted St Marcellin, delicious creamy quail … beautiful! I’ve been there twice already, will go back soon.

One of my favourite places in town!
Gorgeous little restaurant tucked in a quiet corner beside Dublin Castle.
Whoever says French people are rude, well they are wrong!!! The waiters are all French and being a frog myself they are the nicest staff ever.
Get your franglish ready though because once you get inside you’re in France!!! The music, the décor, the atmosphere, the smell… it’s magic!! The terrasse is a great place as well to watch the world goes by while enjoying the company of friends and food and wine!
I personally 90% of the time go there for dinner and tried to catch the early bird. You get a starter and a main for € 19 only because let me tell you, the portions are perfect and its delicious!!! My favourite is moules-​frites but try everything, all the dishes are tasty. Great place for lunch too, the lunch menu is very affordable. I also love going there because it is the only place that makes a chocolate mousse the way I like them!
The wine list is a dream and I enjoy picking the wine myself according to where my family members are from.
I highly recommend this restaurant to everyone who wants to try everyday France!

I went here on Valentines day just this past weekend.
We were seated in the back garden/​patio, which was heated (making my previous worries unnecessary). It didn’t bother me that much, but the heating was quite inconsistent, it was a bit too warm and a bit chilly the next, but everything else took my attention away…
the back patio was so cute, it was these tiny tables dressed in the cliché (but cute) red checkered tablecloths, it was quite crowded and cosy.
we both started with glasses of Merlot which were surprisingly good considering I don’t know how to pick wine for the life of me! I had the escargot to start, and my boyfriend had the pastry-​wrapped goats cheese. the goats cheese was so delish, fluffy and decadent — tasted extra good with the red wine. I was not as equally impressed with my escargot, as they were on the skinny side, although still quite yummy with the herb and butter mix. the best part was soaking up all that with the complimentary bread!
For mains, I had the duck breast with orange sauce, and my boyfriend had the chorizo coated cod. I have to say the mains were not as impressive as I would have expected. The orange sauce on the duck was too sweet, I had to compensate by overdoing my salt on the duck. The cod I actually liked better, it was an interesting combination, however, by boyfriend wasn’t full at the end of the dinner!
We shared a crème brûlée at the end, it was probably pre-​made (as it was cold) but the top was warm and crispy. I was happily full.
For the ambience, definitely go. But I’d say a dinner for two with starters, mains, and 1 glass vino each, plus dessert to share, I’m not sure the price tag justifies the whole package. I think if I’m going for just food, I might opt for a different place.

Want a taste of Paris in Dublin? Chez Max is the place to go. Café by day and a chic and ambient restaurant by night, its location at the gates of Dublin Castle lends to the atmosphere too. The French waiting staff are friendly and ready to lend a hand with the pronunciation of their menu, which is always appreciated… The stalwarts of French cuisine; onion soup, crème brûlée; are done to perfection, and their pan fried sea bass is a dream.
Their A la Carte menu can be a little pricey, however, they do offer an Early Bird menu from Sunday to Thursday, with two courses for € 19, which is fab! It’s also the perfect place to linger with a bottle of wine (or two) after dinner.

Had an amazing birthday dinner here. Merci beaucoup!
It was like a little teleport into a French bistro in the middle of Paris as the staff swirled around you all smiling with their fabulous accents.
The food was fantastic, especially the duck breast I had which was gorgeously pink and succulent, with a light orange sauce and to-​die-​for potato gratin. The Grenache we got paired excellently with the meal.
Definitely worth a few more re-​visits as there are so many dishes I want to try. Their lunch menu looks amazingly good value too!

Chez Max is a charming French restaurant with three locations in Dublin. During our visit to Dublin we dined at the Palace Street restaurant (located outside the gates of the Dublin Castle). Originally I had bookmarked Chez Max as a spot to grab a glass of wine and some charcuterie. When our dinner plans fell through we decided to have dinner here.
The dinner menu at Chez Max consists a dozen classic Parisian dishes. I was torn between ordering the Mussels or the Boeuf Bourguignon (Beef Stew). I chose the Boeuf Bourguignon since the mussels came with fries and we had just eaten fish and chips for lunch. The stew was very flavorful, but I thought the beef was a tad on the dry side. I wish I had ordered my husband’s chicken dish (Poulet Rôti et Crème d’Estragon, Riz Pilaf) or my sister’s rabbit dish (Cuisse de Lapin à la Moutarde à l’ancienne, Riz Pilaf). Both of their dishes were fantastic.
While this was not my favorite meal in London I really enjoyed dining in the quiet outdoor garden area. The atmosphere was very relaxing and we were able to unwind after a long day of sightseeing with a good bottle of cabernet. The highlight of the meal was dessert. I ordered the Strawberry Tart (Tarte aux Fraises) and it was the perfect balance of tart and sweet.
Tip: A two-​course early bird dinner special for € 19 is offered Sunday through Thursday from 5:30−7pm.

Dropped in here after the theatre with the boyfriend. Have to say i love the vibe of the building, really french with french waiters and french music. The food was nice but as we were only grabbing a main before meeting with friends it wasn’t the largest portion or the most filling and not on the cheap side either. € 30 for main and glass of wine seems a tad on the dear side for what i got. I would go back if treating myself to three courses but would have to prepare myself to pay the price!

I went for the early bird here on a Wednesday evening which is great value, two courses for € 19. I had the melon and parma ham to start, then had chicken supreme and finished off with a chocolate mousse. All of the food was delicious, the portions are maybe a little bit on the small side but the food is quite rich. The staff were very friendly and had a good sense of humor and the traditional french-​style décor was lovely. The food came out very quickly, maybe even too quickly, but as I mentioned before it all very tasty and I enjoyed it. I’m looking forward to heading back to try the cheese platter!

Thank you once more, Max, for providing me with a regula french fix!
Thank you so much for that decadent roasted camembert that had me miles up in the air in trance on a warm evening on your terrasse, while enjoying a great bottle and a catch-​up with a friend.
I’ll say it again, I’m amazed at the price of the food here, I would go as far as saying it’s the best value you’ll get anywhere.

Great service and atmosphere, really makes you feel like you are in a small restaurant located in a french town. Cozy. My favorite thing is their cheese table, really tasty and of nice size to make you full. I had fish and chips — I was not sure if I was seen as too much of a «yank» when asked for ketchup, but being a french bistro they had none, still weird for me.
Overall good experience, 50 euros on average per couple… a bit too much to be made a routine but cool for some occasions

We popped in here for lunch of a Saturday and both had the € 11 ‘formule’ which gets a large ‘tartin’ (sandwich) or salad (big!), a small glass of wine or soft drink and a tea or coffee. My girlfriend opted for an onion soup (very tasty) to start off but I decided to hold out til the tartin. Good call because the salad and tartin (croque madame consisting of ham, cheese and 2 fried eggs) were on the large side that wouldn’t leave room for dinner later. This was finished with a Café Viennois, coffee topped with Chantilly cream, which was good but next time I’ll have it with hot chocolate.
What makes Chez Max a 5 star kind of place, however, is the ambience which feels incredibly French. I don’t know is this authentic or manufactured but between the small space, low lighting, the all-​French music (all good) and the French staff I’d have to say this is the cosiest restaurant in Dublin (barring all the ones I’ve yet to eat in).

Note: I haven’t had food here (yet!), so this review is strictly for the tea and ambience!
After a Bram Stoker event the other day, a friend and I sat outside Chez Max for a cappicino and tea. I felt like I’d been transported to the streets of Paris (besides all the drunken loonies walking by!) They have a huge heater that runs the entire width of the restaurant outside, which means you’re absolutely toasty no matter what the weather. They have cute little wooden tables and wrought iron chairs (I think?), where you can sit, with Dublin Castle in the background, sipping your drinks and watching the world go by.
We were accompanied out the front by a few lone patrons, sipping on red wine and coffee, a couple in the corner, and two guys playing flamenco music on their guitars.
It was a truly lovely experience.
The staff member that served us was ultra-​friendly, and all was right with the world!
The only star I’d take off would be for the tea — it was your bog standard teabag variety, and anyone who’s read any of my other reviews will know my views on that!

A Croque Madame is a simple dish — Basically a toasted ham & cheese sandwich with a fried egg on top. Hard to get wrong you’d think, but I’ve had many croques, some even in Paris, which disappointed — Greasy wannabes, processed pretenders, in a cheap sliced pan.
Lunch at Chez Max is a lovely way to get lost in another world for an hour, and their Croque Rocks! Two (2!) perfectly runny eggs over fresh toasted French bread, cheese melted, great ham, lightly dressed salad. Best of all it came with a glass of wine & a coffee for under a tenner.
I’m coming back for dinner sometime but for now, Max — C’est Magnifigue!

Paris on a plate, it’s that simple!
Yesterday was my second time at this lovely little gem down by Dublin Castle. My boss said he owed me dinner and asked me to pick a nice place. Since he used to live in Paris, I figured he’d like the place.
We started in style with some champagne, quickly followed by our starters, in my case, a lovely Foie Gras accompanied by a small salad, but the goats cheese in filo pastry also looked yummy.
We switched to wine for the main course and made another great choice: Cassoulet! A dish originating in the area of Toulouse. The portion size was massive but I couldn’t let it go to waste and finished it down to the last bite.
For dessert we moved on to Armagnac, but the owner personally apologized for it being out of stock and actually offered us the replacement Cognac free of charge, which I thought was lovely. Throughout dinner he personally welcomed many of the new arrivals and you could tell that there is a massive amount of regulars and intimate French community. I bumped into a couple of French guys I know and overheard the chefs speak French (which helps if you’re running a French restaurant ;-))
My only disappointment was dessert itself — a pear tarte — that turned out to be very dry, with a hard base. Probably not the freshest.
I can all but rave about this restaurant with its friendly staff and REALLY good authentic French food. Not the over the top Michelin star style but the hearty, delicious country food (Cassoulet, boeuf bourguignon, duck confit etc.).
If you’re French and homesick, this is a must!

This spot is another gem and it’s right next to the Dublin Castle; so, stop in before or after you take a tour!
It’s a very cozy corner off the beaten path of Dame and you’ll likely feel you’re in another world — perhaps Paris (?)
The food is wonderful and the wine list is reasonable and has enough variety to pair with your eats.
The ambiance alone gets five stars. If you’re on a date, see if you can score the charming booth with the bench for two!
There are a handful of café tables in front of the establishment; but, if you want to eat outside, head to the back of the restaurant!
My dinner was fabulous; but, I actually just enjoy stopping here for a glass of wine and a sweet escape from the concrete jungle and gray skies.
Bön Apetit!

One of those spots that I had been meaning to try since I got to Dublin. Sitting snugly beside Dublin Castle is this wonderful eatery.
From the French signs, to the French music to the French servers it is authentically French. So cosy and warm inside and an excellent venue for a date or a meal with good friends. It seems to draw good conversation out and you don’t rush your food either.
We were seated on a raised platform which was a bit unnerving but I thought if royalty can do it then so can I. I hoped to over hear tales of degradation but the din of the plates and some French femme* warbling over the speakers put an end to that. In conclusion having a birds eye view of the shiny bald heads of the table below wasn’t the type of omnipresent I was hoping to achieve. I’ll just avoid that area in future.
I had the poulet* that was in some wine reduction sauce on a bed of potatoes. Apologies for not taking exact note of the dish but the photo does it credit. It was delicious, every taste was executed excellently and the portions were perfect. I had coffee to finish which again was perfect. They do great lunch offers and dishes of the day for I believe about € 10.
A perfect place for these dark Wintry days.
* Aren’t you impressed with my ability to just drop foreign words into the conversation with the ease of a fart?