Knock Another off the List

Finally made it to Max's, a restaurant owned and started by famed Pilipino chef, Andre Guerrero. This place has been getting rave reviews since it started, as evident not only from the reviews linked on their website but also from other foodies I've met in La La Land. I think this restaurant has been in existance since 2002 and has garnered a sister restaurant, Senor Fred's in the past few years. Both restaurants are named after Chef Guerrero's son and was able to meet him when he presented a food demonstration during The Festival of Philippine Arts & Culture in September of 2003.

The food at Max's is known for having a ton of influence from Chef Guerrero's Pilipino upbringing. He started his career working in his parents' restaurant years ago and left Linq restaurant to start Max's. Pastry chef, Jan Purdy, sounds like she left with him.

We started off the evening with an appetizer of ahi tartare...LOVED IT! After looking at the menu again on their website, I think we should have just ordered all of the appetizers on the list. Something to note for next time. Joe had the rare filet mignon which contained a variation of beef steak sauce, a typical comfort dish that my mom makes oh so fine. He should have just asked for the cow it came from. I have never seen pinkish red meat! I had the velvet shrimp entre which was pretty much a version of chow mein but a little more on the higher end. I liked it. The dessert was pretty damn good, too. I went light with the wine, getting a Pinot Grigio. It's summer time and most red wines are too heavy for me to take when it's balmy outside.

I really want to go back and try their lunch/brunch menu. Chef Guererro has been doing some good things. I ate at his other establishment, Senor Fred's, quite some time ago. It's very different from Max's in that it's more casual and the menu is mainly Mexican inspired. I wasn't too impressed by the food but I hear people were raving about the bar.