Max Lager's, Atlanta......A Cheerful Brew
Written: Aug 26 '04 (Updated Nov 26 '05)
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Pros: Excellent beer, good bar menu, very pleasant garden in rear
Cons: Limited menu, but this is more of a beer garden anyway...don't let that stop you
The Bottom Line: For good beer in a convivial setting in downtown Atlanta, there's no better place than Max Lager's. I'll have to go again soon.
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| tombarnes's Full Review: Max Lagers American Grill & Brewery |
I had the great fortune to join two of Epinions' most engaging members, Elainehn and Bruguru for dinner here about a month ago while on a short visit to Atlanta. Naturally, Bruguru (John) selected the place, Max Lager's, something of an institution in downtown Atlanta. It's easy to see why, as the beer is made right on the premises and the place hops all night long. Even if you are not a beer aficionado, Max Lager's might well appeal to you, as it is an enjoyable piece of local color.
Location
Just north of the center of downtown Atlanta at 320 Peachtree Street, Max Lager's occupies a restored warehouse building. There is parking next door if you need it, but it is not too far from the MARTA station.
The Interior
The restaurant has a comfortable, but acoustically challenged interior. The giant copper brewing apparatus makes an interesting focal point, and the old brick walls are covered with various pictures and so forth. The look and feel of the place is amiable and warm. Both Elaine and John seemed to agree that the outdoor patio in the back would be the better place to sit, especially if we were going to hear each other speak!
The Menu
I'm not going to do my usual dissection of the menu here, as we had mostly appetizers. Of course, we had beer too, so I'll do my best to tell you about that as well.
We began with the Fire and Spice ($5.95), onions and jalapeno peppers dipped in batter and fried. These are not too spicy, never mind the dusting of pepper. For a fire freak like me, I had to ask them to bring out additional sauces. This was a basket of greasy goodness, and well worth any calories or blemishes I might have acquired.
The Georgia Peanut Strips ($8.95) seemed a natural enough choice, and they were certainly generous with them. The large strips (each one was almost half a breast) were rolled in chopped peanuts and flash fried, with no batter. The result was good, if not exactly improved by the Korean dipping sauce (salty and bland--I stuck to the special fire broth they were kind enough to bring me) and the Udon noodles. An odd pairing if I ever saw one.
The Buffalo Wings (10 for $6.95 and 20 for $10.95) were exceptional. Swaddled in a tangy, but not over-hot sauce, the wings were meatier than the usual, and far more filing than you would expect. Be very glad that there will be a large pile of napkins nearby.
They are known for their steaks, or so I am told. We could see the sizzling platters of hickory smoked steaks and pork chops on parade from the kitchen. These average at about $21.00-$23.00. Salmon ($18.95) and a daily fresh fish special are also available. The ribs looked (and smelled) very good as well. On to the main point of this place, though.
Beer
As you may have noticed, I don't really review beer, but a word or two about their selection is in order here. The law pertaining to the alcoholic content of beer has recently changed in Georgia. Thus, the alcohol percentage of their Summer Lager has increased to six per cent. We had quite a few of these. Good beer seems to slip down the throat faster when you are enjoying good conversation and pleasant surroundings. This beer is light, but slightly tart. I tried the sampler, an inviting presentation of six small glasses (larger than shots, but not by much) of various ales and beer. This included Max Pale, Max Black (one of my favorites), Max Gold and Max Red. To round it off, there was Max Oatmeal Stout as well.
Service
Effusively friendly is the best word for our waiter. He was a nice kid, but possibly a bit anxious to talk about his pedigree. Hey kid, I really don't care if your family owns sixteen restaurants or not. Just bring me more beer. Please.
Cost
Even if you go off the deep end, your tab still won't have you crying in your beer. It's positively reasonable here.
Reservations Etc.
They don't take reservations in advance for parties under six, but you can just as easily stand in line at the door and wait with everyone else. The line wasn't too bad when we were there, but be advised that this place gets busy on weekends. Parking is free and is just behind the restaurant. Al major credit cards are accepted. For those who can't bear the thought of Atlanta traffic, there's also a branch at the Mall of Georgia in Buford. Special thanks again to Elainehn who drove all the way in from Carrollton.
Monday- Friday 11:00 AM- 10:00 PM
Saturday-Sunday 4:00 PM-10:00 PM
Max Lager's
320 Peachtree Street
Atlanta, GA
Tel. 404-525-4400
FAX 404-525-4417
www.maxlagers.com
It's certainly time I published this. We visited in July. TB
Recommended:
Yes
Kid Friendliness: No
Vegetarian Friendly: No
Notes, Tips or Menu Recommendations Reservations might be necessary--this place gets crowded
Best Suited For: Friends
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Epinions.com ID:
tombarnes
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 - Top 200 |
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Member: Thomas Barnes
Location: Fort Lauderdale & Washington, DC
Reviews written: 688
Trusted by: 444 members
About Me:
With Barbara in Miami, 2004
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