Max's in Kinsale

We are literally flying home right now and had to write this review for one of our best meals in Ireland! This place is amazing!! A must when in Kinsale!

Fabulous meal, excellent waitstaff made for a wonderful evening. Comfortable and unpretentious; the focus is on the food.

This fine dining restaurant in Kinsale is a true gem, where the French chef’s skill shines through in both the presentation and the flavors. The dishes are a perfect balance of classic techniques with creative twists – like the slow-cooked pork belly paired with braised red cabbage and a tangy rhubarb compote. I started with a delightful goat cheese and beet appetizer, featuring a buckwheat shortcrust and red onion pickled in mead and honey. My husband opted for sautéed squid with linguini and mussels, which was cooked to perfection. For the mains, we enjoyed a fillet of hake, sautéed and served on a bed of leeks with zucchini, cherry tomatoes, and a pink peppercorn and parsley sauce. My husband’s pork belly was tender and flavorful, beautifully complemented by the cabbage and rhubarb compote. We ended the meal with a stunning crème brûlée, made with real vanilla beans and expertly caramelized. To top it off, the restaurant has an extensive wine list, offering excellent pairings to match the refined flavors of the menu. This restaurant is a must-visit in Kinsale for anyone who appreciates fine dining, creative flavors, and a great selection of wines.

We had duck noodles and languistine salad to start with and monkfish and hake to follow. Both were seasoned and chocked to perfection, full of flavour on a single plate. Monkfish came with chicory, and its texture compliments the fish very well. Highly recommended. We chose off the set menu as a la carte not available.

Limited menu selection but very good

The food at Max’s is wonderful. The wine selection is also impressive. We did not have a reservation but they were able to fit us in for a table for two right as they were opening and the staff member seemed happy to do so. The only thing that I thought could have been better was the service. The meals came relatively quickly and were magnificent. Our table was serviced by several people so we were unsure who to ask if we needed something and the servers seemed a bit unorganized and like they didn’t want bothered. One was especially a sour puss, which was a little off putting, especially since she was the person who brought us the bill and was the last person who interacted with us there. If you want a really magnificent dinner I would say you can’t go wrong there as long as you don’t mind feeling a bit unwelcome from a few of the staff.

Very nice diner at Max’s, very fine and tasty kitchen with original flavors ! Thanks a lot for this moment

Max’s was wonderful. We had the lamb, the monk fish, and the hake. Beautifully prepared. We were seated at a nice table. The service was fantastic and everyone was very kind.

This place is pretty nice with excellent food but the food was quite expensive and a little slow.

Thanks for accommodating my friend's 60th birthday at the weekend. Staff were really friendly and a great choice if food. Food was well presented and very tasty. Thank you for a memorable evening.