Maximiliano

01/03/12

Great neighborhood find!!!

by netter1

We enjoyed a wonderful New Year's Eve dinner at Maximiliano for my mother-in-law's birthday this past weekend. I have to say I thoroughly enjoyed the evening immensely. I started the meal with a baby arugula salad and opted for the roasted duck breast daily plate special. I also tasted a few of the market vegetable offerings (roasted beets, baked cauliflower, sauteed garlic spinach) that we shared amongst everyone at the table. My salad was peppery and tangy with a light lemon juice/olive oil dressing -- wonderfully fresh and complemented by the hot veggie plates that soon came to the table. I recommend the roasted beets. Roasted until tender and sprinkled with chevre, they were just delicious. I could have eaten the entire plate by myself. My duck entree definitely lived up to the starters. It was perfectly medium rare and tender. The bed of polenta beneath the sliced duck was a creamy concoction that added to the richness of the duck. The sauteed kale and baby vegetables added varying textures to the meal. Can you tell I loved my dinner? As for the rest, the ambiance was very lively. With the extremely high ceiling, the sound definitely resonates. With a packed room (like on New Year's Eve), it could definitely get loud. You might try early in the week if you're looking for a quiet date night. As for the staff...AWESOME! Everyone was friendly and attentive. I'm thinking of hitting them up again on Friday night for my birthday. Drive to the east side and give them a try!!!