Maxine's On Shine - Orlando, Florida

steve swederski

First time at Maxine's. We went for Magical Dining, an Orlando restaurant event.
Food was excellent, plenty of drink choices. Shout out to Steve for excellent service.
Our table had a variety of appetizers: chowder, lobster roll, and caviar.
Our entree choices were all steak, a mix of cooked temperatures that all came out perfect.
Nice dessert followed.
All had a wine pairing that was well chosen.
Ample street parking around.
Do make a reservation as this is a well attended restaurant.

Elaine Wang

I recently visited Maxine's On Shine, a restaurant recommended by Michelin and known for its brunch offerings. The lobster omelet featured Maine lobster, but unfortunately, it was frozen, which affected the overall taste. The fried tomatoes and crab cake were just average, and the brisket was similarly unimpressive.

On a positive note, the exterior decoration with its plant arrangements is charming and inviting. While the service was warm and welcoming, the food did not live up to Michelin standards. In my experience dining at other Michelin-recommended restaurants in the Greater Orlando area, none have disappointed me as much as this one. For a neighborhood restaurant, Maxine's might be acceptable, but it falls short of the Michelin mark.

Update: One Day Later

I spoke with the friend about my disappointment with the restaurant they recommended. It turns out that the restaurant changed its chef two months ago, which might explain the difference in quality.

Adam

There are 5-star restaurants, and then there are 5-star restaurants. Maxine's was top-notch. The food was better than perfect. Hands down, the best lobster roll I have ever had, and red fish (special) was outstanding. Even the asparagus accompanying my wife's steak was cooked perfectly. Service was also really good. The only warning I give is that it can get a little hot, but they have fans and portable A/C's setup. Dress with light clothing.

Adriana Rodriguez

Reservations are of no use. Food was okay. Crab cakes were great, caramel cheesecake was great. Coctsil french blonde was above room temperature. Atmosphere. Vibe were great, dog friendly which I love.

Daniel Mirzadeh (MustBeGreen)

This was our first time at Maxine’s and it definitely won’t be the last! Everything from the food to the service was top notch. Our server, Steven, was one of the best we’ve ever had. He was incredibly friendly and attentive. We got the crab cakes and fried green tomatoes to start and the ahi tuna special and duck confit as our mains. We finished it off with a key lime pie. All of the food was delicious! Would highly recommend if you’re in the area!

C B

This place is awesome. Much better than all the touristy places on International drive. We drove 1 1/2 hours to get here and it was well worth it. We loved the alternative vibe of the staff and the location. The service and food are both excellent. We didn’t get to meet Maxine this time, but “Mr. Maxine” did take the time to come out and greet us, he seemed very authentic person that really loved what him and his wife are doing here. He had planned to take a photo with him out front and we left before that could happen, BUT once he noticed we had gone he walked a block away to find us getting into our car to make sure we got a photo with him and to thank us. It was an awesome experience. My wife and I have eaten at well over 400 places in the last few years and do not come back to the same place very often, this is a location that we plan to come back to 🙂 these guys are doing so many things right that you have to love it. For a really good experience I would plan to spend somewhere in the $30-$50 per person for brunch. EDIT - we had the opportunity to goto a Vaudeville dinner show at Maxine’s and it was very fun. We look forward to more shows!

Josh Dickey

Loved this place! Went here for brunch on a Friday. Had a fantastic bloody Mary and a great take on "steak and eggs" with stout braised brisket. And the jalapeño aioli and the potatoes, that was so good it could be a meal or at least an appetizer itself! Can't wait to go back and try more, I'm eying the crab cakes Benedict for next time. Loved the atmosphere and all the staff, and thank you Amy for welcoming me in so kindly. Highly recommend and will be back soon!!

David Valentine

I've been here many years ago, sometime around 2019, and it's still as good as I remember it. Went back recently for their Magical Dinning with one of my gf's and we had a great time.

For Magical Dining, they have a pick 3 with an appetizer, main course, and a dessert (lots of options including a wine pairing at an additional cost).

I had the vegan chili, the zucchini with vegan meatballs, and the chocolate mousse for dessert. My one gf had the lobster roll, a steak and then a salmon (the steak wasn't cooked well done; quite a bit of pink), and the chocolate mousse too.

There were two small issues imo, the first being the steak cooked more medium than well done, which the staff fixed asap and just brought out salmon instead at my one gf's request. The second being the zucchini plate being pretty lukewarm, almost as if it's been sitting around for about 10 or so mins. Didn't matter because it still tasted pretty good, but it did make me wonder what happened. I'm sure if I asked the staff would have made it warmer, but again, even at lukewarm temp it was still pretty good.

No big deal either way. It's well worth the money for sure. The staff are great, the vibes are awesome, and the ambience is laid back. It's a solid choice for spending an evening here with good food.