Max's Allegheny Tavern
Pittsburgh, PA 15212-4924
Phone: (412) 231-1899
- Hours:
- Mon-Thu 11am-11pm, Fri-Sat 11am-12am, Sun 9:30am-10pm
Editorial Review for Max's Allegheny Tavern – by Andy Mowrey
The Scene
Bouncing off the wooden booths and tile floor and over the din of the mid-evening supper crowd, the unmistakable sounds of Germany can be heard at Max's Allegheny Tavern. At first, it seems as if it's just a shadow of the North Side neighborhood's past, a place where German was the prominent language up to our involvement in World War I. But Max's has become something of a refuge for older locals wearing Tyrolean hats with swatches of billy goat gruff in the band and for workers from one of the dozens of German companies doing business in the Pittsburgh area.
Food and Drink
While Max's selection of beer from Bavaria and her sister states is nearly unequaled in the city, it is the exclusive pourer of Dutch Club and Dutch Club Dark--Dutch being the unfortunate Americanization of Deutsch. Their food is equally authentic, featuring Teutonic platters of wurst, hasenpfeffer and schnitzel as well as a Reuben sandwich made with potato pancakes.
Editorial content is independent of paid advertisers. Any expenses are paid for by Citysearch.
User Reviews for Max's Allegheny Tavern
03/08/2008 Posted by New2Pittsburgh
This place has tons of character (and neighborhood history). The food is very good......as heavy as it is supposed to be. Good mix of older patrons and families
02/20/2008 Posted by Pleasantone
Unless you have been going to this bar for 20 years, don't start now. The regulars appear to be treated politely. All patrons who aren't regulars are treated like a burden. I went back 2 times because I keep hearing how great the place is. Each experience was as bad as the first. Had the hasenpfeffer 2 times. First time was phenominal. I mean absolutely fall-off-the-bone fantastic. The second time I thought I was eating a squirrel that had been reheated in the microwave. So while they have the potential to make great food, they lack consistancy in that respect. They have a coin operated piano with drums and cymbals that is really annoying, but charming at the same time. The draft beer selection is markedly poor, given that they are trying to mimic a German tavern. The bottle selection is good. It is an inexpensive place to eat, but you get what you pay for: poor service, inconsistent food quality, average-to-poor beer selection, and the feeling that you are an imposition to everyone who works there. I have since found a better German restaurant right across the highway called the Penn Brewery. It's everything that Max's should be (and I assume once was). Go into Max's if you have a spare quarter and want to hear an annoying piano. Otherwise, head to the Penn Brewery (or possibly the Church Brew-works).
Pros: Interesting coin-operated piano
Cons: Service, quality, atmosphere
Users Like You Also Viewed
Kleiner Deutschmann
643 Pittsburgh St
Springdale, PA 15144-1539
Soba Lounge
5847 Ellsworth Ave
Pittsburgh, PA 15232-1707
