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Address and Contact Information
Address: 1516 W Carroll Ave, Chicago, IL 60607
Phone: (312) 896-4410
Website: https://www.maxwellstrading.com/
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Food Menu — Maxwells Trading
1516 W Carroll Ave | Chicago, IL 60607 · 312 896 4410. HOURS. Tuesday – Thursday | 4:30-9pm. Friday & Saturday | 4:30-10pm. Book With Resy. CONTACT | INSTAGRAM
Maxwells Trading
A new concept from Underscore Hospitality. Opening Late 2023 in the Kinzie Industrial Corridor | Chicago, IL.
Book Your Maxwells Trading Reservation Now on Resy
Maxwells Trading, situated below an urban farm in the Kinzie … Chicago, IL 60607. Get Directions +1 312-896-4410 https://www.maxwellstrading …
Reviews
Heidi Rozeske
Consider me impressed. The food, the vibe & the staff.
The menu changes bi-monthly and the staff is aware of the levels of gluten avoidance possible.
I enjoyed a mushroom rice and redfish at the suggestion of my server. The layers of flavor were excellent and made a great pairing with the orange wine!
I’ll come back and bring my gf friends!
… moreThe menu changes bi-monthly and the staff is aware of the levels of gluten avoidance possible.
I enjoyed a mushroom rice and redfish at the suggestion of my server. The layers of flavor were excellent and made a great pairing with the orange wine!
I’ll come back and bring my gf friends!
Erik Jensen
Starting off with the positives, the service was great. The waiter was friendly, gave us good advice, and attentive. The wine selection was also very good with a broad set of options. The Japanese Sweet Potato and the Basque Butter Cake were the two highlights of the meal, I’ll definitely remember both for a long time.
The rest of the food was just fine. For beginnings, the chicory Caesar had fresh ingredients but was very hard to eat the way it was shredded and the vinaigrette dominated the flavor. The Prosciutto and Gnocco Fritto seemed unbalanced, with very mild cheese and very little jam, so the prosciutto overpowered the flavor, and it was also kind of hard to eat.
For seconds, the soup dumpling tortellini was tasty but kind of just a worse version of a real Chinese soup dumpling. That said, the Japanese Sweet potato was fantastic and the highlight of the meal. The Thai red curry it came with was maybe the best I’ve had since moving to Chicago, just a really fun dish.
For substance, we had the Turbot which was good. The kombu beurre blanc was really nice with it. The Swiss chard was fresh too. But the potatoes were burned.
Overall, I think this would be a great place to bring a larger group. The vibes are great and the menu is varied enough that everyone will find something they like. The combo of street parking and convenience to transit makes it a good fit if you’re all coming from different directions. But with just two people, I just wanted it to be a bit better.
… moreThe rest of the food was just fine. For beginnings, the chicory Caesar had fresh ingredients but was very hard to eat the way it was shredded and the vinaigrette dominated the flavor. The Prosciutto and Gnocco Fritto seemed unbalanced, with very mild cheese and very little jam, so the prosciutto overpowered the flavor, and it was also kind of hard to eat.
For seconds, the soup dumpling tortellini was tasty but kind of just a worse version of a real Chinese soup dumpling. That said, the Japanese Sweet potato was fantastic and the highlight of the meal. The Thai red curry it came with was maybe the best I’ve had since moving to Chicago, just a really fun dish.
For substance, we had the Turbot which was good. The kombu beurre blanc was really nice with it. The Swiss chard was fresh too. But the potatoes were burned.
Overall, I think this would be a great place to bring a larger group. The vibes are great and the menu is varied enough that everyone will find something they like. The combo of street parking and convenience to transit makes it a good fit if you’re all coming from different directions. But with just two people, I just wanted it to be a bit better.
Mark A
I was excited to try Maxwell’s Trading as part of Chicago Restaurant Week. This restaurant has been super buzzy. It was named one of the top 15 hardest restaurants to get a reservation. So I was ecstatic when I scored a reservation and went in with high hopes.
The food was really good. My date and I tried different things to taste as many dishes as we could. The restaurant encourages couples, even entire tables, sharing the dishes family style.
For course one we got the Suzuki tartare and the Japanese eggplant with griddled bread. The Suzuki tartare was the better dish with lots of bold flavors. The eggplant was okay, but the star of that dish is the griddled bread. It gives roti vibes.
I heard a lot about the Japanese sweet potatoes that I just had to order them extra. They are caramelized sweet potatoes over curry. The flavors really work and contrast off each other. It is offered as an entree on the Restaurant Week menu but I don’t really feel it is that substantial enough to be your entree.
For course two we got the half chicken and the redfish bouillabaisse. The redfish was probably the best dish I had the entire night. I wish I had an extra grilled bread to mop up the bouillabaisse, it is that delicious. The chicken was good, but lacked the wow factor.
For course three we got the red bean brownie sundae and the black sesame flip. The sundae is excellent and not too sweet. The flip is unbalanced and way too heavy on the Cynar. It is almost the only thing you taste.
The ambiance is dark and moody. It is very loud and noisy. You feel like you have to speak up, and almost yell.
The biggest negative was the service. There is a fine line between attentive and pushy and they were way over the line. You could tell they wanted to get you through and flip the table. As soon as we had paid a manager came over and said, “I hate to be that person, but we need the table because the next reservations are breathing down my neck.” We weren’t loitering there. We literally had just paid and the manager pushed us out. I found it beyond rude and not very good customer service. I understand they were busy but people should be able to enjoy their dinner and time out.
… moreThe food was really good. My date and I tried different things to taste as many dishes as we could. The restaurant encourages couples, even entire tables, sharing the dishes family style.
For course one we got the Suzuki tartare and the Japanese eggplant with griddled bread. The Suzuki tartare was the better dish with lots of bold flavors. The eggplant was okay, but the star of that dish is the griddled bread. It gives roti vibes.
I heard a lot about the Japanese sweet potatoes that I just had to order them extra. They are caramelized sweet potatoes over curry. The flavors really work and contrast off each other. It is offered as an entree on the Restaurant Week menu but I don’t really feel it is that substantial enough to be your entree.
For course two we got the half chicken and the redfish bouillabaisse. The redfish was probably the best dish I had the entire night. I wish I had an extra grilled bread to mop up the bouillabaisse, it is that delicious. The chicken was good, but lacked the wow factor.
For course three we got the red bean brownie sundae and the black sesame flip. The sundae is excellent and not too sweet. The flip is unbalanced and way too heavy on the Cynar. It is almost the only thing you taste.
The ambiance is dark and moody. It is very loud and noisy. You feel like you have to speak up, and almost yell.
The biggest negative was the service. There is a fine line between attentive and pushy and they were way over the line. You could tell they wanted to get you through and flip the table. As soon as we had paid a manager came over and said, “I hate to be that person, but we need the table because the next reservations are breathing down my neck.” We weren’t loitering there. We literally had just paid and the manager pushed us out. I found it beyond rude and not very good customer service. I understand they were busy but people should be able to enjoy their dinner and time out.
SG
Overall great meal! Service was warm and friendly. The hummus, the ravioli & the basque butter were the highlights of the meal.
The pork katsu was well cooked but we felt like it needed a bit of a sauce. It went well with the fish.
Would suggest the redfish only if you like a fishy taste, again superbly cooked!
Can’t wait for the next season.
… moreThe pork katsu was well cooked but we felt like it needed a bit of a sauce. It went well with the fish.
Would suggest the redfish only if you like a fishy taste, again superbly cooked!
Can’t wait for the next season.
CJ
We came for the Lunar New Year collaboration dinner, so not everything here can be attributed directly to Maxwells Trading.
To start with the positives: the space was beautifully decorated for the occasion, the courses arrived at a steady pace, and the drinks were excellent throughout the night. Standout dishes included the pork rib soup, the fried fish with mango salad, the chili eggplant, and Buddha’s Delight—all well executed.
That said, there were a few inconsistencies. The white rice tasted stale with hard bits throughout, and the pacing of certain dishes felt uneven. The banchan was served before half of our four-person table had even arrived, and Buddha’s Delight came out with Course 3 instead of Course 2 without any notice. We were also surprised to receive two fish dishes within the same course. As for execution, the bass was slightly overcooked, and the tang yuan was underdone.
Service was, overall, serviceable—nothing remarkable, but it got the job done.
… moreTo start with the positives: the space was beautifully decorated for the occasion, the courses arrived at a steady pace, and the drinks were excellent throughout the night. Standout dishes included the pork rib soup, the fried fish with mango salad, the chili eggplant, and Buddha’s Delight—all well executed.
That said, there were a few inconsistencies. The white rice tasted stale with hard bits throughout, and the pacing of certain dishes felt uneven. The banchan was served before half of our four-person table had even arrived, and Buddha’s Delight came out with Course 3 instead of Course 2 without any notice. We were also surprised to receive two fish dishes within the same course. As for execution, the bass was slightly overcooked, and the tang yuan was underdone.
Service was, overall, serviceable—nothing remarkable, but it got the job done.
deepak neduvelil
This was one of my favorite meals I’ve ever had in Chicago. I was not expecting this level of quality. Literally every dish was impeccable. We started with the French onion dip which had notes of black truffle and the chive pancakes paired well with it. The Japanese sweet potato had a brûlée top and red curry which surprisingly tasted good together. The soup dumpling tortellini and redfish was also delicious. It’s impressive they were able to do so many different dishes with variable flavors so well. The basque butter cake was the perfect ending to a wonderful meal!
… moreLily
Excellent food and wonderful service.
This was a great spot post workday and Amy made our meal unforgettable.
The French onion dip blew us away and every bite was an explosion of flavor. If we hadn’t been short for time, we would have ordered multiples of some of these dishes.
We will definitely be coming back to try out the rest of the menu!
… moreThis was a great spot post workday and Amy made our meal unforgettable.
The French onion dip blew us away and every bite was an explosion of flavor. If we hadn’t been short for time, we would have ordered multiples of some of these dishes.
We will definitely be coming back to try out the rest of the menu!
Nisha Jacob
This restaurant is equally perfect for a cozy date night, a relaxed family dinner, or a professional colleagues’ gathering. The outdoor patio is particularly charming and highly recommended for a truly perfect, cozy evening. Service was quick and the food was excellent across the board. (Quick note on indoor seating: If you’re seated inside, the music may feel a bit loud at times. We weren’t able to hear our server clearly on a few instances due to the music. It felt like we were sitting right below a speaker.)
On the culinary side-
Prosciutto and Gnocco Fritto: A definite must-try. The combination of the airy gnocco fritto (fried dough) with the prosciutto, creamy caprino cheese, and black currant jam was absolutely delicious. I would order this again immediately.
Korean Style Short Ribs with Melon: This was one of our favorites. We learned it’s a seasonal dish, so try to get it before the menu changes!
Zucchini Stuffed Pappardelle: This dish was also a favorite. The pasta is made in-house (a huge plus!) and the sauce was notably tasty.
French Onion Dip and Whipped Ricotta Dip: Both dips were fantastic. They were served with a unique bread that resembled mini scallion pancakes, which were a perfect complement. Our only minor note is that the bread was a bit oily. Didn’t stop us from ordering 4 more to finish the dips, but wish they were a bit less oily.
Pork Soup Dumplings: These didn’t disappoint. While the broth was a bit on the salty side, the overall taste combined with the delicate dumplings was very good.
Pro-Tip on Dessert
We sadly got too full and missed out on the Basque Butter Cake! If you want to save room for dessert (which I highly recommend), I’d suggest ordering one or two fewer dishes than you think you need.
Overall, great food, great atmosphere, and a place I look forward to visiting again!
A final note on the bill: Our check included an automatic 20% gratuity. While service was quick and attentive, we feel this should be left to the customer’s discretion.
… moreOn the culinary side-
Prosciutto and Gnocco Fritto: A definite must-try. The combination of the airy gnocco fritto (fried dough) with the prosciutto, creamy caprino cheese, and black currant jam was absolutely delicious. I would order this again immediately.
Korean Style Short Ribs with Melon: This was one of our favorites. We learned it’s a seasonal dish, so try to get it before the menu changes!
Zucchini Stuffed Pappardelle: This dish was also a favorite. The pasta is made in-house (a huge plus!) and the sauce was notably tasty.
French Onion Dip and Whipped Ricotta Dip: Both dips were fantastic. They were served with a unique bread that resembled mini scallion pancakes, which were a perfect complement. Our only minor note is that the bread was a bit oily. Didn’t stop us from ordering 4 more to finish the dips, but wish they were a bit less oily.
Pork Soup Dumplings: These didn’t disappoint. While the broth was a bit on the salty side, the overall taste combined with the delicate dumplings was very good.
Pro-Tip on Dessert
We sadly got too full and missed out on the Basque Butter Cake! If you want to save room for dessert (which I highly recommend), I’d suggest ordering one or two fewer dishes than you think you need.
Overall, great food, great atmosphere, and a place I look forward to visiting again!
A final note on the bill: Our check included an automatic 20% gratuity. While service was quick and attentive, we feel this should be left to the customer’s discretion.
Christina L.
Amazing- everything we ordered was delicious. They have a gluten free menu you can ask for. Service was great and very helpful with dietary restrictions and recommendations. Highly recommend
… moreLeon Corbeille
Overall outstanding food and would go again in a heartbeat.
I’ll start with dessert as the Basque cake was so good as it was buttery yet not too heavy and not too sweet. As for the savory dishes, the suzucki tartare was a home run as I could have eaten about five of these all on my own. The sweet potato and katsu were very well done as well. I would go back with a mushroom lover as the clay pot rice looked and smelled amazing.
… moreI’ll start with dessert as the Basque cake was so good as it was buttery yet not too heavy and not too sweet. As for the savory dishes, the suzucki tartare was a home run as I could have eaten about five of these all on my own. The sweet potato and katsu were very well done as well. I would go back with a mushroom lover as the clay pot rice looked and smelled amazing.