MAX’S Es-Ca

And a Lot of Staten Island.

There are restaurants you visit
because you’re hungry. And then
there are places you choose
because you want an evening
to become something more.

Max’s Es-Ca, on Richmond Road in Staten Island, understands the distinction.

Part Italian restaurant, part
neighborhood gathering place,
and part FULL-BLOWN
entertainment destination.

Max’s Es-Ca has built its offering
around an appealing proposition :
dinner doesn’t necessarily have to
be the main event. Sometimes,
it’s just the beginning.

Of course, the food has to hold its own. And their menu makes a very persuasive case.

The kitchen covers considerable territory, bringing together Italian-American favorites, seafood, steaks and dishes designed for people who appreciate a little more than the usual local neighborhood dinner. There are familiar comforts, certainly, but also more ambitious selections. Think grilled octopus, burrata with prosciutto and heirloom tomatoes, stuffed long hot peppers, and seafood preparations that give the menu a distinctly coastal sensibility.

For the main course, the choices become decidedly more substantial. Seafood linguini brings together shrimp, lobster tail, calamari, clams and mussels in a lightly spiced tomato sauce. The rack of lamb arrives at the table with mustard breadcrumbs, mashed potatoes and sautéed string beans. There’s also a 21-day dry-aged, 44-ounce ribeye plated for two, along with Phil’s Beef Wellington, featuring filet mignon wrapped in puff pastry with mushroom duxelles and brandy cream.

In other words, this isn’t a
menu that requires everyone
at the table to have the same
idea of a good dinner.
And that’s the point.

But Max’s Es-Ca has another
card to play: the experience
far beyond what is on the plate.

Click image above to see their Instagram page

The restaurant’s calendar brings
together live entertainment, comedy,
themed evenings, brunches, workshops
and social gatherings. From music and
comedy nights to specialty events and
seasonal celebrations, there’s an ongoing
effort to give people a reason to come
back that doesn’t depend on waiting
for the next birthday or anniversary.

Pure entertainment.

It’s an interesting approach to hospitality.
Rather than simply providing a room, a
menu and an inevitable check to pay,
Max’s Es-Ca creates occasions. The
difference is important. People may
remember what they ordered, but
they’re just as likely to remember
who was at the table, what was
happening around them and
how the evening unfolded.

For those planning something larger, the restaurant
also offers private dining and catering. Its event menus
accommodate a range of gatherings, including milestone
birthdays, rehearsal dinners, corporate functions and
family celebrations. Customizable family-style menus,
multiple entrée selections and beverage packages
make it possible to shape an event around the people
attending rather than force everyone into a
one-size-fits-all arrangement.

Gabriella says :

She does the local and holiday business vendor events around holidays.

Remember to
shop small to
make a BIG
impact.”

The restaurant also promotes catering for occasions
ranging from corporate luncheons to weddings,
accomplishments and notable festivities to be
remembered, days, months and years later,
extending the kitchen’s reach beyond its own
dining room.

And then there’s the simple matter of location.
Situated at 1559 Richmond Road, Max’s Es-Ca
occupies a familiar Staten Island address while
offering an experience that can move comfortably
between a casual meal, a planned celebration
and a full evening out.

There’s something refreshingly New York about this
particular combination. A little ambition, a little
personality, plenty of food and no particular desire
to rush everyone out the door.

Staten Island has never lacked for places to eat.
What makes a restaurant interesting is what it
does with the opportunity to bring people together.

Max’s Es-Ca appears to have taken that idea seriously.

Come for dinner. Stay for the entertainment. Bring
the family, organize the celebration, or simply find
an excuse to make a Tuesday feel less like a Tuesday.