It has been speculated for many years that Moe’s Tavern in the famous cartoon The Simpsons is based upon Eugene’s very own Max’s Tavern. Max’s Tavern has been a staple directly off of the University of Oregon campus since 1932 and in the past year has been the go-to bar for Oregon students. During the day if you are looking to get a cold beverage in a calm atmosphere this is the place to go. At night if you are looking for a more lively college bar Max’s has turned itself into just that. While Max’s in the current Covid climate is the place to go for a great atmosphere very close to campus it has its fair share of problems.
The service tends to go significantly down at night and can sometimes take a while to receive your drink however that can be expected with the number of students that swarm into the bar and the newly acquired staff. There have been multiple occasions where I have ordered a drink and it has not come so I have asked to remove it from my tab. While this is very poor service, I think with time this will change when they have a less volatile staff with more experience and when we get out of Covid. With that being said everyone at Max’s has been very kind and understanding and is quick to fix a mistake if one arises.
The food is overpriced for what you receive and is not somewhere I would go for a meal. They offer free buttered-up popcorn which is the only thing I would ever eat from this place. They are currently in a transition period, as they are expanding into the space next door, where they are getting a full industrial kitchen instead of the small one they are using today. Max’s Tavern is transitioning out of the covid world and trying to do the best with what they have. With time I feel as if the food and service will mature and be much better than what it is today but for now it is what you can expect from a college dive bar.
Service: 3/5 – for speed and forgetfulness but are very kind
Food: 2/5 – too expensive and not very good
Atmosphere: 4/5 – a divey atmosphere at night, peaceful during the day
Overall: 3/5