Delivery review: MAX’s takeaway meal
During these crazy corona times, restaurants are closed, so we’re enjoying eating out at home. Luckily, lots of new and special delivery and takeaway restaurants are joining the scene. And we’re going to test them for you. That way, we can keep eating well and support the hospitality industry. Today: MAX in Amsterdam.
MAX was once the hippest restaurant in The Hague, with fun parties, humorous service, modern Indo dishes and, in the starring role: Max. Delightfully crazy, energetic and creative Max, who always poured the last drops of wine into our empty glasses. When I moved to Amsterdam, Max fortunately came along. No more parties on Herenstraat, but still the same atmosphere and cuisine with light, fresh, spicy and delightful dishes that put a smile on your face. And the same Max. He’s playing takeaway Indo for now, so it’s time for MAX.
The takeaway Indo
In the makeshift converted restaurant, local residents come and go, delighted that MAX has opened its doors again. ‘Wine?’ asks Max. Dressed in an immaculate corona outfit with black gloves, he energetically hops into the kitchen and returns a little later with a white takeaway bag. ‘All those plastic containers at takeaway restaurants—that’s really no longer acceptable these days. Everything is paper here, and you can simply eat from the container,’ says Max as he hands over the paper bag. Inside are a container, two brown bags and a larger box, originally wrapped in a colourful Parool page.
The menu
The first cardboard container holds Javanese sate ayam on atjar salad. No skewers, but pieces of chicken on a fresh bed of crunchy vegetables. Fresh and spicy. The second container is a mini rice table. On fragrant pandan rice, there’s a spicy chicken curry with lemongrass and coconut, as well as the famous rendang. The bag of prawn crackers comes in handy. The dishes are carefully arranged around the rice, so the flavours remain neatly separated. The kampong chicken, the prawns in red curry and the vegetable curry are also unparalleled. So different from some other Indo restaurants, where it seems the same boemboe is used for every dish. The last bag contains two pieces of spekkoek. One of the bags bears a personal greeting from Max. Until next time.
Will we go back to MAX?
That next time is definitely coming! MAX’s fresh and modern Indo dishes are always a good idea anyway. For 25 euros, you now get a delicious two-course dinner with nasi tjampoer and, to start, pea soup with smoorvlees or sateh ayam. For a tenner, you can add an extra side dish, for those of us with bigger appetites, but the portions are more than ample as they are. Now that MAX@HOME exists, we don’t mind if this corona quarantine lasts a little longer—so to speak.
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