[Southsider2k12]

http://nwitimes.com/articles/2009/02/04/co...55100819054.txt

There aren't many places to get steak tartare these days. But, at Maxine's, in Michigan City, diners will find the raw meat lover's delicacy along with other out-of-the-ordinary treats.

Maxine's, established five years ago, by New Buffalo, Mich., resident Karel Hula, features a menu filled with a mix of American and European fare.

"Everything is made from scratch, even our pasta sauces," he said.

Hula, a Prague native, has owned and operated restaurants throughout Europe and the Chicago area. He became interested in cooking as a young boy.

"My mother was a lousy cook," he said, with a chuckle. "So, I wanted to learn to cook."

At Maxine's, Hula said he often steps into the kitchen with his dedicated staff to produce a diverse selection of quality dishes, including German specialties, Italian favorites, French and Czech-influenced recipes.

Hungry diners will find it hard to choose from the array of interesting dishes here. You'll find everything from sauerbraten ($17) and chicken cordon bleu ($19) to penne Siciliano ($17) and couscous ($17).

During our dinner, on a recent Thursday night, we leisurely enjoyed the eclectic feast, which began with steak tartare as an appetizer and proceeded with Maxine's special salad featuring greens, spinach, pecans, blue cheese, pears and balsamic vinaigrette.

Hula is now offering a "Winter Specials" menu filled with comfort foods so we decided to try the Czech-inspired chicken paprikash ($18) from the cold weather offerings. Other items on that menu include Hungarian Goulash and Irish stew. We also ordered the oysters Rockefeller ($9) and crab cake with Cajun lobster sauce ($8).

Both lunch and dinner are served at the restaurant. Among other interesting dishes are scallops vol au vent, cooked in a puff pastry ($11); lamb tajine Marrakesh ($22); Bavarian roast pork ($18); tilapia Meuniere ($19) and escargots bourguignon ($9, for an appetizer portion).

Hula said the most frequently ordered dishes at the eatery include Vincigrasi Santa Maria (lasagna), pot roast and various steaks.

Not only is Maxine's menu attractive but the atmosphere in the restaurant is inviting as well. With an open kitchen, cozy bar and a French-Impressionist-inspired mural painted across one of the restaurant's walls, diners will imagine they've just been whisked away to an elegant Old World cafe.

The hostess and servers remained attentive and friendly throughout our dinner while piped-in jazz and easy listening music played in the background.

Wine fans will find a mix of French, California and German selections on the wine list.

Maxine's is the perfect pick for either sharing lunch or dinner with friends or a place to enjoy a romantic meal with a date.

The opinions expressed are solely the writer's. Reach her at eloise.valadez@nwitimes.com or (219) 933-3365.

ifyougo
Maxine's
Where: 521 Franklin St., Michigan City
When: 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Mondays to Thursdays; 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Fridays and 5 to 10 p.m. Saturdays. Closed Sundays
FYI: (219) 872-4500

[Homey]

The writer didn't comment on the taste or quality of the food...I was hoping to read that.

The only time I was there was after we closed on a house across the street at the Title company and went to celebrate with a Tangaray & Tonic