Great place for that romantic dinner with that special someone.  Keep in mind that it can be pricey.  Food is excellent and servers are experienced and attentive.   Be sure to...

Great place for that romantic dinner with that special someone.  Keep in mind that it can be pricey.  Food is excellent and servers are experienced and attentive.   Be sure to get directions if you're not familiar with the area.  Can be a little confusing.

My husband and I decided to give this place a try one night.  We had difficulty finding it because of the alley location, but once inside we were glad we kept searching.  The ambiance,...

My husband and I decided to give this place a try one night.  We had difficulty finding it because of the alley location, but once inside we were glad we kept searching.  The ambiance, decor, and quality of service is impressive.  It is a romantic dining spot with dim lighting and candle lit tables.  The food was very good and their wine list extensive.  Their staff appeared attentive and provided excellent service.  The price...well it is definitely on the high end, but great for that special evening out.

Wow, this place is great. The atmosphere is nice and the service was great. Came with about 10 people for a b-day dinner and everything was served with speed & yumminess. I had the crabcakes...

Wow, this place is great. The atmosphere is nice and the service was great. Came with about 10 people for a b-day dinner and everything was served with speed & yumminess. I had the crabcakes (yummo) and for my entree, had the Lobster Milano. It was a very heavy, filling meal, but very delicious. The salads are good, too and the creme brulee. Totally recommend for anytime.

OK, my first experience was not that impressive. It was a banquet with the Kern Press Club and it was only average. And the banquet room was rather bland.

But I knew this place had a...

OK, my first experience was not that impressive. It was a banquet with the Kern Press Club and it was only average. And the banquet room was rather bland.

But I knew this place had a great reputation. And you simply can not judge a restaurant on their banquet food. I wanted to order off the menu and dine in the main dining room, so my girlfriend and I went back for an early Saturday dinner.

The atmosphere in the dining room is indeed very elegant and romantic. It's quite dark at first when you walk in from the bright Bakersfield sun, but your eyes adjust after a few minutes.

We ordered an escargot appetizer and both of us had the Gorgonzola Filet with a balsamic sauce for our entree. I know we should have ordered something different but it just sounded so good. And I wasn't disappointed, it was outstanding. The sauce was unbelievable and the tender steak was a perfect medium rare. I would have preferred a choice of roasted garlic or shallot mashed potatoes over the baked potato but who cares about the supporting cast, the steak was the star of this show. For desert my we split a chocolate tort with a carmel sauce personally prepared by Terry Maxwell himself. He makes all the deserts. I'm not much for sweets, but all I can say is wow, was it good!

However I think what makes this place so special is the service. Without a doubt this is one of the best staffs assembled in Bakersfield if not in California. They're fast, informative and very friendly. And that goes for the busboys as well.

Having the owner come by to shake your hand and say hello is another thing that makes Maxwell's such a treat. Both Terry and Paula stopped to chat several times making us feel like guests in their home rather than in their business.

A lot of hard work and a seismic amount passion have gone into this restaurant and it shows.

It's not cheap, and we can't make it a weekly thing but you know what? You get what you pay for, and at Maxwell's you get the very best.