Food & Drink · Restaurants
Maximillians Grill & Wine Bar
About
Maximillians Grill & Wine Bar: A Cary Dining Institution Since 1991
On Chapel Hill Road in West Cary, Maximillians Grill & Wine Bar has been a chef-driven Triangle favorite for more than three decades. Intimate and independent, it blends farm-to-table New American cooking with globe-spanning flavors and a serious wine program.
Three Decades of Chef-Driven Cooking
Maximillians was founded in 1991, growing from a tiny former fast-food building into one of Cary’s most enduring dining institutions. In 2016, longtime staffers Will and Margie Hennessee bought the restaurant from its original owners and continue to run it today—preserving its founding dishes while keeping the menu fresh.
The Menu: Local Roots, Global Reach
Executive chef Margie Hennessee’s cooking is New American at its base but draws freely on Asian and Mediterranean influences. Original signatures like the peppercorn-crusted Voodoo Tuna with fire noodles and the grilled Caesar salad have been on the menu since the beginning, joined by rotating seasonal plates built on local seafood, produce, and mushrooms.
A Wine Bar to Match
The wine program is a point of pride, with more than 150 bottles and a rotating by-the-glass list poured via a Coravin system, plus hand-crafted cocktails. An upstairs mezzanine offers a more intimate setting for special occasions.
Plan Your Visit
Maximillians serves dinner Tuesday through Saturday and is closed Sunday and Monday. It’s a small, reservation-friendly room, so booking ahead through OpenTable is wise—especially on weekends.