. . "0"^^ . . "Hubby's annual birthday surprise began with dinner at Maxi's.\n\nThis was our first time here, based on a recommendation from the two friends who dined with us. We started our meal with a bottle of malbec, and each ordered a different plate of pasta. Thanks to Cara L.'s suggestion, we devoured a savory plate of stuffed banana hot peppers, along with a bowl of steamed mussels. I could've died happy with those appetizers alone! The only pasta plate that hit a low note for me was their signature saut\u00E9ed calamari. I was hoping for non-breaded calamari, but was overwhelmed by the opposite. It just wasn't what I was expecting, and it had a burnt after-taste. My friend's sweet alfredo and the other friend's goat cheese ravioli were my favorite. So much goodness in that cream!\n\nQuaint, festive atmosphere, excellent service. Pricey, but worth it for a special occasion.\n\nNext time, I'm ordering the frog legs."^^ . "2013-01-23T00:00:00"^^ . "0"^^ . "0"^^ . "4"^^ .