Max's Restaurant & Bar sits right off I-80 in Auburn, making it an easy stop if you’re traveling through with your dog. The patio is spacious enough that you won’t feel cramped, and it’s genuinely dog-friendly—staff don’t make a fuss about having dogs nearby, which is refreshing.

The menu is genuinely all over the place in the best way. You can order a corned beef reuben, Chinese chicken salad, ribeye steak, or mushroom pasta at the same meal, and nobody blinks. It’s that kind of restaurant where everyone at your table gets exactly what they’re in the mood for. They emphasize local farm-fresh produce, which you can taste in the vegetables, though the comfort food classics are the real draw here. Nothing feels pretentious about it—just solid cooking at prices that won’t make you wince.

The bar side is worth knowing about. They focus on craft beers and wines from the region, so if you’re staying for a drink while your dog relaxes under the table, you’ve got good options beyond the standard offerings. The wine list shows some thought.

The desserts are their thing—apparently award-winning and elaborate enough that they’re memorable. If you’ve got a sweet tooth, they’re worth leaving room for. The place has been around over 25 years, which means they’ve figured out what works and stick with it rather than constantly chasing trends.

Since it’s just off the freeway, it works well as a pit stop if you’re driving through the region with your dog. The patio setting means fresh air, and the kitchen’s willingness to put seemingly random items on the same menu suggests they’re flexible about special requests if your dog needs something specific. The parking is straightforward, which matters when you’ve got a dog in the car.