Our Story
Max’s Restaurant is the Mornington Peninsula’s original winery restaurant.
In 1994, a young Max Paganoni returned from his travels through Europe with the dream of showcasing his home, the (then) little known region of the Mornington Peninsula to the world. With a passion for local produce and wines, he set out to create the Peninsula’s first winery restaurant.
Fast forward to today and the multi-award winning, highly regarded restaurant is serving local, seasonal modern dishes to guests from all over the world.
Our Story
Max’s Restaurant is the Mornington Peninsula’s original winery restaurant.
In 1994, a young Max Paganoni returned from his travels through Europe with the dream of showcasing his home, the (then) little known region of the Mornington Peninsula to the world. With a passion for local produce and wines, he set out to create the Peninsula’s first winery restaurant.
Fast forward to today and the multi-award winning, highly regarded restaurant is serving local, seasonal modern dishes to guests from all over the world.
Weddings at Max’s
The food, the service, the views: celebrate your special day with us.
Our team have a wealth of experience in working with couples to create their perfect day. Each wedding at Max’s is as unique as the couple themselves.
Packages vary from casual barbeques to formal seated events to cocktail parties to bespoke receptions created by you. We value your input and ideas and will work with you to design the day of your dreams.
Weddings at Max’s
The food, the service, the views: celebrate your special day with us.
Our team have a wealth of experience in working with couples to create their perfect day. Each wedding at Max’s is as unique as the couple themselves.
Packages vary from casual barbeques to formal seated events to cocktail parties to bespoke receptions created by you. We value your input and ideas and will work with you to design the day of your dreams.
What’s On at Max’s
Max’s Restaurant offers a calendar of special events throughout the year. Get a group together and join us for a celebration of food, family and festivity
Red Hill Truffle Brunch
Sundays: 11am June, July, August
Faulty Towers the Original Dining Experience
Sunday 20th July 2025
Charcuterie Masterclass with Peter Booth
Sunday 27th July
MP Experience Tours
The total food and wine experience on the Mornington Peninsula
MP Experience Tours
The total food and wine experience on the Mornington Peninsula
Celebrate the King’s Birthday this weekend at Max’s with our Taste of the Peninsula menu, a true celebration of local flavours, native ingredients, and the region’s best produce.
We are open:
Saturday: Lunch and Dinner.
Sunday: Truffle Brunch and Lunch.
Monday: Closed
It is the perfect way to make the most of the long weekend, great food, beautiful views, and a menu that tells the story of the Mornington Peninsula. Book now and let us take you on a journey.
#maxsrestaurant #morningtonpeninsula #tasteofthepeninsula #kingsbirthdayweekend #redhillwine #supportlocal #peninsuladining #localflavours #farmtotable #seasonalmenu #visitmorningtonpeninsula #redhillfood #finefoodandwine #wineriesofmornington #maxsestate #longweekendvibes #coastalkitchen #cheflife #brunchgoals #winteronthepeninsula #gourmetgetaway #weekendplanssorted #celebratewithmaxs #peninsulaplate #discoverredhill #nativeingredients #foodiepeninsula #sealandplant
Leadership is not just about being in charge it is about building something that lasts.
Max has carried this place for over 30 years not just as a chef or an owner, but as a mentor, teacher, and steady hand.
He holds the vision, but he also passes it on. Supporting the team, trusting the process, and knowing that when knowledge is shared, the future gets brighter.
Traditions are not just preserved here they are respected, refined, and done properly. And that matters. Because in this industry, real longevity comes from doing things the right way and showing others how to do the same.
And today is one of those proud moments.
A 3 year old prosciutto, finally ready aged to perfection. It is a celebration of time, trust, and tradition coming full circle.
This is about honouring the Peninsula, its place, its purpose, and working alongside it.
It is not just about food.
It is about people, land, and legacy. The story lives on.
📸 @domcherry
#prosciutto #agedtoperfection #charcuteriecraft #mentorshipmatters #chefsthatlead #morningtonpeninsula #teamculture #restaurantlegacy #foodphilosophy #localroots #chefdriven #traditionmeetsfuture #honourthecraft #australiancuisine #fromthepeninsula
It was the most divine morning to go truffling with @redhilltruffles ☀️
#MaxsRestaurant #truffles #wintertruffle #truffleseason
All eyes were on @chef_michaeldemagistris as he plated up some of the new Autumnal menu dishes last week.
Which are you most looking forward to sampling?
SAVE THE DATE:
winter solstice feasting dinner
sat 21st june
more details to follow…
*if you want to be amongst the first to know, ensure you’re on our mailing list 📧
#MaxsRestaurant #wintersolstice
To all the mums of Max’s, we say thank you and Happy Mother’s Day. We cannot wait to look after you today (& all the days) 💕
Our 𝙨𝙣𝙖𝙥𝙨𝙝𝙤𝙩 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙥𝙚𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙨𝙪𝙡𝙖 and 𝙩𝙖𝙨𝙩𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙥𝙚𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙨𝙪𝙡𝙖 menus have been refreshed for May.
Swipe through to choose which one is for you and see you soon 🙌
#MaxsRestaurant #RedHill #snapshotofthepeninsula #tasteofthepeninsula
POV: you and mum enjoying a cocktail or mocktail at @maxsrestaurant on Saturday ahead of Mother’s Day (we are fully booked Sunday) 🥂
#MaxsRestaurant #RedHill #MorningtonPeninsula #MothersDay