Back in the beginning of April, we reported that Max’s Eatery would be coming to King Street in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Then, in the beginning of June we reported its team opened the Weekend Window, serving daytime and late-night menu items to the hungry folks downtown.
Well, after a few soft opening days in the past week, Max’s Eatery is now open and ready for you to dip in and dine. Max’s is home to a classic American eatery concept, complete with late hours, burgers, milkshakes and even adults-only punch bowls to share.
We were able to grab a taste of almost everything Max’s has to offer, and we’re excited to report it’s all excellent. Everything from the drinks, to the decor, and, of course, the menu has us dreaming of our next meal at Max’s.
When entering Max’s, you’re greeted by a long lunch counter, which is perfectly paired with mint-green stools. And yes, they twirl. A lineup of masterly poured Italian sodas were waiting for us. We went with orange, naturally, but other flavors available were cherry, blueberry and vanilla. They were all delicious, and the whimsical, palm tree stirrer really sealed the deal.
It wasn’t long before the boozy milkshakes, which are all created with Max’s own in-house soft serve, began whirring in blenders in the background. First up was the Boozeberry, which is a wine-based milkshake. Yes, wine. It’s topped with a sprinkling of fruit loops, which adds an oddly satisfying flavor and crunch. We had high hopes for this milkshake and it did not disappoint!
The milkshake machine started up again and we were presented with a Twist and Shout shake, created with tiramisu flavoring, vodka and chocolate sauce. And the cherry on top was, quite literally, the cherry on top.
After the shakes, it was time for the breakfast flood gates to open. Ever since our first conversation with Connor Patterson of Max’s, we’ve been hearing about his dream menu item called “The Hefe,” and we’re happy to say it’s finally here, and it definitely lives up to the hype! This beautiful burrito is chorizo sausage, scrambled eggs, tater tots and sweet onions all wrapped up in a warm tortilla. The Hefe is topped with salsa verde and queso fresco.
If a sweet breakfast is your M.O., go for the waffles, which are served with butter and syrup. We highly recommend adding the peach and elderflower compote. And don’t forget to check the add-on menu featuring a weekly omelette option and more!
Also, don’t forget to try the most important menu item: the tots. These bad boys are available for breakfast, lunch, dinner and late night. And they’re an unbelievable, must-try! Max’s takes your standard tots and tops them with a house-made cheese sauce, scallions and bacon. You can swap out the tots for crinkle cut fries, too.
Lunch just got a whole lot lovelier in Downtown Lancaster. Sandwiches and burgers are some of our favorite midday meals, and Max’s has lunch covered. The Gobble is created with house-made turkey, Romaine lettuce, tomato, sliced hard boiled egg, smoked bacon and herb mayo all layered on a fresh pretzel roll. And the burgers are straight-forward and start at just $7. As Owner/Chef Titter says, “We want to fill your belly for the right amount of money.”
If you’re on the hunt for something green, Max’s has two amazing salad options: the Maxed out Caesar or the Dutch Chopped. Both are available in a small or large size and have a couple of add-on options. The Caesar features romaine lettuce, Parmesan cheese, hard-boiled egg, basil Caesar dressing and pretzel garlic bread. The Dutch Chopped has a lot going on, with romaine and iceberg lettuce, cucumbers, grape tomatoes, smoked ham, bacon, Amish cheddar, hard-boiled eggs and crispy onion rings. The onion rings are a welcome, non-traditional addition, if you ask us.
As far as a more traditional dinner option goes, Max has those, too. Choose from a spaghetti dinner or blackened catfish; both are fabulous. The spaghetti is covered in a Bolognese gravy that’s made with chorizo and served with garlic bread. And the catfish is topped with a Creole gravy and served with rice pilaf plus perfectly cooked market veggies.
Possibly our favorite nook of Max’s holds Nana’s Cereal Bar, which is one of the real-life Max’s best memories of visiting his Nana. His nana is famous for keeping her guests’ favorite cereal stocked at her shore house. And, as it happens in our own homes, when the cereal begins to dwindle and there isn’t enough for a full bowl, you tend to mix it with another box of dwindling cereal. So, with nine different cereals stocked at Nana’s Cereal Bar, you can mix and match your cereal over and over again. And, if you ask for a bowl of soft serve to eat with your cereal, your wish will be happily granted!
We highly recommend you make your way to Max’s Eatery for breakfast, lunch, late-night dining, or somewhere in between. Max’s will be running on a soft-opening style until its official grand opening in September. Make sure you’re following Max’s on Facebook and Instagram for updated hours, as they may change between now and then.
You can find Max’s Eatery at 38 W. King St. in Lancaster; phone: (717) 984-6286.
- Photos: Madeline Rice Brommer
