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History of Tribeca Buildings
The Old Kids on a New Block: Max
Max has moved, and as of this week, it is back in business with a liquor license and almost all the equipment needed to serve the menu it’s had since the original Max opened on Avenue B 19 years ago. The space – in the former Bennett on West Broadway — has a few more seats than the former restaurant on Duane plus a sidewalk cafe, but mostly it comes with a few less headaches for the owners, local residents Lindita and Luigi Iasilli. (Though they are *still* waiting on a gas upgrade.)
Last February, the gas supply to the Duane Street building was shut off for three months, meaning they had to cook as many dishes as possible on an electric conduction stove Luigi bought to compensate. But those allow for no grilling and no frying, meaning the restaurant could only offer about half the menu. It also meant that they lost a LOT of revenue in that time (a LOT, is all I can say) and had to make due with a smaller staff. “It was a hard year,” said Lindita. That’s when they started to look around for a new space, and found this one.
The pair met while working as servers in a Murray Hill Italian – two immigrants who as they say came to this country for different reasons. “One was kicked out and one ran away,” said Luigi, who comes from small town Italy. (Lindita is from Kosovo.) By 2000, they had opened Max, which got rave reviews from everyone: Eric Asimov in The Times, Robert Sietsema in the Voice, top this and that from TimeOut. (It’s named for a lifestyle magazine popular in Europe when both owners were kids called Max, which regularly ran features on New York City.) In August 2001 they moved to BPC; a few years later they had their first child and then another; by 2007 they had opened the new Max; and in 2012, Sandy wiped out the old one.
Through all that, though, the menu (see below) hasn’t changed: “This is the simple food that we eat, that we make at home for everybody.”
The restaurant is now open for lunch from 11:30 to 4, and dinner from 5 to 10; 10:30 on weekends. Brunch will start up the weekend of April 6, and in celebration of the new space, all top-shelf cocktails will be $12.
Max
134 W. Broadway between Duane and Thomas
212-966-5939
http://www.max-ny.com/
8 Comments
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I’m wondering whether their amazing soups will be back once they’ve settled into the new space. It’s been a sad few weeks in our house without those delicious cups of warmth!
The menu will not be at 100 percent till they get the added gas line. It has been one bureaucratic challenge after another… For example, their liquor license was approved and paid for months ago, yet it only came in last week.
Tried it last night — was okay, not as good as Max used to be years ago. Better options in the hood but the space is nice and casual
This place will be swell….
It needs a moment to adjust to the new surroundings etc.
Never judge by the first few weeks…
It will be even better than the old Max.
I am a regular there and stopped by the first day they had their liquor license. The space is nice and everything else was the same. I love this place and hope the new space is much better for them!
Mark maybe give them a chance to get settled. By the sounds of things they have had to deal with a lot.
Any intel on wine bar going into old Max space?
Trying! It’s an Italian place in the theater district — 44th and Ninth. Awaiting their reply…