Diner Max and Helen’s is ‘all in the family’ with Lily Rosenthal
SEATED IN MAX AND HELEN’S are (from left) Monica Horan, Lily Rosenthal, Ben Rosenthal, and Phil Rosenthal.
We’ve all been waiting, and if we’re lucky, we might be visiting the hotly anticipated Max and Helen’s Diner this month for a patty melt—or the Larchmont Slam breakfast—at 127 N. Larchmont Blvd.
The old-school diner is brought to the village by Phil Rosenthal, restaurateur and host of the Netflix show “Somebody Feed Phil,” and renowned L.A. chef Nancy Silverton, who is the executive chef. Both are Larchmont locals. It continues with its stated theme of community inclusiveness and family in that it will be helmed in part by Phil Rosenthal’s newlywed daughter, Lily, as creative director, and her husband, Mason Royal, as head chef and director of operations.
Lily Rosenthal said, “I had one rule for the design, for the branding, for every aspect of creativity that went into this: If [I thought] my grandparents would walk in and say, ‘Oh that’s very nice,’ then it was a go. And if they would say, ‘Oy!’ then it was a no.” The diner is named for Phil’s parents, who were German immigrants that lived in New York and even made a few appearances on “Somebody Feed Phil.”
If you’ve strolled by the diner location during November, you might have spied the private tasting parties happening there and surely smelled the delectable scents drifting onto the sidewalk. But mood and atmosphere can also make or break our desire to frequent a food spot. “Yes, atmosphere is such an equal part of the experience,” Lily Rosenthal agreed.
She also remarked that working with their designer, Matt Winter, was exceptional: “He took everything we asked for and went above and beyond: wood, dark tones, maroon, dark green, plaid fabrics, old family photos, and photos of Larchmont in the 1920s. The inside feels like we’ve been here for 100 years.
“Mason and my impact on the restaurant is the culture we’ve created. It’s the community we’re building here at the diner.”
She spoke about how she and Royal are able to work within each of their own strengths: “Mason is an unbelievable leader. He’s organized and admirable with his training sessions for the staff. We really wanted it to feel like a family—a cozy warm place the minute you walk in—and that starts with the staff. I grew up [in Larchmont], so I know how warmth and patience go a long way. The team and the culture we’ve built here will find its way in the Larchmont community.”
LILY ROSENTHAL, creative director, with Mason Royal, head chef and her husband.
One might think the now creative director was always destined for the world of restaurants, but her early intentions were to work in the world of film and television, having attended USC’s School of Cinematic Arts. She said, “Honestly, my whole life I thought I wanted to be in the film industry, as an actress, a writer, or a director. [But] during this whole process [of working on the diner], I’ve never felt more comfortable in my own skin, or just at peace with where I am in life. This is all I want to do now—open more restaurants with my husband. Oh! That’s so fun to say! ‘My husband’!”
During COVID-19 Rosenthal created Liv a Lil, a nonprofit bringing restaurants and chefs of different cultures and backgrounds together to create. She said, “It brought the community together at a time when we were all so separated. It really made me excited about the food world in a way I hadn’t experienced before. But, I still felt like an outsider in the restaurant world.
“I have taken a turn I wasn’t expecting. I’ve always loved restaurants in the L.A. food scene, but I was an admirer—going to restaurants, posting about them, influencing—but never truly immersed in the production of a restaurant. Now that is what I’m doing.”
It seems like a natural progression for her, as eating and restaurants are also a form of entertainment. When asked if creating a great restaurant is not dissimilar to the making of a great film, she said, “One hundred percent! My dad says, ‘This is like your first child!’ This diner is our pride and joy!”
She continued, “My parents always talk about how life presents you with what you’re supposed to do, and it doesn’t always go the way you’ve planned it—sometimes it’s better!”
Max and Helen’s Diner opened last week. “Yes, there are patty melts, malt milkshakes, and breakfast all day,” but also Lily’s Hot Chocolate, which its namesake, Creative Director Lily Rosenthal, describes as, “a thick, Parisian-inspired drink with handmade marshmallow fluff torched on top!” Two of her other favorites include the waffle with maple butter and the Larchmont Slam, which is one pancake, home fries, eggs, and bacon or sausage.
Category: People
