Phil Rosenthal, creator of Everybody Loves Raymond and star of Netflix's Somebody Feed Phil is channeling his love of vinyl booths and all-day breakfasts into the upcoming opening of his Larchmont diner, Max and Helen's.
Why it matters: Rosenthal believes that spaces like diners, where we can rub elbows at the counter with a stranger who's soon to be a new friend, is crucial to creating a sense of community.
Why now? Diners are having a moment, not only reflected by Rosenthal's venture, but also the soon-to-open Tesla diner in Hollywood, and Le Hut Dinette in Santa Ana, owned by a James Beard nominated chef.
Read on ... to learn how Rosenthal's parents served as inspiration for Max & Helen's.
Phil Rosenthal has an almost mystical belief in the power of diners to bring people together.
SoCal diners
This is part of a three-part series on L.A.'s diner scene, partly inspired by the soon-to-open Tesla diner in Hollywood. Check out our story on Swingers on Fairfax, and Le Hut Dinette in Santa Ana.
“I've been to diners all over America," he says.
"Sometimes they're called coffee shops, sometimes they're called luncheonettes. But when you sit at that counter next to someone you don't know, there is a chance that you'll make a new friend. That's what I love the most.”
It's one of the reasons that Rosenthal, star of the Netflix series SomebodyFeed Phil and creator of the ’90s sitcom Everybody Loves Raymond, is partnering with Chef Nancy Silverton (Osteria Mozza, Chi Spacca) to open a diner in his and Silverton’s neighborhood of Larchmont later this year.
The diner is inspired by Rosenthal's parents, Max and Helen.
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Courtesy Max and Helen's
)
He's naming it Max & Helen's, after his parents.
Rosenthal recalls that when he first moved to the neighborhood, there were a couple of diners on the main drag of Larchmont Boulevard; these days, however, it’s upscale restaurants and boutiques. And with diners disappearing, he believes, so is that sense of community.
For him, the loss of spaces where we can rub elbows at the counter or cozy up next to one another in a vinyl booth represents broader changes in how we gather as a society, and how we connect.
Diner regular
As a self-proclaimed “theater nerd”, Rosenthal grew up in the northern suburbs of New York City and spent his formative years eating at diners.
“It was one of the only places open at night that we could afford to hang out at and be casual. So that was just the meeting place. The center of our community was the diner,” he said.
Today, when he visits a diner, his go-to order is a cheeseburger combo, a cheeseburger with fries and a Coke or milkshake, which he calls a “Cheeseburger Deluxe."
”This is absolute comfort, just a great equalizer; we all love this. Doesn't matter where we're from. Doesn't matter if we're rich or poor.”
An illustration shows the soon-to-open Max & Helen's restaurant.
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Courtesy Max & Helen's
)
A family affair
When raising his children here in Los Angeles, they would frequent classic establishments, including Dupar’s at the Original Farmer’s Market location or, more recently, Great White, as well as numerous Mexican restaurants with diner-like qualities that can be found across L.A.
“ As long as there's a place that serves breakfast and it's not fancy, that's what we're looking for.”
His parents regularly appeared on his Netflix series and also loved diners. Rosenthal recalls his father’s affinity for diner breakfast.
“He loved fluffy eggs more than anything in life. They were his favorite thing. They were so simple: almost runny, very soft scrambled eggs.” he said.
Using that as inspiration, he’ll offer Max's fluffy eggs at his diner, as well as Helen's matzo bowl soup, which, according to Rosenthal, was the best thing his mother ever made.
And, reflecting his belief that diners represent a multi-generational experience, he's tapping his future son-in-law, Mason Royal, to serve as head chef.
