We Know When Filipino Favorite Max's Restaurant Opens

A vital update for the vocal fan base anxiously awaiting the arrival of Filipino chain Max's Restaurant. And unfortunately they need to be patient for a little while longer. A deceptively complete and finished exterior is not yet matched inside the restaurant, where a full crew of workers are racing for a newly announced debut in the first week of September.

Max's Franchising Inc. president Robert F. Trota also revealed to Philippine TV station TV5 the budget is $1.2 million, up from the locally publicly revealed number of $650,000. The roomy 6,105-square-foot overhaul transforms a shuttered Lone Star Steakhouse & Saloon in the Mission Center strip mall at the corner of Flamingo Road and Maryland Parkway. It will become the flagship of the eight other U.S. restaurants, including five in California, and part of a global empire of more than 135 stores.

In a bold display of business openness, Trota explained nine out of 10 customers of Max's stores in the U.S. are Filipinos, "5% have Filipino-American influences" while the remaining 5 persent are "Americans who are adventurous" in their food choices." The house special, a fried chicken dish, was first created by Trota's grandmother in 1945, served to American occupation troops in Quezon City.
· All Coverage of Max's Restaurant [~ELV~]