Everything you need to know about Phil Rosenthal and Nancy Silverton's diner Max and Helen's

"Look Phil, see how the chocolate is along the glass?"

"First of all, it looks like a great shake," she says. "I'm looking at the thickness. But you know what's kind of nice visually? See how it's a tiny bit furry?"

"I can barely get it through the straw," says Phil. "And I want to know what kind of ice cream I'm drinking."

"They take the menu that's 100 years old and they don't do anything except elevate every single thing with great ingredients and the fact that they know how to cook," he says. "It's like the ultimate comfort food, best of each of these things I've ever had. I'm like, I want this in my neighborhood."

Nancy Silverton and Phil Rosenthal sat together at Pie 'n Burger in Pasadena sampling a chocolate milkshake, hamburger and patty melt as part of research and development. Rosenthal conceived the diner concept after visiting Palace Diner in Biddeford, Maine and sought to recreate elevated, classic diner fare using great ingredients and skilled cooking. Max and Helen's, named for Rosenthal's late parents, will occupy half of the former Le Petit Greek space on Larchmont Boulevard. The diner will serve Silverton's interpretations of diner classics and aims to bring a neighborhood comfort-food destination to Larchmont Village.

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