NBC
If you’re looking for a television program that encapsulates the spirit of the late 80s and early 90s, it’s hard to think of a better example than Saved by the Bell. It’s a time capsule of a bygone era— a simpler time defined by ill-advised haircuts and offensively pattered clothing.
If you’re a fan of the show, you’re more than familiar with The Max, a restaurant that seemingly operated exclusively on the patronage of people under the age of 18 and which was lit almost entirely by neon. It’s basically the teenage version of the restaurant on Seinfeld with a lot less complaining about pet peeves.
The Bayside portrayed in the show doesn’t actually exist in real life, and neither did the restaurant— at least not until now. If you’re a true Bellians— a term for fans of the Saved by the Bell that I just made up— you’ll have to make a pilgrimage to Los Angeles in the near future to eat at the pop-up diner inspired by the show.
Saved By The Max is coming off a successful year-long stint in Chicago, and The OC Register obtained a number of photos of the previous iteration along with some idea of what you can expect:
Saved by the Max will serve up a menu of appetizers, sides, entrees and desserts as well as drinks with fun names that reference characters, places and episodes.
Food items, priced from $6 to $22, will include the crowd-pleasing Mac & Screech ($8), Bayside Burger ($14), The Kelly Kapowski Monte Cristo ($14), and Tori’s Fried Chicken ($14).
Cocktails, spirits, and beers, plus a selection of non-alcoholic beverages, priced from $3 to $20, also pay homage to the series.
The I’m So Excited ($9), a nod to the episode where Jessie sings the Pointer Sisters tune after she becomes addicted to caffeine pills, is one of the most requested cocktails on the beverage menu.
It’s unclear how long the pop-up will remain up or when tickets will become available, but this seems like a great way to experience what it’s like to travel back in time without having to tear a hole in the space-time continuum. If you need some additional incentive, there will also be a DJ playing rad 90s jams.