ARLINGTON Theyve already become a hot spot on the flight line, but the owners of Maxs LZ Restaurant, at the Arlington Municipal Airport, admit that theyll need to attract more than just pilots.
Owner Joy Maxs strategy for success is simple; quality food with personalized service.
We offer classic American home-style cooking, with a little mix of Italian and Asian food thrown in, said Max, who opened the restaurant after 15 years in the food service industry, including a catering company that she ran for seven years. Weve got meat and potatoes, salads, steaks, pasta, shrimp and different specialties each day, like curry and Thai food.
Max noted that the Asian chicken salad and Maxs Mac and Cheese have already gained favorite status among her customers, and reported that some of our customers have told us that we should call ourselves a hamburger shack, because weve got the best burgers theyve ever tasted.
What Max has enjoyed about working in the food service industry are the opportunities for creativity its afforded her, and her restaurant is no exception.
When you look at an old recipe, you can change it, Max said. You can play with your food and figure out what works, combining things like curry, chicken and rice.
Max also appreciates her clientele, since as with her catering business, its a really people-oriented business.
While Max thanked surrounding businesses for their support, she hopes to draw in customers from the rest of the community. To that end, the current restaurant is only the start of her plans.
By this summer, we should have a beer garden, said Max, whose restaurants current capacity is approximately 60. Well be able to serve about 100. Were also looking to rent the yard and have it available for events like weddings. We could coordinate with the Blackjacks to do flyovers.
In the meantime, Max is accepting group reservations for Thanksgiving Day, when her restaurant will be serving family-style platters of turkey to each group, rather than individual servings, to preserve the festive home-style feel of the meal.
Max touted the family nature of the business itself, since her employees include her mother Violet, and her kitchen staff boasts close to 40 years of combined experience. She also pointed out that her restaurant offers a unique atmosphere.
Were only 16 feet away from the taxiway, Max said. At night, you get the trees and the sunset, and its like youre in the countryside.
Maxs LZ Restaurant is located at 18218 59th Ave. NE in Arlington and can be reached by phone at 360-403-8970. Its hours of operation are Tuesdays through Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Fridays and Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Sundays from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Its available for special events, reservations and call-in orders.