All images appearing in this post photographed by Holli Lapes
(click on the photo to view it in a larger format)

Restaurateur Dennis Max and his partners recently opened Max’s Social House on Federal Highway in Delray Beach at the site of the former Falcon House. The restaurant features exceptional food in the Max tradition, as well as craft cocktails and beer, and an eclectic wine list.

“SOHO will offer seasonal, thoughtfully-fabricated, small batch artisanal spirits and infusions made with organic juices and fresh hand-picked garnishes,” explained Dennis Max. “The food will be local, seasonal and sustainable—all with our signature quality.”

The chef at Max’s Social House is Scott Pierce and Silvana Santos Broadhead is the General Manager.

Chef Scott, a West Boca Native is a down to earth guy who is not trying to re invent the wheel but rather highlight the best of whats out there. He is the kind of guy that picks up an old cookbook and connects with the technique. When you love what you do, it shows.

The restaurant features 13 specialty cocktails and 14 classic cocktails, including a Fig and Walnut Old Fashioned ($10) with dried fig and toasted almond infused bourbon, Bitter Truth Bitters and rock ice; Chocolate Covered Cherry ($12) with Buffalo Trace Bourbon infused with cherry, fresh pressed lime, black cherry liqueur, crème de cacao and served with a brandied cherry and Hemingway’s Hallucination ($11) with light and dark rum, passion fruit puree, Luxardo Cherry Liqueur, served with a few drops of absinthe.  The restaurant also features an extensive selection of South Florida craft beers, both on tap and in bottles and cans.

EASTERN STANDARD (right)
Reyka Vodka, fresh cucumber, local herbs, fresh pressed lime

CHOCOLATE COVERED CHERRY (left, below)
Buffalo Trace Bourbon infused with cherry, fresh pressed lime and black cherry, creme de cacao and served with a brandied cherry

The 2,000 square foot restaurant, which is housed in an historic Delray Beach cottage, features 80 seats indoors and 70 seats outdoors on a brick garden patio surrounded by lush landscaping. The interior showcases the original brick fireplace behind the bar and the restaurant has a comfortable outdoor patio lounge and bar.

Warm up your palate with an order of the Warm Olives:

The choice of rosemary in the dish enhances the theme here nicely.

Inquire about the Walk The Plank dish which is a food and drink pairing appetizer that changes nightly.

Here we have country ham, stilton cheese, atop  a baguette with black garlic that has been slow cooked for 2 weeks. Paired with an old fashioned with orange peel garnish that starts to infuse as it sits.

From the “small talk” section on the menu, you’ll find CURED MEATS AND CHEESES — appropriate condiments, fruit preserves:

This bacon & fig jam is the jam!

Another awesome highlight from this assortment are the everything (bagel) crusted cheese balls! They consist of a cream cheese, goat cheese and grafton cheddar mix with a coating that you would find on an everything bagel.

Havent had enough cheese yet? Check out VITO’S BURRATA (heirloom tomatoes, arugula, sea salt, vin cotto, toast) from the GREENS AND SUCH section of the menu.

Also from the greens selection, the BIG SOCIAL SALAD — romaine, arugula, smoked chicken, egg, green apples, bacon, stilton cheese, torn croutons.

This serving featured a key lime vinaigrette although the dressing may change. The chicken is smoked in house y’all. There were many flavors going on in this salad, which was actually a little bit overwhelming. I believe I tasted some cured carrots too which gave it a little bit of a kick.

Oh how I love me a 6 minute egg.

Below, the ALL NATURAL SHORT RIB — slow braised, natural jus and house made three cheese gnocchi with taleggio, pecorino and grafton.

To me, this dish was just perfection. Right down to the scallion garnish, the combination of items complemented each other oh so nicely.

OK- now for something sweet.

Ricotta SoHoles (doughnut holes) which featured a berry filling on this occasion although the flavor changes. I really enjoyed the texture on these and the dessert was not overly sweet.

From sweet to sweeter, the BANANA CREAM PIE in a jar with caramelized bananas:

I may be biased here because this dessert was right up my alley but OMG this is a must have on your visit.

Thank you to The Buzz Agency, Chef Scott Pierce and Megan DiGesare for making this meal possible.

Max’s Social House Announces Social Hour and Happy Food!

Max’s Social House has just launched Social Hour and Happy Food taking place from 4-7 p.m., Monday through Friday. The weekday festivities feature 50% off PBR, house wine and all liquor, excluding specialty cocktails. The restaurant also has special late night pricing.

“Happy Food,” available at the bar only, features $4 bites including crispy pork rinds with Korean chili and salt; warm olives with citrus, chili, bay and a baguette; warm stilton blue cheese dip with house kettle chips; pickle jar with house-made pickles, old school bread and whey butter; pimento cheese with pickled green tomato and crostini; chorizo stuffed dates wrapped in house smoked bacon with piquilo pepper tomato sauce; chilled shrimp with olive oil, old bay, parsley, lemon and key lime honey mustard; octopus tiradito with aji Amarillo; American country ham served with a warm baguette, butter, pickle and homemade stout mustard; everything crusted cheese balls; and crispy fries and short rib gravy with tallegio.

Special Late Night Pricing

In addition, Fridays and Saturdays from 11 p.m. – 2 a.m. and Sunday through Thursday from 10 p.m. – 2 a.m., all well drinks, PBR and house wine is half off.

BELL PEPPER DAIQUIRI (above, below)
Brugal Extra Dry Rum, muddled bell pepper, pressed lime, cane sugar

About Max’s Social House
Max’s Social House is located at 116 NE 6th Avenue (Federal Highway, one block north of Atlantic). The restaurant is open Monday, through Friday from 4 p.m. – 2 a.m. and Saturdays and Sundays from 5:30 p.m. to 2 a.m. For more information, please like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter: @maxssocialhouse or call 561-501-4332.