We Checked Out the ‘Saved By The Bell’ Diner So You Don’t Have To (But You Should)

Saved By The Bell was required viewing for those of us growing up in the '90s, and nostalgia is a required hashtag for those of us pretending to be adults in 2016. When a diner replicating The Max, the iconic hangout for the kids of Bayside High, popped up in Chicago for the summer, reservations sold out faster than a weekend at the Malibu Sands Beach Resort. I’m no Stacey Carosi, but with the help of a well-connected friend, I managed to nab an elusive dinner reservation. I was so excited. So excited, so…scared.

The outside of the diner is unassuming, with only a single neon sign hinting at the '90s-gasm of color hiding just inside the doors. Upon entering, my friend and I were greeted by an A.C. Slater lookalike in a tight red t-shirt who showed us to our table (after waiting for us to take the perfect selfie by Kelly’s locker, of course). We sat down, giggling and blinking to adjust to the aggressive brightness of the décor, and were instantly greeted again by the peppiest server this side of Kapowski. She explained that our reservation included one appetizer, one entrée and one dessert item each, and even gave us tips about what to order to get the most bang for our buck.

We ordered drinks while we waited for our food to arrive. I got the “I’m So Excited” and my partner in crime ordered “Mark Paul 75”. We were sitting in front of the very recognizable front door of The Max, and next to a super vintage payphone, so we found ourselves in the background of a LOT of group photos. (I used that opportunity to pose with a comically large asparagus stalk once our food arrived.)

The food was better than it needed to be. The novelty of the décor and the staff alone was enough to keep me entertained, but the simple “Preppy BLT” I ordered was one of the best I’d had. The chicken and waffles (named “Tori’s Fried Chicken”) sitting in front of my friend didn’t look half bad, either. Desserts ranged from Twinkie ice cream to candied bacon and were the perfect way to cap off the meal.

Throughout the evening, I genuinely expected a radio-sponsored dance contest to erupt, or for the whole place to pause in one of Zack’s famous freeze frames. There was no rendition of “The Sprain”, but there were episodes of Saved By The Bell playing on multiple TVs and great '90s photo-ops in every nook and cranny of the pop-up diner. The staff just ask that you please order any food and drink before you wander for selfie opportunities.

Saved By The Max extended its run through December of 2016, so you can still book a reservation if you find yourself in Chicago and searching for a Hot Fudge Sundae and some bragging rights on Instagram.