Max’s Best Ice Cream opened its doors on Jun. 24, in Bethesda’s Woodmont Triangle as an upscale dine-in ice cream parlor. The location has been widely successful so far, offering scoops of Vanderwende’s ice cream (a local Delaware staple) and their own artisan menu creations in the form of extreme milkshakes, drinks and sundaes.
Founded by Bethesda resident Cory Alexander and his 19-year-old son Max, the shop is co-owned with Best Buddies International. In what started as a passion project, Alexander envisioned the ice cream shop as an opportunity to bring happiness to the community and offer job opportunities for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, like Max, through the Best Buddies jobs program.
In teaming up with Best Buddies, a non-profit organization founded by Anthony Kennedy Shriver to foster one-on-one relationships with individuals with and without intellectual and developmental disabilities, 20% of all profits from every Max’s purchase will be used to help further the work and reach of Best Buddies in Montgomery County and the greater DMV community. “I first heard about Max’s ice cream from their pop up at the Best Buddies annual Friendship Walk this past May,” senior and Best Buddies Co-President Jilli Nalibotsky said.
Max’s Best Ice Cream proudly features ice-cream from Vanderwende’s Creamery located in Bridgeville, Delaware. The premium, farm-fresh ice cream had previously been only sold on the eastern shore side of Chesapeake Bay Bridge and will be offered in the DMV for the first time through Max’s Best Ice Cream. “Growing up I was always so excited to get Vanderwende’s ice cream at the beach, it’s cool that we can get it here at home now too,” junior Elena Bernal said.
In addition to over-the-counter scoops, Max’s is also known for their self proclaimed “extreme” creations. Consisting of an entire pint of Vanderwende’s ice cream, extreme cookie monster, over the rainbow, gimme s’more and sweet-as-apple-pie milkshakes all feature a frosted rim and baked goods as a garnish.
With all the hype surrounding Max’s Best Ice Cream with the supposed best ice-cream, best customer service, best toppings, and best experience, my friends and I set out to determine if the budding excitement from customers and food critics alike was worth it.
Walking into Max’s on a Saturday afternoon, it was clear that this wasn’t your usual ice-cream shop. Unlike the small sized, local, Sarah’s Handmade Ice-Cream, Scooped Ice Cream, Carmens or Baskins-Robbins locations, Max’s ice cream featured booths, tables, an over-the-counter bar and plenty of space for seating and family groups, contributing to the location’s welcoming environment.
While my group was excited to try the extreme milkshakes, “unforgettable sundaes,” “smaller wonders,” “chillers” and “chocolate sips,” the price proved to be a concern as one singular sundae or milkshake is listed for $20. “I’d gone to Vanderwende’s before so I knew the ice cream was good and I was excited to try something different with the sundae. It being so expensive was definitely disappointing,” junior Isabelle Weiner said.
Regardless of the price and my friend’s initial skepticism, within the first few bites, it was clear that Max’s Ice Cream truly is the best. With the best flavor, best quality, and best location, Max’s is the place to beat for ice-cream in the DMV area. “I love it,” Nalibotsky said.
