SOUTHAMPTON’S award-winning restaurateur said he plans to release a tinned version of his signature cocktail as he moves his business to new premises.
Max Romano, the owner of Max’s Brasserie, formerly at Oxford Street, has opened the doors of the renovated restaurant on Commercial Road.
The 45-year-old moved earlier this year and has a new focus to be able to serve authentic Italian food to theatregoers.
Max, who once served a vodka martini with olives to the late US President George W Bush senior, has also been serving his very own cocktail called Max’s Balsamic Gin and Tonic which he claims to be the “most popular gin and tonic in town”.
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The cocktail is currently being served at the eatery, but Max hopes to release his line of pre-mix cocktails, which he describes as the “new adventure”, later this year.
The beverage will be developed by a New Forest-based firm called Tack Room Distillery.
He said: “The restaurant has been serving Max’s Balsamic Gin and Tonic for many years.
“90 per cent of my customers come and order it when they come to Max’s, and they always order it because it’s very unique and different.”
The new premises include a conservatory and a terrace where guests can enjoy a meal or a drink while making the most of the sunshine.
Max said: “These are more modern and better facilities for my customers, so we improved that way.
“We plan to do pizza outside for the summer, obviously we plan to serve it indoors as well.
"We got the conservatory which I would like to use for private events like parties and things.
“We have the terrace, it’s not that huge but it’s good, where people can sit down and enjoy their meal then or have a drink.”
He added that while there are changes to the restaurant, the quality of the food remains the same.
He said: “It’s the same chef, Max is still the same Max, but now we’re more central and we are closer to the Mayflower theatre.
“I loved Oxford Street but here there’s more space for me and it was the time for me to move.”
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