After several recommendations and reading reviews about Cafe Maude, I finally decided it was time to go. I had heard that dinner reservations can be difficult to come by, so I picked a random Friday several weeks out and closed the deal.
From the reviews and recommendations, I had no doubt that I would love the food. For some unknown reason, however, I had some hesitation about the atmosphere. I had it in my mind that this would be a french country-type bistro that I would either love or would immediate hate.
I was half wrong and I am so glad that I was. Cafe Maude has great food…AND a great vibe. Dimly lit by low hanging lamps and candlelight, decorated with floor to ceiling red drapes along one wall, and set up like a contemporary bistro with small booths and tables, Cafe Maude has an air of being both casual restaurant and a place where you’re glad you put on your designer jeans and yellow pumps to dress up your outfit.
We were seated in a booth in the back half of the restaurant with large pieces of contemporary art covering the walls. Setting the tone for the evening was a live folk band, which was a welcomed background noise that complemented the good conversation.
Among our group, we had an appetizer of hummus flatbread and then individual orders consisting of moroccan chicken, a lamb small plate and grilled hanger steak. My meal was the steak and it was absolutely delicious. Accompanied by caramelized red onions (yum!) and a divine sauce, I could not stop saying how much I loved my meal. (Honestly, I’m assuming it was a little annoying how many times I said it). Reminiscent of my time eating fantastic steak in South America, I ordered a glass of the Argentinean Malbec, which I thought paired perfectly with my meal.
For dessert we shared the warm chocolate chip cookies and milk. Three cookies, three diners…perfect! The last surprise of the evening was in the form of the bill. No, I’m not referring to the actual cost of the meal, but rather to the book (the cover of a library book, actually) in which the bill was brought to us. The actual receipt was tucked nicely in the sleeve where the old library card used to reside. Call me a sucker, but I love stuff like that!
Overall I loved my experience at Cafe Maude. From the waiting area filled with a wide variety of books and magazines to the library book bill carrier, it was fantastic. I highly recommend making a reservation for a Friday or Saturday night (when they have live music) and go enjoy. And Tony, if you’re reading, I promise to try the beet salad and corn chowder that you recommended next time. I’m certainly looking forward to it!
Cafe Maude
5411 Penn Ave. S.
Minneapolis, MN
612.822.5411
