August 27th, 2007 By Jenna Walker
East Side Review: Maxines
In this weather, sometimes you just want a small, light meal that is refreshing, but more than just a salad will offer. That’s where Maxine’s Caf’e & Bakery comes in. Maxine’s is a little caf’e focusing on delicious pasta salads and desserts.
When you enter, you go to the back counter where they have all their salads, quiches, soups, or pastries displayed and pick what you would like. I think the most common order would be the plate which serves 1 chicken salad and 2 pasta salads (or 3 pasta salads in case of vegetarians). Today I chose the Classic Chicken Salad, Pesto Tortellini, and Tomato Artichoke Salad. My choice in chicken salad seems to be a favorite, it is mayonnaise based with chunks of chicken, walnuts, and celery. The two pasta salads were just as the name describes-simply made, yet elegant. With your meal comes French bread or a dill roll. They place it all in a little wicker basket that you carry to your table.
The two other chicken salads offered are the Vegetable Chicken Salad and sweet, yellow Curry Chicken Salad. There are is a variety of other salads and pasta salads to choose from such as he Sun Dried Tomato Bowtie or Mediterranean Pasta Salad. Other salads include the Fruit Salad, Mushroom Salad, and even the Asparagus. There are always several daily specials ranging from quiche to soup, from salad to pizza-everything always being outstanding and stylish. Behind the counter on the wall menu, you will also find they can make sandwiches with Boarshead meat.
A strong focus of Maxine’s can be found on the other side of the bake-case: pastries. Some of their items like the Red Velvet Cake or Bourbon Brownies seem to be somewhat of a legend around Evansville. Other goodies range from refreshing Lemon Bar Squares to decadent Baklava, warm bread pudding to personal cheesecakes. Of course, you will never get past the beautiful cakes: Red Velvet, Carrot, Poppyseed, Strawberry, Chocolate, Chocolate Mousse, and more. And I must say this; the rich, creamy frosting is to-die-for.
Although the crowd caters mostly to women, I highly recommend Maxine’s. If you men out there feel uncomfortable, go a little later for lunch when it is beginning to clear out. Prices can range, though on average, lunch without dessert is around $8.50. Again, for a filling meal that is somehow light and refreshing, do try Maxine’s.
Maxine’s is located behind Putt-Putt at 1322 N. Green River Rd. (812) 473-3663. Mon-Sat 10AM-4PM.
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barky
August 27, 2007 @ 11:42AM
The sandwiches are okay, and I hate eating out of the little basket-trays but go for the salads. The scoop of chicken salad with the two side salads is a great lunch. Especially the curried chicken salad.
Then, get a lemon bar and a Bourbon Brownie…phenomenal.
Jerry
August 28, 2007 @ 09:54AM
No thanks. Too many snobs.
Teresa
August 28, 2007 @ 10:44AM
Snobbery is all in perception. Maxine’s (one of my most favorite places to eat) is in a strip-mall for heaven’s sake. They have great fresh appealing food, moderate prices, and if you don’t like eating with “the ladies who lunch”, go for take-out!
Daisy
August 28, 2007 @ 12:13PM
I find it interesting that you never have a bad review for anu of the places you eat. All your reviews are favorible, are they giving you free food to give them a good review or what? Just joking, just joking… But please, spice it up a bit and trash a restaurant occasionally…
I personally think Maxine’s is a ripoff. They give you this tiny little plate with the salads on it, and you are trying to eat, and the food is falling off the plate. I guess they are trying to make it seem like they are giving you more than miniscule portions with the small salad plates. Their salads are okay, nothing exciting, samo, samo that’s been around Evansville for years.
I do however, love their lemon bars.
Jenna
August 28, 2007 @ 01:52PM
Well, you must not have read the Edgewater review. Because I had terrible food, terrible service, and it is a strong trend there. I’m sorry if you aren’t happy with my reviews, but if I go somewhere and the food and service is good, I’m not going to wrongly slam it, and so far, only the Edgewater has been bad. It doesn’t mean I’m going to rip the place a new one, but I will point it out.
Maxines gives you a small plate, but by the time I’m finished with 2/3rds of it I’m getting pretty full. I wouldn’t want anymore! Not to mention that larger portions would (a) defeat the purpose of a light refreshing meal, and (b) just add to the United States getting fatter by the day because of large portions when people eat out. Yes yes, I know, everyone is responsible for what they eat and how much they eat. When you are at home, things are usually healthier, and things tend to be closer to the correct proportions. When you are eating out, enjoying the conversation and company of family and friends….you are getting much bigger portions on your plate than is recommended (even at a place like Panera!) and certainly that greasy half pound hamburger smothered in cheese, bacon, and onion rings….or the manicotti formagio isn’t as healthy as what people should try to be eating, and often nearly all of it will be eaten. It will be eaten because (a) it’s a delicious treat that you are treating yourself to, or (b) because you don’t notice how much you have eaten while you are enjoying the company.
Maxines has a small plate, and yes the salads do go to the edges (although mine usually do not fall off…)….but this is a cafe/bistro, not the Outback or Olive Garden. Small portions here and in places as such are the norm, and are going to be much healthier than grabbing a quarter pounder w/ cheese at Mcdonalds. If you don’t like the serving size or the food, seek out something else, no one is making you eat there. And if you think it’s the “samo, samo that’s been around Evansville for years,” start researching other places or open your own. Maybe your cafe can have too-large portions with ingredients that Evansville would never dream of.
Justin Williams
August 28, 2007 @ 02:06PM
I wish all restaurants would serve half the portions they currently do. I feel bad throwing away half of the food I don’t eat. It’s wasteful.
Daisy
August 28, 2007 @ 03:28PM
Ouch, I seemed to have touched a nerve. Darlin’ I’ve dined in restaurants from New York to Hong Kong and a lot in between. Trust me, I’m 120 lbs., and eat healthily, I’m definitely not looking for a “greasy burger” or a “huge portion.” I do like a nice plate of sushi, some tempura, and would walk miles for just a few bites of 5 Star Veal Oscar.
I just happen to not like Maxine’s and stated an opinion. That’s what makes replies interesting, honest opinions. Please don’t attack, it’s not nice… If I seemed to have done so to you, I apologize. Just so happens that Maxine’s isn’t my cup of tea.
Oh, I do agree with you about Edgewater, terrible food most of the time, totally unoriginal, unattractive presentation and I had the most vile hostess one day at Edgewater that I’ve ever come across.
Debra
August 29, 2007 @ 01:51PM
Justin, why throw out the leftovers? Why don’t you save it for lunch or dinner the next day?
Justin Williams
August 29, 2007 @ 01:52PM
I just had to do some cleaning up of the comments, which I do not like to do. If you don’t have an opinion on Maxine’s please move along.
Anymore personal squabbles, and I’m going to disable comments for the offenders.
Justin Williams
August 29, 2007 @ 01:54PM
@debra, I can’t stand leftovers and I’m usually running around town all day so I eat out almost every meal.
Debra
August 29, 2007 @ 02:06PM
Here’s an idea, Justin. Ask for a to-go box up front, divide your meal in half, and while you’re out running around town, hand the box to one of the “will work for food” people on the side of the road. If, at the end of the day, you haven’t run across a needy person, THEN throw the food away.
Justin Williams
August 29, 2007 @ 03:12PM
Comments Closed. Thanks for playing.