Drink it up: Maude's

101 Southeast 2nd Place

Before I get too far into my thrashing of Maude's, I want to let you know that I like a few things here. I like their chocolate chip cookies (which are rumored to be straight out of a commercially purchased tube), their selection of hot teas in the wintertime, and their sweet potato quesadilla. I've also had a pretty solid b-b-q tempeh dish here in the past. But for me, there are many serious flaws that are hard to be overshadowed by a few positives.

First off, if I type "Maudes" into my iPhone, it auto corrects it to "Nausea." I can't think of a more apt commentary on their coffee and service. Maude's is yet another Gainesville institution (like Leonardo's and Boca Fiesta) that employs many of the dirty, borderline, if not flat out, unsanitary residents of our fine city. Ask most people around this town if they've had bad service at Maude's and you'll get 99 yes's out of 100 people asked. We used to have a friend who worked there and he told us the owners/management actually promoted this lackadaisical, "I don't give a fuck" attitude. Many times, I've ordered a particular drink only to have it come out completely wrong. Simple cappuccino's turn into hazelnut ice'd coffees with soy milk more frequently than not it seems.

Maude's is the first place I went for breakfast after a recent trip to Italy. I wanted to recreate that morning cafe feel with a cappuccino and a pastry. Instead, I got coffee with several large bubbles resembling dish water on top and a soggy blueberry muffin.

Another downside to me is the ambiance. The main room (the original room for those old enough to remember) is charming as hell, but the back room and seating area out in the Sun Center thoroughfare are both sterile and uncomfortable. I know they can't help the vibe of the out dated and out of fashion Sun Center, but they can surely spice up the back sitting room without too much effort.

Years ago, a friend had a T shirt that he made showing a pot of coffee being poured into a toilet. It said "Maude's Sucks! Don't go there (to Maude's)." I was so happy to see that I wasn't the only one. This person actually went to the trouble of making a T shirt to express their disdain for this place.

I'm all about supporting local over corporate, but with a Starbucks right across the street, I can't say I fault many downtown coffee seekers from heading into corporate assured quality levels.

So, do I like this place or not? It depends on what I'm looking for, I guess. All in all, they could really benefit from a few crucial changes.