The commencement of the third quarter makes the finish line of the end of the year become more focused in our field of view. The excitement of mom’s home cooked classic dish hitting the table builds every time you find yourself in the dining halls. While we aren’t home free yet, there are nooks in the city that will transport you back to the kitchen table you ate, conversed, laughed and made memories at growing up. Even though it may not resemble the craziness of the family getting together to share a meal, nor will its tables be stained with markers from coloring and spaghetti sauce from last night’s pasta feast, it still elicits the comforts of home right on Downing, only a short walk west of campus. It’s definitely closer than trying to walk all the way home, so if you want to save your legs from a hike, go to Maddie’s Restaurant for a breakfast and lunch option that won’t disappoint.

With a ton of open space and windows to let some sunshine poke through, this restaurant erupts with joy and happiness. What began as a quaint 16 seater restaurant has upgraded to a ‘50s style diner with popping colors and artwork sure to make you smile. Owner Gaylor Geller brings real nostalgia here and overall brings that sense of community through food that we can all resonate with. His intention was to bring the upbeat energy that he loves seeing everyday in his daughter, Maddie, to the University Park neighborhood. It is truly upheld in the dishes that leave his kitchen piping hot every Tuesday through Sunday from 7 a.m. until 2 p.m. There’s nothing better than the sweet scent of cinnamon sugar perfuming my house and making its way to my room in order to have me sprinting down the stairs faster than Usain Bolt to swipe a Pillsbury cinnamon roll dripping with frosting. Maddie’s takes it up another level to present us with the sticky, caramel-coated, buns that your mom and Pillsbury could never do. The brioche dough is buttery and adds to the decadence, but the accompaniment of pecans brings out the salty-sweet flavor in the caramel. The addition of fresh blueberries and strawberries will make you rejoice in knowing you’ve had one serving of fruit for the day. The sweet treats don’t stop there; becoming golden on the grill are the airy pancakes that were flipped right as the bubbles began to emerge. With pancakes adorned with bananas with a crackling sugar crust to emulate a creme brûlée or a nutella stuffed pancake that would beat any chocolate chip one in the boxing ring, Maddie’s is the one to go to if you can’t decide between breakfast or dessert.

While paying homage to America, Maddie’s gets influence on dishes from all over the world. The key for them is to make it relatable and approachable to the general public. They don’t worry about dainty portion sizes or artistry to paint each plate in the way Michelin starred restaurants do. Instead, they rely on their knowledge of flavor and global influences to give diners the ideal comforting brunch experience. From Mexico, their breakfast burritos are smothered with veggie green chili that has enough spice to wake up your tastebuds, but is easily soothed by the pillowy scrambled eggs and the melted cheese laced throughout. This is the dish to get messy over because starting with the tomato basil tortilla, the flavors combine for a true Mexican fiesta from the hints of cilantro, the refreshing sour cream and the picante (spicy) salsa. The same can be said about the chorizo frittata that gets savory and spicy notes from the cumin and chili powder that turns the meat a fierce reddish orange. Moving on to France, their current special will have French bistros and bakeries giving them a seal of approval. The chicken, apple and brie sandwich gives all the savory and sweet notes a dish should have, while also providing the texture to make it that much better. The chicken is grilled to get some smoky flavors imparted in it while still maintaining a perfect 160 degree interior and juiciness. The brie melts on the chicken just as American cheese does on a burger. The richness is cut by the strawberry jam that is lathered on the buttery and flaky croissant that sandwiches all the flavors together. The thinly sliced apple adds a much needed crunch while the spinach gives an earthy taste to round out the entire dish. 

Additionally, no breakfast could be good without tributes to the Jewish deli that brought us the breakfast icon that is the humble bagel. Maddie’s reminds us of the other offers that can be enjoyed, like potato pancakes that are basically hashbrowns but crispy all the way through. They can be paired with anything from a runny yolk from a punctured poached egg or the classic applesauce and sour cream for the traditionalist. Don’t miss out on the lox as well; the salmon is brined just enough to subdue the fishy aspects that might cause people to turn the other way, but salt and dill curing gives the fish a smooth texture and fresh herbaceous notes that pair so well with cream cheese, tomatoes, capers, onions and, obviously, a toasted bagel to house it all.

The hospitality is what truly makes it feel like home, while the low prices affirm that good food from the heart doesn’t have to break the bank. Maddie’s isn’t one to push the boundaries on the food scene; it is just there to make sure you’re getting fed well. Since we have about a month or two left of school, if you ever feel a bit homesick and need a home cooked meal to start the day, just call Maddie’s.