maria's cafe

great pancakes, etc..!. i go to maria's for the great pancakes in fantastic flavors - mango, corn, yum! also love the themed specials when they include plantain. the place is usually crowded for breakfast which is a great sign. it is a treat to go to maria's. i have had some really mediocre to bad servers, though. some who didn't talk or who were outright just burdened to come to the table. i always hold my breath when i go to maria's and hope that i do not get one of these surly white women who seem to hate waiting tables. the food is worth it, though.

fabulous food on a shoestring. plantain cakes were super yummy!

wonderful place! greeted as soon as we walked in. food came so fast!! corn pancakes are a must get!! like nothing i've ever had before. huervos breakfast was good, fresh tortillas. best coffee ever!! our waitress was so cheerful! the busboys were efficient and so polite. want to go back to try the burger for lunch!

one of my favorite breakfast places. i go big on the breakfast burritos. they're delicious, huge, reasonably priced and come with fantastic salsas. i miss not being able to go to maria's more often.

overall, i was very impressed with maria's cafe. they offer simple, yet thoughtful food. i am curious to try the south african burger and the plantain pancakes..!

in the mid-90s, with help from a neighborhood development grant, maria opened the colombian cafe and has been spicing up the hearts of hungry minnesotans ever since.

un-thrilled. two employees completely ignored us when we were waiting to get seated. the hostess was preoccupied. after waiting with no acknowledgement we decided to seat ourselves despite the sign saying please wait to be seated. from then on the service was adequate. the food was average. i had the corn pancakes and was rather unimpressed. while not horrible by any stretch of the imagination, the experience didn't give me any reason to go back. there are a lot of other breakfast places i'd rather go to.

the first time i had an "south african burger," was at maria's and i haven't had a better one since. the south african burger is normal burger patty with cheese, bacon, bbq sauce and a pineapple ring and it is my favorite burger of all time..easily, and maria's makes a mean one. elsewhere, most call it a hawaiian burger, but the first time i had ever heard of one was after eating it at maria's so i am very thankful for that experience. besides that burger i have tried a number of other items and it has all been really, really good. everyone that i have ever eaten there with has raved about it, and if you dine there you will be hearing similar praise as you eat. it is always packed, but there is a reason!

good everytime. reminds me of what my colombian friends make.

weekends are fine. my first visit to maria's was on a monday - a holiday, and i was pregnant. apparently maria's wasn't expecting a crowd because they were severly understaffed. our service was horrible (that's all caps, folks). we waited forever just to order and others around us, who'd been seated after us, placed their order first (grrrrrrrr). we had to ask for everything - more coffee, silverware.... but the promise of corn pancakes was looming. we stuck it out and i'm glad we did. the corn pancakes soothed my soul. and though the other diners at my table would beg to differ, i like mine with butter and cheese, thankyouverymuch.

just to be sure (and becuase my soul needed some more warming), we came by again on a weekend, this time. fast seating? check. good service? check. tolerance for the infant that was now on the outside? check. changing table in the bathroom? check.

so, maria's, you get my "like."

:) maria's cafe you put a smile on my face. viva food. maria rippy

the corn cakes are serious. went here with family, and was sort of skeptical of the numerous plaques and awards they display on the walls hailing the place's apparently famous corn cakes. i wondered out loud how something that sounded as blase as a "corn cake" could generate all that excitement, and then i ate the thing, and it blew my mind. can't even describe the thing. it has a really, truly homemade taste and earthy, natural texture. totally worth a visit to give it a try, although i'll posit that the special cheese they recommend adding onto the order isn't really necessary.

i also had the south african burger, with a slice of mango. ordered it medium rare, found it to be juicy and flavorful. completely delicious and utterly satisfying. experience overall was very positive, although i could sorta do without the acoustic troubadour that was playing music in the main dining area during the busy sunday afternoon i was there on.

best pancakes in town. a great restaurant with a great staff. the 'cakes are eggier than most. the fruit pancakes are always a treat - or go for the corn pancakes with cheese. mmmmm.