Maple Tree Cafe breakfast just like Mama makes
May we offer some foodie advice?
Eat light tonight. Save some stomach space for that rich breakfast just a few hours away.
"Breakfast is definitely our thing," says Ashley Robertson, co-owner since April of the Maple Tree Cafe at 6000 Spring Mountain Road.
"We have a huge following of loyal people that come in, some six days a week, every day we’re open. We’ve had a great response since we’ve changed it around a little bit."
Mama always said breakfast was the most important meal of the day. Find the right restaurant and it could also be the yummiest. Secret? What Robertson calls "scratch cooking," with the dishes coming from family recipes.
"We make our own pancakes, our own Belgian waffles, we make cinnamon rolls, the recipe belongs to my grandpa. And apple fritters, and we make our own jams."
All, you know, like Mama makes. In fact:
"We’re all family-owned, my mom and brother are servers, my grandma works in the back, my aunt works in the back," Robertson says. "We have one employee who’s not our family."
Ambience is country-style with inside shutters and rooster knickknacks.
"Most people say they walk in and they feel like they’re at their grandmother’s house," Robertson says. "We didn’t change the decor when we took over because it’s something people really like, the country feel. Don’t fix it if it ain’t broke, right?"
Though they’re open through lunch, it’s not the meal that gets everyone’s culinary mojo going. "A lot of lunchtime stuff is more sandwiches, and people like their chicken fingers and chicken wings," Robertson says. "But our breakfasts, everyone loves the Monty (Monte Cristo), that’s one of our most popular things, and our apple fritters."
That loyal following? "We get a lot of retirees and a lot of older military groups that come in," Robertson says.
The Maple Tree Cafe is open from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesdays through Sundays.
Entrees: Monte Cristo sandwich with pure maple syrup or raspberry puree, $11.99; New England Benny (Benedict), $11.99; Red Velvet pancakes with cream cheese topping and toasted pecans, $7.99
Appetizers: Maple apple fritters, $3.99; cinnamon rolls, $3.99; fry bread, $3.99
Salads: Strawberry spinach salad, $8.99; Asian chicken salad, $8.99; Ultimate steak salad, $11.99
Desserts: Maple bread pudding with caramel sauce, $3.99; Maple walnut blondie, $3.99
Information: 362-5151
