Mae's, Pleasant Ridge, Michigan

"Reinventing your neighborhood cafe." That's the tagline for Mae's, a new eatery in Pleasant Ridge which opened earlier this year in the space formerly occupied by Anna's Coffee Shop. Owners Sean and Jessica McCarthy leased the old Anna's following the death of the eponymous owner, and have updated the menu while retaining its original '50s charm.

Todd and I finally had a chance to check this place out, after driving past it many times driving northbound on Woodward. Blink, and you'll miss the joint. It's so tiny that, even as we were walking up to it, Todd kept asking where it was. It's located at 24060 Woodward Avenue in Pleasant Ridge, next door to Susan's Special Needs, a retailer of apparel and accessories for people with cancer and other special needs.

A quick review of the menu revealed a wide variety of options, from the usual breakfast items like omelettes, benedicts, and pancakes, to lunchtime favorites like deli sandwiches, burgers, and salads. On the side, Mae's features many local products, including Faygo sodas and Better Made Potato Chips. The rest of the menu features a number of unique items, including Aebelskivers (Scandinavian stuffed pancakes), potato latkes with applesauce, deep-fried Oreos, and the Portland Special sandwich, featuring chicken tenders hand-battered in a--get this--Cap'n Crunch cereal batter.

I immediately ordered a Faygo Redpop, which was served from an old school glass bottle. I'm a stickler for ice cold soda, so I asked for a glass of ice and was quickly obliged. As I perused the menu, I waivered between breakfast or lunch: do I go with my favorite breakfast indulgence, Biscuits & Gravy, or do I throw caution to the wind and order a double Butter Burger with Cheese? I flipped a coin in my mind and opted for the Biscuits & Gravy, and will simply have to return to satisfy my hanker for the butterburger. Todd went the breakfast route without question, ordering the Hippie from the Omelets & Scrambles section of the menu, with sauteed "'shrooms," onions, green peppers, spinach, and tomatoes.

My Biscuits & Gravy were served with eggs on the side, softly scrambled and melt-in-your mouth good. Ladled with a deliciously savory sausage gravy, one of my biscuits was slightly overdone while the other was absolutely perfect. They both tasted delicious, but texture was inconsistent. Taken as a whole, though, a definite thumbs up. Todd's Hippie arrived as an omelet, though he actually preferred it to be prepared as a scramble. Nevertheless, he was pleased with his order, which was chock full of sauteed vegetables and cheese, and served with a side of crispy hash browns, rye toast, and housemade jam.

At just under $18, breakfast for two at Mae's was a decent deal, given the quality of the food and service. I did not notice a single menu item over $8 or $9, so Mae's is definitely an affordable option. We'll return to Mae's for sure, provided we get there at a non-peak time--the place only has table seating for about 26, plus 8 or so stools at the counter. Also, it's open only 'til 4pm, so any visit we make will have to be for breakfast or lunch.

Check it out for yourself. For more information, visit http://www.maesdetroit.com/

Photo courtesy of http://www.maesdetroit.com/