My new favorite cafe in Columbus is Maudine’s. Nestled in the back of the lobby of the Junto, Maudine’s is my favorite type of cafe: aesthetically-pleasing, delicious, and speedy.
Maudine’s is named after the winner of the Ohio State Homecoming Queen of 1926: Maudine the cow. The floor and the counter of the cafe are decorated in black and white tile styled in the pattern of a Holstein. Pink booth seating lines the wood paneled walls, and there are vintage photos of sweet Maudine throughout the cafe. You can walk through the Junto’s lobby to get to Maudine’s or use the separate entrance in the greenspace behind the Junto (to the left of the wood-burning stove). And if there isn’t enough seating (which happened during one of my visits on the weekend), there’s always plenty of seating in the Junto’s dreamy velvet-clad lobby. I have been tricked by beautiful cafes before–Paul Hollywood always warns us against style over substance–but luckily Maudine’s has quite a bit of both.
Maudine’s drinks are fantastic. I’ve sampled their coffee, iced chai, and various lattes over the last couple of years, and I have yet to be disappointed. I particularly loved the Sugar Plum Fairy seasonal latte I had last winter, which I believe used a base of plum tea. This summer, I had quite a few iced strawberry coconut lattes, which were delightful. Maudine’s also has a selection of pastries that have yet to disappoint. I am particularly fond of both their biscuits (their butter is second only to the butter at Law Bird) and their gingerbread cow cookie, which I will buy and devour every time I see it.
The service at Maudine’s is impeccable. The baristas are friendly and talented, and other than the time that the line snaked halfway around the Junto lobby, I’ve never had to wait more than a few minutes for a drink after ordering. Also, if you go to Maudine’s and Jeff is at the counter, please give him at least a 50 percent tip because he is as gallant as he is fun!
My love of Maudine’s runs deep, so I’ve acquired quite a few items from Maudine’s store. My favorite of course is my Ohio Royalty hat for very obvious reasons.
I also love my Maudine’s mug because it is as beautiful as it is enormous to accommodate as much caffeine as I can drink.
If you live here or are visiting, make time to visit Maudine’s. I’ve spent my summer writing my OOOs from the cafe 🙂
That’s it! I hope you have a great rest of your week!