Subscribe to my RSS feed or follow me on Twitter.
Maxim's
7710 Lake Shore Blvd.
Mentor, OH 44060
440-257-9070
While I shop at Giant Eagle almost every single day, I really don't like the place. And no, its not because some old broad always has to block the whole goddamn isle with her cart to get a better look at the different bags of dried beans. That's only a small part of it. What really disappoints me about Giant Eagle, and every other grocery store for that matter, is that the people working there don't know a damn thing about the products they are selling. It's all just product and while they may know where its located in the store, they don't know how to cook with it or what it tastes like. Just as a test, ask someone in the deli what the difference between the brie and the Havarti is. I'll bet you ten bucks the person picks up the two and starts reading off the ingredients. That is why I really appreciate a place like Maxim's in Mentor. You have a small store with a couple of hundred products, half of which are made in said store, and owners who know each and every one. Not only that, but they have some of the best Italian foods you'll ever eat.
As far back as I can remember my family has been visiting Maxim's for all kinds of Italian treats like pizza, meatballs, cookies and pastries. I remember being a little kid begging my dad for a pizza bagel in the front of their store that used to be located on E.185th. That was almost 30 years ago now and Maxim's is still going strong. Although they are no longer in their E.185th location (I wouldn't be either) they seem to be doing quite well in their new Mentor location. When I visited a couple of weekends ago the place was pretty busy.
I hadn't visited Maxim's in a few months so I was just stopping in to grab a few of my favorite items. I wish I knew the owners name, but he helped me with my selections and was so friendly as always. I started off by selecting a "Rock sandwich" from their deli case. Sounds appetizing doesn't it? It's essentially a number of different lunch meats with a pepper relish between two pieces of thin olive oil bread. The bread is what really makes this sandwich special, its really dry and crumbly, but it goes great with the pepper relish and deli meats.
Do you smell what the Rock Sandwich is cooking?
Next on my list was a sausage pizza bagel which is served at room temperature. I know sausage at room temperature might not sound like a good idea, but heating it up is for hippies! Looking at it you wouldn't think much, but something about that sausage on there is magical.
Jews and Italians put their heads together and come up with the pizza bagel.
For my final act I selected my single favorite item from Maxim's, black olive and banana pepper pizza. It's a white pizza with no sauce, maybe a little garlic, but that's about it. The crust is more like a delicate bread than some lousy pizza crust. It might be the second saltiest thing on planted earth (#1 Rosie O'Donnell) but I guarantee you'll be going back for more.
This pizza is next in line for a seat on The View.
You will not find better, more friendly service, at any store than you will receive at Maxim's. I think their food is fantastic and there is still so much I haven't tried yet. Taking one bite of the items I mentioned above takes right back to being a little kid. So, maybe its all just personal nostalgia, as Maxim's is one of the few foods that really reminds me of my childhood. Sometimes I guess, food is about more than the taste.
Some other posts you might enjoy: