Mud Slide Cafe — Restaurant in Maitland

We were planning on going on a tidal bore rafting adventure (it is a must-do when in NS!) at 1:00 pm last Saturday, with Shubie River Wranglers. We were hoping to find a brunch spot to grab a quick bite, and Google Maps sent us to Frieze and Roy General. All the other restaurants were 30 minutes to an hour away.

Frieze and Roy is the oldest general store in Canada (185 years and counting!), and Mud Slide Cafe is inside the store. We met Troy Robertson, the owner, and due to labour shortages (why am I not surprised?), they are no longer open for brunch, but plan to be open at noon that day. We arrived around 10:30 am and were very hungry. Despite being short-staffed and having only one guy working the kitchen, he asked if we were okay with having fish and chips, as this was something they could easily cook in the fryer. The cafe is not yet open, but they were willing to serve us whatever they could offer! Troy said it would not be good to go rafting on an empty stomach. Can you imagine being "hangry" on a raging muddy river?

My friend and I shared a 2-piece fish and chips order, which fueled us for our tidal bore rafting adventure. Thank you to the kind people of Mudslide Cafe/Frieze and Roy for showing us what unreasonable hospitality...

On a cold and blustery June 1 morning we were riding our bike, heading south along the coast when we saw the sign for the Mud Slide Café. We stopped, dreaming of a warm café with good coffee and something to eat. It was well before opening time, but the wonderful folks inside welcomed us in, made the best coffee that we’ve had in Nova Scotia (no kidding, bar none) and together with a few locals entertained us with lively conversation for nearly an hour. It was too early to order from the menu, but found good muffins in the General Store next door that went well with our coffee. After two cups of coffee we’d warmed up and had to head down the road. We were disappointed that we couldn’t stay until the opening time to enjoy their food, which smelled absolutely brilliant, but if your travels ever take you through Maitland, you need to stop and this fabulous café. The coffee is the best, and I’m certain that the food is delicious. Even more than that, the good souls that run the place and who live nearby are the best rewards for time on the road. Do stop at...

Grabbed some supper summer 2021. Food was pretty good, but service was sub par. We had to ask to have the lights turned on rather than sit in the dark. Bathroom was unavailable. Some food we ordered never came. Staff generally disinterested in serving us - I had to repeatedly go to the counter to ask for condiments, napkins, even utensils. We needed plates and they wouldn’t let us have them. It felt like maybe an off day with inexperienced young staff. The man who brought us our food told us he doesn’t work here. I never leave negative reviews but this was worth noting. Perhaps confusion around covid rules contributed...