Maid-Rite — Restaurant in Quincy

Maid-Rite is a hot spot of Quincy nostalgia. With a wide variety of offerings that aren't easily found anywhere else, not only do I need to visit them for a Maid-Rite sandwich when I'm in town: I try to do it again to sample other gems from my past.

Last night I had a double ground tenderloin, broccoli cheddar sticks, and pecan pie. I do have one complaint. The youngster there apparently doesn't yet know the best place for my slice of cheese is BETWEEN the tenderloins, holding them together for better sandwich stability (and taste, in my opinion), yet I still enjoyed my sandwich.

Don't kid yourself, it's definitely fast food. I don't know that it could impress the likes of Gordon Ramsey, but I'm also not sure it wouldn't. Having worked there for many years of my younger life, I know they keep the place clean and handle the food with respect. And you can see it when you look around: almost all of the kitchen is viewable from one angle or another, and well-lit including natural light from the large windows that line the walls. Alton Brown found the place worthy of a show, a number of years back, while riding around the States on a motorcycle.

I'm just one of hundreds, surely thousands, of people that need to visit Maid-Rite when I come to Quincy. Facebook pages devoted to Quincy interests bring up the restaurant often. It's definitely popular with those who have known it for years, and it's still raising new devotees today, in part due to its family friendly atmosphere...

The ONLY people who enjoy Maid Rite are Quincy natives. If you aren't from here, don't waste your time. Firstly, the service is horrible (which has been well established yet the management and owners do nothing to change this). Then there's the atmosphere. Very dirty, dingy, and off putting. I'm sure the owners like to brag that nothing has changed in all these years, not even the decor but come on. Even a fresh coat of paint and renovated bathrooms. Also, NO CREDIT CARDS, cash only. What successful business nowadays does that? Even the 8 year old girl scouts going door to door selling cookies have a square. Also, they don't even give the cashiers a calculator. I'm sure it's great for the women in their 70's to try to stay mentally sharp but it's such an unnecessary inconvenience for all parties involved. Then finally there's the actual food... It's very underwhelming. Prior to going here myself, I asked my friend if he liked Maid Rite to which he replied "it's something to eat". I thought this was an odd response up until I went there for myself to experience it. The sandwich is flavorless, messy, greasy, unoriginal, and not satisfying in any sense of the word. To sum up. This should NOT be a Quincy staple or landmark or "must experience" restaurant. They have SO many better options. The Abbey, Thyme Square, Tiramisu...hell even Culver's or Hardee's are exponentially better choices.

Eat here at...

Every so often I need a Maid Rite fix. The biggest misconception folks have is that this is a sloppy joe. This is NOT a sloppy joe. It is a seasoned, finely ground beef sandwich - no sauce. The default configuration has mustard, pickles and onions on it.

I have to knock off a star only because, in my experience, service and food consistency vary depending on day of week/time of day. I went in the middle of an afternoon on a Sunday and it took us over 20 minutes to have a waiter take our order. When we got our drinks it had been nearly 10 minutes and they were so watered down from the ice melt the soda was diluted and lost carbonation. Since then, I have opted to go during traditional lunch/dinner timeframe in hopes of having more staff on hand and better tasting Maid Rites.

I love that I can call in an order for carryout and it's ready in 5 minutes. It has been the most efficient way to grab-and-go and those orders have always tasted the best. It's cheap, quick and hits the spot.

They do not take tips. This place is cash-only, but there is an ATM in the restaurant (caution: high ATM fee). You will see a lot of the natives in here and I swear any time that I've been here to dine-in, the children are untamed banshees. Thanks, parents! It's a bit of a hole-in-the-wall by outsider standards, but hey, it's a local joint that Quincyans have enjoyed, and will continue to...