Mae's Cafe - Bath, Maine

On our way to Camden for a quick overnight getaway, we took a detour, ventured into Bath, and had lunch at Mae's Cafe.

Located at 160 Centre Street, Mae's serves breakfast (all day) and lunch 7 days a week. It's cute and homey, with the wonderful smell of baked goods hitting you the moment you step into the restaurant. On the rainy Saturday that we stopped in, the small dining room was filled with locals.

My friend Mark and I both selected the Thai Peanut Noodles ($10.75). Rice noodles were tossed with blanched red peppers, purple cabbage, carrots, spinach, black beans and Thai peanut sauce. The dish was colorful, the vegetables were crisp, and best of all, the peanut sauce was nice and light.

The Cooper’s Panini ($8.95) was my husband's lunch choice. Two thick slices of chargrilled homemade sourdough bread surrounded a juicy chicken breast, slices of tomato, avocado and pepperjack cheese. The sandwich was served with chips and a side of cole slaw, made with crisp cabbage and a sweet, tangy dressing.

For dessert, I simply couldn't resist the giant chocolate chip cookie that I saw in the bakery case on my way into the dining room. Big enough to share, the cookie was soft and doughy - exactly the way I like them - and held loads of deep, dark chocolate chunks.

My husband's blueberry pie was the prize, though. Light and flaky pastry dough was chock full of blueberries and just a hint of citrus to keep it from being too sweet.

Mae's is a delightful neighborhood restaurant and bakery. It's the perfect Mid-Coast spot for Sunday brunch, a quick lunch, or to satisfy your sweet tooth with their delicious baked goods. I wouldn't hesitate to return the next time I find myself in Bath.