Classic made to order diner food Classic diner service from solid people Only a counter and stools that add to the experience It does not get any better than this. read more

Maid-Rite - The clock - Diners Near Me - Cedar Falls, Iowa

As an Iowa girl living a Minnesotasota life getting to a Maid-Rite is nirvana! We were on our way to a family event and were ahead of schedule and stopped in for some nastalgia. It did not disappoint! It was raining so only seating at the counter. It is small, cramped and cozy! The staff are obviously friends and the warmth is felt throughout. They care about their regulars and were really kind to us. There is something about the simplicity of a maid-rite that just feeds the soul. Simple and delicous. It was a memory from my childhood that can't be replaced without the traditional surroundings. The counter, traditional red and white decor and friendly people. Nothing fancy, just comfort. It is Iowa. read more

Maid-Rite - Bacon Cheese Rite - Diners Near Me - Cedar Falls, Iowa

This is the best Maid-Rite in the state. OG diner look, staff right in front of you, cute little 50's diner seats. Staff is wonderful. And the food is absolutely on point, fresh, and tasting good. read more

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Great place to grab a breakfast or lunch . Friendly service with everything handmade makes this tiny diner charming. Countertop stools and old fashioned flair with a touch of home cooking gives you a hearty breakfast at a reasonable price. Light fluffy omelets and "made rite meat" are tasty . The service is fantastic with friendly help. A real hidden gem although it is a chain, this one is a joy read more

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It's a nice old fashioned type of place with the best maid rite sandwiches in the cedar valley.

Great 99 year old lunch counter. Had a great pork tenderloin, fries and shake. Prompt service, great taste! Skip everything else, this is the place! read more

Very cool little diner! Limited seats at counter only. Loose meat sandwich was very good. Service was excellent.

Giving this 5 stars because it's exactly what you want in a diner. Food not exquisitely gourmet or anything but exactly what you would want Ina diner and the home made jam was really tasty. Servers were the best. Such great people. Chatted to them for a while and both chef and server just great humans. Perfect ambiance for sitting belly up to the counter and having a morning get up and go breakfast. read more

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Gotta love the GPS that guided us to this location. I was actually asking for info on how to get to the city. Ending at this tiny little mecca was a super bonus! I guess this little treasure is the center of town, or Karma felt we should show up here. Either way, it was worth it to sit on a bar stool in cramped quarters, order a sumptuous burger and fries, then watch the waitress craft an excellent butterscotch milk shake. Loose meat burgers are something super old school. NuWay in Wichita, KS is the only other loose meat burger I have ever had the pleasure of eating at and it was established years ago, too! This loose meat is akin to eating a sloppy Joe, but with less slop. Oh, who am I kidding? It is a delightfully tasty mess on a bun, not too greasy, but enough that you need to buy stock in napkins before it's over! The fries doubled as edible chopsticks for all the meat that fell off the bun, by no means shorting the bun any meat! There is something special about a loose meat burger. No matter how you hold it, you WILL lose some into the basket! The butterscotch shake was sweet, tasty, delicious, filling, cold... I could go on and on with description. One thing for sure was that we were full when we left. It's no wonder they have been around for so long. Keep on doing it the same way and you won't go wrong. If you are reading this, figure out how to go eat there! read more

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Marshalltown Maidrite the best! sent to son for bday and stop by whenever in the area taste of the good ole days! read more

Amazing place and super friendly staff, feels like a mom and pop restaurant! The food was amazing and had no issues what so ever, definitely will go again. read more

Excellent menu with many choices. Reasonably priced and fast service. Punch cards too!

Great sandwiches, and I think the owner piles extra on to keep you happy. Will try her pie next time. Longest counter I've ever seen.

This Grand Dame of Diners has been open in downtown Cedar Falls since 1947. Maid-Rite was founded in 1926 in Muscatine, Iowa, by Fred Angell. A butcher by trade, Angell created a recipe for his loose-meat sandwich that a friend said was made right. He opened his Maid-Rite restaurant in Muscatine, the first fast food restaurant. Angell offered car-hop service at his second restaurant, a concept copied by White Castle and A&W not long after. Angell sold four franchises by 1930, which are still in operation. Several of the original Maid-Rite stores are extant and are historical landmarks - the Maid-Rite in Springfield, Illinois offered the first drive-through window. While this particular restaurant is not on the National Registry of Historic Places, it is certainly a local landmark. A throw back to diners before the days of portion control, rigid menus and cartoon mascots, this restaurant serves up Maid-Rite sandwiches the same it was done 65 years ago. A classic Coca-Cola button sign on the roof belies the fact that the restaurant pours Pepsi products, but it's still a great vintage sign. The building also sports neon signage, another great throwback to earlier times. While the diner is showing it's age, it is clean and maintained. If you're looking for a fancy dining experience with uniformed wait staff, silverware, china and linen napkins, you're in the wrong place. On the other hand, if you would like a great sandwich, don't want to spend a lot of money and relish a dining adventure, come'on over to Maid-Rite in Cedar Falls! read more

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This place is amazing! They simply don't make them like this anymore. A throwback to the lunch counter of years past. I for one hope it never changes . Daily specials, homemade pies and cookies. Maid Rites are the best I've had. The breakfast is cooked to order on a four burner stove. If you go for lunch on a busy day you just might see some sparks flying. They have all worked with one and other for a long time. It's kind of like having lunch in your great aunts kitchen around the holidays. A true classic. read more

This place is absolutely adorable, and a definite throw-back to when food was made before your eyes, small businesses were the norm, and customer/service interaction was just standard. Loved eating here. STUFF TO KNOW: -They serve breakfast until 11AM. -They have daily specials - and all of the prices are super inexpensive. -They can make food to-go or sit-down. -The only seating is a single bar with bar stools that runs down the entire length of the building. Depending on how busy they are, you might end up sitting right next to someone else. -The parking lot doesn't really accommodate too many cars. You should be prepared to park on the street - luckily, Cedar Falls has free downtown parking, so it's not a big deal. -They DO take credit cards. -This location is located downtown off one of the side streets of Main Street. It's very easy to find. Pros: -You can watch them make your food - and nothing is already pre-cooked to serve to you. While some of the food (mini donuts, etc.) comes in giant freezer bags that they take it from, you can watch as they pull out the bun from a bag of 8 buns, put a slice of cheese on it, add all of the toppings, and add the hamburger meat right onto the buns. It's amazing just to watch food be made right in front of your eyes. -Food is very, very inexpensive. I had a bag of chips, a refillable soda, and a Maid-Rite for $5.50. Not too shabby! Our waitress even asked if we wanted a soda fill-up with a lid to go after we'd paid our check (free of charge!) -Staff is amazing. You get nice, personalized attention with great care. It has that "home diner" type of feel to it. You can tell there are regulars here, as the staff gets into conversations or helps someone solve a crossword puzzle. Our cups never got low, she handled everything promptly, and checked in regularly. -Maid-Rite tasted good - though not insanely filling. I'd probably want to get two Maid-Rites next time around - or it seemed that the Mega-Rite was a pretty popular option. Bag of chip options were standard Frito-Lay product options. They serve Pepsi products on fountain. -Has an amazing old-school feel. It has the red/white color scheme everywhere, the "diner" type of food storage, hand-written checks, a pie display case, and more. It just feels so comfortable and well-loved. Cons: -The ONLY con I can think of is that Maid-Rite needs to throw a bit of extra love and care into building upkeep. You can see the surfaces that the employees are cooking on - and they're immaculately clean. However, non-food surfaces could use love. The cabinet's white paint is chipping, and the fabric on the stools is breaking. It's minor things like that that bring the presentation a bit down. -Parking is not-so-great. I tried to park in their lot - I probably won't do that again. Another car blocked me in, and it just wasn't too fun to get out of. (It was pointed out to me that this place's parking lot was probably designed when cars and buildings looked way different downtown, and that's probably true.) -Space is a bit limited. You have room to walk up to the bar, but that's about it. it's definitely a very compact arrangement. There's enough space between the bar stools to not feel TOO uncomfortable if you sit next to a stranger, though. (The woman next to me was doing a crossword puzzle, and I never felt like I was in her way.) read more

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This is a rather unique place in Cedar Falls, IA. The Maid-Rite chain has many locations, but this one is a true diner setup with lots of small town charm. The standard Maid Rite is a loose meat sandwich with fixings. I had the Cheese Rite which adds American cheese. It does not need cheese which gets lost in the mix. The meat is seasoned, tasty, and overflowing, but not overly salty or spicy. The fries were nothing special. I would recommend some other side instead. Well worth a stop! read more

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Love this place! Old time home town diner! Great food great people! Enjoy some pie while your here!

This is the best of the best. Whether you want a Maid-Rite or tenderloin or hot dog, they are all very good. The French fries are the best in Waterloo bar none! Oh, they have malts too!!! I would recommend this place to anyone. In case you don't know Maid-Rites are a loose meat beef burger. I only wish they had Coke products. read more

Outstanding and unique food very reasonably priced. The homemade pies are GREAT! Highly recommended and the prices and staff are excellent.... read more

Chad and Angela are always there and do a great job serving up the classic maid rite. The thin fries are always crispy and the pies are all homemade and taste fantastic. There aren't a lot of seats but there always seem to be room for a couple more. If not, patrons are courteous about leaving if they are done to open up a spot. read more

The best! Disregard the poor reviews; they don't get it. The only thing that I'd change...is the open hours listed here. My fault for being late but this shows open till 4, and they now close at 2. read more

Visited at 1:00 for lunch. Very cool - old school building. Built in 1946 as a maid-rite and has been open ever since. No tables or booths. Lunch counter only. I think they have 1 picnic table outside. Food good and as expected. We had a maid rite and a pizza burger. Baskets come with a TON of fries. Hot and fresh. Also ordered fried cauliflower bites to share. They tasted fine but weren't anything special - very small order. Not worth it. Again food was hot and fresh. Hey also sere breakfast until 11. And looks like they have several pie offerings each day. They had only raisin and apple remaking at 1:00 - but we were too full anyway. They also have malts and shakes. Service was okay. read more

I love this place, it's cute and cheap and it's a great summer spot to take a date or a friend. Tastes good too!

It's like stepping into the 1950s. I was greeted with "what can I get you Hun". The bar was full of strangers having conversations with each other. I placed an order to go and waited as people dined on loose meat sandwhich, potato salad and pie. They have a full menu but most get the maid rite sandwhich. They had 4 people working the lunch crowd. All interacting with the customers. Great food, friendly device and truly a unique atmosphere! Definitely worth a stop! read more

I was so disappointed that they do not take reservations or supply Valet parking... Just kidding. Love Maid Rite. Not only is all their food great, but only bar stools along a counter makes it seem like I am in a time machine. Love it. Thank you. read more

Unreal. Unreally UH-mazing. So glad I discovered this place. Definitely try the Cheese Rite sandwich. You will love it. read more

Great food, friendly and attentive staff all served up in a cool, retro chic diner. Had my first Maid Rite breakfast style with an egg on top. Delicious!!! read more

I recommend the Maid Rite with honors. The staff is sooooo nice, so attentive, so busy. We walked from the Black Hawk hotel and it is like walking into the 1950's. We had never heard of the Maid Rite, the staff told us all about it and they gave a tiny loose meat sandwich that was made right. It was a adorable place with a good all American feel! When we went to pay, a local gentleman had bought our breakfast and left a message for us to enjoy our trip. Great breakfast, good orange juice and oh the cookies and pies. Try it, you'll like it! read more

Maid-Rite? More like MADE RIGHT!!! This was the sloppiest joe I've ever touched, and trust me I've touched a few sloppy joes. As soon as I walked in the door I was sopping wet in ketchup and bbq goodness and that isn't a lie, I had more sauce on me than Tom Selleck has hair on his body...(A LOT. OF SAUCE). Nevertheless if you're looking for a first date to get messy....don't come here, but if you're looking for a first date to get sloppy?!Maid-Rite is the spot to go. Trust me. read more

Maid Rite is a small hidden gem diner located in downtown Cedar Falls . The food is cooked fresh and it tastes amazing. I highly recommend the Cheese rite sandwich and french fries. They also serve homemade pie which is fantastic! The staff is very fast and friendly, along with being very attentive and sociable. Maid Rite is a great place to eat as well as a place that you can take a step back in time and enjoy the company of members of the Cedar Falls community:) read more

gotta stop by for an old fashioned experience! The original building that has been slightly updated but the pies, cakes and cookies are still made fresh... not purchased from a factory. Yum read more

This place is nasty. I can not see how everyone likes it so much. Iowa is a weird place. If a town has a staple restaurant that has been there since the beginning of time, and they serve deep fried cat poop in between two buns, Iowa will love it. Nasty yuck, if you have any standards dont even try read more

I love to visit this 50's/60's spot. its clean, quick service and low priced. If you like vintage experances this little gem is the place for youl read more

I have loved this place since I was in high school. When I come to visit Cedar Falls, I stay at the Black Hawk Hotel and have breakfast (and sometimes lunch) at the Maid-Rite every day. The people who work there--the owner Penne, manager Sharon, and various and sundry other employees are friendly and entertaining and greet their regulars by name. It's much fun to sit at the counter and watch the action as they make food to order and chat with customers. There is no better people-watching in town. The food is fresh and delicious. Special shout-out to the many kinds of homemade pies and hashbrowns. This Maid-Rite represents the best of Iowa for me and many others. read more

I love and will always love this place. Fast service but not too fast. The atmosphere equals the menu. Always a joy.

amazing food and kind service. Wait is a bit long but it's totally worth it honestly, once you go there enough times they start to remember your order and it's such a friendly atmosphere paired with amazing food that makes you want to keep coming back read more

Oh. My. Gosh. Loved this place! Walking distance from the Blackhawk hotel. We went for breakfast and loved the old school atmosphere. Counter seating only, red retro stools, and friendly owner and locals inside. We ordered the breakfast special and it was so good and cheap too. You must ask for the home made ketchup! Delicious! The cabinets and soda machine could use a wipe down, but the counter area and food prep area was very clean! Great place to try! read more

I have lived in TN since I was 12. I grew up in Iowa before we moved to TN. I absolutely miss Maid-Rites so much. I have so many happy memories of going to get Maid-Rites as a child. Whenever we visit family in IA, we always go to get a Maid-Rite. There are no Maid-Rites in the south. Your franchise needs to expand further. There should be a Maid-Rite available in every town. I miss eating them. I make them at home, but it is never anywhere as good as the real Maid-Rites. Please start a franchise in the south. There are no loose meat sandwiches in the south anywhere. I promise you that if you had chain stores down here that it would take off like a house on fire. Same with Sterzing Potato chips. Not available in the south, but when I order them online, my friends and coworkers go absolutely nuts about them. These foods need to be shared with every state. People down here just don't know what they are missing. read more

Great daily specials and of course Maid-Rite sandwiches. Plus they have great sides such as their homemade potato salad.