Tasting the Big Easy in The People's Republic: Maxie's Supper Club, Ithaca N.Y.

    Late nights, large icy cocktails and raw shellfish really get your groove on?  Then enter my friends into the realm of Maxie's Supper Club, a laid-back, jazzy, New Orleans-style raw bar and restaurant.  I'm sad to say I don't know the owner personally, but Chick Evans runs a tight ship and it's evident in everything Maxie's does.     
    Let's start with the layout.  The internal setup of Maxie's is tight, making for an intimate but not claustrophobic dining experience.  However, if you're the kind of person that needs a little breathing room for your meal, get there early.  Their full menu is available at 5PM, although their small plates and cocktails are always good for a starter.  The bartenders at Maxie's pour classic and stiff, so if you're going to make a night of it, get a driver and keep them plied with free food on your tab.  It's only the decent thing to do.
     
    When at Maxie's I ALWAYS order from the raw bar.  Their seafood is top quality.  They deal with Steve Connolly Seafood out of Boston, which I like, since they buy direct from the guys Billy Joel sings about in "The Downeaster Alexa."  That's right, buying fish from the hardworking guys and gals that drag it out of the sea for you.  No middle man equals fair pricing.  Unless you're an unrepentant capitalist cheapskate, you can probably dig giving honest Americans honest pay for doing a job that is cold wet and dangerous.  A ton of these guys die each year trying to fish your lobsters, fish and shellfish out of sea.  Give them a break and eat some so they get paid!
    On the landward side of the line, Maxie's also uses local, sustainable agriculture, as often as they can to keep Farmer Bill-up-the-road rolling as well.  The whole point of this tangent is to tell you that Maxie's is keeping it real.  Maxie's also gets a super plus from me because it's friendly to after-hours waitstaff and line cooks.  For me, that's a real mark of quality, both on the ownership end, and on the diner end.  Joints like that are always good.  Remember people, the cooks and waitrons of the world know what food is good and what isn't, they deal with it everyday.
  
    Speaking of food, it's time to rattle off some of my favs.  AFTER the raw bar order, get some fried green tomatoes.  I've had them in the south and they're generally not as good as at Maxie's.  Then, move on to the Shrimp and Grits for a real southern style meal, or try some of their Jambalaya or Gumbo if you miss your Creole roots.  You also need to check out their specials list.  There's tons of stuff that you should eat on there too!  Ever had fish taco?  If they have it, get it.  For dessert, check what they have, but the Key Lime Pie is always a good choice.  Keeping it simple?  Eat the Purity Iced Cream...they'll get their own post later, trust me.

    Ok, as promised the brass tacks:  You're gonna need some cash for this one.  You can eat a Po'Boy and have a good meal on the cheap, but do yourself and Maxie's some justice, bring your wallet and a clear conscience.  Remember, dining out isn't just a meal, it's also entertainment in and of itself.  Think about that before you decline an invite from old friends, or cheap-ass your significant other.  P.S.  Maxie's also has music from time-to-time as well.  Great local bands to rock your socks while you gobble crustacean lifeforms.   Who knows, maybe some righteous tunes and some raw fish will help you to remember why you're alive.

Thanks for reading...now go eat!

-E

Brass Tacks: Bring Cash
Address: 635 West State St. Ithaca, N.Y. 
Parking: There's a SMALL gravel parking lot next door, but you may have to find street parking.  REMINDER: Route 13(Meadow St.) in Ithaca is a split road and only goes one way in each direction.  Remember that when navigating or paying too much attention to your GPS unit...don't get killed trying to get oysters.
Website: www.Maxies.com (choose the Ithaca side)