Maggie's Magic Muffins are tough to top

BOARDMAN

There are muffins, and then there are the muffins from Maggie’s Magic Muffins. After you’ve tasted one of these magnificent baked goods, you won’t ever want an ordinary muffin again.

Maggie’s serves more than 70 varieties of big, fresh, decadent, delicious and original muffins at both its Boardman and Austintown locations.

The extensive muffin menu boasts traditional favorites such as blueberry, chocolate chip and lemon poppy seed but also departs into more adventurous territory with such delights as salted caramel, red velvet, pineapple filled streusel, orange creamsicle and Oreo.

Mother-daughter team Marge Collins and Kristin Sailor, who founded Maggie’s in 1999, regularly concoct new recipes.

“We are always working on something new. We sincerely have the best muffins anywhere,” Sailor said. “We have done our best to develop quality recipes that are delicious and unique.”

The restaurant was named after Sailor’s daughter Maggie, and in addition to the celebrated muffins, Maggie’s also offers light breakfast and lunch menus as well as coffee specialty drinks.

During my visit, I sampled six of the most coveted muffins: cinnamon streusel (known as All Shook Up); chocolate with chocolate chips and chocolate icing (known as Abbey Road); Boston cream; Oreo; blueberry; and chocolate chip.

The cinnamon streusel has a decadent cream cheese frosting and a sweet, mildly spicy flavor. I thought it was my favorite until I tasted the chocolate, chocolate chip muffin. Because I am a diehard chocoholic with no hope of recovery, this muffin made my morning. The Boston cream, with its scrumptious creamy filling and generous chocolate icing, came a close second in delivering a delightful dose of chocoholic bliss.

Maggie’s blueberry muffin is fresh and summery with plump blueberries and a crispy-sweet top, and the Oreo and chocolate chip muffins are yet another delightful dessert-quality handful of heaven to the taste buds.

With so many muffins to choose from, it’s difficult to select a favorite. All of the muffins have a cake-like texture, high quality ingredients and are made fresh daily.

Maggie’s traditional giant muffins cost $2.50 each or $14.25 for a half-dozen. Minimuffins and cupcake-sized muffins are made by special order.

During my visit I also tried a few favorites from the restaurant’s lunch and breakfast menu.

First up was the much-loved chicken salad croissant ($5.59). Served with a small helping of red potato salad, the chicken salad is creamy and flavorful on a warm, flaky croissant.

Next I tried a new item on the menu — a panini called Under the Tuscan Sun ($7.25). This very delicious sandwich features roasted turkey, Neufchatel and provolone cheeses and spinach on rosemary focaccia that’s press-grilled and glazed with balsamic roasted onion. The fresh, distinctive taste of rosemary blends beautifully with the hearty turkey and melted cheeses, making this item a must-have.

I also sampled Maggie’s salad ($8.75), which is a signature salad of greens, tuna salad, Italian dressing, turkey, cheeses, bacon and vegetables. This favorite offers a little bit of everything to tempt the palate and is both light and filling.

Maggie’s offers six different salads including a chicken Caesar ($8.75) and an Asian salad with Thai sauteed shrimp and tropical fruit ($8.75).

Other popular items on the menu include sandwiches such as the Veggie wrap ($5.99); the BLT ($6.99); the BBQ chicken ($7.29); the Italian sub ($6.99); the portabella mushroom ($7.25); the tuna melt ($6.99); the Cuban panini (roasted turkey, ham, provolone, pickles and banana peppers); and the Margie Ciabatta (roast turkey, roasted red peppers, cheddar cheese and chipotle mayonnaise).

Breakfast is served all day, and the menu includes a breakfast burrito ($4.99); bagel and egg sandwich ($4.99); a breakfast sandwich ($4.49), which features two scrambled eggs, a choice of cheese and a choice of meat; and two varieties of scrambled eggs ($4.99).

Collins said all the items on the menu can be adjusted according to preference.

“If a vegetarian wants a certain sandwich prepared a different way without meat, we will gladly do that,” she said.

Coffee specialty drinks such as the Landslide (Maggie’s signature drink of dark chocolate, Swiss chocolate and chocolate fudge latte) and the grasshopper (white chocolate and mint syrup and milk blended with ice) complete the menu.

All food is served takeout or eat-in, and delivery is available.

Maggie’s also specializes in gift baskets that range in price from $31.99 to $139.99. These beautiful baskets include a bevy of muffins, gourmet coffees and in some cases, cheeses, crackers, croissants and scones.

Sailor said she knew as a child that she wanted to own and operate her own business.

“Being able to work with my mother and my two children, who are now grown, has been such a blessing,” she said.