Last year we went to Majestic Cafe with my parents after we were married in Old Town. It was a really lovely
experience with fantastic service and really stunning food. To celebrate our first anniversary, I made a reservation at Majestic one year later. This time, the experience was much less laudatory, however there were a few highlights. I don't like to be super critical when I write about our restaurant visits, but this left a sour taste. Perhaps I had elevated expectations because of our last visit as well as celebrating our anniversary. Well...let's begin with the highlights and reasons you should stop by Majestic Cafe.
Highlight: fantastic bread and soft, creamy butter.
This bread was soft in the center and had a wonderful crust. The butter was also room temperature and spread well. It is always disappointing when butter is ice cold.
Second Highlight: Tableside Caesar Salad making.
The dressing is created by emulsifying all of the ingredients and lightly coats the lettuce.
Super light but very flavorful.
Third Highlight: the husband loved the Pisco Sour.
Fourth Highlight: Big Bowl of Mussels with tasso hamp and ramps.
***
If our dining experience was like a record, the starters were the A side and the entrees and service were decidedly B side. Now on to the lowlights. When we arrived, the restaurant was half full, and we had a fairly attentive server. As our meal progressed, maybe he became too busy attending to other larger tables. I did watch him clean off and reset another table. Our waiter did not stop by our table again after taking our order, initial round of drinks, one check-in and removal of the appetizer plates. The manager stopped by a few times to see how things were going, and even asked my husband if he would like another cocktail, which he did. I asked for a glass of sauvignon blanc when our entrees were delivered. That never appeared. I waved down the only waiter I saw nearby our tables, and asked if he could check on my glass of wine. He was a bit, actually a lot miffed, pointing out that he was not our waiter and that he had a beard while ours did not. He went off in a huff, but did return and asked what wine I had ordered, and even brought over a glass.
The whole grilled fish of the day was a bronzino.
This was a very simple preparation, with toasted almonds, dill and lemon. Last
year the whole fish had a much more exciting Asian black bean sauce, which paired well with the bland Mediterranean seabass.
Virginia NY Steak with arugula salad and frites.
On paper this should have worked. However, the steak was fairly tough. It would have been nicer if it was grilled and not seared until the steak had a tough crust.
***
As we sat there eating the entrees, I looked around and watched the waiters busily attending to other tables. Maybe it's just Old Town, but there were only four minorities in the small dining room, us and two others at different tables. Most of other tables were occupied by older people, with a few young children interspersed. I began to wonder, were we being less attended to because we were Asian, or because we looked young? Either way, what had begun as a lovely evening, took an unfortunate turn.
I suppose it was wrong to try to recreate a magical evening by returning to the same restaurant with elevated expectations. What truly is important is that we celebrated our first year together as husband and wife, and look forward to many more years full of laughter, good food and stimulating conversations.
