The Magic Lamp Inn

November 25, 2014

Rancho Cucamonga, California – I found this place while doing an Internet search for more restaurants in the area. So far I’ve been having good luck with steakhouses in the Inland Empire. Liking what I read in the description, I planned a visit.

The Magic Lamp Inn, according to one newspaper article, has been around since 1955. The design is a mix of styles. At times it resembles a rustic lodge while at the same time, a coastal Italian restaurant. And when you drive up, your thoughts immediately go to Aladdin. I love the sign outside: a lamp that actually burns with a gas-fed flame from the spout at night. The photo doesn’t do it justice but at twilight it is visually striking.

Walking in, you’ll find a dining area to right, the bar straight ahead. It is a large bar with plenty of seating. Live music is played in the bar/lounge area. Two ladies were singing to a track when I arrived. There appears to be a separate, private room/banquet section beyond the main dining area.

The Magic Lamp has an enormous interior, much larger than what you’d expect from looking at the exterior. Wood abounds. The website’s description says they use Chinese Cherry Wood for the beams and imported stained-glass windows. Brick is everywhere, both inside and out.

If it is a cold day, you’ll enjoy the huge circular brick fireplace. A circular seating area surrounds the fireplace, presumably for guests to wait while their table is being prepared or, I guess, to enjoy drinks either before or after the meal. Or to warm up. Believe it or not, the fireplace becomes a fountain during the hotter times of the year. High-back red leatherette chairs are placed near the window seats. Booths are semi-circular, and also red leatherette. Tables are covered with white tablecloths. Small, silver lamps with glass shades anchor each table. You’ll notice that the lamplight comes from votive candles. Plates have the Magic Lamp logo in the bowl of the plate.

When I arrived, I was the only patron not in the bar or lounge. Therefore I had the entire dining room to myself. I pretty much melted into the vibe of the place right away. Helping me to relax even more, soft hits from the 70’s and 80’s were quietly being playing over the speakers.

My server came over. Because she had no other guests to take care of, we chatted for a quick minute, then she took my order. A glass ramekin of veggies on ice came to the table. Inside were olives, carrot sticks, an ear of baby corn, a flowered radish, pickle slices, and peppers. I munched on a couple of these while I waited for my appetizer.

Next came the bread basket. Inside the black napkin keeping the bread warm was a slice of cheese toast, cut in half. Perfectly toasted. I could taste butter and cheese, but it could use a bit more cheese.

For my appetizer, I had the Spinach Salad ($9.99). It is brought to you on a cart and tossed tableside. The salad is bathed in warm bacon dressing, topped with chopped tomatoes and a sliced, hard-boiled egg. I asked my server to forgo the tomatoes. A couple of twists from the pepper grinder over the salad, courtesy of my server, and I was ready. A simple spinach salad that allowed all of the flavors of spinach, dressing, and egg to come through. Sometimes less is more.

Being that The Magic Lamp is known for its steaks, that is what I had. Prime Rib sounded good. I went with the Magic Lamp Cut Prime Rib (12oz, $34.99), cooked medium-rare. They also have a petit cut (8oz, $27.99) and a Rancher’s Cut (16oz, $39.99). It comes with vegetables, Yorkshire pudding, and a choice of potatoes: baked, mashed, or twice baked. Twice baked, please.

The properly steamed vegetables consisted of broccoli, carrots, cauliflower, and yellow zucchini. The shell of the twice-baked potato was firm, baked just right. Inside, the filling was browned to fluffy perfection. Moving to the Yorkshire pudding, it was light and fluffy. But I’m not really fond of Yorkshire pudding. I find it dry and lacking in the flavor department, although Magic Lamp does a very good job with theirs.

My slow-cooked Prime Rib looked delicious. It had the right amount of marbling. It was thick, tender, and nicely seasoned. It maintained its juiciness right through ‘til the last bite. And yes, it was delicious!

Those of you who have been reading this blog know that for the past couple of years, I’ve really been enjoying a good Malbec with my steak. Tonight was no exception. A Septima Malbec ($8/glass) joined the party. It had subtle flavors, and a subtle nose. It didn’t draw attention away from the meal. In fact, it paired perfectly with the Prime Rib.

I wasn’t going to get any dessert until my server described this bit of decadence using the

words “endless chocolate”. It really is called Endless Chocolate Cake ($7.99). Imaging this: dark, white, and milk chocolate mousse, each separated by layers of buttermilk chocolate cake. It is then garnished with chocolate fudge, chocolate syrup, and other chocolate surprises. Inside was like finding a treasure of butterscotch and white chocolate chips. Too much chocolate, you say? Never! To wash down this bliss of chocolate excess, I had a glass of milk ($3.00). After I finished, I wanted another slice. In hindsight, I probably should have gotten one to go.

In short, this is another example of what a great steak house should be. Service, atmosphere, quality and quantity of food, interior decoration, The Magic Lamp earns high marks in every category.

The Magic Lamp – 4.5 forks. Highly recommended.