The Majestic Sets Date for Reopening After Renovation

PHOTO: Exterior of The Majestic Cafe, 911 King St. Photo by David Coleman

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ALEXANDRIA, VA -- More big restaurant news in Alexandria this weekend: Alexandria Restaurant Partners will unveil the renovation of The Majestic on Monday, May 23.

The longtime Old Town Alexandria restaurant at 911 King St., formerly Majestic Cafe, will reopen serving dinner only. Lunch will be added to the schedule May 31.

Hours will be:

Dinner

• Sunday-Thursday: 4-10 p.m.
• Friday-Saturday: 4-11 p.m.

Lunch (launching Tuesday, May 31)

• Monday-Friday: 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. (lunch) (launching Tuesday, May 31)

Brunch (launching May 28)

• Saturday-Sunday: 10:30 a.m.-4 p.m.

Executive Chef/Proprietor Gaby Hakman and Sous Chef Leonardo Ferriero will be at the culinary helm, offering contemporary seasonal bistro fare showcasing uncomplicated and robust dishes with hints of a Mediterranean palate.

Look for recipes rich in protein, vegetable-forward and sourced locally and from small producers whenever possible. Additionally, a rotisserie has been added to the kitchen, which allows the culinary team to cook food evenly and help seal in juices.

A look at the menu

Distinctive menu items from the Nibbles section of the menu include Fried Olives with pimentón aioli; Market Crudité with green goddess dressing and Deviled Eggs with chef’s whimsy.

Standout Starters include Baked Feta with za’atar, chiles and flatbread; Charred Octopus with chickpea puree, olives and harissa vinaigrette; Little Gems, shaved vegetables with Meyer lemon and herbs; Steak Tartare with cornichons and grilled bread, as well as Baby Beets with citrus, whipped goat cheese and pistachios.

Highlights on the Salads & Sandwiches section of the menu include the Steak Salad with mint, basil, chile dressing and peanuts; Kale Salad with chickpeas, cauliflower, faro, feta, raisins and pine nuts; Porchetta Sandwich with rosemary aioli, caramelized onions and arugula, and the Pastrami Turkey Reuben with red cabbage slaw and ‘come back’ sauce.

Mains include Grilled Whole Fish with fingerling potatoes, salsa verde and olives; Porchetta, spit-roasted pork shoulder, parmesan polenta and broccoli; Striped Bass with asparagus, green garbanzos, faro and almond gremolata, as well as Swiss Chard Ravioli with lemon, herb, ricotta and walnuts.

Daily specials

A selection of daily specials is also available, exclusively during dinner service. Highlights include Roast Chicken on Tuesdays; Planked Salmon on Wednesdays; Spit-Roasted Lamb on Thursdays; Prime Rib on Fridays; Lobster on Saturday and Chicken & Ribs on Sunday.

The new look

Get ready for a new look for The Majestic, with interior design by David Chenault and interior architecture by Paul Beckmann, of Beckmann Architects in Old Town Alexandria.

The Art Deco façade and the large neon signs on the exterior are original, with the signs rebuilt, including one running 25 feet to the rooftop. A third sign, carried over from the original Majestic in 1932, remains in perfect working order and hangs once again inside the front window. The service kitchen visible from the dining room is where all cooking happens while the restaurant is open. The terrazzo floor is largely original. A team of expert craftsmen matched and repaired the original, then extended it throughout the expanded dining area. The tin ceiling on the sides of the dining room reproduces the tin design of the original Majestic.

The new design pays respect to the art deco roots and elements that were retained in the renovation, while adding modern updates and layers of interest through color, texture, a contemporary mix of high and low, articulated through fabrics, finishes, textures, lighting, and an assortment of artwork of all kinds. Inspiration came from intimate supper clubs, art salons, and a collector’s gallery/library/conversation space, and the walls will be adorned by salon-style installations of two-dimensional artworks of all types, including photographs, prints, paintings, drawings, framed and unframed, to add to the composed, yet casual feeling of the restaurant.

Rich jewel-tones throughout the space are enhanced by ambient lighting, and at the individual booths along one side of the space, small lamps create even more mood and dining ambiance. The open display kitchen takes center stage, while at the opposite end at the storefront and entrance area, the bar offers guests a chance to linger and enjoy a classic cocktail or two.