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Cafe Mahjaic
Category: Restaurants American (New) American (New) [Edit]
1006 Lotus RoadLotus, CA 95651
(530) 622-9587
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Attire:
- Dressy
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Has TV:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
22 reviews for Cafe Mahjaic
Review Highlights
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"I had the chocolate chipotle prawns, AMAZING." In 4 reviews -
"...California, and two, that this small town has such a hidden..." In 4 reviews -
"Next I ordered the Fried Polenta which was quite well..." In 3 reviews
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22 reviews in English
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Review from Sean F.
Berkeley, CA
8/15/2011
Let's be honest--El Dorado county is not exactly the cullinary capital of Cali, but with the great local produce and excellent wines, things are certainly heading in the right direction. Having already been to the few nice restaurants in the county, my wife and I were looking for a new place to spend our anniversary and Cafe Mahjaic did not disappoint.
We were in no hurry and enjoyed several courses over about two hours--and each one was worthy of praise. The hillbilly salad and heirloom were especially good. Since we're vegetarian, I had the pasta special--a fresh ravioli in a red pepper sauce and my wife had the vegetable strudel--both were excellent. Our west coast cheesecake dessert was also a winner-my wife doesn't even like cheesecake and she ate about half of it. Oh yeah--they had a great wine list too, which we didn't sample because we took advantage of their modest corkage fee ($12).
If you're in El Dorado County for any reason and looking for a great place to enjoy the local flavors, make a reservation at Cafe Mahjaic! -
Review from Jim C.
Santa Clara, CA
4/10/2012 Seated via OpenTable 1 Check-in Here
Great atmosphere and wonderful food. I ordered the Saganaki, Hillbilly salad, and Chocolate Chipolte Prawns. Everything was delicious, especially the fresh vegetable array that accompanied the entree. Fresh corn, beets, spinach, and carrots all cooked to crisp perfection. I will definitively save Cafe Mahjaic in my favorites.
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Review from Good Dog M.
Rescue, CA
6/20/2011
We love the atmosphere. The dishes are creative, beautiful and delicious.
I just wish they would change the menu occasionally. -
Review from Cherry P.
Cool, CA
11/24/2011
Just had T-day dinner at this lovely restaurant that serves wonderful rustic food in the $$$ range. There were some issues with dinner though: the garlic mashed potatoes were VERY garlicky; the gravy should be served on the side, to allow folks to apply as desired; the plate was a bit of a mess, with the turkey stacked on top of the stuffing, on top of the mashed potatoes; a tad salty overall. The wait staff was fantastic, the appetizers delicious, the butternut squash soup tasty, the desserts scrumptious, and as always, the bread yummy. The wine list featured very nice CA wines.
After thinking more about it, I just wanted to add that for the cost ($45/plate) I feel that the chef and his wife should've made the rounds to EVERY table (there was some schmoozing, but it looked as though those folks were known to the owner). I have never seen the chef emerge from the kitchen, and in fact I once went into the kitchen to tell him I enjoyed the meal. Their giving this small personal touch would've added a lot to the ambiance and customer satisfaction. -
Review from Terra T.
Kailua, HI
1/1/2010
Worth every penny, I have been here twice, both times the food was delicious.
I had the chocolate chipotle prawns, AMAZING. I know that the owner uses all fresh/local/organic produce as often as possible, and his fish is fresh off the boat or he doesn't serve it. (I had a friend who cooked there).
Treat yourself, you will not regret it.Listed in: Date Nights
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Review from Sarah D.
Oakland, CA
12/13/2008
This restaurant came recommended by a local, so you know it's good. Who knew...one, that there's a city called Lotus in California, and two, that this small town has such a hidden gem.
My fiance took me here for my birthday dinner. Since we love to eat, but also have to budget, we end up having our 3 course meal, but sharing each plate.
Started off with crusty artisan bread (we had 2 baskets; I ate 1.5 of them) Then, the Mahjaic Salad which is your classic green salad with balsamic and blue cheese crumbles. Now, normally the tartness of blue cheese is not my thing, but this and all the ingredients at the restaurant were so incredibally fresh and tasty. 2nd course, the Flat iron Niman Ranch steak. All you have to know is...goat cheese butter. Melt in your mouth goodness. We finished with chocolate cake.
We, fiance and myself, were able to get a seat within 10 minutes of waiting, but i recommend reservations as the place can seat maybe 50-80 people. Come ready to enjoy yourself. There was a group of 12 people who had reservations, but were not able to sit right away and started to complain a bit. Have some wine, a pretty extensive list, though not from the Placerville area. -
Review from Mark T.
Sacramento, CA
9/10/2011
It is wonderful that such a nice restaurant is along this country road in Lotus, at the South Fork of the American River. (Particularly for those of us who live nearby!) However, this restaurant would excel anywhere in the Bay Area.
We had a reserved table for 6 on a Friday evening; the place eventually was serving four other parties. Service was attentive and timely, wine list featured some excellent and moderately priced local offerings, and the appetizers, salads, soup, entrees and deserts were excellent.
Only criticism is that one of our party ordered his fillet rare and got it medium; still moist and flavorful, but medium nonetheless. -
Review from S S.
Coloma, CA
7/25/2011
Take it from a long time food nut...Cafe Mahjaic consistently plates items that rival any of the best that the Bay has to offer. And John and Gina do it in a tastefully decorated yet warm setting with an absolute lack of pretense. Fresh local ingredients, great specials, and a nice selection of local wines make this spot a winner. Never dissappointed after many visits.
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Review from Yi Z.
5/11/2010
What is that I see on the road to nowhere? Why, it's Cafe Mahjaic! Ok, it's not exactly in the middle of nowhere but it's not really close to anywhere either. The interior is pretty small, maybe 10-15 tables; so if you don't want to be stuck waiting forever, a reservation is a good idea. Silly me, of course, did not make a reservation.
I got the New York Steak and my friend ordered the Buffalo New York Steak. Interestingly enough, the Buffalo tasted just like beef. Anyway, both were cooked perfectly and I ate every single bite on my plate. At $24, it was the best budget steak I've ever had.
Service was admittedly very slow, so I docked 1/2 a star. The other 1/2 star was lost to the terrible Espresso Creme Brulee dessert. Creme brulee is my all time favorite dessert so I've had plenty of them and this one definitely made the top of the worst list. The crunchy part was too thick and there was too much surface area. Although it was disappointing to end the evening with a flop, I still think this is a solid dinner option in the area. -
Review from Sue G.
Ojai, CA
8/8/2011
Positives: The food was excellent.
Negatives: We have never waited so long for food to come out of the kitchen-over an hour for a salad, hour and a half for dinner. Chef is an inflexible prima Donna, refused to leave the sauce off a steak for our child. Very expensive. -
Review from Lily D.
Sacramento, CA
2/14/2010
Absolutely amazing.
My boyfriend had seen their sign while he was randomly driving by, and we thought we'd try it. We weren't expecting the quality of food, drink, and service that we got ! The food is easily as good as any classy big city restaurant, if not better. The prices reflect the quality, but are completely reasonable. Fresh foods cooked to perfection, always with amazing sauces ! The wine menu is long, with lots of local goodies.
My favorite experience was one night when I was debating getting a ginger-glazed fish. I don't prefer ginger, but everything else about the dish sounded tasty. The waitress totally understood, and assured me that the ginger flavor wasn't overwhelming, so she thought I should try it. A few minutes later, she came back and admitted that they had run out of the sauce, but the chef would make a buerre blanc sauce just for me ! It was super tasty !!! I really appreciated the personal service.
Mahjaic is so good, that we don't mind the hour drive to go there for special occasions. Try it ! -
Review from crystal s.
Davis, CA
9/12/2011
I've been here probably 4-5 times for special get-togethers. The food here is on par with the best fine dining restaurants I've ever been to, and it's in Lotus! The chef uses the freshest ingredients and attention to detail. I have to recommend the standbys over any of the unique items on the menu (such as the papaya salad or the asian pad thai). these breaks from the more traditional items on the menu were not very flavorful. In all other cases, the food is wonderful.
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Review from Rosa P.
Sacramento, CA
11/4/2011
In the middle of nowhere is this gem restaurant. Been twice - both times had an exceptional culinary experience. Rivals Cafe Luna in its quality, and in some ways maybe better. Great ambiance, service a bit slow, food WOW.
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Review from Phil H.
Sacramento, CA
3/19/2011
While staying at the equally wonderful Eden Vale b&b we were told to check this restaurant out. Exceeded all expectations for what we would find in such an off the beaten path part of NoCal.
This has surpassed all Sacramento area restaurants that we have tried so far.
Great ambiance. Great service. Great food.
We are vegetarian and had no problem finding a few great options. Would love a second chance to have tried the homemade pasta special of the night which was a mushroom ravioli. We instead settled on the Vegetable Strudel...yum! Full of fun veggies, color and flavor. We were already happy by that point though as we started with the Fried Polenta. One of the best appetizers we've ever had - not to be missed. The Hillbilly salad was a nice palate cleanser... Don't forget to save room for one of the best cheesecakes you'll ever have ... Topped with an assortment of fresh berries and made with a thin top layer of cream cheese (we were told it was a West Coast version) you will have a happy ending.
Mix in a craft brew and the two of us got out of there very full with tip for under $65... Totally worth the price and one of the better values I've found around the Sac area.
It's worth the drive... Very pretty country if you catch it during the daylight. Might want to call ahead for a reservation (although we made it w/o one at 6:30 on a Saturday night). Somewhat odd hours and smallish dining area.
Enjoy! -
Review from Joel R.
Salinas, CA
11/7/2007
Ate at Cafe Mahjaic last night. It is now officially a destination for wife and self from now on whenever we visit the foothills. The building is cool, built in 1855. But the historical pleasures were effaced by other, immediate delights. The service was excellent - appropriately attentive AND inattentive - all at the right times. The food was outstanding. The pumpkin-ancho soup made my wife bold enough to ask questions about the recipe. Her house-made ravioli was the freshest and best I've had in a long time. My pork tenderloin crusted with cashews was perfect. Then there was the chocolate decadence cake with bourbon whipped cream and house-made caramel
Highly, highly recommended! -
Review from Marie W.
Los Angeles, CA
9/8/2009
I love this place! This is not the restaurant you would expect to find nestled in the country setting of Lotus, CA. An old brick building with an exterior jail transformed into a bathroom is a surprising place for an extraordinary culinary adventure. The interior of the restaurant is clean and classy looking and the service is great.
The food here is amazing with its quality, presentation, and taste It is something that would be expected out of a nice restaurant in LA or SF yet with the charm of a small town restaurant.
When we went here last, we all first started out with salads (the Mahjaic salad) with the blue cheese crumbles, sooo yummy and such a great presentation. Next I ordered the Fried Polenta which was quite well prepared and had a wonderful assortment of veggies served with it and again is presented wonderfully. My mom ordered the ravioli and my boyfriend ordered the steak all which were delicious. Our only hiccup in service was the steak was supposed to be cooked medium rare and it came out close to well done. When we told our waitress this she apologized and took care of it right away. Mistakes happen and I wont dock the restaurant on this because the food is really good and they really are very concerned if something doesn't come out right. Finally for dessert we ordered two of the cheesecakes to share among the three of us. The cheesecake here is to die for. It is one of the best cheesecakes I have ever had, its light and cheesecakey all at the same time. Just phenomenal!
Their wine selection is really good and they also have a lot of fun and different beers by the bottle.
You will be leaving this restaurant stuffed and happy. If my waistline and budget would permit I would eat here so much more often!Listed in: Eateries in Placerville
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Review from Joy U.
Auburn, CA
8/26/2010
Been going to Cafe' Majaic two or three times a year since they opened in about 2005. If they weren't on the pricey side, I would eat there much more often.
The food is wonderully creative -- "Moody Soup" -- whatever the Chef's mood created that day. My biggest criticism is that the food is always just a bit on the salty side no matter what I order. I've tried most things, and usually go for a poultry, fish, or even vegetarian dish.
Service is occasionally a bit on the slow side, but who comes to a place like this to eat and run? Still, I do love their wine selection and the feel of the place as well, and they get four stars for those things. -
Review from Tejas D.
Fremont, CA
9/2/2008
It was a pleasant surprise to find Cafe Mahjaic in the middle of nowhere. One of those places where only Verizon provides cell phone coverage. The only things around were Whitewater rafting companies and shops that peddle pictures from your rafting trip. The restaurant does most of its business on weekends. We were there on a Tuesday and there were
only 2 other dining parties. Apparently, there are days when they don't get any diners.
The wine and beer selection is diverse. The beers are mostly craft brews.
The food was great: fresh ingredients, delicately spiced, perfectly cooked
One of the appetizer was a tower of fresh mozzarella, heirloom tomatoes, and roasted eggplant, drizzled with pesto/balsamic vinegar dressing.
The saganaki (pan grilled kaseri cheese) was good but was a bit on the cooler side by the time it came to the table. It could have used slice of lemon too.
The grilled prawns in chipotle chocolate sauce were very tasty. Perfectly grilled prawns with just the right level of chocolate sweetness and chipotle kick.
The papaya salad was unique and excellent.
The coconut crusted sea bass could have been a little more moist, but was better than bass served at most places.
The dessert selection was a bit lacking: standard pie and creme brulee.
All in all a great place to eat. -
Review from Tessa S.
Jackson, WY
6/22/2010
The food here is phenomenal. Chocolate chipotle prawns are my favorite, but everything that comes out of John's kitchen is presented perfectly and the taste never disappoints. We also had the steak and it was cooked to perfection. It's worth the drive if you aren't already in the area, or it's the perfect end to a day of rafting or wine tasting.
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Review from Bergen B.
Auburn, CA
8/17/2009
This may be hidden in a small town, but its better than any high class city restaurant i have been to! Hillblily salad is no hick salad, the feta, kalamata olives, heirloom tomatoes and the onions make this starter a must have for any gathering!The chocolate chipotle prawns are to die for when they pair it with lime risotto! Don't even get me started on the Espresso Creme Brule. They burn the sugar perfectly without heating the custard and my mom says that the beer selection is awesome. These courses may take time to come out, but like they say "food made with love".
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Review from Dave N.
Shingle Springs, CA
4/10/2010
My wife and I tried Café Mahjaic for the first time for our anniversary this week. We had high expectations after reading prior yelp reviews. Saying we were amazed does not do justice to the meal. For Sacramento diners- think food comparable to The Kitchen, if not better, without the $100 per plate prices. Really, it was that spectacular.
To cut to the chase, the meal was astounding. We began with the Mahjaic salad and the fried polenta for appetizers. The fresh, local ingredients made a world of difference. We both usually pass on salads made with any variation of spring mix, but the fresh from the vine/fields ingredients made a world of difference. The polenta was beyond anything we could imagine. The combination of sautéed mushrooms, tomatoes, and asparagus with each forkful of sauced polenta could have been made into a dinner for either of us. The shaved parmesan was "icing on the cake" as we devoured the polenta.
My wife had the chocolate chipotle prawns. I was skeptical at the idea of shellfish paired with chocolate when I first read the menu online days prior. Any initial reservations I had were long gone after the amazing appetizers and salad. The prawns were cooked to the perfect texture of tender yet firm at the first bite. The flavor of the sauce was smoky and not at all sweet as I had anticipated. I wished I'd ordered that, except the flat iron steak was equally pleasing, to completely understate the dish. Each bite, be it just the steak, or with a various combinations of the pickled onions, garlic mashed potatoes, or goat cheese butter was like a different entrée with each flavor packed bite. The garlic potatoes? Powerful roasted garlic smell was coming off my plate (in a good way), yet the flavor did not overpower the rest of the dish and kept my mouth watering. About the only thing not on par with the rest of the entrees was the deep fried asparagus spear with my steak. That could have used a tad longer cooking time to be tenderer, but that is more a personal preference than a failing.
We went with espresso crème brulee for dessert. Neither of us had tried it before (we lean more toward something chocolate or cheesecake). The crust was cooked without a hint of burned smell or taste, and the filling creamy with a great espresso undertone.
Devin, the admittedly inexperienced, and only server was very personable and well schooled in the menu. The tiny quirks of more quickly clearing used dishes and filling water glasses more timely I am confident will soon improve with more experience. The solo server was really not an issue as we were only one of three parties on a slow weeknight. Coming from a guy who likes rustic and quaint over flashy or contemporary, the restaurant had a modern touch to the interior while maintaining the feel of being in a small town, secret gem of an eatery (no cow skulls or wagon wheels on the walls, but yes the restrooms are truly Western era concrete jail cells with modern plumbing).
All told we left having spent $100 for the best meal either of us can remember in a long time. I think we'll start celebrating our anniversary in six month increments just to justify going back sooner. -
Review from Rollin K.
Shingle Springs, CA
2/16/2009
We have eaten at the wonderful restaurant about six times. We have never been disappointed. We agree with the comments of Sarah, Tejas and Cydney. We highly recommend this restaurant. Eating out is one of our sports. Great dining is hard to find, yet this restaurant in a beautiful rural setting is hard to top. It would compete in San Francisco or in Walnut Creek or Danville. The service is equally great. The owners are very friendly and they hire waiters who want to please their customers. We highly recommend this superb restaurant.
