Romantic Weekend in Cambria, CA- Dinner At Madeline's

Madeline's Restaurant was a highly touted but relatively unknown California-French infused restaurant in the 6400 person town of Cambria, CA.  Madeline's rests on the corner of Main St. in the West end of town with a very welcoming appeal.  Reservations were recommended as this small restaurant only boasts about 20 tables between the two sides.  The atmosphere is wonderful centered around the candlelit table accompanied by fresh red and pink roses.  The service was outstanding but as we listened to the surrounding tables order, it was somewhat scripted with the servers not able to formulate their own opinions about the food, but rather what dishes need to be sold tonight.  

The menu offered a wide array of Central and Coastal California wines with reds being the primary choice.  

Their appetizers were very diverse including steamers ($12), mussels and clams sauteed in a white wine and saffron butter, which had been sold out and replaced by a calamari steak dish breaded in Kobashi crumbs over a bead of polenta. 

The entrees were very distinct and very diverse beginning with a Filet Mignon ($32) with port, balsamic sauce with garlic mashed potatoes and vegetable medley all the way to a Louisiana Seafood Gumbo enhanced with spicy sausage and spicy gumbo over rice.  

We however chose the 8 oz. Lamb Porterhouse ($30) which was pan seared, finished in the oven topped with pomegranate and zinfandel sauce, served with garlic mashed potatoes and vegetable medley.  The lamb was cooked to order and was tantalizing with its use of herbs and spices.  It had tremendous mouth-watering flavor and as tender as expected.  The potatoes were glossed over with a shaved parmesan cheese and were slightly al dente and drizzled with a small amount of glaze from the lamb.  The vegetables were unique to say the least...a few pieces of asparagus with  5 sauteed carrot slices.  Not exactly well planned in the kitchen.  They were then covered heavily in the sauce from the lamb and became a little overkill.  

For dessert, much of the restaurant including ourselves chose the bananas foster with a healthy scoop of vanilla ice cream topped with fired bananas table side and Captain Morgan's spiced rum.  The dessert was very well presented however it lacked the essence of the dessert...bananas!  There were few small pieces of banana to accompany the hearty scoop of ice cream.  Tastes were very well received by were inconsistent at best.

Our total review of the restaurant was very good.  Price was reasonable as the quality of the food warranted it and the diversity of the menu allowed us great selection...especially being starving when we arrived!  The service was outstanding other than its scripted nature and the ambiance was quaint.  We found it difficult to continue our own conversation without being sucked into the political discussion taking place at the table next to us.  This is a 4 out of 5 star restaurant and we recommend it for a date as long as you and your date don't have ADD and can be distracted from other's conversation and table side flaming bananas.  This romantic restaurant is still a great place and we will be visiting it again!