The Magic Lamp Inn is a popular hotel located in the heart of a bustling city. The hotel has received numerous positive reviews from guests who have stayed there. Many guests have praised the friendly and welcoming staff who make every effort to ensure a pleasant and comfortable stay. The hotel offers a range of amenities that cater to the needs of both leisure and business travelers. The rooms are spacious and well-appointed, providing a cozy and relaxing atmosphere. Guests have also commended the cleanliness of the rooms and the hotel in general.
Feelin’ Swanky at the Magic Lamp Inn
When we are young, we all dream of how wonderful it will be when we grow up and we can do grown up things. When Yours Truly was young, my dreams were visions of go-go dancing in clubs, going to hip parties filled with stimulating intellectuals and dolling up to dine at swanky restaurants. Tragically, by the time I was old enough to do these things, this world was gone. Go-go cages were now thrown in backroom junk heaps, parties were packed with puking drop outs, and restaurants were remodeled with plastic tables, fluorescent lights and paper napkins. Time truly can be a cruel mistress.
If you are like Tawny, you have sought out the last vestiges of this fabulous past. A few hot spots still remain, but they are few and far between, and sometimes one must take a little journey to find them. One such place is the Magic Lamp Inn, an old Route 66 restaurant on the border of Upland and Rancho Cucamonga. Dim lighting, lush red leather booths, stained glass windows and cherry wood beams envelope you as you dine on steaks, chops, seafood and chicken and lose all consciousness of trendy concepts such as “vegan”.
Lucy and John’s Italian Restaurant
The Magic Lamp’s history goes back to the 1940s, when it originally was Lucy and John’s Italian Restaurant. When it was sold in the mid-50s, the Clearman family became part owners, and the restaurant was dramatically remodeled and became a steakhouse. It again changed hands in the 70s, but has retained its “vintagey goodness” to this day.
Dinner here can get expensive. A 16 oz rib eye steak is $41.99 and the rack of New Zealand lamb is $39.99. However, you can still enjoy the experience and spend less on the beef stroganoff ($14.95) or pan roasted chicken ($18.49). There is also happy hour from 4-7 pm Tues-Friday, which features half-price drinks and a complimentary mini-buffet.
The dimly-lit bar
Fortunately for me, I was squired by a well-to-do friend from out of town who sprang for the bill and encouraged me to try whatever I liked in the spirit of investigative journalism. Therefore, in order to get the full Magic Lamp experience, we kicked off the evening early in the bar for happy hour. The drinks were good, and they weren’t skimpy. My lemon drop martini came with a little glass bottle chilling in ice so that I could top off my drink whenever I was ready.
The mini-buffet was on the verge of being wheeled away, but I did have a chance to sample the meatballs, chips and salsa (surprisingly spicy and good), and the usual crunchy veggies. All good!
The intriguing Lamb Popsicles.
The bar menu includes a nice variety of offerings… soup, salads, burgers, shrimp cocktail, etc. You can go for the basics: potato skins, chicken wings, burger sliders… or go upscale with escargot bourguignon or sizzling shrimp scampi. We simply couldn’t leave without trying the intriguingly-named Lamb Popsicles. My mind raced with all the possibilities of what they would be. I was pleasantly surprised to find they were tender grilled lamb chops on fluffy mashed potatoes. They were quite delicious.
Moving to the dinner table, we were presented with the Magic Lamp’s signature relish tray and cheese bread. If this doesn’t take you to yesteryear, nothing will.
The old-fashioned relish tray.
We ordered steak and salmon for dinner. The steak charmingly came topped with an onion ring. Dieters, abandon your calorie-counting ways at the door! Everything was wonderful, and we found ourselves too stuffed for dessert.
The house band, The Philharmonics.
As we ate dinner, people began to pack the lounge and boogie to the beat of the house band, The Philharmonics. I tried to squeeze in, but with my full figure, I could barely make my way into the fray. Looks like the quite the scene for those of you who are looking for a place to get up, get out and get down!
I don’t know if this is really the ideal place to take kids, but the Magic Lamp does offer a children’s menu with amusingly-named items for the little ones: The Burger Meister, Mr. Chicken, The Big Cheese and Pasta Man.
The Magic Lamp Inn… still kickin’ on Route 66.
The Magic Lamp Inn
8189 Foothill Blvd.
Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91730
Hours: Tues-Fri 11:30 am – 10 pm
Sat-Sun 5 pm – 10 pm
(909) 981-8659
www.themagiclampinn.com
The impressive exterior of the Magic Lamp Inn Lucy and John’s Italian Restaurant Near the entrance of the Magic Lamp Inn The dimly-lit bar
Food from the mini-buffet Happy hour drinks The intriguing Lamb Popsicles. The ultra-cool round fireplace pit
The old-fashioned relish tray Steak dinner topped with an onion ring A view of the swanky dining room The house band, The Philharmonics
Lucy and John’s photo from http://route66.atwebpages.com/rppc/cawest.html
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Guests have also commended the cleanliness of the rooms and the hotel in general. In terms of dining options, the Magic Lamp Inn boasts a restaurant that serves a variety of delicious dishes. Guests have raved about the quality and taste of the food, as well as the attentive service provided by the restaurant staff.
About Tawny Tubetop
Tawny was born in Pasadena, the City of Roses, and has been soaking up the fun and sun of the Los Angeles area her entire life. Tawny’s motto is: “Why live anywhere else?” A daughter of Angeleno culture, Tawny has a passion for strange movies and music, gets a chuckle out of vintage men’s magazines, finds inspiration in a perfect cocktail, pines for the days of whimsical architecture, wonders if it would really ruin the diet to have one Thai iced tea and whispers secrets to her dog before going to sleep at night.
Magic lamp inn reviews
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Additionally, the hotel offers various recreational facilities such as a swimming pool and a fitness center. These amenities have been well-received by guests who appreciate the opportunity to relax and unwind during their stay. The Magic Lamp Inn's convenient location is another aspect that guests appreciate. It is situated near major attractions, shopping centers, and transportation hubs, making it an ideal choice for travelers who want to explore the city. Overall, the Magic Lamp Inn has garnered positive reviews for its comfortable accommodations, friendly staff, delicious food, and convenient location. These factors contribute to a memorable and enjoyable stay for guests who choose to stay at this hotel..
Reviews for "Magic Lamp Inn: A Magical Getaway in the Desert"
1. John - 2 stars - I was really disappointed with my experience at the Magic Lamp Inn. The service was incredibly slow, and it seemed like the staff had no idea what they were doing. The food was mediocre at best, and the prices were way too high for what we received. I would definitely not recommend this place to anyone looking for a quality dining experience.
2. Lisa - 1 star - My recent visit to the Magic Lamp Inn was a complete disaster. The restaurant was extremely overcrowded, and it was almost impossible to find a table. Once we were seated, the wait staff seemed overwhelmed and forgot about our order multiple times. The food took forever to arrive, and when it did, it was cold and tasteless. I will never be returning to this establishment.
3. Alex - 3 stars - While the ambiance of the Magic Lamp Inn was nice, the overall dining experience fell short. The service was slow and inattentive, and it took a long time for our food to arrive. The menu options were limited, and the food itself was nothing special. It was an underwhelming experience overall, and I would recommend exploring other dining options in the area.