Chef Santiago Lopez, the new owner at The Majestic in Old Town (via Cultivate Hospitality)
Dishes at The Majestic at 911 King Street in Old Town (via Cultivate Hospitality)
Saffron Spritz at The Majestic at 911 King Street in Old Town (via Cultivate Hospitality)
Chef Santiago Lopez has officially taken over The Majestic in Old Town, bringing a flair for French and Mediterranean flavors.
Lopez recently bought the restaurant at 911 King Street from its previous owner, Alexandria Restaurant Partners. After a brief shutdown, the restaurant reopened today (Friday) at 11:30 a.m. and closes at 11 p.m.
“This restaurant has always been special to this community, and my goal is to create a place that feels familiar and welcoming, but also exciting and intentional,” Lopez said in a release. “I’ve poured myself into every part of it. From the food to the atmosphere, focusing on bright, balanced flavors and thoughtful ingredients to create a place that feels welcoming, exciting, and worth returning to again and again.”
The Majestic’s new menu is enhanced with Mediterranean flavors, including “preserved lemons, cumin, sumac, za’atar, fresh herbs, and citrus,” the restaurant said.
The result is New American cuisine that feels both comforting and contemporary: balanced, herb-forward, and designed to open the palate rather than overwhelm it. Fresh salads, carefully prepared seafood, housemade pastas, and refined takes on classic favorites sit alongside signature plates that encourage guests to gather, share, and linger.
Staples like the Majestic Burger and the steak frites are staying on the menu.
Lopez worked with ARP for 20 years, most recently as the restaurant group’s director of concepts development for the last nine years. He started his career as a line cook at The Peabody hotel in Orlando, Fla. and then worked as the line cook and sous chef at ARP’s Cafe Tu Tu Tango in Orlando for nearly seven years before working as the executive chef at ARP’s Virtue Feed and Grain. He would also become ARPs corporate chef, according to his LinkedIn page.
The Majestic will also undergo a “thoughtful interior refresh designed to reflect its new chapter under Lopez’s leadership,” the restaurant said in the release.
The reimagined space will feature a richly layered palette of hunter green, gold accents, and warm burgundy tones, with custom murals, statement lighting, and curated artwork displayed gallery-style throughout the restaurant. Highlights include a redesigned foyer with a ceiling mural and chandelier, a mural-lined bar anchored by a vintage mirror sourced from a neighboring King Street business and a dramatic gold-textured transition into the dining room.
The dining space itself will showcase framed wallpaper panels, art deco-inspired patterns, and thoughtfully selected furnishings, while stairways, hallways, and restrooms will be elevated with floral wall coverings, marble-topped vanities, brass fixtures, and bespoke lighting sourced from small businesses.
The “New American” menu includes:
Saffron P.E.I. Mussels and Duck and Pancetta Dumplings with butternut squash crema
Lobster Pot Pie with preserved lemon
Mushroom Risotto with porcini crema and truffle aioli
Pan Roasted Dorade with fennel-olive relish
Roasted Lamb Shank with mascarpone polenta
The brunch menu includes:
Artichoke and Lobster Dip
Prime French Dip
Halloumi and Salmon BLT sandwiches
Seasonal salads
Chicken and Waffles with hot honey
Smoked Salmon
Classic Benedicts
Braised Brisket Hash
Blueberry Pancakes
Florentine Omelettes
The new cocktail menu includes:
The Saffron Spritz — Saffron-basil Citadelle Gin, Strega, Cocchi Americano, Bittercube Trinity Bitters, prosecco
Margarita Alla Caipirinha — Serrano Leblon Cachaça, lime, lime cordial, citrus fennel salt
Rosita Bianca — Pineapple-infused Campo Bravo Reposado tequila, Cocchi Americano, Bonal Gentiane-Quina, Trinity Bitters
The Majestic is open Monday to Friday from 11:30 a.m. to 11:30 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Happy hour is also every Monday to Friday from 3-7 p.m.
Dining and Cooking