This was my first time at the Victor Cafe - I had avoided it for over a decade, fearing that the music would be cheesy and and the food mediocre because of the emphasis on the music. We went for a child's birthday. The service problems recounted in the most recent reviews seem to have been cleared up - there was no problem with our reservation, we were seated promptly, and served well throughout the meal. The waiters do let you linger, which was lovely for such a small space (it was a week night and only the main room was in use). The waiters were also the kindest I'd ever encountered, and I've eaten in a huge number of restaurants - perhaps the kindness comes from being treated with respect (because of their musical abilities). I would have expected them to have attitude, and they did not. The music was pretty good - the 3 selections we heard were well chosen, not the least bit cliched, and beautifully sung. The waiters had good voices and great technique, and managed to integrate serving and singing which can't be easy. As far as the food goes, I was also pleasantly surprised. My husband noted that his dish was heavy on the cream and cheese, but then again he did order the tortelloni. The Victor salad was large and really yummy for being a green salad (perhaps it was the Gorgonzola and chopped egg garnish). The squid in my linguini fra diavolo were tender, delicious and plentiful, and the sauce had some serious heat and good flavor. The pasta was well cooked. I tasted a friend's pasta with chicken livers and it was also delicious, the livers tender. The spumoni was elegant and light, the pistachio creme brulee also elegant despite its bright green color.
Pros: good quality opera during dinner! Wow!
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