Los Angeles Critc: Scantily Dressed Hotties? Royal Tea

On the ever expanding outskirts of downtown Culver City, I boldly stepped through the doors of Royal T Cafe. To my left, a jumble of Japanese pop toys, pop art, and "not your average" coffee table books. To my right, encased in glass walls was a glorious hot pink statue that looked like a cross between Mickey Mouse and The Michelin Man. And hidden behind a forest of sculptures and brightly colored brick-a-brack was what looked like a cafe.

My first exposure to the concept of a Maid Cafe came from a friend who had just gotten back from Tokyo. According to him, a Maid Cafe has all the same amenities as a regular cafe: A relaxed and casual atmosphere, quality affordable food, and several hot beverages to choose from. But a Maid Cafe has something else. Specifically, scantily dressed hotties who not only serve you food and drink, but take on an ultra subserviant role using words like, "Master" and you can pay to get a private massage. And apperently that is just the tip of the iceburg. This sort of thing strikes me as being uniquely Japanese. Who would have guessed that such an astiblishment would work in an ultra politically correct town as Los Angeles? I mean maybe in Hollywood but not Culver City. Lets take a step back. Who would have the guts to open such an establishment without paying a little protection money to the phemonist groups?

With the ideas of crazy sex orgies and bondage floating through my head I took a deep breath and continued deeper inside this unholy house of sexual preversion. "Hello, welcome to Royal T!" I snapped back to reality. A young girl in her mid twenties dressed as a maid ecorted me to the table of my choosing and gave me a menu. Not a Kamasutra book. No, just a regualar menu. Did she call me master? No, and I was releaved. With the feeling of enxiety not unlike public speaking gone, I surveyed the area.

The whole restuarant which is nothing short of a wherehouse is basically a giftshop, an art gallery and a cafe all in one. There is no shortage of stuff to look at. The menu is interesting. There is a great selection of tea's. I highly recomend the Royal Milk Tea with soy milk. It tastes like fruity cereal in tea form. As far as food goes it is good. Not great, but good. And certainly imaginative dishes. There is the eal bowl with brown rice and eal sauce. Pretty good. There is a curry bowl made with Japanese curry. Not bad. Your not going to be disapointed by the food but it is certainly more atmosphere than eating. And if you want to take something home with you the gift shop has items priced from low to very high. Great for birthday gifts.

So it wasnt exactly the heathenistic affair that I was expecting and for me that was fine. The girls are cute and act like little girls but it dosnt go further then cute. Do not go there and expect the real Japanese Maid Cafe experience but do go for something far from your ordinary cafe.