By Alexie Villegas Zotomayor
Variety Features Editor

WHAT’s in a name? That restaurant which was once called Golden Lobster still serves superb Mediterrranean food now that it has taken on a new name—Magic Lamp.
For the uninitiated, those who do not have an inkling of what Magic Lamp offers, a lot has changed since it has taken on a new name. With a new name, came its new persona. What used to be mistaken as a seafood diner is now getting recognized for what it really is—an oasis of fine, Mediterranean dining in the heart of Saipan.
At Magic Lamp, owner Victor Balian claims that people do not just go and eat for five minutes and then leave; they savor every meal, every bite. At Magic Lamp, “dining is not just an art. Dining in itself is an entertainment,” said Balian adding that people have to take their time dining, contemplating on each bite, and ruminating on a myriad of new tastes to be reckoned with.
Using only organic ingredients, with herbs ground and meticulously prepared for a better tasting meal, Magic Lamp digs deep into age-old proven recipes from Armenia and greater Arabia. Balian’s wife, Lynda Stephanian takes charge at the kitchen where she whips her magic hand and patiently cooks the meal. According to Stephanian, keufta, maza, hummus, and other Armenian delicacies take time to cook as has been the traditional Armenian cooking on very low fire.
Balian also said that at Magic Lamp, diners can be rest assured that they do not use artificial flavorings; not even monosodium glutamate or better known by its brand “ajinomoto.”
For the Armenian couple, to produce the best tasting meals, they use only natural herbs. According to Stephanian, seven spices comprise the essential spices of authentic Armenian cuisine. These spices are ground pepper, cloves, cinnamon, anise, nutmeg, chili pepper, and cumin. They work with these basic spices, and increase any one of these spices to bring out their desired flavor.
Since November when they hoisted a new signage that read Magic Lamp, Balian said that they did some remodeling of the interiors, changed a few things and made revisions to the entries in their menu.
To make their customers feel more at home, that is, wallow more in an ambiance that is Mediterranean and Middle Eastern, Balian and Stephanian brought in costumes and decors from Egypt, Greece, India, Armenia, and Iraq.
Balian said that their customers can don the costumes on display at the restaurant and have their photos taken. Or better yet, they can wear those costumes and dine in one of the Arabian-inspired rooms where they can puff hookah on the carpet, read books, and take their time eating baklava, keufta, pitah, hummus and other delicacies.
Despite the economic slump, Balian said that they refuse to compromise the quality of the food they serve. As much as they want to introduce new cuisines, — a new culture — they reduced the prices of the staples on their menu and now also offers samplers. “Things are going bad on the island but we still try to keep everybody’s hope and our hopes up. We are trying to keep costs down. Since we opened up, electric bills have doubled. Cost of gas has increased. But we are trying to reduce our prices,” said Balian.
Even with the spiraling costs, Balian still tried offering a variety of dishes to suit their customers discriminating taste — vegetarian dishes, lamb steak, beef or pork–based meals, name it. Magic Lamp does have it.
Balian said, “Whatever flavor they fancy, be it Mediterranean, Middle Eastern, Russian, Latvian, or Indian, just let us know in advance, and we will whip it up in our kitchen.”
“We’ve also added a variety of vegetarian, and not to mention exotic selection of lamb dishes that are rarely found in the Mariana Islands,” said Balian adding that they do have exotic menu entries like Dungeness crab and lobster or fillet fish that are prepared and cooked with various herbs and spices.
They also make their own sauces and cheeses. Once diners enter Magic Lamp, Balian said, “We make them feel at home as we would accept them into our own home.”
Home is where the heart is and truly, Magic Lamp is where any diner’s heart will be as Magic Lamp promises to offer a plethora of dishes and a superb service.
And Magic Lamp promises to morph itself into anything that the diners desire it to be. Balian said they do hosts parties, like wedding receptions, bachelor’s party, and even corporate functions.
Despite the hard times, Magic Lamp hangs on and believes that everything will come to pass. Balian said, “No matter how hard times get, we should not compromise food quality.”
Open every day from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., and 6 -10 p.m., Magic Lamp do serve breakfast early on Saturday and Sunday at 8 a.m.
For reservations and inquiries, call 234-7658 or 285-2722 and explore a whole new world of fine dining at Magic Lamp.