Posted in: Comics, Cosplay | Tagged: Cherry Tea Maid Cafe, comic con, comiccon, comicon, convention, cosplay, entertainment, Katsucon, maid cafe

Welcome, Mistress!: Cherry Tea Maid Cafe At Katsucon 2017

Maid cafes are cute, in a word. They are cafes where young men and women dress up in maid or butler uniforms and serve you as if they are your personal servants. They originated in Japan, but have grown to other parts of the world as well. A run of the mill cafe will have a large selection of maids or butlers you can pick from. You order food and drinks, play games (think Monopoly), or you can just have a nice conversation with your maid. There are general rules to the maid cafe as well. These rules protect the maid/butler in most cases, as a patron is not allowed to touch, stalk, or ask for contact information.

Maid cafe's have become a popular attraction at most anime conventions. I've never been to one, but I decided that would change this year. Cherry Tea Maid Cafe has been at Katsucon for some time now. They originally were in the nightclub at the top of the Gaylord, but now they're in a tucked away near the back of the atrium. The menu wasn't awful, and included yakitori, tea, cake, rice omelettes, and other Japanese items. Prices were a little high, but you're paying for an experience and you're at a major resort. However all of the money the cafe makes goes to Relay For Life, a charity I can absolutely get behind. Since there was no photography allowed unless you donated $1 per photo, I apologize for lack of pics.

My butlers name was Keiji. This was his first year as a butler, and he was a little shocked the cafe wasn't busier on my early Friday afternoon visit. He explained that each guest got a 45 minute limit, which would be enough time to order, maybe play a game, and eat. I ordered a seaweed onigiri (rice ball filled with seaweed salad) and strawberry mochi (ice cream in a rice cake). While I waited for my food Keiji sat with me and we talked about a variety of things; anime, video games, what I do for work, and some of his likes as well! The maid cafe also had a little stage show while I was there, with a maid singing Disney songs. She was talented, not gonna lie.

When my 45 minutes were up I still had yet to get my food. It took roughly over an hour to get it. I don't really blame the maid cafe for this, since it's the hotel kitchen that makes the food. However, being told I would have to take my food to go was mildly irritating. I realize there is a time constraint since maid cafes are typically slammed at cons, but it's not my fault that the kitchen couldn't make a hand sized rice ball in an adequate amount of time. Seriously, the rice ball fit into the palm of my hand. The mochi was packaged in an individual wrapper…so the kitchen didn't have to do anything but toss is on a plate. Instead they handed it to me still in plastic! Totally classy and how a hotel restaurant should operate!  My rice ball was mediocre at best. The rice was hard and inconsistent. I didn't bother to finish it since I can make it myself at home. I was largely disappointed in that aspect of the experience. Perhaps they should update the menu to only have pre-made items as to not let down the patrons.

Given the chance I'd do it again. Keiji was wonderful and great company. The entertainment was cute and fun, and Cherry Tea is an established cafe. I would shy away from any food that has the remote chance of being made by the kitchen. If you've never been to a maid cafe and you're at a convention that offers one, try it! Let me know if you like it too!

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