Update 24 Feb 2013: So far, been there another 2 times after the review below. The Seafood Gratin tasted nice (I only tried a little from bro's order) but they use beef stock for all their gratin (I avoid beef). Won't be going there again because the items I ordered have been disappointing. The last try was the Omu Rice Cream Chicken =>The rice was crusted by overheating and there were no asparagus as depicted in the menu.
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This is the latest, newest review at the moment.
Now I know why there are so few reviews on Ma Maison. It's because it's neither too bad nor too good to make people want to write a review.
It's now past midnight. Supposed to do a book review before this post. I'm almost too lazy to type this review because the experience is nothing much to be typed about.
For a few days now, have been looking online for where to eat for Japanese food. Reviews pointed towards Central mall (besides other locations). So, dropped by Central on Friday night to satisfy craving for Yakun then looked around. Saw Waraku and Ma Maison with queues outside. Made a point to return and try Ma Maison another time (on a weekday).
Went home, checked reviews for both restaurants.
Ma Maison had better reviews than Waraku. And from the food photos and reviews, Ma Maison @ Bugis Junction seemed to be better than the outlet at Central.
So.
Bro and I went to Ma Maison @ Bugis Junction instead of our original intention of trying the one at Central.
According to the online Bugis Junction floor plan, Ma Maison is on the 2nd level, inside, behind the row of skincare shops and Watson, near the food court. An area where bro and I don't go when we are on that level, so it's new to me (but not to bro who has been with his friend to the Seoul Garden there before).
It's a small area where a few restaurants huddle together, with Ma Maison at the left corner. Easy to spot with its woody exterior and large white words on the signboard.
Arrived at about 4 p.m.. Seated immediately by a very alert and excellent-mannered, tall-ish girl at the door. As reviewers kept mentioning how excellent the service is, I was expecting it and it is as good as they say.
Same as the outlet at Central, Ma Maison @ Bugis has a too dark ambience when looking in from the outside.
Inside, as one reviewer noted, it is cluttered. My view is that, it is too cluttered with too many antique pots and pans and stuff that take up too much space, making the decor a little too heavy and stuffed up. It is still a little too dark inside.
We were showed the first table against the window inside (just across from the door). Nice, interesting spot with the sink and pots and pans hanging behind bro. :) A young woman was at the next table to our right (she was there when we got there and stayed when we left, with just a small book, iphone and tea).
The manager was in a stylish white-collared shirt with small floral print that suited him. Considering his behavior and speech, most likely Towel Club.
Towel Club is our code word for gay men (ever since I discovered Towel Club which I am denied access because I'm not a man. Dammit.).
Service: Excellent. Attentive manager, attentive staff. The only restaurant I have been to so far, that has such attentive and on-the-ball service.
Manager kept saying "thank you" (except when he directed us to the cashier to make payment. *frowns* He said "thank you" and even "Xie Xie" to people who left towards the cashier but didn't say it when it came to us. *pouts*)
He supervised the young girl staff who served me the Japanese Style Spaghetti. Guessing she is a new recruit.
After laying the plate on my side of the table, she stepped back while I wondered about the large pair of tongs on my spaghetti.
Just as I was about to reach for the basket of cutlery, the manager who was behind the girl, quickly helpfully informed that I need to mix the spaghetti with the tongs and "Enjoy!" before hurrying away.
I liked him then. Well, I liked him the moment he came to take our orders, even though he appears stern, picky and very.... high-class like in a French restaurant. I kept feeling I have to eat properly and observe proper dining etiquette with him around. (Even though, I still ate my spaghetti without fork-twirling it on the spoon first.).
I think I heard him instructing the girl regarding the explanation of the tongs to the customer as they went away behind my seat.
When taking our orders, he was quick to ask if we are Ok with beef for the Chef's pizza. The moment I asked, "Oh there's beef?", right away he noted, "So, no beef ah?" (the "ah" was to confirm, like British "eh").
I felt he was fast to read my implication in my question--that we didn't want beef. I guess through experience with other customers responding the same way.
Good thing he asked. He is impatient and tends to want to get on with the matter (he was as brisk when the tall girl informed him about something and he replied crisply).
The water in our glasses was constantly topped up (even though I sipped only a little because... the glasses were not cleaned properly by their dish washing machine/s).
A short while later, the young girl dropped by to ask if she could replenish our water. She seemed a little uncomfortable asking this.
I offered my glass even though it actually wasn't necessary. Then she asked how we felt about the food.
I guess asking to replenish our water which looked already full, was a gentle excuse to ask about our opinion. Did the manager teach her to do that? :)
She looked genuinely disappointed when I said my sphagetti was a little too salty (although the Chef's Pizza that bro ordered was nice with soft crust). "Thanks for the feedback", she smiled.
Bro shuddered to think how it would be like working for the manager. He said he would be too stressed because the manager looks like a fussy perfectionist who can be sarcastic when pissed.
Hmm.... I don't think the manager is as "perfectionist" as he appears. If he was, why didn't he ensure the water glasses didn't have stains that the dish washer didn't clean?
Extra:
Interesting that bro noticed something about the tablecloth that I didn't.
I was telling him that a reviewer was pleased with the tablecloth because it was unique compared to the mono-colored ones elsewhere. Bro said, "How did they clean the stains on the tablecloth?".
*stunned by his observation* That's when I started noticing there were no stains. O.O (Bro observed only a few stains)
The tablecloth is of a thick quality, vintage-designed floral green cloth. To me, it looks gaudy and heavy-Victorian style when matched with the cluttered decor, although the cloth does feel very smooth and has overall cozy-look.
Come to think, the material might be of the sort that would allow easy wiping off.
Food:
As I mixed the Japanese Style Sphagetti with the tongs, I said to bro, "Smells like Kway Teow.".
Bro couldn't believe it. He smiled in disbelief and said, "You better don't let the manager hear you, otherwise he'll say 'how dare you compare it to Kway Teow'. ". We chuckled over it.
When I gave him a spoonful to eat, he agreed, "No wonder you say smells like Kway Teow.".
I left a small amount of sphagetti. Bro ate all of his small pizza. We shared the triangular Mont Blanc tart which bro said was good.
When we were done eating, I asked bro, "So. Happy?".
He nodded.
Me: "Satisfied?".
He nodded and said, "Can come here again next time.".
Me: Oohh... Since you say come here again means it's good. If not good, we only come once and that's it."
For me, the sphagetti was too salty. The chef could be a young guy (I saw a young man in a cook's white uniform come out of there when we first entered).
Usually, young guys can't cook (in all big name restaurants such as Manhattan Fish Market, Fish & Co...).
Overall, the food still left us with an unsatisfied, un-full feeling right after we finished. As other reviewers have said, the food is Ok, but the service is excellent and that's why they return. Shows how important service is.
Bro says only Yayoiken restaurant gives him that satisfied, full feeling in the stomach. Unfortunately, while he loves the fat juicy pork chops there... we have since stopped going due to significant decline in the dishes, rice and service quality.
For Bro, I would return to Ma Maison @ Bugis Junction since he likes it. But other than that... I find it expensive because the food is not good enough. For three items, it cost $44.95.
Still, it is less of a disappointment than Swensens or Earle's or the other restaurants. The only time the price didn't make me regret eating at a restaurant.
Maybe we can try other Ma Maison outlets @ Mandarin Gallery and elsewhere.
On my table, I saw the promo they have for Monday. As long as you have a lady with you, dine in at 20 % discount for all ala carte items.
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