The Mama San - a Rare Bali Restaurant Gem
Editors Note:
Lately I've been on a quest to discover Bali's best restaurants.
One that was recommended several times by discerening frineds was The Mama San restaurant in Seminyak.
On a whim last night Idecided to try it .
At first I was as a little concerned when I first entered and didn't have reservations.
The hostess looked eagerly through the resrvation book to see if there was an opening.
Fortunately she decided that she could take us. As a restaurant owner and former chef ( in my college days) I was first impressed with the ambience of the place with serious professional air-conditioning units instead of the typical split systems that would break down and lose efficiency in a few years.
Next I was impressed with the quality of the service provided by bright, young waitresses and waiters attending to our every need.
Originally I was told it was a Thai restaurant but frankly I think the only word to describe it is a fusion of pretty well everything from Thai to Indian to Western etc.
So I tried several dishes include a Thai Fish Cakes, Tandoori Chicken and Duck complimented with a vegetarian dish and a mixed vegetable dish.
All were served to perfection. I commented to my friend that finally somebody knows how to cook vegetables properly without soaking them in some silly sauce.
A good assortment of vegetables and adapted for the duck was exquisite and
certainly unique.
A little pricey for locals but very reasonable for anybody coming from West with a bill for a delightful dinner including four beers under $80
A pleasant surprise we found our good friends Patrick and Joy Murray sitting upstairs enjoying enjoying one of their fine choices of wine.
All in all I think that Mama San will become one of my favorite hangouts
Reservations are highly recommended .
My compliments to the general manager Dan Kim who also manages the Sarong restaurant or running a first class establishment . One that cna comaet with many of the finest resturanst in the world.
Below is there description from their web site http://mamasanbali.com/
o
DOWNSTAIRS
“The dream has always been to open a place that is more than just a restaurant” says Will Meyrick, who is the brainchild behind Bali’s success story Sarong restaurant. “An environment where people can feel comfortable to eat, try their hand at cooking or just lounge in a bar. Basically, not needing to leave the space until home time, whatever that time is. Mama San is for anyone who appreciates to lounge in style and eat quality food without it being too expensive.
”Known to be a madam of authority in an Asian gentlemen’s club, the name Mama San was selected because of the old and new world influence the interior and Asian cuisine would be. The team wanted to create a unique space to complement the sister restaurant Sarong rather than be in competition with it. A large “gudang” or warehouse as it is known in English has been converted into a two level retro-vintage restaurant, cooking school and bar.
Most Bali establishments are open-air making it difficult to escape the heat, especially during the rainy season, which is why Mama San is fully air-conditioned on both levels. The location of Mama San is where all roads meet to enter eat street and Oberoi road. Driving guests are offered valet parking, which is a bonus because anyone who regularly drives around the area understands how tricky it is to find a park.
Step into colonial Britain in Shanghai during the 1920s, with marble top mah-jong tables and oversized tan leather chesterfields, in a purpose designed industrial high ceiling warehouse. Gaze up to Mama San in all her glory staring down at patrons while dining and ponder over a travelogue of old style photographs. Colorful displays of retro inspired flowers tower up to vintage clocks and aChinese patterned mirror. A feature of the ground floor interior are two staircases either side of a service bar that climb a brick wall to the upper level.
The Mama San ground floor dining room is fully air-conditioned, seats up to 70 at any one time and is open for lunch at 11am -2pm and for dinner from 6pm – 11pm. Reservations are recommended for lunch and essential for the dinner service.
Please kindly note there is a no smoking policy in the ground floor dining room at during dinner service although guests are welcome to light up after 11pm. Mama San operates a “smart casual” dress code policy, therefore no branded singlet’s, board shorts or thongs are allowed
Lately I've been on a quest to discover Bali's best restaurants.
One that was recommended several times by discerening frineds was The Mama San restaurant in Seminyak.
On a whim last night Idecided to try it .
At first I was as a little concerned when I first entered and didn't have reservations.
The hostess looked eagerly through the resrvation book to see if there was an opening.
Fortunately she decided that she could take us. As a restaurant owner and former chef ( in my college days) I was first impressed with the ambience of the place with serious professional air-conditioning units instead of the typical split systems that would break down and lose efficiency in a few years.
Next I was impressed with the quality of the service provided by bright, young waitresses and waiters attending to our every need.
Originally I was told it was a Thai restaurant but frankly I think the only word to describe it is a fusion of pretty well everything from Thai to Indian to Western etc.
So I tried several dishes include a Thai Fish Cakes, Tandoori Chicken and Duck complimented with a vegetarian dish and a mixed vegetable dish.
All were served to perfection. I commented to my friend that finally somebody knows how to cook vegetables properly without soaking them in some silly sauce.
A good assortment of vegetables and adapted for the duck was exquisite and
certainly unique.
A little pricey for locals but very reasonable for anybody coming from West with a bill for a delightful dinner including four beers under $80
A pleasant surprise we found our good friends Patrick and Joy Murray sitting upstairs enjoying enjoying one of their fine choices of wine.
All in all I think that Mama San will become one of my favorite hangouts
Reservations are highly recommended .
My compliments to the general manager Dan Kim who also manages the Sarong restaurant or running a first class establishment . One that cna comaet with many of the finest resturanst in the world.
o
DOWNSTAIRS
“The dream has always been to open a place that is more than just a restaurant” says Will Meyrick, who is the brainchild behind Bali’s success story Sarong restaurant. “An environment where people can feel comfortable to eat, try their hand at cooking or just lounge in a bar. Basically, not needing to leave the space until home time, whatever that time is. Mama San is for anyone who appreciates to lounge in style and eat quality food without it being too expensive.
”Known to be a madam of authority in an Asian gentlemen’s club, the name Mama San was selected because of the old and new world influence the interior and Asian cuisine would be. The team wanted to create a unique space to complement the sister restaurant Sarong rather than be in competition with it. A large “gudang” or warehouse as it is known in English has been converted into a two level retro-vintage restaurant, cooking school and bar.
Most Bali establishments are open-air making it difficult to escape the heat, especially during the rainy season, which is why Mama San is fully air-conditioned on both levels. The location of Mama San is where all roads meet to enter eat street and Oberoi road. Driving guests are offered valet parking, which is a bonus because anyone who regularly drives around the area understands how tricky it is to find a park.
Step into colonial Britain in Shanghai during the 1920s, with marble top mah-jong tables and oversized tan leather chesterfields, in a purpose designed industrial high ceiling warehouse. Gaze up to Mama San in all her glory staring down at patrons while dining and ponder over a travelogue of old style photographs. Colorful displays of retro inspired flowers tower up to vintage clocks and aChinese patterned mirror. A feature of the ground floor interior are two staircases either side of a service bar that climb a brick wall to the upper level.
The Mama San ground floor dining room is fully air-conditioned, seats up to 70 at any one time and is open for lunch at 11am -2pm and for dinner from 6pm – 11pm. Reservations are recommended for lunch and essential for the dinner service.
Please kindly note there is a no smoking policy in the ground floor dining room at during dinner service although guests are welcome to light up after 11pm. Mama San operates a “smart casual” dress code policy, therefore no branded singlet’s, board shorts or thongs are allowed
Paying homage to the Mama San name, the feeling of the upper space reflects a bourgeois gentlemen’s club with the cooking school next to the bar bridging new worlds. Leather club chairs, ottomans and a plump banquette with scatter cushions allow guests to completely relax, while Raja palace lights, chandeliers and candles twinkle softly, creating the perfect ambience after bright sunny days.
The upper level at Mama San’s can fit a maximum of 80 patronsat any time. Guests can enjoy cocktails or drinks from 6pm – 2am and a grazing menu serves a select range of dumplings from 6pm – 11pm. Smokers are welcome to light up in the upstairs bar area at any time.
The Mama San cooking schoolis to open in 2012 with a calendar of events to run the course of the year.
His and her toilets stand either side of acommunal washbasinto the back of the bar area. Wines can be purchased from the wine room and taken home
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