Mamou Steakhouse.. “okay lang”

On Friday, Dad and I went on Date Night at Mamou in the Fort. I’ve heard tons of rave reviews about this place, mainly comparing it to Peter Luger in New York, calling Mamou’s steaks top notch, etc. So naturally, we were excited. My dad and I are steak-lovers. We’ve been to Peter Luger and when I lived in New York I got to try the famous Steakhouses (Smith & Wollensky, Porterhouse, BLT Prime, Churrascaria, Michael Jordan’s, Posthouse). Mamou has a lot to live up to if you refer to it as “Peter Luger of Manila.”

I’ll tell you right now, it’s a place to try but lower your expectations since the reviews are highly overrated. For me, Mamou is okay. I’m still confused as to why everyone says it’s amazing.

First, the place: ultra casual. A bit small for the crowds that go. Reservations recommended but they were able to accommodate us on a Friday Night. The noise levels can get high and because of the intimate size, it’s easy to eavesdrop on the tables next to you. Also, the floor is extremely slippery, almost greasy. (I don’t know why) I had to take every precaution not to slip.

We sat close to the Kitchen so it was quite busy all around us. Due to the space constraints, I don’t blame Mamou for having tables so close to the kitchen but they should really consider having the tables a bit further away because I felt like I was in the kitchen with so many waiters running around me. I had to contend with the frenetic waiter and kitchen noise on top of the dining patron noise.

Complimentary bread: good.

Mamou Mami P260 – La Paz Batchoy + Hongkong Noodles – Good to share or a meal for one. Very flavorful soup, generous on the toppings, noodles. A bit greasy as La Paz Batchoy tends to be.

Cracked Cheese with Fuet and Honey P295 – Grana Padano Cheese and Salami with Honey Dip – Interesting combination! I’ve never tried dipping cheese or salami in honey and it was good. We liked this. But I have to say, the portion, in contrast to the Mami was quite small. For the price.. I don’t think it’s worth it.

Dry Aged USDA Prime Bone-in Ribeye Steak 600gms/21 oz P2,800 – Big enough for two but if you need a bigger portion, they have that as well. This is why they call it “Peter Luger” style because the steaks are to share. We asked it be cooked medium. The first time it was served, it was quite rare. We had to send it back.

For those that may not be familiar, the Ribeye is the fattiest cut of meat. It has the most amount of marbling. The white fat streaks that run through the meat is the marbling. This case was no exception. Obviously, when the meat is cooked, it causes the fat to melt producing all that oil for the greasy steak that Mamou is known for. They don’t kid around, the steak is extremely thick and very juicy(or oily.) You’re right, it’s not healthy at all. Make sure to take your Xenical.

Taste – It was dry-aged so you could really smell and taste the beefiness and meatiness of the meat. In Tagalog I think the best way to describe it is “malansa” and some people like their steak like this, I’m not too much a fan of it. It’s not a complicated dish, they sprinkle it with salt and serve. They give you additional rock salt so you can season to your liking. It was better with more rock salt to break that beefy taste.

Sides – Over the years, I’ve come to appreciate that a good steakhouse will pride itself on its steaks and its sides. I like places that make every effort to ensure that the side dishes are as stellar as its steaks. I HATE it when steakhouses serve sides that are unimaginative and are just there for the sake of having sides. So in Mamou’s case, their sides were kind of… just there. A few varieties of rice, beans, corn pudding, mashed potatoes.. forgettable. Granted the sides are supposed to complement the steak and not overshadow it, Mamou’s sides did nothing to enhance my meal. We ordered the Corn Pudding (creamed corn) and the mashed potatoes. Both didn’t taste like anything and portions were extremely small. I don’t know why they wouldn’t give you a bigger portion, it’s just potatoes and corn. They’re not that expensive. I didn’t even bother to photograph.

Key Lime – This was yummy. Loved the tangy flavor. It’s not a very large portion but that’s okay, it’s good to share. I took it on by myself, oh boy. It was indulgent for sure.

Price – As expected for a steakhouse. We paid over P1,500 per person. However, for the atmosphere and food quality, hardly seemed worth it.

Service – friendly and attentive. Everything we asked, we got right away. Possibly because we were strategically placed next to the kitchen.

Mamou
Serendra, Fort Bonifacio Global City, Taguig
(02) 856-3569