Ma Maison – Traditional English Cottage Dining

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Each time I am looking for a nice dining place at Bugis Junction, I would take one look at ma maison and give it a miss. Why? The exterior of this restaurant looks rundown. Its tiny entrance leading into a dark place doesn’t exactly look inviting either.

But some weeks back, out of exasperation that I had run out of restaurants at the mall, I decided to take a quick tour around ma maison. Very unexpectedly, I found myself loving the place! Within seconds I was so entranced by the decor, I took their card so that I could save it for one of those special occasions!

The special occasion came when I gave my friend a farewell dinner. Out of sheer coincidence, he suggested ma maison too. Man, it must be really good!

Ma Maison, cottage-themed restaurant

The thing I love about ma maison is its charming English cottage theme. The floor, tables and chairs are all wooden. Ornaments, old clocks and posters can be found on the walls. Windows are fringed with curtains. You can even see racks on which plates and crockery are arranged neatly, as though it were a real kitchen in someone’s home!

With dim lighting in the form of candles and vintage table lamps, the restaurant feels extremely homely, perhaps even romantic. Throw in some cushions and sofa seats, ma maison would be almost too cosy to resist.

(of course, the dim lighting also means that I couldn’t take any good pictures of the place with my lousy camera. You guys should really see it for yourselves.)

French food with a Japanese twist is served here. The chef and some of the wait-staff are Japanese. In fact, when I called up the restaurant to make a reservation, a Japanese person answered in Japanese. For a moment there I thought I had somehow dialed up the ma maison restaurant in Japan!

Oh, just in case you’re into snails, they serve escargots too.

Spring Rolls

Spring Rolls
SGD7.80++

We started off with spring rolls, rather unusual looking ones I might add. I couldn’t quite tell what went into the spring rolls, but I do remember this being my favorite dish of the night. The following main courses we had didn’t quite make the cut.

Scotch Egg

Scotch Egg
SGD16++

Scotch eggs are basically hard-boiled eggs with their shells removed. They are then coated with a layer of meat and a layer of breadcrumbs before being deep-fried. I think the meat used here was beef. I got a taste of it and didn’t like it one bit. Well I don’t eat any meat other than chicken and seafood. Beef makes me kind of queasy. Maybe that’s why I didn’t like the scotch egg.

Chicken Steak with Garlic

Chicken Steak with Garlic
SGD15.95++

As for the chicken steak, it looked really yummy on the plate with that juicy looking slab of chicken and the thick sauce. The potatoes that came alongside were pretty good. Unfortunately that was it. I didn’t like the sauce at all. It tasted all salty and was essentially monotonous.

Brass key found on every table in Ma Maison

An interesting bit about ma maison: what appears to be a large and heavy brass key is placed on every table. This key is labeled with the corresponding table number so that when diners are done, they would bring this key over to the counter to make payment.

We were also charged for two bowls of clam chowder that we never had. It was then refunded to us without much hassle.

So am I the only one who doesn’t like the food here? My dinner partner was certainly raving about it. Business appeared to be really good too. I really like the cottage look of the place and its overall concept but boy, am I disappointed by the dishes. I guess I won’t be saving it for any special occasion after all.

Ma Maison
Bugis Junction
200 Victoria Street
#02-51 Singapore 188021 [map]
(65) 6338 4819
Service:

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About the Author

Veron Ang is the founder and chief editor of Sparklette. She lives in Singapore and has dined and traveled across the world. She also runs Sparklette Studio, a web design and development firm. If you'd like to connect with her, head on over to the contact page or follow her personal updates on Twitter: @VeronSG.

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13 responses

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Longestflight
April 24

Hi hi, been a lurker around here. I frequent Ma Maison and here’re my thoughts. The food is different from others and better than average for me. The curry rice and the escargot are pretty decent. My friend has tried their hamburger dish and still felt that the one she tried in Japan was better. Yeah, but of course mah. ;) I think Ma Maison is more influenced by French than English. :)
Reply
peter
April 24

I sense you love food , so here’s a question for you.
Do you know where I can buy kimchi (not too x but nice) in Singapore?
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Kyo
April 24

Funny how I seem to go places just after/before you…
I went to Ma Maison last Monday, and had a great time (introduced by someone else).
I had the hamburg + rice + curry in ‘Korean Stone Bowl’ and it was nice and ultra-bubbly. Can’t complain there.
I also had the escargot (this is what happens when you go with a French resident), and found that to be a new (and interestingly delicious experience).
It’s not cheap, and it’s French/Jap fusion cuisine, not English at all actually.
Very pricey, though. My French friend had the tonkatsu set which came with starter and dessert (black sesame ice-cream). Personally preferred the hamburg more.
I will definitely be going back, and avoiding all the items you mentioned above next time! :)
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Veron
April 24

To clarify: The food is obviously French-influenced. If not the name “Ma Maison”, the escargots alone should lend enough clue. What appears English (to me anyway) is simply the decor. Or does French decor look the same?
Sounds like we have a few escargot lovers here! I don’t think I can ever bring myself to taste one of those (unless someone mixes it into my food without my knowledge). Can anyone describe to me what an escargot tastes like?
Kyo: Perhaps I should make a return trip and try the dishes you had!
Reply
Mai
April 24

From the pictures, the food doesn’t really look French at all. It’s definitely fusion food, asian style.
As for snails, people usually only eat them around Christmas time with some parsley butter. Its very chewy and doens’t taste anything particular I guess…or maybe because the taste is hidden by the butter itself.
Regarding the decor, well, areas in the north/ north west of France should bear the same kind of layout. But from your review, I’m not really motivated to go try the food next time I’m back in S’pore ! :-P
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mervkwok
April 24

hmm…. the chicken doesn’t look worth the price. you can tell i’m a quantity not quality guy :P
Reply
Veron
April 25

Mai: Thanks! The thought of eating snails scares me a little. The thought of eating chewy snails scares me even more! From what you wrote I am very sure I would never get to know how one tastes like! Haha
mervkwok: I look out for the quantity too! I would totally cringe if the portion served looks much smaller than what I have paid for, like those spring rolls above!
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hucks
April 29

The hamburger steak is really good. And do go on a Monday, for ladies (and the lucky guy(s) who are with them) all get 20% off the total bill. Sweet.
Reply
Eu-Jzin
April 30

Hi Veron,
Firstly, thanks for your Best (&Worst) Restaurants for 2006 guide. IT’s gonna be MY guide fer the next few weeks of eating and chillin’
Back to ‘Ma Maison’, it’s name means ‘my home’ if i’m not wrong, hence the homely feel to it which is nice yah? I went there a long time ago (like 7 years ago!?) and i loved it. but why i have not been back there since also leaves me scratching my head like u now. But thanks for this mention of Ma Maison again, I am definitely reminded that I should pay homage once again to the wonderful ambience (& hopefully good food too since ur experience witht the food wasn’t all great!) there. Thanks!
-eujzin
PS: Love your blog esp with all the food and movie reviews!
Keep up the good work and forget not to wine, dine and chill even if u are busy!
Reply
Veron
April 30

Thanks! Yeah I will wine and dine and chill even if I’m busy. Those 3 things are of high importance!
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Karen
May 11

Hi Veron,
Nice blog, have been following but commenting for the first time.
I have been going to Ma Maison for the past 7years at least once a month and they have never failed to disappoint! I think the menu seldom changes but the good food are actually nothing you ordered.
If I may recommend, for starters, you should actually try the tomato salad in japanese sauce. The sauce is self made, meaning you can never find the same taste anywhere and it’s extremely tasty! I have never liked tomotoes but Ma Maison tomato salad with japanese dressing is the only tomato dish that I eat!
It is also one of the most accomodating restaurants for families with children with their nice & clean baby chairs and utensils for children.
They have very nice Beef Straganov rice, Squid Ink Spahgetti, Prawns and Scallops Gratin (baked pasta with fresh prawns and real(!) big fresh scallops and their Carbonara is something that I had never tasted anywhere.
Get a Dinner card and after 10 ‘chops’ on the card, you can get S$100 dining voucher for Ma Maison!
For families, kids under 10 years get a free gift, daddies get a free beer and mummies get a free scoop of ice-cream.
I am slightly biased :) because I have been eating there for a very long time and I have never left feeling unsatisfied hence I think you may have ordered the wrong items which were slightly commercialised and not very authentic.
Try my recommendations and it will definitely be on your list of favourite restaurants!
Cheers
Karen
Reply
Steve
December 20

Googling for Ma Maison reviews and unknowingly stumbled onto your blog, wow you are really pretty and sweet! really like your reviews lol.
Peace and have a Merry X’mas!
gonna stay and be a lurker for awhile..
Reply
Anna
June 25

It was superb long queue when i was there last week…
My frds & I were too hungy to wait…so we didn’t get to try it :(
But we will sure be there next mth! :)
Heard there’s another outlet in Central..Anybody been there?
Reply