Dexter M.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

7.3 Recommended

Food  8      Ambience  7      Service  6      Value  8     

My girlfriend and I came here at 5:30 (when they re open for dinner). Got right in even though the line was quite long and watched the spectacle of a restaurant go from empty to full in under five minutes. That's why I found the ambience to be a 7, busy bustling and exciting. Bring a date here, but not for a first one, a bit loud and crowded for an intimate setting.

Now the service isn't great, but merely because they are so busy, as in most Asian restaurants you need to get the servers attention with a flag down or eye to eye contact. I suppose my girlfriend and I are both accustomed to this idea as she is from Hong Kong. The value is also great We got Roti, beef satay, four pieces of fried chicken and a noodle dish with fish cakes and tofu for $45, oh and I got an iced tea with lime.

Portions were appropriate but not overwhelmingly large for two people to share.
The Roti was soft and tasty with two yummy sauces which were a bit spicy, The satay was generously sized with a big bowl of dipping sauce which was flavorful but not spicy. The Malaysian fried chicken was in big pieces crispy on the out side and oh so juice inside, perfectly spiced but not over done. The noodles were on point filled with various textures and flavors a bit spicy and perfect with a splash of lime on top, also the tofu tasted marinated which was a delight to bit into.

The ice tea was sweet but I liked it. Next time I will try some curry and, perhaps, a dessert roti. Give this one a go but some advice, Come early to get in on a weekend, understand this is a busy restaurant so do expect a quiet and romantic date whispering sweet nothing to each other. Finally Malaysian food is spicy so if you don't like that go some were else. Otherwise recommended!

Jun 25, 2011

4.8 Average

Food  5      Ambience  6      Service  3      Value  5     

We went there on Saturday for a late breakfast and chose it because it serves all day breakfast. Ambiance is nice and relaxed at this time, open space not cramped, soft jazz playing in the background. Service seemed good to begin but then we waited a long time for someone to take our order. The food came out in a timely manner however it came a few minutes before our drinks (juice and coffee) even though we were one of 10 tables in the place. We ordered a Spanish omelet and eggs Benedict, which were quite average and would have been better if they were served hot not slightly warm which appeared to be the fault of the service staff not the kitchen. Disappointingly the man who was sitting near us (drinking a toohyes new at 11:30) got his eggs benedict visibly steaming hot. The juice clearly had been poured right after we ordered it and had sat on ice becoming watered down while it waited to be brought to us. Two decent size meals two good size juices and a coffee $33 not bad on the value department, and could have been cheaper if we ordered lesser breakfast items. Restaurant was clean and kitchen was also quite clean, would have liked it more if service was more timely and didn't let our stuff sit around before bringing it to us. Call me a stickler but I like hot food and drinks before it comes. Average.

Jun 18, 2011

5 Average

Food  5      Ambience  3      Service  5      Value  7     

We went here on impulse basically because we saw what seemed to be locals eating in this restaurant frequently. Firstly let me say that my girlfriend is a hong konger and we both have been to Taipei. If you want amazing Taiwanese food then go to Taipei and you won't be disappointed, and i agree, best street food in the world. If you want some average Taiwanese food then come to mother chu's. We ordered Beef noodle soup which was pretty yummy, some dumplings, which were more or less average, and some spring rolls, which were mostly cabbage and a bit bland. I would go back to try more noodle soup because the price is right for Australia, however not high on my list. Presentation of dishes is well below par and service is ok (my girlfriend speaks mandarin.) Ambiance is not great either. Really its just the value that makes this place worth a visit at least once.

Jun 18, 2011

6.5 Recommended

Food  7      Ambience  6      Service  6      Value  7     

I have been here 3 times and each time has been pretty darn good. Look its not gourmet and it never will be. As a chef I can see there could be inconsistency which can be a problem but I have never tried the same thing so its hard to be sure. The staff is kinda clueless, but not to offend anyone, firstly its Newtown secondly its Australia, service is not know to be exceptional in either of these places. They are fairly quick and very friendly. Its on the far end of king street which I like because I'm not a hipster I don't have a cool haircut and I don't need the place to be adorned with vintage trinkets and posters. It does have a nice feel to the place and a bit of an edge so you know your not in Starbucks. They have nice outdoor seating (except when people smoke) comfort food that's not super cheap but you get lots of it, and every drink is $5 with food. Its a comfortable place to meet up with friends and relax or grab a quick bite. Feels to me like a local joint, which I like and think every one should have. I do live in the area so I guess I wouldn't drive 45mins to come here but stop in if you live close, or just want a safe island to stop at in a sea of restaurants.

Jun 18, 2011

6.8 Recommended

Food  8      Ambience  5      Service  6      Value  8     

Great northern style Chinese food. I love noodles and dumplings and this place delivers. Boiled dumplings are less than 10 bucks and you get 17! find me a better value than that in the city. Proper sauces are on the table, tea is served with lots of leaves in the pot, just what I want from a dumpling house all around.

Ambience and service a classic for this sort of place, not great, but do you go to a local dumpling shop for that, or do you go for Hot tasty noodle soup and piles of tasty juice flavorful dumplings? Yum! give this one a go.

Jun 15, 2011

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

7.3 Recommended

Food  8      Ambience  7      Service  6      Value  8     

My girlfriend and I came here at 5:30 (when they re open for dinner). Got right in even though the line was quite long and watched the spectacle of a restaurant go from empty to full in under five minutes. That's why I found the ambience to be a 7, busy bustling and exciting. Bring a date here, but not for a first one, a bit loud and crowded for an intimate setting.

Now the service isn't great, but merely because they are so busy, as in most Asian restaurants you need to get the servers attention with a flag down or eye to eye contact. I suppose my girlfriend and I are both accustomed to this idea as she is from Hong Kong. The value is also great We got Roti, beef satay, four pieces of fried chicken and a noodle dish with fish cakes and tofu for $45, oh and I got an iced tea with lime.

Portions were appropriate but not overwhelmingly large for two people to share.
The Roti was soft and tasty with two yummy sauces which were a bit spicy, The satay was generously sized with a big bowl of dipping sauce which was flavorful but not spicy. The Malaysian fried chicken was in big pieces crispy on the out side and oh so juice inside, perfectly spiced but not over done. The noodles were on point filled with various textures and flavors a bit spicy and perfect with a splash of lime on top, also the tofu tasted marinated which was a delight to bit into.

The ice tea was sweet but I liked it. Next time I will try some curry and, perhaps, a dessert roti. Give this one a go but some advice, Come early to get in on a weekend, understand this is a busy restaurant so do expect a quiet and romantic date whispering sweet nothing to each other. Finally Malaysian food is spicy so if you don't like that go some were else. Otherwise recommended!

Jun 25, 2011

4.8 Average

Food  5      Ambience  6      Service  3      Value  5     

We went there on Saturday for a late breakfast and chose it because it serves all day breakfast. Ambiance is nice and relaxed at this time, open space not cramped, soft jazz playing in the background. Service seemed good to begin but then we waited a long time for someone to take our order. The food came out in a timely manner however it came a few minutes before our drinks (juice and coffee) even though we were one of 10 tables in the place. We ordered a Spanish omelet and eggs Benedict, which were quite average and would have been better if they were served hot not slightly warm which appeared to be the fault of the service staff not the kitchen. Disappointingly the man who was sitting near us (drinking a toohyes new at 11:30) got his eggs benedict visibly steaming hot. The juice clearly had been poured right after we ordered it and had sat on ice becoming watered down while it waited to be brought to us. Two decent size meals two good size juices and a coffee $33 not bad on the value department, and could have been cheaper if we ordered lesser breakfast items. Restaurant was clean and kitchen was also quite clean, would have liked it more if service was more timely and didn't let our stuff sit around before bringing it to us. Call me a stickler but I like hot food and drinks before it comes. Average.

Jun 18, 2011

5 Average

Food  5      Ambience  3      Service  5      Value  7     

We went here on impulse basically because we saw what seemed to be locals eating in this restaurant frequently. Firstly let me say that my girlfriend is a hong konger and we both have been to Taipei. If you want amazing Taiwanese food then go to Taipei and you won't be disappointed, and i agree, best street food in the world. If you want some average Taiwanese food then come to mother chu's. We ordered Beef noodle soup which was pretty yummy, some dumplings, which were more or less average, and some spring rolls, which were mostly cabbage and a bit bland. I would go back to try more noodle soup because the price is right for Australia, however not high on my list. Presentation of dishes is well below par and service is ok (my girlfriend speaks mandarin.) Ambiance is not great either. Really its just the value that makes this place worth a visit at least once.

Jun 18, 2011

6.5 Recommended

Food  7      Ambience  6      Service  6      Value  7     

I have been here 3 times and each time has been pretty darn good. Look its not gourmet and it never will be. As a chef I can see there could be inconsistency which can be a problem but I have never tried the same thing so its hard to be sure. The staff is kinda clueless, but not to offend anyone, firstly its Newtown secondly its Australia, service is not know to be exceptional in either of these places. They are fairly quick and very friendly. Its on the far end of king street which I like because I'm not a hipster I don't have a cool haircut and I don't need the place to be adorned with vintage trinkets and posters. It does have a nice feel to the place and a bit of an edge so you know your not in Starbucks. They have nice outdoor seating (except when people smoke) comfort food that's not super cheap but you get lots of it, and every drink is $5 with food. Its a comfortable place to meet up with friends and relax or grab a quick bite. Feels to me like a local joint, which I like and think every one should have. I do live in the area so I guess I wouldn't drive 45mins to come here but stop in if you live close, or just want a safe island to stop at in a sea of restaurants.

Jun 18, 2011

6.8 Recommended

Food  8      Ambience  5      Service  6      Value  8     

Great northern style Chinese food. I love noodles and dumplings and this place delivers. Boiled dumplings are less than 10 bucks and you get 17! find me a better value than that in the city. Proper sauces are on the table, tea is served with lots of leaves in the pot, just what I want from a dumpling house all around.

Ambience and service a classic for this sort of place, not great, but do you go to a local dumpling shop for that, or do you go for Hot tasty noodle soup and piles of tasty juice flavorful dumplings? Yum! give this one a go.

Jun 15, 2011

7 Recommended

Food  8      Ambience  6      Service  7      Value  7     

Great Delicate Vegetable dumplings tasted freshly made. Definitely try the seafood specials, we got salt and pepper prawns that were simply flavored allowing the perfectly cooked fresh prawn flavor to be the highlight of the dish, truly Cantonese. Noodles we got were average but still quite tasty.

Ambience is fairly typical from what I saw, kind of an old school decor but not off putting. Service was very attentive, just need to do the typical wave down the waiter technique which can be rude in some western restaurants but totally fine here. There is better Chinese food out there but we left very happy, worth a visit.

Jun 15, 2011

7.3 Recommended

Food  7      Ambience  7      Service  8      Value  7     

Food is good, not 100% traditional Thai but still quite good. Food is blended with a Cantonese undertone using delicate flavors and textures, which is a nice escape from the westernized Thai that can be so unbalanced and overly flavored. A great accompaniment to the the food is the owner. I date a Hong Konger and the owner has lived there in the past. He came over and chatted with us at the end of our meal telling us stories about his days as an extra in old kung fu movies and old stories about his days in asia. Lots of fun.

Ambience is nice as well, not extremely romantic but good for a date or a special dinner. Service was timely and friendly. Pricing is on point I left feeling like I got value. Recommended.

Jun 15, 2011