Under S$25 meals

Picture this...

It's a rainy evening, and you're trapped at Parco Bugis Junction. Your stomach is growling and you crave for good food, something hot, steamy and juicy. Not FASTFOOD! No Mos Burger, no McDonald's, not even the barely satisfying food from the basement food stalls. So what's there to eat??? Okay, and you've only a budget of S$25.

There's MOF, it was pretty crowded when I was there. Food was alright but on the higher end for their quantity. However I miss their rice balls - I can't remember the names, I only remember it was one of the best things I had.

There's also a Hong Kong cafe, which is best kept for having a cuppa or two.

There was Sketches, my favourite place to have customized pasta or pizza but unfortunately is replaced.

There's Soup Spoon, suitable for the days you feel like having liquid diet!

And then you suddenly remember.... Nando's just opened their first restaurant in Singapore! And it happens to be at Bugis Junction! Yes, it's the replacement for Sketches, not that I'm very happy that Sketches has closed down... but well, at least there's another dining option! I just found out that Nando's is Portuguese! Ma Maison, it rings a bell. Go google it and you'll find a French-Japanese fusion restaurant. It's tucked in a cosy corner behind the Hong Kong cafe which I never noticed - OMG!

To cut the story short and save your creative juice churning... I dined at the two places recently and would like to share my experience! The cost per person during my visit came up to S$21+, same for both restaurants, but for Ma Maison it was after a "Ladies' Night" 20% discount.

Nando's
Located at #01-85 Bugis Junction
Timing: Sunday lunch
Card promotion/discount: None at the moment

It was a celebration lunch, for my dear friend who has completed her last paper. I suggested to give a try at Nando's since it's pretty new and I never had it anywhere else. I was there about 1245pm and there was already a queue, fortunately the wait wasn't too long. The place is very cramped, and only if you're super skinny, you could probably squeeze through the space between tables without saying "Excuse me". Other than a group of noisy kids at the neighboring table, our dining experience was quite pleasant. It seems not the case for everyone as I read of a few nasty reviews on friends' Facebook status. They probably went for dinner when things have ran out and was extremely crowded and so they couldn't wait for the diners to leave once they cleared out their plates. Still I wish they have a larger area!

We each ordered a 1/4 chicken (Mild) with cous cous salad and peri peri/old-style fries and drinks respectively. I didn't like my drink! Both the fries appeared the same to us! My friend didn't quite like cous cous but I happily finished mine ;) The chicken portion was just right, and was tender and hot (unlike the hungrygowhere reviews). We didn't have the bottles of sauce at our table, but was attended to quite promptly when we requested. I prefer the mild and hot sauce, to the extra hot and garlic sauce (sour!).

It reminds me of Kenny Roger but the latter has a better variety of side dishes (e.g. macaroni cheese!!). I suppose the price is fairly close to Kenny Roger's too. But if I am to return for comfort, I think Kenny will be a better option. Nando's can improve with a bigger area with more comfortable seating, better service and shorter waiting time (especially when calling for bills).

Ma Maison
Located at #02-51 Bugis Junction
Timing: Monday dinner
Card promotion/discount: JCB UOB Card & ANZ credit cards / Every Monday "Ladies Night" @ 20% off

I have heard and read lots about this place and thus specially made the trip down on a "Ladies' Night". It was near 7pm, and a queue was already quickly forming, this place must be quite impressive.

The majority of the staffs are Japanese, so were some of the customers. It certainly felt like I was in Japan (not that I've been there), but the service was prompt, polite and excellent! The ambiance was delightfully romantic, and it just made you want to sit there forever... slowly savoring the food and drinking sake! I have promised myself to return ;) Not sure when but definitely!

We were served ice water almost immediately after we sat down. I was amazed at their service! Then we were asked if we wanted garlic bread or something else (I can't recall!) while waiting for our main course to be served. The garlic bread came in two long pieces, delicious! It costs us S$4.20 if I remember right. We ordered a big hamburger steak and gratin with scallop and prawn to share, which was a very good idea indeed.

The steak came, a huge patty drizzled with brown sauce and surrounded by pieces of roasted potatoes and cauliflower. Not forgetting, it was topped off with a sunny side up. The steak was soft and tender! Like minced meat patty, it was a heavenly combination with the brown sauce, we finished it in no time. No wonder it's one of their signature dishes, next time we should try the one on hot sizzling plate!

The gratin with scallop and prawn was a very good size for its price. Two juicy prawns and two scallops, inside the grain was shell-like pasta, not potatoes. Fortunately we shared, else too much of it might be icky! It tasted more milky than cheesy by the way. I didn't realize we didn't order any drinks! But our iced water was always being refilled without even raising our hands!

I had a dessert craving that evening, forget about being on diet on a Monday night;) So we had apple pie with vanilla ice cream. It was an art, when it was presented to us. So pretty that I couldn't bear to eat it:) Domo loved it too. It was not the usual apple pie, because I tasted green apple! Slightly sour, coupled with the sweetness of vanilla ice cream and the baked crust... mmmm... I think I can do one on my own next time!

All in all, thumbs up for Ma Maison! I can imagine holding a few celebration dinners over there, but I will better book in advance!

p.s: Pictures up.