I am a big beefeater and I have the fat ass to prove it (lived in Argentina a coupla years) and for me the best steak in town is Muma (formerly Abu’s Brasserie) back behind the Sherwood Hotel on Minsheng a few alleys next to O’Ginny’s and close to the Hindustan (Fushing No Rd. Lane 313). Go there, look Caleb Jackson in the eye and say well say a friend recommended his ribeye with the cap split and a martini on the side and see what you get.
Lawry’s is unexceptional. Ruth Chris has very very tender meat that has no flavor. Trust me if you like ribeye and you like it rare (which can only be done splitting the two parts (off with the cap) then head to Muma’s tonight. Trust me.
Interested. Have a phone number by any chance? (If I ring up and reserve two rib-eyes will he do it? He who? Who’s the boss?)[/quote]
Muma’s, unfortunately, is no more.
Let’s have a party! Fredfest IV to be scheduled at Muma’s new location. It’s right next to Living home decorating store near Chiang Kai-Shek’s summer house. Looks good. Ain’t been there yet, but when the American beef is back in town… let’s stay all weekend from Friday night to Sunday night for a modern day gorge fest of red wine and beef?
Darn, I wish you guys had posted your comments on the relocation of Muma’s a day earlier. Yesterday was my wife’s birthday, I wanted to take her somewhere special and I recalled the Fredfest discussions. While I had no intention to subject her to a heated debate on George Bush and the state of the Muslim world, I recalled Fred’s description of Caleb’s ribeye, cap split, with blue cheese, shitake mushrooms, a giant martini and creme brulee. So on Wed I called the number Fred had listed for Muma’s, made my reservations, and showed up last night to find. . . wtf. . . it’s gone.
Where it used to be is now Sonoma Bistro and the old Muma’s phone number rings there. Because I had stepped inside to inquire, and I thought it might be just a name change, we ate there anyway. Sonoma Bistro was good. I had a rack of lamb, my wife had giant prawns, we shared a crab cake with mango puree apetizer (even though it was really just one bite), we had a soup, a salad and a glass of merlot. The food looked beautiful, tasted good (although all the portions seemed a little small) and the check came to NT$1,980.
In summary, SB was pretty good, though not cheap, but I didn’t want pretty good – I wanted Muma’s. I tried not to show my great disappointment to my wife, but next time I guess we’ll have to head up to Shihlin.
I hear you, Mother. Did the same thing a few weeks ago. Not impressed that I asked for “Muma’s” when I phoned for a reservation and nobody bothered to mention that it was now Sonoma Bistro. The food was beyond reproach, though I wasn’t impressed that I had to climb back up the stairs from our table in the basement to see their wine list on the blackboard upstair (carte de vin!)
Fred, look forward to an address for the new location once you come by it. Your politics may be questionable but for good food, In Fred We Trust!
Muma is located in the building that used to house the Embassy Restaruant. The environment is very upscale as are the prices. The first owner called the place Rock Valley Club (there is still a lone sign that Andrew, the boss, says he will take down but doesn’t). This had a bunch of heavy motorcycles in the front.
The problem with Muma is that it may be a good place to eat, but the location is terribly wrong. The neighborhood is run of the mill noodles and rice people and the Western cuisine and the prices are just wrong for the area. For reasons you can guess at, I pass Muma at least 4 times a day, sometimes more, at all hours. A busy time might find one table occupied. Mostly I see the cook staff, a couple of girls and a guy, hanging out on the adjacent lane smoking fags and talking. Yesterday at lunch (where are the customers?) they were washing a motorbike.
I’m not saying that the food is bad, probably fine – I’ve never considered spending NT$700 for a meat dish just to sit on cushy chairs. I can’t imagine that they can last very long. They have six or seven big outside airconditioners that must make for a nice bill each month, plus the three or so cooks, the door guy and the wait-staff, not to mention the rent.
When it was RVC, the owner’s son told me that there were something like, well over 10 investors. I’m no Fred Smith, but even a former management hack like me can see that if there are no butts in seats, there is no money coming in.
My understanding is that they want to bring in a new chef, someone from the States, but to cook for whom?
If you are in the area, check out just down the street on Yu Nong Rd an all-chicken restaruant. It was opened by the guy next door who has chickens there that he cooks with some spices and then vacuum seals for sale in stores. That place is always full, so you know it must be good.
Also about 20-30 meters down from Muma on the same side of the street is a coffee shop that has outdoor seating and the place specializes on decorating with flowers and plants.
By the way, I have never heard mention of steaks at Muma as being a specialty, but that may be the case, perhaps.
I saw this place the other day. I didn’t realize that they moved into my neighborhood. I just live across the creek from there. My wife likes those snooty expensive places. Maybe I can get her to go (and pay for it). They did seem to pick a rather desolate area.
I have been out of town for a while and haven’t seen Caleb Jackson for a long time he is one of the best restaurateurs in town. I cant wait to get over there and get my teeth into one of his steaks