Lukewarm feelings for Wee Nam Kee

Given the hype that this restaurant has received, and the long lines I would always see in every branch, I had rather high hopes for Wee Nam Kee. C and I decided to dismiss any negative feedback about the place and tried it for ourselves so we can once and for all prove them wrong (or right).

True enough, despite being there early, there were already people lining up to get a taste of their Singaporean dishes. I couldn't help wondering if these were regular customers or first-timers like us. I thought, if they have this many loyal customers, the food must be that good.

After getting settled and getting a chance to look around the interiors of the restaurant, I noticed the set of light bulbs uniquely placed inside what seemed to be bird cages. I thought this was a very creative twist on the traditional chandelier. (I found this very interesting that I imagined replicating it in my own house in the future :))

One look on the menu and I immediately got the impression that Wee Nam Kee's dishes offered good value for money. The price range was definitely beyond reasonable, and this is perhaps one of the reasons why people flock to this restaurant.

C and I ordered one dish each, plus some Hong Kong Style Birthday Noodles for sharing.

What I liked about the noodles was that they didn't scrimp on the ingredients. In Filipino, it was masahog. There were generous pieces of mushroom, bell pepper, shrimp, onions, carrots, etc. It had a well-balanced seasoning -- not too salty and not bland either. It was good for 2 to 3 persons, so I think it was definitely good value for money.

HK Style Birthday Noodles (P 255)

I was pretty excited about the Hainanese Chicken (I ordered the Steamed Chicken Rice) because this was the dish that Wee Nam Kee was really known for. The chicken arrived at our table a bit too cold. Now, ultimately, I think what really completes this dish are the sauces and seasoning. And perhaps the reason why it's difficult to find outstanding Hainanese Chicken is the fact that the sauces taste practically the same. I mean, how many other different ways can hoisin sauce, chili sauce and ginger really taste, right? I guess that's the challenge for restaurants now -- how do you make YOUR version of Hainanese Chicken really stand out?

So anyway, the Hainanese Chicken was good, but it wasn't exceptional. And I guess I was expecting it to be so because the restaurant is called "Wee Nam Kee - Hainanese Chicken Rice" after all.

Steamed Chicken Rice (P 168 - personal set)

C thought the Wee Nam Kee Pork Chop Rice sounded very promising, and so he decided to have that as his order. However, when it arrived, it looked a lot less appetizing than how it sounded. It was just plain breaded pork with sweet and sour sauce poured over it. And as C put it, it looked and tasted like cafeteria food. Needless to say, we were quite disappointed with this one.

Wee Nam Kee Pork Chop Rice (P 178)

After our meal, C and I ended up having lukewarm feelings for Wee Nam Kee. We weren't too satisfied with what we ate, although some dishes had some decent highs.

I honestly feel that Shiok (read the post on Shiok here) offers better tasting and better value dishes for those seeking a Singaporean dining experience.


THE GOURMANDE'S SCORE: 3.5 out of 5 - It was decent, but not a restaurant I would recommend

Wee Nam Kee is located in Ayala Triangle Gardens, Ayala Avenue, Makati City. Telephone number: 846-8924.

Bright lights and good food at Momo Cafe, Ayala Triangle

Ever since C and I witnessed the beautiful lights of Ayala Triangle last Christmas season, we knew we had to go back this year. This time, they had a lot more in store for their audience as they included a full lights and sounds show that would play every 15 minutes or so. The garden was packed with families, children, couples and barkadas wanting to get a feel of Christmas as early as November.

After watching the lights and sounds show, we walked down the line of restaurants to find a good place to have our dinner date. Just like two excited kids at the strike of midnight on Christmas day, we were so thrilled to find a branch of Momo Cafe in Ayala Triangle. We've been wanting to go back every since we tried their Eggs Benedict in Eastwood. It took us a while to get a table because it was full, but not as full as the other adjacent restaurants where hungry customers found themselves occupying #20 on the waiting list. Lucky for us, we made it to #2.

Spot the cute snowman

I've always liked the warm ambiance inside Momo. I love the interesting little details on the walls - from the wallpapers to the lamps. The Christmas decors inside the restaurant added to the festive feel.

Happy customers enjoying their meal

It's Christmas in Momo!

The beauty is in the details

Now, on to the food. Of course, we ordered what we came here for - the Eggs Benedict. I was slightly disappointed to see this branch's version of Momo's Eggs Benedict. I clearly remember it being a bigger serving, looking more tasty, with the poached eggs placed on English muffins instead of ordinary bread. While overall the combination of the eggs, bacon and hollandaise sauce still made a good dish, it just wasn't the same without the English muffins.

Eggs Benedict (P 350)

The bigger highlight of our meal was the 3-inch Glazed Smoked Bacon. The thick pieces of bacon came with mashed potatoes, sweet corn and some veggies, which for me gave it better value. The bacon was so tender and tasted perfectly smoky and sweet. The layers of fat were so well-cooked, you would think it was still the meat. Take a look at our photos below, and drool.

Glazed Smoked Bacon (P 350)

A closer look

Just so you can have a point of reference

Momo Cafe will always be a comfort dining place for me and C. I just wish they can be more consistent with the quality of their dishes from branch to branch. I'm hoping this is just one of those fluke circumstances. Perhaps we'll try it out in Eastwood again to see if there really is a difference.

THE GOURMANDE'S SCORE: 4 out of 5

For reservations, call 621-6161.