RM Payakumbuah, Ciater BSD — Restaurant in Serpong

Dateng kesini lunch weekday. Sampe lokasi udah hampir jam 1. Parkiran dah penuh, tapi samping sampingnya ada minimarket sih, bisa parkir disana. Pas dateng udah ada 3 kelompok yang antri. Tempat duduk antrian persis depan pintu masuk. Di depan tuh ga ada info ngantri, jadi kucoba masuk aja. Di dalam pun sama, masih ga ada info antrian. Semua pelayan sibuk karena rame, jadi ku coba ikut antri di kasir buat nanya waiting list. Yaps dan bener aja, nulis waiting list digabung ama kasir. Jadi antriannya nyampur antara orang bayar, nulis waiting list dan takeaway. Nunggu sekitar 20 menitan sih, pas dipanggil namaku & antrian setelah aku sekaligus. Pas dipanggil masuk, ternyata disuruh nunggu dulu depan kasir lagi. Bayangin aja serame apa tuh kasir yaaa. Kelar dibersiin, ya dapet meja sih, tapi yaudah didiemin aja wkwk. No antrian setelahku malah dilayanin duluan, karena mejanya lebih deket ke belakang (ada waiter). Udah minta makanan digelar, trus untuk beberapa menu tambahan order terpisah bareng minuman. Pas makanan digelar dah mulai dateng lalat 1 - 2. Piring, sendok, air kobokan, semua harus minta dulu baru dianter. Itupun akhirnya yang dianter piring doang wkwk. Pesenan harus confirm berkali kali, kalo ga ya keduluan ama lain, bisa jadi meja sebelah mesen setelah kamu, tapi dia dapet duluan. Lalatnya tetep beterbangan nih sambil kita makan. AC dingin yang ditulis menurutku tidak ada dingin dinginnya. Jujur ku belum pernah makan di Padang langsung ya, kalo makan yang masak orang Padang asli sih pernah. Jadi ini preferensi lidah kami. Menurut kami, ini rasanya B banget. Dendengnya hambar, boro boro meresap, cabenya dimakan tanpa daging aja hambar ga ada rasa. Terong pun sama. Kalo gulai dikerupuk mayan berasa, kayaknya karena kerupuk kulit ada asinnya. Kalo kuah gulai dari kikil rasanya terlalu light. Ayam pop juga ndak berasa, kata suami lebih kayak opor. Daging cincangnya bukan pure daging tapi ada lemak, berhubung ku ndak suka lemak, jadi menurutku b aja. Telur ya nothing special tapi minyaknya ampe bisa diperes haha. Minumannya ku pesen kopi milo, ini bisa ku terima sih, karena milonya dominan, tapi manis banget, bahkan es nya dah abis masih manis banget. Aku suka minuman manis, tapi ini manis banget sih. Beberapa catatan tambahan, toilet masih renovasi, jadi ga ada toilet. Karena kobokan kita ga dikasih, jadi ke wastefel. Wastafelnya cuma ada 1 dan dah ringkih mo jatoh. Airnya kecil banget, ampe disediain air di ember sebelahnya. Ada hand dryer tapi rusak (ga nyala), dan ga disediain tisu untuk lap tangan. Pas mau bayar pun tidak semudah itu haha. Karena rame, kita tahu diri lah ya. Dari abis makan, sambil gantian ke wastafel, kita udah bilang minta dihitung, tapi ga dateng dateng yang ngitung. Akhirnya ku bilang ke manajernya (asumsi pribadi karena bajunya beda dari lainnya), diiyain doang sambil dia tengak tengok nyari waiter lain. Akhirnya ku ikut liatin dong, ternyata mereka cuma ada 2 tab yang keliling. Padahal mesen dan ngitung sama sama pake tab itu. Ya pantes lama atuh, padahal kalo lama bayar, lama keluar, antrian juga ga jalan. Pas bayar ku pake kartu, sinyal EDC nya mayan lemot disini. Biasanya sebelum masukin pin ku cross check nominal ama tagihan, nah struk tagihannya dah disimpen. Ku minta kata mbaknya 'nanti saya kasih struk setelah payment', jadi musti ku jelasin tujuan minta bill tagihan sebelumnya buat samain nominal. Kupaham sih ramenya makan siang gimana, pasti capek jadi waiter. Tapi mungkin bisa belajar dari resto lain sih. Jujur service nya kurang banget, kalo rasa sih preferensi yaa. Ngegelar makanan atau nganter orderan tuh bahkan dah ga liat meja kita. Kayak orang estafet, naro piring di meja tapi posisi badan dan kepala ngadep sebaliknya. Kelar makan kan beberapa makanan yang digelar dan ga kita makan di ambil lagi. Nah ngambil tuh udah ga pake nanya, langsung diangkut tanpa basa basi. Kalo kita ada tambahan order, belum kelar ngomong juga dah jalan waiternya. Bener bener ga jelas urusan orderan ini. Ini bukan cuma di mejaku, kuliatin semua meja sekitar aku...

Overall Verdict: Overrated and Underwhelming

This restaurant might satisfy first-time diners and those driven by FOMO from social media influencers. However, for seasoned RM Padang lovers, significant improvements are needed in both food quality and overall service. I would hesitate to visit again, as there are better alternatives offering superior taste and a more pleasant experience for the same cost.

Ambiance and Facilities: The waiting area is outdoors, making it uncomfortable due to the heat. The parking situation is a major inconvenience; the limited space causes congestion as it’s located right beside an SPBU. This contributes to traffic issues.

Food Quality: Kikil: While tender and easy to chew, the gulai’s flavor was merely average. Sambal Ijo: Decent, but considering the price, it falls short of expectations. Rendang: The beef was tender but overly sweet, lacking the traditional depth of flavor. Telur Barendo and Sayur Kapau: Both were very basic and unimpressive, even though it's called a signature (?)

Given the price, the food should have been exceptional. However, it was merely mediocre, especially compared to other options within the same price range.

Thanks, need a significant improvements in...

Payakumbuah offers some unique, traditional dishes from Minangkabau, one that you can only find at someone's home when you come for a visit without an appointment. I believe they can do better in terms of taste because clearly, they don't mind throwing in a significant amount and variety of spices. I think consistency is their issue. On some days, they did cook well. On some other days, it's just so you don't complain while finishing your meal (that's how it is today), but there are also days when their green chillies on the Dendeng tasted like raw leaves.

Staffs were courteous but haven't been able to show customer first mindset. So, service is slow as they can be seen bantering with one another while we waited for our urgent order, and they used some strange expression to cover the fact that certain dishes that we ordered was sold out.

Of course everyone should give this place a try, just don't fall for their politely delivered trick: a free cucumber ice (the moment you agreed to take this offer, the staff will deliver the condition: for you to write a Google review. Like what I am doing now. The ice is in front of me but I won't...