Mamou 5 — Restaurant in Makati

I don't typically write reviews, but our experience at this restaurant, located near Greenbelt 5, compelled me to share. While mistakes can happen—and we understand that—how staff handles those mistakes speaks volumes about the establishment's values. Unfortunately, this was where the restaurant fell short.

I wasn’t at this restaurant just for the food. I came to spend quality time with friends I hadn’t seen in over 10 years. What should have been a memorable evening of good conversations and shared laughs was overshadowed by poor service and dismissive treatment from the staff.

Two of our orders—a pasta and a salad—were missed. When we brought this to the attention of Nathan, who appeared to be a manager or senior staff member, his response was dismissive and condescending. Instead of apologizing or taking ownership, he denied any error and made us feel as though we were in the wrong for even bringing it up. His tone and demeanor made us feel unwelcome, as though we didn’t belong there—possibly because of how we were dressed or perceived. This left us feeling humiliated and devalued as customers.

Just for context, we were served our steaks before our greens and appetizers. It didn’t make sense, and the staff didn’t even bother to check or address the issue until we brought it up ourselves. This completely disrupted the flow of our meal.

When we followed up about the missing orders, Nathan’s approach felt indifferent, as though it was more of a hassle for him than an issue to resolve for us. His attitude came across as if he was asking, “Do you even want it at this point?” rather than offering a genuine solution.

As we were about to leave and paying our bill, Nathan continued to insist that no mistake had been made, dismissing our concerns entirely. It felt like he was more focused on being right than acknowledging the inconvenience caused.

Some of our friends even had to share their meals while waiting for the missing dishes. By the time they finally arrived—just as we were finishing—the experience had already been ruined. While the steak was fine, it was far from exceptional, making the premium pricing feel unjustified.

The issues didn’t end there. Plates and serving dishes were left uncleared, forcing us to shuffle things around ourselves while eating. Nobody checked on us to see if we needed water or anything else, and we left thirsty, having to stop elsewhere for drinks afterward.

Before leaving, I shared our feedback with Tala, another staff member. She was polite and seemed genuinely receptive to our concerns, which we appreciated, but by then, the damage had been done.

If you’re looking for a restaurant that values its customers and provides professional service, I cannot recommend this place. Mistakes can be forgiven, but the dismissive, condescending attitude of Nathan, paired with the lack of attentiveness from the staff, made this one of the most unpleasant dining experiences we’ve had. If you just want to spend money, this...

We ordered a variety of food, with the steak and lobster as the main picks. I must say though that I was most impressed with the complimentary bread basket with perfectly softened butter, and the starter salad (Healdsberg something something). And I mean this as a genuine compliment because I am not really big on eating “grass,” hahaha!

Nef was also lovely and patient, so we had a pleasant dinner and good family photos. And perhaps it’s his experience speaking, but he was also considerate enough to offer things like splitting our soup orders into portions.

The restaurant ambience is also great; the place seems to be well maintained enough that even the menus feel pristine and freshly printed, and the restaurant itself is filled with lively chatter—quiet groups might find that part a bit tricky, haha!

As for the food, there were a lot of unique menu items without being too unfamiliar or experimental, which I personally appreciate. It’s unfortunate though that they didn’t have the whole wheat pasta option tonight.

The steak rice strangely tasted a lot like ajitama marinade, which led us to think they either use Kikkoman soy sauce, mirin, or both. Wouldn’t say that’s a bad thing though! Just worth noting, especially for those who are very particular with their steak and its accompanying sides.

The least impressive item on our spread is probably the broccoli with cottage cheese; I honestly expected the broccoli would be coated evenly with the cheese, not blanched and just topped with charred (?) cottage cheese. I might have guessed wrong, but I just mean to say it felt lacking for me.

Perhaps something I should also point out is that the drinks menu isn’t part of the menu handed out. I’m not sure if there’s a separate drinks menu, but we didn’t have it. We did see fruit shakes and sodas being served out, and there IS a literal bar inside, so I’m sure they have plenty of choices.

Overall, I would say it was a good experience. Definitely a good choice for get-togethers and celebrations where you just want to come together and don’t really want to put in too much effort doing...

Visited in October 2024. Philippines. Makati.

Nestled in the heart of Makati, within the Greenbelt 3 mall, Mamou 5 restaurant boasts a lovely terrace with lush greenery. We initially chose this restaurant based on their enticing Instagram photos, hoping to indulge in Alaskan crab, but unfortunately, it was a seasonal offering.

Food:

The menu, while compact, features a blend of local and European flavors. We sampled two dishes, including the Salmon with Vegetable Rice and the Lobster Roll. We asked for a double portion of lobster in the roll, as the standard 60g seemed rather modest. The meal also came with fries and additional sauces: mayonnaise and ketchup. The lobster itself was decently cooked, though I would have preferred a softer, more creamy texture rather than the slightly rubbery. The lack of any accompanying sauces made it feel like a simple lobster in a bun, rather than a balanced composition. Adding mayonnaise or ketchup to lobster felt sacrilegious, especially since it was offered as a separate condiment. The fries were perfectly fried and seasoned. The salmon, however, was unremarkable. It had an overly fishy flavor and a denser texture than I prefer. I generally enjoy salmon cooked medium, as its natural tenderness is exquisite. However, I suspect that the defrosting process had slightly compromised its texture, resulting in a slightly tougher fish. The side of vegetables, however, was a standout. The crisp vegetables were perfectly seasoned and a far more enjoyable part of the meal than the fish itself.

Service:

The service was adequate, but ordering proved a bit challenging. There was a sense that our server struggled with English and required frequent clarification. While the food took around 20-25 minutes to arrive, this is an acceptable waiting time.

In conclusion:

Mamou restaurant boasts a beautiful terrace and a pleasant ambiance, but the food left us underwhelmed. The side dishes were our favorite components, while the main courses paled...