Nestled along the busy street of PanglimaPolim, Mama Goose has been on my radar for quite some time now, especially after I heard rave reviews about its gyu tan don (ox tongue on rice). Disgusting as it may sound, I have a thing for ox tongue, also known as lengua in Mexican, perhaps because it is one of the few dishes that reminds me about good old times in Melbourne. For those Indo-Melbournians out there, this dish has been compared to the legendary Menya’s gyu tan don.

Unfortunately, not many restaurants in Jakarta serve gyu tan don with the meat stir-fried. Most of the lengua in town is barbecued – not that I dislike grilled ox tongue but stir-frying allows it to retain more moisture. We finally have the chance to give Mama Goose a go last Wednesday. Not very crowded, given that it is on weekdays when traffic to Panglima Polim can be a pain. However, for those who prefer to dine in a non-smoking area, you might want to consider making reservation as the non-smoking section seats merely 25 people max.

With its simple decorations, Mama Goose spells off a modern rustic vibe which suits its casual dining theme. It also offers you with indoor and outdoor experience. A no-brainer for us, air-conditioned-reliant people. It only took us a second to come into an agreement to stay indoors. Its menu selection is limited, though it does offer standard choices such as beef, chicken, fish and pasta.

We had a few appetizers but only one of them is worth mentioning – the Mama’s Southern Chicken (boneless wings served with grilled watermelon pickle and chipotle corn). Now, this is not a standout starter, but it managed to get into our not-too-bad list. The fried chicken was cooked perfectly; crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, while not being too greasy. Our main problem with the dish is that the so-called pickle tasted like a normal watermelon and I’m pretty sure it was not grilled either. This was kind of disappointing as the watermelon was precisely why we ordered this dish in the first place.

The others; Asian Style Calamari and Shrimp Cakes were very forgettable. And, I would not recommend the Crab Meat Rolls at all.

Finally comes the much anticipated gyu tan don! My first impression was that it looks like a wetter version of Menya’s gyu tan don. For the taste, it could do better with lesser salt content. Don’t get me wrong, the beef was soft and had a buttery like texture. For those who are not aware, 70% of beef tongue’s calories is from its fat content! PrincessFiona better steer clear of this dish. But maybe I have been spoilt by Melbourne exceptional gyu tan don, but Mama Goose’s version was not very impressive.  That being said, I would still order this again in the future when I miss Menya’s gyu tan don so much that I will settle for an inferior substitute.

Surprisingly, the Dory with Lemon Caper Butter fared better, in my opinion. The fish was seasoned well and perfectly cooked.

Overall, it would be a lie to say that I was not disappointed with the gyu tan don but I have to agree that it is a decent restaurant to hang out and catch up with some friends. One big plus for this restaurant is that, for its food quality and cosy ambience, prices are very reasonable.

Food: |***  |           Ambience: |***  |         Price: |$$   |

Opening Hours: Mon-Thurs (10.30am – 11.00pm), Fri-Sun (10.30am – 1.00am)

Location: Jalan Panglima Polim IX No. 16, Jakarta Selatan

Phone: (021) 722 9292

Posted by AliceinWonderland