Mamounia – Lush flavours of the Middle East and more
PUBLISHED April 3rd, 2013 12:43 am | UPDATED May 9th, 2018 03:13 am
Being one of the few restaurants in Singapore to actually serve decent Middle eastern food it’s been long overdue that I share with all you Nomads about this find on Ann Siang Road.
Located just below the bar Screening Room restaurant, Mamounia is a cozy 40 seat restaurant with elegant but simple furnishings. Somewhere perfect for a business lunch or a good dinner out with friends before venturing around the area in search of drinks. There’s also a very groovy looking bedouin style lounge in the basement.
Being the ‘chatam’ (arabic for piggy) that I am, and faced with the prospect of so much of what is probably my favourite cuisine, I started by ordering 2 platter just for myself, mwahaha:
These platters are a great way to get an introduction to the specific cuisine, and of course are great for sharing over a glass (or 4) of wine. There are 3 platters on the menu, with one of them (The Fertile Crescent) being entirely vegetarian.
Starting with the Flavours of the Maghreb ($20 1 person platter, $38 2 person platter, or individual servings $8-12), it was the Chicken bas’tilla that stole the show – shredded chicken with coriander pesto stuffed inside pastry triangle. Strong, authentic flavours and succulent meat to fall apart on your tongue. As for other bites, expect yummy merguez sausages, juicy prawns in a spicy tomato sauce and a very flavourful choukchouka (sometimes spelt shakshuka). The harira soup is particularly good.
Moving further east to the Flavours of the Levant ($18 1 person, $34 for 2, individual servings $8-12). This platter was probably my favourite. Aside from the hummus, every dish was excellent. The dolmeh tasted like ones I’d had in Haifa years before and the lamb kibbeh was plump and juicy the with crunchy pine nuts giving a gorgeous textural addition. As for the chicken drumstick, cooked perfectly – crisp skin surrounding tender flesh. Yum! Just wish there had been some garlic-yoghurt dip for the meat. Would have made it perfect.
As for the mains…if you’re a meat-lover, this is somewhere you’re going to like a lot. The portions are true middle east style, big cuts.. None of this bite-sized-Arab-Street-‘kebab’ nonsense.
See picture of my delicious Lamb kefta kebab ($31) for an example. It’s tender, herby, spicy – though perhaps a little overwhelming on the chili flakes blended in. But totally one for the lamb lovers. Served on a bed of butter rice with a side of grilled veggies typical of the region and a selection of harissa chili sauce or garlic yoghurt dip, it is truly a complete dish.
On a second visit, I also had the pleasure of trying the Lamb tagine (Can you tell I like lamb yet?) – Tender lamb and merguez in a flavoursome cinnamon, cumin and dry fruit stock (unfortunately not as thick as I would have liked), served with a fluffy side of couscous. Finding good tagine in Singapore seems to be folly most of the time, but Gattopardo and Mamounia, perhaps there is hope after all.
Despite my going on about meat, Mamounia is actually very vegetarian friendly and there’s plenty of options if you swing that way.
Moving on to dessert, I would highly recommend the Mahalabia ($15). The perfect end to the meal… think soft greek-style yoghurt topped with fresh apple, pomegranate, raisins and pineapple with a hint of rosewater. Light, refreshing and elegant.
Mamounia has evoked a hope in me the good Middle Eastern food is possible in Singapore, and this gem of a restaurant on Ann Siang is leading the change.
Written by The City Nomad over 2 visits.
(1 paid for by City Nomads, 1 compliments of Mamounia)
