It feels good that something is always opening. There is no better time to try new places when they open for a few days but before the busy lunch crowds flock to crowd the place yet. There is much need for something new, not necessarily different, in this part of town. M&N Cafe's location is a little strange -- you can see it when the buses pass through every now and again, but it's a lot at a place in between two major bus stops. Unless you're getting off from a cab, otherwise diners are expected to walk (and in the sun) to get to it. M&N Cafe gives comfort to a 'Western style; Restaurant. On a very sunny day natural light is borrowed from the outside through the big windows facing the bustling traffic. Diners who refused to feel naked being watched what they're eating or doing can choose the booths along the two sides. Lunch sets run from $48 to $78 plus 10% service charge. There is an "executive lunch set" which goes more than $100. For the first trial, my experimental instinct drove me into trying the Grilled NZ Ribeye, served with japaleno gravy ($78). For the first course I always loved soup, but chose salad instead. Salad of the day was tuna, and while I fretted over whether it's going to be an entire scoop like savory ice-cream of tuna bits adhered in mayonnaise, it arrived with a green salad as base, topped with that mayo-laden tuna. The fish itself was alright, but it's the crisp salad greens with a light vinaigrette that made the cut. Garlic bread was not laden with garlic, but the faint aroma combined with butter was good enough, afterall, who wouldn't like a piece of crisp toast to start?The arrival of the ribeye reminded me that I have not declared my preference for steak, but it looked like it doesnt matter, because they did steak all the same. The person in the next table ordered medium rare and was given the exact same doneness as mine (which is just about 80% cooked). The meat itself wasn't very good, except how meaty it is (but not in the meaty sense of taste). It seemed to have lost flavour over the marination (suspicious of baking soda). The jalapeno 'gravy' tasted fine, the heat did not induce a bee-sting sharpness, and it's comforting to know that the gravy was not very salty either. The only that did not pose a problem was the checkered potato fries which were very crispy, but that could be done as long as there is temperature control and hot oil. The coffee didn't give any surprises at the end. Was it not very good? No. It was just not over the top good. It's often disappointing when you became hopeful about a new place only did they fail to deliver. Looking over the $48 salad option were not nearly as crisp and fresh looking as the house salad. They don't have browned edges, but they wilted slightly in appearance, and it's not warm salad to be specific...This place should attract some crowds who lunch and don't mind the location. The ambience of the place is perfectly fine, if the music can be turned down a little. After all, it's classic rock they're playing...…Read More
