“Nothing fancy, simply good food” – that’s the promise from Maria’s and I was there recently to check this out. The steak cafe in Metropolitan Square, Damansara Perdana is cosy and comfortable. There’s a homely feel to the place, perhaps due to the checkered table cloths covering the dark wood tables. Service is friendly, efficient and pleasant.
My dinner starts with their Spicy Mussels (RM22) – 6 plump mussels smothered with a spicy tomato-based sauce. The thick sauce is very flavourful and it’s a good thing garlic bread is served with this as I would otherwise have found it a bit too salty.
Between the Fresh Mushroom Soup (RM9.50) and Fresh Oxtail Soup (RM20) with garlic bread, I totally prefer the latter. The piping hot oxtail soup is boiled from scratch every day and the whole process takes half a day! It’s no wonder then that the soup contains all the best elements of robust tastiness. The herbs and spices used are perfectly balanced, nothing too overwhelming to allow the natural sweet beefy flavours come through. The chunks of oxtail meat are well boiled with a good bite remaining in the texture and gelatinous at the tendons. Yes, definitely a must-order, this soup.
The stars at Maria’s are of course their steaks. A special dry rub of spices is used to marinate the meats and the result is a delightful blend of tasty coating on the steaks. The steaks here are served sans sauce with roasted potatoes and simple sautéed vegetables on the side. And that’s the best way to savour them – taking in the pure unadulterated bovine goodness without much embellishment.
Both the Australian Ribeye (RM60) and Wagyu 5 (RM80/100g) are grilled just right, according to my preferred “medium rare” done-ness. The edges have a nice smokey crust while the insides ooze pink juices from the tender meat.
If you are not too keen on beef, then the New Zealand Baby Lamb Cutlets (RM54) is a good alternative. Three tender cutlets, marinated in the same dry rub and grilled to a beautiful medium done-ness… can’t get any better than that!
Desserts at Maria’s cover several choices of own-baked cakes and their popular Tiramisu (RM15). It’s a good rendition – the Tiramisu is topped with crunchy chopped nuts and has a decent amount of liquor in it. The Prune Cake at RM9.50 a slice, is moist and buttery – good for those who like unfussy rustic cakes.
Maria’s Steak Cafe
C313A Level 3
2 Jalan PJU 8/1
Centre Wing, Metropolitan Square
Damansara Perdana
47820 Petaling Jaya
Tel: 03-7725-2313