Mann Hann used to be one of those restaurants we would keep coming back to. If my family and I happened to be at SM Megamall and wanted Chinese food, Mann Hann was always one of our go-to places. I always remembered this restaurant for its good food, and the long queues that formed outside its Megamall branch especially during peak hours, which also caught the attention of passers-by. As the years passed, however, our "friendship" with Mann Hann slowly began to fade, especially as we began to discover other new or interesting restaurants. It seemed as though Mann Hann had forever vanished from our consciousness.
Just yesterday, however, we decided to rekindle our relationship with this restaurant chain, which first opened its first location along Wilson Street in San Juan in 1994. I don't even remember the last time we ate here, but all I know is that it's been years. The feeling of stepping into Mann Hann's SM Megamall branch again after so long seemed similar to seeing an old friend again after such a long time, and you just want to fill each other in on what you've missed all these years. That, and you also find out new things about that friend of yours that you'd either love or hate.
Unlike our previous visits to this restaurant years back, we were immediately seated at a table. We didn't have to wait in line anymore, which was weird considering we were there during the dinner hours, and on a Saturday (right after payday!) too. I can't really tell for sure but it could either be because: (1) they've opened up more branches, or (2) they're no longer as popular as they used to be.
I also recall the service here being a bit slow, and that certainly was the case when we ate here again. The serving time here was 5-10 minutes longer compared to some of the other restaurants we've been to. I guess some things never change. Also, I wish they'd just serve our food in one go--I just hate having to keep waiting in anticipation for our other orders to come in.
One side of their menu displays their selection of Chinese dishes...
...and the other side shows the Filipino food selection of their sister restaurant Mannang, which is located right next door. Diners at either restaurant can cross-order, so you can enjoy both Chinese and Filipino food in one visit.
3-pieces Hakaw for our "appetizer". I don't understand how they don't offer this in 4 pieces, which is pretty much the norm in other Chinese restaurants.
The serving size of their Garlic Kangkong (P175), on the other hand, was decent.
The Steamed Fish Fillet was good and flavorful.
The Spicy Spareribs (P260) wasn't even spicy at all, but it was still good nonetheless.
My brother and I loved the Chinese Style Beef Tenderloin (P290). This one was my favorite among the ones that we ordered. It tasted sweet, and it somehow reminds me of tocino.
What's a visit to a Chinese restaurant without Yang Chow Fried Rice (P280)?
The food was good, just as I how I remembered it--nothing to complain about here. If there's something I have to complain about, however, it would definitely have to be the service. The waiters need to be trained better. There didn't seem to be a "system" in place so it was pretty chaotic, with the waiters just running around everywhere. In other restaurants, waiters would be assigned to specific tables so that they could pay better attention to the guests under their care. Because of this, the guests wouldn't really know who to call specifically if they needed anything, and the waiters would just pass on the tasks to the others if they've got their hands full. The couple seated at the table next to us had to call the attention of the waiters several times before someone finally took their order. The two women seated at the other table also next to us received food on their table that they never even ordered in the first place. We had to call the attention of four or so different waiters several times before we finally got the four glasses of water we asked for when our orders were being taken--and we didn't get the glasses of water until more than halfway into the meal already! Also, during our stay, there was just so much chaos going in the kitchen and service area, too (we were seated near the kitchen and service area where the waiters brought the used dishes). Pots and pans falling to the floor, glasses breaking--just imagine how chaotic it was!
For a place that serves good food, the level of service was certainly very, very disappointing. Clearly the management has a big role to play in turning things around. I'm not sure if this is also true for their other branches, but what we experienced at SM Megamall was quite a turn-off. Never mind if the food is really good--they have to be consistent in all aspects. You can't have good food and crappy service, nor can you have good service but crappy food. It just doesn't work that way.
I think I won't be returning to this place for a while. Not until they get their act together.
Mann Hann
Lower Ground Floor, SM Megamall
Sundays-Thursdays: 10:00 am-9:00 pm; Fridays and Saturdays: 10:00 am-10:00 pm
we just ate there last week the service is so terrible i dont want to bad mouth it but base on our experience we wont be back ever again on that place.
ReplyDelete