contemporary | bigbitelittlebite

Time of visit: 1. Dinner, June 2013 2. Dinner, June 2014
Price: +$20
Location: Unit #104-8580 Cambie Road, Richmond, BC V6X 4J8
Website: http://www.momabistro.com/index.html

Dorothy’s POV

Following the closure (due to the retirement of the previous owners) of the previous italian restaurant (which I have since forgotten the name of), two chefs – Chef Henry Mok and Chef Xin Mao – have taken over and now serve French and Italian cuisine with a twist.

In the time that Moma has been open, I have had the chance to visit it twice. For me, it’s not a place I’d go often as it’s not exactly affordable for a student. However, it’s an excellent place to eat at for special occasions (such as my birthday).

Moma, being a contemporary bistro, serves very modern and unique dishes. For the first visit, I had the steamed clams for the appetizer (or “small dish” as they call it) and foie gras with a potato and fresh greens salad for my second visit. The clams is made in japanese style as it is served in a sake-miso broth. I really enjoyed the strong alcohol taste although that may not be the case for everyone. Needless to say, the bowl was licked clean (figuratively). Now for the foie gras.. For those who don’t know, foie gras is either duck or goose liver that has been fattened up. I certainly don’t enjoy the idea of that but the product is absolutely amazing. I being a big fan of foie gras, had no trouble picking my appetizer for my second visit. However, it is not an item in their regular menu. It falls under “weekly special” so I was very lucky to be able to try it. The greens were slightly sour, perfect for increasing one’s appetite. The potato salad was also very good as it was warm and seasoned just right. I ALWAYS save the best for last therefore the foie gras is saved until the end. To my surprise, the portion was quite big for the price that I paid ($17 if I remember correctly). The foie gras was cooked to perfection. Words cannot describe how heavenly that dish is. If you get a chance, try it out – You will not be disappointed!

Now for the main dishes (or “large dish” as they call it). I had the 10oz grilled angus rib eye both times but the appearance of the dish varied. During my first visit, the steak was cut into strips and was thicker than it was wide, with the chimichurri (green sauce made of finely chopped parsley, minced garlic, olive oil, oregano, and vinegar. The sauce was an excellent compliment with the steak. My only complain about the sauce is that it seemed stronger than my last visit which overpowered the flavor of the steak. Surprisingly they managed to keep the prices the same after a whole year and still maintain their high quality of beef. The side (which is asparagus lightly seasoned) was also surprisingly pleasant. My dad who normally dislikes greens finished all his asparagus and the leftovers of my sister. I recommend this 10/10.

Now for the best part, DESSERT! My two choices were macarons and molten chocolate cake. However, macarons are no longer an option on the menu. I wanted to try the tiramisu but unfortunately they were out (also a weekly special). The macarons were quite interesting as there was three different flavors. If I remember correctly, they should’ve been rose, green tea and earl grey. As for the lava cake, I was slightly disappointed; Not in the flavor, but because it was slightly overcooked so no chocolate came flowing out. The cake was very rich and I was veeeery satisfied.

If you plan on visiting Moma, I recommend it 100%. Take a chance, you won’t regret it!