Medzs (Orchard Central)

Medz - Simply Mediterranean, a 200 seater restaurant at the basement of Orchard Central. Please see the photos at : http://mrupupup.blogspot.com/2012/05/medz-mediterranean-food-orchard-central.html

The selection of food was varied and the place is same in concept as Marche (choose your food and pay later via the card) and has 8 food stations. Love the beer selection. Beer with rosti is a great combination for dinner. Yummz.

Medz is essentially Marche but they have one stall representing the major European countries. Even their payment system is charged to a card and you just pay that card. 

As for the food, it's generally quite good. Between the few of us, we ordered: 

1) Rosti - this is nice. Same as Marche's. 

2) Calzone - its a folded pizza but the fillings had some type of fish so the taste was kinda fishy. :( 

3) Duck Confit - it didn't look very much but the taste is pretty good!! Easily the best dish of the night. 

4) Spanish Seafood Paella - it's pretty good too! I enjoyed it very much. 

5) Mussel Cream - the mussels didn't taste fishy but the cream soup has a slight bitter after-taste which I dunno why. 

6) Hotplate Beef Kebab - basically a hot-plate of beef slices with melted cheese over it. Again, it doesn't look very much but turned out to be very yummy!! 

It's definitely a place to return to with hubby as he is a fan of western cuisine and this is a one-stop shop to try a little bit of everything.

Medz is a 200 seater Mediterranean restaurant situated at Basement Two of Orchard Central.  The place offers a total of eight gourmet stations ranging from France to Morocco to Greece etc.  I had been there thrice , twice with friends and once with my family. Food was decent and not too bad for the price but one issue I solely had was the constant price increase after each respective visit? Nonetheless i shall let the pictures do the talking. Medz  had  a similar dining concept like Marche, just that the card given was much smaller, like your hotel room card ha ha.

Duck Confit ($12+)

The duck confit was cooked well as the skin had a nice colour and crisp to it while it was tender and moist on the inside, and not too salty at the same time. For 12 bucks it would be one the cheapest duck confits in town, and i have to admit it was pretty value for money considering it tasted not bad, The salad was alright as I loved the fact it was grated with some Parmesan. The Roasted Chicken with truffle sauce ($10+) was also pretty good as the portion of it was generous with half a chicken served, along with the truffle sauce which made the chicken quite flavorful. The additional side order of  Potato Salad ( $3+) was disappointing as I felt you could get better at half the price @ Ashtons.

Potato Rosti w Smoked Salmon ($8+)

The rosti was executed rather well being crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. Renee and Rae-Ann couldn't decide on what to eat so we had two same orders of rosti lol!. The smoked salmon given this time was rather generous comparing to the two pathetic slices of prosciutto I had the other time. But for $8 i had to say it was quite worth it as Marches rendition with toppings would cost more than $10 already!

The Chicken Paella ($12++) was a huge disappointment with the rice being mushy and lacking in flavor, the chicken was overcooked thus tough , coupled with the 45 minute wait for it really annoyed me. To make matters worse I had to check on the station several times before the buzzer went off.

From the Moroccan station,  I tried the Chicken Tajine  ($12+) with Israeli Couscous ($3+)

The Chicken Tajine definitely was the stand out dish for me that night. Chicken Tajine is also known as a Moroccan Chicken stew which would be slowly braised. The meat was braised to perfection as it was tender and melted in my mouth, along with the flavorful broth served with it was just orgasmic. The preserved olives served along with it were pretty nice also. The Israeli Couscous was  nothing to rave about, except that the portion of it was really huge.

From the Greece Station, Ryan ordered the Grilled Salmon( $14+). The portion of the salmon was quite pathetic to be honest as it looked a mere 100-120grams Salmon steak. Despite the skin having a nice crisp, the salmon was somewhat overcooked as I would have preferred my Salmon to be a little pink.

Thin crust Sea-bass Pizza ($7+)

J had the pizza on my 2nd visit there and on the 3rd visit i knew i had to try it! Surprisingly, the pizza disappointed on my most recent visit as it didnt taste great but it wasnt bad either ( maybe i was annoyed at the $2 increment)

Iskender Kebab ($9.90+)

The Iskender Kebab was also another stand out dish of the night. The meat consisted of a mixture of Lamb and Beef Doner kebabs which were freshly carved and cooked upon order.  I first chanced upon it when Nick Teo ordered it curiously on my 2nd visit. And after i had my first bite, i immediately ordered a second portion to share with J. The kebabs were served pipping hot as the wonderful spices such as cumin and coriander really brought it to another level. The meat carvings were nice and tender along with the crispy bread croutons and cheese which complemented the dish.  Becky ordered it on my most recent visit and she absolutely loved it! Mom complained that the lamb taste was too overpowering though ( those who do not like the smell of lamb would probably not like this dish ). The French onion soup ($5+) was bad as the soup was bland and too watery as  instant chicken or beef stock was probably used.

We ended of the meal with a smoothie of the day ($5.50 + ) which was really good for detox ha ha ha and quite refreshing, though the only thing i can remember about it that it was a peach smoothie. When we paid the bill the 25% discount that was ongoing with DBS sweetened the deal on top of the fact there was no service charge but only GST.

Overall Medzs serves pretty decent Mediterranean cuisine at affordable prices despite its hits and misses. But after being there three times I  really can't see myself returning for a fourth, especially  with the increasing prices and the 25% DBS promotion over. If anyone is dying to try Marche why not opt for Medz instead? I would gladly do so any day.

Click to view for photos

For photos, please visit Rubbish Eat Rubbish Grow.

Medzs serves a good selection of Mediterranean food and the setting is cozy and intimate with dim yellow lighting. A Marche-style of ordering. You get a card, find a table, go order. They give you a beeper and when your food is ready, the beeper rings and you go collect it. So much more civilized than queuing.

The roast chicken ($10), a French dish, served by a hot pinoy young chef, Francis, was amazing. I’m talking about the chicken, not Francis. Tender and smooth–still talking about the chicken here!–and steaming hot. The sauce was a bit on the bland side but that’s how French food is, a very bucolic feel. You can add salt but I liked the sauce as it was, very subtle and simple and homecooked.

Sat in front of the dessert section and saw the dessert chefs making the cakes in front of my eyes. A lady chef was carrying a gigantic silver pot of mixture and pouring it on the baking pan–wow. I don’t even think I have the muscles to do that. RESPECT. My respect for her means that I just had had had to order the chocolate souffle ($6.80) which comes with ice cream and vanilla sauce by the side.

This has got to be better than Pave Chocolate and Laurent’s Cafe. Granted that the ingredients that are used are inferior than Pave’s and Laurent’s, this is democratically priced at $6.80 compared to their ridiculously priced $20 souffles. Furthermore, the way it was handled was so much better. There were no sugar grains at the bottom of the souffle, only at the edges of the bowl. The souffle rose more naturally, as compared to the other two, and can actually deflated within 2 minutes. The taste was superior in the sense that the sugar powder on top didn’t dry out the tongue, which Pave’s did. The vanilla sauce by the side allows you to customize your own taste. However,the chocolate ice cream didn’t quite compliment the already chocolate souffle and it was slightly over baked. But I think the biggest plus point is that: although it wasn’t chocolatey enough, it wasn’t overly sweet either which gave it a very homecooked feel. I think it helps that the young male pastry chef was sprinkling the sugar powder so dedicatedly over the souffle. I really wish these two chefs–the male and female–go far.  I want to compliment these two chefs, well done! Your efforts are appreciated!

Although there wasn’t any servers, the people I came across were all friendly and polite.

Mr NGFL would call Medzs a “glorified kopitiam” but I think it’s more a “boutique canteen.” The difference is a “glorified kopitiam” is pretentious and overselling while “boutique canteen” is an unassuming value-for-money place where you can get good food. This place left an excellent impression on me all round, food, people, ambience. The only negative point is when I paid, the bill was rounded up (to the nearest 5 cents) when the usual practice is to round down. Come on, how much can the company lose if they round down?

Medzs works like marche, they give everyone a card & u are free to swipe the card. At the end of the meal, u make payment. I personally prefer Marche's ambience and environment, it makes me feel more cosy and homely! Most importantly, i visit marche for their ROSTI with sausage! Yet Medzs Rosti disappointed me.. When i ask for ham to go with the Rosti, guess what was i served with? A pathetic slice of awful tasting ham.. I should have stick with sausage instead. 

Overall it was still a good experience! 

Yeah so it is like the Shokudo/Marche concept but what really got me excited about this place was HOW DELICIOUS EVERYTHING SOUNDED, and the kitsch-ness of it all. Haha I want to go back just so I can try food from various countries, can't judge it on its authenticity but it'll suffice till I do visit those countries.

I had a fish and mushroom calzone from "Greece" that came with a salsa and side salad. The food did not take long to come ( I like the alarm idea) and am impressed with the care taken in presentation. The salad was good, and had capers in it...the salsa complemented the calzone and gave it more flavour. I like how it's not super greasy but to me the pastry was too crusty and thick. I liked the mushrooms though and fish as well. 

I actually bothered to fill in the feedback form! That means I will return with my family, the staff are quite blur though but whatever:) 

http://thechosenglutton.wordpress.com/2011/10/01/as-in-mediterranean-medzs/

Serving Mediterranean food (Turkish, Middle Eastern, Greek, French, Spanish, Italian..), Medzs can only be as appropriate for their restaurant name. I first read about this somewhere off the informative internet, and thought this needs to be tried out. It functions similar to that of Marché – a ‘credit card’ system where they basically swipe your card upon each order, so much that you just spend like it’s a buffet because you can’t see the figures (unless you calculate it on the spot). But that’s the beauty of it, enjoy now, worry later, haha. What’s better for Medzs is, they have an alarm system where it’ll vibrate and sound once your order is done. So that saves some energy of standing at the counter and waiting.

Oh yes – to add to that, they have the store names printed on it so you know where to go to, duh!

The ‘In-Use’ stone by the corner of the picture. It’s so cute we almost wanted to sneak it into our bag, pretending that it’s a souvenir for us for dining in. Heck, it suits the theme well, and it’s just good and cheap ideas but with substantial effect.

Salad Mix Platter ($6+) :: It’s no ordinary salad that I’ve tried. I love the Eggplant, and thought this is a good break from the main courses from time to time, with added Pita Bread ($3+) that we ordered.

Cod Fillet ($16+) :: Cod Fillet, the winning dish, hands down. I thought Marché’s grilled fishes weren’t too bad already, this was like, ‘Man, are you underpricing this?’ The mashed potato was amazing, and likewise for the fresh fish on ice, cooked to perfection. There is no doubt that I’ll be trying out other fishes on ice that they have. Must try.

Beef Hotplate with Lamb ($10.90+) :: Although the best combination of meat (oh yummy lamb and beef), it isn’t the best style cooked. I dislike the tomato-based nature (or anything tomato-based for the record, but still, enjoyed the smell and taste of the two awesome meat. If you don’t mind tomato, and love beef and lamb too, go for it.

Smoked Salmon Sandwich ($8.90+) :: Love the wedges, love the salmon, just not the sandwich. It was too hard and not too nice to bite and swallow. I wouldn’t recommend any sandwiches here.

Panfried Duck Leg Confit ($12+) :: I am drooling as we are speaking here. The meat was just well done, and the gravy, to die for. If there is one dish that you must order, it’s the Cod Fillet, and the Duck Leg Confit. Oh wait, that’s two, but who cares!

Just a warning that if you’re a first timer there, do not be overwhelmed by the choices you have – you’ll be spoilt for choices. Like I was. We literally walked round and round a couple of times before deciding to each order at least a dish and then we share. Can’t describe how blissful the feeling was when you were like having the whole restaurant to yourself. Hate the crowd, yes. Thank god it was empty when we were there.

Don’t you just love the design of it all. Furthermore, they have this 5% Bar that serves hundreds of different international beer. If you already have a beer belly, think no more and give it a try. The bar front is magnificent.

So even though not everything here is awesome, most are. Topped with the fact that it’s affordable. It’s a full 3 stars (✰✰✰) for me. I’m in the process of converting this to my new home (replacing Marché).

—> Note #1: When you’re done with your meal, proceed to the exit counter for payment with the Medzs card (don’t go asking for bill).

—> Note #2: Service charge is waived. So if you’re intending to calculate up the bill before heading over to the counter, remember to exclude the 10% Service Charge.

For full review and pictures please visit knockonfood

Works on the same concept as Marche, but not as crowded and expensive, with decent food. The Turkey station with hotplates and kebabs were the most popular with my friends and they were getting a lot of business too. Extensive collection of foreign beers that are going for 1for1 is a good deal. Will come back for their duck confit some day!

On a previous, separate occasion I popped by for dessert and had something very similar to the creme brulee; it was topped w/ a strawberry, & it was, caramel-something? You can't miss it. Anyway, point is, it was pretty decent, so I decided to return for something more substantial the next time. My dad recently returned from overseas & I figured, why not have lunch here since I work just opposite OC?

I had the duck confit while my dad had the pork collar, both from the French station. We also had juice - I had the Cool Quencher & my dad had apple + carrot. For dessert, my dad had the brownie, which I felt was a tad dry despite the chocolate sauce dribbled on it. It was pretty dense though, but not as rich as I expected. My (first) bread+butter pudding on the other hand, was pleasant - it went well w/ the accompanying vanilla sauce, & hit just the right degree of sweetness and density.

My (second) duck confit was almost like they reviewed it to be in 8 Days Crave, crispy and salty, but tender & delish inside. The sauce & salad IMO really complimented the slight but noticeable saltiness. I tried my dad's pork collar, and it was tender as well, & cut in sort-of-cubes. Didn't try his salad; my dad finished it while I was working my way through the duck confit, which was, TBH, pretty difficult for me to cut cuz it wasn't easy to #1 cut through the crispy skin #2 cut around the duck leg bone. >.>

To end it all off, we found out later to our surprise there was a 25% off for all DBS/POSB cardmembers (debit, credit, & even NETS!), which brought our original bill from $48++ to $36++. Had I known earlier I would've gone more than once this month! Pity tomorrow's the last day. ): Oh well, I guess I'll have to try one of their weekday lunches instead then!

Service-wise, the Chinese lady at the dessert counter was very helpful; she helped my dad get some toothpicks since there was no service staff in sight when we sat in front of the dessert counter. As for the French & Juice counters, they weren't as prompt or initiative as the dessert lady, but were helpful when queried nonetheless.

for photos and more reivews, visit http://littlemomentsofmylife.wordpress.com/ (:

i wish i'd come to this restaurant when it first opened!!!! it was a super good deal okay, 50% with $100 spent. like OMGOSH. but then again when i went there, it was still really affordable!!! :D so happy! us four girls shared 4 dishes, and after the 25% discount with DBS/POSB card, we each only paid $6.60!!! wow! so amazing. and the food & ambience was good too! (: it's kind of marche-style, where you carry around a card to order food. and here you don't have to stand there and wait for your food to finish cooking, cos they give you this cool device which will light up when your food is ready. so while you're waiting for one dish, you can either go back to your seat or hunt for more food xD haha. btw the food here is Mediterranean! cool! (:

the first dish we had was the rosti with sour cream ($4), to which we added italian parma ham for an additional $2. i love the slight crispness of the potato and the dollop of sour cream on it. the quantity of parma ham was disappointing - two stringy pieces of it, all buried under the sour cream. but then again, what could we expect for an extra $2? haha. it was tasty though (:

probably the most yummy-looking stall was the kebabs stall, from which we ordered the hot plate chicken with cheese and mushroom ($6) and added on three slices of pita bread for $2. we were completely attracted by how the huge loaves of pita bread looked (: the hot plate sizzled excitedly and i loved the melt-y oozy layer of cheese atop the chicken and mushroom. the pita bread was nice too, tasty like the crusty base of a pizza! (:

we also had the chicken and vegetable paella, which was a flavourful mixture of soft rice, chicken and mixed vegetables like peppers and green peas.

finally, we had the veal sausage ($10), a generously portioned chunky delicious sausage that came with a bed of salad and a yummy tasting sauce (: