One of the establishments that I was looking forward to check out — Madass had just opened its doors recently at Change Alley; the concept being one that is brought by the same folks behind Mad About Sucre. Unlike its more upscale sister at Teo Hong Road that serves up more gourmet-style plates alongside their intricate entremets, Mad Ass is a concept that is poised more towards the average office worker — conveniently located at Change Alley just right beside the 6 Oz Espresso Bar outlet there, Mad Ass is a destination that is suited as a lunch option for a hearty meal, as much as it is a spot for sweet treats in the mid-afternoon and a bar to wind-down after a work day with a menu of dinner plates and alcohol to go along.
Visited them during the afternoon for their lunch service — the menu comprises of lunch bowls which is somewhat similar to the concept of grain bowls; though more of an elevated experience overall. Patrons can pick between the various proteins offered; our choice being the Grilled Fresh Wild-Caught Prawn, while patrons also get the flexibility to choose between Quinoa, Cauli Rice and Brown Rice (i.e. Wild Rice) for no additional costs, or go for the Soba for an additional dollar. Going for the Wild Rice option (also listed in the menu as Brown Rice), this was a tasty mix of white, brown and black rice that is being executed in various style (think steamed, poached and puffed) for a variance of texture — there is this slightly savoury hint of flavours with a bit of crunch going on which makes it extremely easy to finish as it barely felt monotonous; pretty addictive to have on their own. The grilled wild-caught prawns were certainly fresh as they deemed them in its namesake; loved how easy it was to de-shell the prawns, and how the prawns were plump, succulent and naturally sweet on their own — all that, with a hint of smokiness from being grilled which adds on further to the entire dish. The greens included, such as the broccoli, carrot and cauliflower adds to the wholesomeness of the dish; providing a crunch and neutral note amidst the carbs and protein.
Being an extension of the Mad About Sucre branding, Madass is an attempt to bring Mad About Sucre to the masses — the menu offers something that is less over-the-top and more relatable, whilst catering to the office worker and without compromise to the execution and quality of the produce that they source. The result is something different from the Mad About Sucre experience; not exactly cheap, but quality dishes that suits the demographics of the locality amidst the more casual setting that works as a dining option for lunch for those willing to splurge a little for lunch. Operating hours are currently only from Monday to Friday; though they do intend to serve breakfast some time soon. That being said, I am looking forward to return for their dinner menu that features sharing plates — seems to be great to have with the cocktails that they offer. All the best to the folks at Madass/Mad About Sucre for their new venture and all that has to come!
