Review Bad Mama - Sydney

Amazing interior, great drinks and vibes. I had a fun night out with friends. Friendly staff and great service. Food was 50/50 Between amazing and room for improvement. Buttered, fried fish, soooooo good. But I will definitely be back for more.

Quirky venue. Very cute rooms. Staff/customer service was patchy and overall average. Very average Cocktails ("too". The sweet one was way too sweet, the spicy was was too spicy). Won't be back

Bad Mama's is an odd Japanese-fusion venue with nice music. Food is okay if you're looking for a Western-style version of Asian food, & drinks were decent especially before 6pm with some happy hour specials. However, a good customer experience was essentially non-existent. When booking, we were not notified of the 1hr 45min seating time and only became aware of it when we were about to order. We were not provided plates or cutlery with our entrees - when we requested it, we were instructed to use some of the soup spoons in the share dishes, rather than providing us each new ones. The reason? They didn't have enough (note that this was at 5:30pm)! Odd, but we went along with it. We ordered our mains after and had half of the dishes come out first. By the time the rest of our mains had come out, there was only 5 minutes to go until the 1hr 45min was up. However, one of the other staff members could tell we wouldn't finish in time due to the delay in the food arrival, and so let us know we could stay for an extra 15 minutes on top of the allocated seating time. This person was very nice about it, though, it did seem like they were confused about a few things throughout the night. Just 5 minutes over the seating time, while we were still eating, the other staff member (who didn't want to give us enough spoons per person) essentially forced our table out, but not before asking if we "ordered our dishes late". Unsure of how this is a necessary question to ask your patrons when she can firstly check when our order went through, but also, secondly it shouldn't be up to customers to shove their food down quickly due to a delay in the kitchen. Either way, they just took our food without us asking to and put it in a takeaway box to get us to leave despite us letting that staff member know we had been reallocated extra time. Confusing, uncaring behaviour altogether without the experience of good food on top. 10/10 would not go again.

Nice place but a bit smaller space. The food and drinks and service are nice. A bit pricey.

Interior is amazing and some of the food items are delicious and innovative. Staff however are not professional and are inattentive. While we were there they misplaced some orders from other tables. When we arrived we had to wait for quite some time and we thought they are short on staff. But after sitting downstairs, we noticed some of the staff just chat around. It is a shame that such a nice venue is let down by a few staff members.

Nice atmosphere. Unfortunately the chicken popcorn was so peppery, it was inedible and was covered in peppercorns. The dumplings were tasty it was just a shame the bao buns were soggy and lacked sauce. Vibes were great but would not recommend if you're hungry and after a satisfying dinner.

Food was decent but on the pricier side. Cocktails were nice. Good interior it’s a small space to work with but they manage it well. Main issue was wanting customers to use the QR code to order, which was somewhat challenging as there was no internet or reception downstairs

Great atmosphere and delicious food, I'd recommend getting the sliders and duck pancakes. Dessert options are very limited but The Gooey chocolate fondant is a good choice.

My friends and I came across this restaurant bar for the first (and last) time a week ago. We were drawn by the beautifully inspired Japanese decor, with an artist’s touch. <br/><br/>However, our experience at Mamasan was extremely disappointing. The host and waiters failed to mention that there would be a 11% gratuity surcharge because we sat at a table instead of a bar. We were happy to have drinks at the table but the host insisted we sit at the bar. When I went to pay for my drink I was not happy to hear about the extra 11% I had to pay. The waiter said that it was mentioned on the menu. Upon observation, it was written in a small and discreet font down the bottom. <br/><br/>When I mentioned to one the waiters (dark middle parted hair, no personality fella) he rudely replied “all establishments in Sydney have a 11% gratuity surcharge. It’s the norm”. <br/><br/>One of friends also ordered a bottle of wine. Her first two choices were shot down with a “sorry we don’t have that one in stock”. The waiter then insisted that she try a cheaper wine - which turned out to be even more expensive than the ones she had chosen! <br/><br/>Needless to say, I will never be coming back to Mamasan; an overpriced, misleading and pompous establishment; an embodiment of everything wrong with Sydney.

The food was not bad but to be honest, it wasn’t worth it for the amount that we paid. My friend ordered the natural oysters that cost $3.50 per piece and each oyster was probably the size of a one dollar coin.<br/><br/>Honestly, portion size is probably their only problem. The service was good and the vibes were nice. Not sure if I would go back though...

Walking past Mamasan, a glance at the menu had us hooked with the duck pancakes. Adding to this the Fish on Fire (salmon) and chilli greens, we had a fine meal going.

Worst nigiri I’ve ever had. Didn’t use sushi rice and the fish taste like gum. Even worse than the ones at foodcourt. Pork bun is exactly what you can get at Chinese shops except it’s pricy. Would not recommend the food here.

The food is poor for a person who loves Chinese or Japanese cuisine. They didn’t even use the correct rice for nigiri. The sashimi is not fresh to the point that it is worse than your local sushi roll shop. Would not recommend or come back again.

We booked Mamasan for a weeknight family catch up with 4 people in total. First impression is this place started as a bar that tries too hard to be quirky and different with a food menu lacking in dazzling dishes. The decor of the whole restaurant is a bit like an art installation. The positive to our night were the drinks that everyone was impressed by. however there are more negatives than positives. First being we had to flag down a waiter to take our drinks/food order 15-20 mins after being seated. We heard the "wait a sec" even though the venue was quiet. Food was okay and it's best like a tapas dining experience with the standout being duck pancakes. However, the toilets were undergoing maintenance and later in the night a eftpos issue made us wait 40 minutes to pay a bill. The owner was apologetic after we complained after 20 minute mark but we were the ones to suggest a condolence drink (one was given to me the person who complained).  Not in a rush to go back. I can imagine it being a different vibe on a friday or saturday night where people are focused on social drinking.

👅Taste-wise : standard.<br/>💰Price-wise : kinda expensive.<br/>🙇🏻Staff treatment : friendly and very fast to respond.<br/>🍽Portion size : a bit small.<br/><br/><br/>I went for my sister’s birthday dinner. First of all when I arrived, the restaurant was very tiny and the decoration was full-on hipster. The place was quite dark, and the tables were a bit cramped with one and another. They don’t have high chair, so it’s not really kid-friendly. <br/><br/>The food was quite unique, I never had Taiwanese x Japanese fusion before so the execution of the food was interesting. <br/><br/>The service was great, very friendly and accommodating through out the night. Overall it’s an okay experience but just a bit expensive. Also finding a spot for parking is a pain.

We came here for dinner and we were given a table for 2 to fit three. Not okay. There was no room for meals and drinks on the table. I’ve ordered the Mongolian chilli lamb. Pure bone and fat. Not okay again. I had to ask for a fork and a knife and it was so chewy that even then I couldn’t chop it. I ended up eating with my fingers and with the feeling of an empty stomach. Not okay when you pay $30 for a plate. Staff was initially friendly but then they keep coming to check if we were done. Plenty of tables available as it was a Wednesday. Not coming back. Not recommended at all.

A cosy little gem out the back of Surry Hills.<br/>Very inconspicuous from the outside but the upstairs is full of life, death and great food. I really enjoyed the fish popcorn among other great dishes. Service is fast and friendly.

Came here on a Tuesday night at around 6pm.<br/><br/>The interior is casual, the upstairs dining area has a very rustic and earthy decor with flowers and what appears to be a real tree running through the wall. Downstairs where they hold live music is quite small and cramp, and is a little uncomfortable. <br/><br/>Food and drink came quite quickly, and the service from the Japanese woman was exceptional.<br/><br/>I had the Shochu called Iichiko “Really Good”, it was powerful but smooth. <br/><br/>My bf had the Rice Beer (Koshihikari Echigo), and he says it was one of the best beers he ever had.<br/><br/>We ordered the Tea Smoked Pancakes, the Moreton Bay Bug, the Sesame Prawn Rolls, and the Mamasan Chips. We finished the night off with the Gooey, and the Matcha Creme Brulee. Everything was absolutely sensational, but the portion sizes are so tiny, especially for the price.<br/><br/>What weirded me out was the bathroom. It is so cramped downstairs especially during live music night and it was so awkward to get to.<br/><br/>Recommendations: The Moreton Bay Bug.<br/><br/>$160 for two people.

We came here on a Monday night, it was less crowded as expected. But the service was surprisingly lacking even though there weren’t that many tables to attend to. I had to get the bar to change my drink as my original drink was way too sour. We ordered a few dishes, none was that remarkable, except for the popcorn fish. I expected better service and food standard from this place, but perhaps the Bondi outlet is much better?

This place is just terrible. My friend had to ask four times for water and it was boiling hot in there. The cocktails were little more that sugary water, and one of entrees didn't even come. At one stage a waiter just looked over at us and said he was on a try out.<br/><br/>When we didn't tip, the barman and supposed manager was very annoyed and accused us not being able to read. Just disgusting.

This place used to be great but they may have changed hands as it’s seriously average now. We ordered nigiri and sashimi and had to send the tuna sashimi back as it was brown and smelt like it was off. The waiter was great and took it away, removing the cost from our bill. But, the fact that they didn’t want to replace our tuna portion with another fish (which was what we asked for initially) makes me question whether they knew that all of their fish was off. Be sure to ask how fresh everything is so that you don’t end up making the same mistake we did.

I was there yesterday. It was just before dinner peak hour and it took like 15-20 mins to get waiters’ attention although there were no other customers on the ground floor. I work in hospitality so i tried to understand, and we ordered some salad, soft shell crab, potatoe thingy and onigiri. Everything was just ok but not worthy for money. But the worst part was the lady boss i assumed. When i went to the cash register to pay , she just put the changes on the table and walked away and i was really shocked. I am a manager in a casual dining restaurant but do i ever do that to my customer, either my staffs? And the boss’ attitude told me everything about this restaurant. So i wouldnt recommend this place.

Went there for drinks after dinner and was very happy with the place. Mamasan offers experience more than taste. I think it is a bit overpriced but wonderful nevertheless. <br/><br/>The staff just need to be more attentive. Our table was served the wrong dish atleast 3 times and that's not acceptable. <br/><br/>The live music added to the ambiance of the place and it made us want to stay longer. Great vibe.

Lovely, sexy ambience. Would be great for a date night! Quite youthful.<br/>Great table service and lovely help<br/>Very clean place and sashimi was excellent

Fantastic restaurant, great food, perfect service. Also, people who lie in their reviews because of their religious beliefs tend to stay away. What a nasty religion if it makes you lie so spitefully over nothing.

Food was terrible and staff were rude and disrespectful. It took forever for the food to come out and it was dry and stale, wasn't very fresh at all.<br/><br/>I would defiantly avoid this restaurant at all costs!

Terrible terrible place, management is very rude and terrible food. I would not recommend them to anyone. Love Japanese food just not theirs

Terrible service, guy seemed like he had a massive chip on his shoulder. A few friends recommended it but I was extremely disappointed, food was super average, definitely wouldn't go again.

Very average food and high prices for what you get.<br/>Much better reataraunts in the area. <br/>Poor customer service also, definitely won't be returning. <br/>Avoid.

"Moulin Rouge meets 1920's Shanghai meets Mamasan Surry Hills" - I wasn't planning to review this place - but ocassionally it's nice to have lunch with civilians and just take it all in.  Spent a total of about $90 bucks for 6 yum cha dishes, three extra large Japanese beers.  I was impressed, we are in Surry Hills after all. The decor is so unique with a blend of pop culture motifs, goldilocks wooden chairs and flower canopy.  Sitting upstairs on the bench overlooking the cosmopolitan bustlings of leafy Surry Hills is a must.The attendant / manager (not sure) was so generous he didnt charge us for the 2 shots of Sake we got post meal - awesome!    Sashimi, Buffalo Wins with a stilton cheese sauce, prawn dumplings and squid were fantastic, but the 'melt-in-your-mouth' fall apart at the lightest touch, Spicy beef brisket was the showstopper and stole the whole show completely!  The duck dumplings came a close second!

Once you have finished ogling the AMAZING restaurant interior - complete with in indoor tree, LED lights and a bridge like entrance way, the food will complete your experience, with some of the most delicious and interesting Japanese fusions we have ever tasted! Definitely recommend!

Food is overpriced and pretentious but ironically consists of very ordinary flavours and concepts. The seats are stools constructed from segments of tree trunks; very uncomfortable. The tables for 2 are barely fit for 1. Service is driven towards upselling said overpriced food. Not worth it.

Overall very bad customer service and rude staff. When we were originally looking at their menu outside, we were shooed away as it "wasn't a public space". Ended up eating there though the service did not improve and frankly the food was overpriced for its average quality.

This place is brilliant. Walking in you are greeted by friendly staff and RnB tunes and will most likely be in awe at the quirky Japanese decor. I recommend the edamame,  one bite beef and a lychee sau wau! Will definitely be returning!!

Cute place but overpriced, average tasting food. Dumplings were expensive and non-remarkable, chicken wings were tiny, yakitori dishes were nice but small, and the one bite beef was sickly syrupy. Highlight of the meal was the popcorn fish but even then I prefer the popcorn shrimp that I can get from my local Japanese for half the price. I think the standard of Asian food in Sydney is too high to afford to be mediocre. Service was good but won't be coming back.

Great Japanese in Surry Hills. Their sake menu is very comprehensive and the food is really good. Upstairs there is a beautiful ceiling decorated with cherry blossom. It's pretty special. Great to go with friends.

Really good Japanese food- the duck pancakes were definitively my favorite- a must try! And it's right next to Gelato Messina so you can have some amaaaazing ice cream afterwards!

I really loved Mamasan. Cool little vibe happening and the food was tasty! I recommend the Edamame, with the addition of garlic it was addictive! The staff were so friendly there as well! I would definitely go back!

For me and my friend, we think it was a worth waiting and spending restaurant. We've ordered the popular dick pancakes, one bite beef, can't remember sashimi and two dessert as I've post. I enjoyed all of it🙊 For a beijing girl the duck test pretty yum for me just the 'pancake' is too small to cover the duck and other stuff... And the ducks were a little bit too thick. The fish is fresh and softtttt, it looks crispy but it's not. LOVE the desserts👏 love the decorations😴

Loved it. Went there for a glass of wine and something to eat, late Saturday afternoon after wandering through the markets.  The wine was excellent, the food was very very good and the service was great.

I was firstly attracted by the purple lights on lvl 2. It was amazing atmosphere at night! Then the food was great too! Finger fish dumplings n chilli oil was not that standing out. But the one bite beef and fish on fire made the whole night! The beef was so juicy that every bite tastes rich just felt like it was melting! Salmon was cooked with cedar wood so the taste was will remained!! Yum yum!!!

Underlying kooky decor that includes a glowing sakura ceiling in the upper bar, and erotic shibari prints, Edison bulbs in birdcages and dangling autumnal leaves downstairs, is both clever architecture (courtesy of FJMT who did neighbouring Surry Hills Library) and a raison d'etre.Fusing Taiwanese street food and Japanese cuisine came about because owner Gemma Lin grew up in a tiny Taiwanese fishing village where "on a clear day, you can see the coast of Okinawa," her partner Adam Hunt explains.Taking cocktails with him at the base of a Japanese maple