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Ma Maison Restaurant
Categories: Restaurants French Restaurants Seafood Event Planning & Services Caterers French, Seafood, Caterers [Edit]
9051 Soquel DrAptos, CA 95003
(831) 688-5566
- Hours:
Tue-Fri 11:30 am - 2 pm
Tue-Sun 5:30 pm - 9 pm
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Quiet
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
39 reviews for Ma Maison Restaurant
Review Highlights
"Good foie gras and French onion soup starters."
(in 7 reviews)
"And Chef Lionel is charming."
(in 3 reviews)
"...dish is the butternut squash ravioli with dried cranberries..."
(in 3 reviews)
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39 reviews in English
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Review from mariah t.
Capitola, CA
10/2/2011
If you want a phenomenal, romantic, and always delicious night-out, Ma Maison is the place to go! My boyfriend and I are obsessed with the food here, particularly the crab cakes and creamy polenta!
Great wine selection!
Great costumer service!
Romantic Atmosphere!
What more can you ask for?
Sit on the patio and you will be in heaven! -
Review from David s.
Morgan Hill, CA
1/12/2012
We heard about Ma Maison from a friend on Facebook. He'd raved about the steak he'd had being the most tender he'd ever had. So, when New Years Eve came around we decided to try Ma Maison for a change of pace. That night the restaurant was about 1/3 full, not very busy at all. The menu was a "prix fixe", as I recall it was about $80/person. A very reasonable price for a 4 course meal. In the end we paid about $240.00 for the two of us including tip (with a couple of glasses of champagne).
The experience was really a bit of downer on many levels and before I say another word let me just say this: If you do go to Ma Maison ORDER A BEEF ENTREE. This chef really knows how to prepare beef. You seriously don't need a knife to eat it and it tasted great. Unfortunately this was the only success on the entire menu. Further more the service, while friendly and appropriately apologetic was really abysmal. To begin with when we walked into this (quiet) restaurant we didn't realize that the hostess table was in a different room. I said Hi to the waitress/bartender who was in there and told her that this was our FIRST TIME THERE. She said hello andtold us the hostess would be back in a couple of minutes because she was helping with the (not busy at all) service. So, we set down and waited. After about 10 minutes I asked the the bartender/waitress what might be happening and she said: "well maybe if you go wait by the hostess station she will see you". HRMPH not a good start.
Anyway, dinner offered two choices for each course plus a dessert. I ordered the lobster tail thermador. It was so overcooked that I couldn't get through the lobster without viciously carving at it with my knife. My wife's steak was absolutely delicious but it was so cold (probably from sitting there waiting for my lobster to over cook) that we actually had to send it back to be warmed up. I won't go into the nitty gritty details about the rest of the meal. Nothing was bad but nothing was really good either. I had a mushroom soup that was nice and simple, but no better than what my wife makes every now and then.
I'll say it again, order the beef and hope for the best on everything else... -
Review from Mick R.
Capitola, CA
1/8/2012
I ordered the venison mignon. The cut was over cooked but initially tasty. After I had consumed about half the cut of venison, the taste turned suddenly vile. I think about half the cut of meat was spoiled. I can't imagine any other reason the taste would suddenly become so nauseatingly horrible. It tasted so bad I couldn't eat it. I didn't complain because I was a guest at a birthday dinner hosted by a friend, but I would never go back there.
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Review from Mike W.
San Jose, CA
11/11/2011
We had wonderful dining experience . Very classy place,. We will be back
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Review from Rich F.
Soquel, CA
10/26/2011 1 Check-in Here
Great French Country Bistro. Charming attentive staff with some of the best food in the Santa Cruz Area. Duck Comfit, Steak au Poivre. Cassoulet. Well worth the short drive down to Aptos
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Review from Tarang G.
San Mateo, CA
4/20/2011
Okay..I ate here for the first time last evening. It was a Travel Industry event on India....so we were a group of about 25 people. Yes, the service was great and the staff was so helpful and accommodating. But to me, these are things are BASIC and I EXPECT them from any establishment.
So lets talk aboyt the "food"......and that was EXCELLENT. The salad was fresh and green with julienned bits of crunch accompanied by just the right type of dressing to enhance the flavors of the greens. And it was HUGE for a dinner salad.
The main course for me was seafood on the most flaky and wonderfully tasty pastry puff. The sauce was so delicate yet with a FULL burst of flavor in your mouth.
I am definitely returning with my FRENCH and other European friends...to see what they think of it. :) -
Review from N N.
Capitola, CA
3/9/2011
Have you ever wanted to have 4, 5 dishes at the same time? I dont know how I managed to choose. I thought I wanted a light dinner, petrale saule in caper butter? but then, the giant prawns with squash ravioli, which I ve had, and are that rich, this side of heaven, called me too... and then, the duck confit, difficult to find in everyday life, was I going to go for it? when could I get duck confit again?
in the end, the filet mignon won. yes, I know, it s not at all light, it s also beef (which is sort of bothering me a bit, to be honest, all my identifying with mammals is demoralizing my appetite). And it was DELICIOUS! made superbly with peppercorn sauce , creamy goodness that made the meat just luscious, added to the mashed potatoes and asparagus, just the type of sides that help you feel cozy. Very well executed, an incredible experience.
Two from our party ordered the scallops (coquilles saint jacques) and declared them done perfectly, not raw, not overcooked, golden, one side tittering on crispy (you know, when the golden is to die for?), while at the same time just perfectly executed. I d have jumped at those too, though regularly I like my scallops more cooked than is fashionable.
Chef Leonel came out to our table while we ate and I felt like hugging him. Bravo! you are a master, Leonel! -
Review from Rich M.
Aptos, CA
9/5/2011
Lionel the owner / chef is a delight. He comes out and chats with us, and is very doting to our young son who thinks Lionel is the best chef in the world.
Service is always perfect, the food is always very good, and the prices are very fair.
In fact, if you get there between 5:30 and 6:30 there is a price fixe menu that is the bargain of the year.
Not sure where else you get such a terrific dinner for $20 bucks...but if you know of a better place than this...let me know.
Soup or salad, choice of entree and dessert.
Seriously....where else can you get this for $20 bucks? -
Review from Timothy C.
Washington, DC
1/12/2011
Lacy and I went to Ma Maison for our FIRST wedding anniversary. We had driven past it numerous times and we always wanted to eat there but had never made the time for it.
We arrived at around 7:00 and two of the 20 tables were being used, but that was fine with us. Sunday must be a slow night because as far as I could tell, the chef and one waiter were the only staff present. I had to poke my head into the kitchen when I arrived to get their attention, but after that they were around for the whole meal. The chef even came out and checked in on the diners - one of whom spoke French. They sat us next to the fire and a unique fireplace with a mosaic design on the mantle. The room was lit darkly with candles and was kind of empty - without too many people we had to talk quietly to be private. French music played in the background.
We had a bowl of French onion soup to start, and it was delicious! It had a homemade feel to it, but unlike homemade stuff, the seasoning was all there. The waiter brought out a small loaf of bread (just out of the oven) and some herb butter. The bread was really good and stood tall among the various types of bread that are served in restaurants.
One thing I appreciated was that the waiter explained what all the French words meant and also gave wine recommendations without being snooty. We wanted the local Alfaro Chardonnay, but they were out, so we settled for another Chardonnay that was pretty tasty.
My entree was a 'civet de venison' with venison sausage and mashed potatoes. Civet is kind of like a stew, but with a red-wine reduction/bacony sauce instead of broth, and the sauce had these savory mushrooms and peppercorns - seriously one of those dishes that made me go "awhm" as I chewed. Even the carrots and the green beans served with it were perfectly seasoned and cooked. The mashed potatoes had a perfect texture - creamy but with small bits of potato as well. If I could make them like that I would every time!
My wife had 'confit de canard' which is basically a leg and thigh of duck slow cooked in its own juices. It came with a salad and fingerling potatoes. DUCK IS LEGIT! I always told my wife how good it was and she believed me but was kind of skeptical - the way you are when you hear a film is great from like 10 people and you are hesitant to believe it because you don't want to be let down too hard if it is bad. Now, she is a believer in the legitness of duck! The meat just slipped off the bones, the skin was buttery and crackly, and the potatoes were, again, cooked and seasoned superbly. The chef treats every part of the dish equally and it showed.
For dessert, apple-cinnamon bread pudding and ice cream in a puff pastry - light and not too sweet. The chocolate sauce was a bit bitter like dark chocolate and contrasted well with the sweet ice cream.
For just under $100, I would definitely come back and try another authentic French entree. Who am I kidding, I have no clue if it was authentic or not, but I'd bet it is. -
Review from Cathy P.
Watsonville, CA
Updated - 6/4/2010
Went last Friday to a "Wine Maker's Dinner" hosted by Richard & Mary Kay Alfaro, owners of Alfaro Family Vineyards in Corralitos. Chef Lionel Le Morvan, owner of the restaurant, prepared a fabulous 4 course French feast paired with Alfaro wines.
Started at 6pm with Amuse Bouche (appetizers) on the patio that included house-made pate on crostini, topped with cute little cornichons; marinated mushrooms; grilled shrimp, and a dungeness crab bisque served in tiny ramekins, all paired with a Rose of Pinot Noir.
First course was a "salad" made up of avocado & wild dungeness crab meat, green apple and wasabi dressing, paired with a Lindsay Paige Chardonnay. Second course was a roasted rack of veal, dotted with a morel mushroom sauce, and served with potato purée & seasonal vegetable. This was paired with a Lindsay Paige Pinot Noir. Dessert was a very rich chocolate and lavender charlotte served with a créme Française, paired with a Billy K Merlot. Perfect!
There were about 25 guests which made it easy to get to know most of the people in attendance, as well as get up close and personal with the Wine Makers. I even found out that Richard Alfaro THINKS he has the best beef bourgogne recipe on the planet so I challenged him to a "Throwdown," what a way to start the weekend!1 Previous Review: Show all »
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8/28/2008
Wednesday, August 20th was our 31st Wedding Anniversary so we decided to try someplace new and close… Read more »
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Review from John G.
11/29/2007
Fabulous French restaurant in Aptos. What a wonderful experience. We had dinner on a quiet Wednesday evening, and it was a very enjoyable and pleasant. Located in a small former house, we sat right next to the fireplace which was ablaze with real oak burning. Decorations are very nice with lights all around the dining room.
The food is scrumptious. We started with the crab stuffed mushrooms which were cooked to perfection. Very tasty. Then each had the salad with fresh greens, tomato and avocado. Really outstanding.
The entrees ordered were the sea bass special which came out cooked to perfection covered with fingerling potatoes, and a special ravioli accompanied by large shrimp sprinkled with cranberries and walnuts. A superb dish I had never experienced before.
Desserts were a flourless cake, and the special pecan pie ala mode.
We chose the Sancerre wine which was a great match for the entire meal.
The atmosphere, ambiance, food and service was in the top tier. The prices were very reasonable for this high quality of food.
Highly recommended. -
Review from Jazzy G.
Aptos, CA
1/26/2010
I love their french onion soup!!!
Their desserts were always phenomenal and their dinners were always delicious.
Personable service and a nice, quiet spot to enjoy a meal and a glass of wine. -
Review from Emma B.
San Francisco, CA
3/1/2009
I went here for dinner with my mom and my dad. The place is pretty sweet inside, it's like eating in someone's living room like a lot of French places. Our server was really great. The place was not very busy, which was nice and not nice. The music they were playing was a little snoozy, which only enhanced my sleepiness.
For an appetizer we ordered the crab cakes and they were so delicious. With the appetizer, our server brought out warm bread with some herb butter that was the tops.
My mom ordered the special which was a seafood pasta in a tomato cream sauce that was excellent. My dad ordered the filet de canard medium rare and it was perfect. Very tasty. I ordered the sea scallops and I shouldn't have. They were prepared perfectly with polenta, but I realized that I am not and never have been very big on scallops.
I had a decaf cappuccino and we all shared the croissant bread pudding that was magical. Wines were also good I had the Frog's Leap Sauvignon Blanc and my dad ordered the Soquel Vineyards Zin.
Overall, this was a successful outing. I would love to visit sometime in summer and sit outside and enjoy their lovely patio. Or come on a busy weekend night. -
Review from Chelsea S.
Aptos, CA
3/19/2008
Ma Maison served one of the best dinners I've had yet in Santa Cruz County. My husband and I went for a mid-week anniversary dinner and were very happy with our pick. The servers were very attentive and kind, and one of the owners stopped by twice to ensure everything was going well.
We started each with a glass of white wine, both very reasonably priced $6-7 for a nice big pour, and a shared appetizer special of baked brie on a crouton over mixed greens with a vinaigrette mustard dressing $9. They brought out some warm french bread with chive butter. So freakin' yummy.
For entrees I had the prawns with butternut squash ravioli in a light cream sauce and topped with crushed walnuts and cranberries for $24. It was FANTASTIC. My husband ordered the classic coq a vin which was rich and filling for about $20. He loved it. Great presentation for both dishes.
We are definitely going back. -
Review from rosquete b.
Belmont, CA
8/16/2009
Ma Maison 8-14-9
Cute, converted house with good French food in Aptos.
Indoor and patio dining.
Excellent food service by Beau and others.
Good foie gras and French onion soup starters.
The beet and smoked salmon salads were nice.
The succulent shrimp with squash raviolis was delicious.
Recommend the ice cream profiterole for dessert.
Wines are very good, including those by the glass.
Full bar, including pastis. -
Review from Ben R.
Aptos, CA
3/6/2008
Yet again the best dinner I have had since the last time I was at Ma Maison. Tonight we had crab cakes, to die for!!!!!!!!!!!! Pepper steak, like the best steak you could ever taste. Smoked salom salad.
A personal note, this year I went to the Pebble Beach Food and Wine event. The top chefs in the world served their best. The best wine in the world. The works, and I have to say Ma Maison is truly some of the best food I have ever tasted in my life. Time and again!
If you love to eat out and love to eat outstanding food, you must try Ma Maison.
Ben Rush -
Review from Shanna K.
5/11/2008
Awww, this place is so sweet.
Tucked away in a bit of a funky location but worth seeking out, Ma Maison features a lovely patio, a small but well stocked bar, short but solid wine list and pleasant service. Chef Lionel himself was sure to visit the dining room once during our stay to make sure all was well.
There are beautiful little touches throughout that make it really special. Cottage like in atmosphere... the walls are a happy yellow in one room and spring green with white wainscoting in another. There are fresh flowers, lovely simple paintings and the broken china mosaic on the fireplace features tiny wine bottles and 3D flowers in addition to the usual. Really adorable without trying too hard.
The food is no less lovely and the same care is taken to detail without being at all pretentious. Classic French fare, well prepared and delcious (though I did add a bit of salt). Loved the foie with apricot puree, the duck with blueberry sauce and the salmon with ratatouille.
If they had a cassoulet on the menu they'd send me right over the moon.
Desserts were also beautiful. My companion's creme brulee was decorated with a few fresh berries and a mini chocolate French macaroon. My lemon sorbet with Citron vodka had berries, mandarin/satsuma orange segments and a mint leaf. I have to remember that simple but beautiful dessert for upcoming Summer parties. Both were delicious.
Noise level was a bit loud, but our server said it was unusual. I did wish for more quiet but it wouldn't keep me away in the future. There were simply several large tables that were in a festive mood. YMMV.
I will definitely be back. -
Review from Alyson A.
Sunnyvale, CA
11/4/2007
Ma Maison is It's a mom and pop restaurant. Small and cozy. Nice atmosphere though apparently without any central heating. Eventually the staff brought out a small electric heater which didn't do much for the atmosphere.
The food was overpriced, unimaginative. Everything is in a heavy cream sauce even dishes which suggest they wouldn't be. Presentation is basic. What is there is fine but there is so much better French food available.
The wait staff was friendly but only semi-attentive. We had to chase them down for coffee and refills although we were the only dinners in the restaurant. One of our party gave up on the wine and went to the bar to get it.
This is probably a nice place to take your parents. French food for beginners. -
Review from clay b.
Capitola, CA
7/7/2008
If you want great French onion soup then this is the place, or perhaps the only place. The onion soup is always good but can drift from really good to wow depending on the day, or perhaps it's my taste buds that are drifting. Hard to tell with French onion soup as it naturally has such a distinctive yet elusive earthy taste.
The bread is always fresh, warm and tasty and the room temperature herbal butter is a nice touch.
The beet salad with hazelnut dressing is quite good. I agree with another reviewer that the brie appetizer with honey is tasty although the small salad it comes with is just OK. My favorite dish is the butternut squash ravioli with dried cranberries and walnuts. I have them leave off the shrimp as I'm a vegetarian. Speaking of which, this is not a veggie friendly menu, but I manage to work around it though.
The quality seems to drift. The food's always decent, enjoyable and and fresh but only occasionally hits stellar.
Had the lemon sorbet with vodka one time. The lemon is really strong and the sorbet was swimming in vodka. The weird thing is I don't drink ( as in perhaps two beers in my entire life) but the combination of too much vodka and the way too tart lemon kept me interested and I pretty much polished it off. As a non-drinker I think I kept eating it because the combination was so unfamiliar to me that I think I was just trying to figure it out. So I'm not sure how to rate that particular dessert.
I'd say this restaurant is on the edge of greatness. Most of the time it seems to hit just short of where you'd want it to be, none the less, it's a trusty old backup when I just want to decompress with my partner, enjoy some good food and avoid the traffic of downtown Santa Cruz. -
Review from M D.
Capitola, CA
4/27/2008
I really enjoyed this restaurant. This would be a very good restaurant anywhere but it's a superb one in Santa Cruz County where good restaurants are so rare. It's a cozy little place in Aptos, The food was great and the service was also great. A really friendly and totally non pretentious envioronment - you feel right at home. I also believe the food to be authentic in that it is prepared by a chef who is a native Parisian. Everyone in our party of four said their dish was superb. And this is probably the only place in Aptos to serve Escargots and they are wonderful. The only complaint (a very minor complaint) is their wines by the glass selection was quite limited and not great. I recommend you bring your favorite bottle or two and pay the minimal corkage fee. But you'll love this place regardless. Excellent.
UPDATE: I've been back to this place three times and have had an equally enjoyable time. Love it. -
Review from K H.
Mountain View, CA
1/8/2007 1 photo
Nov 5 update - just read the other review on this place which seems like a totally different experience than we had in January, 07 maybe new owners? When we went prices were reasonable, I think most expensive entree was $26. but have not been in awhile, although the 3 times we went there we enjoyed it. maybe 5 stars is too generous but four for sure. Mercury News gave them a great review a year ago.
Ma Maison is a fabulous French restaurant in Aptos with a nice warm atmosphere. It is located on Soquel Drive, in a little house set back from the road a bit. We discovered it through a review in the San Jose Mercury News last summer., The food is wonderful and priced reasonably. We had my 88 year old dad with us and hesitated to go to a French restaurant thinking it would be very formal and would not appeal to his simple tastes. However the Coq au Vin was a hit with him, it was actually the one dish that did not get the best comments in the SJ Merc review but dad loved it!! We also ordered Salmon and lamb . For dessert we had profiteroles which were delicious..
Dinner entrees run from 19 to approx 26. Check their website for menus with prices. They also offer catering. We have referred friends there and they also loved it, check it out.... Bon Appetit! -
Review from Denise C.
Campbell, CA
6/1/2008
I hate to give negative reviews, but in this case Ma Maison was just okay. The food was a bit overpriced and for that price the dining experience was ordinary, not extraordinary. The brie appetizer with honey was quite good as were the escargot. The main dishes however, looked like plain cookie cutter plates. I ordered the duck (which was cooked nicely, but the sauce was a bit overpowering) and my boyfriend had the pork with roquefort sauce which was a blah. Both plates were exactly the same except for the meat portion (same same vegi, same starch), which appeared boring. It would have been nice to see some imagination in the presentation. No wow factor whatsoever.
On the last note, I would suggest sprucing the dining room up a bit. Lots of spider webs and dust, also leaves and dead bugs in the overhead corner lighting which is a turn off. -
Review from R.P. N.
Santa Cruz, CA
12/27/2009
Very good classic French fare. Slightly pricey. Decor is what I have come to expect in Santa Cruz.
Escargot! -
Review from Jowin C.
6/13/2008
I tried the catered food at UC Santa Cruz graduation. It was okay, not that great.
-The crab stuffed mushroom was bland
-The pasta salad with dressing was not particularly exciting
-quiche was good though -
Review from Stephanie M.
San Jose, CA
10/18/2009
Very disappointed with Ma Maison. I had hoped to have a decadent, delicious dinner, but unfortunately, Ma Maison did not deliver.
I'll start with ambiance. At 8pm on a Saturday, my guest and I were two of the four total guests in the dining room--quite lonely. I was startled by the dining room chairs - they belonged more in my grandma's dining room than they did in a "fine dining" restaurant (and this has to be considered fine dining for Aptos, especially due to the price point). Also, they had some French music on, which was sometimes charming, but at other times, totally cheesy. It would have also helped if they had lowered the volume down, especially since it was just the four of us in the dining room.
And then there was the food. The ultimate disappointment was the foie gras, which featured an anemic 2-ounce portion that was overcooked in way too much fat, and a mango-jasmine sauce that was puddled to the side ($17.00). The foie tasted off--too livery and lacking that wonderful melt-in-your-mouth richness that one expects. The mango-jasmine sauce was nice on its own, but it was an unsatisfactory companion to the foie.
I had the wild Alaskan halibut special ($24.00), which featured a beurre blanc, crisp thinly sliced potatoes, and broccolini. The halibut was sadly overcooked, although tasted all right. The potatoes were probably the shining star of the whole meal (followed by the warm, chewy yet crisp bread served before the first course). The broccolini was fine, but uninspired.
We skipped dessert, because, well, why would we want to risk it?
The service, unlike the food, was not bad at all. Our server was attentive, checking back with us often.
IIf it weren't for the price point, I'd give Ma Maison two stars, but for these prices, I'd expect higher quality, and therefore, a better value. If you're looking for a nice night out and a fine dining experience, I strongly recommend passing up Ma Maison. -
Review from serbelle i.
Aptos, CA
6/4/2008
-"can i entertain you with some dinner?"
-fellow yelper came to my hood to try this place out
-my first time and it's actually on the backroads going home
-no signal! motherfuckerbiatch! i hope i'm not late
-i was a tad early but chris was already there enjoying some vino
-we were taken to our seats by a hot waiter....dark hair light eyes...uhhu
-the chairs could have been more comfortable
-it was a nice lil cozy place but i would say it could be a little bit better
-the bread with the chive butter was good, i will so be craving that sheiyt from now on
-pricey, my crab cake appetizer which was good was 12 bucks
-i got the 12 oz steak, dead.......how i like it. was 26 bucks, but also so-so good!
-got to taste some of the scallops and it was so tender and flavorful!
-creme brulee (if you know how to make this....i will touch you, a lot) was 7 bucks
-total for 2 appetizers, 2 main dishes, 2 desserts and 2 glasess of vino, bout 110 bucks
-service was great!
-everyone was kinda sorta dressed up, the ladies dining next to us were rhinestoned the fuck out...the only ones i had were on my ass from my victoria beckham crown rock and republic jeans
-HOT WAITER GUY DIDN'T SERVE US BUT BOY DID I GET A SERVING...UHHU -
Review from Capprica S.
Brooklyn, NY
12/4/2010
I came to Ma Maison for a baby shower, and they set up a nice little party room in the back. The server was very nice and attentive.
The nicest thing of all was, I called them ahead of time to request a gluten free meal so I could eat without getting sick or stressing out the host and new mom-to-be, and the chef prepared one especially for me.
Most other guests had some sort of chicken with a creamy sauce or a salmon with fresh herbs. For me, they specially prepared a delicious grilled chicken with fresh herbs over ratatouille.
I kept dipping my chicken into the ratatouille because it was so good. They were very considerate of my food allergy, and the ratatouille was so savory and delicious I can't wait to go back with friends and family.
They also offered fresh french bread with herb butter, which looked delicious even though I could not eat it. -
Review from jill b.
Honolulu, HI
11/10/2009
Don't hold Santa Cruz dining in high regard? Neither do my parents, who live there, and when I told them I made reservations for them for an anniversary dinner with the siblings, they wondered if it might be better to go elsewhere. Nope - everyone loved it. Loved it. I wasn't there, but got plate-by-plate descriptions of everything at the table, from everyone. So I heard four times about the scallops with polenta, four times about the butternut squash ravioli, four times about the onion soup, and in detail about each dessert. When the food is good enough that you remember tastes from other plates, it's good.
The price was very reasonable for food that all raved about ($200 for four with tip). They said service was excellent and the place is lovely. I'm posting here not only because they deserve a good review but because the sibs are worried the place doesn't have enough business and they want it to stay around.
So put aside your Santa Cruz dining prejudices and try Ma Maison, so it's there next time I visit! -
Review from Nick l.
San Jose, CA
2/10/2008
by local standards here in Santa Cruz this place is excellent .... by San Francisco standards probably average ..
The owner / chef is the real deal ... he's there cooking all the time ... no Mexican line chefs while he sits at home ... you can tell everything is cooked from scratch .... so many restaurants in this town buy "pre-cooked" food from the large food wholesale companies and simply re heat with a nasty sauce.
Service is hit & miss but really, who cares ? !! this is Santa Cruz ... do you think you'd get better service from a waiter is Paris !!
I've been several times and love it ... -
Review from Junyang X.
San Francisco, CA
9/21/2009
Country style sliced bread with flavored butter (onions and leeks?)
French onion soup, and pate for starters
Bottle of Beaujolais
Duck confit cooked and flavored deliciously
Flavorful Coq-au-vin with smooth, rich mashed potatoes
And an un-French cheese cake to finish.
Service was unpretentious and unhurried.
It's Monday morning, I'm at my cube, and craving it again. -
Review from Steven P.
Soquel, CA
5/4/2010
We've been several times. Great food, great service. And Chef Lionel is charming. The location must be a challenge, it's rarely super packed, but it's always an excellent meal.
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Review from Dena M.
Menlo Park, CA
2/20/2010
It was my first visit to Ma Maison, my husband and I walked in on a Saturday night without reservations and a friendly waiter seated us right away. The restaurant's rather small, one main dining room, brightly lit, with yellow painted walls, no window coverings, and a small fireplace, and a smaller, more dimly lit dining room. The dress code was all over the place like it is every where around here - sweat shirts and shorts to slacks and ties.
I started with the onion soup, hoping for toasty bread buried in melting cheese, floating on top of piping hot broth and carmelized onion, but the small pieces of bread floating around were too dense to break up in the luke warm broth and they weren't good enough to even bother trying to cut to eat. The menu said they're known for their crab cakes I should have listened.
My husband started with the procuito, which came in a very generous portion with some gerkins and greens. It was good.
Next, they brought the scallops and they were great. Four nice sized, perfectly prepared scallops in a light sauce that didn't mask their sweet flavor. They were served with steamed asparagus, again perfectly done, and what the waiter said was polenta. I like polenta, but this pile of yellow mush had been piped frosting style onto the plate and the texture and flavor were off.
Hubby had the salmon and loved the generous portion served on a vegetable stew that was outstanding. Perfectly prepared salmon.
Nothing was over salted (one of my pet peeves).
They have a full bar and satisfactory wine list if you order by the bottle, however if you prefer to order by the glass you'll have a very limited selection. Only about 8 wines are available by the glass.
The seating is a strange choice. The chairs aren't pretty, and don't go with the decor, and I have to bring them up because they've been designed to be comfortable for about 30 minutes, even with the beat up cushion on the seat! .
With drinks, appetizers and entrees, the bill was under $100 with tip, for the two of us. All and all, a good value. -
Review from Brian E.
San Francisco, CA
9/7/2009
Enjoyed a quiet evening with my girlfriend after enjoying the sun all day! She loves french food and it was a treat for us
Pro's
- Staff has exactly the right amount of attentiveness to the tables. Knowledgeable about cheeses as well!
- Very tasty food
- Quaint location
- Amazing cheese!
Con's
- Didn't have Polenta or Mashed potatoes when I went for sides! Wow, that was really disappointing. Dropped a star just for that.
I feel a bit bad for leaving 3 stars, but for a $25 entree place I felt they should have more than1 out of 3 of their sides available. For example, Scallops and Polenta sounds great, but Scallops and fingerling potatoes doesn't. And your NY steak option with fingerling potatoes? Blah. A terrible side, poor substitute. Not sure I would go again just because I normally don't spend this much on a meal ($100+ for appetizer, courses, dessert, wine) and when I do I expect it EXACTLY how I want it. -
Review from Dana P.
Aptos, CA
9/9/2009
As soon as I heard there was a French restaurant just a few minutes from my new house, I had to check it out. I definitely wasn't disappointed.
Pros
- Nice atmosphere. Felt classy but comfortable and relaxed. My boyfriend and I had a great time here, and it's perfect for a date or some time with friends and family, but I'm not sure how good it would be for kids or a very large group.
- Attentive staff. We showed up late, and were seated right away and met with polite, prompt service the whole night.
- Delicious food. I enjoyed the escargot. The duck filet was very tender; even my boyfriend, who isn't usually impressed by duck, liked it a lot. The ravioli was very interesting and the prawns were really good quality. The cheese plate made a great dessert, and one cheese in particular was amazing.
Cons
- We paid over $100. I never felt this was unfair, and this price did include appetizers, dessert, and a glass of wine, but the prices here may not be for everyone, and people should be aware that this is a place to go when you want to make an event of it, not a place for quick or inexpensive food.
- They only had 1 out of 3 of the side dishes advertised. Not sure if this was because we were there fairly late, or if it had been like that all night. If the latter, that could be a problem, as some of the sides really seemed to make the dishes they went with.
All in all, I had a great evening and an enjoyable meal. I'd definitely recommend it. In some pricier restaurants, you feel unsure as to what you're actually paying for, but that's not the case with Ma Maison. You definitely feel you're getting your money's worth - great, unique French food, good service, and a nice environment. -
Review from Ishmael C.
Alamo, CA
7/27/2011
This is a small French hole-in-the wall with solid, and sometimes exceptional, food and service. Arriving at 5:30 on a Tuesday, only one table was occupied, so I wouldn't hesitate to walk in on a non-weekend night. We were attended to quickly, received good advice on wine (a French Pinot), and presented with fresh french bread and three delicious spreads -- herb butter, roasted garlic and salmon pate. Crab cake appetizer was the best I've ever had, truly a home run. Mushroom soup was solid; the salad (salmon) was unremarkable. The wild prawn with ravioli was fantastic, fresh, juicy perfectly prepared prawns (and plenty of them) over pillowy homemade pasta filled with ricotta, in a cream sauce with cranberries and walnuts. Simple, clean, and perfect. But the duck couldn't match the pasta. It was absolutely acceptable, but nothing you couldn't do at home. Dessert was good, but not great: Ice cream in a puff pastry covered with hot fudge, and a lemon sorbet in vodka that really packed a wallup -- like something I would have come up with at the frat in college. Service was perfectly acceptable but not notable. I think this place needs only consistency to achieve an A+. For example, the morning after this otherwise delightful meal, I remember the dirt under the waiter's fingernails as much as the food. I like this place and hope it succeeds and look forward to going back.
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Review from Jillian M.
Capitola, CA
3/26/2008
Amazing food. Great atomsphere. A little spendy but well worth it. Very cozy and warm.
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Review from Amber H.
CA
2/15/2009
Ma Maison served up a perfect valentines day dinner.
We arrived not realizing they had a set menu for the day, but we couldn't have been happier in the end. We both don't eat chicken or beef, but will eat some fish. The waiter happily switched the meat appetizer for the delicious cauliflower soup. The romaine salad then became our second course. with just the right amount of garnishes and dressing.
We selected the fish casserole for the main course, and I admit I didn't know quite what to expect. It was brilliant. Perfectly cooked scallops, mussels, fish, and shrimp all in a light, herb broth. Wish I had the recipe for that one.
The special valentines day desert, passion fruit custard in a chocolate heart was equally delicious.
My only problem was the lack of vegetarian options. If I had seen the menu in advance I probably would have gone elsewhere. I looked over their normal menu and it looks like they do have a veggie choice. I'll try that soon. -
Review from C Y.
Felton, CA
12/19/2009
It's kind of awkward being the only party in a restaurant -- especially a party of two. The waiter and hostess tried not to linger in the main doorway too long before serving us or removing our dishes. But we were treated well, seated near the fireplace and waited on very promptly. We couldn't expect any less for being the lone diners. Our food was good -- not spectacular, but enjoyable. The French music was appropriate and fun. We enjoyed our meal, but I don't know that we'll be back any time soon. Hopefully if we do return we won't feel like the focal point of the establishment and will have the company of other diners. This restaurant deserves to have a full house.
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Review from liz t.
Santa Cruz, CA
11/3/2010
for these prices ma maison is a huge let down. the food is just ok. the wait staff on the night i was there was horrible, and the lady who runs the place seemed to have no idea what was going on or how to work with the staff. it was just a really wierd and ackward dining experience.
