Mizi's Bistro

A few friends and I went out to dinner at Mizi's at New World Park recently. It wasn't my first time there, but if it HAD been, I would guarantee that I would not have wanted to go back there, ever. In fact, I don't think I ever want to as it is.

At first glance, it's a nice looking place. The theme is red and brown, with cozy looking tables and one of those cool looking counters with loads of glasses hanging overhead. The owner is usually pretty friendly, too. In the past, he used to go around making sure everything was in order and customers were satisfied. Tonight, no such luck. Even as we were being greeted while walking in, he seemed like he could do with a few less customers.

This time we were given one of the two long rows of tables at the back because we were a larger group. Unfortunately, there was a nother large group taking the other row which made the area a little bit too crowded. If there's anything a restaurant can do to really annoy me, it's to cram more tables than it can comfortably accommodate. So, we had the two rows full, the other group had some small band come in and sing a few songs for them, which was just too much for the already tiny, noisy and uncomfortable space. It also included me being at risk of being bludgeoned by their guitars as they squeezed past between the two rows to get to what little open space there was to perform. For the rest of the evening, I also had waiters perpetually squeeze past because it seemed to be where they had to go to send their dirty dishes. It was uncomfortable!

Ordering also seemed a pretty difficult task as most of the staff walk around with their heads down (Hey, I know we're supposed to be nice to waiters, but if the waiters don't want to take orders or bring the check, DON'T BE A DAMN WAITER!!!), ignored us and when they finally acknowledged us, they told us to wait even though some were clearly free. I guess I didn't get the memo that said customers make orders at the convenience of the staff. The first round of orders went fairly smoothly. As we were having our starters two more of our friends arrived. They, too, were told to wait to place their orders. At the same time, the waitress came back with our main courses and plonked them on the table. We'd barely started on our soup! While you could say that's pretty quick service, I'd just say we felt like we were being rushed.
Another well meaning waitress came to attempt to take my friends' orders. Except that Qing didn't want the regular set meal. She wanted the one where you add RM6 to the a'la carte price. The waitress didn't get it. She just stood there dumbfounded at the revelation that there was such a deal on the menu. Which was when the rest of the staff that were watching basically told us to wait. WTF.

The food was so-so. My usual favourite, pumpkin soup, was pretty watered down. I had some awesome pumpkin soup somewhere the other day....I can't remember where. But okay back to point. My canneloni was pretty good. My friends' chicken dishes weren't that great. To be honest I couldn't tell the difference between one or the other. They were just bland and dry.
Would I go back? No.
If there's any consolation, J. L. Gourmet, also run by the same family, at Prangin Mall would be a better bet. The place doesn't look like much. But the food and the service is much better.