Muro — Restaurant in Bengaluru

Extremely disappointed, especially considering the hype. I'll discuss food first and then about a reservation fiasco.

We were thrilled considering word going around that Muro is the place to be. 'Word' didn't come from our friends but mostly reels, influencers and other forms of randos. And on a night with a performance we tried the place in much anticipation. They have 7-8 special cocktails of which we tried 5 on the night and everything was underwhelming bordering disappointing (especially considering an average tag of 750). We tried 4 dishes which were touted as their specialty on reviews and social media and I can say with such clarity that everything was really poor. So much so that the Kung Pao Chicken tasted like the bland refrigerated idli you eat the morning after with some form of flavourless watery sambar. That is literally how it tasted like and I can't comprehend how you can cook chicken into tasting like that. The other dishes we ordered were terrible too - in flavor as well as in portion size. Overall this is why it's a 1 star for food in a city that has almost every cuisine served to you, all delectable, in shops from small street carts to the best of fine dining. The only appeal to the place was the decor, which was brilliant. Can't argue there - I would give that a 5 but when the band wasn't playing, we were blasted with music with no sense of volume, killing the vibe and desensitising our ears - so I'll keep that a 3. As for service, all the staff who served us were very courteous, including the person cleaning the area and washrooms. There was a bit of irritation with how my reservation was handled which I'll talk about in the section afterwards but I have considered that only in part for the service and atmosphere ratings of the review.

Reservation issue: A few musicians who were my friends were going to play on 27th July - for which I had made a reservation 4 days in advance via Zomato with a request for a table close to the performance, the instant the artists shared posters. Tried calling Muro since the day to ensure that my table is confirmed but most of the numbers they've posted on Google Maps and other platforms just don't connect. Finally, some number worked on the day of the show but the response I got was that 'we can't guarantee' a table on the floor with the performance. I was super irked considering how early I had made the reservation with the request - that someone could even tell me they would prioritize everyone who probably made reservations only in the last 1-2 days max. So we came an hour earlier than the scheduled start of the show to see if we can find tables. We got the table instantly, maybe because I had already called and had been almost rude over the call for their response mentioned above (which I clearly don't like it getting to - if people could really just look at the order reservations came in and treated that with some fairness, the world would be a much better place). But have to say, the people who flooded the place some time after the show started were mostly friends of the musicians itself, some who had not even made reservations. So yeah, the joke's on me for dragging my friends there early to ensure we get a table on what was supposed to be a special night - but ended up being one of giving chance after chance worth 9.5k INR for poor drinks and terrible food. However, thank you for hiring the best musicians you could possibly get in the city :)

To anyone who bothered reading this till this point, there are brilliant bars with mind-blowing cocktails and food in the city who host more of the less the same musicians. ZLB 23 just got ranked 40 in Asia's 50 best bars and has jazz nights every day of the week. Copitas has been rated among India's best since years. Monkey Bar is wonderful for their drinks and food. Toast and Tonic is heaven for cocktail lovers. Bar Spirit Forward is the new place to be in the city for cocktails. I could continue endlessly and I don't think I'll ever get to Muro for their food or drinks. Great...

Exploring Muro: A Culinary Journey on Museum Inn Road

Introduction: Nestled on the historic Museum Inn Road, Muro, a newly established culinary haven, opened its doors to the public on November 4, 2023. Co-owned by a dear college friend in partnership with another esteemed individual, this Asian cuisine establishment exudes opulence and meticulous attention to detail. In this review, we delve into our recent dining experience at Muro, where the impeccable service and ornate decor are certainly noteworthy.

Ambiance and Service: From the moment we crossed the threshold, it was evident that Muro is more than just a restaurant; it's an experience. The establishment greets its patrons with an opulent ambiance, boasting intricate details that captivate the senses. The professional and cordial staff further elevate the dining experience. Their warmth and attentiveness set a standard of service that is truly commendable.

Cuisine: Muro's menu offers an array of authentic Asian dishes, promising a gastronomic journey through the continent's diverse flavors. While the culinary offerings remained true to their origins, there were a few instances where innovation might have missed the mark. However, this is often the result of a restaurant's ambition to experiment with unique interpretations of traditional recipes.

Dining Experience: The menu, presented in a classic, beautifully printed book, is a nod to traditional elegance. The table settings, including fine cutlery, were impeccable. A particularly impressive detail was the attentive staff's habit of changing plates and cutlery after each course, sparing diners the need to request such changes.

Conclusion: In conclusion, our visit to Muro on Museum Inn Road was an enchanting experience, where the ambiance, service, and attention to detail were truly exceptional. While the culinary offerings, though authentic, occasionally fell short of expectations, the courtesy and efficiency of the service staff made up for it. Muro's commitment to an opulent dining experience is evident, and with some fine-tuning of its culinary offerings, it has the potential to become a notable destination for connoisseurs of...

👎 Great ambiance. Terribly disappointed with everything else. When you want to run a restaurant of caliber, you have to be buttoned up at everything. This restaurant has potential but lacks the management to pull it off.

The food is not remarkable at all. Everything is either extremely bland, sweet, or spicy leaning at a flavorless concoction. In fact, we only ordered three plates of Bao’s, two Small Plates, and cancelled our mains because the food was that bad. We’ve been lucky to have dined at the greats like Eleven Madison, Le Bernadin, Nobu, and others. So we know good food when we see it. Coming back to India it was extremely promising to see an establishment like Muro. We really hoped to have had a good culinary experience. The food here isn’t even pretentious. It’s just bad. The mocktails we ordered were the only saving grace for this place.

The service is not very personal or thoughtful. When we asked for a recommendation based on our dietary restrictions, we got a generalized response with no attention to why a dish was being recommended. The lack of knowledge in the front staff about their own menu is clearly on display.

The big bummer however was when we were seated there was a photo shoot going on. Nobody warned us about this. The entire floor had people hovering, large camera equipment being moved around, flashlights every now and then. This just ruined the entire experience for us while we were simply trying to enjoy a quiet impromptu meal.

When we asked to give feedback we were recommended to write in our response. We insisted to speak to the manager, and yet again were directed to another superior, not the manager who gave us a generic response.

Muro needs to figure out the menu because this one’s a hot mess and it needs to train its front office staff to cater to their guests more appropriately. They cannot simply lean on the interiors and ambiance of this place to survive. I give this restaurant two years until it shuts doors if this...