Mimi's Cafe — Restaurant in Los Angeles

I received a mailing inviting me to an Opal wellness pain relief seminar at Mimi‘s Café Northridge California. I work evenings, but decided to take a night off from work to hear what they had to offer - When I RSVP for the Seminar, I informed them I’m a vegetarian they assured me that Mimi‘s Café would be able to accommodate my dietary need and so I attended their 6:30pm, a long two hour and 15 minute seminar. The waitress Maria came over to take my order and she offered me chicken, fish or pot roast. I informed her I’m a vegetarian and she snapped NO and shook her head. .. No, I asked? well what are the side vegetables? She sternly said no and shook her head stating No the only thing you can get is a dinner salad. Everybody in the room got a dinner salad and when the food was finally served everybody got their chicken or fish or pot roast accompanied by carrots potatoes artichokes broccoli and I got to sit there for two hours and 15 long miserable starving minutes and watch everybody eating their vegetables while I was denied even a scoop of mashed potatoes. When I asked to speak with the manager Jorge I was told he was too busy to come out and speak with me - shame on Mimi’s Cafe - if you don’t care about customers get out of business! all I can say if you don’t want to do seminars for companies, then don’t take there mega dollars and don’t offer them —- if you’re going to discriminate against a vegetarian when you have a restaurant filled with vegetables I have to wonder what kind of prejudicial people are running a restaurant where you will flat out refuse to accommodate somebody’s dietary need. Your restaurant should be CLOSED to the public forever! I will never step foot in your place again, EVER! Reality I saw you’re nothing but an old dirty restaurant with crumbs and streaks on your tables from dirty dish towels. FOLLOWUP EDIT: I left my business card with the young man at the front register after he said the manager refused to come out. The reply asking for my info is more insulting as you have it...

• 05/11/25 Re-post from Open Table * So first off, I understand that we came on Mother's Day and expected it to be busy, but this was beyond busy. I don't believe the management did anything to prepare for the rush. It's almost as though it was treated like any other day, but it's not. First complaint, it took 20 minutes to get seated. Okay, that wasn't bad. I expected it to take time. But it seemed very chaotic and disorganized at the host booth. We were seated before a table that had an earlier reservation, and I didn't really understand their reasoning. But okay. We got to sit down. Second complaint, it took an hour and a half to get salads and appetizers. We had a diabetic person in our party, so it was a bit difficult to navigate that. And remember that party that had an earlier reservation? Well, they finished eating and left around the time we received our food. And my last complaint, there were no managers at all walking the floor talking to guests and trying to smooth things over. If you're not going to modify the staff numbers or workflow, then at least show your face. So the moral of the story? We will not be coming back for Mother's Day or any other holiday. This location is slow on normal days, so it's even slower during major rushes. To the frontline workers, I know you tried your best, and this poor planning and execution is on the management.

• UPDATE 07/07/25 * I emailed the company on May 13th at the email they listed in their response to my review and have yet to receive a response. I always wondered whether companies really want reviewers to email them or if it's just for show... I guess...

Me: Enters Mimi’s Cafe (stomach turning). Host:Hello traveler how many fellows will you be dining amongst? Me starving: I will be going solo. I don’t have friends. Host: Hmm…. Ok the wait time is only 10mins. But for you (winks with despicable intent) it will only be five. Me: Ok phenomenal. I’ll be waiting over here by the bench. Please come and tap my shoulder twice on the right side and four ties on the left, then I shall know that you are the one I am looking for. (4 minutes pass) Me: (stomach turns) Host: (taps me 2 times on the left and 4 times on the right) Me: (gets up and follows this fellow) Host: ok this is where you will be eating… all by yourself. Me still starving: Ok I need a menu now. Host: ok here (hands me menu) Me: (skims through menu swiftly) ok I want this (points to meal of choice which happens to be a muffin) Host: ahhh… yes the good ol muffin. Everyone likes the muffin. Is that all for today young fellow? Me: yes (Host goes and retrieves me a muffin in 3:32 seconds) (This was an incredible time for muffin retrieval I have seen no other restaurant deliver muffins at this rate) Me: (impressed by the efficiency of this person) Host: ok this will be your server ( points to some random person) Me: oh no I want you Host: well I am not at that power level yet. Me: ah ok I see (gets up and walks out store after payment and...