Mizuna — Restaurant in Spokane

Honestly, for the first 20-25 minutes I spent there with minimal service, excluding a glass of lemon water, I felt almost completely unnoticeable to anyone working that evening. But eventually my waitress, who was very apologetic she was serving patrons both indoors and their outside dining space situated in an alley on the side of the restaurant between another business, came to get my drink and appetizers order and was extremely helpful and made wise suggestions as I had a hard time making decisions concerning the menu. Her service from then on was very attentive, but not in a smothering way. She paced bringing out each course and checking up on me, with impeccable timing. I started with fresh bread and olive oil, black cracked pepper and a tiny amount of balsamic vinaigrette to dip it into..the bread had a crusty outer layer and a warm, flaky, soft texture on the inside, perfect for soaking it all up. One of the best "complimentary" breads I have been served at any restaurant in a long while. For my appetizer I had the pork belly which not only came served with crostini-like slices but an absolutely delicious sauce for dipping or spreading and sliced apples to go on the side. I was legitimately shocked at just how large it would be and I know now it was most certainly meant to be shared—they were almost the size of bbq ribs and very dense and meaty. I boxed the rest up for later, as I didn't realize until I sampled it that I really didn't want anything that heavy at the time. The seafood fettuccini was INCREDIBLE—the highlight meal of my entire week! I also want to give kudos to the chef who took the time and consideration of the guests by peeling the ENTIRE shrimp shell off and making sure the clams shells were FULLY opened before serving to the patrons, as many establishments do not, and it is very annoying and inconvenient 😩; the scallops were one of the few times I've had it prepared so perfectly as well. I reluctantly ordered the flourless chocolate torte and was surprised how much I liked it and didn't miss the flour one bit! It also had crystallized sugar coated bits of hardened organic ginger pieces that was both unsuspected and highly enjoyable. I had a blackberry mojito and a berry-infused lemonade martini, which like the meal was amazing and not diluted or watered down in any way. The atmosphere consists of an alleyway outdoor dining area with lights hanging overhead, beautifully shining in the evening's waning hours. I def want to sit out there when I return. The inside consisted of two rooms and the entire structure was quality brick and stone work with a fusion of Edwardian chic and neo-industrial styles, complete with Tiffany-style stained glass and exposed metal...

We came here for a winter birthday. It was dimly lit inside which gave it kind of a romantic feel.

I feel like the tables were too close to each other since when I got up I couldn’t push my chair all the way back to get out .

I did like the exposed red brick walls and local art displayed.

The bread paired with olive oil and balsamic vinegar is always delicious at any place that serves it. We were a larger group and hungry so I appreciated them filling the bread basket and oil dip.

I showed up a little late so I can’t remember what the group ordered for appetizers, but it was good.

For my main course I stuck with what I know will be good which is the steak and potatoes.

My steak was cooked perfectly and medium rare. I have never had a New York and it was quite tender. I was quite surprised that I received more than a few asparagus spears and a dollop of mashed potato’s. Which is always a bonus. The Gorgonzola mashed potatoes were delicious. Very creamy with a hint of cheese. The mashed potatoes were the star of the dish. I did also really like the assortment of mushrooms on top as well.

Everyone in the group ordered different items. A couple of people ordered the duck special, the scallops, and the salmon. One ordered the salad and returned it because there wasn’t enough dressing, and wasn’t satisfied with the quality of the salad for the price. They all said their food was just okay.

I enjoyed my steak and potatoes.

Overall my food was good. But if I were going to go out for steak I would go somewhere else like Wolf Lodge or...

Mizuna Restaurant and Wine Bar in Spokane, often lauded for its unique vegetarian offerings, unfortunately fell short during my recent visit. The restaurant, known for its independent vegetarian menu, presented an underwhelming experience, which was a letdown right from the start. The expectation for a delightful dining experience quickly diminished with the arrival of our dishes.

The falafel, a usually delightful vegetarian staple, was overcooked to the point of being hard and crusty. This was a disappointing start. Moving on to the steelhead, it was alarmingly raw in the middle, raising concerns about the kitchen's attention to cooking details. The ginger peanut linguine, which sounded promising on the menu, turned out to be uninspired and bland, failing to excite the palate.

Service, while adequate, did not meet the standards of fine dining. Basic necessities like cutlery were missing from our table, requiring us to request them. Additionally, we had to ask for our table to be cleared, indicating a lack of attentiveness from the staff. Several key aspects of fine dining service, which contribute significantly to the overall experience, were noticeably missing.

Given this lackluster experience and the underwhelming presentation of both food and service, I find it difficult to recommend Mizuna Restaurant and Wine Bar, even to my vegetarian friends. The restaurant, while having a reputation for quality vegetarian cuisine, did not live up to expectations on...