Moon's Mongolian Grill — Restaurant in Spokane

First impression is that they are fancy or upscale. fountain in front by the desk is noisy and smells of unwashed cleaner. Sign said to wait for the hostess. So we did. For about five minutes. Granted, she was filling drinks and cleaning tables. I can let that slide. We were never offered a menu. The hostess didn't even ask if we had been in a restaurant like this before, just assumed we would know what was needed to be done, and promptly walked away. The meats were in large cuts, so the bowls over filled just after putting in your first vegetables. Not even including the noodles. The meat and veggies. The fish smelled a bit fishy and not in the good way, so I did not try that. The tofu is sitting right next to the (raw, not frozen) fish as well. I'm not vegetarian, but I would have an issue with raw fish in the tofu bin. Vegetables that are not commonly purchased are not labeled. Was that bok choy? I couldn't tell you. The carrots and broccoli looked like they were chopped a few days ago, too. Let's talk sauces. I like a good amount of teriyaki and garlic on my bowls. You have to ask for the teriyaki. How about the whole concept of requesting certain sauces when it is time to be cooked. It's nice that some are separated, like the peanut sauce. Allergies and all. But it makes no sense to make us request teriyaki, but have soy sauce where I can add it. The cooks. Oh my gosh, they don't know how to use the circular grill at all. My first plate was cooked SO unevenly, I didn't even finish it. The meat was dry and disgusting. The cook didn't even ask me if I wanted something like curry sauce. Just took my bowl and dumped the contents onto the grill. The second plate, at least the guy stayed long enough for me to request. The design of the circle grill is not to have stuff sat on it on one spot. I'm fact, you are supposed to walk around it to rotate the food as it cooks. That's why it's round. These guys are using it like it's a flat square grill. The food is cooked unevenly, often burns to the grill, which causes them to water down the flavor of your food (literally with water). The way they cut up the meat is noisy and intrudes on the atmosphere of the dining experience. This could be avoided if they actually knew how to use this grill. Not only that, but the way they cut larger pieces flings the food into other food piles. I'm allergic to onions and so I don't put them on my plate. However when I sat down, there was onions on my plate from another person's choice. I watched this happen, too. All in all, I won't be coming back unless the cooks learn how to use the grill properly and they clean up the mess that is the veggie choice area. I would not recommend this place to eat unless you like half cooked noodles...

Summary:

Pros: fresh veggies Good meat Big bowls to stack food CLEAN tables, booths, chairs

Cons: Dreary lighting Not many sauces Expensive (comparatively)

The review: The hostess is AFB (all 'ffin business). She is not rude but not friendly. Very to the point, I like that. She sat us down, asked what drinks, asked if we knew what to do, gave rice selection and walked away.

Now, let's be honest. This place is going to be compared to HuHot. So the selection is not there compared to HuHot. I believe the vegetables were more fresh here than they are at HuHot and there was some bok choy type veggie that was good and they don't have that at HuHot. They also have lamb here which was delicious!

The sauces... the ladels are huge which is fine by me. no where near as many as HuHot. The hot oil wasn't spicy. The oil sauces are REALLY oily. I use a lot of sauce at HuHot and never had a puddle of oil on my plate. HuHot needs to step up and this place needs to cut down.

The furniture was really clean, pops were refilled constantly (which is lacking in most places around here). The bowls for getting raw ingredients is massive compared to HuHot (LOVE that!).

The lighting is dark and dreary. I was happy when it got dark enough outside for the exterior lighting to come on.

Now the grill area. The younger guy cooking was good. Made sure the grill top was clean. Cooked everything well. Came off the grill hot enough to melt your face, BUT nothing burnt. HuHots food comes off colder but half the time the sruff is burnt. (Been to many HuHots)

The grill trough looked like it hadnt been cleaned in HOURS which doesnt bother me but could gross a lot of people out. The older cook was terrible. Annoyed easily, put food on top of what he had just scraped off, didnt clean the grill. BTW not busy, just lazy.

Anyway. Ok place to eat. 2 bucks more a person than HuHot. I would just drive the extra half hour to the valley...

We went out to dinner and my first plate was undercooked so I didn't eat it. I figured I'd get another plate. When I gave the cook my new bowl he said 'Did you already finish your plate?" then in the nicest way possible I asked if he could cook it a little longer I don't mind if it's crispy and do just a little less sauce. He then yelled at me "If you don't want any sauce next time don't ask for any sauce!" I felt horrible leaving a plate uneaten, but for the price I'm not going to force down a undercooked plate swimming in sauce. I told the waitress and she was extremely disingenuous. I calmly explain how uncomfortable it was for me to be yelled at by a stranger over a plate of noodles and veggies. I was trying to be confident but my voice is a bit shaky because of how much anxiety I have from having to explain what just happened. I genuinely lost my appetite from how uncomfortable this whole ordeal was. The waitress said it was up to the owner, but we'd still most likely have to pay. I said please bring the owner to our table. I spoke with the owner and told her what happened and she said, "he's just like that sometimes." Not to me he's not. I calmly got up and said that I will not be paying for the experience I just had and the food I didn't get to eat. I've been a patron of moons since I was old enough to remember. My family has celebrated many birthdays and even some holidays at moons. Usually our waitress calls us by name, recognizes us, and remembers our drink order. This time this waitress I've not seen before was rude from start to finish. The cook yelling at me was icing on the cake. Unfortunately, I will...