Mon Jin Lau — Restaurant in Troy

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞: 𝐇𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐭, 𝐍𝐎 𝐁𝐒 𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰𝐞𝐫 ■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■ 𝐁𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐟/𝐃𝐞𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐝 𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞.

Summary Review: This is an honest review of a restaurant experience. The entrance to the parking lot may look untidy, but the interior is welcoming and neat. Although tables are crowded, reservations ensure immediate seating. The waitress, Izzy, is excellent and very informative. The only critique is the need for blinds to provide shade during sunset. The appetizers, drinks, main meals, sides, and sushi are satisfying. Vegetarian options are available, and the service is excellent. The coffee gelato is highly recommended for dessert. Overall, the restaurant is clean, lovely, and worth making reservations for. ■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■Detailed Review: As a first-time guest, I found the entrance for parking a bit untidy with cones, but as soon as we walked in, we were greeted by a welcoming and neat interior. We had made reservations, and our seating was immediate. Though the tables were crowded, we managed to find our way through. Our waitress, Izzy, was excellent, and we appreciated her informative nature and her ability to manage queues. It was noteworthy, given that the quality of service and the art of waitressing are often lacking in other places. We would definitely ask for her again.

One suggestion for improvement would be to add blinds, as the sunset was quite enjoyable, but there wasn't enough shade, and the rays hit my great-grandmother and me in the eyes for most of our experience.

Now, regarding the food, there were many dishes that we tried, and here are our thoughts:

For appetizers, the spring roll was an extraordinarily satisfying crispy crunch, and the calamari was the best we've had in Michigan, with sweet and savory flavors. The scallion pancake was a perfect thickness, with a medium crispness, and the sauce to pair was refreshing. The spice level was that of chili peppers, for those who are "in tune" with their tastebud sensitivity.

When it comes to drinks, we weren't sure if we liked the expresso martini, but we enjoyed the chintini, which is a lighter drink that's pleasant for those who prefer fruity flavors.

For our main meals, the Szechuan eggplant with tofu was a savory and plentiful vegetarian platter, and it was well worth the price, given its freshness and heartiness. The beef dishes and sea scallops were also buttery, juicy mouthfuls that were worth every bite.

For sides, both the shrimp and plain veggie fried rice were addictively good, with an umami (almost smokey) fried flavor that wasn't greasy. The seasoned green beans were not too saucy or dry, and they had a balanced amount of aromatic flavors.

When it came to sushi, the salmon avocado and vegetarian Buddha roll were standard sushi rolls with subtle flavors. The sushi rice was very light in taste, but the rolls were good. However, we would have liked more kanpyo/flavor in the Buddha roll, as it was pretty light.

Lastly, for dessert, there were several gelatos, carrot cake, and chocolatey desserts that weren't on the menu, and you had to ask your waiter/ess about them. The coffee gelato was delicious, and as a coffee-addicted dessert junkie, I would highly recommend it (if you're not affected by late-night caffeine consumption). My family members mentioned the carrot cake for next time, as they heard only good things about it. ■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■ Overall, with tasty vegetarian options, excellent customer service from Izzy, and a clean, lovely atmosphere, it would be wise to make reservations. Five forks up, lets eat here...

Mother's Day dinner with the family was a treat at Mon Jin Lau and worth the hike across town. My aunt is a regular and simply loves it. The servers are well versed with vegan diets, so there was something for everyone. They were patient, helpful and anticipated our needs, like bringing low sodium soy without us asking. We ordered a mix of items and all were fresh and tasty. My cousin enjoyed her chicken sizzling rice bowl for two and carried the rest home for lunch the next day. Kids loved the edamame, we ordered it twice. Vegan items worth trying: Lettuce wraps, sushi (Buddha & garden rolls), Szechuan eggplant (batter for fried tofu is vegan, they checked for us). The vegetarian selection is separate on the menu and can be made vegan (minus egg) on request. Many thanks to Izzy who did a great job with our table. The owners came around a few times to check in as well, which reflects their involvement and commitment to creating the best dining experience. So what was missing? Well, it was a full house. The restaurant is rather congested when at full capacity and moving around can be a challenge. You can imagine the noise as well. Thankfully, we had a corner table, but it was right by the kitchen door on one side and the patio entrance on the other, so there were a constant stream of servers and large plates of food coming right behind us and above our heads. They didn't drop anything and were polite about it, but it may be worth considering keeping a smaller table in that particular corner and smaller tables in the restaurant generally so people can move about more easily. Often, others had to get up from their table just to let us get by. The other thing is, while I understand its popularity, they were struggling with getting finished dishes cleared off the table and having enough space. We stacked dishes to accommodate the lack of space. If that could be better handled on busy nights, it would be helpful. In addition, perhaps they can consider brighter overhead lighting (in place of the small table lamp in the center) and a Lazy Susan so people can better share dishes. We had to pass things over and across, and while it's fun for some to do the interactive family style dining at a fine dining restaurant, this could make it easier. Still, we had a great time and would definitely go back. Call ahead. They...

Best sushi around. My opinion best Asian cuisine metro Detroit. Very upscale dining experience everything is very fresh and cooked with a lot of love and exquisite flavor. They have a full bar, a very extensive wine list, including imports and sake. The menu has so much to offer from sushi (if that is your cup of tea it's unparalleled) to an Asian filet mignon. Everything in between classic dishes such as Kun Pao chicken are made at large portions and definitely hit the palette exactly the right way.. The atmosphere is very peaceful. Dim lighting and a lot of cool things to look at. Anywhere you're seated throughout the restaurant whether it's the bar or the dining area you're likely going to have a very romantic, or professional experience. I noticed anything from couples to business meetings gathering to dine. This is at lunch and at dinner. Wednesday nights MJL is one of the most popular nightlife attractions in the area 21 & up (Shanghai Wednesdays) it is best described as an Asian American nightclub. Flaming drinks, shot specials..check the website for more information. It's late night Wednesdays only, it attracts a younger crowd and packs the house just about to capacity every week. With live DJ Matt Aubry to set the mood for a different experience altogether. All and all.. Very very cool place. This is my experience and review. With everything I just mentioned, I think it should probably just about make everybody curious. If you haven't tried this place, it's definitely worth checking out once. You'll be back for more after that. The prices are a little on the upside but that's only when comparing it to your regular Asian or Chinese food restaurants. Expect to pay more money for way more quality dining. I would have to do research but I'm pretty sure they have to be in the four-star category. I've never had a bad experience, nor a bad meal there.

Hats off to...