Mizu 36 Asian Cuisine — Restaurant in West Long Branch

[UPDATED ON 06/21/2023]

A few weeks ago, I had the pleasure of dining at Mizu 36 and left a glowing 5-star review. The food quality was exceptional, and I raved about the overall experience. However, my recent visit has left me feeling disappointed, prompting me to update my review to reflect my changed perspective.

I arrived at the restaurant around 2:30 PM, well before their posted closing time of 3:00 PM. To my dismay, I was informed that they were already closed for the day. This inconsistency between their advertised closing time and the actual closure was disheartening, and it disrupted my plans.

While I acknowledge that unforeseen circumstances can arise, I was taken aback by the reception I received. The gentleman at the front desk came across as slightly rude when explaining the situation. It would have been appreciated if he had shown more understanding and empathy towards my disappointment.

Despite this unfortunate incident, I must emphasize that my previous comments regarding the food quality still hold true.

Nonetheless, the recent experience left a bitter taste in my mouth, figuratively speaking. The inconsistency with their closing time and the somewhat discourteous reception marred what would have otherwise been another pleasant visit. I hope that Mizu 36 takes note of this feedback and ensures better communication and professionalism in the future.

I believe in giving credit where it is due, and Mizu 36 still has the potential to provide outstanding dining experiences. I hope that my feedback helps them improve their service and maintain the high standards they are capable of.

I’m leaving my previous review below for reference.

[1st REVIEW ON 06/01/2023] Mizu 36, a beloved mainstay of the local culinary scene, has recently reinstated its all-you-can- eat offering, and the experience is nothing short of superb. If you, like me, have missed their expansive and decadent spread of sushi and rolls, it's time to rejoice.

I was met with a staggering array of dishes at an incredibly reasonable price for lunch. True to Mizu 36's reputation, the quality was outstanding, with each piece expertly crafted and served at the peak of freshness. Their menu is like a culinary journey through Japan, an adventure that will surely excite any sushi lover's palate.

Returning to Mizu 36 after some time away, I was delighted to find that the restaurant hasn't lost any of its charm. The atmosphere remains as welcoming and comfortable as ever, providing the perfect backdrop for their excellent dining experience. It's the kind of place that makes you feel at home while offering an exciting and diverse menu that keeps you coming back for more.

In terms of variety, Mizu 36 truly sets the bar high. Their extensive selection of sushi and rolls caters to all tastes, whether you prefer the traditional classics or seek to try something new and exciting. There's a delightful sense of discovery that comes with each visit - a testament to their commitment to creativity and innovation in their cuisine.

In conclusion, Mizu 36's return to the all-you-can-eat scene is a cause for celebration. With their high-quality offerings, impressive variety, and warm ambiance, they continue to demonstrate why they're one of the best sushi places around. I know I'll be making frequent trips to enjoy their incredible spread. I highly recommend that you do the same - you won't be...

Food 3.4 Decor 3.8 Comfort 4.0 Service 4.4 Value 4.5

Overall a good spot if you want to tear some food up

So I had to try this spot and it actually exceeded my expectations. For a 16.99 lunch it’s actually a decent deal if you can put some food away. It’s about value. If you are a person who will eat a single roll for lunch and be content, this isn’t the place for you. As noted, this isn’t a buffet. You order all you want off a menu, as previously mentioned by joon, and you just pig out. You dont have to order evrything at once and they make it fresh to order. If you’re a slob like me, read on lol

Thai cucumber salad was actually very good. In fact, that was probably one of the best things I had and I am not a salad guy really. I then had a few chicken wings which were nothing special. I think I would just ask them to fry me some up and leave off the “BBQ style” sauce next time…maybe put a side of sauce on the plate.

I then set off to dominate 3 special rolls (top three on the menu going across) and a spicy tuna roll. The spicy tuna was just OK but the one with the jalapeños was pretty tasty.

The shrimp tempura were tasty and eel was decent.

My cousin and I were greeted by the manager and instantly seated. In fact, he took our drink orders. He came around three times to make sure everything was going well. Our server was on point too. Granted it wasn’t that busy, but hopefully they have their service issues fixed. My cousin had some ice water in a minute and they brought him out a plate of lemon wedges after he asked for lemon. With the crazy prices of lemons today, I was surprised to see this.

Overall this is a decent spot if you want to freaking gorge on mediocre/decent food. The decor is actually quite nice, it’s clean, the bathrooms are spotless and brand new, and the tables are spacious and comfortable.

Ps…

I never got to try the udon, or any soups, and I never got into any terriyaki or other tempura. I’d like to try some other things on the menu, including some lomein. Overall I was surprised. @joonjoon the rice ratio wasn’t off today. It appears this place is actually trying to put out legit food. I think they can probably put more care into prep while it’s lunch time.

Note the tuna roll…not too much rice (if you can see that…)

mizu36mizu36.jpg3264x1836 1.77 MB On the downside, they are really light on the wasabi and ginger. I’m sure you can easily ask for more though. I just ate my...

The older woman at the front desk who runs the place is extremely rude ignorant & Very disrespectful… I had the all you can eat during lunch and I had 2 problems. The first problem was very foul, repulsive smelling shrimp... life lesson, smell things before you eat them lol.. I ended up throwing up a few hours later which I believe was from the shrimp.. Second was after I sent back the shrimp I ordered the shrimp lo mein thinking they wouldn’t serve me bad shrimp twice.. Welp.. I found a piece of metal in my shrimp lo mein that I actually bit into after I ate almost the whole dish 😂 Yes the shrimp Lo mein was good.. So I let my waitress know about the metal and also took a picture of it. No apologies were given and i received a bill with no discount.. After being served bad shrimp and having metal in my Lo Mein I felt like I deserved at least half of the bill compensated if not the whole thing considering I was a regular customer. So I approached the man I believed to be the Owner/manager, he said “I’ll take $10 off” after a brief exchange and letting them know i was a long term frequent customer he got upset threw his hands up and said I’ll take your meal off.. then the woman, who I assumed was either his wife got extremely upset slammed the table and started speaking in her native tongue obviously upset over the extra discount.. After that we had an exchange of words and she was extremely rude and unprofessional. So we then had another exchange of words this time I had a few “choice words” and then she threatened to call the cops on me after I called her a “female dog” and a terrible business owner with terrible customer service. Overall the foods not bad but they don’t care if they serve you spoiled food or metal and get mad at you for holding them accountable.. Then want to get mad at you for their mistakes… I believe they own Ming Ying in long branch too.. I highly advise against being a customer at any of their establishments.. very rude people who do not care about the customer… They basically poisoned me twice and didn’t care.. First spoiled food and then metal in it.. Makes you wonder how clean they actually are in there. Someone should call a...