I had eagerly anticipated our Mother's Day outing at Mimi's with my one-year-old and extended family. It was meant to be a memorable celebration, a joyful gathering over delicious food. However, our experience at Mimi's was a far cry from what we had hoped for. My sister-in-law had made reservations for our party of 14 at 12:30 pm, yet we were not seated until a full hour later. Disappointingly, there was no acknowledgment of the delay or recognition of our patience during this wait. Once seated, we were greeted by the server after fifteen minutes had passed. To our dismay, we discovered that the meal was a pre-fixe arrangement, a detail overlooked during the reservation process. When we inquired about ordering from the regular menu, our server's response lacked accommodation, cautioning us against making any demanding requests due to the apparent kitchen workload. Our disappointment grew as half of our table remained without water for an extended period. When the food finally arrived at around 2:30 pm--two hours after our reservation time--it was evident that the restaurant was struggling to manage the influx of customers. This delay in service was further exacerbated by the staggered arrival of our meals, with some members of our party receiving their food much later than others. The server attributed this delay to a shortage of clean dishes, a concerning revelation that hinted at inadequate preparation for the busy Mother's Day rush. Adding to our frustration, our desired dessert option was unavailable, a disappointment only exacerbated by the lengthy wait. By the time we received our bill, it was nearly 4pm and our family had been there for over 3.5 hours! The confusion surrounding the managerial staff further compounded our dissatisfaction, as we initially mistook one of the servers for the manager. Although the management attempted to rectify the situation by offering a discount on our bill and providing gift cards for a future visit, the overall experience fell short of our expectations. Regrettably, I do not foresee myself returning to Mimi's in the future. read more

Mimi's Bistro & Bakery never fails to disappoint, this time it's the service. The new menu is great and has brought us back several times especially the two new fish entrees that feature cod cooked just right. However the twenty minute wait for a table is disappointing especially when a third of the tables in the man dining room are unoccupied and not cleared. Then there was the ten minute wait for a waitress, maybe that why they call them waitresses. She was unfamiliar with the menu which added additional confusion. Our orders took another twenty minutes to get out of the kitchen. All of the above problems and disappointments revolve around indifferent management with a poorly trained and poorly scheduled staff. We only saw one person busing tables. The waitresses had to step in and bus their tables own which took them away from their primary duty of serving customers. This is with at least ten people waiting in the entrance waiting area to be seated. I want to be quick to add we've never had a bad meal at Mimi's but it seems such a shame to see a restaurant with an outstanding menu, priced right, fail because of an inability to deliver their product to a hungry clientele. In summary, Mimi's Bistro & Bakery in Downey is about waiting.. If you got the time to wait and don't mind...you'll experience a great meal properly prepared and reasonably priced. Bon Appetit!! read more

This location, Downey, has to be the worst for Mimi's Cafe. How sad this location ruins the name of the business in whole. The staff are incompenent fools! Asked for Iced Tea the girl brings out Raspberry Iced Tea.. after I finish the Raspberry Iced Tea I ask for regular Iced Tea.. she brings out Raspberry Iced Tea again. SMH! I sat across the kitchen and I noticed the server picking fries off the plate and throwing it somewhere for a good couple minutes.. later she brings that same plate she was picking fries off of and gives it to me. LOL wow. I confront her but she just brushes me off and walks away. When I picked up my sandwhich I noticed the plate was dirty. Hard crusted crap on the plate. I thought it was mustard and I checked the sandwhich but it had no mustard and I also saw some green stuff caked on the plate as well.. couldn't eat.. lost my appetite. F-ing DISGUSTING!!! what the hell is wrong with these people. I should've walked away when I saw the B rating on the window.. but my Grandma loves there French Onion Soup. :0 so we stayed. DO NOT GO TO THIS LOCATION. IT'S GHETTO AS SH*T AND THE STAFF ARE ALL RETARDED.. BECAUSE THEY'RE STUPID UNEDUCATED MAME-CHANS. read more

We've lived in Downey for 30 years and have been going to Mimi"s for about as long as I can remember. Mimi"s was the go-to place for dining back in the days before Downey Landing and Downey Promenade. The menu back then was so much better. They had the best clam chowder and they would serve the bread basket with the carrot raisin cake free of charge. You sat down at a table and bam-- there's a basket of breads unfortunately, however, not only do you not get a complimentary bread basket, you don't get good service either. Back in the days, Mimi"s was packed with an average wait time of 30 minutes. Those days are long gone, just like their clam chowder. We quit going there long ago, with just an occasional visit when we want a cup of French onion soup, which is still as good as it was long ago. We went this evening because we knew there would be no wait. We ordered the French Pot Roast as part of their 3-course meal. It was awful!! The meat was unseasoned and so dry, it tasted old and beefy and the dessert was chocolate molten cake which did not ooze with chocolate and the ice cream had ice crystals sorry, Mimi"s, but even your French onion soup won't entice us to visit again! read more

My recent visit to Mimi's Cafe left me with mixed feelings. Upon entering, we received a warm welcome and were promptly seated. Our server, Jose, stood out as a courteous and attentive individual, even though he appeared slightly overwhelmed. The main issue was the pacing of our meal. After ordering the carrot loaf as a starter, it took a bit longer than expected to arrive, and the main courses were served just three minutes after the bread. This quick turnaround left our small table crowded with food. The noise level in the restaurant was quite high, with the constant clattering of dishes by the bussers adding to the commotion. Additionally, our table was not properly cleaned when we were first seated, which was disappointing. Overall, my experience at Mimi's Cafe was less than satisfying. While the timing of the bread and food arrival was better than initially mentioned, the issues with pacing, the noisy environment, and the table cleanliness still impacted our overall dining experience. It didn't quite meet our expectations and fell short of being a truly enjoyable visit. read more

I had a really disappointing experience at Mimi's Cafe in Downey. I came in to redeem a birthday reward that clearly stated it could be used "per check" with a purchase. To follow that, I ordered muffins so I was making a purchase. However, the waiter refused to honor the reward and insisted it could only be used with an entrée--even though that requirement was nowhere in the email or fine print. I even showed him the actual reward details, and he still denied it. It's frustrating when a restaurant doesn't honor its own promotions, especially for something meant to make customers feel appreciated on their birthday. The lack of consistency and unwillingness to resolve the issue left a bad impression. I've enjoyed Mimi's in the past, but this experience definitely makes me hesitant to return. I hope management can clarify their policies and better train staff to avoid situations like this read more

It's sad to say but this place does deserve 1 star. So me and my family decided to go out for some desserts on a Sunday evening. We figured we would come here instead of Porto's since Porto's always has a huge line and we were looking for a quick place to be seated. We got here on a Sunday and the greeter said it was only a "10" min await. However, it turned out to be a 20-30min wait and the restaurant wasn't even full, at all. it was obvious they were short on staff, the manager looked bothered. We finally were seated and we ordered our drinks, a wine, hot cocos and a coffee. They took forever to just bring us our drinks. We were confused as to why there were taking forever just to serve us. They didn't have a big selection on dinner or deserts. I won't be going back any time soon. Sorry. Service needs to improve alot. read more

My husband and I recently dined at Mimi's Restaurant and was thoroughly impressed. The service was incredibly fast, with our orders being taken promptly and our food arriving in no time. The staff was friendly and attentive, ensuring that we had everything we needed throughout the meal. As for the food, it was absolutely delicious. Each dish was prepared with care and full of flavor. From the appetizers to the main course, everything was fresh and well-seasoned. The variety on the menu caters to different tastes, and I appreciated the quality of ingredients used in each dish. Thank you to our waiter José Antonio. Overall, Mimi's offers a fantastic dining experience with quick service and outstanding food. I highly recommend it for anyone looking for a satisfying meal in a welcoming atmosphere. read more

Well let start by saying that this was my second time here but I did not review the first time because their food was not the memorable so I forgot to post my opinion. Thought my second time around would be better, unfortunately for me I was still disappointed. Like the first time their server were courteous and polite however their food was totally bland.I had Tuna sandwhich was ok but I had to add salt. My friend has shrimp and fries the fries seemed like they had been refried they were as hard as rocks. My other Friend provencial salmon salad Oh My that was horrible the Salad was very soggy and the greens were old. Had a taste, as you can tell I didnt like that at all. Nothing special about this restaurant. Service it was ok but it could be better. Price Is ok. read more

Oh Mimi's....a few co-workers in hungry fashion decided to give you a go during lunch...we should have reconsidered. First off, I know you are a chain, so with that said, although the food may not rock my world..I expect chain-like excellent and timely service. We completely were ignored for the first 10 minutes standing by the host stand... tsk tsk tsk. Then we just decided to seat ourselves at the bar, thinking 'okay this should be a least faster service... nope, dead slow. I understand the lunch rush, but this was very terrible. The food was very mediocre and even though I dig the muffins, it is not enough to bring me back here. Ladies and gents, I'd take my appetite elsewhere in the neighborhood. read more

I had such a great experience at Mimi's Café in Downey! The food was fresh, delicious, and came out quickly, but what really made the visit memorable was the service. Our server, Tony, was absolutely fantastic--friendly, attentive, and always made sure we had everything we needed without ever feeling rushed. He had a great attitude and made the whole dining experience so enjoyable. It's not easy to find servers who are both professional and genuinely kind, but Tony definitely stood out. I'll definitely be coming back, and I'll be asking for Tony next time! Highly recommend this location if you're looking for a relaxed meal with top-notch service. read more

We had the pleasure of being served by Lety during our breakfast at Mimi's Cafe in and she made the experience truly wonderful! From the moment we sat down, she greeted us with a warm smile and made us feel welcome. She was attentive without being overbearing, always checking in at just the right times. Our drinks were refilled promptly, and she made sure we had everything we needed. What stood out most was her friendly attitude and professionalism. She was knowledgeable about the menu and even gave great recommendations. If you're dining at Mimi's CafeI highly recommend asking for Lety. She made our meal even more enjoyable. read more

We had a great experience at Mimi's Café, thanks in large part to our server, Tony. From the moment we were seated, he was friendly, attentive, and genuinely welcoming. Tony struck the right balance between checking in and giving us space to enjoy our meal. He was knowledgeable about the menu, offered helpful suggestions, and made sure everything came out just the way we ordered it. His attention to detail and warm attitude made our visit feel more personal and enjoyable. We really appreciated his professionalism and would gladly return knowing we're in good hands with him. Thank you, Tony, for the excellent service read more

I recently enjoyed a delicious meal at this establishment. I ordered a ham, egg, sausage omelette and a flight of mimosas. Despite requesting no onions, the dish still had onions in it, but I have to admit, it was incredibly tasty. The potatoes were my absolute favorite part of the meal. The mimosas were also delightful, and they came in a nice set up of three for just $13. The ambiance of the place was calm and quiet, which added to the overall enjoyable experience. Both the hostess and the waiter were attentive and provided great service. I would definitely return to this place and highly recommend it to others. read more

Today we had some excellent service we ordered liver with onions and mushrooms and that was delicious and for the desser we had some bread pudding... what i observed was a tall mgr.. never seem him before the whole 45m we were there he was talking to other tables asking them how is everithing?? He even told us if there is any issues to talk to him and hell make it right?? We love this.. the service here i think its going to change... before it was bad but now its good he convinced me.. hes taking care of business.. well gladly return for more liver and good service.. we dine in @ 730pm read more

Tony is hands down one of the best servers we've ever had! From the moment we were seated, he greeted us with a warm smile and made us feel so welcome. He was attentive without being overbearing, anticipated our needs before we even had to ask, and ensured our dining experience was absolutely flawless. The way he interacted with us felt genuine and personable, making the meal even more enjoyable. If you're lucky enough to have Tony as your server, you're in for an exceptional experience. We'll definitely be back, and it's largely thanks to him. Five stars all the way! read more

My daughter, 10yrs old, and I came in for a mother daughter breakfast. We were greeted by our lovely server Millie. She made ordering easy and fun. Millie checkEd in on us often. My daughter ordered the Belgian waffles and she said "it was delicious!" She also thought they were big and fluffy. I ordered the Santa Fe omelette, my favorite. The eggs are always cooked perfectly and the combination of scallions, cheese and chipotle sauce make every bite delicious. Mimi's cafe is our favorite restaurant especially for breakfast. read more

I had the pleasure of being served by Tony this morning, and I must say, his service was outstanding! From the moment we walked in, Tony greeted us with a smile and made us feel right at home. His attention to detail was impeccable, ensuring our coffee cups were always full and our food was exactly to our liking. Tony was attentive without being overbearing, striking the perfect balance of friendliness and professionalism. It's clear he takes pride in his work, and it made our breakfast experience even more enjoyable. read more

I had an amazing experience at Mimi's Cafe thanks to Tony! From the moment we were seated, he was warm, welcoming, and incredibly attentive. Tony made us feel right at home with his friendly personality and genuine smile. He was efficient without ever making us feel rushed, and every part of our dining experience was smooth and enjoyable. It's rare to find such a perfect balance of professionalism and kindness--Tony truly stands out. If you're dining at Mimi's, ask for Tony--you won't be disappointed! read more