Disappointing Experience at Mishqui Peruvian Bistro
Rating: 0.5/5 stars
I recently visited Mishqui Peruvian Bistro, expecting an explosion of flavors and authentic cuisine. Unfortunately, my experience fell short.
The ceviche, a Peruvian staple, lacked depth in flavor. The combination of ingredients was basic and didn't showcase the freshness of the seafood. I was expecting a zesty, citrusy kick, but it was just... bland. To make it worse, I added the chicharrón de pescado (fish fry) option for an extra $6, which promised to elevate my meal. Sadly, the batter lacked any flavor, leaving me disappointed and feeling like I wasted my money.
The pollo a la brasa, a classic Peruvian roasted chicken dish, was a major letdown. The chicken tasted more like a generic rotisserie chicken than a flavorful, slow-cooked masterpiece. In fact, I'd confidently say that Costco's rotisserie chicken is more flavorful than this. The lack of spices and herbs was noticeable, and the chicken's skin was overcooked. The accompanying chaufa (Peruvian fried rice) was a disaster - mushy like sushi rice, completely off from the stir-fried goodness it should have been. Authentic Peruvian fried rice is supposed to be savory, slightly crispy, and full of flavor, but this was none of that.
The fries that accompanied my meal were a disaster. They were cold, salty, and had an unpleasant hardness to them. It felt like chewing on leather rather than crispy, fluffy fries. I'm still wondering how something so simple could go so wrong.
What really should have been a warning sign was the automatic 18% gratuity added to the bill. That's a big red flag, folks. When a restaurant feels entitled to a large chunk of your money without even asking, it's a sign of poor service or, in this case, poor food quality.
To top it off, I barely touched my entrees, leaving most of the food behind due to the disappointment in taste. Feeling ripped off for paying close to $90 for such horrendous food was infuriating. What made it worse was the waitress's reaction when she noticed we didn't eat much and left our food behind. Instead of checking in to see if there were any issues with the food, she seemed completely uninterested and only cared about getting the payment processed. It was clear that she didn't care about our experience or feedback.
As a Peruvian myself, I take pride in trying out Peruvian restaurants when traveling to new places, and I've had the pleasure of sampling delicious dishes from Chicago to Madison, Wisconsin. Unfortunately, this experience was the worst Peruvian food I've ever tasted.
I'm actually glad I didn't try their lomo saltado, as based on the rest of the meal, it would have probably been a disappointment as well. Given the subpar dishes I did order, I don't think they can execute Peruvian classics well.
The pictures shown in reviews fooled me into thinking this place was authentic, but unfortunately, that's not the case. For those familiar with Peruvian cuisine, this place might deceive you into thinking it's authentic, but trust me, it's not. Worse still, if it was your first time trying Peruvian food and you ate here, you might be turned off from trying it again. The experience was deceiving and didn't showcase the vibrant flavors and rich culture that Peruvian cuisine has to offer.
The only bright spot in the entire meal was the Inka Cola soda, which was actually quite refreshing and true to its Peruvian roots. If they could bottle that flavor and serve it with a decent meal, I'd be back. Unfortunately, the rest of the dinner didn't live up to the soda's standard.
Overall, my experience at Mishqui Peruvian Bistro was underwhelming. With some tweaks to their recipes, cooking techniques, and service model, this restaurant could live up to its potential. Until then, I'll be taking my Peruvian food cravings elsewhere. read more