Momu, along with it's big sister Aioli, is like Venus Fly Trap. Both look nice and smell nice, but they are ultimately carnivorous traps in disguise. Fool me once shame on you, fool me twice shame on me.
I've been monitoring Momu from day one. I went to the opening party which featured lots of waify aspiring models, free beer, and gold flaked hot dogs. I went when the menu was promoted as Tapas prepared by an expert Australian chef. (Even though I don't know what an Australian has to do with Tapas). They served intersting things like Sweet Potato Crisps. I was extremely exicted that alternative places like this were opening up in Warsaw. Places that were like real restaurants with varied, decently priced menus, nice atmospheres, and good locations. Something resembling the many sitdown franchise restuarnts back home. Yet, Momu and Ailoi have failed on virtually every level.
Perhaps the problem has always been their incohesive brand identity. They never picked one thing and stuck with it. The place moved from tapas to interesting sounding but poorly executed ethnic cuisine. Everyone working there seems to be confused about their role, the menu, what they are doing there and what the people sitting around are doing there.
My most recent Momu let down was driven by their new "Hangover Brunch" menu. There is one dish on the menu that I rather like (thus the two star rating and not one), which was only introduced recently. It's Eggs Benedict (two poached eggs served on toast with bacon or sausage under the eggs and a Hollandaise sauce), with tiny dollops of hummus, "Israeli salad", and tabbouleh.
Now, the hummus and tabbouleh are spot on, but the "Israeli Salad" is a joke. It's worse than a joke. I just got back from Israel and their standard salad is chopped fresh cucumbers and tomatos. There are very slight variations, but that's what it is. Whatever I got had green beans, lima beans, and other random vegetables in it that did not include cucumbers or tomatos. Now it wasn't bad - but it was not what I ordered, it was not what the menu said it would be, and I am not a fan of random vegetables or fruits popping up in my food, especially when they are neither complimentary nor cleverly placed.
We also ordered a dish that was supposed to come with salsa, which it did not - and there was corn in it. The menu said - a dumpling with mixed vegetables so it wasn't completely lying - but why - why does corn need to go in anything that is even slighty Latin American in origin? I ate one and couldn't eat anymore. While the eggs and the rest were quite good, it is a very small portion and leaves you wanting to order more food but everything on that menu is suspect. I do not trust any of it to come out the way it's written on the menu or to meet even my tiniest expectations for it. And this has been my experience every time I go here.
If I get a hotdog with chili con carne and guacamole I get sliced avacado, corn and mystery meat on a burnt hot dog. It's as if they run out of stuff in the kitchen and then just grab whatever is at hand to make up for it. Oh no cucumbers and tomatos so green beans and lima beans SAME THING. There is no culinary integrity in the food. I'm always disappointed, to the point where I can't even trust dishes I like to come out as edible.
The meal also came with free refills of coffee. This is a novel concept in Warsaw. To get free coffee refills is super rare. I was very excited by this prospect, especially because it's typical in American restaurants. However, it is pointless to offer such a deal when the waiter never comes to check on you or to ask if you want a refill. I wouldn't say the service here is any worse than it is anywhere in Poland - waiters will simply never ever ever come to your table to check on you. Yet, this is particularly annoying when you have to go to your waiter with your empty coffee cup and Oliver Twist some out of him..."Please sir I want some more."
Aslo, I asked for milk, which was heated it up in a regular glass. It's just little details like this -the total I could care less what kind of food i'm giving you or what kind of service you're getting - shut your mouth and deal with it restaurant attitude. I expect more from Warsaw restaurants.
Yet, when it comes to paying, the "waiter" will stand over your shoulder like a money vulture. Now he's all intent on what's going on at your table. I've had just several bad experience with the staff, the food makes me want to cry, and I feel cheated and stupid every time I eat here. NO MORE. I've drawn the line. read more