Mon Jin Lau Restaurant

Me and my family have been eating (dinning in & carry out) for the last 10 years at least. The food was always delicious and service was always top notch. That is, until recently. Over the last two years, Mon Jin Lau has gone downhill in all areas. The food has lost it's flare and the service has become downright lazy. \r I ordered carry out a few weeks ago from them. My father enjoys the Almond chicken dish and it's the only thing he ever gets (he's knows what he likes). In the last few orders we have gotten....This dish in partcular has gone downhill. The chicken is dry and over cooked. I tend to be more adventurous and tend to try something different everytime. The last few dishes I've gotten have been very bland and the fish, rather tough and chewy (shrimp and scallops...but more so then normal). Also, in the last few carry out orders, items were forgotten completely, such as spring rolls, sauces, and poor packaging.\r \r \r I used to love Mon Jin Lau,, but I'd rather dine elsewhere, Like Thai Inn on Rochester rd in the north hill plaza, ot for the japanese side of things...Take Sushi across from Rochester High. Pros: ambience, nice bar Cons: pricey, o.k. food more

My friends and I tried Mon Jin Lau for the first time. I kept hearing and hearing about it, but never got a chance to try it since I don't live that close. We went on a Friday night. They were so busy. We grabbed a drink at the bar and waited for our table to be set. One of our friends had the lychee martini, which was amazing. I tried the asian pear martini, it was good, but I think I liked the lychee better. The ambiance of this place was amazing....great music, and nice staff. I ordered sushi, and the thai peanut chicken. To die for. I defintely will be back. Pros: Ambiance, Food, Service Cons: Very Busy, Hard to Find a Place to Stand more

I am not sure if I would say over-rated. I think the food is a bit americanized. Even so, I still think the food is very good. As for the person who ordered the Pad Thai... All I have to say is that you don't order Thai food in a Chinese Restaurant (and by the way... Pad Thai generally is cooked with an egg)... \r \r The only reasons why I dine here is the ambiance. Otherwise, I go to other places for carry out. Pros: Ambiance Cons: a little expensive more

The menu was innovative, I will give them that. It is also has a nice atmosphere. My dish, the vegetable pad thai, was terrible. You would think such a common dish would be safe to order. To be perfectly honest, it was a big pile of mushy noodles and overcooked veggies. Also, the menu does not state that it has egg. I am a vegetarian and do not eat egg. If my server wasn't so rude and unavailable, I would have mentioned it to her. As other people have said, we were not offered any refills on our drinks. My dinner companion had General Tso's Chicken. He said it was much better at other places. We won't be back. Pros: nice atmosphere, maybe the specials are better than the old stand bys Cons: horrible service, dishes are not consistent with other asian places more

Been going to Mon Jin Lau regularly for I don't know how long. The food is consistenly outstanding, always. As many restaurants come and go, Mon Jin Lau seems to stay excellant on food quality and service throughout the years. My favorites are the Beef Chow Fun and Singapore Noodles. The best Crab Rangoon anywhere. They have a new outdoor pation that is beautiful. Lively bar, and great music. Pros: Food, Service, Quality Cons: Needs more smoking areas, but that's the only negative more

I just went to Mon Jin Lau for the very first time after hearing so many raves. We went there for my girlfriend's 30th birthday party. The service was outstanding. Our waitress was so attentive to every detail, and helping us order. I ordered the Rainbow Roll and the Hong Kong Roll. It was amazing....and I'm no sushi rookie! The Asian Filet was incredible, done just perfect. Few of my girlfriends ordered the Chilean Sea Bass which they said was out of this world. They have an amazing patio. It's like being in another city...Miami or LA. The music and ambiance is awesome!! I recommend this place to everyone and will be going back very often. Pros: Food, Ambiance, Service Cons: Little More Parking, Couldn't Find a Space, too many Cars more

Don't believe the hype. Went there with friends and the atmosphere was terrific. Very upscale and trendy. However, much like PF Changs, the ambience is superb but the food is overrated. If I go out to a restaurant, the food better be good and well worth it. Service was also poor. Our waitress was rude, failed to offer refills and there were flies everywhere. For the amount of food and quality, its totally not worth the price. Would not recommend. Pros: Ambience Cons: Service, quality of food and price more

Mon Jin Lau has long been one of my favorite restaurants in Detroit. Every dish that I've ever tried here has been good, and most are excellent. Their Nu Asian choices are generally better than their traditional Chinese. Some of my favorites include the Sesame Salmon, the Sea Bass with Black Bean and Garlic, and the Peppered Tuna. If you prefer more traditional, the Singapore Noodles are also great. Excellent appetizers ... especially the Ginger Garlic Eggplant and Chili Pepper Squid. I've also had very good sushi here (similar in quality to Little Tree or Noble Fish). The service is friendly and they have an excellent selection of wines and Martinis. On weekends it does get crowded and you'll probably need a reservation. Weekdays are quieter, but you may still have a short wait. The ambiance is excellent, and includes the main room, bar area, a Terrarium room and patio. Great for couples and small groups of friends. Pros: Excellent food and ambiance Cons: Somewhat expensive more

Lots of positives so I will qualify that I like more downscale places, to me authentic Chinese is like the places in NYC or SF Chinatown and more to include formica than marble. And to be clear this is by no means a bad place, service was great, the ambience is nice if you don't mind smoke and the food solid. But nothing spectacular. And when combined with the price point, it is unlikely to be a return visit place for us. By all means go if you like a more upscale experience, order some of the more non-traditional things and you will surely be happy. But this place is as much about style, being seen and the wine list as it is about great Chinese food. Pros: Original Menu, Good food , Great service Cons: Basics only ok, overpriced, smoky more

I recently had the pleasure of dinning at MJL for my 15th anniversary. The food was fabulous I had the ""Sea bass with XO Ginger Sauce"" the bass was light and flakey and the sauce was MMMM! AND I tried Sushi for the first time. It was nice because you are able to order 2 pieces of a type or two of sushi. Also the Cranberry Martini was delisious. The tables are close together but if you are with interesting and charming dinner partner(s) you dont need to pay attention to the table next to you. As always good food is worth paying a little more for. This Is Not your typical ""I'm hungry! "" 1 hour after you eat chinese food. Pros: Great Food, Great Service, Good Atmosphere Cons: we waited 10 minutes, to be seated,, with a reservation more

This place has a great atmosphere and innovative food. Get the whole fish with black bean sauce or the tenderloin with ginger sauce. Skip the sushi and their wonton soup. The service is rushed and rude like they are doing you a favor, but the food is why you will come here time after time. Pros: Variety, Quality, Innovation Cons: Rude Service, Rushed Service more

The food is fabulous. We have eaten here several times and have never been disappointed. The tables are a bit close together, though. And one of the dining rooms requires a walk through a smokey, very crowded, close spaced bar were customers sometimes have to move their chairs for you to get through. The seafood hot and sour soup for two is worth the trip there alone. Not your typical Chinese fare, my favorite is the Asian Filet. I have not had a tastier steak anywhere. Pros: Parking, Unique Menu, Service Cons: Crowded tables, Walk through bar, Very pricey more

I have enjoyed the food and service at Mon Jin Lau every time I have gone there. However, the last time, my birthday, was a disaster. We asked for a quiet corner and were seated next to a table of about 20 people with two children under age two, who proceeded to scream nearly the entire time. As I look back, we should have gotten up and left, but I didn't want to make my husband feel bad. You can be sure that is the last time we will go to Mon Jin Lau. Pros: good food, decent menu, average expense Cons: too crowded, tables close together more

My wife still remembers the night I gave her an anniversary ring in a drink for two. The Food has been awesome for some 20 years or more. Please stay away so I can have it all to my self. The service is very prompt, the sushi is getting better, and the menu is very diverse. LOL Pros: OUTSTANDING FOOD!!!, Very Good Selection, Prompt Service Cons: Very Loud at Night, Pricey at Night, Small Foyer & Bar. more

I have done a fair share of dining out at numerous Asian Restaurants, but by far, my favorite is Mon Jin Lau. The atmosphere, service and especially the food. OUTSTANDING! Unfortunately, I live out of state right now, but everytime I go back to Michigan to visit relatives, I always make sure I go out for dinner with friends before I leave. Looking forward to dining there again! more

I have been to this restaurant twice in the last few months and loved it both times. The food is fabulous. Try the fish with green curry in banana leaf. We really like their seafood, overall. They have many menu options which is great if you are going with a large group. However, the place is quite noisy and the service is not that great. The first time, the waitress accidentally spilled a whole glass of water on our table and then apologized and cleaned up. The second time, we kept trying to get attention of the staff to get water refills and they kept ignoring us. Pros: great food, food variety Cons: pricey, noisy, service not great more

With so many Thai, Japanese, and Korean places opening, it's nice to see a decent Chinese place that is not all grease. Very deilcate food in a modern decor. Try something different and you will not be disappointed. Pros: Different menu, Interior, Service Cons: Not inexpensive, Very busy more

We have never been disappointed by a visit to Mon Jin Lau--and there have been many. Their plate presentations are wonderful. And the fare is delicious. This is a grown up Oriental restaurant that remains contemporary in every way. I'll admit, I could feast on their spring rolls alone, but the menu always offers something special. They have staying power and its because of their food and service. Pros: Soups, Appetizers, Food quality Cons: Sometimes very busy more

MJL is a great place for sushi and other Asian cuisines. The restuarant has a great ambience and the wait staff was pleasant. The Chinese and Thai dishes were superb. The best Chinese food in the area. I will definitely come back. MJL is busy for a reason, the food is excellent. Pros: great sushi, great food Cons: little pricey, sometimes crowded more