Mimino Restaurant

I have been dying to try this place for a while!!! Friday night I was in the mood for caviar and champagne so my husband and I decided to give Mimino a try. We first called to find out about their dress code and entertainment schedule. Dress code= causal, (no jeans) and entertainment after 9pm Fridays and Saturdays.
We arrived for dinner at 7pm; first impression was «we made a mistake;» there were only two full tables with guests. and one long table set up for what it appeared a large reservation!!! We were promptly seated, after handing our champagne bottle to the waiter. we waited a while to be approached again. The waiter came back with our champagne in an ice bucket anxious to take our order.
Service= poor, waiter was not very forthcoming on any recommendations or very knowledgeable on the menu.
We ordered appetizers without realizing that bread needs to be ordered as part of the meal… needless to say we were almost done with the appetizers when the bread arrived. The appetizers which were sample platters were okay, the bread was delicious!!! For our main entrée we had lamb chops which came with potatoes as side dish. They were well prepared but we have had better. Food= Okay
By now, a male singer and a female singer with wonderful voices each entertained us by singing individually with their own styles and repertoires. We enjoyed them very much!
As per an added surprise the long reserved table turned out to be a celebration for somebody’s birthday! They provided the rest of the patrons with a «free show» of the most talented belly dancer I have seen performed!
Entertainment= Excellent time!!!

The place inside is much better than other Georgian restaurants in the area (closest ones are in Brooklyn). Service is good. Cooking takes a little longer, which is understandable, because they cook fresh, but «khinkali» (dumplings) are likely not made to order (frozen). Imeruli khachapuri is made by a Georgian cook, but it does not have an authentic taste, because cook is using ricotta cheese, which is not heard of in Georgia and the taste suffers…
Overall I will go back to this place, because it is the only one in Northeast NJ — for more authentic taste I would have to go to Brooklyn.

John and I were fortunate to be invited as guests to a birthday feast at the Russian/​Georgian restaurant Mimino, hosted by our friend Yuri, who is originally from Belarus. Mimino, which means «Mountain Eagle,» specializes in serving large groups as well as welcoming individual parties of diners. Alcohol is not served, but guests may bring their own. Live music by Russian performers is advertised on weekends.
Our friend Yuri takes great pride in teaching our band of friends about the language, culture, and food of his homeland (as well as neighboring areas). It was to our great delight that we were treated to the table d’hôte «Russian Banquet» this past Saturday afternoon at Mimino. We were feted with many different Russian and Georgian traditional dishes and learned a bit about each as we sampled them. Yuri explained to us that the cuisine of Georgia was significantly different from the grain-​based diet of central Russia, and that it incorporated influences from many other nations, including France, Turkey, Greece, and the Middle East. Another unique feature of Georgian cuisine is the use of ground walnuts. Satsivi is a walnut-​based sauce used in various dishes. Georgian food is popular throughout Russia and the former Soviet Union due to peripatetic Georgians, who have migrated and introduced their cuisine in many other locations.
When we arrived at the restaurant, we were escorted to our table. the places were elegantly set and a selection of «zakuski» (appetizers or «first course») were waiting for us. These were arrayed around the table between guests and elevated in the center on vertical servers. We sat down, began with a series of toasts, and tucked in to ample platters of starters. Russian cuisine is noted for its interesting and varied salads, of which there were several on our table. We were introduced to «Olivier salat,» (here called «Stolichnaya salad») a creamy potato salad of small dice, interspersed with cubed carrot and other vegetables, that is traditionally found (with variation) at almost any Russian gathering. There were two other salads, one Greek (Grecheskiy) — with large chunks of cucumber and tomato, topped with crumbled cheese, and another Caesar-​type salad.
There were platters of pickled vegetables (cabbage, and red and green tomatoes), and platters of assorted thinly sliced meat, fish, and cheese. The meat selections were roasted pork loin (buzhenina), tongue (yazik), and seasoned, air-​dried beef (pasturma). There were two delicious choices of fish — salmon and paltus, a baltic flounder-​like fish with a luxurious, buttery taste. I did not catch the name of the two cheeses on that platter. One was feta-​like and the other mild and semi-​soft. Joining these platters were bowls of roasted potato wedges with mushrooms, and a basket of crusty bread (lavash). Then out paraded a second series of dishes. Khachapuri, nicknamed «Georgian pizza,» led the progression of new treats. In taste and texture, this was a soft bread, much like Indian naan or puri, stuffed solid with a mixture of three types of cheese melted together. This was followed by mushrooms Julien (a casserole of mushrooms and cheese), and platters of blini (Russian crepes) with salmon roe caviar. But wait — more was on its way! Seafood (shrimp, salmon, and mussels) in a light cream sauce over noodles (lapsha s krevetkami) arrived at the table, followed by a platter of shish kabob (pork, lamb, and chicken). Non-​alcoholic cold beverages were available with the meal, and coffee and tea accompanied dessert.
Dessert consisted of platters of fresh fruit and «Napoleons.» These Napoleons were not the typical tall multi-​layer rectangles with the thick layer of icing on top! Instead, they were puffy, flaky triangles of dough stuffed with a single layer of custard cream. Delightfully light after that button-​popping feast. (A special «Kiev cake,» a light confection of hazelnuts and meringue, brought in from an outside bakery, followed the Napoleons as the birthday cake.)
Everything we tasted, from start to finish, was delicious. I did not have enough room to taste absolutely everything on the table, but I managed to sample quite a bit. The highlights for me were the paltus, the blini, the pasturma, the khachapuri, the potatoes and mushrooms, and the lavash… and the Napoleons… and the Olivier salat.
As one might imagine, the entire staff and many of the clientele are international. This was a completely different experience from dining in a standard American restaurant and it had the exciting feel of visiting another country right in central New Jersey.

This restaraunt was introduced by my coworker who happened to be Georgian.
Very good food (and plenty!) and live music on the weekends.
I particularly love fried meat dumplings and cheese pancake. Also, lamb kebabs are die for!
We visited it several times just to try different foods and really enjoyed it very much! Prices are very reasonable and very friendly stuff. They were very patient taking our orders giving the lack of my knowledge of the Georgian food. They made few recommendations that made me very happy!
I think this is the best Mediterranean/​Caucasian restaraunt in NJ.
Hope you enjoy this restaraunt too!

We used to eat here when the place was under different ownership and was called «caliente». Back than the food was nothing special but solid 3 stars. A few months ago me and my husband decided to see what the new owner has to offer and made a reservation. First, delicious food! When I say delicious, I mean authentic. The Georgian pizza is to die for and I can eat that all day long. Everything else on the menu was as exceptional. We liked it so much that we celebrated our daughters first birthday a month later. Everyone who was invited enjoyed delicious food, and a great service!

Tried Russian food for the first time. i liked the pear soda. The food was just ok, like Chinese stuffed bun but not as fresh…

I have been here once. I did not like the music. But the good was nice. You want to try exotic for 1 time should be okay. Different experience with food as well as with environment.

First time trying Georgian food, we had read the reviews and were ready for slow service. However, service was quite quick and good.
We enjoyed the Eggplant and Walnuts, the khinkali, khachapuri and lamb kebab. Quite delicious

First a couple of warnings, know you’re gonna be here for a while, the wait staff reacts slowly and the food takes a long time to cook. Also, if you order chicken shish kebab it’s dark meat chicken. I don’t think I’ve ever seen that, and I don’t eat dark meat so that was a disappointment to me but it looked like it was cooked perfectly. The potatoes that came with it were lovely. I didn’t know many of the foods on the menu, they seem very authentic to the cuisine. The olives I ordered were just black pitted olives from a can, not super fancy. I did not like the music on the big screen, but it wasn’t terrible. I’ve only come once; I describe this kind of food as such that it will never give you heartburn. It’s made to be nutritious and let you rest and get back to work. The spices are light and not hot; nothing is greasy; I think I’d probably add salt to everything but it’s not meant to have it. Whoever was cooking was a master of this kind of food, but it’s not for me. Or maybe if I knew what to pick it would have been heavenly. I’m more of a spicy lover.

Not as good as they used to be

For years I’ve been a frequent visitor of Bollywood Tadka, an amazing Indian restaurant next to current Mimino. As one of the previous reviews mentioned, I watched numerous establishments (that claimed to serve eastern European food) go out of business. When Mimino initially opened up I expected them to be gone by next week. At that point I haven’t realized that it was Mr. Pizza himself who moved up in ranks. And I’m glad he did. I’ve been to Mr. Pizza a few times, but I have to admit that the quality of food, the menu and the atmosphere had improved tremendously. Yes, maybe so some the mystique of back room is lost, but I personally appreciate not having to be squeezed at the door entrance at a small table with others gently squeezing their overgrown backsides against me while trying to go out for a smoke. As I said, the food is wonderful. Having a native Georgian cook in the family I have tried my share of authentic recipes and I must say that Mimino comes close and even outdoes them at times. I’ve had many items off the menu, including spinach with walnuts and eggplant with walnuts — both are amazing. Their fried potatoes that come as a side to meat dishes are to die for. The staff, even if it may seem a scarce is very polite and willing to accommodate you any way they can. Tarkhun (the tarragon soda) is sweet but yummy, and just as their pear soda (also sweet) goes well with food. Oh and please don’t forget their Authentic Georgian Bread (don’t know the name of it) — I would go there just to buy loaves of it for home (hmm, I just gave myself a brilliant idea ;) To address the one negative review on here, you have to understand the culture of an authentic restaurant before coming in with expectations. This is not an American diner nor your typical chain restaurant. Yes Russians ARE loud. They are excitable. Their music (especially live performances) will leave you deaf. But when you come to a Russian (or in this case Georgian) restaurant, they expect to entertain you. They put on a show with music, drinking and fine dining. If you expect a quiet place with everybody tippy-​toeing around you, then you need to book a table at Gordon Ramsey’s restaurant (but please don’t expect $ 5 appetizers). Anyway, my hats off to the owner for making it big time, all the luck and keep the good food coming.

The place is huge and food is great. You can even order out, if you call few days ahead ;-)
Georgian food is not MacDonald and takes time to be cooked, as it is quality meals. Music is loud as it is expected in all Russian restaurants. If you going there on weekend (in the evening) prepare for 4 – 5 hours of non stop food and alcohol. In such restaurants waiters are scarce and often serve large parties, so individual attention is not top priority. Overall place is great addition to East Brunswick. Come ready to eat 4 to 5 course meals and you be fine.

One upon a time, there was a small place called Mr. Pizza. While oblivious people ordered pizzas from the front, the cool kids, and Russian speakers of all stripes, sat in the back, ordering delicious Georgian food off menu. While Mimino has lost some of the mystique of that back room ordering, the food is delicious and authentic, and pretty much unique in New Jersey.
For appetizers, get the eggplant with crushed walnuts. It will change your life. For the main course, you can’t go wrong with a lamb kebab, but whatever you do, order the Hatchapuri — «Georgian pizza», freshly baked bread with melted goat cheese. If you can, find a bottle of Kindzmarauli red wine and you will feel like you are up in the Caucausus mountains in no time. The music is load, but you will appreciate the ridiculous Eastern European pop music videos as you enjoy owner Giorgi’s taste of Tbilisi in your backyard.

Authentic Georgian cuisine will always put a smile on my face. The past owners of the comically named Mr. Pizza in East Brunswick have Jefferson-​ed their way up the restaurant latter. Formerly known as Russian Grille (and Caliente as well as a host of other failed business attempts), Mimino serves up a bevy of traditional Georgian classics. You know this place is legitimate when it’s packed with more Georgians than you knew existed in the area (which, for most Americans, means that even one Georgian diner would be an exotic entryway to seeing a Georgian that has no idea what the Real Housewives of Atlanta is). The interior is spacious and is reminiscent of your traditional Russian cabaret-​dining establishment. Plenty of tables, an awkward «VIP» sofa area, random art hanging on the walls, romantic Oriental chandeliers, and a stage area for performances complete with a plasma TV that blasts the latest in Eastern European pop.
My friend, an ethnic Georgian, and I came out here for a late-​lunch/​early dinner. We were the only ones there which wasn’t altogether unsurprising considering most places like Mimino make bank on the weekends. We ordered the Georgian Salad (delicious and huge), khinkali (the best I’ve had thus far in my food travels, though my friend insists her homeland’s version is even better), khachapuri adjaruli (a must if you’re the type of person who is into bread, globs of cheese, and egg; if you aren’t, you should become one), and lamb mcvadi/​shashlik which came with the delicious Tkemali sauce and a side of fried potatoes. To drink, we ordered Tarkhun, which is a Tarragon flavored soda. As weird as it sounds, it pairs extremely well with this type of food.
If the staff may give you bewildered looks if you aren’t from the former Bloc, just throw in some foodie buzzwords like khachapuri and you’ll be golden.