31992 Wed Oct 13 15:45:36 -0700 2004 10 1 San Francisco Bay Area 0 141216 I went to Mijita for lunch yesterday to see if there's been any improvement since the first negative reviews when it opened a couple months ago—bottom line, the food is too pricey for generally average quality and the service is not good. The line was very long and growing (I arrived at noon) and they still only had one register open. They did not open the second register by the "takeout" window even though they had two people at the one cash register. Both of the people "at" the register got my order wrong; I had to order it with the first person, who neglected to enter it into the register, and then he wandered off to hand out menus in the line, so I had to repeat it to the second person at the register. She ended up entering it incorrectly so after a 10 minute wait for the food (that has improved a bit since August at least) I ended up with one correct item and one incorrect item. When I explained the error in the order to the two people handing out the food (I was a bit annoyed due to my lousy experience at the register but was by no means anything other than visibly impatient) one of the women handing out the food was reluctant to do anything to fix the order, then when I started to complain about this and ask for my money back on that item at least, her annoyance level with me increased and she told one of the line guys to fix it, saying something in my direction (slightly under her breath but obviously intending me to hear) about there being no need to get upset, or words to that effect (I couldn't hear them clearly due to the noise level), but to me this comment was unneccessary given that I was actually pretty calm about the screw up and was in the process of giving them some options at the time to fix it. I had a carne asada taco and a quesadilla. For $4, the taco was very expensive for a taco with only meat, onion, cilantro and salsa (for about $3 you can get a great one in the Mission that included cheese and guac too). The meat was extremely tough and dried out. The salsa was bland and sweet. The only plus was that the corn tortilla was pretty good. The quesadilla was on the greasy side but I liked the masa. It too was very small for the price. The salsas on the table are not very palatable. All in all, any tacqueria in the Mission could do better for way less with one hand tied behind their back. I won't go back to Mijita unless I don't have the ability to veto the plan. Wed Oct 13 15:45:36 -0700 2004 0 farmersdaughter 1 141219 My experience with Mijita is that the food's good, the quality of the ingredients is higher than anyplace I know of in the Mission, and prices are at the low end for lunch in the Ferry Building and surrounding neighborhood. Luck, maybe, but I haven't had any problems with service. Wed Oct 13 16:11:42 -0700 2004 141216 0 Robert Lauriston 2 141291 Coincidentally, I also visited on Tuesday. It's certainly no more expensive than anything else in the Ferry Plaza, and overall I found the food tasty if bland. The carne asada taco was generously filled with flavorful meat, but not enough of the salsa to tell if it was nondescript or just scarce. The tortillas were nice -- good texture and flavor. The Mijita Quesadilla turned out to be a corn tortilla with queso fresco and rajas, it wanted for salt, and probably the guacamole I am allergic to. I'd return to try the sopa de albondigas, or whenever I was jonesing for Mexican food when in the immediate area, but it doesn't warrant a special trip for me, since I live so close to the Mission. I would think differently if she'd add more unusual items, such as a seafood cocktail or tostadito. Those are items where her commitment to top-quality ingredients would make a difference worth paying for. I did like the guava-passionfruit agua fresca, not too sweet, nicely pulpy. But too much ice. And I personally lamented the overabundance of avocado on the menu, given their reported service problems I hesitate to risk ordering something without. But that's my highly personal issue. Thu Oct 14 12:39:10 -0700 2004 141219 0 bernalgirl 1 141260 I've heard they pretty much suck, as well. Thanks for the third or fourth warning! Wed Oct 13 23:52:30 -0700 2004 141216 0 rabaja 1 141266 Good. You will be one less person in the line when I go back. The jicama salad is outrageously good. the guacamole is mostly avocados unlike most places. All the meat is hormone free, all the produce organic & the fish is sustainably raised. the tortillas are made by hand all day and the workers are paid a really good wage. For the Ferry Building it Is a good deal. (to fill one's self up there one needs to spend at least $10 anywhere.) A traditional taco is made with very little, in actuality. I agree that the sauce on the carne asada has changed and it is not yummy anymore. Since this establishment is very new it might be a good idea to write to Ms. Des Jardins herself. this is her third venture and considering her past success you may get more out of writing to her directly. restaurant owners need to hear from their customers, not just read about it here after they can't do anything about it anymore. Thu Oct 14 01:18:29 -0700 2004 141216 0 Babar 2 141274 Sustainable...organic...living wages... All things I believe in. But like Julia Childs often asked: "yeah, but is it any good?" In my opinion, the answer, as far as Mijita goes, is "no." Giving feedback directly to restauranteurs can be a worthwhile effort. I've done it myself in a few cases. But this website exists for consumers of the food industry to share our experiences so we can make better decisions about where to get our next meal. It is not a focus group for the benefit of restaurant owners. If Ms. Des Jardins cares about what we think, she know where to find us. -Nick Link: http://www.chowhound.com/topics/show/31127#135452 Thu Oct 14 02:51:48 -0700 2004 141266 0 nja 2 141295 I think you have to take a lot of the Mijita-bashing with a grain of salt. There are a lot of people with a grudge against TJ for her forthright stand on foie gras (another reason why I don't mind dropping an occasional fiver for a teensy taco). Thu Oct 14 13:01:54 -0700 2004 141266 0 Gary Soup 3 141298 Huh? Now you're a mind-reader who knows what people think and why? For the record: I have nothing against Ms. DesJardins and I don't even know what her stance on fois gras is, let alone find that a reason to bash her restaurant. Nick hit it on the head: the food may be politically correct, but it's not good, so I'm not going to eat there, nor am I going to recommend that anyone else eat there. I'm not saying you shouldn't eat there, btw, just that I personally don't recommend the food. If you want to drop $5 on a tasteless but politically correct taco, that's your right. Thu Oct 14 13:14:51 -0700 2004 141295 0 Ruth Lafler 3 141300 well, I was one who posted a less than enthusiastic report, and I had NO idea that she was involved in the foie gras controversy (and nor would it have in any way impacted my report!).... I wouldn't mind dropping the occasional fiver for the albondigas myself, and I certainly suport and appreciate the use of sustainanble seafood, but I can't stand the service problems, which could be corrected but aren't. (and which were very clearly described by the OP of this thread. Interestingly, when I described similar problems shortly after it opened, I was chastised by at least one hound for not giving them time to work out the kinks. Well, I just wanted others to know my experience, and certainly the kinks could have been worked out by now.) Sorry, but it isn't anything to do with the owner's political or other views that is keeping me away, it is quite simply, that the place is very poorly managed! Thu Oct 14 13:15:31 -0700 2004 141295 0 susancinsf 3 141312 For the record, I do not have a grudge against her regarding foie gras (I do not know what her position is, and given my ambivalence on the f.g. controversy I don't care to know) nor any other reason. Quite to the contrary, this is what I posted when we discussed Mitija prior to its opening: "All that I've read about and from DesJardins gives me high hopes." I said that I don't like the food because I don't like the food. Period. -Nick Thu Oct 14 14:13:52 -0700 2004 141295 0 nja 1 141275 this is only an observation because I have walked in and checked the place out but not eaten there it looks and feels like a test model for a future chain which would describe a few other places in the ferry building not that there's anything wrong with that but it puts me off Thu Oct 14 03:28:04 -0700 2004 141216 0 daybaker