Mimi's Cafe in Garden Grove, CA - Restaurant Review, Menu/Prices

LOCATION

Mimi's Cafe is conveniently located on the corner of bustling Beach Blvd. and Garden Grove Blvd. at the meeting point of Huntington Beach, Westminster, and Garden Grove California. One side of the restaurant is adjacent to, and faces Beach Blvd so it's easily visible and accessible if you are traveling north or south. Even though the restaurant is set back on the GG Blvd side, the large "Mimi's Cafe" sign is visible from this vantage point so finding the restaurant while traveling this street is relatively easy.

Mimi's Cafe is situated on the same corner lot and in the same vicinity as "The Village Shopping Center", a moderate sized mall which is located close to the restaurant but distinctly separated by the width of a parking area.

If you're not familiar with this area of the city, the immediate vicinity and stretching a few blocks in either direction, is a section of street grid which is very conducive to chronic traffic congestion buildup at varying degrees due to its close proximity to Beach Blvd., the main artery which connects several north Orange County municipalities for commuting round trip to the wealth of entertainment destinations and densely situated employment locations. So keep this in mind when planning your visit to Mimi's. Peak traffic hours are typically early mornings and the 5 p.m. rush hour. Beach Blvd. and adjacent streets are prone to robust vehicle engagement and it does get busy at times, but the traffic usually moves along at a steady pace.

AMBIANCE

The exterior facade and design, mainly in the front at the entrance is quaint, charming, and keeping with the Mediterranean and European theme. A delightful French architectural overtone with slight Italian nuances combined with the standard regional décor in my opinion, seems to work extremely well in satisfying the diverse and loyal clientele. The food on the other hand, is a nice combination of French-American with a European Touch.

The inside dining area is traditional style with two or three separate partitioned sections which gives the customer a slightly different view, feel, aura, and experience as they transition from room to room. The tables are adorned with European "checked" tablecloths and rich, darker colored, stain resistant porcelain tiled floors complete the enchanting natural cobblestone appeal.

If you're interested in dining outside to absorb the warm sunshine and fresh air, and remember, this is Orange County California which almost always translates into year round pleasurable weather, you can enjoy a meal on the piazza located adjacent to the entrance. It's a small but quaint area and all the tables are equipped with umbrellas if needed to shield your eyes from the sun or any floating leaves which may have escaped from the above branches. The bar area is deliciously cozy and unassumingly inviting, and even though it wasn't crowded at the time when I dined, you could still observe a few casual meetings between friends and one or two small groups of banking associates who seemed to be intently negotiating terms for new business deals in the works.

Menu/Prices/Dining Experience

Mimi's is certainly not an extravagant or luxurious formal shirt and tie night out, nor is it advertised as such. It's just a nice quaint and charming family friendly restaurant that serves up an adequate selection of breakfast, lunch, and dinner specialties consisting mainly of tasty, traditional, good down home comfort foods with a hint of European flavor added.

Strict diet considerations? Mimi's offers a generous selection of attractive health conscious choices from the "Mimi's Cafe Fresh and Fit" menu. A compliment which mainly consists of egg whites, oatmeal, wheat breads, and fruits and vegetables. A kids menu which is small but tailored nicely for the younger members of the family is also featured.

The prices for breakfast are reasonable and range anywhere from $4 to $7 on average and the portions are just right. Lunch and lunch specials are a little pricier but I don't think you'll walk away hungry after the meal. And then of course there are dinner offerings which on average, range in price from approximately $8 and up depending upon the selection. So essentially, Mimi's offers a nice sized plate of food at very reasonable prices, and a free bread and specialty carrot cake basket is included with certain menu items.

SERVICE

When we visited, I was pleased to find the affably congenial service to be nothing short of excellent. From the front lobby greeter to servers and everyone in between, all were courteous, polite, and had a smile on their faces ready to cater to our dining pleasure. We were seated almost as soon as we arrived without having to endure a long wait and our order was taken shortly after receiving the menus. We arrived at approximately 11:00 AM on a weekday, so reservations I had assumed were either unnecessary or at a minimum which presented us with a pleasurable, non-congested experience wherein we pretty much had free, undisturbed reign for the duration of our lunch.

ACCESS/PARKING

Access to Mimi's is open and seamless via two different entrance points, both of which lead to the restaurant parking lot. One entrance intersects Garden Grove Blvd and leads directly to The Village Shopping Center main lot then abruptly veers on a 45 degree angle right to Mimi's. This route is usually a little less congested and more easily maneuverable compared to the traffic prone entrance flowing into the restaurant parking lot from Beach Blvd. Either entrance will get you to Mimi's and the direction you are traveling from should dictate which point of entry is the most convenient.

Sharing a parking lot with a moderate sized shopping center seems to be an asset during peak dining hours as evident by the Mimi's customer vehicle overflow into The Village Shopping Center parking lot. The entire area seems to be designated "Parking in Common" for overflow customers who intend to randomly patronize any given shop or restaurant, so finding a place for your vehicle should be non-eventful.

Parking is free and there are at least two generous sized spaces located at the front entrance designated for handicapped customers. A required accommodation for those who need easier access which in my opinion should be expanded.

REVIEW

Mimi's Cafe is simply a delight for the entire family. Adequate menu choices aimed to please the diversity in appetites which is usually a common characteristic of a group outing that can present a challenge when trying to find a restaurant which has the depth in choices to accommodate several different preferences. In addition to the regular, non-caloric restricted selections, the menu also incorporates a small but attractive list of healthy, low calorie dishes to sooth a guilt ridden conscious. All this while the food is typically served fresh and warm. Although I've dined at this particular franchise several times in the past, during this evaluation focused excursion, I had the opportunity to enjoy the "Veggie Burger" and "Chinese Chicken". Two light and healthy indulgences which were served nicely garnished and plated with a signature bread & carrot cake basket to accentuate.

Mimi's is certainly not a "Black Tie Affair" and I'm confident representatives and managers would be the first to acknowledge this fact. The staff at Mimi's are not dressed to the nines, a valet vehicle attendant is nowhere to be found, nor is there a single solitary crystal chandelier hanging from the ceiling. However, from the very moment you park your vehicle and walk up to the entrance, you are immediately immersed in the exotic sensation of a miniature excursion to the south of France for a lovely quaint afternoon or evening with friends or family, minus the major travel expenses of course. An experience complete with European style benches, a small piazza, and adorable exterior A-frame architecture accentuated with well manicured landscape reminiscent of the actual location situated thousands of miles away. My visit was enjoyable, I dined on tasty food and drink in the presence of good company while surrounded by an atmosphere I always prefer which is classic Italian, French, or European in design. It was a delight.

- Mimi's Cafe, Nice Place, Good Food, and Reasonable Prices -