Judy L.
Yelp
A longtime favorite that truly let us down tonight.
This is my first Yelp review ever, and I wish it were under better circumstances. I've been a huge fan of Momosan since it opened on Santana Row--my mom and I have been regulars here from the start, literally watching the restaurant go up brick by brick. It's one of her favorite spots, so we made a reservation for Mother's Day dinner without hesitation.
We were seated promptly and placed a simple order: two Diet Cokes, a hot tea (which never came), a Coke, water, one edamame, one soft shell bao, and five ramens. Drinks and appetizers arrived without issue, and as always, they were delicious. But then came the long wait.
We noticed three tables seated after us received their ramen before we did. We stayed patient, assuming a delay--but then our server came by to ask if we wanted dessert. We politely reminded her we hadn't even gotten our main courses. She rushed to the kitchen and returned to tell us the ticket had been lost. Ten more minutes passed, and still no food--while a fourth table seated after us got their ramen.
By then, the moment was gone. My mom's special dinner was ruined, and we decided to leave. When we asked for the check, our server threw it at us--for $60, covering only drinks and appetizers, with no apology. It was shocking. Only after expressing our frustration did the manager, Angel, come over to say we wouldn't be charged. He explained the cooks were on break and only one person was working for the past hour.
At 7:30pm on Mother's Day weekend, being told the cooks were on break and only one person was in the kitchen doesn't read as an unfortunate slip--it feels like a serious lapse in planning. I don't say this lightly, but that kind of misstep points to mismanagement, not just a busy night. Mistakes happen, but this wasn't just a mistake--it was a breakdown in basic service during one of the busiest weekends of the year.
We left hungry, disappointed, and embarrassed--especially since we had close friends with us. I used to recommend Momosan to everyone, but after tonight, I won't be doing that for a while. If anyone else has had a similarly deflating experience here, you're not alone.