Mimi’s Italian Restaurant and Piano Bar

Underwhelming atmosphere and food, pretty good table wait staff, horrible bartender service.
The first time: A friend recommended coming here because they were familiar, knew the place and we were bringing a sizable group with various ages — it seemed a good casual no frills but cozy feeling spot for the get together.
The table server /​waitress was friendly; knowing our friends certainly didn’t hurt.
— The chicken Francaise was not horrible, but not great. Chicken was tender but overly sauced which not only did not present well but did not taste the best.
— The bread was rock hard.
— Wine was fair
The second time: a horrible service experience here as I had just finished a long run and so hungry. I Unilocaled places nearby wanting a restaurant I could pick up food/​takeout ASAP. I ordered antipasto salad but was so hungry I looked at Unilocal pictures to get an entrée as well. When I arrived to pick up my order the woman was unfriendly, rude, with an attitude and when I asked nicely if she could tell me what dish was shown in the photo she glanced and said; «I have no idea but looks like some fast food dish from one of those Chinese places.» Me: excuse me? Did you just say …(I repeated). Yep. She did. I said actually it’s a Unilocal photo of one of your entrees that someone showed in a review. I was going to order it but I will just stick with the antipasto. Who says that, and did she think that I was entertaining her with «what’s this dish» trivia? Just wrong as were her unfriendly demeanor and attitude — she did say she was having a long or bad night and sorry if she offended… And someone else apologized for her attitude saying «that’s just her» and noting he has to deal with her every night (poor guy; I don’t). So there was at least a recognition and apology.
— The salad was a mess: It had a number of items thrown together: crunchy chopped raw carrots and soft sliced cooked carrots, soft mozzarella slices and hard, cubed Cheese, big chunks of celery, slices of not high quality, fatty salami and a big slab of white beans thrown on the side. Just Ew. And Iceberg lettuce when I asked for romaine.
— Bread was rock hard.
Underwhelmed by the first experience and completely disappointed with everything about the second takeout experience.

I’d give this place 3.5 stars. Not quite a four star staple, but still a lot of fun. You come here for the boisterous crowd, a bottle of red and decent Italian food. The piano player is always a lively spirit, and the food is old-​school Italian. I’ve gotten the Veal Marsala, and it was pounded thin, but overly sauced. The spaghetti marinara side was yummy, but nothing special.
The service here has always been excellent. Definitely come for the ambience and fun dinner out with friends.

The interior has a traditional look and this restaurant appears to have been here a very long time. It was not stuffy and felt like grandma’s house. The server was quick and friendly. I had the chicken piccata with a side salad. I got the salad right away. The dressing was great. The chicken was the best Italian-​style food I have had in a very long time. It was juicy and the sauce was amazing. I will return for sure. The bread was fresh — very soft in the middle and crispy and baked on the edges. The bread arrived right away as well and was very warm. I highly recommend this non-​pretentious spot. It was perfect for work lunch and very inexpensive considering the quality and abundant space to sit.

2.5 — 3 stars was how I felt about this place.
I came here with a group on NYE as many other places around were closed. Our table was in a very cramped area, and it seemed the servers had barely enough room to get by. I guess it was busy, but the server was so rushed to take our order that I was stressed just trying to say my dish D:
We had calamari for appetizer, served with marinara. The breading was mushy… meh.
I had Italian sausage parmesan served over pasta, which was not bad. They had a good assortment of veggies, all covered in cheese. That part was yummy. My bf had the shrimp scampi. I thought the shrimp didn’t have much flavor, and was a bit overcooked.

The food is pretty much your average American-​Italian, but the atmosphere and service was great! Loved the piano and the fact that any seat in the house provided a view of the street. The décor is nice and the house Pinot Grigio was pretty great too!

This was our first time here. The place is cute with a happy crowd. The baked chicken was way overcooked and dry, could not eat it. Sent it back and a new piece arrived 15 minutes later (long after my husband was done eating) exactly the same, overlooked and awful. He had the filet of sole, average at best, very mealy. The sautéed spinach was good along with the marinara sauce. Reading the reviews, many are disappointed with the food, now I see why.

Great food. Lasagna is very good. My brother-​in-​law swears they have the best chicken parm he has found in NYC, and my sister loved the veal piccata. We sat at the bar and Dominic and Star provided excellent service. Piano player was good and provided great entertainment. Some patrons got up and sang with him. Place is NY cozy and we had a great night.

The atmosphere of this place is what drew me in trough the front door. There’s a gentleman plying piano and people appear happy. The music is by no means good, but that’s part of the charm of the restaurant. The older female bartender is nice, but a tad snooty, so don’t catch her while she is busy. There is a younger male bartender is who by far more attentive and friendly. Don’t get the mussels. The veal is good. And their special gnocchi is delicious.

Great little place. Good food, good service, great atmosphere to just sit and take in New York.

Stopped in here with my girlfriend. I wanted old school real Italian food. I was always a big fan of Carolina’s in Coney Island and heard they were similar and I then had high hopes for this place.
Well — They delivered!!! Great veal marsala with generous portions. Everything tasted great and could not have asked for more. So if you want authentic Italian food, come here and enjoy!!!

The bartender last Thursday was so rude and snotty that I’ll never go back. I sat down at the bar & ordered a drink– the guy who was working was very nice, poured it right away and then apparently a shift change happened. My friend came in to join me; when she sat down, she pushed the chair beside her out of the way (it was a very tight squeeze). After a while, the new bartender glared over at my friend who asked politely for a drink. The bartender replied «Was there something wrong with that other chair? Was it BOTHERING YOU?» My friend thought that she was kidding and laughed, but the bartender told her to move it to the side and then turned her back on us without acknowledging the drink order. After about five minutes of ignoring us I said «Excuse me, can we have another?» That may not have been the best way to phrase it but her reaction was totally unwarranted. She said «For you or for her?» and when I answered «For both of us please» she snapped at me and said, and I quote, «Well are you going to tell me what you’re having? Because I guess I forgot my crystal ball at home today.» When I started to tell her that we both wanted vodka sodas she interrupted me mid-​sentence and said «Sorry, I need to finish something» and turned her back again. We left. I’m sorry if she was having a lousy night, but we were sitting at the bar, and she was the bartender, so… I guess we should have apologized for wanting drinks?

We all need to patronize like this to keep them in business. Fantastic fun. Who cares about the food. Come here late night for a taste of Old New York.

Food is Nothing out of average.
Piano player/​singer nice touch.
Kinda disappointed. Got chicken Parmesan and it came out way to fast to be «fresh».
Spinach $ 7.00 instead of $ 5 salad to go with. Crazy cost

Great service, great food. Veal Marsala was cooked perfectly!!! Add a small house salad and you will be stuffed. Sidewalk view table was fun. LIVE piano player adds to the ambiance. Thanks to Jason for good service!

I came here after my birthday dinner for a cocktail and a few songs Hunter was amazing on the piano and Lori made the best drinks, amazed that this place still exists in this sterile gentrified yuppie wasteland! Mimi’s is old school New York at it’s best!

Not bad at all! I’d give this place a 3.5 star rating because it’s not as good as the restaurants I’ve rated as a 4 but a little above average. I ordered the Bolognese with rigatoni which was pretty standard. Sauce was yummy and I had enough to take home for another meal. My friends got the Chicken Parmesan and the Chicken Pecatta. My friend who got the parmesan said it was «pretty solid» but the pecatta guy said his sucked. So pretty hit/​miss there so I suggest going with what you know here. Note: Their dishes came with a side of either pasta or salad and mine did not.
The décor is pretty nice. They hang plants from the ceiling and have fairy lights which I thought made the restaurant a lot prettier. There was a huge fly that kept bothering us during our meal though and it just kept buzzing. Really gross. Pretty quiet around lunch time and there was no piano man :(I don’t see myself going out of my way to come back here but it wasn’t a bad experience.

I’ve been there quite a few times. Always felt the owner manger whoever she is, is very rude. always tipped hunter (chicken) but one day we were walking out with these other people and he said on his mic oh hello put the catty in the kitty please.
That was just trashy, I never went back, how could he? He’s creepy actually they all are creepy, and fat!!!

I loveeeee Mimi’s!
This is one of the only restaurants me and my bubba are returning customers for. My hunny doesn’t really like to go to the same place more then once because he likes to try new things and this place is literally our go-​to when we just want something we know is good.
Chicken parm is on point! They have ricotta which is like every other ricotta but not a lot of places in the city have it for some reason. I have a weird obsession with ricotta so this means a lot to me.
They have a cool ass pianist who’s name is Chicken Delicious… Funny as hell.
Anyways. Very homey feeling, welcoming, different kinds of crowds, great great Italian food. One thing actually that I’ve noticed is mostly all there servers are kind of off. Definitely don’t specialize in being personable but it’s so comfortable in there it doesn’t really matter. Also, there is a bus boy in there I think his name is Johnathan-​super super sweet and informational… He should be promoted to a server. Very knowledgeable and attentive. Hope I got his name right.
Like I said, I always come here and probably always will.

Chicken Delicious on the piano, Lori behind the bar, Judith the waitress getting a shoulder massage from the bus boy, Fred greeting and seating people as they come in the door, Lori’s doppelgänger ignoring my drink order, the rare nights when Lori sings with enough emotion to bring the room to tears, the ever-​rotating cast of characters singing with Chicken, the European tourists who are oblivious to the alternate universe while they choke down the watery tomato sauce — these are the memories that I’ll always cherish. I love New York because of the nights I’ve had at Mimi’s.
P. S. Don’t eat here, but drink a lot so they stay in business.

Food is awesome.
Live piano man.
Syed is the best waiter here.
Love this place.
Very friendly customer service.