Mojo By Luke Mangan

Mojos is a big open warehouse-​style venue with trendy lighting, a front cocktail bar and open kitchen at the back. These details make it good place to host a birthday party. Our server was lovely and very accomodating, but what was coming out of the kitchen was sub par. Dining off the shared set menu, they started us off with kingfish sashimi in a curry like dressing. This was my favorite of the night but I didn’t love it. Beetroot salad was nothing sepcial, prawn tacos were a bit pedestrian and the lamb ribs were dry and not-​so-​fall-​off-​the-​bone. The banquet finished with bowls of overly salty truffle fries, which was a strange finalé a 5 course meal, no? I thought the fries would be better placed as a side to a pub steak. Bottom line: like the atmosphere but not so much the food.

I came here on Valentines day with my wife and another couple and was hoping to be converted from my existing belief that the word ‘tapas’ actually means «the act of charging someone more for the same quantity of goods».
Only once in all my years of dining out have I left a tapas restaurant satisfied that I actually received what I paid for, and that was Cantina on Oxford st many moons ago (like I’m talking before the iPhone existed).
Unfortunately though those beliefs were only reinforced after dining at Mojo. The space has been fitted out well, with good lighting (perhaps a little dark for some but I like it this way), accommodating décor, good ventilation and plenty of space (it actually feels like they could have fit many more in there, and I wondered why they hadn’t until I started receiving the food and realized they didn’t need to).
The service was a little clunky but it hasn’t been open long and wasn’t through lack of effort as the waiters were helpful and when they made mistakes they were quick to apologize and make amends for them. They were also accommodating with extra requests.
So far so good — which leaves the food. In terms of taste, I can’t fault it — the dishes were enjoyable to eat, and there was a decent selection to choose from. As for the quality, I can’t vouch for that, you would assume (and it seemed as though) it was high based on price point and target market, but I did feel nauseous when trying to sleep that night and my wife was also not 100%.
It may have just been the mixture of stuff in my stomach though so will give it the benefit of the doubt, but I just couldn’t get past the fact that I felt like I was at a cinema buying popcorn whenever I ordered something due to the apparent gulf between the cost and what you receive.
For example — the tempura prawn tacos — $ 19. There were 4 of us so we ordered 2 servings (as only 2 per serve), and were a little horrified to see 4 tacos come out each consisting of 1 prawn sitting on a small amount of garnish in a small soft tortilla. Perhaps they hand caught the prawns from the Pacific that morning and flew them in by helicopter, but even then I would probably still question paying $ 40 for 4 small tacos.
Likewise the lamb short ribs — $ 19… for 4 ribs. Lamb ribs are inherently small and full of fat, so in terms of actual meat you are probably getting less than 1 mouthful pp.
Then there was the lamb cigars (basically spring rolls), again 4 for $ 19.
I could go on but you get the idea. In terms of pricing, at first glance I don’t think the dollar per dish numbers are that bad — its when it comes out that your head drops and you realize what is happening. It really frustrates me and makes the whole experience a bad one — why not just put a bit more on each plate? Would 6 or 8 tacos for $ 40 break the bank? Or 6 – 8 spring rolls for 20? I have always felt they could very easily increase the quantity of the dishes for minimal cost and change it from a frustrating to amazing experience.
If you are a light eater though I would say you could do worse than to give it a try, but if you have a good appetite and don’t enjoy the ‘starving tribe sharing 1 rabbit’ kind of scenario, then prob better to give it a miss.

Good food. Amateur service.
Purchased one of the most expensive bottles on the menu and the waiter pours the wine out without even a taste?
Same guy decides he is going to show me where to tip at payment.
Not worth a return visit at this point.