Merzi

Reviews 5

RA

Randy Mantiply

Others have already made the perfect description of Merzi, which is Indian Chipotle (or Indian Qdoba, whichever create-your-own Mexican meal you prefer). My first trip to Merzi (years ago) I thought was a bit bland (Indian food is my favorite, and I like the intense flavors), but their food just seemed to get better and better. I recently mentioned how often I went to Merzi to some colleagues, and they remarked that they it was bland the time they went - I said try again. When we spoke again, they had changed their minds. Im on a pretty strict diet, so I always get the salad (this is probably the most difficult dish to make because they put the food selection in a big stainless steel bowl to ensure all the food selections are well mixed, then pour it into a take-away plastic container - the staff seems happy to do it - more on this later). They have other offerings (naan plate, rice plate, for example). I avoid breads and starches. But even though its a salad, its more than filling and more than flavorful. All the food selections are fresh and I believe prepared daily. As for the staff, I cant imagine that you will find another crew that is genuinely happy to see you and makes an extra effort to ensure that your meal is prepared to how you want it. I eat at Merzi just about every day, so much so that many of the staff are one or two steps ahead of me. Im not going to lie - it makes me happy when I walk in and the employees, smiling, greet me and begin preparing my salad. By the time I get to the register, my soda cup is waiting for me - theyve got my routine down. Its rare that I dont eat at Merzi when Im in DC. One time, I noticed that they didnt ring up my soda. I tried to correct her when I noticed the incorrect price, but the manager (owner?) was standing next to her and said Dont worry about it; this guy comes in every day. Prices are comparable to similar restaurants - I feel its inexpensive, especially considering the amount and quality of the food (youll pay about the same at a Chipotle or a Panera; Merzi may be a bit cheaper). Seating can be limited during the lunch rush (its pretty small), but I have either offered to share a table or asked to share a table with another solo, and everyone seemed pretty amenable to this. This is a really long review, but Merzi, from the food to the staff, is great, and I think they deserve the credit. One last thing to consider - if youve never had Indian food, want to try, but have been leery about going to a sit down restaurant, Merzi is a great place to get a feel as to what to expect with Indian cuisine.

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SA

Saurabh Rahurkar

To be very clear, they are not kidding when they say that this is "Indian inspired" because this is NOT Indian cuisine, not by a long shot. I had the vegan rice bowl with chickpeas, potatoes, cucumber, onion and the spicy chutney. It was bland and largely flavorless. The spicy chutney was bland as can be. Needless to say, a combination of bland rice with bland chickpeas and boiled potato is not anybodys idea of a savory meal. What made it worse was the server that I got was largely indifferent,, inattentive and lackadaisical in his manner. Add to that he didnt know his own menu. Under the "pick protein" section, the vegan option says "Double serving of veggies". After picking my base (rice bow+chickpeas+potatoes) when I moved to the "pick protien" section, I asked him to give me the vegan option, I was told repeatedly that they didnt have the vegan option. In exasperation i finally pointed to the menu and he told me that it was just double the veggies in the base section. The confusion arises because they have two veggies section - one at the beginning of their "assembly line" and one at the end. Apparently, that he did not know the menu may have offended the server because he just zoned out and would not answer questions I asked him about the cold chutneys to the point that the other server who appeared to be his supervisor had to step in. After all this, the servers demeanor and body language became extremely confrontational for reasons which i am clueless about. After all this, the onions tasted like they were starting to turn, as did the chickpeas. I threw out more than half my food and given my experience thus far, didnt care to bring this up with the staff. What makes it worse though is the cost. I paid the same amount for this swill that I did for the delicious Vegetable Biryani I at another Indian restaurant in D. C. that same day for lunch. Overall, uninspiring and flavor-deficient food with almost a belligerent service staff, and an overpriced menu. Oh and Google should really stop showing this restaurant when you search for "Indian cuisine" This is NOT Indian cuisine. The name too, doesnt mean anything in Hindi, its close to another Hindi word (Marzi = Wish, Will) but "Merzi" has no meaning in Hindi. Ill be avoiding this when I am in the D.C. area in the future.

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MI

Michael Wiles

Enttäuschend kleine Portion für den verhältnismässig hohen Preis. Das Nanbrot ist zu dick und schmeckt nach Pizzateig und ist extrem langweilig, genau wie das Essen ... übrigens die scharfe Soße ist nicht scharf und Der Reise schmeckte wässrig. Der Laden möchte offensichtlich trendig sein ... aber schafft es definitiv nicht über den typischen Fast Food Imbisseinheitsbreit in Amerika hinauszukommen. Des weiteren kamen wir noch in den Genuss eines ohrenbetäubenden Lärms wegen eines Feueralarms während unseres Aufenthaltes. Leider wurde uns dazu nichts gesagt so das wir mit klingelnden Ohren als letztes den Laden verlassen haben und unser Essen auf der Straße zu Ende aufessen musste. Insgesamt ein furchtbares Erlebnis.

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CA

Carol Chan

Being on call means eating on the go. With no time for fancy sit down date, my husband and I came to Merzi for a quick meal. I love the Chipotles concept and found that Merzis did not differ or disappoint! I created my own chaat bowl (Tandisserie chicken, cucumber salad, tomato salsa, corn, onion, chick peas, potato, and cabbage in mild and hot curry sauce + garlic yogurt + cucumber chutney sauce) while my husband made his own naan bowl (diced marinated chicken, corns, cucumber salad in medium curry sauce). Unlike Shophouse, you are allowed to ask for seconds (extra corn please!). Even though my bowl was swimming all sorts of curry and chutney, they surprisingly worked well with each other. My bowl was bursting with flavors and I couldnt get enough. My tandisserie chicken was so tender and juicy. I never expected such moist, well cooked chicken thigh to come from a fast food eatery like Merzi. My husbands marinated chicken was also very flavorful and couldnt be happier to help him polish his bowl. My only wish was that they would have additional sides. Cucumber salad and corns were a little boring. Are they even considered to be Indian sides? Nevertheless, would definitely return!

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WE

Weiming Huynh

Another place thats trying the Chipotle concept on ethnic food. This time its Indian food. The draw for these places is that they give you a lot of food. But somehow Indian food does not do Chipotle style that well. The different ingredients does not mesh together that well. It also does not have that authentic Indian flavor to it. When you eat good Indian food you just know it. Its hard to describe it, but this place does not have that it factor. Look for a good Indian buffet instead. I think I am going to stay away from ethnic Chipotle restaurants from now on. I find that for ethnic food. The home cooking, mom and pops are the best ones. Leave the Chipotle style to Chipotle. They do it the best. Response to Owner: I am pretty sure you have a lot of fans for your restaurant. Like you said I am just one opinion out of many. Take it with a grain of salt. No refund is needed :)

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