By Raymond Bill
There are but a handful of restaurants here in our valley that can claim over 20 years of service. These valley gems have found the right balance of quality food, service, and ambiance that every restaurant struggles to achieve. Although I have lived in the Coachella Valley since the late 1980’s, there are still some fine, successful restaurants that are new to me. Miro’s Restaurant in Palm Springs offers a fine Mediterranean cuisine with a refined sophistication that is reminiscent of my dining experiences in New York City. They rely on word of mouth advertising and that has been enough for over two decades. Recently, I had the pleasure of sharing my first dining experience at Miro’s with some new friends. After bragging for some time about the incredible meal I enjoyed, I returned for more. Now after a second helping, I must share with everyone what makes this place special.
I arrived early to my reservation and was greeted by a lovely woman who guided me to our table on the patio. The table was dressed in white linen and set perfectly. Not a single utensil was out of place, I notice these things. The staff was present and professional, ready to fulfill every need of their guests. I took this moment to observe the interactions between servers, bussers and the owner(s). As my party arrived and joined me on the patio, we were promptly provided beverages and we were off and running with a tour of the menu from our server.
I always appreciate when a server takes a moment to share some favorites from the menu in addition to reciting the nightly features. This first impression made by the server sets the tone for the evening, and our server was very informed and quite engaging. Each entrée selection includes a choice of soup or salad and we all began with our first course of salads. Upon recommendation, I ordered the cabbage salad. The crisp cabbage was complimented by a savory garlic dressing that gave me a whole new appreciation for cabbage.
The menu is rather large, offering a variety that would please most diners. From Goulash to Schnitzel, and fresh fish and seafood, I was the last to decide what to order. On this first visit, I would enjoy the most delicate, flakey fillet of Chilean Seabass I have tasted in the valley. It simply cannot be prepared any better than the way it was presented to me on this particular evening. Perfectly pan seared and served over mashed Yukon Gold potatoes, the Seabass was complimented by fresh asparagus, carrots and broccolini. What made the dish unforgettably incredible was the velvety smooth saffron beurre blanc that tied it all together. It was quite simply, perfection.
My companions raved about their fresh catch of the day, a Mediterranean fish presented over baby bok choy with mashed potatoes. I was able to taste another nightly special served to my guest: Pork Tenderloin stuffed with mushrooms and wrapped in crisp bacon. The pork was very tender and rich with flavor from the hunter mushroom sauce. The portions were plentiful and the quality was truly remarkable. Every dish was beautifully plated and presented. One word comes to mind when I recall how effortless it seemed to be for the staff to provide such a flawless experience for us: Magical.
Though my first visit did not leave room for dessert, I was fortunate to return for a taste of their Apple Strudel a la Mode. With fresh baked Granny Smith apples and bites of raisins and walnuts, this dessert will put a smile on your face. What a treat!
I know I have set the bar high for this restaurant but I am confident they will consistently deliver. See for yourself. Miro’s Restaurant is open seven nights per week from 5pm to 9:30pm and located at 1555 South Palm Canyon Drive. Visit their website at www.mirospalmsprings.com or call 760-323-5199 for reservations or more information.
