Nestled on the corner of June and Chandler Street is Le Mirage, a family run, BYOB restaurant featuring a unique mix of Italian and Lebanese food. While I had heard of this eatery and driven by the establishment countless times, I had never dined there and was excited to do so with my fellow foodies! Upon entering the restaurant, I was shocked at how busy it was for a Tuesday night. All of the tables were filled with diners, young and old (regulars–I was told later by the owner and chef) engaged in lively conversations while casually sipping their beverage of choice. The meals in front of them were mouth watering and ranged from heaping plates of pasta to perfectly charred panini sandwiches. My husband and I were immediately greeted by the owner’s daughter who would also be our waitress for the evening. She was personable, passionate about the restaurant, and more importantly, incredibly knowledgeable about the menu. It was evident that she knew the ingredients in each and every dish, including the recently added choices for the city’s annual Restaurant Week.
As promised, the menu was a wonderful combination of traditional Italian and Lebanese food. While the foodie in me encouraged me to order something “out of my comfort zone” like the Baked Kibbie or Chicken Saiid, I am a sucker for pasta, and eventually decided upon the Chicken Capri – penne tossed with sautéed chicken, sun dried tomatoes, and spinach with a scampi sauce. The dish arrived piping hot and I could not wait to dig in. The portion was huge and I was starving. As I dug in, my taste buds did a dance. The penne was cooked perfectly to al dente. The chicken, was plentiful, moist and delicious with hints of garlic and lemon. There were large chunks of sun dried tomatoes, which have a natural tendency to be dense and salty, but infused in this dish were light and flavorful. The spinach was wilted, and miraculously maintained both its texture and flavor. My favorite part of the dish was the scampi sauce. It was light…not heavy or oily, with bright lemon and garlic flavors that mimicked the chicken marinade. I forced myself to stop eating 1/2 of the way through and was glad that I did, because my leftovers lasted for 2 more meals! I am so pleased to have discovered this hidden gem and will return to Le Mirage soon! -AV