Miramar Bistro — Restaurant in Highwood

Despite being over 1,400 miles from the last believably authentic Cuban cuisine I enjoyed, Miramar fits the bill.

I don't know why it's so hard to do a decent Cuban sandwich. Some places use Ciabatta bread, some places use dill pickles, and others serve a bizarre ham-free version that would confuse even perpetually-lost Castro.

So, how's the Cuban sandwich here? It's pretty good. Admittedly not a traditional Cuban as it omits pork, but it was tasty. The bread was good and not overly browned. The ham was flavorful (though another slice or two wouldn't have hurt the sandwich) and the cheese pretty good.

The shoestring-style frites were really tasty, much to the dismay of my waistline. Don't sully them with ketchup.

Service here is spectacular. I was greeted with a smile and...a handshake? Who does that anymore? My jacket was taken and...hung up elsewhere, not just thrown on the back of my chair. When I went to retrieve it later, staff instantly intervened and helped it on. Thanks for a healthy dose of class to start the day! Even small stuff, like refilling water, is done with a folded napkin (and not of the paper variety) held strategically to absorb errant splashes. Nice touch -- I'm fairly sure last week I had a water refill where more water ended up on the table than in the glass.

The decor is pretty awesome. I've always wanted to go to Cuba (and the DPRK) because it's the easiest way to step back into the mid-fifties without Doc Brown's Libyan friends getting upset about that little Plutonium gag.

Everything here is engineered to have period appearance, from the never-cleaned candlesticks to the communal sink area between the gender-specific restrooms. Maybe I pay too much attention, but I also had an "ah!" moment when I noticed the full-size, er, standing porcelain receptacle in the guys room. Intentional or not, you sure don't see those too often.

I'm looking forward to coming here for dinner and trying the onion soup that seems to garner universal praise from...

Overall, the vibe was a little off at Miramar Bistro. Service was unenthusiastic and inattentive, the menu pricy, and execution underwhelming.

The frites (fries) are thin and crispy to the point that you lose almost all the starchy, pillowy goodness of the potato and are left with the taste of oil, mainly. The mac and che- ahem, the macaroni gratin with bacon, was also disappointing. Likely some sort of harder cheese was used, like gruyere. A great cheese for macs, but without any other (discernable) heavy hitters cheese-wise, it loses a measure of savory tang. There's just not enough depth and nuance to justify the price, from a consumer's perspective.

The charcuterie board was also a let down in some ways. Two of the cheeses were soft, washed rind types. A brie and something else; these cheeses were very similar and mild. A bit boring. The goat cheese was nice and tangy, while the parmesan held up well and had great flavor.

The atmosphere was just a little cramped, the tables a little small and gummy. The big candles are a nice touch, but ours was so big and clumsy that it ended up falling over on its own. The paper menus double as a sort of... dining table placemat. As with all places that do this, it ends up dissolving and feeling cold and wet from drink condensation by the end of the meal. It's also a huge waste of paper.

I'm sure others will enjoy the aesthetic and I suppose the subtle flavors of Miramar. For me, bold flavors and thoughtful atmosphere win me over. Miramar......

My husband and I got married at Miramar at the end of June this year, and it was nothing short of incredible. We had a very small wedding (30 people) and worked with Phillipe during the planning process. He made our day perfect. He was very easy to get in touch with, quickly responsive, and thoughtful. During our first meeting, my husband and I talked about how much we both love the Lyonnaise salad, but we felt the bistro salad would be the better choice for our guests given a variety of dietary restrictions. On the day of our wedding as salads were being served, Phillipe brought my husband and I Lyonnaise salads, which was such a sweet sentiment. Beyond that, the venue was spectacular and easily customizable. The separate entrance to the private event area is such a nice touch and made the event feel that much more intimate. The private event space also has its own bathrooms and bar. The food was incredible; the ambiance was romantic and warm. I would HIGHLY recommend events/weddings at Miramar without reservation. It was the perfect day, and we could not have imagined it any other way. Thank you, Phillipe! You and your team truly made our wedding an absolute dream. We plan to come to Miramar every anniversary...