Cafe Mirage — Restaurant in Leyden Township

This is one of those places I have driven past dozen of times thinking we should give it a try. We'll tonight was the night we did.

The price per person was supposed to be $20 -30. We had one appetizer, two entrées, two carbonated beverages, and shared one dessert - $50. Per person after tax and tip.

When we arrived, we sat outside on their patio. Unfortunately, they allow smoking anywhere outside. State law is: no smoking within 15 feet of the business entrance and people were smoking at a table within 3 feet of the entrance.

We sat inside. They made a design choice with these metal chairs that have this grey twisted padding. I have a 40-inch waist and the chair was very uncomfortable. Even if had more room the back of the chair was at an uncomfortable height.

The music was popular covers. They played Rolling in the Deep but not sung by Adele. Demons but not sung by Imagine Dragons...

We ordered the grilled calamari appetizer at $20, we both agreed it was over cooked and came out chewy. Mirage has a signature burger, 'the Mirage Burger ' at $24. I asked our waiter, but he could only say the beef patty has seasoning. He suggested the Chicken Gouda at $16 and I went with that. It was excellent, they smoked gouda really came through. I really appreciated his guidance. My friend had the grilled Salmon on a creamy spinach sauce with a side of feta fries. He said these were the best feta fries he has ever had. He was not a fan of the creamy spinach. I ordered a Diet Coke (on the menu it said the bottle was $4.50). The waiter brought a 12 ounce can. Those are cruise ship prices. We ended with the meal with the Mirage Cake at $7.00. I asked for coffee but the only sugar-free sweetener they had was Equal brand and that stuff gives me headaches. I want to mention the bathrooms, I cannot speak of the ladies' facility but for a restaurant with 20 inside tables and another 30 outdoor tables one single 5ft x 5ft restroom is not enough. I have been on ships with bigger restrooms.

When we left again there were so many people smoking on the front porch I went back inside and asked the waiter if there is a non-smoking area of the option. He said there is not. Outside people can smoke where ever they want. I am not looking to return.

I do want to say other reviewers said they were charged for a glass of water. After a $4.50 can of Coke I asked for water and was not charged. I do not know if it is a change in policy but we did not experience...

When I originally made the reservation I was told that I should be on time or there will be no table for us. I did even came earlier last night but, but there was no table ANY WAY! I had to arrange that myself and that definitely didn’t feel right! However I didn’t want to get too upset over this because it was my birthday so I gave it another chance. When server came, she apologized about the inconvenience and mentioned that no one told her about our big table. This is just an absurd! That obviously is already a red flag but again I didn’t want to complain! Delcho came to our table at some point and told us that is time to go in a pretty rude way. I was already putting up with so much all night long but that was the top!!! This guy was having the same exact behavior as a security in another restaurant/club and this is not the first time he is doing that. He was trying to pick up a fight with one of my guests and when we were asking him to go away and grab a manager he was not listening. We got manager after things escalated and he actually stated that you were open until 1am so I’m hearing different opinions on how long you are open until but we weren’t given a straight answer on that. It’s not normal to abuse and call names my friend and me on my birthday especially after paying a bill bigger than most of the tables,maybe even all of tables that night! This guy also absolutely all the time says that no one asked us to come. So is that what we get when we come?! Is this an actual excuse?! You have to check better your employees because this was a horrible experience that I would never wish to anyone...

We dined in 4 people with a 3 months old baby. The food was ok. The service not. We asked 2 times for boxes for to go, and we got ignored for more than 30 minutes. Once I approached the server because I wanted to take care of the bill, and ask her for a third time for boxes, she replied ok and she told me to wait one moment. She went at the bar, she talked I guess to the manager, and she came back with the POS and she told me the total. I asked to get the receipt printed and she told me that she would give it to me after the payment. Something that doesn’t make sense. Once I ask for the check they are suppose to give me the receipt so I can check it, and not to show me just an amount on a screen. So she brought me the check, and I noticed a 20% gratuity included and of course without her tell me anything. I asked her if the gratuity is included and she replied yes. Well i didn’t know their policy about gratuity so I just paid and left back to my table. After the payment, of course she never show up to the table, we got the containers by ourselves, and we left. After coming home, I checked their online menu, and it was saying that over 5 people a gratuity 20% can be applied. I get it. But guys we are talking for a 4 people table with a 3 months old baby, that obviously was staying in a stroller. I don’t mind at all to include the gratuity(even tho 20% for this place, doesn’t stand at all but anyways), but at least guys be aware of what your policy is. I’ve never been at any restaurant in Chicagoland, that included 20% gratuity in a 4top table. Poor service, poor management. Never again...