Mirate — Restaurant in Los Angeles

This place on been on my “must go” list for quite some time! Finally made the effort to try this place out and enjoyed my time here, even if the food was only so-so.

Atmosphere: 10/10 The main reason I wanted to try Mirate was for the ambiance. I’m a sucker for trees and string lights, so their center piece (a large tree covered in string lights) made me fall in love! I was lucky to snatch a seat at the bar and was able to enjoy looking around at their interesting decor and large liquor selection. They specialize in imports from Mexico and have a variety to choose from. The lights were dim, plenty of comfortable seating, and a warm vibe, great for date night and even better for family/friend gatherings! Just keep in mind if you want romance or to discuss business, this establishment was very loud and the whole place echoed with conversation. Doesn’t bother me a bit that this was the case, but just keep in mind if you’re looking for somewhere more quiet.

Service: 10/10 From the lovely hostesses to the phenomenal bartender, I received above and beyond service while at Mirate. I love how much everyone went out of their way to make this fellow patron feel welcomed, and ensured that I had a great experience. The bartender was kind, patient and very knowledgeable of the menu. Even after I broke it to him that I couldn’t eat pork, he still took the time to point out popular items that could accommodate my diet restrictions.

Food: 7/10 This was the only unfortunate part of my evening was the food experience. Let me say first, drinks were 10/10 amazing! I had wine and a coconut drink another patron recommended, I would have kissed the bartender if it wouldn’t be considered in poor taste to do so, simply perfection! Food was only so-so and for the prices it was pretty disappointing to say the least. $39 for a carne asada steak and fries. The meat only tasted like pepper (over peppered at that) and was very tough to chew. It was not cooked to the temp I requested (asked for medium rare and received medium well, I typically request med rare in hopes to at least get medium) and the fries were ok, but couldn’t save the dish. I also tried the $16 calabacitas and at first I wasn’t a fan of the dish, it severely lacked flavor, but once I tried whatever the corn puree was on the bottom, it enhanced the dish perfectly and made it 100% better. This dish I felt was worth the money spent, but not the carne asada at all which was a bummer because I love this type of meat.

Overall I WILL return for the amazing service, the lovely ambiance and I perfect drinks. Food it seems will be a hit or miss here, but I’ll try...

I had Mirate on my radar for a few months after I saw a food blogger's video on Instagram. Then I read that their bar program was rated #46 in North America by the 2024 Top 50 awards. Their head bartender, Maxwell Reis travels to Mexico to research and privately source Oaxacan mezcals and more obscure indigenous liquors.

There is a lot to experience at Mirate from the moment you walk up the narrow and dimly lit staircase to get to the hostess' podium. You are transported to a hideaway with creatively imagined interior decor. I was very excited to try their food and drinks.

After waiting a few minutes on a couch while our table was being prepared, me and my friends were seated on the second floor overlooking the magnificent 40 foot indoor tree surrounded by about 20 other tables. It was busy but there were some tables opening up around 9:30pm. We started off with the Kampachi Aguachile Tatemado, which had a burst of lime and habanero. Fresh cuts of Kampachi topped with cilantro and spices. We also ordered the Roasted Rainbow Carrots, which were colorful roasted carrots served in a bed of a creamy sauce.

I was overwhelmed with the selection of cocktails, but eventually settled on the curiously named "El Taquero #2". It had a peculiar savory taste with a slight sweetness. Later I would find out that they use the lard from Cochinita Pibil, mix it with crumbled tortillas and then pour in their own house Espadin mezcal. They then strain it and add pineapple brandy, lemon and pineapple juice and a finish it with a few drops of cilantro avocado oil. The #2 signifies the changes from the first version, which is finished with black lime salt and chili powder instead of the cilantro avocado oil among other differences. The Cochinita Pibil I ordered for my entree was delicious. I'm not crazy about the sourness of the pickled onions that are usually served on top of the simmered pork, but Mirate's version was less acidic and more pleasant to eat. Their blue corn tortillas come wrapped in a cloth napkin, fresh and handmade. I was very satisfied with my entree and enjoying the zaniness of my cocktail selection.

It was quite expensive by the time everything was added up. Mostly it was because my friend had inexplicably ordered about five dishes and had three cocktails. To his credit, he covered his portion. But you can easily end up $80 to $120 per person for appetizers, entree and couple of drinks. Order carefully and you should be able to keep your tab within a...

Upon entering your restaurant, I was immediately impressed by the lovely decor and ambiance. The atmosphere certainly set high expectations for an enjoyable evening. Unfortunately, these expectations were not met. To begin with, the food was served cold, which was a significant disappointment. Additionally, when I ordered guacamole, I was surprised to find an extra charge for chips. This unexpected expense left a sour taste in my mouth, and it was the first of many disappointments throughout the evening. I brought the issue of the cold food to the attention of the server, but unfortunately, I never saw the waitress again after I had paid my bill. To make matters worse, the restaurant neglected to acknowledge my son's birthday celebration, which had been a significant reason for choosing your establishment for our family gathering. We had spent nearly $900.00 in total, and this oversight was extremely disheartening. I attempted to contact your restaurant to express my concerns and disappointment, leaving several messages, but I received no response. When I called again, I was informed that someone would get back to me, but to this day, I have not received a call back. The only redeeming aspect of the evening was the burger, which, unfortunately, was the best item on the menu. I was also surprised to find that the Mezcal was seriously overpriced, which added to the overall disappointment. While the service at the entrance of the restaurant was good, the service at our table was, regrettably, far from satisfactory. It felt as though the staff was more interested in turning tables quickly rather than providing an enjoyable dining experience. STAY...