Mirage Mediterranean- Wow

Venturing away from my normal circle of restaurants Wednesday we experienced Mirage Mediterranean Restaurant on Preston (4100 Preston Highway, Louisville, KY, 40213) just off the expressway exit. We have had Mediterranean cuisine in many places over the years and I would have to rate Mirage very highly and a pleasant surprise. I also note very little chatter about it on LouisvilleHotBytes.

To quote a recent review: "Owned and operated by Sami Barghoti (formerly of Little Jerusalem and Saffron's Buffet), this Mirage is the genuine article — a nifty, nicely appointed spot that dishes up superb, freshly made Middle Eastern cuisine at prices so modest that at first glance you might be forgiven for thinking the menu is an illusion."

Okay so we loved it, but I'd love to hear experiences from others out there in regards to your favorite Mediterranean places and if you've had a Mirage Mediterranean Restaurant experience.

I went with someone who eats there frequently and at least today it was not crowded at lunch. Seemed to be doing a lot of carryout. Given my delightful culinary experience today, I felt it deserved some additional recognition and there is no better place and group of foodies then LouisvilleHotBytes to discuss it further!

For those on Facebook, check it out further at: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Mirage-Mediterranean-Restaurant/155504204502957

Based upon this post, I had lunch there today, and must agree 100% with Jerry, this place is excellent & the food is the real deal. I would also add it's large, clean, & modern, not the typical hole in the wall place you sometimes get with authentic Middle Eastern food.

This will become a regular stop for me & my lunch friends from work.

It's interesting to look at other review sources and see all the positive reviews that exist and yet the Mirage Mediterranean does not seem to get the following it deserves. Perhaps it says more about the time proven real estate axiom of location, location, location vs the execution of ones menu. As someone who rarely ventures much outside their personally determined geographical food radius, it is one place I intend on visiting more frequently.

When you really think about it, Mirage Mediterranean is directly off the Preston exit and therefore easily accessable to all of us.

Just throwing my support toward a locally owned resturant that has apparently remained elusive to all of us.

I hope that others will try it too and report back their experiences. It is also big enough to host a LouisvilleHotBytes Offline.

JerryZ

I had hesitated to try Mirage because I had not heard anything about it even though I drive by a couple times a week. Thanks for the info , it will be one of the next places to visit.

Mirage is on my regular lunch rotation and they do quite a brisk lunch business most days I'm there. I guess one of my secret lunch spots is getting some well deservered attention. I like it a lot better than Shiraz which isn't a bad place. Mirage just seems a little fresher and more authentic. They also always have interesting specials too. Service is good and they are well informed about the menu and everyone seems happy you stopped to enjoy their fine offerings.

I agree - Mirage is better than Shiraz. Not least on value-for-money grounds. At Mirage, I walk out feeling like I've gotten full on good food at a fair price. At Shiraz, I always walk out feeling like I've paid way too much for the food I've gotten - for instance, $9 or $10 (it now says "market price" on the menu) for a lamb kabob with three measly, gristly little pieces of meat.

I have never been to Mirage, but I enjoy Shiraz. I have only go to the Holiday Manor location, so I suppose the others could be different.

And I almost always share the eggplant ap and then order the salmon kabob, both of which are outstanding and extremely fresh, as well as quite healthy.

Of course, now I can never go to Mirage, as this is some sort of Mediterranean restaurant rivalry, and I've chosen my side.

Hmmm Mirage vs Shiraz. It rhymes, but why choose sides. They are both excellent choices as are the many other Mediterranean Restaurant's in our area. We are blessed.

All I am saying is that Mirage Mediterranean is somewhere I just discovered and thought others might enjoy it too. Sometimes it's worth venturing outside your bubble. I just did with amazing results. Give it a shot and share your thoughts.

Echoing a post from another thread this morning: "There is no single right answer. Different strokes for different folks." I couldn't agree more.

Of course, now I can never go to Mirage, as this is some sort of Mediterranean restaurant rivalry, and I've chosen my side.

Love your humor here. Any opportunity to create an east coast-west coast rap battle/cola war... jump on it.

I could not agree more with the statement that we are blessed to have so many fine choices here in places to eat. Since the new year I have been trying to try as many different places as possible, in fact in 2 months the only place we have eaten that we have been to before, other than the occasional fast food stop, is The Blind Pig. I am sure nobody could fault me for wanting more of anything from that wonderful local establishment.

I could not agree more with the statement that we are blessed to have so many fine choices here in places to eat. Since the new year I have been trying to try as many different places as possible, in fact in 2 months the only place we have eaten that we have been to before, other than the occasional fast food stop, is The Blind Pig. I am sure nobody could fault me for wanting more of anything from that wonderful local establishment.

BevP great idea. We do tend to get stuck in a rut of going back to the same places all the time. Of course that's impossible to fault too, because it it's something you enjoy, WHY NOT? But Louisville is a great restaurant city. I am going to take your suggestion to heart and make it a point to venture outside my comfort zone on a regular basis. I was talking to someone who was telling me about Fish House. I have not been there. It is my next stop.

Places like Mirage Mediterranean, given it's somewhat odd location, would not be on the radar unless someone recommends it as someone had told me about it.

So I've created a new thread in regards to that on LHB forums and pose the question to all the LHB foodies out there: Are there other places like Mirage Mediterranean, that you have enjoyed, that you feel deserve greater recognition. http://forums.louisvillehotbytes.com/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=19027

Please continue to post your Mirage Mediterranean experiences on this thread.

I knew the owner of "Little Jerusalem" moved his operation to Preston Highway. I just thought it was out in Okolona. Thanks to this post, I now know it's over near Frank's, so it will definitely be in my lunch rotation now.

It is very weird that we have missed discussing this spot on the forum. I go about once a month, and love the food. I guess I'm still in denial because Little Jerusalem was not nearly as good and they have the same owner, chef, etc... It is defiantly a go to spot, and as mentioned, very easy to get to. Nice building, nice decor, great prices, and good authentic middle eastern food. Last time I went I had the lamb shanks for the dinner special, delish! I hope this thread gets some interest buzz, because the crowds have been a little thin every time I've been. Glad to give them their due. Shariz has tried to Americanize the food and cut some unfortunate corners, like the poor excuse for Pita bread they have now. They still have the best kabobs, but the wraps are just so so. and I get pissed every time I have to pay for a small dollop of Tatting sauce. I wish them well though, and know how much hard work they've put into growing ( maybe to quickly) the brand.

It took us a while but we finally made it to Mirage for lunch today. It is still WOW. I had one of the specials Chicken curry with rice and a small salad, son had a chicken dish in a tomato based sauce also with rice and the same salad I had, hubby had the Chicken Shawarma over hummus with 2 salads he chose the Arabic salad and the Jerusalem salad all meals were served with wonderful pita bread I think with 2 sodas and a water lunch was about 35 bucks after a 20 percent tip. Service was helpful, place was very clean. They got very busy by the time we left...good to see.