Construction is underway on Elmwood Avenue as chefs Manny Ocasio and Gina Nalbone prepare to bring their long-planned concept to life this fall.
BUFFALO, N.Y. — The former home of Pano’s Restaurant at 1081 Elmwood Avenue is now a full-blown construction site, and for the first time, we’re getting a look inside. The space has been gutted and is being transformed into Mira, a Mediterranean restaurant set to open this fall.
Chef Manny Ocasio and his wife, Pastry Chef Gina Nalbone, are partnering with Brad Rowell and Caryn Dujanovich of the Grange restaurant group to launch the new spot.
“We’re fully under construction here at Mira. We’re hoping to be open this fall. We’re a Mediterranean restaurant, so we’re mostly focused on coastal Italian, Spanish, and Greek food,” Ocasio said.
For Ocasio, opening Mira in Buffalo is the fulfillment of a longtime goal.
“This idea of a restaurant and a space like this is something I always wanted to create in Buffalo, so again being able to do it with my wife and also Brad and Caryn who I’ve had such a great relationship over the years at the Grange with, is really just a dream come true,” he shared.
The name Mira, a Spanish word meaning “look,” was inspired by the couple’s personal connection to the word.
“It’s just a beautiful word, we say it all the time,” Nalbone told 2 On Your Side. “We want this restaurant to be grabbing the attention of the Elmwood Village and we just felt it embodied us personally,” Nalbone explained.
When it opens, Mira will feature a wraparound bar, patio dining, and private event space upstairs. The restaurant plans to serve dinner Tuesday through Saturday during the fall and winter months, move to a Wednesday through Sunday schedule during the warmer months, and with brunch service on weekends.
“We’re just really excited to share our vision with everyone. We’re super passionate about this type of cuisine,” Nalbone said. “We’re just so excited to share that with everyone and give them a new experience of dining.”
Mira is currently hiring for all positions, including cooks, servers, bartenders, and more.
You can learn more and apply at www.mirabuffalo.com.
Dining and Cooking