Marinara Miracles feels like the kind of place you stumble into by accident. It’s perched at the top of a creaky staircase above a dive bar, in what feels more like someone’s attic than an Italian restaurant. The reality is somewhere in between. The space is small, with a few red-and-white-checkered tables, plus an air hockey table and a TV that looks like it’s been there since the ‘70s. You’ll order your food at a little window, but the stacks of takeout containers in the kitchen hint that this spot may be more popular for delivery than dining in.
Don’t let that stop you from enjoying the speakeasy-style joint before a show on Red River. It’s a fun place to load up on carbs and fried cheese over a round of High Lifes (no wine or fancy cocktails here). Just don’t go expecting a life-changing meal—the fresh pasta is a modest step above the boxed stuff. This isn’t a destination Italian restaurant, but it’s open until midnight and does a solid job of soaking up a few drinks before or after a long night.
photo credit: Nicolai McCrary
Food RundownMozzarella Sticks
These are hot and crispy, with cheese that could stretch across the room—everything we want in mozzarella sticks. No notes.
photo credit: Nicolai McCrary
Roman Holiday Cacio E Pepe
There’s not a lot of pepper in this sauce, and the noodles are thin and a little too soft, but it’s a pretty satisfying plate of pasta.
photo credit: Nicolai McCrary
Simple Kind Of Ravioli
Our ravioli arrived at room temperature, but the marinara sauce they’re doused in is excellent.
photo credit: Nicolai McCrary
Lasagna
Every week, Marinara Miracles offers a different weekly special—our latest version was a pepperoni lasagna, though it tasted like a pretty run-of-the-mill cheese lasagna. It’s not bad, and it’s one of the more filling things on the menu.
photo credit: Nicolai McCrary
Dining and Cooking