Mira is celebrating its grand opening to the public this weekend.
BUFFALO, N.Y. — Mira is no longer a construction site. It’s complete. Warm lighting, textured finishes, and a bright wraparound bar now fill the space that had been gutted just a few months ago.
“It’s been great, this is our opening week. We’ve had four soft opening dinners so far and a couple soft opening brunches,” said Pastry Chef and Partner Gina Ocasio.
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Mira is the latest restaurant from the Grange Hospitality Group, and it was designed for a variety of dining experiences, from walk-in seating at the bar to a private dining room upstairs for events.
“We have banquettes, we have intimate two top tables, so there’s just room for everyone and each area of the restaurant has a little bit of a different vibe,” Gina said.
The dessert program is already getting attention. The menu includes tiramisu, panna cotta, and house-made gelato.
“Our house made gelato and sorbetto are all made here, in our imported gelato machine that are always available by the scoop so I’m super excited about that. Then during brunch you can find a full pastry case of morning pastries,” Gina said.
On the savory side, Gina’s husband and fellow chef, Manny Ocasio, says the food pulls from across the Mediterranean, featuring shared plates, handmade pasta, seafood, vegetables, and grilled dishes prepared over charcoal.
“A lot of the food that we’re doing here are things that been really interesting to us for years and years,” he told 2 On Your Side. “Bringing it all together here in a space where it really fits has been super exciting.”
For Ocasio, opening on Elmwood feels full-circle.
“People in the neighborhood have been really excited and it’s been really nice to see that excitement and feel that excitement,” he said. “I grew up hanging out on Elmwood. Seeing it sort of take a turn post-Covid and now seeing it sort of hopefully on the ups is something that’s really exciting for me personally.”
Mira is now open to the public. Dinner service runs Tuesdays through Saturdays, with brunch every Saturday morning. You can check out the menu and make a reservation through the restaurant’s website.
Dining and Cooking