When you are in the mood for excellent Mediterranean cuisine, I'm sure Preston Highway is where you would expect to find it, right? Well, maybe not. But if you overlook Mirage based simply on its location (with our signature "restaurant rows" nowhere in sight) you are missing out! For my money, Mirage is the best in the city. Their menu is varied, from the traditional gyro to an array of stewed dishes. Even if you are not well versed in Mediterranean food, there is something for every taste.
Based on a few recent visits, Mirage is hardly a secret, however. Diners from all walks of life seem to have not only found this place, but apparently share my affection for it as well. The restaurant has transformed an old concrete building into an attractive dining space. There is seating for about 50 diners inside and another dozen or so on the patio. The kitchen is typically run by one person at a time so a little (not too much) patience is necessary. The service is always friendly, though and the food is certainly worth the wait!
I have never had a bad meal in perhaps 15-20 visits, but I almost always get the gyro. The Mirage version ranks up there with virtually any I have had, including the street vendors of New York City. They use Halal meats (a top brand in the industry) and a lavash-like flatbread (thinner than a traditional pita) and roll it almost like a burrito or soft taco, for minimal mess. Their tzatziki (yogurt/cucumber based) sauce is excellent and you can add your choice of vegetables and other toppings.
My wife is not much of a meat eater. She loves their falafel (fried chickpea fritters in either sandwich form or served on a plate), but usually orders the salad plate which includes a combination of your choice of 4 traditional Mediterranean salads. My 3-year-old son also loves Mirage and asks for it by name. He is a huge fan of their lentil rice!
If you go with a few friends and cannot decide what to get, you can always order one of the Mirage sampler platters. There is the smaller "Mirage Special" which feeds 2-3 and the "Mirage Super Special" that can feed 4-6. Each feature many Mirage favorites including varied meat skewers, rice and vegetables. The larger one adds gyro meat as well. If you wish to make substitutions I am sure it would be no problem as they are very willing to accommodate.
Trust me, I love going to restaurants on Bardstown Rd and Frankfort Ave. I grew up in those areas. You also get to take in quite a bit of eclectic Louisville culture around that way. Mirage is worth the trip, though (and its not that far). It is just off the Watterson Expressway. Discover what many others in the city already have. You will not be disappointed.
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If you go:
Mirage Mediterranean Restaurant
4100 Preston Hwy
Louisville, KY 40213
502-363-7788
All major credit cards accepted
