Added later: really disappointed that neither we nor any others who have had substandard full priced meals here have heard from the owner. Buyer beware. We have wanted to try Miramar for a long time based on reputation and reviews, so we booked it for our 30th wedding anniversary dinner. TL/DR, food was only ok, service was attentive, but overall experience was disappointing. Selected "anniversary" on the Open Table reservation...and added in the notes that it was our 30th. Nonetheless, nobody said a word about either when we were greeted or seated. Sigh. When we ordered two glasses of champagne, the server asked if we were celebrating. Yes, we were...and were surprised nobody knew... Our meal was fine but only fine. Had the mushroom soup and endive salad, both specials, both pretty good (and the salad big enough to share). She ordered the salmon, I had the lamb shank (both on the menu). I like my food hot...and I am as a result confident that I have never written this before...the food came really hot. TOO hot. Inediblly hot. Both dishes, and especially the lamb. Once it cooled down enough to be edible, the lamb shank and basil whipped potatoes and vegetables were good (dried out a little from the heat?); the salmon was only ok and a little fishy tasting. Her glass of Pinot Grigio was quite nice; mine of Bordeaux was delicious, but served surprisingly warm for a restaurant/glass at this price point -- I'd have expected them to have a proper wine refrigerator. Then, finally... We asked about, and then decided not to have a dessert. The server was kind to bring us a well intentioned delivery of two glasses of prosecco (which we didn't drink --- had already had a champagne and a glass of wine) and asked if we'd like that dessert after all to have with it. We said "sure." They then charged us for the dessert... For the record, our server was kind and attentive and professional, and the rest of the team were equally so. But, in summary, for a pretty aggressive price point, this was a disappointing experience on a night we hoped would be special. Perhaps we're victims of a holiday weekend meal...we're hoping ours isn't a typical experience. read more

Recently hosted a bridal shower at Miramar and it was wonderful! Working with Felipe was such a pleasure. The back room was a great ambiance, with plenty of room for our party of 15 people. They have a variety of spaces and menu packages to choose from, and work with you to ensure you have the event you want. The food and drink all came quickly and people were raving about what they ordered. I split the steak frites with blue cheese and a special pasta dish. Both were outstanding & I'd order them again and again. The creme brulee was a fan favorite for dessert. I'd definitely host another event at Miramar - they make it smooth and comfortable! read more

Miramar Bistro - Pasta special (spinach and cheese) - French Near Me - Highwood, Illinois

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Had a reservation here for later in the evening on Friday and it was packed but cleared out by the time we finished appetizers. The drinks here were really good and the appetizer was a treat. Overall we liked the steak and frites as it was cooked very nicely and wasn't too chewy for a New York strip. The clam linguine was excellent just wish the noodles weren't overcooked because the flavor and clams were great. Would definitely come back sometime. read more

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Very cute cozy place, I had the Dover sole almondine, it was delicious. Prisoner wine was amazing paired well with food and appetizers, we had calamari, oysters and claims, bread was fresh. The server was pleasant and friendly they open the restroom door for you upon entry. Very nice ambience read more

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Over priced and overrated! Nice atmosphere and decent outdoor seating! Food was bland.

We brought some out of town friends for a late night dinner on a Monday. The restaurant was full of patrons, and it was a warm evening, despite all the doors being open. They seated us immediately, took our drink order, and brought us a bread basket. We shared a tray of seafood -- shrimp, oysters and crab claws on ice. I had the chilled artichoke, which was tender with a delicious mustard vinaigrette . I also had the onion soup, thick rich and dark with a toasted crust that turned into endless loops of cheese. My friends enjoyed the steak frites, roasted chicken, seafood linguini and salmon. The restaurant has a charming rustic vibe, with wood bistro tables, vintage silver mirrors and enormous wax dripped candles. We were too full to partake of dessert, though the choices are excellent. The food was exquisite, the service was professional. The timing of the meal lagged, however; we were almost the last table, though we did not want to linger. Au revoir, Miramar, until we meet again! read more

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We had an expensive and terrible meal here recently. Last year we threw a party in the private party room and that was fun and well-done so recently we said to friends let's go for dinner. We were 4 people. Service was attentive, the fresh bread was good. That's where the goodness ends... Caesar salad was mostly mayonnaise dressing and had no flavor of Parmesan, lemon or garlic. It was bad. And we ordered bouillabaisse which our waiter said was excellent. We were served large covered Staub pots which promised a special dish and instead we were served a grey thickened broth with very little in it. My husband and I each counted 3 pieces of fish, 2 shrimp, 1 chopped potato, and two mussels. No scallop, no lobster, no carrot, no celery, no tomato, fennel etc.... It was almost entirely this salty, greyish brown broth. Out of curiosity I looked up some recipes for bouillabaisse and they all call for tomatoes, veggies and varied seafood. For nearly $40 per entree I expect a lot better quality. The taste, as you can imagine, was not good. One of the mussels in my dish didn't open so that indicates it was not fresh. Miramar is a nice dining room, it looks cool, the people who work there are dedicated to service. But the chef needs a lot of coaching and some decent recipes. Our dinner bill was about $180 for 2 people. Miramar would have to do a lot to earn our fandom again. read more

I went here for an event and everything worked out just fine. There were probably 100 people at the dinner. So there were a lot of moving pieces. The wait staff was attentive, and the food was good- whether it was chicken or salmon, veggies, bread and dessert. The restaurant is way bigger than I thought- an additional side room...I love the large candles that they have here. Nice bar area as well. Very pretty restaurant. Check them out. read more

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Here's what you need to know: overall, it was a nice experience worth 4 stars but the nice service makes me want to rate it 5 stars. The food isn't perfect, but there were some absolutely delicious representations of classic cooking that are absolutely worth highlighting - the onion soup gratinee (amazing decadent depth of flavor in the broth and perfect cheese blend) and the escargot (incredible garlic butter) are at the top. The goat cheese salad needs work - the fritters are unrefined and don't even have seasoned batter and are just large globs of goat cheese, the mussels are fresh and enjoyable but the broth is too creamy but thankfully introduces enough acid through the wine to attempt to balance. The house bread was not good, unfortunately, and needs improvement - lacked texture and flavor. The chocolate terrine was well made and used good quality chocolate - the green sauce however could be enhanced and didn't add anything to the dessert but didn't detract from it. Sebastian's service was very nice. $100 for 2 guests read more

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I have been here many times for special occasions and just for dinner. I've also sat outside numerous times with my dog. Always a great experience. read more

Miramar Bistro - Crispy Goat Cheese Salad Lunch - French Near Me - Highwood, Illinois

Great place for romantic day. The candle towers with the saved wax drippings are a unique touch. Good wine selection, and lots of French themed appetizers and entrées. Tried the crêpe pasta special, which was a little overcooked, but had a nice filling of spinach. Had to throw on some habanero sauce to flavor it up. The mushroom soup with tomato topping was excellent. The profiteroles for dessert are rich and decadent with a serving of three profiteroles over stuffed with chocolate ice cream, but closer to gelato and two of them and a vanilla ice cream that are then drenched in hot chocolate Service was excellent and prompt. read more

Miramar is definitely the shining star on its strip. With music playing outside to long standing candles illuminating every dining table, to the extremely attentive and friend wait staff, I absolutely adore this restaurant and the mussels appetizer and scallops entree. When in Highland, you absolutely must check out this establishment! read more

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It hurts me to write this review, because I've been eating at Miramar for years. Our meal tonight was disappointing. My husband ordered Dover Sole. It was dwarfed by the green beans and potatoes on the plate. Its flavor was dwarfed by a brown juice on which the fish was served -- consomme? bouillon? The juice overpowered the fish flavor. The sole wasn't boned at the table. Underwhelming. My husband's tomato soup and bread pudding were good. My meal -- escargots, linguini con vongole and profiteroles -- was good. Service was distracted and inconsistent, surprising since the restaurant was less than half-full and we ate early. read more

Server JC confronted us not being happy with the tip. What a shameful behavior. Never been so much disgusted by the waiter in my life. Train your staff better! Check #22, 1/2/26, 4:51PM read more

Definitely one of my favorite spots in the northern suburbs. One of my favorite atmospheric locations around by far- such good vibes. The banana bread pudding is one of the best desserts I've had! The steak was lovely as well, though I wish the fries were a bit different. I found mine overcooked for how tiny they were. The servers are always so kind and pleasant. I highly recommend coming at least once, especially for a nice holiday dinner read more

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Miramar has been on my list for years to try and I've heard about of people like it. A bit concerned for people's taste buds. Everything was fine. Nothing stood. Nothing was spectacular it was very much mediocre. My husband took my here for my bday and I was beyond underwhelmed. We got there on a Saturday night for 8 o'clock resos and it was dead. We sat outside because it was so nice out. The waiter came and asked if we were ready 2 minutes after we sat down and came what felt every minute until we decided on drinks. For a French bistro they were playing what sounded like Buena vista social club and the drinks felt like I was more in Cuba then in Paris. Food: Escargot - good Caesar salad- doesn't even make my top 75 Caesar salad list Oysters/shrimp/ crab claws - no complaints very fresh Mussels - bland Steak in peppercorn sauce - very bland Creme brûlée- we took a bite each The waiter came so much at the beginning and then towards the end we felt so rushed to get out of there. My husband mentioned it was my birthday multiple times but the bill came before we even got to dessert. We said we wanted dessert and then the waiter brought it out and it felt like he was staring for us to leave. No reason for me to come back. read more

Early dinner last Friday night. My friend and I started with drinks. A small bread basket with soft butter. We shared: classic escargot (delicious), Caesar salad which the kitchen split for us - portions were generous; and Chilean sea bass en papier. There were sliced potatoes and teeny tiny bits of artichoke beneath the fish. It was a small portion definitely meant for one, but we shared it. Very delicious. We ended with classic profiteroles for dessert. Very nice ambience. Excellent service, including having our water refilled regularly. Not sure why I have never visited this place before but I will definitely go back. They also have some outdoor space. Sorry I did not take any photos. read more

Fantastic spot for a date night! I made a reservation on OpenTable and it was ready on time. The ambiance was very romantic with cool looking candles at every table and dim lighting. My main concern with the whole experience is that I picked up my mojito and the entire bottom of the glass broke out from under it right when I lifted it up. The drink was made and served in a broken glass. I got mojito all over my nice dress, the table, and the ground. While the servers were very quick to clean it all up and bring another drink, I was surprised to see they did not comp it on the bill or even apologize. This is not good taste for an upscale restaurant. The food was all prepared very well, however, there was lack of seasoning across the board. Come here for the French onion soup alone! Mojito - very pretty and good flavor, too much ice and barely any drink Bread - basic and I'd expect a higher quality butter than the cheap foil packs Meat, cheese, and olive tray - meats and cheese were tasty, but the olives were under seasoned. The lettuce took up a lot of the plate French onion soup - that cheese pull was unreal and the base had a great depth of flavor. Can't come here and not get this soup. Roasted duck - fat was rendered perfectly. The dish was overall lacking salt, but was better with the orange sauce poured over it. Lamb shank - fall off the bone tender. The Basil really elevated the mashed potatoes. I absolutely enjoyed my date night here even with the drink snafu. It very much felt like a French bistro. read more

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Miramar was one our absolute favorite spots. They consistently have the best fresh oysters, plump sweet perfection. We loved sitting at the bar and being greeted by Olivier. Sometimes you do want to go where everybody knows your name. It is also has a very classic bistro decor, winter, spring, summer or fall it is outstanding. Cheers and thank you Olivier for some of our very best memories. Thinking of you. read more

Miramar has become our favorite go to restaurant in the suburbs! Everything from the friendly staff, ambiance and food, is impeccable! Tables are pretty close together and it's noisy but that only contributes to the wonderful and lively ambiance! The mussels are a must! read more

On Sunday we hosted a celebration dinner at one of our favorite North Shore restaurants. The festive holiday decorations made our niece's birthday party with family and close friends all the more special. Omar was our server on this visit and he enhanced the occasion with charm, humor and his attendance to every detail. Everyone enjoyed the evening and what they had to eat and drink, especially the birthday girl, who had been looking forward to ordering a chocolate Martini since her last time here! We have learned over the years that Miramar will always exceed our expectations with great food and excellent service. We love coming here!!! read more

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Absolutely loved this French bistro! The only thing that they were lacking was a little more authentic French flavor, but the food quality and service is some of the best that you'll find in the suburban area! Highly recommend the French onion soup if you're hear (not photographed) read more

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Lemme start with the good: -Waiters were very friendly -Bread -French Onion soup was so good The meh: -the seared tuna salad was very bland, my wife only had a couple bites before she said no mas. -my entree was some pasta dish filled with spinach and floating in piping hot milk. It was interesting. I think a slightly thicker sauce would have made it feel less like pasta in milk soup. -the bill was insane. We only got water, soup, tuna, and milk pasta and it was $120 with tip. Overall not what I was looking for on a date night. read more

Miramar Bistro - French Onion Soup "Gratinee" Dinner So good!! - French Near Me - Highwood, Illinois

One of my biggest guilty pleasures is delicious French onion soup, and this one is by far my favorite. I'd go as far as saying if I had one last meal, this would be it! My husband and I have this tradition to try French onion soup at every restaurant we go to and nothing compares. The caramelization of the onions, the yummy broth, the cheese pull and cream gooey cheese on top... is a must have every time you come here. I mean the photos don't do each bowl justice. If you're a fan of French onion soup....must try! Or if even if you're not... this might be the soup that changes your mind! read more

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This is one of my favorite haunts on the North Shore. At the center of it all on Sheridan Road in downtown Highwood, Miramar offers the experience of a French bistro (or at least what I imagine a French bistro to be). There's nothing better than to wander in on a warm summer afternoon and sit by the open doors off of the patio. While the atmosphere is good, the hearty menu is even better with some great traditional meat and fish selections. If you're looking for avant-garde dining, this isn't the place. What you will receive are robust and filling entrees well executed. I usually order the steak frites (medium rare of course), available in three different styles with compound butter, peppercorn sauce, or my favorite, the bleu cheese. I also enjoy the salmon, always prepared spot-on and served with horseradish sauce. Whatever you choose for dinner, be sure to order the house speciality, French onion soup. Baked in its own tureen with a thick layer of browned cheese, it is full of deeply developed flavors. This is perhaps my favorite rendition of French onion, anywhere. Service is friendly and the wait staff is always checking on you. Prices are on the higher side but not especially so considering the Highwood location. It makes a nice place for a date but I also bring business associates here. They are usually open reliably late during the week, which I appreciate as I sometimes can't get away from work until later in the evening. Highly recommended. read more

Miramar Bistro - The famous French onion soup. Best. Soup. Ever. - French Near Me - Highwood, Illinois

Walked in with my friends an hour before closing and the staff rudely told us they're just about closed and we would not be served, despite the fact that there were people eating at tables. Very rude staff. I'm disappointed. Looked like a beautiful place to eat. read more

Cute rooms, very busy, friendly, attentive and efficient service. There is a large staff that is working hard to keep glasses filled, clearing plates and delivering food and drinks quickly and unobtrusively. Sadly the food just wasn't what we hoped for from start to finish. The calamari should have been a red flag as this place is supposed to be a French style bistro but it had good reviews and seemed safer than the more French offerings like the mussels and pate. The calamari was okay. Not bad but not great. Next came the Caesar salad, another non-French item that was underwhelming and only ordered because we thought it would be hard to mess up. We shared a steak frite with maître d' hotel (herbed butter) sauce, ordered medium and were each served a chunk of beef the similar in size and shape of a roll of quarters and a massive amount of shoestring potatoes, all crispy, not a soft one in the bunch. The meat was well done on one half and medium-well on the other. That was a $43 mistake. Should've cut our losses and not ordered dessert but we aren't quitters. This too was ordered according to what would be the most basic and easy dessert to get right for almost any restaurant - so apple "tart" seemed safe. Nope! I had one bite and couldn't eat it, even the ice cream wasn't worth it. I'm not a snob, this dessert wasn't good. An apple pie from Jewel or McDonald's would be better, especially since it's not masquerading as something more than what it is. My review won't make difference to the business and I am glad about that because clearly other people love it and this has a family and community vibe that I support and wish all the best. I hope this feedback will help the chef and owner pause and check in but given the number of happy diners I observed, there's no reason apparently. Since I don't live in the area, it's unlikely I would return even if I loved it but it's still a bummer to try something in a whim and be disappointed. read more

Service and atmosphere are nice and food is generally high quality and tasty, but portions are on the smaller side and prices are sky high for what you get. We just paid almost $14 for a small bowl of gazpacho. The bill for our dinner for four was alarming. And the bread basket was among the worst I've ever had. I've had better from a plastic bag. read more

Nice ambiance inside but ultimately very mediocre food and drinks and very very overpriced. $20 for cocktails is robbery. Also the service was questionable. Seemed like the bartender wanted us to leave and brought me my check right away. Very annoying read more

Enjoyed a business lunch here and was pleasantly surprised at how much our group enjoyed this Highwood staple. My previous dinner experiences at Miramar were not great, so I hadn't dined here in years. I must admit I was pleasantly surprised with how much I enjoyed my French onion soup and Caesar salad. Although I feel their orices are a but inflated overall, I thought their soup/sandwich and/or salad lunch special was delicious and priced right! I will return for lunch and try the omelette du jour next time which was accompanied by a hearty garden salad! read more

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The bread basket came with tiny pats of wrapped off-shelf butter. Not what I expected for this establishment. I wouldn't bring clients here for that alone. Crab Cake with Orange and Caper Aioli 4/5-- fantastic fresh lump cake! Fresh Oysters, Half Dozen Foie gras, roasted apples with black truffle sauce, 3.5/5-- quality but nearly rare (?) foie gras. So incredibly squishy-wet soft served on a quarter-cup of apples Steak Black Peppercorn sauce 3/5-- so much peppercorn and cream sauce that the quality of the steak was mute Roasted Salmon and Mushrooms w/ Horseradish Sauce 5/5-- well-done salmon with crisp sear Crème Brûlée 4.5/5-- nearly pudding-like consistency but great caramelized crunchy topping Apple Tart 3/5-- served with rich vanilla ice cream that drowns the sweetness (and any tartness) of the pie read more

We had a lovely evening at Miramar Bistro. The service was excellent--attentive, friendly, and well-paced throughout the meal. The food overall was good, though a few dishes stood out more than others. We started with the beet salad, which had wonderfully crisp goat cheese that really elevated the dish. The dressing, however, was a bit heavy on the mayo side for our taste. The French onion soup was a real highlight--rich, deeply flavorful, and honestly one of the best I've ever had. For the main course, we had the steak frites, which was solid--nicely cooked and satisfying. A great spot with a warm atmosphere and standout service. We'd definitely come back, especially for that soup! read more

Cute and cozy restaurant but overpriced for what you get. Food was just OK. But it's a nice place to gather with friends, as long as you are OK with just average food. read more

Everything is perfect, service, Food & ambience are all better than anywhere. The Caesar salad has a totally different flavor than anyone else. read more

Miramar Bistro - French Near Me - Highwood, Illinois

It has been awhile since my previous visit to this restaurant. I did not see any of my own notes or reviews about the place so when I read the menu I asked myself why I did not go back so long ago. Now I know the answer. For the appetizer, I ordered foie gras. The portion was very generous but the price was very steep as well. It was sized and priced as a main dish however mentioned in the Appetizer section served strangely with sautéed spinach in heavy meat ( beef?) sauce and NOT in the black truffle sauce as indicated on the menu . The dish was very heavy and I was already full before the main dish. Our server recommended the skate from the special menu. When I asked how it was cooked, the server confirmed that the fish is pan fried with lime capers sauce and a medley of vegetables "very flavorful" on the side. The main dish was delivered exactly 10 minutes after we ordered it, so there is no way it was pan fried to order, it was baked and reheated and served with the same wilted spinach and some other vegetables in the same heavy beef sauce which means it was nothing at all like the server described to us. The ambiance in the restaurant is about the only thing they have French because the cuisine is clearly not. It was very disappointing experience especially because I was so looking forward to the French dinner. I do not recommend. read more

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Authentic from a to z. Service, French onion soup, warm homemade bread, and superb mussels. The sauce was rich and perfectly seasoned. We shared a small dish of gelato. Perfect for the two of us. We met a delightful couple who sat next to us which only added to the warm and intimate atmosphere. We'll be back. Ro and Curt . read more

Came here for a post wedding brunch. They let us in 1 hr before it opened and most of the place was reserved for our party. There were probably 10+ tables of 6. There was a buffet and you could also order omelettes, Benedict's, and scrambled eggs. They also had a full bar and hot and iced coffee. Caesar salad - dressing could have been cheesier and the croutons were a bit stale Caprese salad was very tasty Fruit was fresh Bacon and sausage was great with grilled veggies Cheese blintz, pancake, and French toast were very decadent and balanced well with a cup of coffee Macarons were good and the creme brûlée was very creamy and not too sweet Cinnamon rolls were dry but brownies were not read more

Had dinner at Miramar Bistro for my anniversary dinner and it was very delicious. The service was great as well our waiter took good care of us all throughout our dinner experience. The ambiance had a very European feel to it, it felt like we were in Paris again. In all, It was a very pleasant experience and I definitely would recommend this restaurant to my friends and family. read more

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Food, drinks and service were great. Can't complain. Highly recommend the Rockefeller oysters.

My wife and I have been coming here for easily 25 years and it just keeps getting better. The food has always been the reason, and the ambiance, but the level of service has been going up and up. We were treated to a long lunch on Sunday and the service levels were high end downtown spend $1,000 for two people level of service. Simply marvelous time - a true gem. read more