Mírate is the new sister restaurant to Mírame, which chef Joshua Gil and partner Matthew Egan opened in 2020. Gil’s multi-regional Mexican cuisine utilizes local produce in a bevy of tacos, ceviches and dips—from classic tomatillo salsa to more decadent crab esquites—presented in this open, two-story indoor-outdoor space sprouting with foliage.
Max Reis is the beverage director, previously of République and Gracias Madre. He curates a list that is exclusively Mexican—beer, spirits and wine. Reis believes Mexican wine often gets a bad rap, so his selections highlight styles that counter pre-conceived notions. Instead of overly-oaked cabernets pandering to Napa wine lovers, he features a carbonic cabernet sauvignon from Fincas Vinicultores in the Valle de Guadalupe, a lighter style that complements rather than overpowers the cuisine. His cocktails also pair with the food—the Mi Vieja Martini is made with campechana water for a tomatoey bump, like pico de gallo in a glass. Reis has broken down mezcals and tequilas by region; an accompanying map guides the way. Not into agave? Mírate also has a rare Mexican gin list.
Mírate is part of our Top 30 LA List of 2023. Read the whole story here.
Based in Los Angeles, California, Alissa Bica is the Associate Editor and Spirits Critic at Wine & Spirits. She is also a sommelier at 71 Above and co-runs the home wine tasting company, Côte Brune and Blonde. In any rare moments of free time, she writes about obscure grape varieties in the blog Off the Beaten Wine Path.
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This story appears in the print issue of Spring 2023.
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