M at Miranova

I'm Still wondering if the "M" stands for magical.

How could I come to such a conclusion? How could a dining experience seem so enchanting? Was it the stunning decor? The service? The food and drinks? All of that and everything in between? My dining experience was more than just about eating food. Between pouring a "potion" like liquid into my butterfly pea tea cocktail, to blending all of the beautiful colors (and flavors) on my filet plate to get a perfect bite each time, to breaking "glass" in order to dig into my dessert, the dining experience was so overwhelmingly engaging and fun in all the best ways. But I guess we should start from the beginning.

The captivation

In honor of M at Miranova's 18th anniversary this year, I was invited to checkout their new renovations and updated menu! Let me just start by saying, wow! ​The precise attention to detail with not only the appearance of their food but the restaurant as a whole was purely incredible. ​M provides an upbeat yet elegantly chic dining experience for occasions of all kinds. The carefully thought out atmosphere has a variety of scenic views throughout the restaurant, accompanied with great music and comfortable dining. When I say comfortable, I mean fluffy pillows and soft fabric chairs filled the lounge leaving no other option than to feel relaxed. 

Yes-I'm talking about furniture and fabric right now. Comfortable seating is a deal breaker for me, especially if you're like me and like to hang out and enjoy yourself for awhile. So with that, I might also still be swooning over the table that had drapes romantically hung over top of it. The restaurant was immaculate, the decoration was perfectly placed, and the dining area was well kept and always proper. I believe even just the smallest elements in a restaurant make such a big impact on the fine dining experience, and it's clear M already knew that. 

Happy Hour

Prepare to rejoice with their HALF priced menu! Available Monday-Saturday from 5pm-7pm in the bar and lounge area. I would just like to emphasize the fact that they even offer HH on Saturdays, that's pretty incredible. The menu includes appetizers, sushi, and drink features. And get this, all of the food on the happy hour menu ranges from $7 to $10! What I love most about their HH is the food is still such high-quality and elevated! Here's what we got:

Fried Chicken: sweet corn cheese pudding, pickles, hot sauce

M Roll : hamachi, ahi tuna, salmon, avocado, crunchy garlic scallion relish

Okay, huge fan of the Fried Chicken dish. It came with the creamiest most sensational sweet corn cheese pudding AND a cute little bottle of house made hot sauce. Their house made hot sauce was remarkable, I actually wish they could retail it because I would literally drizzle it on everything all day long... But for now, I'm just going to keep my fingers crossed and hope one day my hot sauce dreams come true. Let's talk sushi. Ugh, all the sushi options sounded delectable, but it only felt right to go for the roll named after the M restaurant itself. Both the ahi tuna and salmon tasted so fresh and paired terrifically with the other items in the roll. However, next time I go back, I definitely have my sight set on trying the King Crab Dynamite. I'm a sucker for all things spicy mayo!

Cocktails

Aha!: California Brut Sparkling, pineapple, coconut water

Aha!: California Brut Sparkling, pineapple, coconut water

Where do I even start besides just wow. Okay well first of all, I got to meet Chris Dehlavi. Who has been the Head Bartender at M since 2002, and has respectively been voted best bartender in Columbus 10 years in a row now!  It was a really exciting moment to meet her!
​​Chris designed and crafted all of the signature cocktails on the menu, and they were nothing short of delicious. The Aha! was served in a light bulb and had me thinking I was on a beach with every sip. The Magic Elixir, essentially came with a magic show, and was also delicious. Lastly, the Two Ships, the perfect mix of rums with a hint of banana was served in a smoking glass globe which was beyond cool. 

​The presentations will unquestionably catch your eye, but the cocktails themselves will seize your taste buds. I'm a huge fan of her exotic creations!

Two Ships: Don Pancho Rum, banana, amaro, bitters

Two Ships: Don Pancho Rum, banana, amaro, bitters

we're not done yet

I would be lying if I said I wasn't already somewhat full from the (generous portion sized) happy hour apps. But I'm not a quitter, so I went all in for dinner. I'm the kind of person who has commitment issues when it comes to committing to just one plate. I crave variety, I yearn for the option of splitting several plates with others, specifically and selfishiously so I don't miss out on any opportunity to taste the next best thing. So needless to say after happy hour, we moved over to their outdoor patio to enjoy the rest of our evening. ​

Piedmonstese Filet : Truffle egg butter, potato gratin, asparagus, onion petals, cabernet reduction

Veal Chop: blistered tomatoes, spinach, pickled fennel, whole seed mustard, aged balsamic

Sea Scallops: corn puree, local tomatoes, king crab ravioli

Crab Jar: butter poached dutch harbor alaska king crab

And so it continues

We shared a few plates. However, the one that actually stole my heart, and had me licking the plate clean (all by myself with no help from anyone else because I refused to share this one) was the Piedmontese Filet. I'm a little particular when it comes to steak. I don't typically get steak when I eat out, unless I'm confident it's good quality steak that can be cooked meticulously. And wow, M did it again for me with this dish. The Italian cut filet graciously laid overtop of the truffle egg butter and paired so beautifully when eaten together (and a part). The veal chops were also tasty and delightful, huge fan of the aged balsamic. Sea scallops, cooked to perfection and sauced just right. The crab jar, simply delicious. Chunks of king crab and warm butter filled the jar with just the right amount of bread slices for pairing. I could keep rattling on about each and every menu item, but I'm going to leave you with advice to check out M for yourself.

Wait, can't forget the dessert

At this point, we were stuffed. But like I said before, we're not quitters. So we went ahead and ordered the strawberries under a glass and truffles! Wow. Both were great in their own ways. The strawberry panna cotta (or should I say dessert aquarium) was so fun to eat, before we could get to the actual panna cotta, strawberry gelee, and poppy seed cake, we had to "break the glass" which was so thrilling to say the least. Each bite we strived to impulsively scrape a little bit of each ingredient onto our spoons, it was a game that we couldn't stop playing. After we cleaned out the glass, we moved onto the truffles. Those were a nice finisher. I recommend the truffles if you're not too hungry but want a little chocolate to curve your after-meal sweet tooth. 

Strawberries Under Glass: vanilla panna cotta, strawberry gelee, poppy seed cake

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Truffles: Chocolate, Caramel, Strawberry Cheesecake

excellent evening with exceptional service

All of the staff members that I encountered during my visit provided exceptional service. Our server, Teal was so friendly and was able to describe the menu in a way that painted a visual picture of each menu item she described. She was so well spoken, descriptive, and all around just wonderful. I have to also give credit where its due. There was a gentleman who seemed to always appear right when we needed him without us ever initially realizing or asking, he always made sure our water was generously filled – each and every time. He never skipped a beat, and it was quite impressive to say the least. I had the pleasure of talking to several different staff members during my experience, and each one made us feel so welcomed. The thing with the M at Miranova staff is that they take pride in how they treat their customers and they strive to give their diners an experience that they wont forget. They're friendly, personable, knowledgable, and move with a sense of urgency. They don't have to tell you they "care", they show you.

but ultimately

Whether you’re on a romantic date night, enjoying happy hour with friends in the lounge, celebrating a birthday with family, or just want to chill on the patio, they will ensure that you receive the kind of experience you are going for! ​

How does a restaurant get diamond rated? 

Industry experts in North America’s premier restaurant rating program, AAA Approved & Diamond Rated, extensively reviews and inspects restaurants yearly to provide diamond ratings that range from a basic to world-class experience. For reference, restaurants do not pay a fee to become AAA Approved and Diamond rated, they have to undergo a series of requirements and expectations before a restaurant can even be considered for evaluation. 

what does a 4 diamond rating mean?

According to AAA, a Four Diamond Rating means that "a restaurant offers a culinary experience that guests can savor and enjoy." A four diamond fine-dining experience provides creative skillfully served dishes, an amid upscale ambiance and exceptionally proficient service. M has achieved a 4 diamond rating from 2006-2019. ​

lastly

I would like to thank M at Miranova for hosting me, as well as Cameron Mitchell Restaurants for sponsoring my blog and social media posts! I had a wonderful time checking out the new renovations and menu changes, and think you all will too! So what are you waiting for?

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