Mimi’s Cafe

He said:

I like Mimi’s Café—or Mimi’s Bistro + Bakery, as they have recently renamed it, even though the older name still adorns their building. I’ve never understood why all their Utah locations closed but the one in Murray. (Until today, I didn’t know that it is a national chain with restaurants in 11 other states). For me, it’s a hidden gem that allowed us to get a table at 7:00 on Friday night with only a short wait. I chose Mimi’s for that and also because I knew we would find delicious comfort food, something we would appreciate while we celebrated the life of a dear pet we had just lost.

Mimi’s Cafe is housed in a French rustic, gabled building with plenty of awnings and a tile roof. Its charm continues inside, where four separate dining rooms feature various French designs. Some dining rooms have additional niches, such as one booth near ours, enclosed in three brick walls, with its own “windows” and a painting of a French wine shop. Although I have never been to France, I felt caught up in the archetypal romanticism of a 1970’s Parisienne reverie. Oddly, though, one of the dining rooms—the one with the most decor—represented not Paris, but New Orleans and its lively jazz scenes. I guess it must count as French.

We call the Cajuns Kathy’s distant cousins. She is Acadian, after all, from New Brunswick, Canada. During the French and Indian War in the mid-1700s, the British forcibly deported most Acadians from the region. Many of them migrated to Spanish Louisiana, where the name “Acadians” mutated into the name “Cajuns”. So, we’re happy to include New Orleans and the Cajuns among the French themes.

Following the menu’s invitation, I asked our waitress to upgrade our bread basket to the Carrot Raisin Nut Madeleines. I’ve had them before, and they were delicious. This time, however, the waitress said she didn’t think they had any. She checked with the kitchen but never reported back to us. Sadly, we didn’t even get a regular bread basket. Anyway, the rest of the menu offered a variety of French and American dishes. We each ordered from the 3-Course Menu, which offered a cup of soup or petite salad, an entrée, and dessert. I began with a Caesar salad, though I didn’t see anything petite about it. It consisted of Romaine lettuce, small croutons, shaved Parmesan cheese, and a dressing that did not drown the salad.

I then moved on to the Tuscan-Style Grilled Chicken. This consisted of sliced chicken atop a mound of mashed potatoes, smothered with summer squash, broccoli, onions, and cherry tomatoes, all of which bathed in a sauce that almost seemed more of a broth. I enjoyed every bite.

By the time we reached the dessert stage of our dinner, I was contentedly full. I asked for the Bread Pudding to go, though I did steal a bite or two before we left. I was glad of my decision to save it for later because the bread pudding was a full serving. It was slightly custardy, but firm and not a bit soggy. At the same time, it was chewy but not crusty. In other words, it was perfectly prepared, and the whiskey sauce that came with it only made it that much better.

She said:

First impressions of Mimi’s were of warmth, coziness, and being in one’s own dining room. The reds, greens, and golds added to the welcoming atmosphere. I especially liked the teal-colored paned windows, the crystal-tasseled wall sconces (whose shades were adorned with black musical notes), and then large mural of dancing partygoers. In the spirit of Cajun joie de vivre, there was another mural that stated, “Laissez les bons temps rouler” (Let the good times roll). That’s the true spirit of Acadian culture: live, love, laugh, dance, and let the music blare. I felt like I was home again.

Although there were delicious-sounding offerings throughout the menu, I chose to go with the French Onion Soup, the French Pot Roast, and the Bread Pudding. Mimi’s onion soup has been the best I’ve had in a long time. The broth was delicious and flavorful, the onions tender, and the crouton and cheese were just right.

As for the pot roast? Wonderful comfort food. It was served with mashed potatoes, carrots, mushrooms, and onions atop generous portions of tender beef, all sitting in a rich, dark gravy. Alas, it failed to achieve total perfection because the peas had been omitted (wink).

To round off my meal, there seemed to be no better choice than the bread pudding. The texture, the raisins, the moistness, and the sauce made my dessert a real treat. I savored every single bite.

Eating at Mimi’s was a perfect way to satisfy my craving for quintessential comfort food. That it made me feel close to my roots was a bonus.

Conclusion:

While Mimi’s Café may not have delivered a flawless performance, it still provided a solid and satisfying experience, with inspired comfort food and a delightful, cozy atmosphere.