Miracle Bar & Grill

Contributor

Citysearch

The Scene
A dusky, subdued spot on leafy Bleecker Street, Miracle is almost too tastefully understated. The well-stocked bar is appropriately against the back wall of the first room, and there's a separate room off to the side devoted to dining. The Southwestern tchotchkes--quaint but unmemorable--are placed at discreet intervals on the warmly-hued walls, and the tables are artfully positioned just far enough apart for comfort. Service is pleasant, though sometimes a trifle too unhurried.

The Food
Miracle makes no visible claims to rigid authenticity, and its adventures in fusion can be charming. Take the Asian-inflected, ginger-sparked julienned cabbage--unexceptional when it stuffs the spring rolls, it accompanies the catfish tacos appetizer to greater effect. More straightforward entrees--strip steak, enchiladas--often achieve an elegant, flavorful simplicity. But a few baroquely mischievous dishes succeed extravagantly--the fried chicken salad is a dieter's guilty Kentucky-fried pleasure and the sumptuous banana split transcends regionalism.