Come for the Bread, Then Leave
I write this review with a heavy heart. Cafe Miranda was presented to me by a friend who raved about the place. My expectations, therefore, were high. Unfortunately, the problem with high expectations is that, when dashed, the experience feels so much more disappointing. I'll try to boil it down for you. The bread gratis was good. The olive oil was even better. After the bread, though, the experience made a turn for the worse. The over-ambitious menu made for a lack of focus in the kitchen. The calamari appetizer was overcooked and greasy. The entree was, oddly enough, both overcooked and undercooked. To explain, the chicken was dry and obviously cooked at too high a temperature while the shrimp was not cooked fully through. Strange, in my opinion. The dessert was o.k. but, since the coffee order was forgotten by the waitress, proved an overall letdown. To that point, the service, was quite sub-par. Often overlooked, my water glass remained empty most of the meal and I spent several anxious moments wondering if my waitress would ever reappear. One final thought, there appeared to be friends of the owners in the cafe at the time I dined. Because of the relationship with the owners, the friends took it upon themselves to be loud and obnoxious. In addition, they literally ran amuck about the dining room spaces. As a result, my opinion is that, if you come at all, come for the bread, then leave.    [05 Nov 2004 13:17:03]

Food:    Service:    Ambiance:    Overall: 
Recommended Dishes: Bread and Water (if you can get it)

     ­carolincamden   

You kidding me?
Visiting friends in Maine, they selected Cafe Miranda as a dining feature on our trip.

It was, and is, one of the most outstanding dining experiences I have encountered.

Glance at the menu;

http://www.cafemiranda.com/CMmenu.pdf

and then watch from the seats at the counter, overlooking the food prep area, to appreciate the skill and passion poured into each unique dish.

The secret to the delectable entrees appears to be the chefs skill at using the 700 degree brick oven and a finely honed flair for seasoning.    [03 Oct 2006 16:16:24]

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Recommended Dishes: Lork Poin....

     ­Metacomet_Tucson   

A terrific place
We love this place! Sometimes it's too hot or too noisy or too crowded, but we love it. The food is splendid and original and simple. There's another famous restaurant in Rockland which is so pretentious that it's positively disgusting. It also is noisy and crowded. Take your pick! We like Miranda's    [12 Jul 2007 19:20:16]

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Recommended Dishes: homemade pasta and goat cheese

     ­Anonymous, Wolfeboro NH   

Consistently Excellent!
We've been eating at Cafe Miranda as often as we can for more than a decade. It never disappoints, and it holds up against our locals in Soho, New York City, extremely well. Can't wait to go back!

Never had a bad dish here.    [15 Sep 2007 20:48:41]

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Recommended Dishes: Salad Mexicale, 50mph Tomatoes, Any Type of Polenta, Lamb Wowie, Japanese Rice Bowl, 'Kills a Caesar'

     ­Anonymous, New York   

Best in mid-coast Maine
I love the food, place, people, choices, vegetarian friendly menu, kid friendly experience and the obvious passion for good food.    [04 Jun 2008 12:08:31]

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Recommended Dishes: Fries in a salad? What more could you want? Any of the salads, pasta, seafood and fish... you pick - it'll be great.

     ­jcd, Rockland   

I went in a hater and left converted
I was massively skeptical the first time my wife convinced me to eat at Cafe Miranda. I'd heard the dining room was small, packed with boisterous customers, and you were charged through the nose for average food. Boy, was I ever wrong.

Fans of the Anthony Bourdain, Gordon Ramsay, Mario Batali approach to food but who can't afford Michelin 4 star prices will LOVE Cafe Miranda. The chef has a fetish for simple, fresh (read local) ingredients prepared in inventive ways that highlight the quality of the ingredients and the skill of the cooks. Its December and you want hearty sausages with mash and gravy so homemade it makes you cry with joy? You got it. Its August and you want to eat fresh Maine seafood with an expertly paired (and very reasonable) muscadet? You got it. The menu is huge, to be sure, but the energetic flair and chutzpah that informs the epic food selections infects the whole place and makes for a great meal.

After traveling Europe and the United States (and eating handsomely wherever I go), I can honestly say that his place is one of my favorite spots, anywhere. Highly recommended.    [11 Jun 2008 18:49:39]

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Recommended Dishes: Anything at brunch, anything seasonal

     ­Dan B, Rockland, Maine