FOOD FORTRESS

Whether you’re drawn to a casual menu, expertly crafted cocktails, a view without an equal, or all of the above, Miro’s is ready to touch all five of your senses and then some.

ARTICLE BY VANELIS RIVERA | PHOTOGRAPHY BY ANDREW BAILEY

Fort Miro, a late eighteenth-century Spanish outpost named after Governor Esteban Miró, served as a stronghold for the settlers of the Ouachita River valley. The construction was prompted by Ouachita District commandant Don Juan Filhiol, and its final enclosure was completed in February 1791 in what is now part of northeast Louisiana. This bastion of Monroe’s history acts as namesake to one of downtown Monroe’s most scenic dine-in experiences. Whether you’re drawn to a casual menu, expertly crafted cocktails, a view without an equal, or all of the above, Miro’s is ready to touch all five of your senses and then some.

Already home for two frequented restaurants, the Ouachita Riverhouse has met its share of food transport over the years. A meat packing facility circa 1915, the building was also used as a warehouse and for residential purposes. The building’s first renovation for restaurant use included utilizing the building of an outside covered deck and garden patio area, where the bricks used were salvaged from other local buildings. Its original brick walls were maintained, while the bar is made of beams salvaged from the mezzanine area of the building. Since December 2017, this panoramic den of history sat with vacant halls until Roy Arthur and his business partner Lindsay Leavitt, also the owners of Portico, were inspired to write a new chapter into the local landmark’s history.

If you haven’t made your way to 201 Walnut Street, then what you’re missing out on is a location that sells itself. A spacious courtyard provides an expansive view of downtown Monroe and the Ouachita River. At night, you can dine riverside in lawn-style chairs and gas fire pit tables under the stars and close to the glimmer of light dancing on the ripples of river water. Rail-side seating is closer to a pergola-esque canopy, decorated with edison bulbs, a brick fountain, and furnished with wide-leaved foliage; the enclosed area mimics the intimacy of a secret garden. Elevate your view and lounge at the exterior bar deck. Wood floors hold bar-style seating, where a stand-out rolling caster dining table and industrial-style light fixtures tie well with the casual-chic aesthetic. The exterior of the old railway house is painted a steel gray, as if an ode to the tracks that run alongside its outdoor area. The inside also holds glimpses of antiquity with splashes of modern accents. Hard features like distressed brick walls partner with exposed timber columns are juxtaposed with softer accents like minimal chandeliers with a metal chain draping, nostalgic black and white photos of downtown Monroe printed on canvas, and round mirror adornments.

The main dining area and bar is ready to receive football fans! Their zigzag bar top is illuminated by soft natural light from six panoramic windows that open up to the wood deck, accentuated by modern bar light pendants with a copper light glow. Flat screens eighty-two-inch and seventy-inch televisions mount the walls of the bar and booth-side of the dining hall. Diversely stocked, the bar holds cocktails and drink specials expertly crafted by one of the top five bartenders of the Delta, Wendy Ruth Borrow. In the restaurant business for fifteen years, she moved to Monroe from New Orleans where she also worked as a bartender. When Arthur scouted her to take charge of the Miro’s bar, she “jumped at the opportunity,” mainly because “it’s one of the best locations in town,” she explains. She was hired a month shy of the restaurant opening, so to prepare, she did some quick and refreshing research. Combing through the bars and restaurants of Monroe, she scoured cocktails in order to cater to the Monroe area and also to set her drink specials apart, all while complimenting Miro’s casual Americana menu. She found that strong and fruity was the consensus for most women drinking socially, while men opted for a bold whiskey drink.

These results inspired cocktails and drink specials alike. “We have specials every week,” she says. Fireball Fridays include specials on their frozen drinks. The Miro’s margarita is made with Sauza Giro tequila and DeKuyper triple sec, and their increasingly popular Peach Bellini is a breezy mix of DeKuyper Peachtree Schnapps Liqueur and Cruzan Rum. For those with a stronger palette, happy hour is all weekend long! Borrow swears by her Old Fashioned and Classic Sazerac, which is a local New Orleans variation of a cognac drink. Hers balances rye whiskey, bitters, absinthe that rims the glass, and lemon zest. Sundays at Miro’s arrives with six bottomless mimosa variations: regular (orange juice and champagne), honeysuckle-lemonade, pear, coconut and Red Bull, Tiffany Blue (made with lemonade), and blood orange. If vodka is your spirit of choice, Borrow recommends her Bloody Mary, a recipe she brought from New Orleans. Unique in the specials is one that nobody else in town can claim—Fireball train shots! Whenever a train comes by, as long as the train is moving, you can order a Fireball shot for a dollar. “It gets the crowd going. It’s almost like they wait on the train,” enthuses Borrow. Patrons have been known to holler in unison “Train!” and “Train shots!” as soon as the howling whistle of the cylinder locomotive etches forth. They’ve been known to sell thirty at a time, so make sure to raise your hands promptly and enjoy the revelry.

Miro’s up-front menu suites the establishment’s easy-going ambiance. Standout appetizers include the Fried Green Tomato (fried green tomatoes topped with crab meat and creole hollandaise), their newly revamped Floating Tray (assortment of gourmet cheeses, salami, prosciutto, grapes, walnuts, olives, gorgeously ensembled on a large German-style pretzel), and the Totchos (tater tots, grilled chicken, jalapeno, pico de gallo, cheddar cheese, queso, sour cream, and guacamole). Their gourmet-style burgers have been getting the most shoutouts on their Facebook page, more than likely due to the popularity of two-for-one burger Thursdays. “The Morning Barge burger is the bomb!” reads one of the restaurant’s Facebook reviews.“Hands down the best burger I’ve ever eaten, and I’m forty-two years old. I’ve had a lot of burgers from Louisiana to South Dakota!” All their burgers are made with a fresh eight ounce patty, fully dressed, served with French fries, and sandwiched between a crispy golden bun, stylishly branded with a fleur-de-lis. The Barge is characterized by cheddar cheese, bacon, jalapeno jam, fried egg, tomato, jalapeno aioli, and onion straws. Arthur is fond of the Hawaiian, which features bacon, pepper jack cheese, sliced grilled pineapple, jalapeno jam, lettuce, and tomato. Out on the Patio has the southern touch of pimento cheese, fried green tomato, lettuce, and bacon. You can make any of their nine burgers a keto burger for fifty cents less and/or upgrade your burger to Wagyu beef for a few more bucks. If you join them on a Wednesday evening, prepare for a wingsday special that includes wine and drink specials. At Miro’s, Sundays are for brunching! Try their Loaded Biscuits (fried eggs, pepper jack cheese, bacon, fried green tomato, and topped with sausage gravy), Barbeque Shrimp and Grits served with French bread, Chicken & Waffles topped with syrup and served with tater tots, or their kid-approved Pancakes ‘n Strawberries.

Borrow describes Miro’s as a “laid back, fun, casual place for people to go, where you don’t have to feel like you have to dress up.” Whether you make Miro’s your pit stop after work or gather fashionably with a group of friends on the weekend, you’re welcome to come as you are as long as you bring a large appetite with you. Borrow is proud to see well-rounded groups of people congregating for the sake of a good time. Topping off what makes Miro’s a quality dining experience is their live music on Thursdays and Fridays. An elevated stage has been frequented by local favorites and up-and-comers like Joe Haydel, Josh Love, and Briana Calhoun. The interactions of diners when there is live music becomes more energetic, says Love, adding that “people come out of their shell.” The musicians tend to talk to the crowd, transforming the room into an interactive collective versus groups separated by tables. The acoustics of the room and the strategic placement of the stage in a corner of the main dining hall allows crisp acoustics that don’t overpower ongoing conversations.

Miro’s is a testament to what Monroe can offer, especially in a growing downtown area. As a Monroe native, Arthur supports the locally-owned restaurants in Miro’s circumference. His belief is that local success will only strengthen the area. “You want to be friends with your competitors because that’s what downtown needs,” he says. So if you find yourself driving riverside in downtown Monroe and have some time to enjoy the view, look for the Miro’s logo, personalized with the railway bridge and a railroad nail. As Borrow suggests, “No need to do your makeup. Throw your hair up and let’s go!”

Miro’s is open: Tuesdays and Wednesdays between 11 AM and 9 PM; Thursdays between 11 AM to 10 PM; Fridays and Saturdays between 11 AM and 11 PM; Sundays between 10:30 AM to 3 PM. Follow them on Facebook to learn more about upcoming specials. Call them at (318) 855-6234 to ask about their private dining room, perfect for birthdays, weddings, and business meetings.