When I told my dad that I was going to Mia with a bunch of friends, he crinkled his nose and told me that I live a lavish, sophisticated lifestyle (or something like that). Indeed, the general view of the restaurant, which is situated on the Commons between Petrune and Waffle Frolic, is that it is both fancy and expensive. To most, Mia appears to be the perfect place to “treat yo self.” However, these perceptions beg the question: does Mia actually live up to expectations? And if it is expensive, like everyone says it is, is it worth it? As I scrutinized the menu, took in the ambience, and fraternized with my buds, I kept these questions in the back of my mind.
The first thing that I noticed upon entering—something that I consider very highly when evaluating any dining experience—was the atmosphere exuded by the dim lighting, low ceilings, and smooth, unassuming music in the background. One thing that Mia definitely has going for it is its environment; it is comfortingly easy to fall into a calm mood while being surrounded by warm yellows and oranges and the low murmurs of the people inside. We arrived at 6:00, which was early for dinner, but even as people began to fill up the establishment, the noise level was always refreshingly tolerable. The music selection was tasteful, featuring jazzy tunes and rock classics at low enough volume for the songs to fade into the background, allowing for conversation while simultaneously maintaining a presence. Ambience: check.
When considering a restaurant like Mia, it is important to know what tapas are. Invented in Spain, tapas are essentially a series of appetizers that make up a meal. When you plan on ordering tapas, you should probably choose about two dishes per person, though the size depends on the food. For example, one member of our party ordered a $7 tapa—a warm tofu salad with peanut dressing—that was dismally small for the price. Really good tapas, in my opinion, should be presented in an elegant manner (which Mia does very well), but more important, be compact. By compact, I mean that each bite should be a small slice of heaven and that your goal there should not be to eat until you’re full; rather, you should experience a variety of sensory stimulations along the way. People should be able to eat until they are no longer hungry, and even a small dish should be worth it based on its taste. Because of this, tapas are a risky endeavor—a lot more rides on each individual bite.
Despite my high standards, I was neither disappointed nor hungry upon finishing the tapas that I shared with five friends. The first dish to be brought out contained sautéed Brussels sprouts with a miso glaze. Personally, I thought that each sprout was magnificent, if slightly undercooked. Next was vegetable samosas with mango-tamarind chutney. Those were delicious, and our group ended up polishing off the sauce after the samosas were all gone. The lotus root fritters did not disappoint either, their initial crunch giving way to an irresistible, starchy savoriness that blended well with chili tamarind sauce. The dahl—an Indian lentil dish with spinach—was bland and unobtrusive by itself, but it went well with the naan bread that we had ordered separately. Finally, the portabella mushroom satay with peanut sauce was probably my favorite dish of the night. The portion was the most substantial for the price (a mere $6), and after we finished the mushrooms, there was sweet cabbage left that, as a pleasant surprise, cleared my palate and left me with a feeling of general satisfaction.
If you would prefer one large plate over many small ones, Mia has the option of regular entrees, many of which involve sustainably harvested seafood with an Asian theme. At my table, the general response regarding these dishes was positive. The Tofu Gra Praw with snow peas and onion in a chili sauce was very tasty, and the lobster and seafood bouillabaisse was not too salty. One thing that was noted was that there seemed to be an overabundance of jalapeños in dishes where they were not welcome. However, the dishes remained innocuous for the most part, and the overall experience was a good one.
Was Mia a step into the life of an aristocrat? Well, not quite. Assuming that two tapas equals an entree, most of the entrees were around $16, which is not absurdly expensive for quality food. Certainly, the food was quality, and the environment in which we were eating was comfortable. The service was very quick and helpful. In the grand scheme of things, everyone who’s interested in taking a step out of their comfort zone should give Mia a try.