Orsolya D.
Yelp
There is something very elegant about a wine bar- even the title 'bar wine' oozes decadence and makes one feel like they are about to embark on a posh experience. A wine bar is the perfect place for a romantic date, an elevated glass of wine or a Sunday brunch. For me, it was my birthday selection to grab some wine, charcuterie and birthday dessert in a comfortable but somewhat classy environment.
If you have no idea where Mirabelle is located; then you are not alone as finding the real estate is like looking for Waldo in the dark. Holding down the fort in the now defunct Bar One space at the intersection of Burbank/Whitsett in Valley Village; Mirabelle doesn't feature prominent signage/lighting and simply has their name painted mural-style on the store-front façade. This means that my birthday dining partner and I drove past several times, parked and even missed it on foot. Let's make you easier to find, shall we, Mirabelle?
Mirabelle is the brain child of David Gibbs and Nick Caballero - I don't know who these guys are but apparently they are big shots in the wine hospitality sector so they can be trusted. When we finally entered, we were welcomed by Zooey Deschanel's twin/doppelganger (I'm talking looks, mannerisms, voice). Although tempted to sit in the charming, garden-esque back patio complete with porch lights; we chose to sit in the dimly-lit bar interior (which was a bad choice because our food barely fit onto the tiny table - oops).
What is the ambiance of Mirabelle? Think: romantic meets hipster bar (but not trying too hard), amazing indie music, beautifully backlit bar and Edison light bulbs highlighting wood accents. Basically, Mirabelle is like Los Feliz/Silver Lake dumped a wine bar into the Valley. Small details also excel at Mirabelle such as the purse hook underneath the table. Zooey (I forget her real name so we will address her as Zooey) deposited dinner menus with a smile as Mirabelle's kitchen is open until 10pm.
Mirabelle is a wine bar after all so aside from craft beers and cocktails; expect an extensive rosé, white, red and sparkling wine offering from various global regions. My only qualm is that the menu didn't describe the flavor notes and Zooey was unable to answer my questions regarding such so I went with the safe choice of a bottle of my favorite wine- malbec: La Pierre Malbec from France (2021). We also chose a glass of Rhone Blend red from France (2006). For my birthday meal, we decided on small plates and chose Kennebec Frites (fries served with ketchup and truffle aioli - $10), 3 Cheese and 2 protein Charcuterie (served with pickles, fig jam - $38) and a dozen oysters which was listed on the brunch menu but Zooey said they can serve us even in the evening.
The wine and plates arrived quickly with Zooey allowing me as the birthday girl to sample the wine first and it was absolutely divine with a deep flavor and smooth finish. The Rhone Blend was equally delicious with fruity notes that burst at the very end with a surprising touch. But let's talk about this food! The dozen oysters were large and absolutely perfect. I assume they were saltwater because there was none of that east coast brine. The quality, freshness and flavor were out of this world. The champagne sauce was INSANELY delicious and I could have drunk that from a bottle. It's mind-blowing to have such delicious oysters in the SFV rather than along the coast. The charcuterie board was tasty although I don't know the exact cheeses and cured meats involved because Zooey (nor the menu) told us. I think one was a camembert or brie, a goat cheese and a manchego plus a salami and prosciutto. The fig jam was a perfect accompaniment and not too sweet. However, it was definitely small, limited and way overpriced at $38. I've gotten much better extensive charcuterie at other LA eateries. The fries were also small in both portion and actual fry pieces; BUT they were perfectly crisp and delicious and the truffle aioli is orgasmically good!
We opted for birthday dessert and my only Celiac-friendly option was the Persimmon Panna Cotta (served with persimmon reduction, toasted hazelnuts and graham cracker dust which was omitted for my Celiac - $12). The presentation of the dessert was gorgeous with persimmon slices, mint and a lit birthday candle. Matching the beauty was the light, refreshing panna cotta (not a sweet overload) and excellent persimmon reduction.
I must stress how amazing Zooey's customer service is: she is friendly, personable and truly exudes that Zooey Deschanel vibe. She is just someone you WANT to know. Only flaw was her not knowing the wine offerings but that isn't a big deal.
Mirabelle is easy to miss but it is worth the effort: the ambiance is amazing, the wine list is extensive, customer service is top-tier and the food is a delight albeit a tad overpriced. Mirabelle is the definition of hidden gem in the Valley and I already have solid plans to return in a few days!