“I always wanted to make an Italian Majestique! And that’s why I opened Miracolo,” says Richard Holder, co-owner of the establishment.
Why Miracolo? “We were looking for a name that was a little funny, a little Italian, with a slightly Catholic leaning and a lot of self-deprecation. We immediately liked Miracolo a lot!”, he confides. Miracolo, which means miracle in Italian, is the renowned businessman’s third establishment on Saint-Laurent Boulevard.
A seasoned team
Partner in Holder, Brasserie Bernard, Galaxie, Majestique, Darling and now Miracolo, Richard is known to everyone in the restaurant industry. Designer Thomas Csano, who designed the decor, Alejandro Vega, executive chef of Darling, Majestique and Miracolo, and chef Pierre Morneau (ex-JJacques) complete the team of partners.
Miracolo is located in the former premises of the Prato pizzeria, on Saint-Laurent Boulevard, next to the famous Hebrew delicatessen Schwartz’s Deli and a few steps from the Majestique and the Darling.
Unique decor of Miracolo
Miracolo certainly has a family resemblance with its two big brothers, but with a distinct character. We can clearly feel the touch of Richard and Thomas, who worked closely together to create the decor. We notice the influence of director Wes Anderson (particularly of the film French Dispatch) and Italian films from the 1950s, in particular. Warm tones predominate in the motley decor, lit by large golden chandeliers, schoolhouse lamps and industrial pendant lights. “I love color palettes. When we look at our restaurants, I want the color palette of a fireplace; a tone of warmth,” explains Richard Holder. Catholic symbols are found almost everywhere: an impressive collection of statuettes of the Madonna, large candles and, the centerpiece of the decor, the imposing cabinet behind the bar which recalls a church sacristy. All the objects and furniture, from the trinkets to the discolored ceramic of the walls and columns, seem to have an experience, a story to tell us.
The whole is eclectic, but inviting and warm: the large bar counter and the long bench in the dining room with some 110 seats invite communion. The open kitchen also allows the cooks to be part of the great mass.
Note that unlike Majestique and Darling, which have a bar license, Miracolo has a restaurant license. So you can come as a family with your children! For the moment, the restaurant is open five evenings a week from 4 p.m. We plan to add the other two evenings in addition to lunches and brunches in the near future.
“I like ambiguity in the use of a place, I like that several people see a place for different reasons – café, restaurant or bar. I love being part of the neighborhood; so that people know that they can come by whenever they want,” muses the co-owner.
An Italian menu
After his training at ITHQ, Alejandro Vega did several internships in Italy and France, then worked at Jun I, Bouillon Bilk, Cadet and as a private chef. More recently, he took over the kitchens at Darling and Majestique, where he is now executive chef. It was at Cadet that he met his chef Pierre Morneau, who was until recently executive chef of Jjacques, one of our favorite addresses in Quebec.
Good Italian restaurants were lacking in the neighborhood, according to Richard Holder. “We’re not Italian, no one, but Alejandro has a background in cooking. I like Italian cuisine, their way of seeing things, quality ingredients, a cuisine that is rather less processed and based on the tasty side of the food,” he explains.
The menu is divided into seven sections: oyster bar, appetizers, vegetables, seafood, pastas, meats and desserts. Half of the menu will probably remain fixed: “We will find hits that we will keep on the menu forever,” specifies the co-owner. The other half will evolve over the seasons. The guideline is Italian with a North American touch. The chefs are inspired by traditional recipes, but with Quebec products, such as Clos-des-Roches cheese instead of Parmigianno Regianno. Favorite for the pastas and desserts, which will surely be among the favorites of the menu. From Friday to Sunday, the restaurant also offers brunch.
The dishes are offered at fair prices and designed for sharing. We feel a real desire to make cuisine that is both tasty and accessible. “I wanted a menu that pleases, that is accessible, that makes you want to come back,” summarizes Alejandro Vega. Please note, Miracolo is now open for lunch and also offers a very tempting brunch menu, available from Friday to Sunday!
Led by an experienced team, Miracolo brings a new option that was missing in the neighborhood. We have no doubt about the success of this new address!
Good discovery!
Written by Élise Tastet
Photographed by Alison Slattery
Last updated: June 13, 2024
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