Dining After Hours In Port Chester
Got a craving for curry at a quarter to ten? Find yourself mooning for mussels at midnight?
Café Mirage is the area’s answer to all late night needs. Chef/owner Dave Haggerty burns the midnight oil even later these days—he serves after-hours diners (firemen, nurses, doctors and, of course, other restaurant industry people) his eclectic mix of Caribbean, Cajun, French and Asian-inspired fare until 2 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays (or would that be Saturdays and Sundays?).
Prince Edward Island mussels served marinieres-style may be a classic favorite, but my dinner companion and I would come back for the mussels “Bangkok,” served in a warm coconut milk bath with just a touch of heat.
Diners in search of heartier fare can dig into steaming bowls of andouille-spiked seafood gumbo, spicy Jamaican jerk chicken with black beans and rice, or a shell steak served with pommes frites. Pass on the “sounds-more-exciting-than-it-is” plantain crusted tilapia with mango salsa, which was bland. Opt instead for the sesame-crusted seared tuna—it’s good enough on its own, but made even more likeable thanks to a generous portion of ginger risotto.
The menu offers everything from a half-pound cheeseburger for $11 to farm-raised ostrich steak for $23; from the daily selections of raw oysters to the chef’s desserts of perennial favorites like chocolate mousse, crème brûlée and bread pudding. Some of the fare you eat here will be better than others, but it’s the kind of place you’ll keep coming back to.
What draws you back? Well, importantly, the food is generally pretty good. But it’s also just a nice, easy place to be. The casual, friendly atmosphere, easy attitude of servers and cheerful orange interior make this just the sort of place to go to unwind after a long day at work (whether the work ends at 6 or 11 p.m.) or to fuel that late-night hankering for hollandaise-topped pan-fried oysters.
CAFE MIRAGE
531 North Main St., Port Chester
(914) 937-3497
HOURS:
Lunch, Mon. to Fri. 12-6 pm
Dinner, Sun. to Tue. 6-12 pm, Wed. and Thurs. 6 pm-1 am, Fri. and Sat. 6 pm-2 am
PRICES:
Appetizers: $7-$11
Entrees: $17-$23
Desserts: $7-$8
