We received a complimentary meal in order to facilitate this review.   All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Mimi’s Cafe has been a favorite of my family’s for decades, and I’ve shared our love for all things corn chowder and special seasonal menus in the past.

You can read some of the past posts here:

Tastes of Home

Mother’s Day Menu

Fresh Summer Catch Menu

When telling my eldest daughter where we were headed for dinner, her immediate response was “YAY! BREAD!’ because that bread basket is something we all dream about.  But there are brand new flavors that will be fulfilling your fall fantasies.  The new Mimi’s Cafe menu features Samuel Adams sauces, making Sam Adams the new fall flavor you’ll be falling for.

Our evening began much to our eldest’s delight with a basket of bread and drinks.  Now that our kids are a little bit older, taking them out to restaurants is getting easier and easier.  There’s hope, parents of young children.  They will sit still at restaurants.  They will try new foods (and they’ll even share with you if you ask nicely).  Yet, Poppy’s only 4 so she still appreciates a good coloring page and a cup with a lid.  Our super sweet waitress even brought over a stash of her granddaughter’s gel pens.

We decided to order a variety of menu items so we could share both the new seasonal offerings and some old favorites.  It was a great plan because it meant we all got to try selections; however, when we first took  bites we realized that sharing any of the Samuel Adams menu options was going to be such a challenge.  Everything was so yummy!

The new menu includes:

• 10 oz Bone-In Pork Chop with Samuel Adams^® Glaze, served with potatoes au gratin and fresh broccoli.
• Brisket Ciabatta Sandwich with melted Monterey jack cheese, red onions and Samuel Adams sauce, served with a side of french fries.
• Chicken Ciabatta Sandwich with Monterey jack cheese, green leaf lettuce, Roma tomatoes, pesto mayonnaise and Samuel Adams sauce with a side of french fries.
• Loaded Brisket Mac & Cheese with penne pasta, bacon, and brisket tossed in melted cheddar cheese and topped with a crispy panko Parmesan crust.

There’s a malty sweetness of the Samuel Adams sauces.  Added to seriously delicious things like mac and cheese loaded with bacon and brisket, it’s a meal deserving of its own season. But the seasonal Samuel Adams won’t last all year long.  You’ve got to grab your pork chop and the most amazing au gratin potatoes by November 11th!

Find your nearest Mimi’s Cafe location here  and celebrate fall with the new king of the season, Samuel Adams.

I received a complimentary meal to facilitate this review.  Please see my Disclosure Policy for more information.

It’s been all about family time this summer.  Even when my two eldest children were away a sleep away summer camp, my husband and I turned all of our attention to our little one to ensure she also had spectacular vacation memories.  After all of the picnics, water parks, and play dates (which we loved), it felt really good to be able to sneak out for dinner with just my husband and myself.  To celebrate the lasting summer season, we indulged in the fresh flavors of the new seasonal menu at our local Mimi’s Cafe.

It’s been a favorite of ours for years.  You can check out past visits here and here.

Mimi’s Fresh Summer Catch Menu

When we arrived at the local restaurant, we were thrilled to step into the AC after this crazy SoCal heat wave.  The feelings of comfort continued as we were seated in one of our favorite booths along the brick-lined walls.  It’s French-inspired comfort, perfect for family dinners or date nights.  Our darling waitress went over the new menu items, which we knew we needed to try.  Why is it that pineapple instantly makes it feel like vacation?

Check out the season Fresh Summer Catch Menu items: 

• Tropical Shrimp Ceviche: Grilled shrimp, Mimi’s handmade pineapple salsa, diced tomato, cilantro and fresh lime juice served with warm, house-made tortilla chips. $9.49
• Citrus Chicken Salad: Diced lemon-grilled chicken, avocado, mandarin oranges, chopped walnuts and feta cheese tossed in red wine shallot dressing with mixed greens. $10.99
• Summer Shrimp Salad: Two grilled shrimp skewers on a bed of mixed greens with grilled pineapple, mandarin oranges and strawberries finished in red wine shallot dressing. $13.29
• Hawaiian Mahi-Mahi: Seared mahi-mahi topped with Mimi’s handmade pineapple salsa, served with green beans and rice. $16.49
• Key West Lime Pie: Sweet and tangy authentic Florida key lime pie with a granola crust, topped with whipped cream and granola crumbles. $7.79

Since my daughter and I are vegetarians, we don’t always have meat at home.  When we do, it’s not often as gorgeously prepared and presented as the Tropical Shrimp Ceviche.  Light and fresh ceviche with shrimp, pineapple, and avocado served with tortilla chips was a light way to kick off the meal.

Matt ordered the tropical fish dish — the Hawaiian Mahi-Mahi.  Since he loved the ceviche, the fish topped with pineapple salsa was a great next course.

I opted for the Citrus Chicken Salad with avocado, mandarin oranges, walnuts, and feta.  I opted to leave the chicken off, but the generous toppings made the salad feel special and quite filling.  When you’ve got the right dressing, like the red wine shallot dressing, and yummy toppings, a salad like the Citrus Chicken Salad is downright divine. In fact, the meal was so delightful we didn’t even have room for dessert.

However, a cup of coffee and a slice of key lime pie sounds like a fabulous way to celebrate another night out with my husband.  If you’re thinking the same thing, I’d suggest ordering a Pineapple Upside-Down Muffin also.  Sharing dessert is seriously overrated!

If you’re looking to celebrate summer one delightful dinner at a time, head over to your local Mimi’s Cafe to catch the Fresh Summer Catch.  But don’t wait until the temperatures dip.  The seasonal menu is available now through September 5th.

What flavors of summer are your favorites? Share in the comments!

From French Pot Roast to Provencal Veggie Pasta, the menu at Mimi’s Café offers the comforts of home for all who dine there.  I had an opportunity to check out the new food offerings at my local Mimi’s, and it brought back so many great memories.  Explore the scrumptious American-French dishes now being served at Mimi’s and make some new memories of your own.

I received a complimentary meal in order to facilitate this review.  Please read my disclosure policy for more information.

Growing Up with Mimi’s Cafe

Our local Mimi’s Café was where my family celebrated birthdays growing up.  I still sing the Mimi’s birthday song to my sisters on their special days.  “Do we have a birthday here?  Yes, we have a birthday here! Birthday where? Birthday here. Mimimimi….”  

This fabulous family photo is at least ten years old, as my nieces and nephews are teeny tiny and none of my own children were born.

I will always have a special place in my heart for Mimi’s Café, buttermilk spice muffins, and the dirt cup chocolate pudding dessert.  It may have been intended for the kids, but who doesn’t love a gummy worm?

Heritage Menu

A great restaurant knows a menu must evolve.  Throughout the years, we’ve seen many versions of the menu at Mimi’s Café.  Currently, the café is offering their Heritage Menu full of fan favorites that have returned to the kitchen.

As Mimi’s Café is nostalgic for me, seeing these old favorites come back is a reason to celebrate.

Mimi’s Café is also offering 20 new items.  Getting the insider’s take, I asked the waitress her personal favorites.

Must-Try Menu Items

• French Pot Roast Slowly braised beef simmered with carrots, mushrooms and pearl onions
• Hibachi Plate Choice of salmon, shrimp, or chicken with Asian vegetables tossed in a honey teriyaki glaze and served with long-grain rice
• Chicken and Shrimp Jambalaya Shrimp, chicken and Andouille sausage, red and green peppers, and onions in a French Basque region inspired tomato sauce with your choice of penne pasta or long grain rice
• Roasted Chicken Croque Monsieur Pulled roasted chicken and caramelized onions on grilled sourdough topped with Mornay sauce and Swiss. Comes with your choice of French Fries, Mixed Fruit or Petite House Salad

Since I’m a vegetarian, I selected the Provencal Veggie Pasta.  Our helpful waitress requested that it be made with vegetable stock instead.  The dish featured roasted zucchini, squash, eggplant, mushrooms, artichokes, onions, grape tomatoes and pasta.

Aside from the fabulous flavors listed above, I was thrilled to see the Mimi’s Mix & Match available at dinner named the Mimi’s Mix & Match Trio.  That’s right, can’t pick just one side? Choose two!  Select a petite sandwich or salad, then choose a side or soup.  I won’t tell if you opt to forgo a side and grab dessert instead.

Since the menu is brand new, I was thrilled to be able to sample a variety of options.  My husband and I started with the Trio of Appetizers–Hand-breaded Chicken Tenders, lightly Fried Zucchini and Warm Spinach Artichoke Dip with house-made tortilla chips and served with ranch and buffalo sauce.  The zucchini spears were covered in cornmeal, making for a much lighter coating than other fried zucchini.

Another yummy way to try out your favorites is to order a trio of smaller portions of the desserts.  Normally dessert isn’t something I’m willing to share but after such a filling meal, I agreed.  We ordered the French Silk Slab Pie (oh.my.chocolatey.goodness), Crème Brulee Cheesecake Slab Pie, and Chocolate Chip Croissant Bread Pudding.

Nothing goes better with dessert than a hand-crafted coffee, like the Pumpkin Spice Latte from the seasonal menu.

Mimi’s Café offers American-French cuisine at reasonable prices.  The dishes are both fresh and filling and served within a comfortable environment, perfect for any celebration.  You can find your local café here. You won’t be disappointed if you choose one of the 20 new offerings or your long-time favorite.

Have you ever been to a Mimi’s Café?  Share your favorite dish!