A Family Brings Together Families
by Keisha Williams, Outpost Contributor
Bertha Miranda's Mexican Restaurant and Cantina is a historical restaurant that has been owned by the Miranda family for 15 years. With its 100 percent cholesterol-free oils, Miranda's is still cooking up some good Mexican food around town.
The family owns two local Mexican establishments in the Reno/Sparks area, one on Mill Street and the other on Greenbrae Avenue.
The restaurant on Mill Street is a great place if you want hot, authentic dishes. After a recent visit, I found a family-oriented restaurant with a cozy, entertaining environment. Walking through the towering wooden doors, the restaurant's festive Mexican atmosphere accented by its surroundings is immediately apparent.
The Bertha Miranda's on Mill Street offers traditional Mexican food in a relaxing atmosphere. Photo by Keisha Williams. |
On weekends, Mariachi singers dance from table to table singing Mexican hits. During my visit one Saturday, the Mariachi singers sang the popular hit "La Bamba" for the table next to mine.
Teenage girls joined in the dance and were soon joined by other diners. This kind of atmosphere allows many to enjoy the great food and the quality time with their families.
Miranda's has a wide range of authentic and creative dishes to choose from. The menu is printed in both English and Spanish and includes such dishes as fajitas, tacos, enchiladas, corn and flour tortillas and beans and rice.
Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, there is also a wet bar in the front of the restaurant for guests waiting for their tables.
After being seated and viewing the colorful menu for 20 minutes, I noticed we had not yet received water or ordered our food. The entertainment takes your mind away from this situation for a while but you can't help but notice the slow service.
The restaurant was full on all three levels. The traffic at the door continued to pile up. We finally had ask the bus person to bring us some water to wash down our salsa and chips. After a long wait, the waiter arrived to take our order.
It was another 30 minutes before the food arrived, however. Our dinners were beautifully prepared with parsley and colorful fruit surrounding a hot platter. There was enough to feed two or three people.
The authentic Mexican setting makes Bertha Miranda's Mexican restaurant a great spot for dinner. Photo by Keisha Williams. |
The beef enchilada dinner ($7.45), which came with cheese and sour cream on top, melted in my mouth. The entree included rice and beans. The enchiladas were filled with ground beef and were topped with onions and parsley.
The food was tasty with many herbs and spices that made the enchiladas, rice and beans pass the food test.
But the service was a disgrace to the Miranda family name. The restaurant was busy, but I felt like one visit from the waiter was not asking too much. The waiter never checked back after our food was served.
Overall, the experience was relaxing and pleasant because of the cozy, entertaining atmosphere and the delicious dishes. The Mariachi singers really brought a unique quality to the restaurant. But the service could be a major revenue loss for this 15-year-old Mexican restaurant.
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366 Mill St. Reno 786-9697 or 2144 Greenbrae Ave. Sparks 356-1310 |
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HOURS: 10
a.m. to 10 p.m. daily |
Posted
April 9, 1998
Copyright 1998
Nevada Oupost