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Hello, Eaters! Mira Mira, at 401 N. 300 West in Salt Lake City’s Marmalade District — formerly known as Blue Copper 2000 — is a coffee shop that’s been given an elegant makeover.

Think white walls, a new interior mural of the cafe’s mermaid logo, simple wooden furniture and lots of green, for a clean, breezy look that’s influenced by owner Sean Mena’s Caribbean roots.

I had a nice chat with Mena at Mira Mira, where we talked about the meaning of his cafe’s name, and why sometimes you see espresso served with a tiny glass of sparkling water.

The origin story: Mena grew up in Heber City, but his dad is from Cuba, and his mom, who died in 2020, was from Puerto Rico. Mena goes to Puerto Rico yearly to visit family, and he said most of his relatives there are “heavy” coffee drinkers. He said he’s been drinking coffee since he was about 13, and his mom taught him how to use an espresso machine.

He said he really got into making coffee during the pandemic, when he was making it at home. During that time, he also applied to be a barista at Blue Copper 2000 and eventually became a manager.

Mena has had the concept of Mira Mira in his head for a long time, he said. He approached Patrick Andrews, the owner of the original Blue Copper on 900 South, and asked for advice on how to open his own shop. The two of them decided that Mena would revamp the Blue Copper 2000 space and partner with Andrews on the new cafe.

Mira Mira means “look, look” in Spanish. It’s a phrase little kids often say, and Mena would say it with his cousins when he was little, he said.

The vibe: Blue Copper 2000 was arcade-themed, with a lot of metal, black paint and neon, Mena said. But Mira Mira is full of gentle light, with an atmosphere that puts you at ease as soon as you walk in.

Mena said when he was growing up, his house was full of plants and wooden furniture, and he has brought a similar feel to Mira Mira. He said the cafe incorporates a lot of his mom’s style — she was an antique collector and had her own antique store — as well as influences from cafes in Puerto Rico. Look for a painting that belonged to Mena’s mom on the north wall by the window.

The menu: One of the biggest requests from folks in the neighborhood is they wanted Mira Mira to serve food, Mena said. The menu focuses on Puerto Rican handhelds like breakfast sandwiches cooked in a press, empanadillas (that’s not a typo; that’s what empanadas are called in Puerto Rico) and quesitos, which is a classic Puerto Rican pastry filled with a cream cheese mixture, then rolled and glazed, Mena said.

The coffee menu is mostly the same as Blue Copper’s — with espresso beverages, chai, matcha, that sort of thing — but with “a few tweaks,” Mena said. The drink I had is new (scroll down to read about it in “Coffee and Food of the Week”), and Mena added pour-over coffee made by hand to the menu.

The hours: Mira Mira is open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily. Another request from Marmalade dwellers is that they wanted a cafe that was open later, Mena said.

Live deliciously,

Kolbie

P.S. I want to hear from you: What is Utah’s food scene missing? Send your thoughts to food@sltrib.com.

Food News

Openings:

• Nomad Eatery is now open in downtown Daybreak at 5446 W. Center Field Drive, Suite 100, in South Jordan, according to a news release. The menu was created by chef Holly Cloyd, who’s known for her restaurant Nomad East in Salt Lake City’s Yalecrest neighborhood, and will feature local ingredients and items like burgers, pizza, sandwiches and salads, the release said.

• Jammy, a new brunch spot, is now open at 317 E. 900 South in Salt Lake City, next door to Loki Coffee. From what I’ve seen on social media, this restaurant serves beautifully presented brunch dishes like The Full Jam, which comes with a stack of pancakes, eggs, bacon, sausage, potatoes, English baked beans, roasted tomatoes, grilled halloumi, fruit, croissant loaves, and mini parfaits, all meant to be shared between two people.

• Trolley Coffee Company, at 602 E. 500 South in Trolley Square, is in its soft-opening phase, according to an Instagram post. This looks to be a cute coffee shop with drinks that include a huckleberry matcha, which I shall be ordering, thank you very much.

• 7 Brew, the national drive-thru coffee chain, has opened a new location in St. George at 3030 E. Panther Way, according to a news release. The St. George location is the brand’s sixth store in Utah.

Closings:

• Provisions, the “modern American craft kitchen” at 3364 S. 2300 East in Millcreek, is “closing this chapter” on July 3, after 12 years in business, an Instagram post said. “It’s hard to put into words how grateful we are for the support, the loyalty and the opportunity to serve this community over the years,” the post said, but added that “this isn’t the end.” I wonder what chef Tyler Stokes has up his sleeve?

• Jade’s Cafe in Heber City is now closed, according to an Instagram post. “We don’t own the real estate here, so the decision to stay was out of our hands, and the universe has other plans for us,” said the post, which added the owners want to find a new location.

• Has a restaurant opened or closed in your neighborhood? Let us know at food@sltrib.com.

Booze (and Drink!) News

• After the monthly meeting of the Utah Department of Alcoholic Beverage Services’ (DABS) liquor commission on June 25, Cosmica, the nationally recognized Italian restaurant in Salt Lake City’s Central Ninth neighborhood, has a full liquor license. The commission also approved four bar licenses and six full-service restaurant licenses.

Coffee & Food of the Week

When I visited Mira Mira, I ordered the breakfast sandwich with ham, egg and cheese, plus a beef empanadilla and an espresso configuration called Flight.

The sandwich was so good, made with an airy French bread that’s pressed till crispy on the outside and soft inside. The juicy ham, jammy egg yolk and melted cheese — plus housemade roasted red pepper mayo — was unctuous and satisfyingly rich. It did get a little messy to eat, but what a delicious mess it was. The zippy little salad that came alongside had some nice acid to break up all the fat in the sandwich.

This empanada/empanadilla might have been the best I’ve ever, ever had. The flavorful filling was juicy but not greasy, and the twisted crust along the top edge was delicate and crispy, not heavy or clunky. They’re made with Mena’s own recipe.

The Flight challenged my tastebuds a little bit, but I liked that it did. It’s a single shot of espresso, a single-shot macchiato (espresso “stained” with a bit of milk), and a small glass of sparkling water. I’ve never had just espresso without any hot water or milk, and wow, it’s potent. Mena said to think of the sparkling water as ginger at a sushi restaurant: a palate cleanser. It was nice to bounce among the three beverages, enjoying the characteristics of each.