Newmarket late-night hotspot Mia’s Bar & Lounge opens to rave reviews

NEWMARKET — A new bar, which its owners hope will become the town’s premier “late-night spot,” has officially opened its doors.

Owners Dave and Maribel Hernandez described the reception at Mia’s Bar & Lounge’s soft opening two weekends ago as “surreal.” Initially planned to run from 4 to 8 p.m., the event was extended to midnight on both days due to the overwhelming turnout.

“People just kept coming,” Maribel recalled. “We left the flag up and said, ‘Let’s do it.’ Until probably 9 or 10 p.m., it was packed … we got late-night crowds from other restaurants that closed, and their staff came over to hang out.”

The Hernandezs, who purchased the 1,500-square-foot space at 156 Main Street , between Jade Garden and Main Street Laundromat, in November, celebrated their grand opening on Thursday, July 25. Mia’s Bar & Lounge will be open Thursdays to Mondays from 4 p.m. to midnight.

The lounge features brown leather sofas that complement the abstract-painted walls behind the bar. Softly glowing black light fixtures create an upscale yet intimate ambiance.

“There’s been a lot of people that come in and sit at the bar, then some friends show up, and they move over to the couch, and they bring over chairs, and there’s like 15 people sitting around,” said Maribel. “That's exactly what we wanted. People are hanging out, chit-chatting … we had people the other day that left and then came back.”

The Hernandezs have been longtime residents of the town. Maribel, raised in Newmarket, described opening her own bar in her hometown as “surreal.” The name “Mia,” she explained, is a play on the Spanish word for “mine.”

“It’s cool to see people that I haven’t seen in so long show up,” Maribel said. “It’s cool to be a part of the community, knowing other local people – other restaurants (owners) are coming in and sitting down and being like, ‘Hey, welcome.’”

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What's on the menu at Mia’s Bar & Lounge

The Hernandezs said they wanted to highlight their Puerto Rican and Caribbean background in the menu, offering an eclectic combination of traditional delicacies and American classics for the drinks and food menu.

Aside from the classic nachos and mozzarella sticks, appetizers include ceviche (a mix of seafood marinated in lemon and lime juice) and empanadas (three chicken or cheese empanadas served with pink sauce).

For main dishes, Dave said their mofongo (mashed fried plantains, garlic and pork crackling drizzled with Spanish herb sauce served with yellow rice and beans) is a crowd favorite.

Other dishes on the menu include mac and cheese and quesadillas.

Want to end the night on a sweet note? Try the caramel flan (creamy custard topped with caramel and strawberry garnish) or the Tres Leche cake (light sponge cake soaked in three milks, topped with cream and fruits of the season).

With a list of cocktails and mocktails, Maribel said they hope to attract returning customers with their exotic drinks.

Since their soft opening, she said their Guava Paloma (Patron, guava syrup, grapefruit juice, lime juice, seltzer) “has been a huge hit.”

Other favorites include Passion Fruit Punch (Captain Morgan, Amaretto, pineapple juice, passion fruit juice) and Mama Mia’s Spicy Margarita (reposado, triple sec, jalapenos, lime juice, orange juice, sour mix).

Maribel said their mocktail selections include Wild For You (coconut water, muddled mint and lemon, Sprite, strawberry syrup) and Blood Orange Spritzers (ginger beer, blood orange juice, lemon juice).

“We made sure that they’re still cute,” said Maribel, referring to the mocktails. “It’s not like just an orange juice. It’s cute, and looks fancy, so you can join in that photo and have your mocktail stick out instead of sitting around with a Coke.”

With a team of six staff members, all hailing from Newmarket, the Hernandezs are hoping for a “steady” crowd. Dave emphasized Mia’s Bar & Lounge is a space for everyone.

“We want to make sure this is what people were expecting; we don’t want to let anyone down,” he said. “We’ve put a lot of love and time into this place, and we want people to enjoy it. Our goal is to make it the new spot in town … maybe even attract crews from UNH.”

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This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Newmarket late-night hotspot Mia’s Bar & Lounge opens to rave reviews