By Pete Smith

With the opening of Miracle Sushi and Modern Asian Cuisine restaurant at the Shops at Providence on Old Meridian Street across the street from Meijer, the city finally has the restaurant it’s been searching for.

Equal parts urban cool and uniquely Carmel, Miracle has combined the freshest sushi available with a distinctive menu of modern Asian entrees to create a one-of-a-kind restaurant that only a local owner could.

And its location on Old Meridian Street provides ample parking without loosing the feel of being a big city destination.

When the Hwang family, owners of the Fishers Korean restaurant E. Miracle, announced they were closing their restaurant on Allisonville Road, they said they hoped to have a new Carmel restaurant open in early 2014.

“So many of our customers drove over here from Carmel,” said Sean Hwang at the time. “We just thought we would bring our restaurant to them.”

It took a little bit longer to build out, but it was worth the wait.

Decorated with a tasteful blue-gray and black décor, the restaurant features a full bar highlighted by a varied wine and sake selection and a series of custom martinis – but it’s the sushi bar that has early customers raving.

That’s because Miracle’s fish is sashimi-grade and never frozen. It’s flown in several times a week and packed in dry ice to make sure it’s of the highest quality.

“I can go to the sushi bar or go in the kitchen and eat the fish right there – that’s how fresh it is,” Hwang said.

Miracle alternates menus between lunch and dinner, with lunch costing between $10-$20 and dinner averaging $20-$30 per person, Hwang estimated.

But it’s the uniqueness of the menu that really stands out. And when considering the alternating specials, it’s possible to eat here for months and never try the same meal twice.

Where else would you find mung bean kimchi pancakes, crispy roasted quail or handmade dumplings that combine jasmine rice, sausage, chive yogurt sauce and golden raisin chutney all on one menu?

And who could resist a banana spring roll, ginger chocolate ganache and red chili mango sorbet on streusel for desert.

It’s the unique menu and high-quality ingredients that has provided the new restaurant multiple repeat customers despite only opening its doors with little fanfare on May 30.

“I wanted to bring the food to the next level,” said the 29-year-old Hwang, who said he wants his restaurant to define what modern Asian cuisine means. “We tried to offer something that no one has ever done before but that won’t scare people away.”

With that in mind, Miracle also offers burgers, ribs and salads that can appeal to people more suited to American fare.

“Our whole menu has been designed by a chef. Everything is great,” Hwang said. “It just depends on what people like to eat.”

And even the music stands out and creates a perfect ambiance. It’s never stale because a host at the restaurant updates it nightly.

“His dream is to be a producer,” Hwang said with a smile.

Hwang said he works to create a family atmosphere among his employees and that he couldn’t have created the restaurant without the help of Chef Jon-Michael Gioe and Master Sushi Chef InQ Hwang.

He and his family clearly put a lot of time into the restaurant – it’s no miracle. So why the name?

“Because that’s the way the food tastes,” Sean Hwang said.

For more information visit www.miracleindy.com or call 810-1737. Reservations are recommended.