The germ of an idea that would cultivate into the business model for Milagro Restaurante Mexicano Y Cantina sprouted not in a boardroom stuffed with investors but on the beaches of Mexico. Brothers Arturo and Andrés Anhalt had wanted to start their own restaurant and they aspired to bring the authentic Mexican flavours to Toronto. Since both brothers had worked in T.O. in unrelated fields, they had this gut feeling that the restaurant would be a success.

That day on the beach, Arturo and Andrés and their wives agreed to move their already busy lives to Canada. Armed with a business plan, the brothers and their wives made the move. The entire process would take time, however, so Arturo and Andrés continued with other Toronto-based jobs (Andrés would eventually get fired from Terroni) while they scouted for a restaurant location, interior design firm and, finally, staff.

That location would be a space in the Jefferson building on Mercer Street, freshly liberated from the short-lived Monte Cristo. After lusting over the wickedly-designed Drake Hotel, the brothers sought out the design firm responsible for the ambitious reno: 3rd Uncle Design Inc.

There was never a need to head-hunt for a manager; after reading Jennifer Bain's glowing exposé of the soon-to-open restaurant in the Toronto Star, David Minicucci (Nectar) was instantly at the (under-construction) door. "He simply walks in," says Arturo, "and says 'I'm going to work for you.' It was no more complicated than that. At that point, everything else fell into place."

Fast forward six months: Milagro Restaurante opens their well-designed doors to offer a hip version of Mexican flavours with all elements in check.