By THÉRÈSE MARGOLIS

For those who didn’t manage to score a ticket last week for the fall tour of Mexican pop crooner Luis Miguel (or didn’t want to fork up the 10,000-pesos-a-seat price tag), the new Sing restaurant in Mexico City’s happening Zona Rosa held a surprise, intimate, standing-room-only, live mini concert of Luis Miguel look-alike-sing-alike José Eyembac (considered to be the best Luis Miguel impersonator in the country) in its upstairs piano bar during its grand opening on Thursday, May 18.

The new restaurant, which had an unofficial soft opening last month, had a packed crowd of both Luis Miguel fans and foodie aficionados for the gala event, which included a three-course meal created by chef Edgar Trejo, as well as an hour-long performance by Eyembac faithfully rendering some of El Sol de México’s greatest hits.

Among the songs Eyembac belted out were “La Media Vuelta,” “Culpable o No — Miéntame Como Siempre” and “Sabor a Mi.”

Pulsating neon lights and geometric mirrored walls and ceilings in both Sing’s dining hall and piano bar helped set the mood for a “Ya Nunca Más” night to remember.

The evening’s menu was a sampling of the restaurant’s extraordinary bill of fare, crafted to reflect a dynamic fusion of contemporary cuisines and flavors from around the globe, and began with a flamed coconut and lemongrass broth of fresh seafood simmered with a aromatic blend of curries, fresh coriander, ginger and turmeric.

Served inside a carved coconut shell and lit on fire at the table, this Thai-style bouillabaisse was a sumptuous concoction of sweet, sour and spicy that both inflamed and delighted the tongue.

Next up on the inaugural meal was the main course, a crusted tuna fillet wrapped in a tempura-fried nori seaweed and accompanied by slivers of soy-and-citrus-soaked Michoacán avocado.

This East-meets-Mexico dish was a delight of unexpected, lush flavor matchings that invited the guests to linger.

But since the Luis Miguel impersonator was due to take the stage in Sing’s upstairs piano bar, the hosts suggested that the dessert course be served at the not-so-speakeasy instead.

Already filled to the brim before the insert of the dinner guests, the piano bar came alive with excitement as bright fruity cocktails and decadent burnt yogurt cheesecake covered with ripe strawberries heralded in the live performance.

And for those who missed out on the almost-Luis Miguel concert, Sing, located at Varsovia 31 in Colonia Juárez, will be offering live entertainment by a variety of Mexican talent every Thursday through Saturday at 8 p.m. in its piano bar.

And throughout the entire week, the restaurant will continue to amaze with what promises to be a one-of-a-kind menu as diversified and seductive as Luis Miguel himself.

Sing is open daily, Monday through Wednesday from 1 p.m. to midnight, Thursday through Friday from 1 p.m. to 2 a.m., and Sunday from 1 a.m. to 10 p.m.

For reservations, call 55-3649-5951.

Valet parking is available at the restaurant’s entrance.