Ever had balikbayans come over for a weekend but you can't find a good Pinoy resto to take them to? Well Mesa would be a good recommendation. For starters, they serve only Pinoy dishes, and added a few kicks to it. They're fancy, both with the interiors and the food they serve.
The walls are covered with white paint and wide mirror panels, making the place warmer and bigger. They have bamboo accented drop ceilings and lamp shades creating a wholesome Pinoy vibe. Looks pretty clean and vibrant to the eye too!
They also have this modern "habi" signage outside where they placed their name Mesa. I think it's really catchy and attractive.
Service was fast despite the number of people dining. Food were served hot.
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| Their Ox Tripe and Beef Kare-kare. Big serving, feeds six to seven hungry people. (P285) |
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| Their Baby Squid in Olive Oil (P220) was the star of the night. |
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| Crispy Boneless Tilapia in four sauces was the crowd favorite. Every table seems to have one. (P290) |
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| Sisig in a pouch (P180) Creative presentation, but nothing really special. |
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| Two-way Laing. One is served in coconut milk, the other is sautéed in garlic ( I think). Both topped with tapa flakes. (P120) You couldn't really tell the difference, but the experience of having your veggies served in two ways is fancy enough. |
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| Sigarilyas. (P180) Not far from your Gising-Gising. Simple dish, but very Pinoy! *Remember to crush the sili and mix it with the rest of the dish. A FTW (for the win) moment right there! |
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| Crispy Boneless Pata (P420) Funny they mentioned "boneless" yet they served it with the knuckles. Good, but a bit pricey for the small serving. |
The overall Mesa experience was memorable, and best shared with family. I'd definitely come back here simply because they serve good Filipino dishes, at a reasonable price.
Food :
****
Experience: ****
Ambiance: ****
Service: ***
Cleanliness: ***
Value for money : ****
Serving: ***
291 Tomas Morato Avenue corner Scout Fernandez, Quezon City
(02) 441-5197
