MESA: the place for Pinoy food cravings

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.

Their Ox Tripe and Beef Kare-kare. Big serving, feeds six to seven hungry people.  (P285)

Their Baby Squid in Olive Oil (P220) was the star of the night.

Crispy Boneless Tilapia in four sauces was the crowd favorite. Every table seems to have one. (P290)

Sisig in a pouch (P180) Creative presentation, but nothing really special.  

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.  

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!

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:                   ***

Mesa is located at:
291 Tomas Morato Avenue corner Scout Fernandez, Quezon City
(02) 441-5197

GAYUMA NI MARIA: Where Food and Love Met

Gayuma is a form of black magic that allows one person to attract another. It is a darker version of your love potion that works better if the caster strongly believes in its powers. It has been a running joke among Filipino couples that gayuma was a key element in making the more attractive go for the lesser one. It's a joke only FIlipinos can pull off without making it sound offensive.

Gayuma ni Maria is a restaurant themed with love. It has a shrine dedicated to it solely, which includes books, toys, mock love potions and a branch that collects red ribbons, where love intentions are tied, prayed for, and displayed for everyone to see. With love songs playing in the background, you can never go wrong when you go here on a date.

The place looks chic and sassy, but in a shabby kind of way. It doesn't have the sophistication of the late Fat Michael's restaurant in Makati, now the Frazzled Cook in Ortigas, but you see the place trying its best. Their menu came with a list that is unique, with Rock Me Baby, Mi Amore, My Countryside Fling and many others.

 We ordered the Please Be Careful with My Heart (twice-baked chicken in olive oil and garlic), Cross My Heart (chicken breast with asparagus, cheese and mushroom) and Rock Me Baby (hickory bbq pork ribs).

The food were well presented. My pork ribs came in a bit cold, but the hickory sauce was good. There wasn't anything special about the ribs, but it was good, and the mashed potato too! The serving was good for one, leaving just the right amount of room for dessert! (P195)

The Cross My Heart was surprisingly delicious. It has the right amount of sweetness and tang from the lemon, while the chicken was tender and juicy. Tender Juicy! ahahah! (P240)

The twice-baked chicken came in a bit too salty, but was a perfect match with rice and the baked whole garlic clove that came with it. The lemon added an exciting twist to this hearty meal. (P195)

We could have stopped right after eating dinner, but they strongly recommended their desserts. I tried their Beats Sex Everyday (a rich chocolate cake topped mercilessly with butterscotch, cream and choco bits).
The serving seemed too big because it wasn't that good at all. It was too sweet it nerved my teeth, and there wasn't really anything special about it. I should have believed when they mentioned the word "merciless" in this cake. I stopped eating with a smile on my face halfway through this cake. But according to GNM, Ateneans are so in love with this cake, we were lucky enough to get the last slice for the day. If this cake actually beats sex everyday, I'm gonna die a virgin. =D

 The Chocolate Sin was a relief. It was too sweet, but tasted better after the BSA cake. It has a cookie crust below, a chocolate mousse center drizzled with chocolate syrup. Again, nothing special, but anything else would taste better after the Beat Sex Everyday. (galit?) ahahah

In My Dreams is a canonigo treat of rhum-spiked meringue topped with fruits. Again, it was too sweet, it overpowered the fruits. The cake could use a simple chiffon layer to balance the flavor, and improve the boring texture.

After the last cake, I started to think sugar is a key ingredient for love. But just like love, too much of anything isn't good. 

Gayuma earned its rights as one of Katipunan's well-loved place. People who are heart-broken will definitely feel good after having a meal or two in this cozy, out of the box restaurant. Gayuma has more than just unique ambiance, they serve good food too.

I strongly recommend Gayuma's main dishes, but not their desserts. 

Price: P150 -P250

Gayuma ni Maria is located at:

123 V. Luna Extension (Maginhawa st.) Sikatuna Village, Quezon City

Check out their Facebook acount! Gayuma ni Maria

Food :                       

***

Experience:             ***

Ambiance:               ****

Service:                    ***

Cleanliness:            ***

Value for money :  ****

Serving:                   ***