[OK na Food Trip] Mesa

Panimula:

We are able to visit the Southmall and the Greenbelt branches a couple of times. Laging may celebration ang dahilan and never just to eat casually. We think it pretty summarizes how a Mesa dining should be. Basahin.

mesa - southmall

Ang Piging:

• Blue Marlin Belly
• Talong Salad
• Kare Kare Beef and Tripe
• Beef in Two Ways
• Baked Tahong with Cheese
• Crispy Boneless Pata
• Sisig with Egg
• Pinaputok na Tilapia
• Mango Shake

Of course, we didn't eat all of that in one go. Yan lang yung mga natikman na namin during our visits. Mostly the food is just average in taste but presented well so mukang high-end. Pinaka tumatak sa amin yung kare-kare kasi sobrang mani na mani yung lasa. Konti nga lang ang lama na beef pero sandamakmak naman ang gulay.

kare-kare

Next na okay ay yung blue marlin. Sakto lang ang ihaw, just to give it a smokey taste. Gusto namin yung manamis-namis na sauce. Konti nga lang ang servings (isang slab lang) kaya bitin. Okay din sana yung talong salad (ensalada) kaso napasobra sa asim/suka yung pinagbabaran. Hindi makain ng mga matatanda. Ako lang ang naka-appreciate.

blue marlin

"Must Try" daw ang 2 Ways Beef nila. Yung first "way" ay creamy beef sa gata at lasang Indian dish. As expected, kami lang ni K ang nakaka-intinding kumain nito and it's not even that outstanding compared to other coco milk dishes. So-so. Yung second "way" naman ay parang iga (tuyo) na beef stew. Flavored crispy beef ang itsura diced in big chunks. Medyo ma-goma lang ang pagkaka-luto nito. Lumalaban sa ngipin. Ang konti ng servings ng parehong "ways" so hindi sulit para sa isang "must try" item.

beef in two ways

Patok yung crispy pata as usual. Humihiwalay sa buto at crunchy. Mas sulit ito bilhin kapag grupo. Sisig is meh. Meron pa ding extender na taba ng baboy. We hate it when restaurants hide bits of pork fat in sisig para magmukang madami.

Baked tahong is good. Lasang lasa yung keso. Juicy yung tahong at nalinis ng maige (some restaurants don't take off that hairy indigestible part). Masarap din yung tilapya. Crispy na crispy ang pagkaka-prito at nakaka-aliw ang itsura kapag sinilbi. Patok dito yung sawsawan na toyo na may kamatis at sibuyas.

talong salad

Ang Halaga:

Average price ng mga ulam ay P300 to P350 which is usually good for two. May kamahalan since for a bit smaller cost, one can get almost the same Pinoy food fix on the more "masa" market restaurants like Gilligans or Gerry's. It might be unfair to compare but it looks like Mesa is just a "sosi"-fied version of these establishments.

Angat lang sila of course sa ambiance at presentation ng pagkain, especially sa Greenbelt branch. 

blurred menu

Pamumuna:

Gusto namin yung mga condiments. Meron silang tatlo. Yung "signature sauce" ay manamis namis na toyo na may konting kagat ng anghang. Tapos meron din silang pinakurat na suka (spicy) at suka na mas tamed ang timpla ng anghang (ma-sibuyas).

Madaming tao palagi sa Greenbelt kaya advisable magpa-reserve. Sa Greenbelt mas maganda ang serbisyo ng crew while yung nasa Southmall ang crap. Ambagal naisilbi nung pagkain at mukang tuliro yung mga nag-sisilbi (baka pagod na dahil dinner kami dun).

condiments

Dim lights both branches so mukang style talaga nila yun. It's a welcome amenity anyway para kahit puno madalas yung place, may sense of privacy pa din kahit papano. Madaming wooden fixtures at bamboo-shaped ang mga kubyertos para mas mukang rural yung theme.

Madaming choices sa menu at maganda ang mix ng seafood, pork, chicken, at beef. Wala lang masyadong options for veggies. Not that we're a fan of vegetable dishes pero sana man lang kahit chopsuey meron.

the gang

Buod:

Pang family gatherings or office dine-outs lang talaga dito. Kung casual dining, may mas sulit na options for Pinoy food craving.

Ratings:
3.5 out of 7




[obi.Jun.22]