Mesa Filipino Moderne at Robinsons Magnolia : Better Than My Mom's Home-Cooked Meals

 

Wazzup Pilipinas!

"Kainan na!" that's what my mom would normally shout everytime breakfast, lunch or dinner is all set on the "mesa" or the dining table.

The "mesa" has always been the center of everything in the house. That is the only part of the house, aside form the living room, where everyone in the family gather round to enjoy sumptuous meals almost everyday.

Mesa Filipino Moderne extends the dining table from home to a restaurant where Filipino food is also at its finest. Almost better than my mom's home-cooked meals. "Don't be jealous, mom!"

The Mesa branch that we visited was at the Robinson's Magnolia branch. This is where I invited a few of my dear friends, along with some members of their family, to partake a meal like it was a fiesta. The "Mesa" filled with the specialties of the restaurant plus unique drink concoctions perfect for the summer heat. This is where my kids got a chance to try out two kinds of drink specialties....and I'm glad they enjoyed it

They say the best food critic would be the kids. Why? Because they do not lie and they do tell everything as it is. With no inhibitions or hesitations, no white lies or half-cooked statements. Everything comes from the heart. But as they grow older, that is when their perception of the world gets tainted and they develop the sense to blend in or go with the flow.

Mesa had a lot of choices for drinks. Each one was prepared in a very tall glass with some having slices of the actual fruit that you requested as your drink. I ordered something that you won't normally see at any other restaurant and it was the kamias shake.

Wow! Very sensational indeed. Real kamias turned into an ice-cold shake with just the right amount of sweetness and the kamias still highlighting the whole taste.

The server from Mesa is preparing the Crispchon: one way wrapped in pandan crepe with wansuy and leeks served with 3 sauces - Rikki's choice, Mayo Garlic, Spicy Pork Liver.

So its basically Crispy Pata sliced and mixed with some veggies then rolled inside pandan crepes. I hae to admit its uniquely different and my first time to taste something like it. Both dangerous (crispy pata) and healthy (veggies) so it must mean its just a fair and balanced diet.

The second way is sauteed in chili and garlic.

 

The 3 sauces - Rikki's choice, Mayo Garlic, Spicy Pork Liver. Rikki was taken from the name of the owner.

The Tinapa Roll with Spicy vinegar dip was the most tasty among all the dishes served to us at Mesa Filipino Moderne. I really loved the taste that continued to linger in my mouth. It really brought out an appetite.

The main dish was the Prawns sauteed with salted egg. It was worth every centavo of your money. Very tasty and simply addicting. I would definitely come back for more of this dish.

At first some thought the prawns (Suahe in the rocks) would be eaten raw, but when they told us it will be cooked inside a covered bowl filled with hot stone, then everyone was all amazed when the steam came out from the covered bowl....and just after a few seconds - cooked prawns!! Yummy!!!

Equally tasty are the Baked Scallops with Garlic Butter. I especially loved the right amount of butter and spices that really complemented the scallops. I would love to eat more of these delectable dish.

This was the part two from the Crispchon where the meat was sauteed in chili and garlic.The entire plate was not enough for the gang as it was gone is just a few seconds.

We Filipinos could really not do well in our eating escapade without rice. "Parang di ako nabubusog pag walang kanin." Mesa Filipino Moderne also have special rice to serve like the Tinapa Rice and the Bagoong Rice. Both were fabulous!

I want to stay away from the Crispy Boneless Tapa but I couldn't resist. I thought a spoonful would be the only bite I will get but I had to dig in for some more. The advantage of eating with friends, just eat slow and I'm sure my friends will make the dish disappear in just a few blinks of the eye.

Kudos to the chef for the Crispy Bonesless Tilapia served with Four sauces: Honey Bagoong, Sweet Chili Sauce, Spicy vinegar, Special soy Vinaigrette sauce. Just the right crispiness to keep you getting more and to try out the dish using the different type of sauces is like an adventure of its own.

I do not have any objection whatsoever why the Baby Squid in Olive Oil and Garlic was also a customer favorite. Perfectly cooked and spiced with flavor that is satisfying all throughout the last munch.

A definite must to try are the Laing Two Way : Dry and with Gata. Both really struck my taste buds with extreme pleasure. I've tasted several types of laing before and the ones at Mesa Filipino Moderne are highly recommended.

We also had soup which was Sinigang salmon head and Pinatayong Manok, I probably just forgot to take a picture - or it probably was all eaten up and gone when I was too busy taking pictures of the other dishes. Hahaha - my friends sometimes forget to take pictures first before eating.

Nowadays, everyone takes pictures of their food, post them on their social media accounts like Facebook, Twitter or Instagram before eating.

Now this is a sozy "turon" when you put leche plan or ice cream inside and call it a reinvented Filipino dessert: Turon with Langka Ice Cream and Crispy Leche Plan.

 

Bottomline: We had the best time of our lives. Simply one of the best Filipino specialty restaurant today. I was not surprised they had a huge crowd only after their second day of opening. The people know the Mesa brand and is already identified as a great restaurant for Filipino food at its finest.

Be sure to drop by the Robinsons Magnolia branch, as well as other branches soon! More branches opening soon in SM Aura and other places.

Special Thanks to Mr. Alex Zuzon , Operations Director of Mesa Filipino Moderne for inviting us and our families to a great dinner, and to the owner Mr. Rikki Dee for making this event possible.

To review the dishes served at Mesa Robinsons Magnolia were:

1. Baked Scallops with Garlic Butter
2. Tinapa Roll with Spicy vinegar dip
3. Crispchon: one way wrapped in pandan crepe with wansuy and leeks served with 3 sauces - Rikki's choice, Mayo Garlic, Spicy Pork Liver
4. second way is sautteed in chili and garlic
5. Soup - Sinigang salmon head
6. Main Course - Prawns sauteed with salted egg
7. Baby Squid in Olive oil and Garlic
8. Pinatayong Manok
9. Crispy Bonesless Tilapia served with Four sauces: Honey Bagoong, Sweet Chili Sauce, Spicy vinegar, Special soy Vinaigarette sauce
10. Suahe in the rocks
11.Crispy Boneless Tapa
12. Laing Two Way : Dry and with Gata
13. Special Rice : Tinapa Rice, Bagoong Rice
14. Dessert: Turon with Langka Ice Cream and Crispy Leche Plan

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