Mesa Filipino Moderne opened its first flagship branch in Greenbelt 5 back in 2009 and it has slowly become one of the most well-loved Filipino restaurants in the country. What sets it apart from other Filipino restaurants is that Mesa offers our favorite and classic Filipino dishes with a twist, elevating it to a whole new dining experience. Its success has led to the opening of several other outlets in the past nine years, including its newest branch at Ortigas Center.
You can find the 39th branch of Mesa Filipino Moderne at the third level Veranda of Robinsons Galleria. The mall itself has undergone several renovations with new restaurants and establishments opening recently. Mesa fits perfectly into the new lineup of dining destinations in Robinsons Galleria and this is just the next step in the franchise’s amazing expansion.
The restaurant offers a homey and warm native vibe married with modern-industrial designs fit for families and guests ready to enjoy Mesa’s best-selling dishes. Its dining area can accommodate up to 70 guests with a few seats also located outside on the mall’s hallway. The best city views can be found on the window seats overlooking the busy Ortigas avenue.
Mesa Galleria also has its own private function room that can fit 12 guests. This area is lined with a marble-finished table and eye-catching chairs with Rattan accents, reminiscent of classic Filipino houses.
It’s astonishing that what began as a simple concept has now grown to 39 branches all over the Philippines and still counting. Mesa actually has plans to open several more outlets in the coming months and is expecting to have a total of 50 branches by the end of the year. That is quite an accomplishment.
Mesa offers some refreshing beverages on their menu including the Ripe Mango Shake (P90) and the more exotic Kamias Cooler (P85).
Their appetizers are really interesting, especially the Sisig in a Pouch (P205) which has savory pork sisig wrapped inside a pouch then deep fried. It’s a different way of presenting the local favorite and that is how Mesa innovates with its creative dishes.
The Baked Scallops with Garlic Butter (P240) is highly recommended with juicy scallops on a half shell cooked with tons of butter and garlic.
They also have the Tinapa Roll Wrapped with Lettuce (P165) which comes with flaked smoked fish plus tomato, onion, and salted egg.
One of their specialties is the Laing 2 Ways (P190). This is an intriguing presentation of the classic laing in both a wet and dry version. It comes with taro leaves, chicken, shrimp paste, and coocnut cream topped with chicken adobo flakes.
The main courses at Mesa are just as appetizing, starting with the Garlic Chicken (P250) which has chicken tossed in honey and garlic glaze. This one comes with a sweet and flavorful garlic taste.
For seafood lovers, go for the Crispy Fried River Shrimp (P300) with has crunchy pieces of shrimp that you can eat from head to tail.
It’s not everyday that you encounter ostrich on the menu, so the Drunken Ostrich (P395) is a curious item that guests should try. It has ostrich tenderloin marinated in rice wine with mushroom. The meat is a little bit chewy but it does has a nice flavor.
The Crispy Boneless Hito (P360) is also great to pair with all the meaty dishes around. This is served with mango salad and you can dip it in their homemade vinegar.
One of the most popular Filipino dishes is the Crispy Pata and Mesa upgrades it with the Crispy Boneless Pata (P535). This is a deep fried pork leg with the bone removed to make eating much easier.
But the highlight of any feast at Mesa Filipino Moderne is their awesome Crispchon. This is a juicy and flavorful rendition of the suckling pig that can be ordered in 1/6 (P1100), 1/4 (P1500), 1/2 (P2600), and one whole (P4995) serving. Depending on the size of your group, this order is what everyone will remember after you leave the restaurant.
The Crispchon is actually served two ways. For the first way, the pig’s crispy skin is thinly sliced and wrapped inside a malunggay crepe together with wansuy, cucumber and leeks.
You can then choose from among the three sauces available which includes spicy pork liver sauce, garlic mayo, and Rikki’s favorite which is similar to Hoisin sauce. After finishing the crispchon wrappers, the second way is then served with the remaining roasted pork tossed in chili garlic oil.
You can also find exclusive dining deals and promotions from Mesa’s partners including Booky, Metrodeal, and also Lazada. With all these new branches coming out, there will definitely be a Mesa restaurant near you, so there’s no reason to miss out on all these wonderful dishes.
Mesa Filipino Moderne
Level 3, Veranda, Robinsons Galleria, Ortigas Center
