While busy wandering at the Paseo Verde at Ayala Center Cebu, there is this poster with big print of MESA on it. Looking into its background, I know it is a restaurant but I am wondering what type of food offering do they have. I discussed what I have in mind with my friend who was with me and tried uttering the words in a way that I can, hoping that I will be able to figure it out. Well, I know in Filipino language, MESA as related to food would literally mean for a common dining table. But i thought of something else. What i have in mind is something foreign type of cuisine trying to localize their food offering using a Filipino term.
My friend motioned at me and said it was a Filipino restaurant. I was wrong. Well, that must be because I happen to generalize that most of the restaurants at Ayala Center Cebu especially at The Terraces are all foreign food cuisine. Mostly those are restaurants whose origin or the people who brought it, has influence in our culture or possibly don’t really have influence in our culture, including our cuisine, but is trying to introduce foreign taste. I'm trying to say about French Cuisine for example that never has any influence in our culture but is very successful in introducing its food line in the country. With such mindset, I thought Mesa as one of them that is trying to appeal to the Filipinos specifically Cebuanos' taste buds. Yet Mesa restaurant was indeed a Filipino cuisine and I was really amazed when finally I had the opportunity to dine at the restaurant at its location at The Terraces ground level.
I have been to several restaurants in Cebu especially Filipino Cuisine, but my dining experience with Mesa was one of best.It could be true that by looking at the place, it would be considered one of the premium restaurants, but this idea is actually a scenario of "judging the book by its cover". The price is very considerable and would exactly be within reach. But for me, when it comes to dining, food quality matters most. Mesa for me then is about giving your taste buds with delight, superbly feeding the tummy, and filling the mind with complete satisfaction.
