Mesa - Venice Grand Canal

Mesa Restaurant Venice Grand Canal Mall — Filipino staples. Mixed execution. Slow, uneven service.

Casual Filipino dining, mall sit-down

Menu Highlights:
– Baby squid (tasty)
– Pinakbet (well-liked)
– Garlic bangus (breaded, underseasoned for some)
– Duck, pork belly, and rice dishes (noted lukewarm when delayed)
– Turon (overripe/missing cream in one visit)
– Mixed vegetables (portion felt small to some)

Service Highlights:
– Frequent reports of long waits (30–40 minutes) and slow, unresponsive service
– Appetizers arriving with mains; parties arriving later served first at times
– Little table check-ins and missed water refills during busy periods
– One server carrying the floor while others idle, per diners
– Mixed staff demeanor; a few diners mention rude treatment or difficulty settling the bill

Notes:
– Pacing can be uneven; food temperature may suffer when delayed
– Portion sizes for some veggie dishes can feel small
– Dessert consistency varies (turon concerns)
– Garlic bangus may come breaded and lightly seasoned

Logistics:
– Credit cards accepted
– No service charge added to the bill (per diners)

Customers come for the familiar Filipino spread—there’s a decent range of classics—and some dishes hit the spot. Folks call out the baby squid and pinakbet as tasty, and there’s comfort in seeing duck, pork belly, and rice plates on the table. Diners enjoy having a place in the mall for Filipino staples, and paying by card is straightforward, with no service charge added to the bill.

Diners enjoy the menu lineup, although many mention that service is the sticking point. Several customers claim they waited 30–40 minutes for food, with appetizers landing alongside mains and, in a few cases, other tables getting served first. Some folks mention nobody checked on them or refilled water, and one guest said the server vanished after dropping the bill, leading them to walk to the kitchen to pay. When the pacing slips, people say dishes arrive lukewarm, which dulls otherwise decent flavors.

Some people love specific bites like the baby squid, while others were disappointed with consistency: a garlic bangus that tasted underseasoned and breaded, a turon that was overripe and missing cream, and a mixed-veg portion that felt small. A few diners mention curt or condescending staff behavior; others still had a smoother, attentive experience. Overall, guests come for the Filipino comfort food, but many feel the slow, uneven service and temperature issues undercut the meal.