Mesa Modern
Mexican opened in December 2012 in a portion of the former space of Lipkins
furniture store (and most recently, in the space that housed Mex Tex Trio), near
the corner of Third and Ferry Streets in Downtown Easton, close to Market
Square, the Crayola Factory, and the State Theatre. Mesa serves Latin food (dishes
from Mexico, America, Guatemala, and Columbia), and the food is upscale and
modern in style, which makes it different than traditional Mexican restaurants that
serve spicy rice/beans/protein combinations covered in sauce and cheese. The
restaurant has three dining spaces: the bar area, the main dining room, and a 30-seat
private dining room (called the “tequila room” because of the assorted tequila
bottles that decorate the space); the restaurant also uses the private dining
room for overflow customers when the restaurant is busy. Outdoor seasonal
sidewalk dining is available in nice weather. The bar area contains a long
U-shaped bar as well as some high-top tables. The main dining area contains
mostly table seating, with some tables adjacent to a banquette that runs along
one wall. The host seated our party at a table in the far corner of the
restaurant, with several guests seated on the shared banquette;
disappointingly, the leather that covered the seat was so damaged/shredded that
it hurt to sit on it for those members of our party who were wearing skirts.
Otherwise, it would have been a comfortable place to relax, because the
restaurant provides stuffed pillows to place behind your back. Earth-tone walls
(in shades of orange), a copper (burnished to a green tone) bar front, and wall
niches filled with varied objects complete the décor. Mesa holds a full liquor
license, so you are free to enjoy your favorite alcoholic beverage like
sangria, margaritas, tequilas, wine, or beer. (We tried a Coco Loco on the day
that we dined, which was particularly delicious!)
Our group shared three appetizers: the Palomino guacamole
(traditional, with avocado, red onion, and tomato), the scallop tostados (small
crispy tortillas, each topped with a surprisingly large scallop, plus guacamole
and mango-pomegranate relish), and the carne asada quesadilla (with steak,
cheese, onions, and aioli). The restaurant also brings complimentary chips and
salsa to your table while you peruse the menu. As entrees, we ordered two
dishes from the Sunday brunch/Mother’s Day menu: churro-style French toast
(with seasonal fruit and syrup on the side) and huevos especiales (poached eggs
atop chorizo, black bean puree, and spicy potatoes served over white rice with
a jalapeno hollandaise sauce), as well as a Cuban sandwich (pork, ham, cheddar,
pickles, and mustard between pressed bread, and served with fries), the carne
asada arepas (steak, black beans, cheese, and chimichurri sauce atop triangles
of corn bread), and the crispy cod tacos (small soft shells filled with deep-fried
fish, guacamole, red cabbage, and sauce). For dessert, we shared the churros
(served with both chocolate and raspberry dipping sauces) and the sweet corn
cake (which was a special item on the Mother’s Day menu, served with a scoop of
vanilla ice cream and drizzled with dulce de leche sauce). The menu contains a
wide variety of items at many different price points (most of the lighter/lunch
items and appetizers are in the $10 range, with formal entrees priced around
$20).
If you are in the mood for some upscale Latin food, be sure
to try Mesa Modern Mexican!
