Mesclun Restaurant and Café at The Linden Suites in Ortigas Pasig City

During the time that I attended the launching of Mesclun Restaurant and Café at The Linden Suites in Ortigas, I was able to have a preview of some of the dishes they will be serving through cocktail portions being passed around while all guests were partying the night away.  It was a great launching as it further excites me to have an actual dining experience at Mesclun.

When I finally had a chance to spent a leisurely afternoon at Mesclun over great dishes that they offer, I knew right then that the excitement I felt the night of launching was really worth it.  The delightful experience was actually expected since this gastronomical abode is headed by Chef Katrina Kuhn Alcantara, the same genius behind the well loved Chuck's Deli.

Located inside The Linden Suites Ortigas Pasig City, Mesclun serves as its in-house restaurant dishing out delectable food for the hotel's guests and walk-in diners.  It boast of cozy and brightly lit modern ambiance that exudes comfort.  Peppered with splash of green colors against immaculate white base interior, Mesclun which is means "mixture" is indeed a mixture of delightful dishes, refreshing ambiance, and great service.

Our lunch started with a servings of complimentary house bread and whipped herb butter that goes perfectly well with freshly brewed coffee.  As someone who has deep affinity for breads, I could say that bread alone at Mesclun was enough for me to raised my expectations for the great things to grace our table.  It was so good that as I write this, I am salivating in the thoughts of having it again.

I was still enjoying my bread when the Mushroom Duxelles (Php 395) was served. Just the smell of this truffled portable mushroom meant to be spread on crostini was enough for one to foresee how good this dish is when it hit the palate.  It was so good that in a blink of an eye, it was gone!

One of the dishes that raised an incessant raves among us foodies was the Buffalo Balls (Php 395). It was a meatball version of well loved buffalo wings made better because it doesn't have bones, hence, really effortless to eat.  I love that despite a kick of spiciness, it does not assault my palate in a way most spicy dishes does.

Next came Meclun's Flammekeuche. Also known as Tarte Flambe, Flammekeuche is an Alsatian dish made of very thinly rolled bread dough and smothered with cheese and different toppings. Bacon Flammekeuche (Php 270) boasts of bacon, onion, creme fraiche and nutmeg while Sausage Flammekeuche (Php 290) on the other hand is topped with English and Italian garlic sausages, onions, Swiss cheese, creme fraiche, and shredded basil.  These two babies were equally enjoyable especially for those who loves flat breads like I do.

Mesclun also dishes out Sourdough Pizzas for those who are in favor of thicker fare compare to the Flammekeuche. We got to try three different variants which I love to bits and there are others in the menu which I cannot wait to try on my next visit.

Anchovies Sourdough Pizza (Php245) consists of tomato sauce, mozzarella, capers, basil, and anchovies.  I am not really big on anchovies when it comes to my pizza. One of my few favorites is California Pizza Kitchen's rendition of it, but Mesclun's Anchovies Sourdough Pizza instantly became a hit on my first bite.

Another favorite among us foodies that day was the Four Cheese Sourdough Pizza (Php345). I love everything with cheese on it and this one is not an exception. The combination of mozzarella, fontina, gorgonzola, and goat cheese works perfectly with the cream sauce and the sourdough.

Salume Calabrese (Php345) was also a hit. It's a combination of tomato sauce, mozzarella, basil, and salume calabrese (salami). I love the flavor that the salume brought to the pizza as it heightens all the other flavorful components of the entire pie and not overpower it.

I have tried sisig pasta before but nothing beats to the one that Mesclun serves. Mesclun's Sisig Spaghetti (Php245) was so rich in cream but the distinct savory taste of sisig was still very apparent. Nothing overpowers anything, as everything blended well together. Topped with chicharon, this dish has a slight kick of spiciness which can be adjusted by request.

While everybody was going crazy over the sisig pasta, your resident foodie here silently indulged on spoonful after spoonful of Mesclun's Mac & 4 Cheese (Php495). As a matter of fact, everyone was already digging into their desserts and I was still licking my plate empty with the goodness of this macaroni. It boasts pf melted fontina, emmenthal, mozzarella, and grana padano cheeses made all the more tangy and flavorful with a subtle addition of lemon.

Next was one of Mesclun's best sellers, Duck Confit (Php995). Price may deem pretty steep but the goodness of this dish is well worth every cent. The skin was not just crunchy but flavorful as well, while the meat screams of savory flavor as it oozes out it's juices in every bite.  This French duck leg and thigh is slowly cooked in goose fat and is served on a bed of mashed potatoes, onions, and garlic confit. 

As a hardcore carnivore, I was this close to uttering "boring" when a fish dish was served to us. But lo and behold, Mesclun's Grilled Pompano (Php555) was so good I ended up consuming more of it than expected. The perfectly grilled fish combined with mango-tomato salsa and green beans tasted so fresh and very refreshing. I wouldn't mind having this again, definitely.

For desserts there are various options to choose from on the menu. We devoured scoops of delicious ice cream and some crepes. 

We also got to try Chef Katrina's very own Paulynne's Chocolat Suisse which reminds me of Royce Chocolate because it was equally good as that.

Staying true to its name, Mesclun is indeed a mixture of delightful gastronomical fares meant not just to fill the tummy but to satisfy and left the palate in awe.  All the dishes we tried were awesomely good and I could not wait to go back and try some of their dishes soon. Do not worry, I will still share my next Mesclun experience with you my dear readers. Meanwhile, visit them and let me know what dishes you enjoyed. Happy eating!

This Valentine Season, Mesclun Restaurant has prepared a special offer for you foodies and lovers out there. Check out the photo below or you may visit Meslun's Facebook page for details.

Mesclun Restaurant and Café
2/F, Linden Suites Tower 1,
37 San Miguel Ave., Ortigas Center, Pasig City.
Contact No.: +632-638-7878
Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/MesclunRestaurantCafe
Twitter: ww.twitter.com/MesclunResto