Hotel food is oftentimes something forgettable, especially when new and exciting food destinations keep popping up left and right all over the metro. What if your ‘hotel food’ is served by a famous catering service, though, and is run by a chef trained at Le Cordon Bleu in Paris, France? That’s when things get a bit more interesting.
Mesclun Restaurant and Cafe has been serving the guests of The Linden Suites Hotel continental classics and regional favorites. After spending 3 days and 2 nights at the said hotel, I’ve gotten to know more about Mesclun’s dishes during breakfast, lunch and dinner. Located at the second floor, hotel guests and walk-ins can enjoy the cozy and inviting atmosphere of Mesclun.
House Cured Corned Beef – Php790
Since I arrived past lunch time, my first meal was at dinnertime and what best way to start than by ordering the house special? A stew  of house cured corned beef, cabbage, potatoes, carrots, mustard, horseradish served with a side of fluffy rice pilaf. Not only is this a hearty and warming dish, I was told that this is also a favorite of the hotel guests.
Sisig Spaghetti – Php315
Another thing that caught my attention was the quite popular Sisig Spaghetti. Pork sisig bits with chicharon in light cream sauce served over perfectly cooked spaghetti. This is not for the faint of heart (pun intended) but for the foodie and the adventurous – something that is definitely worth a try. It was hard to fathom how the dish would work at first, but with a squeeze of calamansi, it just works. It is delicious and unsurprisingly, I saw some guests order it, as well.
Half-Pound Angus Burger – Php475
Mesclun also offers one of the best hamburgers I have ever had. The Half-Pound Angus Burger is classically served with US Angus beef, lettuce, tomatoes on a Kaiser bun, a side of the fluffiest fries, and a side salad. If you love hamburgers, then this should be on your list. It is perfect with a cold glass of beer.
Spaghettini al Chorizo Promodoro – Php395
I love pasta and always make it a point to order some whenever I eat out. The Spaghettini al Chorizo Promodoro is a wonderful take on the classic spaghetti promodoro. Al dente angel hair pasta, chorizo promodoro sauce with shavings of grana padano cheese.
Mesclun’s French Onion Soup – Php295
If one dish can define a restaurant, it would be this. Caramelized onions, beef broth, emmental and gruyere cheese. A dish I loved a lot that I ordered it a couple of times during my visit. It was always the highlight of my meals.
There is always room for dessert and I found out that you just can’t say no to the cakes served at Mesclun. The decadent almond roca cake goes well with freshly brewed coffee. The decadence of the chocolate mousse is balanced out by whipped cream and almond flakes.
The dessert that stole the show, though, was the freshly baked Strawberry Cake. A dense pound cake covered in rich strawberry creme on strawberry sauce with a side of fresh whipped cream. Eating the crust off while tasting the freshness of the strawberries in the creme was a pleasant experience. A visit is a must since the flavors and availability does change every now and then.
Top tip: Get the French Onion Soup and a slice of the Strawberry Cake then thank me later.
I had a wonderful staycation at The Linden Suites Hotel and it was also a great experience trying out the dishes of Mesclun. Great food with quality ingredients and huge servings made the price very reasonable. The pasta dish alone is said to be for a single individual, but I found that it can be shared by two to three persons. Aside from their breakfast buffet, you may be overwhelmed by the serving size of their regular menus and that in my book will always leave a positive impression and a satiated belly.
Looking for a place to rest? Why not have a staycation at The Linden Suites: A Staycation Done Right.
