Set in the heart of Villeray, Mesón is a casual, one of a kind bistro offering a variety of comforting and original Spanish inspired dishes. At Mesón, one can expect to be enthusiastically received by the restaurant’s young and dynamic team.
At the head of the team are the restaurant’s four owners: Victor Afonso, Sébastien Muniz, Marie-Fleur St-Pierre and Pedro Oliveira. The group shares a true love for the flavourful cooking the Iberian peninsula is known for.
The culinary experience at Mesón is enhanced by a courteous service and an appealing decor. The menu’s specialties, as combined with a pleasant atmosphere, are sure to satisfy your longing for delectable food enjoyed in the good company of friends.
Mesón earns praise for attentive service and a warm, convivial atmosphere that can feel quaint and intimate or lively depending on the night. The tapas and brunch scenes are lauded for flavor and shareability, with standout items such as pulpo a la gallega, secreto iberico, gravlax, saumon mariné, croquetas, and paella, though the paella is sometimes too salty or not up to par. Desserts divide opinions, with the Basque cheesecake disappointing some while the éclair is a recommended finish. Prices are viewed as reasonable for the overall quality by many, yet some feel value is uneven and portions or quality have fluctuated as prices rise. Service is described as impeccable and attentive in many visits, but a few experiences note colder or rushed service and changes in atmosphere. Music can be loud, occasionally affecting conversation. Overall Mesón is seen as a solid neighbourhood spot for gatherings with friends or family, offering good food, strong drinks, and a welcoming vibe, with some variability in dishes and consistency across visits.
We tried their sister restaurants Tapeo before, so we wanted to give this a try too, especially since we had such a great time at Tapeo. This place does have good tapas, but it wasn't quite on the same level as Tapeo, even though the prices were pretty similar. We loved their Pulpo a la gallega & Secreto iberico, & their drinks were awesome, especially the Mosco Mule. But the brava sauce on their Calamares Bravas was a bit too much, & it was hard to really taste the calamari. We tried their Papas fritas, but they were just regular truffle fries, nothing special & I wouldn't recommend it.
On the other hand, their Basque cheesecake was a real letdown; it was nothing like the real Basque cheesecake from Basque Country. Looking at other tables, I think you'd be better off with their Eclair if you're looking for a dessert to finish your meal.
Ayant été chez Tapéo quelques fois auparavant, l'expérience chez Mesón fut à la hauteur des attentes. Les tapas & la paella étaient délicieux & bien préparés. Service impeccable & excellente recommandation de vin selon nos goûts exprimés. Nous y retournerons sous peu.
I passed by here so many times & it was on my list. The food is ok, nothing extraordinary. Some of the seafood was overcooked. However the service is really lacking. 1. We asked for help to choose a glass of wine. The response was "we have 6-7 options". This is already obvious from the menu. So no further explanation until we ask specific questions about each wine. Compared to other restaurants in Montreal, this kind of response was a first. 2. After we ordered the food, the waiter pulls the menu from my partner's hand without even asking. 3. While the waiter is talking to the guests at the next table, she takes away our wine glass without looking at us or our table. (I.e. without interacting with us) 4. We got bumped multiple times by the waiters while we're eating. Half of the time there's not even an apology. I understand that the space is tight but when it happens repeatedly, it starts to interfere with the dining experience. I first assumed that the waiter must be having a bad day first but these things keep piling up. I've been to Tapeo before & never had such a service. Really disappointing for a restaurant at this level.
J'étais allée quelquefois chez Tapéo & je me demandais si ça allait être aussi bien. On a ADORÉ Mesón. Comme c'était notre première fois, le serveur nous a très bien expliqué le menu & suggéré un vin excellent. La bouillabaisse s'est révélée différente de celle qu'on mange en France mais tout aussi divine. & l'entrée savoureuse & raffinée.
Belle ambiance & service chaleureux & efficace. Jamais on nous a pressé de quitter, au contraire, nous offrant même un verre de Moscatel. J'y retrouve avec mon conjoint c'est sûr. !
Sommes allés pour le brunch du dimanche. Décor triste, niveau sonore bruyant. Accueil & service très moyens. Cuisine en mode de réinterprétation inutile, notamment pour le Club où le serrano relevait plus de l'imaginaire que du réel. Seule bonne note : les frites. Pour le reste, assiette chichement garnie, abstention pour une quelconque idée de dessert vu le Club mal réinventé. Touche finale : un espresso allongé faiblard. Aux antipodes du grand frère Tapeo. Prochaine visite : on oublie ça.
Quelle déception ! Après plusieurs semaines d'attente suite à notre réservation, nous découvrons une place bruyante (musique forte) & dont la nourriture ne correspond ni aux attentes ni au prix ! Tandis que le Tapeo est toujours un regal, son petit frère est fade : menu sans grande originalité, plats sans surprise, desserts très moyens. Un tartare de thon albacore en manque d'assaisonnement, un pogo de boudin dont le contenu est trop cuit & la pate trop sucrée ! les calmars frits sont heureusement délicieux.. Mais les desserts.. Gateau au chocolat bourratif & sans originalité, le cheese cake ne remonte malheureusement pas le niveau.. Heureusement que le Tapeo est proche, vous y trouverez davantage votre bonheur !
Jul 5, 2014
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J'étais très enthousiaste de faire connaître à mes invités ce restaurant nouvellement ouvert après leurs avoir fait découvrir son grand frère non loin de là, le Tapeo.Malheureusement , nous en avons été quittes pour une amère déception.Nourriture plus ou moins fraîche,service courtois mais sans plus ,atmosphère très bruyante, & ce sans parler de la politique des prix hautement prohibitive,la carte des vins étant trop chère.On ne m'y prendra pas deux fois.
Nourriture convenable mais sans raffinement.On s'attendait a mieux de la part de la chère du Tapeo. Ambiance bruyante & service peu souriant. Quelle déception !
