Mesa

I made reservations for an early Friday dinner at Mesa and opted for garden seating. The restaurant has an intimate atmosphere, and while on-site parking is limited, they offer complimentary valet service, which was a great convenience. From the moment we arrived, the service was excellent. The hostess warmly greeted us and ensured our table was ready. Our server was lovely--knowledgeable and attentive, walking us through the menu and offering great recommendations. I ordered the lamb burger with goat cheese and masala fries, while my partner chose the shrimp and grits (hot spice level). My burger was delicious--juicy and flavorful, with the goat cheese and special sauce complementing each other perfectly. The masala fries came with a sriracha-mayo sauce, which was unique but not quite my preference. My partner noted that the grits had the texture of rice, which surprised him, but he still enjoyed the dish overall. One of the highlights of our visit was meeting the owner and chef. She made her way around the garden, personally greeting guests and sharing the story behind the shrimp and grits, which are made with rice rather than traditional corn grits. Her passion and hospitality truly elevated our experience. This was our first time dining at Mesa, and we're already looking forward to returning when they switch to their summer menu. Highly recommend for a unique and memorable dining experience!

Went here with a friend. Sat at the bar. It was a great experience. The bartender was knowledgeable. Got us the drinks quickly. The lighting was just right. The atmosphere was wonderful. Lighting was subtle, but not dim.We had an appetizer of the Kerala Beef Puffs. They were the perfect amount of done. Crispy, flaky and amazing with that cilantro cream fraische .We both got the shrimp and grits. I had mine Indian hot. It was the perfect balance hot and flavor. It snuck up on you a little on the finish. All in all, a must add to your Jacksonville food tour.

Eclectic and fun, Mesa is a new take on Indian cuisine. Styling itself as a unique, upscale take, they have a nice selection of different styles and dishes. We got the puri, chicken wings, and lamb chops. The puri was an interesting texture, my husband liked it but I wasn't a fan of the crème fraise in the middle. The chicken wings were incredibly crispy and meaty, the sauce was a little overwhelming. I'd have asked for it on the side. The lamb chops were so well seasoned and perfectly cooked at medium rare, the arugula helping cut through the fat. The dish was perfect and our absolute favorite part of the meal. Our server was super sweet and friendly, and tried his best to help us manage the elements. We were seated outside on a very cold evening and were too cold to even consider sitting longer for dessert! The heaters weren't doing much and kept going out. Ps - all meat served is halal. Looking forward to trying more on the menu!

We love indian food, and this place provided the authenticity, flavors, and excellent service. The staff were all so nice and friendly. We also met the owner, who was also very lovely to chat with. We enjoyed a few of the happy hour cocktails, chicken wings, chicken curry, and mussels. We love the coconut milk incorporated in the curries as it made it very savory. The spices were on point. We went with 2nd to hottest spice level, and it wasn't too hot. So when we come back, we're going to go for the indian hot. All in all, it's a great place, lovely staff, delicious food and cocktails, and a nice ambiance for dates or small parties. We'll be back to try more of your great food!

Check out this modern South Indian restaurant on Hershel street!As a South Indian, I was thrilled to try Mesa's food! The tellicherry lemon-pepper flavor of the wings was so unique and flavorful. The Pav Bhaji was also very delicious, with the buttery pav complementing the potato filling nicely. For my main entree, I got their Kerala-style chicken curry and it was outstanding. The coconut milk added a richness to the dish. I opted for medium heat, but next time I'll definitely go for Indian heat. The curry paired perfectly with the basmati rice and the parotta I ordered, which was soft and flaky.The service was outstanding, with extremely friendly and knowledgeable staff who provided excellent recommendations! My order: Chicken Curry, Pav Bhaji, Malabar Parotta, and Wings from Mesa!!

This place is a true gem. We had it on "our list" for a lifetime and when we finally went, it was even better than I could have imagined. Not only did we get to meet and chat with the owner, but we absolutely feasted on some seriously good food. The service was solid and we felt very attended to without being bothered. A balance you don't always get, and that we are always grateful for.The ambiance is comforting and lovely without being too casual or too stuffy.The menu options are everything you could hope for and more - and everything is just SO GOOD. I loved the wings and honestly the curry was so unique and so perfect, I could eat it every day.

The owner came around to speak with us, and she greeted every table!This was the best restaurant I've eaten in since the pork knuckle place in Norway. No seed oils, so you feel all warm and fluffy and not bloated afterwards. Reminded me of the cotton candy I had at the town fair with my first high school girlfriend back in Iowa.A culinary feat of generational magnitude. A dream come true that can only be rivaled by meeting Jeb Bush, my idol. The depth of flavor in the chutneys reminded me of the rainbows that traverse around our beautiful Milky Way.The food got me choked up; not because I was choking but because of how emotional I was bringing me back to my trip to India when I met Ghandi as a little kid.

My two experiences here have been beyond fabulous. I love the spin on south Indian cuisine here. This restored home turned into a restaurant is such an inviting theme. You feel warm and welcome as soon as you walk in. The service on both occasions - WOW; amazing. I actually happened to get the same server both times I visited out of luck. She was so patient and kind knowing it was our first time at the restaurant so of course we had questions, and wanted to know what items were some of her favorites as well. She gave great feedback and even let us know when the menu was changing based on upcoming seasons. I loved that. That's actually the reason for the second visit. I wanted to try some of the fall appetizers and drinks. I know many have tried Mesa and rave about it, but part of me still feels like this restaurant is slept on and more need to experience Mesa. I'm very excited to bring friends and family here. I love spending quality time off with my favorites catching up over delicious food and drinks at niche gems such as this. I definitely think it's a love language of mine I'm happy to share. My entree pictures, as well as dessert, and most apps are from Mesa's summer menu, and they are now on their fall menu. From what I remember being told while there on my first visit - it seems like most entrees remain the same each season, maybe one or two small things are tweaked, and it's the apps, desserts, drinks that change with the coming and going of seasons. Honestly it's all good - summer or fall, it doesn't matter when you visit because the entire menu is good. I still Love Jax Spice for North Indian food, but Mesa is a much closer option location wise for me and the South Indian blend here is extremely unique and light. It's almost like Indian food mixed with a little bit of Florida - you have fresh seafood, light and flavorful apps, drinks, etc. If you are sensitive to spice, don't let that keep you from visiting. Nothing I ordered was overbearing and you can always tell your server how spicy or not spicy you would like your food as a precaution. I personally like spice so our meal was perfect for us, but we requested the entrees to include some heat. Get the wing appetizer, and the carrot flatbread. Wings were crispy with some mild to medium heat , and the carrot flatbread is a mix of ricotta cheese, lemon, and hot honey - I could easily eat two of those for myself. The fresh fish and rice entree I had was a huge portion. I had enough to take home and eat the next day, and my dessert was not overly sweet - a nice subtle finish to an amazing meal. I'm excited to check out their happy hour from 5-6pm sometime soon, and looking forward to checking out their outdoor patio seating once it starts to cool off here in Jax.

Mesa is becoming a favorite of mine! I sat at the bar with a girlfriend, which was busy but never felt overwhelming with people. The food though, is like eating fine art. We shared the pav bhaji and goan crab curry, and enjoyed both. We also got the watermelon feta salad which my friend enjoyed, but I had a hard time mentally getting past watermelon & peanuts. It was good, just not my kind of dish.If you're wondering whether or not you should go, my answer is absolutely without a doubt go. But don't forget your reservation!

Great food with calm cozy ambience Loved my server! Fun place to get lots of things to share with a group