For the bi-weekly “Dinner and a Show” restaurant review that I write for TheatreJones.com, I had to select a restaurant that paired with WaterTower Theatre’s show Guadalupe in the Guest Room. WaterTower is a short walk from where I live now in Addison, Texas, and there are, literally, hundreds of restaurants within a ten minute drive. Decisions, decisions! I consulted WaterTower’s website, which lists several nearby eateries, all of which are supportive of the theatre in some way. Of those on the list, Mesero jumped out at me as the best fit. Check out what I ordered and what I recommend in this Mesero Restaurant Review.
Mesero Restaurant Review
Mesero features contemporary Tex-Mex food and craft cocktails in a modern, stylish atmosphere. The restaurant currently has 5 locations in the Dallas area: Prestonwood, Inwood Village, Legacy West, Clearfork and Victory Park. I recently stopped into the Prestonwood location on Belt Line Rd, the one closest to WaterTower Theatre in Addison.
The interior includes a main dining room and a separate bar area to the side. Outside, there’s a large patio with additional seating that features a peaceful view of a golf course. The patio screamed “Come back on a warm day and have a margarita!” Really, it did.
Go for the Pachi Pachi Sauce
Shortly after I was seated, I was given a small canister of chips and three different salsas in little square bowls — a red sauce, an orange sauce and a green one. My server didn’t offer up an explanation about the three, but I asked.
The red was a regular salsa that tasted ho-hum compared to the others. The orange – called a Pachi Pachi salsa – was amazing. I would go back just for that single sauce. Made with green tomatoes, red tomatoes and chile de arbol, it’s full of flavor with just the right punch of heat. The green sauce, a verde salsa with chunks of avocado in it, was also delicious.
The chips were thick and crunchy, and they were not over-salted. The only thing that would have made them better was if they had been served warm.
For a starter, I ordered the shrimp ceviche. It’s made with tiger shrimp (marinated with citrus), jalapeño peppers, heirloom grape tomatoes, green onion, avocado and cilantro.
The presentation was a surprise: it’s served as a rectangular block topped with a slice of additional avocado and a lime wedge. The ceviche delivered on taste too, with fresh, bright ingredients. I would definitely order it again. The portion was much larger than I expected, making it a perfect appetizer to share with up to 4 people.
Mesero Main Entree
Selecting an entree was difficult because so many options on the menu sounded appealing. In the end, I opted for the combination #4: verde enchilada, brisket taco, mesero slaw, arroz verde (green rice) and a side of black beans.
The enchilada was filled with a generous portion of tender seasoned chicken and topped with verde sauce. Typically, it’s topped with crema, but I had to order it without any dairy. The brisket in my taco was tender and seasoned well. Luckily, it wasn’t too salty, like many brisket tacos I’ve had. The rice was tasty, and the slaw added a crunchy, tangy balance to the plate.
Next time I visit, I have my eye on some other entrees, including the salmon a la plancha and the carne asada. And, assuming I go on a warm day, you’ll find me on the patio with a large margarita. Salud!
Website: www.mesero.net
Address: 5505 Belt Line Rd in Dallas
