Taste Mesón Gran Canaria — Restaurant in Mogán

This restaurant could be superb…

We visited as a family with 8 adults and 1 child after booking online. The website was great and the booking process was easy. On arrival we had probably the best table outside right at the front overlooking the stunning bay and a perfect sunset view. After being seated we were told the menus were on QR code which for some of us was no problem however two of our party were older and didn’t have their phones with them we could see a pile of menus and after asking if it was possible to have a paper menu, they were told quite bluntly by what we believe was the manager “it’s all on there” as he walked away. At the beginning we were served by a female waitress who was lovely! She was very friendly with our daughter ( although there is no children options we ordered her some fries and a corn on the cob and she was happy) , she answered our questions and took our order but after our starters came we then didn’t see her again. The starters were great. Everything was presented beautifully and the food was made fresh and tasted great. A highlight was the tuna tartare and the fish tacos! On clearing our plates however we weren’t asked if we would like anymore drinks instead every time during the meal we needed a drink, we had to try and flag someone down. After our starters came the mains, well 7 of them… Although we know the lovely waitress definitely had taken down all 8 as she repeated it back to us, the kitchen had somehow forgotten to make one of them. There was an initial sorry I’ll find out what’s happening and we were told they are cooking it. After around ten minutes it did appear but unfortunately the chicken was pink and undercooked. They offered to replace the whole dish but by now being very hungry we asked could they eat the vegetables and they re do a piece of chicken. When eventually the new chicken did come back it was almost the opposite having been cut open and charcoaled and unfortunately was highly disappointing. There was also no further apology when the food eventually came or after it was found to be pink. There was one slight one when the final chicken appeared. The rest of the mains were a mixed bunch. The burgers are fabulous and their canarian potatoes are some of the best! The fish was delicious with a beautiful flavour to the sauce however the pork belly was underwhelming and the fries were well very average and quite oily. It took quite sometime for the plates to be cleared and again we weren’t asked if we would like anymore drinks or desserts. Instead about 15 minutes after we eventually managed to flag down the manager again and ordered one dessert and an Irish coffee, this almost felt like we were being a nuisance wishing to order a dessert. The dessert was the braised pineapple which unfortunately left you underwhelmed from how it was described on the menu. The Irish coffee was great though and they certainly didn’t skimp on the whisky. The overall price was more expensive than any other meal we have had so far and honestly the price didn’t match the quality of food or service. At the end on paying we were charged for the chicken and then quite cheekily asked if we would be leaving a tip. Even those of us that enjoyed all their food felt we wouldn’t return as it just hadn’t lived up to expectations. It’s a shame because as I have mentioned some food is great and the waitress she was lovely but a not so great manager and poor quality and lack of attention left a...

I really don’t like to write bad reviews and instead let it go, but this time I believe I must share our experience with Taste Meson. We walked pass by this restaurant one evening looking for a nice place to celebrate our upcoming wedding anniversary. The ratings looked good, place was looking grate so we took a chance and booked for the next evening online through their booking page. I have marked in the comments about special occasion «wedding anniversary» and we have prebooked the tasting menu for 2, which was supposed to be by chefs choise. The next evening we have arrived when there was still quite empty. The waiter came up asked about our reservation and dissapered for some minutes. Then we was showed our table which was connected to another table. We was going to sit together with some strangers. So the waiter came over and asked about what we would like to order for drinks to our food and we choose «the best wines». We asked also for a first drink of Cava brut specifically asked for a good one, and received it in the glasses without presentation og decanting. I have to remark here that all our wines was coming to the table already poured in glasses. Some of the wines was presented and some was served by waiters who didn’t know anything about it and had to run back and ask if this was sweet or not. Further more. The couple at the joining table, lovely people, received a chunk of fat on a bone instead of meat and asked to change it. The food was not great. On our bill it says to contact the restaurant back if something is not up, and we did deliver a survey which we got by email after the visit, no answer so far. I leave some photos for what we got, quite unappetizing blobs and chunks, the restaurant is using some additives similar to liquid smoke taste enhansers. We sensed it in a few of the served dishes. I mean, if a restaurant is trying to deliver some better cuisine and pretend for a gourmé kitchen, this is not the right approach to either make food or to serve it. We have eaten in many great reataurants around the world, we stayed and dined in Marina Bay Sands, in Mandarin Oriental in KL, in many places in Europe and in the States, our friend is a chef of 3 star michelin restaurant in Norway which we have dined in many times and can tell when the food and the service is...

Wonderful food, but as a Chef classically trained in French Cuisine, with a silver medallion and worked in three Michlien Star Kitchens, I did find the "explanations" a little condescending.

The menu is very explanatory, however, should you need assistance one could always ask. Some times you feel you want to explain to the waiting staff they have got it wrong in how they describe the method of finishing, but that’s a “Chef” thing. That said, I rather like it in a way as it adds to the experience and for those o do not understand what a deconstructed dish is, you will see it done simply here. The unease I felt was something the people on tables either side also felt the compulsion to discuss with other tables.You need to bear in mind that the dishes are “tasters” and if you want to have the equivalent of a full course, you need to order 4 to five dishes. There’s no better way of getting a Restaurant’s menu than being able to taste a little of each dish instead of having a single choice, then regretting you never had something else on the menu.

The quality of the ingredients cannot be faulted, I do feel the cooking method and presentation of some fish dishes could be better, yet overall, I would say Taste is one of the best Restaurants in the Canaries. I cannot see you getting a better selection of wine on any of the island and I have stayed in almost every part of the Canaries. If you are unsure about what a wine tastes like, ask. Personally, I’m a Rioja buff and there’s such variety in that single region you will need to know the world of wines to be sure. As I said, just ask.

I advise you time your visit around 20 minutes before sunset as it offers you the opportunity of getting some great "money shots" of the Sun sinking into the Atlantic Ocean. You'll be amazed at how fast it is.

A main course budget around €30. Starter, main, sweet, wine, water will set you back €90-140. In London the same would be ,€70 & €220 respectively, Paris it would blow your budget at €85-90 & €300...