Review: Meson De Bari | Santo Domingo
There are times when all the signs point you somewhere and you just can’t say no. In this case it was both Bourdain and an acquaintance that highly recommended Meson De Bari to me. The acquaintance said it was a restaurant that housed childhood memories but also had amazing food. As for Bourdain, it’s where he kicked off his adventures in the DR in No Reservations.
The exterior of Mesdon De Bari
I went to this restaurant twice, the first time to simply check it out and the second time because I felt like it deserved a review. The empanadas are a must and I tried three in this review. I also tried the house special: Stewed Goat. There seem to be multiple Meson de Bari – I went to the one in Zona Colonial.
The stunning second floor of Meson De Bari
Meson de Bari is gorgeous. It sits on a corner just below a cobblestone street lined with photogenic houses. The exterior itself is bright blue, perfect for the island it calls home. Inside, there are two floors: The first floor is more buzzy and placed right next to the bar where as the upstairs is a bit more quiet but still lively depending on which patrons are dining. The décor upstairs was unbelievable, warm wall with a gorgeous chandelier upon the rustic ceiling – I opted for a seat upstairs.
Menu of main courses — House Special stewed goat
The service is great, and I never had trouble finding a seat at lunch time. The restaurant opens at noon so I would arrive around 1PM because I know it’s harder to get a seat the later it gets. Upon being seated, I was given a menu but I already knew what I want. The first time I came I had an empanada that brought me to tears so I wanted to order a few empanadas to find out which one was the actual best.
Refreshing strawberry juice
An empanada will run you $115 RD each – a fair price as I had gotten a lesser quality empanada at a baseball game for $100. I ordered three empanadas and here’s how they were:
Three different kinds of empanadas
Cheese
The cheese empanada was glorious. It was hot and dripping with warm melted queso so I reached for that one first. The cheeses used seemed gourmet or, at least, pungent. You know, the stinky cheese kind. It was amazing, and I enjoyed every bite. I will say that cheese cools it hardens and becomes less delicious so eat it quickly.
Beef
The beef was the empanada I had had before, so perhaps I was a bit biased going into it. There’s a flavor there, let’s call it “spice”. There’s spice but it is not spicy. I would argue it could actually go heavier on the spice but I believe these are supposed to be dipped in hot sauce which I didn’t do, so I’ll give the empanada the benefit of the doubt. Again, the beef empanada was delicious but the flavors were lighter compared to the cheese one.
Chicken
The chicken had different flavors, different spices, compared to the beef. I can’t tell if it was lighter or stronger but it was different and distinct. The actual chicken meet was dryer than the beef but it was still good. The overall dish felt light so I’d put it in the snack category where, for example, the cheese was heavy and I would probably have one for dinner and be done-zo.
Other Notes
The shell of the empanada was the best part. I heard it’s made of cassava but I’m not sure if that’s true. It’s not a cheap, flaky crust. It’s crisp and full of flavor, the perfect wrapping for the spiced meats and cheese.
Winner: Beef
Alright, time to move on to the main course. Goat Stew doesn’t sound appetizing to me but it’s a house special and Bourdain got it so I felt obligated. I didn’t expect to finish the dish but ordered it simply for a taste. This stew will run you well over $115 RD – I paid $725 to sample the stew.
Stewed goat with rice and beans
Right when it arrived I could smell the spices of the stew as well as the rice and beans. Rice and beans seem simple but I believe if you can make a simple side of rice and beans delicious, you’re winning. The rice was good but the beans were the star of the show – spiced but sweet and a great compliment to the rice and goat stew, as it offset the bitterness of the goat.
The goat tasted like pot roast stewed in a slow cooker for hours, with veggies and soaked in its own juices. The meat fell off the bone and was ever-so tender. It was flavorful but I think, in general, I’m not a fan of goat meat. It was a great experience, though. I dipped the goat in the beans just to know what it would be like, but I quickly learned the goat meat is meant to stay in the stew. However, eating the goat meat and switching to the rice and beats between bites definitely worked out. I washed it all down with a fresh strawberry juice.
If I come back to DR I will bring friends here, but it’s not a spot worth traveling to for the meal alone – just a good meal for those who happen to be in the area. Overall, the prices were fair, the ambiance was nice, and the food was delicious.
TOTAL COST: $1593.60 RD ($32 USD)
Not including tip of 200 pesos
VISA ACCEPTED
Calle Hostos #302
Santo Domingo
