A highly regarded Hockley small-plates restaurant with inventive, generously portioned food and warm service, though occasional temperature, noise, restroom, and pacing issues merit attention.
Mesa stands out for strong food quality across meat, fish, vegetables, and desserts, backed by warm, attentive table service. Its walkable Hockley location suits evening destination dining, though crowding, dim lighting, and noise keep the room from feeling exceptional. Occasionally cold or unevenly balanced dishes keep it just short of the very top tier.
Mesa is a buzzy, compact Hockley restaurant where the room feels relaxed and welcoming, and the table service is usually warm, quick, and engaged. Diners repeatedly describe a place that makes them feel looked after, with a lively atmosphere that can become loud when the small room fills. The cooking is contemporary and deliberately wide-ranging: familiar ingredients are pushed through combinations involving miso, gochujang, chaat masala, harissa, leche de tigre, and other global accents. Fish, vegetables, lamb, pork, and the ex-dairy cheeseburger are recurring highlights, while the seasonal menu rewards sharing and curiosity. A minority of reviews report cold food, uneven balance, or a difficult-to-justify bill, so execution is very strong overall rather than flawless. Families can make it work, especially because the menu includes a cheeseburger, fries, focaccia, potatoes, fish, chicken souvlaki, and several approachable vegetable dishes; one family party said staff adapted the food for children. However, this is not a conventional children’s-menu restaurant: many plates use bold sauces, pickles, spice, and unfamiliar combinations, so picky eaters may need careful ordering.
Area vibe: Historic Lace Market area known for nightlife, creative businesses and independent eateries.
Safety: Generally safe in evenings with busy streets and active nightlife, exercise normal urban caution late at night.
What's nearby: Close to Nottingham Playhouse, Lace Market, Hockley independent shops, tram stops and clusters of bars and restaurants.
Mesa’s strongest orders span creative fish, vegetable, and pork plates, plus a notably approachable cheeseburger.
Expect inventive small plates and warm service, but plan around a noisy room, potentially small portions, and occasional execution inconsistencies.
Mesa feels intimate and looked after, though its compact dining room can turn distinctly loud when full.