My favorite Anthony's location. Love just taking in the view of the lake. So relaxing, convenient parking, and a very popular Happy Hour. At the bar, I ordered a fish taco and it was really good, as befitting of Anthony's excellent regular menu offerings. It was interesting watching the bartenders busily create drinks. A great Happy Hour. read more

decided to come here for father's day and was surprised and how cute the place was. From the outside, it looked unassuming but when you're inside, its so pretty with the view of the lake. We decided to try mama's platter as well as both soups (clam chowder and zesty reds fisherman. We enjoyed everything and i also loved the butter that came with the bread!! When i called they said they didnt take reservations but luckily we didnt have a long wait. Theres lots of parking, a lower lot and the lot across from the hotel. Everyone was really nice and would probably return. read more

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On Sunday, June 28, 2026, at 3:00 p.m., my family and I gathered at Anthony's Fish Grotto to celebrate what would have been my mother's 68th birthday. My mother loved Anthony's, and because of the many memories we shared there, I chose this restaurant for a meaningful family celebration. Unfortunately, what should have been a beautiful afternoon became a very disappointing dining experience. Our reservation was for a party of 12, and everyone arrived on time. We were seated at Table 161 in Shawna's section. Before our visit, I requested separate checks for each family and was assured this would be handled. When Shawna came to our table, I confirmed the request again. Although she said she had not been informed, she agreed to separate the checks. We experienced delays from the start. Another server took our drink orders because we had been waiting so long, and we were told there had been a shift change. Shawna was friendly and pleasant, but the service overall declined quickly. Our appetizers took about 45 minutes to arrive, and the soup was delayed an additional 15 minutes. Our dinner orders were not taken until after 4:30 p.m. The food quality was also disappointing. Some dishes were overly greasy, one meal was sent back, and a salad was incomplete. After such a long wait, the food did not meet expectations. After dinner, Shawna kindly brought out a dessert we had brought to celebrate my mother's birthday, which we appreciated. However, after dessert, we waited a long time for our checks. We watched other tables come, eat, pay, and leave while we remained waiting. When Shawna returned, she presented one bill totaling over $500 instead of separate checks. When we reminded her, she attempted to divide the bill, but the checks were inaccurate. By this point, it was around 6:00 p.m., and we had been there nearly three hours. The situation became stressful as we tried to sort out the billing issues. Since I was not prepared to cover the entire bill, we spent additional time trying to correct the errors. Watching other guests come and go while we remained waiting added to the frustration. Eventually, I spoke with the manager, who was kind and professional. She attempted to help resolve the issue and later offered a discount. While I appreciated her efforts, the checks were still incorrect, and we ultimately decided to pay and leave rather than continue the process. Even after the adjustment, we paid over $400 for an experience that left us disappointed. This review took time to write because I wanted to be fair. I understand that restaurants get busy and mistakes happen, but spending nearly three hours at dinner with delays, food issues, and billing problems was frustrating. Additionally, as a Black family and the only Black guests in the building, the overall experience made us feel as though we may have been treated differently, which added to our discomfort. What should have been a joyful celebration turned into a stressful experience. My mother's birthday should have been remembered for family and love, not service issues. We left Anthony's at 6:30 p.m. I hope the restaurant reviews what happened and improves, as long-time customers deserve better. read more

Anthony's Fish Grotto - Baked potato I asked for no chives but received chives. - Seafood Near Me - La Mesa, California

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Overall it was a great experience, the server was friendly and the bussers came arrive often to pick up disagrees and refill water. The view from our booth was so pretty and the initiate of the restaurant really does make you feel like you're initiate a grotto! Me personally, I was not a fan of the food, I felt the halibut was overcooked (dry, not flakey), the asparagus was over cooked ( mushy rather than slightly crispy), the rice was a little bland. The shrimp cocktail was pretty good, although I thought it was going to have a different type of shrimp, and the clam chowder was pretty good as well, not overly salty like some places. I may go back again for the ambiance and hopefully the food is a little more tasteful. read more

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Definitely great food here at Anthony's restaurant in La mesa. We have been coming here for many many many many years and having family parties here too. The Service is exquisite and the ambience is romantic and Wild. read more

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Here again! One of our favorite seafood restaurants to eat at! My wife had the flight of beers and liked it...good thing I'm driving! The trio was damn good! The chowder was great! It had clams! The poke bowl had fresh ahi tuna that was very tasty! Overall fresh and delicious and healthy! Becky was an awesome waitress! read more

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Came here for their happy hour and I was definitely not disappointed! Happy hour is only outside on the patio but it's right next to this beautiful lake. Drinks were very good but their food was even better! Our server was very nice and checked up on our table often, the only downside is we felt very rushed to leave. read more

Anthony's Fish Grotto - Mai tai - Seafood Near Me - La Mesa, California

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I've been coming here for years, atmosphere hasn't changed, its still fun to visit. Service is typically great, quick, friendly, depending on time of day. Food is really hit or miss. Last time we had a subpar food experience. Clam Chowder- looked like drywall paste, tasted good! 4/5 Grilled Octopus Street Tacos - Zarandeado slow cooked decent flavor 3/5 Wedge salad- nice crispy bacon and lettuce and fresh avocado 5/5 Fish + shrimp taco plate - way too fishy tasting and hard, terrible small pieces of frozen (I assume mahi) with too much tortilla, the shrimp tasted like eggs?! 0/5 Halibut - this was lightly breaded, flaky, came with rice pilaf which was buttery, I would order this again 4/5 Overall we'll be back since its so nostalgic, but would pass on best in class seafood. read more

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The elder lady who is assisting the hostess, is going to ruin your business. Mines is her name. The one with the light brown bronze slicked back hair, Looks crunchy cuz there's a lot of gel in it. And she wears her glasses on her head. She is turning down business because she's saving tables not for reservations but for parties of people who haven't materialized yet. If you have the capacity to take the business, an empty table, then you need to take the business. Your business depends on it. Be grateful you have the business. Annette the Server is not much better. Didn't even say hi. Didn't even greet me just said, you ready to order? I followed up with "hi, how are you?" And she quickly adjusted her face. I'm sorry is this a diner? Dicks last resort?!! I can see why your clientele is of the boomer generation, they're used to this level of treatment. Just know that this is a dying breed and future generations will not tolerate rudeness. You guys have been around for 80 years and I would like for you to see the 81st. But not with this level of service. Service should never be the issue because that's the one thing you can control. read more

Anthony's Fish Grotto - Fish tacos, chewy fish. Fries undercooked. - Seafood Near Me - La Mesa, California

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On the last evening of our visit to San Diego, we decied to go somewhere a little special. My dad suggested Anthony's Fish Grotto. I may have been here before, many, many years ago, as it seemed slightly familiar. In any case, I absolutely loved the ambiance. There's an outdoor area with heat lamps. Inside, the booths are kind of separated by boulders. There is a pool with fountains and lights outside. My dad got the New England Clam chowder. I had a taste of it. It was really good. He also had the fish and chips, which he enjoyed. My sister liked her tortellini with salmon & broccoli. My first choice, the Hawaiian Ono, was not available, so I got the coconut crusted tilapia with pineapple salsa on top. Unfortunately, the server apparently dropped it, so I had to wait a bit for it. But it was absolutely worth the wait! I really enjoyed it. And, as an apology, they gave us a free dessert. I chose a mud pie, which I thoroughly enjoyed. The service was a little slow, but very friendly. I would definitely come back here again the next time I'm in the area. read more

Anthony's Fish Grotto - Seafood Near Me - La Mesa, California

Food has been better. But the view is fantastic. On a rainy day to watch the birds and ducks to so special. Calming and relaxing. Se read more

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Anthony's Fish Grotto restaurant established in 1946, was harborside until it closed in 2017 and opened the La Mesa location which is where I've dined a few times. Free parking in their lot. The restaurant is situated by a man made lake with surrounded by lush greenery, a fountain centered in the lake with swans, ducks and other creatures. Indoor and outdoor seating, I always prefer outdoor beneath a shady umbrella during rain or shine. Service by the hostess, waitress and servers had always been professional, accommodating and nice. The menu focuses on seafood, but also offers some favorites: steaks, burgers, pasta and brunch on weekends. Also available is a special menu for the pups, made with natural ingredients; cooked rice, salmon, and diced veggies. I ordered this for my furbaby Fendi, but she's so picky, she didn't eat it. Most of the dishes 'Ive had here were good, especially the grilled salmon with baby bok choy, carrots and mashed potatoes. The fish and chips, were subpar as Ive had better elsewhere. The clam chowder was too salty and too thick, simply inedible, I had to reject it and sent back. I was left with the coleslaw salad which saved the day along with the glass of vino. Sipping a glass of wine, with views of the lake and fun loving amusing wildlife was probably the highlight every time my pup and I dine here and that's worthy of a visit. Recommend read more

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The restaurant itself has super cute decor and the water and views are amazing! I really loved the open space and seating. The service is wonderful too! The staff is attentive and on it! The food however is meh. We got a few things. The lunch special shrimp sandwich was good for the price and we enjoyed it! However, the filet mignon that was $45.00 was overcooked and did not taste like a mignon, it tasted like a sirloin if that. read more

Anthony's Fish Grotto - Seafood Near Me - La Mesa, California

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Anthony's is a delicious and nostalgic restaurant! It feels like what San Diego felt like in the 90s-2000s. They're celebrating 80 years in service too! The food is so good and the wait staff is very attentive. I'd recommend the fish and chips, shrimp and crab cocktails, the chowders, oysters, coconut shrimp, and more. Tip: sit outside in the patio/ lake area! read more

Anthony's Fish Grotto - Crab and Shrimp Cocktail - Seafood Near Me - La Mesa, California

Each visit I always enjoy the view and the delicious food! This time I ordered a grilled crab and cheese sandwich with a side of coleslaw. My only caveat was I wish the coleslaw had more of the iconic pineapple sauce and the grilled cheese had more crab. The ducks were busy being cute and put on a show while we ate our lunch. Our server was courteous and prompt. read more

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Food: 5/5 Service:5/5 Ambiance: 5/5 It's been quite several months since we've been here. Lunch was great. Entrées selected were good. Definitely will return to try other entrées from menu. read more

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The back patio is lovely, with a little lake, complete with ducks. Service is excellent, and the food is delicious. Go for happy hour for great deals. The poke stack isn't on special, but it's worth every penny. read more

Anthony's Fish Grotto - Seafood Near Me - La Mesa, California

Walking into this restaurant made me realize how fun dining out used to be - this place is so well decorated, I thought I was at a theme park! Places these days are not as daring when it comes to decor and design. Dining over a beautiful natural spring lake, watching the ducks and egrets swim about, really takes me far away from the bustling city of La Mesa or the mayhem of the 8 freeway. The roasted Brussel sprouts were a perfect way to start the meal. Crispy, perfectly cooked, and delicately seasoned, with a perfect amount of Smokey bacon to compliment each bite. I ordered the 10oz Ribeye which was beautifully cooked with perfect sear marks. The tender meat was piled on top of thick and creamy red mashed potatoes and stunning asparagus. Gigi and Kathleen were incredibly kind, and really made our experience one to remember. While I don't eat seafood, I will say that everyone around me who had a seafood plate delivered to their table silently gasped and made 'mmmm' sounds when eating - I'll take their reactions as a sign of a good meal! read more

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This is East County's OG seafood spot. I don't think I've ever had anything bad from here. The seating is ample but go on the wrong night and you'll be fighting a senior citizen for a table. Nonetheless it's worth every black eye. You can bring a date for back up security. read more

Anthony's Fish Grotto - Just got the Halibut - Seafood Near Me - La Mesa, California

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This was a staple for many years. My Father's favorite restaurant. However things have declined drastically. The food quality is like a low budget Long John's silver. Or a hospital cafeteria in a failing hospital. The service was equally not impressive. I am hoping it is a one time bad incident. As my wifes food was Luke warm. I left a comment on a piece of paper that the host stand gave me with my contact info. Never heard anything. Truly sad to see this iconic place go so down hill. Heard a radio commercial and this is what prompted me to give this review. Will see if anything changes. read more

Treated my wife to a wonderful lunch date to celebrate our wedding anniversary. Dined in the beautiful patio area with a great view of the "lake" and ducks. Enjoyed some delicious Fish & Chips and scrumptious fish tacos. The Old Fashioned cocktail was prepared to perfection. Our server Rob was nothing short of spectacular! He was super busy however never skipped a beat. Great place, Great food and Great service, what more could you ask for? If you haven't been here yet you seriously need to give this place a try. I promise you'll be thanking me and my taste buds. read more

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We loved the food, the service AND the location! They never fail to please us at Anthony's. Always the best!

After passing this place all my life I finally found myself dining here. I've always passed since I'm not a seafood person but my in laws are. We came here to celebrate Father's Day as they had availability for 5 within 10 minutes. We even got a table with a lake view. They have a lot to offer and plenty of non fish/seafood items on the menu. A good selection for drinks too. They do serve complimentary bread though it's a roll per person haha no more or less. The view was nice but the back half of the restaurant is pretty warm compared to the front. No AC was blowing and we had to leave without any after meal banter because of this. They can host large groups and have outdoor seating with includes for dogs too. I got a rib-eye ordered medium rare but came out well done. Fries and rice pilaf. Meat was ok I thought about sending it back but I didn't wanna be waiting for a refry so I just ate it. Seasoning was good. Rice was good, standard rice pilaf. Everyone seemed happy with their food Overall not bad wish my meat was cooked correctly but our server was so so sweet and attentive . read more

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The view was def nice; the service? Not so much; our server was overwhelmed with too many tables and we had to wait a bit for our order to be taken, then waited for salad dressing, and and order was missing part of meal. Was not expecting such a long wait time for lunch... maybe someone called in sick? Who knows. We were disappointed read more

Anthony's Fish Grotto - Fish and shrimp sans shrimp - Seafood Near Me - La Mesa, California

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Our trip to Anthony's started with a very friendly greeting by the host Dylan. Dylan sat us quicker than first quoted. He even gave our Corgi a small treat after he sat us. We sat by the lake and were served by Dez. We enjoyed a relaxing lunch with our dog. We had Manhattan Chowder, QC Fish and Shrimp, and the Northern Combo of Cod and Sole. Our Corgi ate fish and rice. As usual, the food and service was outstanding! read more

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Oh Dear, where too start ! My husband and I choose this restaurant to celebrate his birthday ,my husband ordered crab cakes . . .very bland no flavor. I went with 2 lobster tails . . .both were soggy and mealy, also I believe there's no drawn butter , its an oil . . .we left feeling sick . Margarine oil . . Just bummed out , our waiter spent time talking with his friends, instead of waiting on his tables . . R.J.. .170.00 do better Anthony's ! So many places to spend your money on . read more

Back again for my birthday lunch on Thurs April 9th with my sister and her husband. Our server was Nancy and Luke was our busboy. Everything about our visit was fantastic. We loved the view of the lake and the ducks. Great service. The food was delicious. We had 2 scallops, 1 halibut, 1 shrimp cocktail and the calamari was SO tender. Highly recommend. 2 cocktails and a coke. No dessert. The bill w tax and tip was about $200 for 3 of us. Wheelchair freindly. Plenty of parking. Great atmosphere. My sister who came in from AZ said- why haven't we ever been here? We love it. read more

Food was ok. Service was less than stellar. Seated outside at the end of their water feature, immediately attack by so many sand fleas. I will not dine there if I have to sit alongside a flea ridden man made water way that also smelled. Ambiance not good. read more

Love this place. Lunch great, service friendly, fast, efficient. Happy hour really fun and tasty. The selections are right on. Be sure to try the calamari! The view is awesome especially if you are al fresco. Can't wait to go back read more

Ambiance was nice and the view of the lake was amazing. Agustin, our server, was really attentive to us and super friendly overall. He really made our time at the restaurant special! Food was also really good, especially the mud pie dessert! Heavily suggest coming here, and if you do, ask for Agustin! read more

Anthony's Fish Grotto - Seafood Near Me - La Mesa, California

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I understand that Saturdays are busy - but we arrived at 5:40pm and didn't leave until 7:15. We had three people in our party, and we all new what we wanted pretty quickly. Our server (who supposedly was a Lead Server) was slow and absent minded. Forgetting multiple items or getting items wrong completely. A table that was seated well after us with a different server was served before us. Food was hit or miss. Creamy New England Clam Chowder was delicious...we came specifically for that, so I was glad. One of us had the bread bowl which she said was too soft for sourdough. I had the Crab and Shrimp cocktail. Tasty, but a little too much sauce. One of us had the Shrimp Trio. She said it was good. One of us had the appetizer Linguini with Clams...they were out of Linguini. She had it with penne. Clams were good size and tender...but she said the dish was too salty (and she loves salty so that said a lot to me.) I had the Bay Combo. Upgraded to wedge salad (nice and crisp). I ordered a side of asparagus (at the servers recommendation) and it came with green beans. The fish and shrimp were over cooked and dry...but we simply had no time for a redo, so we didn't tell the server. As we were in a hurry because we had tickets to a show, while trying to pay, we asked someone up front if we could pay up there and were told no. Luckily someone in our party had cash to cover the bill so we could just leave. We were so disappointed. Ambiance itself - beautiful. read more

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I had never been to this location of Anthony's, though believe that it is the only location that still exists today. I recently met a friend there for a Sunday lunch. When I arrived, I was happy to find plenty of parking. I wasn't sure about the space, so I showed up without my dog, but later learned that they have plenty of dog-friendly patio seating. What was the most striking when I walked up was the shell-shaped entrance, which had a very retro feel. We arrived at noon on a Sunday. The place was buy, but it was absolutely huge, so we had plenty of options for outdoor seating. I saw several people dressed up, as though there were some bridal showers and baby showers taking place. The outdoor area has a duck pond that is quite large, with small fountains off the side of the building. It was really beautifully done. They also sell duck feed for the kids. On Sunday, they had their regular menu and their brunch menu. I chose the salmon Benedict, though the crab cake Benedict sounded equally appealing. Service was good. I liked that staff walked around with pitchers of iced tea and water so we could have refills throughout our lunch, I had mixed feelings about my food. The fruit was fresh and sweet. The egg on my Benedict was perfectly cooked and runny, but I thought a seafood place would have had a bit thicker pieces of salmon. My salmon was not the highlight of my plate, as it should have been. The potatoes had a sun-dried tomato sauce. It was tasty, but I would have preferred more traditional hash browns or house fries to accompany my egg dish. I noticed a great looking happy hour menu, and since I regularly work nearby, I may return to check it out. All in all, I really loved the atmosphere and friendly service. The best part was the retro feel. I enjoyed the food, but I do think it could have been better. I look forward to coming back to sit by the pond and try some different menu items. read more

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We have been coming to Anthony's for over 30 years starting with the original one by the docks but when we found the La Mesa location with more options we were so excited! We have tried so many things here and we have never been disappointed! The service is always stellar and getting to sit by their lake inside or outside is always a treat. Anthony's is the top must go to restarant in San Diego!! read more

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Came here on our vacation with family. We had never been here. Hostess, and staff are awesome very welcoming. Prices are fair and that's nice. We placed drink order with our waiter and everything was served in a timely manner. Its kept clean and has nice decor. The meals we ordered along with bread and butter were super delicious. Everything right down to the seahorse Sundays for the kids was great. A new favorite when we are down for a visit in the future. Can't wait to try more things on our next visit. read more

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Still great! The breading on the OG seafood is light and the tartar sauce is unique. The lunch entrees are an appropriate size and less expensive than at night. The setting on the lake is delightful, but too hot today for the outside lakeside tables. I was there as they opened and snagged a window table. read more

Anthony's Fish Grotto - lunch sized shrimp & fish platter. - Seafood Near Me - La Mesa, California

I've been back in California for about a year and a half, and I've been wanting to get over here to Anthony's as I have fond memories of coming here with my parents when I was a kid, but that was 50 years ago, actually over 50, but that part doesn't really matter much. I called to make sure that they had some fresh oysters as I haven't had any fresh oysters since I've been back in California. So I grabbed my friend and we went to eat an early lunch. And of course, there was no parking close. It was already jammed full of cars by the time we got there. So it was a bit of a walk, but I didn't mind. I was looking forward to this meal. We decided to sit outside on the small lake, it looks more like a pond to me, but hey whatever. I ordered the oysters first and a corona with a lime. It was a nice seat and of course it was beautiful outside. I looked at the menu and figured I'd get the lobster with a fillet, but we waited and waited after they brought my beer and the oysters which were pathetic actually. I don't remember having any oysters in a long time that were so small. The shells weren't that small but the oysters themselves were just pathetically small, barely a bite. And whoever opened the oysters did not cut the oyster free from the shell so I had to do that on each one so I just basically ended up tearing them up since I didn't have a knife. Very un impressive especially when you're talking six oysters for $20. to me, That's pathetic also. We waited and waited and waited, but by the time someone came back, I was fed up with waiting and I was fed up with having puny oysters for $20, and it turned out the corona was $15. I could buy a case of corona for $15, so that was a pathetic markup also. Yes, this place is expensive and upscale, but I don't expect to pay $15 for a single beer, nor do I expect to pay $20 for six crummy little oysters that were not prepared properly. I asked for a check and we just left. All the fond memories I have as child eating at this place are destroyed in one little afternoon sitting. I'll never be back, and I can't really recommend this place with the experience that I had. If this place was really good it wouldn't have 3 1/2 stars. It's a gift to be giving you two stars, because as far as I'm concerned, it should be one, but I don't like leaving the one star unless it's a total total disaster. This was just a major disappointment. I ended up going and getting a nice 16 inch meat lovers pizza from my favorite pizza place. It doesn't make the stinging of going to a crummy, expensive restaurant and getting lousy service and gouged for the food better, but I did enjoy the pizza. read more

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Iconic with great ambiance and service. Menu is diverse, but pricey in my opinion. Great for a celebratory meal but too expensive to have on your regular eat-out rotation. read more

We had a large party of 15, Nancy our server and rest of staff handled it like a pro! Very happy with service and food. Prices reasonable. Seating and booths very accommodating and comfortable, with nice view of duck pond. we ordered a wide range of items from the menu from steak, calamari steak, daughter got clam linguine from Appetizer as her entree. Octopus leg was excellent pupu. My Crab/Shrimp Louie was excellent as my meal. Big Bay Combo looked scrumptious next to me..A few enjoyed their margaritas, bottle of wine, water refills were prompt. Bill was reasonable & easy parking! would come again next visit to SD. read more

Anthony's Fish Grotto - Crab & Shrimp Louie Salad - Seafood Near Me - La Mesa, California

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This restaurant is my childhood wrapped up with so many memories! From going to lunch with my grandmother (her favorite place) to meeting up for family dinners on special occasions, to now sharing these same traditions here with my children. This is the last of several Anthony restaurants in San Diego. It's the OG of them ALL with so much history. Since 1946 Mama Ghio took her uniquely inspired Italian dishes to life that still live on through generations of her famiglia. They are most known for their Manhattan (red) clam chowder. There is NOTHING in this world like it. So creamy, just the right amount of perfectly cut cubed potatoes, marvelous mirepoix, combo of clams & just the right amount of pleasant spices. The calamari and that batter are unbelievable! Light texture, tender tentacles and crunchy exterior that are cooked to perfection. Plus, their red cocktail sauce that companies it, is literally the best (cocktail sauce) you'll ever have in your life! Their creamy tartar sauce is pretty tasty too. The louie salad (choice of seafood) is incredible in presentation & taste. The house white salad dressing you could drink. LOL Order extra!! These menu items (I refer too) are extraordinary, hard to perfect and that's why these dishes are a family secret recipe(s) for a reason! Over the years things have changed on the menu as far as menu options, original taste (I recall) and price, but the memories will forever stay the same. EVERY time we are in San Diego this is a must have spot for me. My favorite restaurant for so many reasons including the gift of bringing me back in time. The entire locations grounds are maintained well. We like to dine outside by the water. It's a dog friendly area as well. You are able to feed the ducks/ geese and fish with bread & or saltine crackers. Inside it's a little mermaids paradise as an illusion of an "under the sea" theme. Highly suggest you go during off peak hours. Either right when they open or a late lunch around 2:00 PM and 4:00 PM for an early dinner. Otherwise, you will have a hard time getting in or have a long wait. They offer happy hour, kids menu, brunch specials, banquets and a private dining menu too! Please visit their little inside shop near the hostess station (entrance). Pick up some of their amazing cocktail sauce, tartar sauce, trinkets and more! read more

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Went to Anthony's the other day with my family who was visiting town. Overall it was good. The waitress was very kind and I loved the view of the lake. I loved the clams, but wasn't the biggest fan of the cheesecake. read more

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