Anthony's Fish Grotto has amazing food. The service is top notch every time. Always greeted with a smile immediately when arriving. The cemented rock walls makes the ambiance very unique and inviting. There is a full glass window to view the pond outside including an patio dining. It is a great place to bring guests! read more

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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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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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 is always consistently good! My wife had the red chowder and didn't like it much. She said it tasted like potatoes...I had the white chowder, as always and it was delicious! We are waiting for our fish tacos and I'm sure they will be delicious also. The lake always soothes my soul! The service continues to be excellent. Happy service makes for a happy meal...most times! Tacos were delicious...black beans ok...would recommend to the chef Cole slaw instead of beans! 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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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

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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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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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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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

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 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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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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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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Fish arrived cold as were the potatoes and rice, had to ask for bread and so got ONE roll each...like there was a bread shortage. Terrible experience from start to finish and then I got food poisoning from the fish... read more

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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We ate dinner here because it was just across the lot from our hotel. It's got an old school ambiance, it reminded me of an old style truck stop, although it was much better than that. I thought it was very affordable for a fish restaurant. We had fish and chips ant trout. It was good but not exceptional. The service was good. The "lake" in the back was kind on neat, a few little ducks in it. 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'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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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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So great! Really great ambience! Super fun survive! Great food! Even our busser is as awesome!! Dylan and will! Had a great Valentine's Day here! read more

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

Anthony's restaurant is one of our all-time favorites. They have the most wonderful food and bunny is our waitress and she's been here a long time. She knows her stuff. She is very efficient. You can sit here and watch the baby ducks swim around the lake. And the fish and chips is amazing read more

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Great seafood. I have been going here for years and going back again today to celebrate a special birthday

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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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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Start to finish...super staff! Our server was Annette who was very patient with we 3 ladies who arrived at different times! I ordered a hot sushi roll that was listed as a special and it sure was! My friend ordered ahi seared to perfection. We hadn't seen each other in a yr or 2 so we were at the table awhile. Annette was a gem! I first ate at Anthony's in the early 70's. It was a showcase restaurant then and, though it has aged (as many of us have), the food quality and varietal menu are still excellent! read more

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

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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Service was decent. Ambiance looks dated. Needs a refresh. The food? Gawd awful. Yuck is another description for what was served. The cooks need training on quality and flavors. I find it hard to believe people give this place high ratings. I suppose the bar is low versus for me I expect better than what was served here. Especially for the prices. One dish was sautéed shrimp with vegetables and rice. Not sure what they did but both the shrimp and vegetables were inedible. I wanted to return it but the person I was with did t want to make a big deal. The best part of the entire mean was the Spumoni. Something the cooks didn't get to make thank goodness. I'd avoid this place. The Brigantine is nearby. So if you want fish go there. What a waste of time and money. read more

I was craving lobster tail and steak and happened to come across Anthony's Fish Grotto as a recommendation -- and I'm so glad I did. My wife and I went last night, and the entire experience was absolutely amazing. From the moment we walked in, the ambience had me excited, and once we stepped inside and saw the beautiful lake, it genuinely took my breath away. And somehow, it only got better from there. The food was incredible -- perfectly cooked and full of flavor -- and the service was just as fantastic. Everything from start to finish felt special. We can't wait to come back!! read more

Anthony's Fish Grotto - Lobster Duos (Lobster Tail and Top Sirloin Steak) - Seafood Near Me - La Mesa, California

Anthony's consistently serves delicious, simply prepared sea food which allows the natural goodness of the seafood shine through. Their white clam chowder is comfort food for us. It's the perfect starter. The lunch portion of fried fish and shrimp is served with a choice of sides and we got the coleslaw. The coleslaw is another Must-Have - slightly sweet with pineapple is perfect. The fish and chips are hot and crispy and their tartar sauce complements the dish perfectly. I got the sand dabs and they were prepared with a light crust and a dash of lemon. Our server Bev was super! We came in as they opened so there was a rush to seat and get people's orders. Bev was cheerful and efficient and handled the diners with ease. We love sitting by the window and watching the ducks in the pond. read more

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The food is okay. I had the fish sandwich, pretty good, the calamari light and fluffy. Prices were higher than quality. Service was average/slow even with a low amount of customers for lunch. The decor is older. The pond and water spouts are neat. Outside tables need spinning fly shoo swatters or plants that catch or deter flies. read more

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

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We had my mom's birthday celebration here and it was amazing! We got the banquet room that overlooked the water. We were very well taken care of. The tables were set up with nice linens and napkins.Everything we ordered was delicious and served timely. Our waiter Will amazing! He was on top of everything and catered to our every need. The ambience is beautiful . can't say enough about our experience. Thank you so much! read more

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

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Came for dinner on a Monday night, and this restaurant is super underwater themed, really leaned into the decor with it. I enjoyed the lake out back and patio lights were pretty! As for the food, I ordered the seafood kabob and some cole slaw which was a way bigger portion than I thought, kind of closer to a salad and on the sweeter side. The seafood kabob was good! The scallops almost melted in my mouth and I loved the garlic butter. The BREAD we got as an appetizer was divine, crunchy outside, very soft and fluffy inside. That along with the pimento butter was great! Our server was very sweet and attentive as well, gave us good recommendations. For dessert we got their seasonal pumpkin creme brûlée cheesecake, which I felt like on paper there was a lot going on, but was curious to try. The cheesecake itself was a little dense, but I loved the crust and the crunchy top that came with the creme brûlée. Didn't get much pumpkin, but it was still good. read more

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Our waiter was good but I have to tell you about Alec, the bus boy. This young man (who I've seen here for several years) is so polite and is on his job helping all customers always with a smile! I think he will be an excellent waiter for your business some day very soon! He would get my vote! read more

A lifetime of memories at Anthony's (nearly 6 decades). Growing up Anthony's Harborside was my first fancy grotto (restaurant) . Always my choice for birthday dinners or family special occasions. As I grew up I would discover La Mesa and Chula Vista were impressive places for date nights. I would eventually do business lunches at Chula Vista. My Sister's Rehearsal Dinner was at the Golden Triangle location. It is bittersweet that only the La Mesa waterfront grotto is left. We as a family are still happy to go for special occasions. Somethings have changed over the years but the personal nostalgia is still very alive and we have Mama Ghio to thank. Today the last standing location in La Mesa offers 10/10 food. 10/10 service, 10/10 atmosphere. I hope there are many people like me that always smile and nearly weep when coming here. From my family to yours we wish you another 79 years of success. Thank you! read more