This place is tucked away but definitely a standout! The food was delicious and freshly made! The menu has so many great options that it is difficult to choose! It's conveniently located in a small business complex in LaMesa. The service is very good. It has indoor and outdoor seating and also dog friendly. I will definitely be back to try out more menu options! read more

It's been years since I've gone . Pulled up people eating brekfast . Place was spotless so clean and the service was 10. The ambiance was perfect very quiet . And the food was so good .. read more

La Mesa Bistro - Breakfast croissant - Cafes Near Me - La Mesa, California

I've driven by this place many times and finally stopped by! I had corned beef hash and it was absolutely delicious! Portions were great too! Potatoes weren't bland! Service was also lovely! I can't wait to be back! I love a delicious breakfast!!! read more

Me and my boyfriend love coming here, he has a strict diet and they have alot of heathy options. The prices are reasonable, and the food is always hot. There is little to no wait once you place an order. I love how many different coffees they have. Never had a bad experience here, we been coming here almost once a week' super cozy and we love it because its never slammed packed! read more

La Mesa Bistro - Egg Benedict Breakfast and Strawberry Pancakes - Cafes Near Me - La Mesa, California

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Service and food are great! Local casual vibe. Our community lucky they survived the pandemic because they're off the beaten path. Find your way there & enjoy yummy food. read more

The La Mesa Bistro is reliably great, in terms of food and service. I tried a different dish this time: the buttermilk banana walnut pancakes. Once you try their buttermilk pancakes, you'll never want to order pancakes at other restaurants. I only get pancakes here. They taste like cake! The buttermilk really makes a difference in the taste. Pay the extra few dollars- it'll be worth your while. I also ordered a Mexican mocha again- which has become my favorite drink here. It's strong and chocolately. read more

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Good variety, great bunch spot. Gets busy so come early and come hungry! Friendly staff.

Counter service, but only one person taking orders??? I was a bit late and the others in my group had already ordered. There there were 10-12 people in line, so waited 10 or so minutes with my group, walked back to ordering area, but the line still was long and after 2 to 3 times, gave up. Not sure why the restaurant doesn't have a second person help out with ordering during the busy times in today's world, with portable software to facilitate orders? Didn't end up eating or drinking. It's too bad as otherwise, the restaurant seems like a popular place to go to. My friends were served their breakfast promptly, they all enjoyed their food and the servers immediately responded to any issues. read more

I LOVE their potatoes rancheros! Unfortunately I moved away but every time I go back to La Mesa I stop and get it there. Good prices and good coffee too! read more

We were looking for a breakfast spot to go to after church somewhere in the La Mesa area and ran across this place on Yelp. This is not a place where you wait to be seated and then order your food. It's a self service place where you stand in line, order your food and find your own table. And if you order coffee, you have to go back inside if you want more. Same goes for water, I'm sure. We ended up sitting outside since a majority of the tables inside were taken. There were so many things on the menu to choose from, which if you're standing in a long line like we were, gives you plenty of time to decide. They do have some items not on the actual menu posted on the chalkboards behind the register. As for our order, my husband got the steak and eggs and had no complaints. I opted for the Lobster Benedict. The eggs were more boiled than poached, so that was disappointing. I didn't care for the asparagus that was mixed into it, which felt stringy to me. There was a good amount of lobster so that was a plus. I also got a Chai Tea Latte which was very good, in my opinion. My son ordered the Country Fried Steak and he approved, considering he's a picky teenager. Overall, not hateful. We definitely have to come back another day and try other things on the menu. read more

La Mesa Bistro - Top: USDA Choice All Natural Steak and Eggs Special Left: Lobster Benedict Breakfast Right: Country Fried Steak Breakfast - Cafes Near Me - La Mesa, California

This restaurant is our go to with friends. I love the variety in the menu. It's great to pay at the counter so we don't fight over the bill. I love the unlimited coffee choices. They have really fixed up the outside. It's such a relaxing great place to go. read more

Great classic diner feel. Menu feels like a diner but the counter feels like a take out restaurant. But it provides for a good casual feel and a great place to meet with people. I had the country fried steak and it was great and a huge portion. read more

Probably the best in East County humble beginnings and great staff that aim to please. Very fast line don't be intimidated by the line I try to have someone in the party grab a table. I'm not a fan of outdoor patios ( feel the fish bowl affect) we try to get a table towards the back. They have 2 very clean restrooms and I try to tighten the loose toilet seats. Lol. Great coffee selection and again the staff is very friendly and helpful!!! If it's not right they ll fix it! Worth the price and plenty of parking before 10:00AM. Everything is great. Huge selections for the fussy few!! I m not one of them! read more

We had highhhh hopes. When we arrived there was one line about 8 people deep and one girl working the register. Seems odd on a weekend to not have more hands helping out. Husband ordered omelet. Asked for no potatoes. Got lots of potatoes. He was sad. Can't eat them on keto and they sat on his plate staring at him!! I ordered the Benedict. SOOOO salty. I could only manage to eat about 30% of the plate. We ordered 2 iced coffees that were honestly - TERRIBLE. We sent them back. I did get my son the Nutella pancakes to go and OH MY they were good!!! Super good!!! Hence the 3 stars. We would not return for the line and less than average food/beverage. read more

Local breakfast and lunch diner. Wanted to take my dad that wasn't his go to. The setup and menu is similar to swami's in that you stand in line, pay at the counter, and then get a number and your food is brought to you. The menu is similar in that there's lots of healthy options, including açaí bowls and smoothies. I ordered the Popeye omelette - which was filling and cooked well. I wanted less carbs, so I opted for the fruit. What was great about it was that it wasn't the standard cheap fruits, but has blueberry and strawberry mixed in. My toast came with homemade berry jam / compote which was a nice surprise. My dad got blueberry pancakes and added bacon and eggs. He liked the pancakes a lot! Any restaurant that he says it was okay and he takes a menu or picture off the menu is a good sign. Finding new places that aren't too fancy is a challenge with him, but he walked away satisfied. The next time I get breakfast in the area with my dad, this will be an option. read more

La Mesa Bistro - Blueberry Pancakes - Cafes Near Me - La Mesa, California

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This place has a huge menu, the food is definitely sharable and delicious !!! I enjoyed my breakfast and saved the other half for later. The service is great. Pay first and they get the order right to you in a timely manner. I appreciate that. Look forward to trying out other entrees next time! read more

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Great food and service! We love the options for everyone even vegetarians and those with allergies

What a charming and unassuming DINER posing as a bistro! I'm pleasantly surprised at the quality and extensive menu options. At first glance, I thought this was going to be a generic spot for gathering up the grannies but I was humbled on the rainy day that I met up with my friend for a no frills birthday breakfast. Don't get me wrong, this is still a granny gathering spot but at least you can get your gluttonous foodie groove on because the portions are massive and the combinations are endless. The options are so plentiful that it gave me anxiety because they expect you to stare at several lists' worth of hieroglyphs prior to ordering at the counter. My freaky foodie self was stuck between the stuffed French toast and about 5 other selections so by the time I got to the counter, I was frowning at all the pressure I was under. Do I go for potatoes? Do I want an omelette? Am I strictly sweet? Savory? Wannabe healthy? Do I want to knock out first thing in the morning? As you can see, I was befuddled. However, I ended up ordering the stuffed French toast with a side of bacon and scrambled eggs because I was sold on the word "stuffed". It was sinfully fulfilling. The French toast is stuffed with cream cheese and topped with strawberries. Of course the eggs and bacon were mediocre but I wasn't expecting them to do a dance. After all, we're in La Mesa. If you're looking for spice and intriguing flavor... travel to the inner city ;) Final verdict is that I would return while I'm gathering up my grannies aka taking my mom out while I'm hungover. read more

The place has some friendly people working the counter but the food is salty, stale, soggy and mediocre for the price. I paid 30 dollars for one person and didn't even get a glass of water I asked for. 10/10 would go to a better chain like iHOP or a nicer place like Snooze because it's the same price. Place is boomer central and smells like feet and a library. read more

Recently very disappointed. I have been to this place in the last once or twice and recall breakfast being good. At the most recent visit , ordered omelette breakfast with potatoes. Once getting home realized that the potatoes were extremely salty, there was very bad avocado and burnt toast. It was not a very hot day and we had gone straight home about 10 minutes away so it's hard to know why someone would think this was okay to serve. This completely ruined the meal, I didn't want to waste time going back for a refund but probably would not go back. read more

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This is a very neighborhood type of spot. They offer free coffee and everyone seems to know everyone. I ordered the guacamole club sandwich and blackened steak sandwich. Both sandwiches had great flavor but was a little on the greasy side. Price point was very very reasonable. read more

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I Love this place! It is truly a home cooked meal! :) Chilaquiles were delicious! Service is great! Outdoor seating is my fave. read more

Friendly service. Huge menu and great food. Hard to decide what to order! Always busy.

Guys this spot has great food, my favorite is the Blueberry, Lemon, ricotta, pancakes. They come out fluffy with crispy edges, just delicious! The Asai bowl is great as well. You basically can't go wrong with whatever you order here. Oh and the coffee is great as well! ENJOY! read more

Food was good: I had the corned beef hash & egg special. The atmosphere was pleasant and the restaurant appeared sanitary & well kept. I also appreciated ordering & paying at the counter because tipping isn't expected at that juncture. I can leave it on the table upon departure, if I choose. However, not having a waiter takes away from the pleasant atmosphere experience & creates more of a cafeteria feel. Food pic was after I started eating. read more

La Mesa Bistro - Corned Beef Hash (crispy) & Eggs Special (scrambled) and hash browns. That tea was superb, by the way. - Cafes Near Me - La Mesa, California

We ordered ahead and had a pick up time, but when we arrived it took an extra half hour to make our breakfast. Worst of all, we ordered and paid for 3 orders of bacon and did not get them. The bag was tied so we didn't check to see if we got the whole order, but we should have pulled it apart. Finally got to our destination and realized we paid all that money for nothing. read more

Amazing fresh breakfast food, large menu meant something for everyone in our party, generous portions & delicious coffee! Go there!!

Wonderful neighborhood spot. The menu here is vast & everything looked so tasty that it was tough to decide just what to get. Luckily I came here with a small group so we were all able to share a little bit of our picks so we could taste a range of options. In the end, we had a tough time picking who had the best item. That's a great sign. Definitely left me wanting to come back (which I certainly will next time I'm visiting family in San Diego). Throw in very reasonable prices for the serving sizes and it just sweetens the deal. Staff is very friendly and helpful. They do a good job of giving each customer the time they need to pick their dish while also keeping the line moving at a decent rate. Even if there is a long ordering line, don't be worried. You will get to the front of the line quickly. Seating can be a bit limited. We got lucky & found a table in the back big enough for our party of 6 but we saw plenty of people hovering around waiting for something to open up. Luckily it seemed like most of those people were able to find a place to sit before their food came out. read more

As many times as we have eaten here in the past, and told others about it, I will officially say never again. La Mesa Bistro has grossly gone down hill. The food was lousy. Pastrami Melt: $15.50 and had more cheese on it than pastrami. Two thin slices of cold cut pastrami was laughable. Then on to the service. The tall guy working there has a horrible demeanor. Very unwelcoming and unfriendly. We will never be back to patronize this mom and pop shop again. read more

Came with boyfriend. found hair in my ahi tuna sandwhich. he found a lighter hair in his benedict. nasty. read more

La Mesa Bistro - found hair in my ahi tuna sandwhich. he found a lighter hair in his benedict. nasty. - Cafes Near Me - La Mesa, California

Good service liked the place but the food was honestly not that great the water cup I had smelled bad and it kinda just threw me off. The inside of the place was nice though so 3 stars out of 5!!! read more

My doctors office ordered from this place for breakfast this morning and missed 1 order. My food was going great till I found metal inside my hash and almost chocked!. Luckily I didn't have to go to the hospital and get an endoscopic surgery to remove the sharp metal out of me! read more

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Great food. The breakfast here is fantastic and wish this place was closer to home because I'd come here daily. Even their jams are homemade! read more

We love this place. Every breakfast item I've tried has been delicious. My favorite are the blueberry pancakes. A good spot to dine with a group, as you order first and then sit down and food is brought out to your table. The coffee selection is great and you can refill yourself. All of the staff are very friendly and helpful. read more

Came in for a quick and simple breakfast. I was assisted by a handsome gentleman who was happy to help. I got a 2 egg and toast breakfast that came with refillable coffee or tea and many to choose from. My eggs were cooked as asked and came out quickly. The restaurant is very clean. You order first, they give you a number, then you can pour your own drink and wait for your order at your table. If you want to be left alone, but still go out to a restaurant for breakfast or lunch, it's perfect. They have a large menu with many options as well. The salsa and preserves with my breakfast taste like they make it in house. I will come back here. read more

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This was my 1st time here and I ordered the best corn beef hash in San Diego. The salsa needs to be bottled as well as the fresh squeezed orange juice. Everything was amazing I will be back!!! read more

La Mesa Bistro - Cornbeef hash,fried eggs and potatoes with Freshed squeezed OJ - Cafes Near Me - La Mesa, California

Food was mediocre, I ordered a pastrami burger with grilled onions and it came out with raw red onions. My wife's ordered a chicken wrap which was nothing special. Service was awful. I dislike tipping up front for this reason. 20% was given just for the delivery of food. The waitress didn't check on us at all. She threw an orange juice on the table and walked away. When she delivered the food she set it down, took the oj away. My wife asked for an ice water and she never returned. I was also out of soda with half my meal still to eat. She also had to go and get her own takeout container. Ambiance it had a hand painted mural but isn't enough to make us return. $47 for a lunch with no service is an awful experience. Won't be back read more

We usually do pick up and it's quick and delicious! My favorites are the la Mesa omelette or the Ensenada omelette. Huge flavor and huge portions! Tip: ask for the fresh fruit jam! read more

The food was just ok as well as the service. Went for brunch for my friends birthday. The cafe mocha I had was delicious. All the other ladies food look delicious and they really enjoyed what they got. I might go again just for the Cafe mocha. read more

La Mesa Bistro - Cafes Near Me - La Mesa, California

Always plenty of food. Parking can be a bit tricky. Strip mall with some business reserving spaces. Never had bad food. Several kinds it coffee and tea. The staff is super nice and friendly. Nice patio but gets crowded on weekends. read more