50 Best American Restaurants near Lakeside

“My 1st time here mid May 2024.Super sweet and fast service, fun old fashion atmosphere and cool old time decor. Great local place. Large portions, quality food. Clean restaurant and restrooms. This was my 1st visit however, they have been here a long while and pushed hard to stay open during Covid-19. Parking lot is small, however we had no issue.“

“I stopped after the Rodeo and I'm so glad I did! Great horseshoe bar with various tvs showing sports and I couldn't help but sing to their awesome play list. The bartenders were very friendly. Food and drinks were yummy. Then to top it off the locals were super nice and informed me about trivia. We formed a team and luckily had a college "kid" on our team 😅 who also works there. There is a great outdoor space for the whole family, kid friendly with an arcade. An amazing evening. I will definitely be back 😋😍“

“Sage at Barona Casino has always been a great spot. It's a great atmosphere to walk into. Food is great with nice portions and the prices are well worth it! You have to try their Prime Rib or World Famous French Toast! Afterwards, go hit the casino floor and try your luck! Thank you Barona for becoming 100% Smoke FREE!!!“

“Excellent service,excellent food“

“Soy dueño de las franquicias desde hace 28 años estoy esperando su comunicación de mis ganancias y más con sus derivados tengo mi. Contrato de franquicias con Dennys restaurantes cocos bakery restaura“

“Love the Barona!! Highly recommend!! I live in Texas and was going to be in the San Diego area for my job. I frequent Winstar casino in Oklahoma and booked a stay with Steven at the Barona. It blows Winstar away!! This place is beautiful and we loved the balcony view from our room. Steven checked on us throughout our stay and ensured we were having a good time. Ask for Steven, he is amazing! The slots were loose and we had a fantastic time. We loved the food court and you must have a cinnamon roll from the coffee shop!! Already planning our next trip to stay at the Barona Casino and Resort!!“

“The sandwich with beef and chimichurri is delicious!! Excellent service…“

“Amazing spot I can’t remember the last time that I was at Adi. They had such a willingness for the customer besides with on the board they said it will make you whatever you want however, you want it the price was incredible for the size of the sandwich the taste I mean it’s five star all the way across, the server, the one working the register and he even gave me free set of cookies definitely will come back to visit the swat again. Highly recommend Able.“

“We went in on a Saturday afternoon and wasn't very busy but we got a table and bought a few game cards. Which also yet you drinks. I really love how the center piece is the drink station. It's all self serve beer and wine. Which I thought was very cool. It's not a huge place and they don't serve food but they hook up with the pizza place next door.“

“Swami's has the perfect local vibe with great food and great service! We recommend them to visitors and locals who don't know yet. It is a great La Mesa dining option!“

“Our server Savanah was fantastic. Thank you Savanah, you made our evening.
Thank you Black Bear - 2 of our party of 3 had their meals "on the house." Veterans, on Veterans Day. What a nice surprise. ?
We enjoy your restaurant ?“

“amazing food 4 many decades in a family owned,family friendly atmosphere. a true east county gem“

“Cali Burgers, fries, Chicken sandwich, Fish and coleslaw. The food here and service is great come see for yourself.“

“What can't we say about dining at the Lemon Grove Bistro? Fine dining simply isn't enough to sum up our experience at the Lemon Grove Bistro. For our 2025 Employee Appreciation Luncheon, this Lemon Grove gem was our host of choice. From a five-star meal to a savory presidential dessert, the Lemon Grove Bistro does not disappoint. We can't thank you enough.“

“Had a great time. Food was amazing and our server Casey was even better. My wife and I will definitely be coming back to sit in her area. Mozzarella sticks were amazing So is there chicken piccata. Looking forward to trying more on the menu“

“the Hawaiian with crispy chicken. omg I miss that.“

“Extremely generous portion sizes. My mom had the watermelon salad which was unique and refreshing, i had the french dip which is what i always order and is how i judge restaurants, and it was great. fries are amazing and the au jus is rosemary infused which made it delightfully fragrant but not over powering. and my mom’s espresso martini came in a chilled glass which is a nice touch. the bread was also hot and very good. oh plus excellent service! and i like that you can hear the live music but it’s not so loud. highly recommend (:“

“It was a wonderful experience! The decor drew us into the patio area with quaint Mexican architecture and design. We were seated directly and we found the service by the staff was top shelf! There was an excellent menu and drinks list to choose from. We ordered from the menu offering entrees for two and we were not disappointed! The food was delicious and we had room for dessert which had a great choice of desserts to choose from. Overall it was a great experience!!! We will definitely return!!!“

“My friend Jerry and I had lunch on Saturday at around 1 pm and we shared the meatloaf dinner. Unfortunately we both got really sick from it and thought it was food poisoning. Luckily we didn’t have to go to emergency but suffered from it for a long time. We will never have that again. We are regular customers and enjoy the potato cheese soup.“

“The Not-so-Tots are great. Order them with no liquid cheese, only shredded cheese (unless you like liquid imitation cheese). The chili cheese dogs are pretty good too. The hamburgers, are pretty awful. Every time I have ordered one, the meat has been stale. That kind of almost rancid fat taste. I gave it 4 stars overall, because tater tot nachos? Doesn't get much better than that. Atmosphere is lacking, the tables are crowded together, and they're always busy, so service is so-so.“

“I recently had the pleasure of enjoying brunch at Red Tail, and it exceeded all expectations. The impeccable service provided by Avery added an extra layer of delight to the experience. From the spot-on food to the clean ambiance, every aspect of my visit was truly enjoyable. Avery's efficiency stood out, making it a memorable dining experience. Highly recommended!“

“T&A Adventures is @ The Hills Local Pub in La Mesa California having THE BEST BURGER of our adventures so far! I mean WOW! Juicy deliciousness! Garlic Parm Burger - Half Pound patty, candied jalapeño bacon, swiss, garlic aioli, arugula, tomato, brioche bun, parmesean crisp - Served w Fries. Absolute 🔥! Our Server "Jordan" was awesome too.“

“This was a lovely restaurant I came to for my friend's birthday. Every guest seemed to like their dish. I ordered a club sandwich (no bacon, no tomatoes) with a side of fries but I was a bit disappointed when they brought it with bacon and tomatoes. They sent it back and corrected the order, and it ended up being pretty good and very filling. The restaurant has an outdoor terrace that has a beautiful view on the pool area.“

“Grand Slam of a place ! Been coming since childhood and never disappointed.“

“We had the greatest server, Taylor in your Rancho San Diego restaurant, Jamacha Road,. She was so personable, efficient, friendly and extremely attentive. The food arrived hot and it was delicious. It was a party of 3, and we all agreed the meals were the best we’ve had out in a long time. We thoroughly enjoyed it and Taylor made our experience delightful!!! We’ll definitely return to this establishment.

Parking: Disabled parking is conveniently positioned.“

“it's always a great place to eat. It hits the spot everytime. Dawson was so kind taking the order. I appreciate great Customer Service !“

“Arrived on a Wednesday for $5 Bingo, I want to say the play started at 2pm… and since I skipped lunch, I needed a snack before dinner. The Bingo Hall offers food from Double Down Grill next door. I decided to share a cheeseburger, add fries with my partner. The burger was damn delicious, the brioche bun was so soft and the fries crispy and hot, just how I like them. It was like $16 altogether with tip! So worth it, give them a try!“

“My waiter Lew was awesome �“

“Great sandwiches, you can choose your toppings! family owned, clean and convenient love this place 👍“

“I live out east nowadays, but I visit my hometown in La Mesa yearly. Came to Curbside for the first time last year, and just now went back again. I wish we had food like this around here when I was growing up!! My gosh, the short rib beef is incredible. Had it on a salad last time, and just now had the short rib taco along with an equally impressive fish taco. I got a few bites of the beef kebab too, and it was just as top-notch! Great seating options with a view of La Mesa Blvd. Good beer list too. And wonderful staff. I wish I had more time to try more of the menu—but I’ll be back every time I’m in San Diego down the line. Wishing the best to Curbside!“

“Great Friday night Live Music!! ❤️🎶“

“I'm leaving a review about this place in general, and Andres in particular. I was unsure of what to order and he took his time and helped me pick a great option. Thank you for your exceptional customer service! This place is one of my favorite restaurants in EC, and employees like Andres is one of the main reasons why this place is awesome.“

“This place gets pretty busy on weekends! The parking lot may be full but you can still park along the street. It’s pretty large so there’s usually seats. I love the borracho fries, so good! Also the pulled pork and the cheeseburger are tasty too. The service is good as well. My one complaint is they run out of their popular items by 2pm, tri tip and hot links get sold out really fast. I know they can only bbq so much but maybe add some more of the popular meats?“

“The workers are always so kind and ready to greet you with a smile. The restaurant is always clean and has a welcoming feeling as soon as u enter. The dishes are always clean in the mornings, not like other restaurants where you see dirty spots on the cups. It's just amazing service especially on Sundays the busy days. Props to everyone working there. The owner really knows how to manage a restaurant. I will recommend many friends and family to eat here knowing they'll leave satisfied. The young looking guy that's always wearing an apron on Sundays and sweeping, working nonstop is always saying hi to everyone and very kind. He looks like a hardworker.

Vegetarian options: They have plenty of yummy vegetarian options. Just let them know what your craving and they will accommodate.

Parking: They have plenty of parking. And extra parking.

Kid-friendliness: The workers are always very sweet and patient with the kids. My daughter loves going to give them hugs.“

“I love this place , The Beer is good and cold ! The Brisket is the best for me , nice and juices, never dry w/ just a touch of char that gives it the best taste ever ! The portions seem like there smaller but I blame covid and all the other things that have gone on in our country, like the cost of living anymore is getting bad, we feel it and I'm sure the management feels it to ! And trust me ,Phil's is good but, Cali has it beat hands down !
Thanks you guys !“

“Loved everything we got tonight, the chicken sandwich, pulled pork, amazing! So were the fried Mac and cheese balls!!!!“

“I picked up some ribs and a sandwich for dinner last night and the food was awesome as always. Portions were big enough that I had leftovers. Corbin O'Reilly and Vince always make me feel special!“

“I personally like the Surf n' Turf tots. It has carne asada and shrimp. What else do you need? 😁

Parking: A lot of businesses like the liquor store, cleaners, laundromat, and 7-11 sharing the same parking lot. So, sometimes, it's tough to find a spot.

Wheelchair accessibility: Too small of a place to go in on a wheelchair.“

“I haven't had BBQ this good in San Diego. If you are craving legit smoked meats this place is awesome. service is as good as the food.“

“Great tasting food wonderful service“

“Great food, fantastic beer selection, phenomenal staff all wrapped up in a very cool space!“

“This location can get wayyyy over-crowded, but they do a decent job of keeping up with the flow of traffic. Although, I will say that waiting for an hour and 10 minutes for a Dbl Dbl + fries light well seems slightly excessive...

Thankfully, my meal was delicious as ever! 😋“

“Me encanto el lugar que es muy familiar♥️“

“My fav burger. Always hot and fresh. Good people with friendly faces.“

“best local burger spot. Fresh, delicious and great prices. 👍 Support local businesses.“

“Delicious breakfasts 😋 and good service“

“Jenn was our server and she was so helpful! and treated us just like family. she walked us through the menu and helped us decide what to get. I got the mild chicken tenders with breadsticks (MADE FRESHLY!!!) and my boyfriend got the buffalo chicken fries. the fries are so crispy! 10/10 recommend!!“

“My biscuit and gravy were the 💣! Can't wait to go back🙂“

“The first time you go your a stranger but it didn't feel uncomfortable because you could tell that you were in a friendly atmosphere. Good singers, delicious drinks, good company, excellent bartenders and an attentive KJ! Karaoke is on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday 9:00 pm until closing. Pool tables and darts. If you don’t sing come by anyway … you’ll be glad you did. Hey you’ll probably see me there!“