Anthony's Fish Grotto

I have recently tried Anthony's in La Mesa for lunch and it did not disappoint. Easy to access off the freeway with ample parking. Adding more fish to my diet has been a goal of mine and twice now I have tried the Orange Roughy with seasonal vegetables and mashed potatoes. Delicious and a nice portion of everything! Seating is plentiful and I have been able to secure an inside table with a view of the adjacent lake complete with a nice resident group of ducks and beautiful fountains! They also have a nice patio area which I will try when the weather permits. I look forward to trying more of their fish options on future visits!

Wow! The food here is amazing! Delicious flavors, well seasoned and very well proportioned. Our Server was really attentive despite it being super busy and overall enjoyed ourselves and enjoyed our afternoon with a very nice view! Thank you!

Went here on Mother's Day with my family; We arrived a little after opening at 11am. Service was very unaccommodating; Manager on duty was unwilling to help with the extreme heat conditions by not turning on the fans or moving the table inside even after requesting. Food was disappointing and under cooked their popular crab and cheese wasnt even toasted on one side (pictures below) All that to be said; For a beautiful Mother's Day meal we were hoping for better service & food. Long story short: Would not recommend or return.

When I arrived I was created with a smile and seated at the bar. My server and bartender her name is Hannah she is incredible. I got crab cakes with a baked potato and they're amazing coleslaw. The atmosphere is outstanding they have a lake in the back with waterfalls and Bocce court for your enjoyment. As well as specialty alcohol milkshakes for your after dinner choices.

This a really uniquely designed place. Grotto is the right description. It definitely looks like it was built right into existing caves and is really pretty hidden from the roadway. Once inside the restaurant opens up and is quite expansive. On the menu they mention that you can play Bocci ball on the lawn. We decided that we were a little late in the evening for that but that's definitely a nice "old school" touch. Food and service were both great. Thanks RJ.

This little tucked away restaurant is beautiful! The ambiance was perfect and we were able to look out onto the lake with the twinkling lights surrounding it. We were seated right away on a Friday night, and Becky, our server, was extremely friendly and nice! We had someone with an allergy in our party and she did great to communicate with the kitchen and staff about the allergy and prepare a meal that was safe for that person. We all ordered something differently and everyone enjoyed their meal thoroughly! I had no idea this cute little place was tucked right behind the 8, it feels like you're world's away! I would recommend this restaurant for older children and families, as a date night out, or a girls night out. Definitely want to return here!

What a pleasant surprise! I came in expecting just a quick meal, but everything about this place impressed me — the service, the atmosphere, and most importantly, the food. I had the grilled chicken with rosemary potatoes, and it was perfectly seasoned and juicy. My friend had the vegetarian lasagna and said it was one of the best she’s ever had. The place was clean, quiet, and the music was at a comfortable level. Will definitely return!

I was excited to try Anthonys fish grotto for the first time. Atmosphere is like a hidden gem. Excellent customer service. Sadly, food was very bland, I had to add salt (which I never do). Mai Tai was very strong and delicious.

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!

8/6/25 I went to lunch at Anthony's Fish Grotto today. I asked the server how the salmon reuben was and she said it was really good. Then I asked about the crab/macaroni salad and she said it's macaroni salad with imitation crab in it, and it's pretty good. All I can say is what a let down and what a rip-off. I paid $19 for a little sandwich on a small piece of roll. Like smaller than a roll you would get for a 6 inch Subway sandwich, with a micro thin piece of salmon that was barely a quarter of an inch thick that was super dry, with the sauerkraut, house dressing and swiss cheese. For $19 you think you'd get a nice piece of salmon, but no. Now let's talk about the crab macaroni salad. It was basically tasted like overdressed store bought macaroni salad that had 3 little pieces of imitation crab in it. At least, that's all I could dig out and maybe 3 little tiny olives that was also a total rip-off. They didn't even try to elevate it. It was horrible. I was so disappointed in my meal, but I didn't make a scene or say anything because of the person we were there to celebrate. The portion of salmon you get at California Fish Grill on their new $10 menu is at least twice the size of what I was served here. This is the third time I've been to Anthony's in the past 6 months because other people chose it It has been disappointing every single time. I should have just ordered the fried calamari appetizer (which was great the last time I was here) and called it a day. I did leave a fairly large tip because our server, I think her name was Anastasia (or something like that) and Alec, our bus person, were awesome and did a great job.

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.

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.

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 .

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

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.

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.

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.

Food was good. Service was great. He was very funny and entertaining. Ambience is comfortable and a little loud. Because of a happy birthday party.

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.

Wow! What a diamond in the rough! Anthony's Fish Grotto is an amazing restaurant with a great lakeside dinner in the heart of East County. The ambiance is like no other restaurant in the area. You forget you're in La Mesa. The food was amazing and the service was prompt and friendly. Highly recommend!

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!

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.

Service was decent and ambiance was great. Table overlooked the large pond. If we were to come back I hope to be seated outside. Food was just ok. Halibut was just ok and they forgot to put the mango-pineapple on it. Had to ask for a side of it. Baked potato was good. Citrus rice pilaf was good as well. Ceaser salad had an overly fishy and salty taste. This place was for a much older crowd it seemed like as that's who I went there with.

I love the ambiance. You are definitely transported to a different vibe here. Both indoor and outdoor seating are cool. The food is really tasty and the prices are great. Especially for happy hour and the lunch menu! Food and drinks are so affordable. Service was great; both waitstaff and front of house. My son lost a toy here and Sylvia was great about finding it and saving it for us so I could pick it up in a few days. Love this place.

Waiters are awsome and understanding of allergies. Running back and forth to make sure we don't eat anything we can't. Great food. Fish,Ducks (not to eat but to eat with). Also good food. Gina is amazing also

A most festive ladies lunch with excellent service from Silvia. Our drinks were kept filled and our food orders were delivered quickly and we felt very well taken care of. Food was excellent and we appreciated the smaller portion plates that were offered. My salmon and cod and coleslaw was just right and very tasty and the two ladies that ordered the avocado salad with shrimp both commented on the delicious dressing and took half their salad home. The trout almondine with fries was also delicious. The warm soft rolls with two types of flavored butter were yummy as well. We topped off our meal by sharing the dessert special of the house and that was enjoyed by all!! Excellent spumoni ice cream and rum sauce cake!! We were fortunate to see many ducklings and water birds today. We chose to eat indoors because of the humidity today and it was very pleasant I side and not too cold. Lots of patrons were enjoying outdoor lakeside dining in the shade. A good time was had by all!

So, yes, this is an institution. It was a sad day when the Anthony's on the water closed. My parents remember going here in high school if they wanted to impress their date. For those of you still dating, if you want to impress your date, skip Anthony's. There are so so many excellent seafood restaurants in San Diego. Why you'd settle for this very average representation is beyond me. Unless you're old and it brings back that nostalgia. This isn't about the dated decor. I could care less. Honestly, I prefer the decor to be out of date. It shows they're more focused on their food and less on their appearance. It isn't about the outdated menu. Who cares? If you're doing something right and its good, why change it. What it is about is the execution. And the price. If you're going to charge the same amount as some fancy place downtown you better live up to the flashy downtown experience. And, as has been pointed out, the experience here is something your parents would recognize from when they went here in high school. I have to admit, they didn't cook any fish badly (except my sanddabs). The calamari steak, salmon, and fish and chips were well cooked. The salmon portion was small. Little ordered it and she was still hungry. And she has a tiny appetite. For $29.50 we were expecting a little more. It was cooked well but underseasoned. Like not seasoned. Sure, you can add salt and pepper or drown it in tartar sauce, but should you have to at a place that specializes in fish dishes? By far the best dish was the calamari. An "Anthony's Classic". It is thick but not rubbery. It's also $22.50. For squid. The small bite I had of the fish and chips were fine. Nothing special. I've had waaay better fish and chips (to Anthony's credit I've also had waaay worse). My sanddabs, also an "Anthony's Classic" were a joke. I don't know what classifies as a "classic" but I wouldn't claim these as mine if I were Anthony's. Small, overcooked, and under seasoned they weren't worth half of the $18.50 they cost. To say they were disappointing is an understatement. And, even if they had been amazing, I could have eaten about 6 more of them and not been full. I don't know how you manage to overcook one side of a fillet of fish and keep the other side cold. But they did. Well done Anthony's. You've somehow defeated science. If this place was really good or a lot cheaper I would eat here every time I'm in town. Unfortunately, its not. I'm sure I'll be back. The parentals are turning 80 so I find myself humoring them and going places they remember from the "good ole days". But will I enjoy it? I doubt it.

Very unique place great ambience, nice music I felt like I was in another world so it is good for that experience. The food was good. We had fish and chips. I recommend but not the best in the county those oysters were nowhere near as good as Apalachicola oysters. I think we had some kind of bread that was complementary as an appetizer. Everybody needs to go to Anthony's Fish grotto at least once so if you're hanging on the fence, go ahead check it out you might absolutely love it. Service was good and friendly but slow

If you know, you know. Stop asking for a remodel, it's probably not going to happen. Stop asking for a more elevated menu, it's probably not going to happen. Stop asking for better service, it's probably not going to happen and it's not even bad to begin with. What you do need to start doing is this... Showing up, this La Mesa classic is still as dope as it ever was and the outdated charm is exactly that, charming. I mean, the pond/lake/swamp, whatever this thing is, is simply a bit odd but awesome at the same time. They also have a "cabana" you can rent for private parties and you can also play some bocce ball. What's not to like? Oh, you, the person who doesn't like Anthony's, I don't like you.

Their website says they are La Mesa's best kept secret and they aren't kidding. We found this place thanks to Yelp and I highly recommend it. Beautiful view! We lucked out and got there after the brunch crowd so it was nice and peaceful with no wait. Everything on the menu looks good. We like to order appetizers so we can sample more items, and we went with the oysters and mussels. We decided to be adventurous and try the mussels with blue cheese. Two of the servers said in all their years there, no one has ever ordered that even though it's on the menu. We loved it but admit that it may not be for everybody. I was happy that they offered a wedge with a shrimp po'boy sandwich for brunch, it was perfectly sized and amazing. So happy we found this place!

Food: Amazing Service: excellent Ambiance: chef's kiss This restaurant is a hidden gem- we celebrated our 32nd wedding anniversary here and it was perfect.

Anthony's is almost synonymous with San Diego! I remember being on the bayfront as a kid and I couldn't wait to get my order of shrimp in a little boat basket. Anthony's La Mesa is a cool and funky tucked away restaurant just across the 8 fwy from Fuerte. Easy to get to. We ordered the calamari and two margaritas. Everything was terrific. We also had fish tacos and panko shrimp. The walls and themes decor makes you feel like you're a kid at SeaWorld. The food is very good quality. I've never Sat outside by the pond, but I'll make a point to next time. Four strong stars! Can't go wrong here at Anthony's Fish Grotto. It's so nostalgic ‍

We come to Anthony's often and not just because we live close. Came for dinner Sunday and did not experience the best wait service as our waitress seemed new. She was very nice but we did sit a bit longer than normal for service. I had the fried shrimp which is always very good as are the fries. My wife had the fish and chips which she can never finish but she really likes it and the shrimp as well. My reason for the rating is I'm frustrated as this is the 2nd time I've tried to order mud pie and they didn't have it again. The waitress said they were transitioning into making it in house but didn't have all the ingredients. Please!!! That's ridiculous. Time to give up that idea as it's obviously not succeeding and go to a supplier. It's the best dessert on the menu as everything else is extremely small for the price charged. Needless to say I didn't get a dessert and until they have mud pie I won't be enjoying satisfying my sweet tooth.

Arrived to eat at 5:00. Waiter was prompt asking us if we wanted drinks. We were waiting for a third person in our party so got water to start. Each of us ordered a bowl of white clam chowder which was tasty but no where near hot enough. Waiter took mine back to reheat it. Much better. I ordered the sushi style roll which was a menu special. Way too salty. Our friend ordered fish and chips and the suggested asparagus got green beans instead. I think he should have been served bread but got none. Third person got fried calamari appetizer which was very good and a ceviche appetizer which was good but very small portion for the price. My second visit here in the last few months and both times my experience was just "meh".

I had not been to this location in many years so I decided to give it a try for lunch today. I was glad I did! It sits on a small lake with fountains and ducks to enhance you view and ambiance. I had a window table with an unobstructed view. They also have a large outdoor patio area that I will try next time. I had a craving for fish and selected Orange Roughy with sides of Seasonal Vegetables and Mashed Red Potatoes! The fish was nice and flaky, grilled with a light breading, vegetables were nicely seasoned but could have been steamed a bit longer and the red mashed potatoes were delicious! Bread was a nice prelude to the meal with both regular butter and tomato butter. Overall delicious! Service was a little slow to start but once Rob arrived he promptly took my drink and food orders as well as checking with me several times on how my meal was...empty plates told the tale well. It is kind of old style in decor but charming at the same time. I will be back to try some of their other fish options for sure but looks like they make accommodations for gluten free and vegetarian diet preferences as well! Give it a shot!

If you want a beautiful view with your lunch or dinner this is the one. Small lake/pond with little ducks and fountains with greenery surrounding it for privacy. Crowd is mostly older and so is most of the staff but good service and friendly. Food is not bad so if you happen to be in the area it's good choice.

I've been coming here ever since I was a little kid. Unfortunately the food quality has gone down a lot while the prices have increased due to inflation. Our server, Reuben, came over right away so we could order drinks. It took a little while for the drinks and bread to come. Some of us ordered shirley temples and I thought it could've used more grenadine. I was surprised the refills were free because most places charge for refills on shirley temples. Sadly, the refills don't come with a cherry though :( The past few times I've come here, the bread is always different but it was really good this time. You only get 1 round of bread and butter, otherwise more is extra $. Our main entrees took almost an hour after we were seated to come and were really disappointing. I got the shrimp pasta primavera. The vegetables in it were bland and it was cold. No wonder it took forever to come, it was probably ready but just sitting in the back. My brother's main entree was cold too. It came with a good amount of shrimp about 9 pieces which is decent since it's $30. Overall: food was cold, bland, took forever to come, and was expensive. Service was not good. I'm sad how much this restaurant has downgraded.

The food was very mediocre, and the accompaniments were budget products. The Sand dabs were coated in a very greasy flour coating and overcooked, the tartar sauce was a bulk-purchased sauce with excess mayonnaise and no character (it is so easy to make an outstanding tartar sauce). The coleslaw was covered in a commercial bottled dressing and the crab cakes (supposedly lump) were pasty and had more fillers than crab. The vegetables were overcooked and bland, and the scallops were overcooked (a crime) making them rubbery, served over a bed of overcooked spinach. Overall, it was not worth it. This is really too bad because the location is excellent and with a little bit of effort in the kitchen this could be a five-star restaurant. Our server was very attentive and really tried to take care of us but he had too many tables and as a result, ended up serving the wrong meal to the table next to ours. This is more like a Denny's with a good view, except Denny's has better food.

All i need to say is there is absolutely no flavor on the food, in any dish whatsoever. I been here about 10 times and every dish I've ordered is just no flavor. It's weird.

So the ambiance is always great here in great part to this pond and outside seating. The service was excellent and food came out fast. We had the clam chowder which should have been named potato chowder as no clams were present only potato chunks. We had the tilapia and bass ranchero and fish tacos and baked potato and cole slaw. Cole slaw was delicious and the baked potato was good. The fish dishes had very small portions of fish for the price. Other than that it's a nice ambiance to spend with good friends.

This was my grandmother's favorite spot when she came to visit from Texas. She thought the food was yummy, but mixed with the lake scene and ducks, the grand, under sea mosaic and the exceptional service sometimes she didn't want to leave. When ordering I usually have a hard time making up my mind- usually it's fish of some type, blackened grilled. I love the sides. When I visit with friends it's always outside where I am free to bring my very well behaved dog. We all love it! Thank you Anthony's

This is a great little gem in the east county that doesn't disappoint. It looks like a truck stop from the road but once inside there's a lot to look at. From its own lake to the cave looking walls on the inside and the outdoor patio, you won't be bored. The waitstaff, well why wouldn't they love their jobs this place is popping there's a line waiting for the doors to open on a Monday! Now the food well it's delicious! From the creamy clam chowder or crispy Brussels sprouts, to fresh fish and sushi rolls, there's something for everyone. You won't regret it.

I went to Anthony's in La Mesa last night for dinner. It was a rainy evening & I didn't expect many other customers. Boy was I wrong! It was packed. Our waitress was Kathleen & she was great. I ordered my favorite fish & chips... yum. I started coming to this Anthony's during the pandemic & the closing of the Bayside Anthony's that my family had gone to for many years. Try it, lovely atmosphere, huge menu with many fresh fish choices!

I understand that serving large groups is really tough. This is why I did not send the food back or request a reduction to our bill, as only one of the three dishes for our family was correct. First, the restaurant was really not prepared for a party of more than 8, and we had 16. Already a bad sign when you walk in, and you can smell burning bread at your table. No, they did not serve us burnt bread, but they definitely jacked up some loaves. The server asked if I would like another drink, to which I replied, "Yes, please. I greatly appreciate it". After about 10 minutes, she swings by and asks if I would like a refill lol. "No, just the beer I ordered a few minutes ag,o please." My dish came out incorrect and incomplete, but we had waited so long to get our food, I did not want to wait another hour. My daughter could not eat her burger because it was burnt and almost completely black. We left the burger open, out of the bun, so she could see how bad it was. She asked if we wanted a box to bring it home, WTH? The above was the best part of the night. It took over 30 minutes to get our bills straight. I don't mean 30 minutes to get our bill after eating, I mean 30+ minutes after getting the incorrect bills to get them squared away. There were a total of 6 drinks ordered other than water. Only 1 appetizer, and other than me asking for no mushrooms, all orders were straight from the menu. This was the second time we had eaten here. The first time the service was better and the food, although overpriced, was ok. Now the food sucks and the service sucks.

Been going there since 1964 as a kid it was alwas a special place to go as a kid and now it still is . Went to beat the mother day beat the crowd lol everyone else thought the same thing . Wait was short so not so bad . The waiter was great and the food all came at once and was hot and so tasty , the steamed clams are so good , the fresh oysters were fresh and so good and I like there double fried frys . I would recommend this restaurant highly .

A great home town favorite family restaurant in La Mesa great food great ambience nice place for Sunday brunch or quick date night with the wife highly recommend Anthony's a true classic gem in the La mesa community of San Diego let's keep it alive and well.

The restaurant was cool, the ducks are cute and ambiance was nice but we waited 30 minutes for our food to be served and the food was kinda cold and hard. Our waitress was weird and was forgetting our food so we had our entrees before the bread rolls, and then would serve food to people who got there after us and chop it up with other tables for 10 minutes before checking up on us. Wouldn't even check up on us, I wouldn't care but to see the waitress serve other people after us and taking awhile cuz she's talking to other people while we haven't gotten our appetizers and sitting there for 30 minutes with no food was pretty annoying. We ended up talking to the manager and she gave us 50% off which was nice, but I think our waitress probably didn't pay any attention to us because we look young and assumed we wouldn't tip but we do tip! However if you're serving everyone but us and giving us the cold shoulder yea I'm not gonna tip 18%. We ordered water and ice tea and our waitress never refilled our drinks another waiter had to do that. 2 stars cuz the ambience was nice. They don't got anything for vegetarians $23 for a veggie pasta is ridiculous especially when it's mid. Obviously don't go to a seafood restaurant and expect vegetarian options I just went because my partner wanted fish and chips but at least make the vegetarian "options" cheap if ur not gonna bother cooking it properly.

Kim our Server and Mngr Valeree are great customer service and an asset to Anthony's restaurant

Food was great as usual !! Had the halibut with mashed potatoes and rice . Crab cake for appetizer. The wine was yummy ' The food and the ambience is why they are still getting 5 stars from me . Wasn't overly happy with the server we had. She was pushy and not very friendly . She seemed rehearsed, not genuine . She had an air of coldness to her . When we return I will make sure that we do not get her as our server . I would still recommend this place as a dinner destination!

This is a classic mainstay restaurant in the San Diego area. They used to have many restaurants but there is a special place in my heart for this particular location. I have always ordered the Squid Steak at Anthony's. It is seasoned, prepared with a light breading, and cooked perfectly to tender. Green beans came as a side. There was a dinner roll with the meal served with a tomato compound butter. The dining room was very comfortable and seating is within view of the lake in the back. Outdoor seating is also available. I have been coming here to dine every since I was able to walk so there are years of good memories. It used to be that you were able to walk on the perimeter of the lake on one side to look at the waterfowl. I remember one time when I was a young child, I spotted a goose near a gated area who immediately waddled toward me. We were both the same height. The goose and I stood in front of each other for a very long time; I thinking that this was an amazingly large "duck" and the goose probably thinking that I was a very short human being.

I unfortunately didn't get any photos of the food here because I was so busy with family photos, etc but the service, views and food here were all excellent. We had a private party for dinner in the back corner and the server was so attentive and bent over backwards to make it really nice. The food was fantastic. There was a lot of shared food like the calamari and coconut shrimp. I also had the Brussel sprouts that was tasty. My main dish was the chicken picatta and shrimp scampi and it was so good. I'm not sure if my family brought dessert or they provided but they brought both a cheesecake and chocolate cake out with candles and it was amazing! The view and lake is really pretty and this place was such a gem. Reasonable prices and good food.

Went saturday 4/19 with 2 friends. We got there around 545.. food orders not taken til just after 6. My friend who got the table before us asked for iced tea, server (lead server) came back with 2 waters instead as I was sitting down. I asked for sprite which he came back with before her iced tea to which I reminded him that she was still waiting for. Our 3rd friend asked for Shirley temple. He finally came back to get food order. To which we reminded him that the one friend was also still waiting for her Shirley temple. He took everyone's orders ... suggested to my one friend asparagus as a side to which she said yes. He asked if we wanted bread.. to which I said yes. At least 30 mins went by, no bread but then the server came out and said that they were out of linguine for the penne and clam dish, substitute another pasta it's fine. Food starts coming out. We all came for the clam chowder which was good but I got mine in a bread bowl, the bowl was super soft which seeing I paid more for.. hindsight wish I would have just gotten the plain bowl. My friend that got the seafood trio with asparagus commented that her shrimp was dry and the salmon was over cooked.. oh and the asparagus that the server suggested? Green beans. We had a show to get to and we'd already been there so long we didn't have the time to complain about anything. Overall... clam chowder... really good. All the other food... it was ok. Ambiance .. nice

Sad this place is only showing 3.5 stars. It's been a 5 star each and every time for us. DOG FRIENDLY so plus for us as we had our pooch with us. It's so nice inside but so relaxing and beautiful outside with the fountain lake and visiting ducks. The server and bus guy both so friendly & helpful. Really enjoyed chatting with our waitress about our dogs when she had a second because she was sure hustling. Their mai tais, so good! Telling our waitress we wanted to order something for our dog since we would be past her feeding time when getting back home, she immediately told us about the "Dog Salmon Bowl" that has cooked chopped veggies in it too. (See photo of our Lollipop and their doggy salmon veggie bowl attached.) Lolli gave it 4 paws up & a wagging tail = 5 stars! I ordered The Bay Combo - Grilled garlic butter shrimp, grilled salmon, and swordfish mediterranean. My 2 sides were Ceasar salad and cooked veggies. It was all delicious. My wife ordered the Shrimp Trio and loved it and would get it again. You get 2 sides with the BQ shrimp, coconut shrimp & scampi shrimp - she got the cole slaw with pineapple cream sauce in it and mashed red skinned potatoes and loved everything on her plate. She ordered the chocolate mousse dessert and really liked it too.

We have dined a few times here and every time if you seat outside you are eaten alive by bugs!! There are mosquitoes and fleas everywhere. Please be cautious!! Know one warms you when your having an enjoyable time that there are so many pests in this restaurant. I won't go back

Finally after years of passing by this restaurant on the 8 east I had a chance to take my dad and his friends for lunch here this week. Great seafood choices, great theme, and good service. This is a great place to bring your dog and elderly loved ones. There is a senior courtesy parking area and open air patio to bring your dogs. I loved how it's located right on the lake so it definitely gives you a feeling you transported somewhere out of San Diego. I recommend: Chowder Shark And any lunch specials Will come back to try happy hour! Ps. A cute date place.

Our group had reservations and our group Of 10 arrived 15 mins late. Our table was Given up and the hostesses were rude and uncaring. We happily moved across the street to the Brigantine where we were welcomed, seated, and enjoyed happy hour in a beautiful contemporary setting. Great service, delicious food, amazing prices, and fab drinks.

We got sat right away at the window so we could see the waterfall & the ducks. We got our drinks and waited for our friends to arrive. Lots of seafood choices. We made our selections and got our food. Everything was as ordered. The only drawback was at the end of the meal the waiter wanted us to pay right away and then asked us if we were finished so he could clean the table and they could get more guests seated. There was no one waiting to be seated as we walked out the restaurant. We've never been asked to leave before . A restaurant that's been around for such a long time. Not sure we will be back.