Anthony's Fish Grotto

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.

We came for dinner at 6 in winter, so there wasn't any day light left to enjoy the views of the lake (which I've been told are beautiful). The food we ordered was prepared perfectly and had just the right amount per serving. Not stuffed and barely any left overs to take home. I ordered a grilled shrimp, fish and scallop kabob (I do wish I had more than one large scallop, but it was delicious and filling enough). My sister ordered clam chowder in a bread bowl. They ran out of New England style, so she tried the zesty red style, which I tried and we both liked(she finished it!). My cousin ordered a fried catfish, and my husband ordered the fish and chips! Again all devoured. My aunt ordered the trio ceviche, which she did end up taking some home. I hope to come back during the day time to see the lake and feed the ducks! Oh I think the patio is pet friendly (I saw a dog bowl!)

Went here for a date night, loved it .sat in the patio which seemed a little bit dark and cold, but the heaters and the beautiful lights in the trees made it romantic. The food was outstanding service was great.

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!

It was my 1st time eating at Anthony's fish grotto & chose to eat outside. I was seated with little view of the lake so once a closer table became available I asked to be moved & staff cleaned off the other table for my use. Many servers were attentive to find out I'd I'd been helped. The food was delicious & the service was great! I look forward to returning & trying something new on the menu.

I’ve been here many times over the years and it’s always great but last night was exceptional. We celebrated a friend’s birthday and it was fantastic from start to finish. I absolutely must give a huge shout out to our server Gina. She is truly an asset to your team- sweet, friendly, attentive, funny- she truly went above and beyond and added to our already stellar evening. Food and drinks were delicious (excellent martinis). We enjoyed calamari, chowder, wedge salads, scallops, linguine and clams and stuffed mushrooms - all delicious. The ambiance and decor is kitschy and fun. Don’t miss out on this gem.

Love Anthony's ❤️ make me feel like I'm in a dream. The atmosphere is fun and delightful. Food is always good.

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.

We were seated outdoors (right outside the automated door) and waited for 10 minutes while wait staff in the area walked by, served a table seated after us and completely ignored us. I waved down someone delivering water to another table and asked for water. He brought it and we continued to wait for service while watching the wait staff service every other nearby table, while avoiding eye contact with us. This restaurant is expensive and we were prepared to spend the money for two seafood entrees and some drinks. We live in the area and have celebrated here often in the past. After 10 minutes of being completely ignored we left. We went to Little Roma, a wonderful Italian family-owned restaurant not far away and had a fabulous meal with excellent service at a fraction of the price. Check my review there. We'll definitely be visiting Little Roma again soon. (In fact, Aromas of India is also nearby and it's fantastic. Both are better options than Anthony's. What a disappointment. )

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!

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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!

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.

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.

This place is very cute and dog friendly which makes me love it even more. The ceviche is good, the burger was delicious, the service is always great, very attentive with my drinks.

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!

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.

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.

Another wonderful lunch at Anthony's today! I so enjoy the Orange Roughy and today I enjoyed it with Red skinned mashed potatoes and fresh asparagus! The service and ambience have been consistently great over the last few months and the view is excellent! I continue to come back every month and who knows, I might try another menu item next time!!

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!

Love this place I wish we could get them more often it's worth it the service is great.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

I had two out of town guests who wanted some good west coast seafood so I first thought of Anthony's. I was embarrassed I had taken them there. The restaurant needs a face-lift but not even that will make up for poor service and mediocre food. I think this will be the last time I go there.

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!

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.

10/10, one of my old nursing residents at my job said he would always bring his old girlfriends here and now I know why. It is a beautiful location with great food and drinks. In remembrance of my nursing resident and after viewing the location ourselves, we decided to rent out their outside back sitting area to have our wedding reception/lunch here. It was filled with fun, love, and lots of duck feedings and the staff was extremely accommodating to our requests and edits. We really love the servers/managers there and there was an older Mexican woman as a server who we really enjoyed but I can't remember her name. My husband recommends the steak and I recommend the tropical cruise for a drink.

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.

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

Visits here never disappoint. Wonderful atmosphere. We were a large group and the staff couldn't have been better. Drinks and food were delivered promptly and the outdoor setting was lovely.

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.

Being out by the lake makes the ambiance so romantic, the staff are so friendly and welcoming and always ready to serve or assist. The meals are all amazing, fresh and hot delivered right from the kitchen... a favorite for our family!

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

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 ‍

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.

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.

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.

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".

What and excellent surprise. Our Best Western hotel was next door. The food , midcentury modern atmosphere and the service were excellent. I had the sole and it was so fresh. I currently live in the desert and good seafood doesn't happen. Bunny was my server and she is so sweet. I definitely will be coming back.

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!

So sad, not what it used to be. The food was so bad. Actually got sick as soon as I got home. Never going back.

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.

I was always curious about this place and we finally tried it. It was old school and lovely. Extensive menu. Everything was yummy and just a serene atmosphere with the "lake". It's not really a lake but it very pretty. Our waiter RJ was cool.

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.