Chtaura

My husband and I went to this restaurant because it was in our Entertainment book. When we arrived we thought maybe it was closed as the place was empty, but with the door open (this was about three months ago, maybe longer); as we started to leave the owner came out to greet us and to let us know he had just opened the popular weekend event venue restaurant to regular diners and we were among the first customers. His easygoing and friendly demeanor convinced us to stay and we were not disappointed. We remained the only diners for that night and we were treated like royalty. The food was delicious and beautifully presented. Our waitress was always smiling and attentive. They honored the entertainment coupon even though we were told it was a mixup. We were also treated to free dessert. I’m giving five stars even though it was still in the beginning stages because of the excellent service and enjoyable and friendly owner and waitress (I’m sorry, I can’t remember her name). We will return to this restaurant. The only reason we haven’t is because we moved.

We came in on a Sunday night when they were having a Church benefit game night, but were greeted pleasantly and welcomed by the new owner. We must have seemed a little confused by the menu, and so the owner then offered us the assorted appetizer platter «on the house.» We also ordered the babaganushe and the charcoal broiled quail in pomegranate paste. Everything was first-​rate, and the quail was such a large serving that between the two of us, we could not finish it! Unilocal said the restaurant had a full bar, but it does not. The night we were there, the owner was revamping the wine list, but we ordered Chardonnay and Pinot Noir and both were good. Highly recommend this place!

We recently had a party for my daughter’s baptism at this place and oh my god! What a horrible place to have a gathering at!
The waitresses were really terrible and very unprofessional! I don’t know what kind of ownership would hire such pathetic employees who can’t even tell the red wine from the white one!
They even brought us our food very late and without any silverware with it, we basically had to go and grab the silverware from the bar ourselves!!!
And above all the food was terrible, not cooked entirely. I am middle eastern and I love my delicious food but those guys have really done a bad disservice to our Arabic food.
My advise to anyone not to go there and have any kind of a party there because of their very poor unprofessional service and terrible food, or even not to go there and eat anything!
Chtaura: you should close down your business because you guys don’t belong in the banquet hall service.
By the way I didn’t want to give them any star for the rating but I had to because my review wouldn’t post up

Was not impressed. No waitress service at the table. Had to go to the bar to order food. Menu small. Ordered grilled chicken salad. Chicken was very tasty. Salad was warm and limp. My soda was served to me in a can with no glass or ice.

Because of the new owners of chtaura. I can say that this is one of the best middle eastern food that I had here in San Diego. Although there is alot of places in east county and I’ve tried alot. But this one leaves a remarkable touch in your mind makes wanna come every day.
Super delicious food.
Reasonable prices for both food and drinks.
A waitress with a beautiful smile
Awesome hookah.
Simply the whole package.
Give it a try. You will be a regular like me.

Came here over the weekend and I Love this place. The feel, music and most important the FOOD!!! I’m not middle eastern but my bf is and I love the energy!!!
My bf and I came to San Diego for a weekend getaway. We wanted authentic kabob and hookah. Wow this place has the best food.
We ordered:
5 stars: the beef and chicken kabob
5 stars: chicken shawarma (ask for extra garlic sauce)
5 stars: hookah Mint is our favorite
The DJ was working the dance floor!!! Phew glad I wore my dancing heels. Hehe ;)
we are already thinking about getting a group of friends to come down and have a private party! Since the very nice manager offered us a set price per person and very affordable. Especially considering it includes all the appetizers (in arabic it’s called Mesa) hummus tahini tourshi and many more. He entrée and a live show or entertainment.
Found out it’s under new ownership they are very nice and willing to work with you to personalize your event.
When you come be ready for a good time. Los Angeles needs a place like this. I hope they expand to LA soon.

Great place for parties. I came from Los Angeles to check out this place. Amazing food. Great service. They have belly Dancers. Live performance from great singers. I been to many places, but thus place is amazing. Highly recommended.

One of the best Places in town, great fresh food, hookah is awesome very friendly staff very nice family Arabic events on weekend. Definitely one of my favorite spots to spend time quality time I highly recommend this place

We just had one if the best meals ever! New owners, but give it a try, you won’t be sorry! We had a sampler appetizer of hummus, baba ganoush, tabouli and pickled vegetables… amazing! Then we got the Chicken Tika, it was the most tender and flavorful chicken I’ve ever had! They really care about what the are serving and treat you so nice! I highly recommend this place!

I just had dinner at this place. The appetizers were really fresh and delicious. For the main course I had ½ chicken kabob and half beef kabob. The food was nothing short of amazing!
I came to give them a good review and was surprised with a couple of very bad reviews that are posted already! I understand that the place has new owners and I guess the bad reviews were given to the old owner!!!
The waitress is so sweet and so attentive. The manager check with us a couple of times to make sure that we are enjoying our dinner.
I highly encourage you to go and give them a try. You will not be disappointed.

Best middle eastern food I ever had, the service is amazing and and the stuff are very friendly, The waiter and the manager treated us as we were a guest at their house, I highly recommend this place

I came have found this place on Unilocal.I was never even served cause I don’t think anyone even works here. I drove 20 min to stand in the door way at 730 for over 20min. I hollered «hello»??? I walked to the back room …“hello???” No one. I walked into the kitchen…“hellloooooo” no one.

My husband found this place on-​line and after drooling over the menu we decided to celebrate his birthday here. Armed with our menu choices we showed up to find the outside light on but the building dark even though their website states they are open today. I guess the Application for Change of Ownership posted in the window is a good tip off to how this restaurant is doing. Too bad the menu looked delish, so sad sitting in the parking lot looking for a new place to take my husband. Oh, did I mention they are not open :/

Loved the food and the excellent customer service. Went on Saturday night to their family style parties and it was too much fun, also the new owners seems to take really good care about the quality of the food and service. definitely going again.

Terrible service, I’m not even sure if any of the people who work there speak English. We had to seat ourselves, it was my first time and no one told us about the cover charge (I don’t mind paying but at least tell the costumers before you give them the check), we got the appetizers and then the bread came 30 min later, which was cold and hard, the hookah was an over an hour late and afterwards no one changed the coals and «dinner» was put to go and some girl came threw it on the table and left. That was the service of the whole night — someone came, threw something on the table and left. Overall the servers are really rude and whole night I didn’t see any of them smile or be nice. They should seriously think about changing their job! And no I’m not giving you a tip even if you give me rude look. The only good thing was the appetizers. I don’t recommend this place!

Horrible service, horrible place… I would never in 1 million years come back to this ratchet ass place
Didn’t even want to give it one star but I had to in order to write this review
I never EVER write bad reviews but I could not WAIT to come home and write this

Went here with a Living Social coupon deal — be forewarned, they no longer accept them. Was told there was a new owner. We did receive a full refund, plus $ 5 in credit from Living Social.
The menu when we got there is nothing like is shown on the website. Apparently the website is for the previous owner. The new menu was very limited (which I at times don’t mind), but many of the items that I thought looked good were no longer offered.
The atmosphere — place was empty. Went about 7pm, which for La Mesa is usually hoping. The Vine Cottage next door was packed. The place was very dark inside, had an odd smell and was not attractive. Restaurant Impossible needs to make a visit.
The waitress, Marcella, was very friendly and nice.

New in town but rally really reallllly good!!!
we had the eggplant salad hommus with beef and kebbeh .
I’m definitely going back :)

My husband and I came here on a whim with utter disappointment. Of course, it should have sent red flags up when we were the only one in the place.
I don’t rate places on décor. If I did this place would get zero. It’s gaudy and a vast mixture of items. Nothing classy of stylish about the place.
But again, the poor rating has to do with the food. I love Mediterranean and Middle Eastern food. Not once have I gone to one of these types of restaurants and been as disappointed. Their bread was horrendous. The have the vine market a mile away to get fresh bread and yet they served store-​grade pitas??? Their tabbouleh and hummus were additionally far below subpar. We left with less than half the food consumed and I wouldn’t even take the rest home to feed my dogs.
Not only would I never recommend this place, I’d actually warn people from attempting to eat here. The only way I can gather that this place had any positive ratings was because someone paid them to write one.
You will find that most of my reviews never reflect a score so low. This place earned it. The food is terrible!

This brought a big smile to my face, not just because of their great lunch special, but the food as fantastic as well. I came in on the later end of lunch, but I still caught it. I ordered their lunch special: a beef or kafta on pita, I choose the chicken served with fries and a salad for only $ 4.99. Also, for only a dollar extra, you can order a bowl of lentil soup, which I did alright.
The lentil soup was super. It was a blended version and had great flavor and moderate seasoning. (
) The gentlemen working suggested I add a squirt of lemon, and I did. The result was the lemon juice enhancing the flavor of the lentils soup. A great call indeed. The soups was similar to a creamy porridge, but on the thicker side with bits of tender lentils. (
) If you like lentil soup, I suggest you try this one.
The kafta combo was very nice. (
) First the chicken kafta. It was tender, juicy, filled with Mediterranean herbs, well seasoned, and had a great color. (
) I used the pita bread, salad with Italian dressing, and some house hummus they added to my plate to try, to make a delicious wrap. (
) The wrap was great, and that hummus was fantastic. It was very creamy, with a slight garlic and lemon taste, but the chickpeas flavor was king. (
) The fries that came with the meal were good. They were crispy and not over oily. If you don’t want fries, you can substitute yellow basmati rice. I learned that later into my meal.
The people who work here are very nice and friendly. On the weekends, including Friday’s, they provide live entertainment, and don’t be surprise you see a belly dancer or two. The food was no doubt a 4 star event, but with that super lunch special, extensive menu offerings, and friendly service, I had to click on that extra star.