La Mesa Bistro & Bakery

Came in right before noon on a Tuesday, and I couldn’t believe how busy it was. Food was good, but service is more important to me. Took me 3x to ask for my coffee and asked for a refund before a finally got my iced coffee. How could you possibly only have 3 employees in the front of the house and one of them is on the register and one of them is making drinks and getting orders ready and the third guy is bussing and taking orders out to the patrons… No manager on site… The owners should be embarrassed having such a great business and that is that understaffed. Smh.

Look out East County Restaurants, Nette B is searching for the best restaurants!
I really wanted to like this place but unfortunately it’s not a place I would actually return to.
Stand in line to order (there’s only one guy working the register) which absolutely works fine. The line seems to move smoothly and as the tables are turned patrons are ready to be sat.
TIP for Patrons:
Please do not sit until you have ordered. If you’re waiting for 20 minutes in line someone who could’ve eaten in 20 minutes could’ve sat. :)
Carry on…
Food:
While waiting in line I noticed /​heard that the biscuits and gravy is to die for so I ordered it. :(It was just alright and I wish it had more salt or flavor in it. See my photos for my scramble dish. The bacon was so hard that it wasn’t worth the money but my tooth hurting instead.
Need to return to try other dishes.

This place is a jewel in la mesa. Great local spot with tasty food. We have been here many times and are never disappointed. Staff, food and atmosphere wonderful.

First time trying La Mesa Bistro. Placed a large order for our office (about 20 breakfast entrees). Had a little mix up about receiving the order, but the staff was friendly, efficient, and overall awesome. They managed to work my order in quickly even during their busy Friday morning breakfast rush. Food was fresh, hot, and delicious. My coworkers are all asking when we can order from here again.
Great local eatery!

The impression that we were left with was that this place seems to have stopped caring about what they were doing. Corned beef Benedict looked totally unappealing and like the corned beef had been left exposed to air overnight. Club wrap had way too much mayonnaise for a wrap, it was oozing out of every seam when you would just pick it up, and the leak was worse when you’d actually take a bite. We ordered two diet cokes and received flat soda flavored water, and when we took them back to the counter the women who seemed to be making coffee drinks said she would fix the carbonation on the machine and come bring us new ones, but that never happened and she proceeded to either ignore us or completely forget us for the rest of lunch, despite the fact that we would see her bring things to other tables around us and make eye contact with us. Our table had a pepper shaker that was completely empty and an empty hot sauce bottle. The wall next to our booth was disgusting and splattered with food and needed a serious cleaning. I will say that the guy who was the cashier was a very nice guy, but he wasn’t the one who made the empty promise to remedy our flat soda problem.
So, not a good experience. Even if I were to chalk the issues with service and cleanliness up to an isolated experience, the food was still subpar. So why should we come back here in the future when we can go a block down to the Lunch Box and have better food, service, and cleanliness for the same price? We usually try to give places a second chance eventually if things don’t go well, but there is really no incentive in this case to come back here and see if ours was an isolated experience.
Bummer.

Food is good. Same menu as Swami’s. I had the half bowl acai (huge) and my husband had the grilled ham and cheese with fries. All the orders they came out looked really good. My only complaint is how dirty it is. They could definitely wipe down all the walls and condiments that are at each table.

Me-​n-​Lesley M. decided to go here today for lunch.
Parking lot is small, but at 12:45 pm there were plenty of spots available, and docking my shiny steed was easily accomplished.
Line was real quick to order… I had the 3 sausage omelette (Polish, Italian and chorizo, with cheese) rye toast and potatoes ($ 9.50) and iced tea ($ 1.95)
The tea was great (had a little cinnamon in it, free refills, yay!) and so was the omelette… meaty, cheesy eggy goodness.
The fella working the counter couldn’t have been friendlier, checking on us a couple times to make sure that we had everything we needed.
Been to a WHOLE lotta breakfast-​type bistro/​café/​bakery restaurants in San Diego, and based upon my meal/​dining experience today… this is THE BEST!!!
Really looking forward to coming back!
Ambiance/​Cleanliness-​VERY clean, ambiance is not anything to get excited about, but there were many padded booth seats, and this was a surprise… upgraded because of that-​4 stars
Service-​simply could not have been better-​5 stars
Food-​extremely tasty, far exceeded expectations-​5 stars
Excellent joint, owned by the same people who own Swami’s…so that’s no surprise, right?

The lines to order are getting longer and longer as more people discover this place. Very well-​prepared food and they make it quickly, too!
My personal favorites are the ham and egg croissant and the vegetarian omelette which is served with a TON of potatoes. Hubby likes the banana & blackberry pancakes.
Delicious! Go try it. Bring your patience… there’s almost always a line on the weekends for sure.

Love this place. Same as the El Cajon Bistro and Bakery close to my house, but with more seating and more roomy

Joined my husband here for brunch earlier this week. The place was packed. We walked in and were greeted by a massive line. So, you place your order then find a seat. The menu is huge and there are options written on the chalkboards outside flanking the doors. There are also additional options behind the counter on the walls. We ordered and found a booth. Here’s where the missing star shows up. The walls were filthy. Same with the vents. I know this place is popular and seems to be regularly busy, but do a better job cleaning, please.
He had a turkey melt and I had the acai bowl. Both were really good and the portions were more than adequate. The coffee. The coffee. The coffee. So many choices and so, so good.
A word about the parking. It’s not great. We ended up on the street in a neighborhood. No worries though. I would definitely go back.

Pathetically mediocre… you can do better.
If La Mesa were still a small town standing completely away from San Diego, and this were the only place in town, it would probably be okay. But we’re all one giant metroplex now, and this just doesn’t measure up.
Instead of ordering from your table, you stand in line to order. Not so bad, except that means someone brings your food, drops it off, and then ignores you. So when they screw up your order, which they are likely to do, good luck getting it fixed.
We ordered two breakfast dishes, and both came with missing ingredients. My steak and eggs breakfast was actually pretty good — except they never brought the toast with it.
My husband’s «Belgian waffle» was a heated up frozen waffle, not a fresh made waffle. They threw a few strawberries on it but left off the whipped cream I had paid for. I had to go up and ask for the whipped cream, which was straight out of a can. Basically, we could have made his breakfast at home with a heated up Eggo frozen waffle, a couple of sliced strawberries, and some spray whipped cream, and saved $ 8.
And seriously: two standard orders, two important components missing? That’s a pretty bad track record!
Will drive a little further next time to someplace that 1) makes actual waffles from scratch 2) won’t leave things out and 3) will have a server come by to correct any mistakes.

Great breakfast had by all even my picky two year olds loved their waffles. They even had a great coffee bar, where you can poor your own coffee and probably 12 coffees to choose from.
The place was clean and neat. Very popular with the locals. I like when we find places like this.

They have their own parking lot.
Outdoor and indoor seating.
You order at the register and seat yourself.
They have a large variety of sandwiches, wraps, and breakfast items to choose from.
Along with smoothies and coffee.
Really great prices for the amount of food you get.
They also have a lobster benedict and lobster wrap for under $ 10 which is a steal!
I got the lobster wrap and it was a huge portion that can be shared between two people. I also got a side of french fries with it and the fries were soooo delicious. Great flavor and crispiness. The wrap itself was very fresh and wrapped in whole wheat tortilla. The lobster itself almost tasted like imitation crab meat though. It was okay but great value still for the price.
We also ordered the full size pitaya bowl and it was huge!!! The full size for only $ 8.95 can be shared between 2 – 4 people depending on whether you want to eat it as a meal or as a snack.
The pitaya bowl is basically blended dragon fruit topped with strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, granola, shaved coconut, honey, and bee pollen. The blended pitaya was a little bit on the sour side at first. But eating it with everything was very refreshing.
Overall, its a great place to go to grab some breakfast or lunch.

I really enjoyed my breakfast here. They are location in a small and crowded strip mall so parking is a bit tough but def coming in to eat. It can be a bit confusing when you come in. You first have to place your order and then sit as they they wont come to your table to take your order.
We came here for breakfast and I ordered the corned beef plate which came with a big helping of it along with potatoes, fruit and eggs. There was so much food it could have fed 2 people. I wish the corned beef was tab bit more charred but the flavor was good.
Now this place is also a bakery. Although I didn’t order any sweet goods I did get their biscuits and gravy.
WHOA this is THE BEST biscuits and gravy I’ve had in a loooooooooooooooooooooong time! The biscuits were huge yet flaky but had some denseness to it. The gravy was smooth and creamy and taking a bit was like heaven. I know I’m not doing a very good job of describing it but seriously you have to get it, it’s so good. Next time I’d be happy just with this.
Biscuits & Gravy ~
Eyes ~ Mmmm biscuits & gravy
Nose ~ Smells like a tasty spot.
Ear ~ Happy people ordering and enjoying their food.
Mouth ~ Holy goodness me this is sooo good!
Tummy ~ So so happy with the breakfast choice!!!

I love this place for breakfast. Have tried numerous items on their menu and everything is fresh and always delicious. The espresso drinks are wonderful and they have a nice selection on their coffee bar. My favorite will always be the Blueberry Pancakes… and for bacon lovers… they serve quality bacon here.

LOVE this place! My husband and I went here for the first time yesterday and were blown away! We are huge Swamis fans and didn’t even know they were under the same owner. The service was amazing, the food was incredible, and I may have to go back later today just for another Pitaya smoothie! There was a bit of a line but that just shows you how much people love the place, plus we needed the time in line to make up our minds on what we wanted to order… their menu is huge and has so many wonderful things on it! Plus there was plenty of seating inside and outside :) I will definitely be telling my friends about this spot!
I got the VBLTA — The Vegan Bacon Lettuce Tomato Avocado sandwich… it was soo good!

Hearty, wholesome food served up at this neighborhood joint. It’s no wonder there was such a large lunch rush that included on this day, the La Mesa PD Chief.
Ordered the «Healthy» breakfast burrito and substituted the egg whites for country potatoes and declined the feta cheese. Fresh soft whole wheat tortilla stuffed with soyrizo, black beans, and avocado slices. Came with a side of fruit and housemade salsa. Good flavor and a perfect reboot after a high intensity hike on an empty stomach.

Went here for a late breakfast on a Monday. The line was a bit long, but the wait wasn’t too bad… Order at the counter, get a number and take a seat… The food will be brought out to you.
Has a homey, country, diner, coffee shop toe feel. Yes a combination of all those, and pretty clean. Parking lot was full…
So I ordered an egg white veggie scramble with potatoes… Pretty straightforward order, good serving amount, tasted fresh and with a generous amount of veggies. The potatoes had a nice herb taste, Rosemary, I believe. Husband ordered buttermilk pancakes, made into a meal (bacon and eggs added) also pretty straightforward… But their pancakes were delicious!!! A little flat, but a pretty large portion. And the taste was great. They didn’t taste plain. You know, like they must’ve snuck in some cinnamon and other yummy flavors I can’t really put my finger on. Maybe nutmeg?
Husband ordered an iced hazelnut latte, he didn’t like it. He said it tasted like waaaay to much syrup. He didn’t drink more than a few sips. Also not fond of their water in a bucket .
I was looking forward to trying their acai bowl, but I was told their blender wasn’t working =(*sad face*
While there isn’t really any wait service, they do check up on you from time to time to see if you need anything. Service over all was friendly. A few tables out on the patio, and plenty of tables inside in 3 different dining areas.
3.5 stars if I could…

Frequently, when I’ve dropped in to La Mesa Bistro and Bakery, I’ve been frustrated, because, though I’ve tried hard to discover the surprise that makes the place unique, it has remained unsurprising.
LMBB is a diner, dressed up a bit and offering slightly more healthy choices than, say, Studio Diner or the several installations of San Diego Home Cooking. But it’s always been a diner, never burdened, as are so many «bistros,» by sycophantic chefs who can’t imagine a menu and are thus left to cook what’s trendy, to pay the rent.
LMBB’s selections, as simple as American and Mexican breakfasts and lunches, coffee drinks, and something called a «smoothie,» gratify me, and, while it’s an unfamiliar feeling to an avid diner-​about-​town, I leave sure I’ve gotten value for my money.
The eatery delivers satisfaction with a limited menu that its cooks have mastered, ensuring the consistently high quality of their food. That sounds simple, but look around; how many places do you count on to provide an excellent meal, each time you visit?
La Mesa Bistro and Bakery does so.
From the simple 1−2−3 Breakfast Special to the interesting, flavorful and well-​prepared El Paso Benedict, the place finds ways to tease flavor and enjoyment out of straightforward, well-​made plates of food, to the benefit of their customers.
Add to this efficient service and conveniences like a self-​serve coffee bar and free Wi-​Fi that actually works, and you’ll appreciate the intentional effort the business owners have made, not just to impress, but to please the public.
I’m a Unilocaler, an itinerant eater. It’s my fate to always chase the next great thing, so I don’t visit La Mesa Bistro and Bakery enough.
But when I grab a coffee there, or take my Beloved to brunch, or use the Bistro’s Wi-​Fi for hours on end, I’m treated like a regular, and I’m confident that everyone, from managers to the counter staff, will see to it that I’m made happy by their establishment’s reliable excellence.

I really enjoy this casual little eatery. The coffee is self-​serve, which is just fine by me. They have several flavors and offer non-​fat milk, half and half, or soy milk along with your usual sweeteners. There is also an ice filled water cooler for guests to serve themselves. And of course your usual assortment of juices, soft drinks, and mocha, latte whatevers.
Like I said, it’s casual here. You order and pay at the register, where you are given your number and silverware roll ups to take to your table or booth. Your food is brought out to you when it’s ready. The specials are listed on the boards behind the register and there are menus on the front counter you can look at while in line. They serve breakfast and lunch here. I’ve actually only had breakfast, but I have peeked at other diner’s lunch orders and they did look really tasty. I just haven’t made it beyond the magnificent breakfast offerings, yet.
Service here is great. The guys working here are always so darn friendly. If the coffee runs out, or the creamer gets low, they are on top of it! They’ll come to your table and let you know when the coffee is ready too. They are always smiling here and asking how everything is, no matter how busy it gets.
Now, about the food. Portion sizes here are big. So big that I’ve never been able to finish anything, but I’m not complaining. I like leftovers. I especially like their pancakes. Get them with fruit. They always have fresh fruit here, so you know they’ll be good. They have strawberry banana and blackberry banana, both are delicious. And the bacon is thick cut. Oh and the breakfast potatoes are so good extra crispy. Ok, I’m going to stop here before I make myself hungry.
If you’re wondering why there are no photos attached to my review, it’s because I’m too much of a pig to slow down long enough to pull out my phone. I’ll try to work on that in the future :-)