Diners' Choice: Best Service restaurants in East County

OpenTable

Updated December 05, 2024

Looking for restaurants with the best service in East County? You’re in the right place. Each month, OpenTable analyzes nearly 2 million global diner reviews from the past four months. We sort the results by location and category to help you discover new favorite restaurants. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

Lemon Grove Bistro

4.9

4.9 (87)

$30 and under

American

Lemon Grove

About the restaurant

In addition to offering comforting American favorites, our menu provides a selection of flavors inspired by our chef’s culinary experiences, ranging from classic Spanish fare to Italian favorites. Our menu changes seasonally to feature the freshest ingredients and provide an exciting dining experience throughout the year.

The Lemon Grove Bistro is in a historic mission-style building in the heart of Lemon Grove. Since 1912, it’s been a place where locals meet and build connections, whether they were picking up their mail at the Sonka General Store in 1944 or ordering custom cakes at the Grove Pastry Shop in 2012.

Come for the food. Stay to experience the inviting ambiance of the historic building and its new garden. Let’s build community--together.

Top review

TimVIP

Dined on Dec 15, 2024

One of my favorite places. This time we had the lasagna and the fisherman’s stew. Excellent, friendly service and wonderful food. I highly recommend you give them a try, you’ll be glad you did!

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Experience

Weekday Happy Hour

Jive Lounge

4.8

4.8 (53)

$30 and under

Cocktail Bar

Jamul

About the restaurant

Our electric live entertainment venue just steps away from the casino floor features some of Southern California’s hottest DJs and best local bands along with great food, craft beers, and signature handcrafted cocktails.
Make your reservation today! A deposit of $20 per person will be required at the time of check in for your table. This deposit of cash or a credit
Card hold for the amount will be lifted when your party has surpassed this amount of purchased food or

Top review

EduardoVIP

Dined on Dec 21, 2024

Thank you for the great customer service. Really impressive.

Giardino Neighborhood Cucina

4.7

4.7 (1075)

$30 and under

Italian

Lemon Grove

About the restaurant

Located in the middle of Lemon Grove’s charming downtown area, Giardino is a welcoming and casual Italian inspired cucina where the neighborhood gathers for fresh and flavorful classic dishes found throughout Italy.

Giardino offers an Italian-inspired menu of seasonally-driven dishes that use timeless Italian techniques and fresh ingredients. Guests will find items such as fresh seafood, pastas, pizzas and salads, as well as a variety of elements made in-house.

Top review

SarahVIP

Dined today

I came here in a large group, the food was amazing! Our server Shannon was careful to let the kitchen know, I had the best pizza with the most amazing gf crust, tons of veggies, it was the BEST pizza I’ve ever had! I had an amazing espresso martini for dessert, 10/10, will definitely come back with my dog! Their patio is dog friendly.

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Prime Cut Steakhouse - Jamul Casino San Diego

4.8

4.8 (1459)

$50 and over

Steakhouse

Jamul

About the restaurant

Prime Cut is a classic American steakhouse located inside the lights and flash of an upscale Vegas-style casino just twenty minutes outside the city center. With Chef de Cuisine Greg Coyle leading our kitchen, an award-winning wine list designed by Manager Christina Ambriz, and a full bar featuring some of the most unique hand-crafted specialty cocktails, Prime cut is the perfect place for conversation or an intimate dinner.

Specials
Experience the best brunch in San Diego! Join us from 10:30 am to 3:30 pm every Sunday for Prime Cut’s Lobster Brunch. Enjoy a picturesque mountain view, sample from our award-winning wine list, or sip on your favorite craft cocktail while you indulge in delectable creations by Chef de Cuisine Greg Coyle.
Lobster Brunch • Sunday • $59.95

Only guests over 21 years old may attend.

Top review

Victoria

Dined 2 days ago

Dinning in Prime Cut I feel the food and atmosphere is the best quality, relaxing music playing while you’re dinning great taste of food awesome aroma of delicious plates passing threw until yours comes as well once I get my own The presentation is excellent. I just wanted to dig in every bite It’s just right no other ingredients added so that I would enjoy my burger was just perfect and let’s just say the fries were awesome dessert with my chocolate macaroons cake yummy and at the end, I get a chocolate dessert. It’s so textured so milky and soft happy customer

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Popular dish

Seafood Platter

Popular dish

Braised Prime Short Rib

Brigantine La Mesa

4.8

4.8 (4175)

$30 and under

Seafood

La Mesa

About the restaurant

A San Diego tradition since 1969, the Brigantine has received many accolades in our 40+ year history: "BEST SEAFOOD", "BEST CASUAL SEAFOOD", "BEST HAPPY HOUR", and even "BEST SWORDFISH IN THE WORLD", according to USA Today - just to name a few.

Well-known for our signature Clam Chowder, Grilled Swordfish, and Crème Brûlée, the Brigantine is a favorite among locals for consistently fresh seafood, succulent steaks and grilled meats.

With an updated nautical decor, the busy Oyster bar is hands-down the local favorite. Lush flowering foliage outdoors creates an elegant dining experience on one of two charming patios.

The La Mesa Brigantine serves dinner 7 nights a week, lunch Monday-Saturday, and brunch every Sunday.

Join us for our signature Happy Hour.

Top review

Jeanine Paull

Dined 2 days ago

The sea bass special was melt in your mouth delicious! The halibut macadamia nut special was really good too. Service, ambiance…it was all really great. We had a terrific time. Thank you!

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Popular dish

Blackened Salmon

Antica Trattoria

4.8

4.8 (2387)

$30 and under

Contemporary Italian

La Mesa

About the restaurant

Antica Trattoria is a warm restaurant with an old-fashioned sense of hospitality that quickly became a gathering place for dinners in Lake Murray and the rest of San Diego when it opened in 2001. For Executive Chef and Owner Francesco Basile, good cuisine is about honest flavors, fresh ingredients, and simplicity. That's the kind of food he grew up eating by the seaside in Sicily and it's what he learned in culinary school in Italy.

Why eat ordinary when you can eat extraordinary?

About reservations: We have a 15-minute grace period. Please call us if you will be running later than 15 minutes. If a later time slot is available, you may be able to switch your reservation.

We may contact you, so please ensure your email and phone number are up to date. Your table will be reserved for 1 hour 30 minutes for parties of up to 4 guests; 2 hours for parties of 5 to 8 guests; and 2 hours 30 minutes for parties of 9+. We cannot guarantee special request for tables.

Top review

Alejandro

Dined 1 day ago

AS ALWAYS EXCELLENT FOOD!! I HAD COD AS SPECIAL OF THE DAY,,,THE BEST!! WE ARE REGULARS AT THIS RESTAURANT AND HAVE NEVER BEEN DISAPPOINTING. THE COD WAS SUPERB, SERVICE VERY GOOD, ATMOSPHERE NICE FAMILY SETTING. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED WITH FAIR PRICING. YOU WILL LIKE THIS RESTAURANT VERY MUCH. ENJOY!!

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Aromi Italian Cuisine

4.7

4.7 (245)

$30 and under

Italian

La Mesa

About the restaurant

Discover Aromi, where Italian authenticity meets affordability. Our casual Italian restaurant offers a warm and inviting atmosphere, serving up delicious dishes bursting with flavors at budget-friendly prices. From traditional pasta classics to mouthwatering entrees, Aromi ensures an unforgettable dining experience that won't break the bank.

Top review

DonaldVIP

Dined 6 days ago

Aromi consistently has excellent entrees with a good selection of wines. The daily special today was Mahi Mahi with a lemon caper sauce that was delicious. We always enjoy dinner and the friendly staff and servers.

Bull & Bourbon Steakhouse

4.6

4.6 (1670)

$31 to $50

Steakhouse

El Cajon / Lakeside

About the restaurant

Bull & Bourbon is a cut above other steakhouses – literally. Our innovative approach to classic steakhouse cuisine makes for a multi-sensory experience. Enjoy steaks prepared on our custom wood burning grill paired with our extensive and hand-selected bourbon menu for flavors that beautifully complement each other. Because we source local coastal California seafood, use steaks cut from our in-house butcher program, and choose select cuts from our on-site aging room, we always start with top-quality ingredients to create mouthwatering dishes. You will always know from where your food has been sourced, and our chefs approach cooking as the true art that it is.

Top review

Tina

Dined today

From beginning to end everything went really smooth. Made the reservation, requested a booth and the staff were very accommodating. Enjoyed our dinner!!! What a deal for a prime rib dinner and it was amazing. Thank you for a wonderful dining experience.

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4.5

4.5 (447)

$30 and under

Mexican

La Mesa

About the restaurant

The authority in great Mexican food for over 70 years! Visit us for weekly celebrations where we infuse tradition with authentic Mexican cuisine, including $4 happy hour, $3 Taco Tuesday, Saturday Breakfast and All-You-Can-Eat + Drink Sunday Brunch. Experience a celebration of Family, Food & Community!

Top review

Lashon

Dined 5 days ago

My family had so much fun. They food was delicious and fresh. Endless mimosas. Waiter was amazing. Best Christmas 2024🥰

Casa Gabriela

4.7

4.7 (753)

$30 and under

Mexican

La Mesa

About the restaurant

Chef Gabriela Lopez brings her elevated Mexican cuisine to Downtown La Mesa. Using her grandmother's recipes from Guadalajara crossed with her cosmopolitan upbringing in Tijuana, Chef Gabriela's menu features authentic hand-crafted dishes and imaginative takes on classic dishes. All of Baja California is represented along with influences from other regions in Mexico.

The spacious outdoor garden, cozy loft, and private dining areas are the perfect places to enjoy tequila and mezcal based cocktails, family celebrations, or brunch with friends.

Top review

Sheila

Dined 2 days ago

Food was outstanding. Our second time visiting. I highly recommend!

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Jalapeno-Cilantro Tempura Cauliflower

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