Diners' Choice: Best Overall restaurants in East County

OpenTable

Updated May 05, 2025

Looking for the best overall restaurants 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!

Jive Lounge

4.9

4.9 (64)

$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

Rey

Dined on Apr 27, 2025

We always enjoy our time here on our night out with dancing with food.

Brigantine La Mesa

4.8

4.8 (4277)

$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

Heidi

Dined 4 days ago

I consider The Brig to be a terrific go-to for an elevated lunch and yesterday I tried the Tempura Lobster Tacos. Much to my surprise, the best thing on the plate was the jicama, cucumber remoulade. The tacos are incredibly messy to eat and frankly the proportions are off. Perhaps a redesign of the dish would improve it. The truffle fries were so greasy, we had to ask for a reorder. The vegetables were oily too. I think for 28 dollars, there should'n't be much to complain about. Sorry. Our server, Lulah (spelling?) was wonderful and charming!

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Popular dish

Blackened Salmon

Baron Long Bar & Grill

4.7

4.7 (548)

$31 to $50

Californian

Alpine

About the restaurant

Baron Long Bar & Grill features a familiar food menu, along with craft beer & cocktails for friends and family to enjoy while dining in a comfortable, energetic, sociable sports bar environment. We’ve put our spin on American bar food classics using the best local ingredients and freshly prepared food that is sure to please sports fans and foodies alike.

Guests can watch the action of their favorite game on our 16 TVs located throughout the restaurant, including (10) 85” screens. Share some appetizers over drinks with your friends or order your favorite burger from our extensive food menu. The beverage menu boasts a seasonal craft cocktail menu, 16 draft beers from our showcase keg room, focusing on notable San Diego breweries, as well as two rotating taps that will pique your interest frequently.

Top review

BonnieVIP

Dined on Apr 24, 2025

We took our family, who was here visiting from out of town to dinner. The food was amazing ( we all had salads) . Our server Mary was awesome, she kept our drinks refilled and was always checking on us, we were not rushed to leave after we were done so we could visit with our family for awhile. This is our favorite restaurant!!

Lemon Grove Bistro

4.7

4.7 (106)

$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

Lori

Dined 3 days ago

We have been coming here since they opened a few years ago. Everything on the menu is so delicious. We love the menu as it changes with the seasons. We hardly ever have the same item twice, however, we do have our favorites!

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Experience

Weekday Happy Hour

Grove Steakhouse at Viejas Casino

4.7

4.7 (1792)

$31 to $50

Steakhouse

Alpine

About the restaurant

The Grove Steakhouse has been awarded the prestigious AAA Four Diamond Award. Resplendent with luxurious décor and a warm, inviting atmosphere, The Grove offers classic and contemporary cuisine for the definitive gourmet experience. Relax in calming ambience while you’re pampered by our world-class service. Our attention to detail and gourmet selections will make your dining experience a pleasure long remembered. Experience an exciting new menu, which includes an array of tantalizing entrées and desserts that are sure to satisfy and inspire you to return again and again.

Top review

JanVIP

Dined 5 days ago

It was a wonderful experience at The Grove. We felt truly valued by our maître de Rafael, our waiter Joseph, and assistant waiter Alex. The restaurant os beautiful, the food was delicious, the menu selection was abundant and the service was topnotch - a memorable evening to be certain!

Antica Trattoria

4.7

4.7 (2440)

$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

Jonathan

Dined 1 day ago

The burrata was disappointing, but our entrees were excellent.

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The Riviera Supper Club and Turquoise Room

4.7

4.7 (49)

$31 to $50

American

La Mesa

About the restaurant

The Riviera Supper Club & Turquoise Room features a unique experience of service where you can choose to grill your steaks yourself at the communal grill and offers numerous cuts of meat. Not interested in doing the grilling? We will grill for you and we also have a great selection of entrees and appetizers that are prepared for you. Extensive craft cocktail list, great beer selection and live music most nights in the turquoise room.

*RESERVATIONS ARE ONLY OFFERED FOR THE DINING AREA, THE TURQUOISE ROOM IS FIRST COME FIRST SERVE.*

Top review

Max

Dined on Apr 27, 2025

Can't help but love the authentic retro decor especially in the lounge room where the live entertainment is. Menu is beef heavy which is fine with me since I can't imagine not having steak and bourbon based drinks in a venue like this. Only tiny critique is the mashed potatoes where pretty heavy on the salt and I'm a salt fiend. Also a bit heavy on the butter/cream content. I know its trendy to serve quite thin watery mashed potatoes and mine appeared to have been subjected to a food processor but that develops the gluten content and results in a rather gluey consistency. I prefer "stiffer" more traditional mashed potatoes myself. Steaks were cooked to perfection, good quality cuts and terrific charred crust (we opted not to grill ourselves). Pro tip (from me) I always ask for some of their Teriyaki sauce on the side for dipping what ever they use is right on the money. Service was tip top being very attentive, no looking around trying to get noticed when the next drink was desired. Bar tender obviously took pride in his work. We sat in the restaurant area near the entrance to the lounge, that particular spot was in the line of fire for the band and a bit loud for easy conversation but that is a non-issue in other areas as I've been there several times before. All in all an excellent experience close to home but more than good enough to justify a trip from further away.

Banbu Sushi Bar & Grill

4.6

4.6 (415)

$31 to $50

Seafood

La Mesa

About the restaurant

Here at Banbu Sushi Bar & Grill we are committed to providing our customers with an excellent dining experience. Each dish on our menu is prepared using only the freshest and highest quality ingredients. Banbu Sushi Bar & Grill is unique with its classic Japanese design, fused with a modern bistro look combined with earth tones and lighting to create a visual atmosphere one can't forget!

Top review

SarinaVIP

Dined 4 days ago

Kayla was great! She remembers our order and had amazing customer service. Food was great as always

Casa Gabriela

4.6

4.6 (849)

$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

FrederickVIP

Dined 3 days ago

Happy Hour menu is terrific. Nachos, ceviche, potato taquitos, guacamole with chicharrones, Caesar salad and cocktails were spot on. Damon is a fantastic server and we will return.

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Jalapeno-Cilantro Tempura Cauliflower

Giardino Neighborhood Cucina

4.7

4.7 (1114)

$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

OpenTable Diner

Dined 6 days ago

wonderful service!!!

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