Diners' Choice: Great for outdoor dining restaurants in East County

OpenTable

Updated June 05, 2025

Looking for the best restaurants that are great for outdoor dining 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!

Brigantine La Mesa

4.8

4.8 (4317)

$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

Judy

Dined 3 days ago

My husband's birthday. He had the crab stuffed shrimp and said it was outstanding My meal of swordfish and our grand daughter's salmon were equally delicious and plentiful. Our server, Mando, was gracious and delightful. All in all a lovely evening!

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Popular dish

Blackened Salmon

Casa Gabriela

4.8

4.8 (890)

$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

Christina

Dined 4 days ago

My favorite place to celebrate birthdays! The food abd service are consistently great! I enjoy for consistency of the staff and their commitment to attentive service.

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Jalapeno-Cilantro Tempura Cauliflower

Antica Trattoria

4.7

4.7 (2454)

$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

DavidVIP

Dined 5 days ago

Our go-to date night spot Excellent food as usual. The lobster fettuccine special was incredible. Great service. We’ll be back soon.

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Baron Long Bar & Grill

4.7

4.7 (559)

$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

Rachel

Dined 3 days ago

My first visit to Baron was at the bar with appetizers, and they were all delicious great chicken wings . But this morning was in the restaurant and it was fancy. Great breakfast with down to earth prices. Big portions and food is prepared well like with good plating . The Baron breakfast is very good but the vegetarian omelette was amazing. Staff is professional and kind thank you for the great service.

Giardino Neighborhood Cucina

4.7

4.7 (1132)

$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

CaroleVIP

Dined 1 day ago

We enjoyed a very good Italian dinner in a casual setting. The staff were welcoming and the service was excellent. We enjoyed the eggplant appetizer and the pasta dishes (one with beef and one with seafood) that we ordered. There is a good selection of Italian wines too. We plan to return to sample more of the extensive menu.

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Retreat Pool & Cabanas

4.7

4.7 (331)

$50 and over

Californian

El Cajon / Lakeside

About the restaurant

Everyone needs to treat themselves from time to time. If you’re looking for a getaway from the everyday, look no further than Retreat Pool and Cabanas. Our El Cajon venue offers guests the opportunity to relax, soak up some Vitamin D, and escape in a picturesque aquatic oasis. We offer an array of entertainment and performers throughout the summer months. Our unique and thoughtful layout features two beautiful pool areas and a cleverly designed lazy river. You’ll feel layers of stress melt away as you float down the slow-moving lazy river, taking in your surroundings at a leisurely pace.

Top review

OpenTable Diner

Dined 6 days ago

We reserved a daybed for our anniversary on Reggae Sunday, specifically to ensure we had a nice spot for the umbrella because my husband is fair skinned. It's my 1st time here, so I didn't know exactly how everything worked. Upon arrival, it didn't go very smoothly. The umbrella was away from our daybed and in full sun. When I said I needed shade, they didn't reassure me of it right away and fix the umbrella. Instead, I was offered another daybed. We went over there and immediately some real "gentleman" with his wife has our umbrella & says, "Well you're not getting THIS umbrella." He was just sitting in regular lounge chairs like he owned the place (not reserved anything.) I had to walk all the way back to the reservation desk and they were busy helping others. I found someone to help me go back to the other daybed (because I did not want to be near that guy) and I again insisted on an umbrella which they finally moved. For knowing I'm spending $300, I would have liked a little more effort from the staff in ensuring I was getting what I reserved before they left me to help someone else. Pros: - Daybed was comfortable & comes with Reggae Sunday band. - beautiful landscape and view - clean, plenty of bathrooms -umbrella for daybed could be moved, but I needed to request -The food was excellent -fun lazy river Cons: -actual band wasn't great, music not chill - way too loud for Reggae Sundays. It got a lot better after 3. - 18% gratuity is automatic. Our server was too busy with cabanas, and it took forever for us to order & get our stuff until Cabanas slowed down. She apologized. It's hard to ride the lazy river and get service. I didn't know I couldn't order my own drinks from the bar and put it on my daybed. The bartender wasn't very nice about it. They really should have an app for ordering. Waitress couldn't tell us our total easily. (Not sure if this is by design.) - drinks are very sugary, so we ordered a lot of beer -More umbrellas might ease tensions

Banbu Sushi Bar & Grill

4.6

4.6 (426)

$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

Jeffrey

Dined 6 days ago

walkable from where i live so super convenient but also really good food. will definitely be coming back here

Lemon Grove Bistro

4.5

4.5 (114)

$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

John

Dined on Jun 26, 2025

Food wonderful as expected. Service friendly & quick as always. Loved sitting outside at the common table.

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Experience

Weekday Happy Hour

Farmer's Table - La Mesa

4.4

4.4 (2057)

$30 and under

Farm-to-table

La Mesa

About the restaurant

Excited to announce that we officially have four locations open in San Diego including Bay Park, Little Italy, La Mesa, and Chula Vista. As a family run operation we believe every good neighborhood deserves an eatery where locals and visitors can enjoy “honest food done right”. Here at Farmers Table, we specialize in farm-to-fork cuisine that focuses on bringing locally sourced organic ingredients together to be savored in an inviting family-friendly atmosphere, where adults and children can enjoy many different food options that are just right for them. If you are looking for a magical brunch this week, come stop by for an unforgettable night.

Top review

Eddie

Dined 7 days ago

I’ll be happy the service was excellent the food is great and the service is excellent thank you 😊

Aromi Italian Cuisine

4.4

4.4 (302)

$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

Carly

Dined on Jun 21, 2025

Food was great! Outside seating accommodating our dogs which was so nice.

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