Best Restaurants for Outdoor Dining in El Cajon / Lakeside

Very nice! Love the decor and the personal were very friendly. Definitely recommend and will return.

We went here for Thanksgiving weekend. They had four dinner options. We went with a traditional turkey dinner. It was wonderful with large portions that were perfect. Our server, Brad, was friendly, engaging and knowledgeable. A wonderful holiday meal!

This was our third Thanksgiving we have had the buffet at the La Mesa El Torito and every time it has been excellent. The food is awesome with a mix of Mexican cuisine and traditional holiday favorites. Their staff is very friendly and the waiters make sure you are well taken care of.

Friend and I visited for the Thanksgiving prix fixe dinner. It was absolutely fantastic. We ordered the lamb shank, beef filet, and added the sweet potatoes. Our onion soup and blackened shrimp appetizer choices were delicious. The pumpkin cake and apple pastry desserts were so good. The overall standout was definitely the lamb shank. Unbelievably delicious. The wine list is incredible and we complemented dinner with a lovely Napa Cabernet. The service was excellent and absolutely what you would expect. Bill, was a delight and even took a few photos of us for my visiting friend. Thank you for a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Unmatched hospitality! The server was knowledgeable about the food and able to describe them well. We didn’t have great luck with the clams, they were very chewy & overcooked but the broth was delicious. They took it back and a sweet manager, (I’m forgetting names) sent a hamachi that was to die for! Everything else that hit the table was delicious and we were very impressed. The bubbly and celebration desert was super appreciated as well. Honestly made my birthday dinner feel extra special, some places really don’t go the extra mile but they sure know how to impress.