Anthony's Grotto, La Mesa-lunch specials!

mmm-yoso!!! is the blog about food, written by Kirk and ed (from Yuma) and Cathy and a few other friends.  Today, Cathy is writing about one of the meals she had during her "seven days of feasting".

Hi.  In case you don't know, The Mister and I celebrate our birthdays seven days apart by eating out for at least one meal a day.  Somehow, over the years, by the time it is my birthday, I am only wanting to stay at home and eat something homemade and light...

So, Day One.  We decided we wanted to eat lunch at Anthony's Grotto in La Mesa. 

I had blogged about a dinner with my brother here last year.  We all do like good seafood.

The meal starts off with fresh baked Italian rolls served with sun dried tomato butter.

Calamari appetizer. ($9.50). Perfect.  Sometimes people say this is a 'first date' food.  We must still be dating...

Seriously, light, herbed batter, perfectly fried, Parmesan sprinkled on top and served with a warm marinara...

I chose the soup and chowder salad salad meal ($8.95)...of course the soup was the white(never red) clam chowder...which has classic great fresh clam flavor, along with the cream, butter and includes diced potato and celery.
The chowder salad (which you can get on a sandwich or on top of a salad of shredded lettuce and cabbage)(hence, my saying I got a chowder salad salad above) The chowder salad is fresh made with not oily fish-halibut and cod and shrimp in a light mayonnaise based sauce. I did not feel I needed to add the side of home made ranch dressing until I was near the bottom of all the lettuce and cabbage and wanted something different...

The Mister chose the seasonal catch combo ($10.95) -a lightly (in flour and egg wash) grilled fish of the day (cod) with batter fried 'small' shrimp-which were not that small...The batter as always was perfectly done and the fish was ever so lightly sauteed.

As always, the fish was all prepared perfectly and was wonderfully fresh.  We did not tell our server we were celebrating a birthday, or would have received a free dessert, as many other tables were had.  We were full!

Anthony's.  Numerous locations in San Diego. Website

Comments

[Chubbypanda]

Yum! I like the concept of "seven days of feasting", as opposed to fasting.

[Carol]

That calamari looks delicious! Boo, now I'm going to have fried calamari on the brain all day. I guess I could have worst things on my brain. ;-)

[nhbilly]

Its only 10 and I'm starving!!! ;-)

[Cathy]

Hi CP-it has been our tradition ever since we met in college in August of 19--, although back then the seven days consisted more of boysenberry Dannon yogurt and Olga's and fragels...
I could have just had three orders of the calamari and been happy, Carol...
It's because most is fried, Bill. Just say it. :)

[Lori]

What a wonderful tradition! And how nice that you've kept this going for years. Nothing like something that's unique to you and yours to give you the warm fuzzies. :)

[stephen]

Great post and pictures. I've been eating there for as long as I can remember and I'm 40-something.
Have to disagree with you though on the red chowder. I LOVE it. (I even take it home)
They also have a great fresh fish market in the restaurant. They have their own fleet so you know its fresh, and they have the best prices.

[Cathy]

Hi Lori-Thanks for the sweet thoughs. It is one way The Mister will never forget my birthday...
Thank you, too, Stephen. Thing is The Mister was raised in Boston, therefore that red fish soup is something I just am not allowed to order...but I do agree, all of the food and fish sold here is the best. We also do like Point Loma Seafoods when we need a 'fix'. I've blogged it.