Anthony's Grotto-La Mesa; "Afternoon For Two" Lunch.

You are reading mmm-yoso!!! and Cathy is blogging.  Kirk is working and ed (from Yuma) is in Yuma, rehabilitating.  Ideally, they are also eating. 

Anthony's is a San Diego institution of Italian inspired fresh fish and seafood items. The Ghio family has owned and operated several versions in the San Diego area for 60 years. There are still a few locations in existence (The Star of the Sea, downtown on the Bay was the "fancy" location; years ago, men could not enter without wearing a suitcoat; now there is a Fishette in the same area and Grottos in three other locations).  I have posted a few other times about meals here.   The La Mesa 'Grotto' location has a waterfall and cave-like entry. 
 

A surreal decor.
And a lunch special for two for $25.95. It's called "Afternoon for Two". You can start by each getting a cup of red or white clam chowder (the best I've had in San Diego)...
or chose to share the artichoke shrimp dip.
Of course fresh ciabatta rolls and sun dried tomato butter is brought out (the soft, warm bread tastes better with the dip than the dried bread slices shown).

 
As my main, I chose the baked halibut with a house made milanese sauce-fresh tomatoes dominated, but the onion, garlic and white wine, along with the chopped basil mixed in made it a  compliment for the moist pieces of fresh fish.  I asked for the house made coleslaw with creamy pineapple dressing as my side-I crave this slaw.

The Mister ordered a plate with broiled salmon and shrimp (there are three *very* large ones kind of on top of each other), topped with a garlic butter. As you can see, he chose rice pilaf as his side.
We did also order beverages.  Iced tea-fresh and constantly refilled was $2.50 and a glass of  house white wine was $3. The house wine is very good.
Dessert could have been a shared strawberry shortcake or, this.  We each got a cup of the best spumoni ice cream I have ever had.  Our waitress told us that Dreyers makes it exclusively for Anthony's.  Mostly pistachio ice cream, with whole pistachios and vanilla whipped cream...oh there were some cherries and no chocolate.  This was *so* good and refreshing. Our table was by the window and had this lovely view of the lake.  We had a very nice afternoon.

Anthony's La Mesa I-8 at Severin (619)463-0368 website

Comments

[stephen]

Hi Cathy. Great post. I've been eating at Anthony's with my family for years. I live close to that one. I buy my fresh fish there, and its always great quality, and reasonably priced. I used to go with my grandma sometimes. She always wanted extra cocktail sauce, even before the food was brought to the table.
The spumoni is the best

[Cathy]

Thanks, Stephen. I am so glad that people who live in East County read the blog. We really do like Anthony's, and the seafood prices are sometimes a lot better here than anywhere else. Nice grandma memory. Usually I don't even get a dessert when eating out. So glad I got the spumoni.

[sawyer]

that's a really good price for a seafood joint, and everything looks so good. never heard of spumoni, but i would love to try it someday, preferably at anthony's. i love that salt and pepper sugar holder!

[Carol]

The artichoke shrimp dip looks delicious and I love the sundried tomato butter!

[Cathy]

Pistachio ice cream from Howard Johnson's (when they had restaurants) was The Mister's favorite Sawyer. Can't find it any more. Spumoni is a great treat. The underwater theme of decor is fun.
The appetizer was really good, Carol. We both would have ordered the white clam chowder otherwise. The little touches, like sundried tomato butter make it special, yet not crazy expensive.