La Mesa Bistro & Bakery. Breakfast.

You are here. You are reading mmm-yoso!!!, the food blog.  Kirk and ed (from Yuma) are working. Cathy apparently isn't, so she will blog about another meal she has enjoyed.  You can enjoy vicariously.

If you follow the blog, you may have noticed a pattern.  I like breakfast. I also live in East County. So, when I go out for breakfast, it's usually close to home.  At Interstate 8 at the Grossmont Center Drive exit, you can go North to Grossmont Mall/Hospital, or South on La Mesa Boulevard, toward the downtown/"Village of La Mesa".  Pass two signal lights when going south, and you'll see a small mall anchored by the USE Credit Union.  
It's been here for years, does a brisk, local business and is located in the far back corner of the mall, you'll see cars parked from 6:00 a.m. until about 3:00 p.m., seven days a week.
Walk inside (after perusing the 'Specials' menu board outside) and you can grab a menu (which is titled with 'Old Fashioned Baking, Healthy and Nutritious Foods, Gourmet Coffees and Catering') and sit down.  Then walk up to the cash register, order and pay. You'll get a number card to place on your table. You serve yourself beverages (there is a lemon-water dispenser near the door)and... See all those pump pots of coffee on the right? 'Gourmet coffees' are listed on the menu.You pick up a cup (paper or ceramic) and pick the one you'd like (only two of those coffees are flavored, the rest are beans from around the world; I picked the Sumatra for about 3/4 of the cup and added some French Roast for the rest and The Mister chose Costa Rica).  There are also espresso drinks which can be made for you. Those are fresh made pastries in the display case straight ahead.
The Mister's granola waffle ($7.95) with two poached eggs and two slices of bacon, topped with fresh fruit (they make fresh fruit smoothies here and offer fruit bowls and sides, so garnish is easy). The granola waffle was a special this day.  The waffle was not as 'fluffy' as the plain waffle, meaning not as tall...but the flavors and nutty-ness and cranberries was wonderful. The granola was evenly dispersed and not 'chunky' in the waffle.  The eggs were poached perfectly and the bacon provided just the right bit of saltiness.

I kind of wanted lunch...or maybe salty, so ordered the Deli Omelette ($7.95), made with corned beef, pastrami, tomatoes, onions and Swiss cheese. It's made with three large eggs and *filled* with all those ingredients, and the melty Swiss just makes it luxuriously smooth.  This was served with country potatoes (I could have chosen fruit-they give you a lot of fresh fruit) and choice of toasted potato bread, whole wheat, sourdough or English muffin.  I *love* potato bread, buy it whenever I can find it (which is rarely) and this is made here.  Oh and the sesame seed topping makes this just right when toasted. (The other breads baked here are also really good, especially for the lunch sandwiches).

La Mesa Bistro and Baker doesn't need any publicity and doesn't even have a website.  If you can drop by for breakfast or lunch, you won't be disappointed.

La Mesa Bistro and Bakery 8697 La Mesa Boulevard La Mesa 91941 (619)589-0806 Open seven days 6:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.  Website

Comments

[Xpadrex]

Just went this morning. Had this omelet over bagel concoction that was really, really good. Also, the coffee is spectacular. This has been our favorite East County breakfast spot since we moved to La Mesa a year and a half ago. Glad to see it get some props. Apparently, the owners also run Swami's on La Mesa Blvd. Swami's is good, but still seems to be having growing pains.

[James]

Is this the same shopping center where Chopsticks Inn is located?

[Cathy]

Hi Xpadrex, and welcome to our blog. Glad to know one of the many 'regulars' LMB&B has. The food is so good here, isn't it? I didn't realize Swami's was the same owners, had gone there when they had the same ordering system (walk up and pay) but since they changed it, it does not seem to work...
James! you got it, the schizophrenic Chopsticks Inn ("Sushi, Dim Sum, Thai Food") which caters to the undecided who want to eat 'some sort of Asian food' is in the corner, LMB&B is on the back edge, by the side street.

[the diligent diletante]

i always wondered about this place.... will have to drag someone here with me for brunch! that bread looks yummy =P

[Cathy]

I'm glad you know where it is, dd! Do stop by. They are excellent bakers. The lunch menu is pretty extensive with soups, salads, hot and cold sandwiches and wraps as well as burgers and a few vegetarian dishes. It is old fashioned in a good way.

[Carol]

Those strawberry waffles look really good. There are a couple of places like this in Poway but they are just so-so.

[Cathy]

The hole in the wall places, where all the locals meet up, are the best, Carol. Finding those places is the fun part.

[RecipeMatcher]

I live close to here, so i'll give it a shot.

[marylou]

Mmmm, this has been one of our fav places since it opened. I've gotten Lobster Benedict a couple of times and it is wonderful! We've never gotten anything for breakfast or lunch that wasn't prepared excellently. And their coffees--so many to choose from for such a good price! And all delicious. We'll keep going back!

[Cathy]

Hello and welcome to the commenting side of our blog, marylou! I do love Benedicts of all kinds, but haven't tried the lobster one here...but I will, very soon. Thanks for the tip. Oh-I do love the ability to choose a fresh cup of coffee from somewhere 'new' in the world each time I drop in.