Top Best French Restaurants in La Mesa

"Love can make you feel like your head’s in the clouds as can the stellar view of the skyline and landing planes from this Bankers Hill classic. That’s probably why it's been the site of so many marriage proposals, Valentine’s dates, and special celebrations since it opened decades ago and especially since it was reimagined by owner Bertrand Hug in 2000. The upscale American menu features standbys like pork chops and duck breasts in their most classic forms as well as modern takes on dishes like swordfish and lamb with smoked date jam."

"A's just might be one of the best places to enjoy a skyline view of downtown San Diego, Coronado, Balboa Park and Point Loma, with the occasional plane landing or taking off from the airport. The sunsets are spectacular and part of the reason why this restaurant is perpetually voted one of the most romantic places to eat in the city. Modern American cuisine is on the menu though dishes change based on seasonality of locally-sourced ingredients."

"It's always adult swim here—this is where the well-heeled grown-ups linger over their foie gras for at least a few hours. To wit: Mister A's requests business casual attire (collared shirts and closed-toe shoes for men) before 4:30 p.m. But that also means the fine dining at this institution is above reproach."

"When the craving for comfort food strikes, there’s almost nothing better than a trip to Whisknladel. This decade-old stalwart elevates classics like buttermilk fried chicken with gourmet mac and cheese and a side of pancetta braised green beans, and a menu that sources almost entirely from local farms. Charred bone marrow gets cozy with lemon and capers, while local market fish takes a swim in lemon butter sauce and the pork chop basks in a peach vinaigrette."

"This farm-to-table restaurant located in the village serves breakfast 7 days a week from 9:30 am – 3:00 pm. It features open-air windows, a small outdoor patio, and the servers are friendly and attentive. The menu is ever-changing to reflect what the executive chef can get from local farms and purveyors, and everything is made from scratch."

"This farm-to-table restaurant features happy hour specials daily from 3:00 – 6:00 pm. Come from work, the beach or one of many San Diego adventures and unwind with specially priced happy hour menu that includes appetizers, salads, wines, beers, and cocktails. The restaurant features open-air windows and a small outdoor patio."

"With a killer selection of fresh pastries, croissants, and scones – plus bistro classics like charcuterie and pâté plates – Tartine has been a staple for islanders since 2001. And while it’s a cozy café by day, come evening it’s the perfect place to BYOB (although the boutique wine list here is stellar), and relax on the patio with one of the daily specials, which can range from beef stroganoff to a pan-roasted sea bass."

"A charming restaurant with views of the San Diego Bay from its outdoor patio. It offers pastries and breakfast plates in the morning, superb coffees throughout the day and evening, great salads and entrees at lunch, and fabulous dinner specials in the evening. The café serves wine, and pooches are welcome on the patio."

"Francophiles will love this chic new Parisian style bistro and its culinary ode to Provençe – think escargot, steak frites, fromage, plus French beers and wines. Leading the kitchen is executive chef Matt Sramek who worked under Thomas Keller at Bouchon in Beverly Hills. Now open early on the weekends there’s a morning menu until 11 a.m."

"The comfortable and creative Little Frenchie bistro and wine bar is an entertaining spot for some of the best cheap eats in San Diego. Head out to this Coronado favorite to enjoy t..."

"Little Frenchie was one of my favorite spots on Coronado Island. There are many brunch places around, but this one had to be the cutest in my opinion."

"This French bakery serves classic pastries and light café fair. If you need another Instagram-worthy dessert, this place should definitely be on your list. Check out the map below for directions:"

"Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account. View this post on Instagram. A post shared by Le Parfait Paris (@le_parfait_paris) on May 11, 2019 at 8:26am PDT"

"One of the most historic dining spots in San Diego, Dobson's is a prime spot downtown for some cheap local eats. Around the corner from the famous Balboa Theater, this colorful and..."

"Known for their Californian fare, this upscale eatery has been serving seafood lovers for more than three decades. Today, Dobson's Bar & Restaurant is a San Diego landmark, conside..."

"My family and I stayed in the gaslamp district recently and were dissappointed with the many tourist trap restaurant settings..."

"Proprietor Bertrand Hug's French restaurant is the kind of place, even in the days of more casual dining, that you still want to get dressed up for. A favorite with visiting Hollywood stars and world-renowned chefs, it offers unabashed elegance, irresistible gourmet dishes, intimate rooms with warmly-lit fireplaces, exquisite hand-woven tapestries, and starched white linens. The menu's delicacies change with the seasons and can include short ribs with heirloom carrots, morels and polenta; and scallops with sprouting cauliflower, kohlrabi and Champagne beurre blanc."

"Whether you’re on a casual date night out or celebrating a milestone anniversary, Mille Fleurs offers elegant and casual dining. The daily changing menu offers surprises every time you visit, as do the surroundings. Dining in the main room, the courtyard patio or the fountain room will change the atmosphere to suit the occasion."

"This Rancho Santa Fe favorite features elegant, intimate dining perfect for special occasions and celebrations. The French-Californian cuisine, highly regarded wine list, and piano bar should make whoever you brought with you swoon."

"Poseidon prides itself on being fun for every age with a casual beach vibe. This is definitely true, but it's also a fantastic place for a romantic seafood dinner by the sand on their sizable patio. The entire restaurant has been recently remodeled to a chic, upscale-casual look."

"Why go: The nation's first non-profit taco joint donates 100% of their profits to local charities. Libertad takes liberty with range of ingredients—pork belly, tempura avocado, octopus—that are char-grilled over embers and stuffed into homemade tortillas. Push through the stainless steel freezer door and discover a hidden cocktail lounge decked with chandeliers and olive trees."

"A post shared by Rimel's Rotisserie La Jolla (@rimelsrotisserie) on Oct 5, 2016 at 5:46pm PDT. This small but very popular eatery has been running for well over 20 years, and its success has seen it spawn several other sites. This original location, however, is where it all began."

"The Wells Fargo Museum, located inside the Colorado House, features one of the company’s original 1867 Concord stagecoaches. The recreated and historically-furnished former hotel also houses actual historic telegraph machines and a variety of other memorabilia related to the banking and transportation company. Photo Courtesy of Historic Old Town Community Foundation"

"Whether you enjoy spotting ghosts and apparitions or have an interest in historic places, the Whaley House is a definite tourist pleaser. The lovely brick two-story structure was built in 1857 by the original owner Thomas Whaley. Its historical significance lies in the many different roles the home played for the community."

"The Whaley House is a museum and California Historical Landmark, situated in the Old Town, San Diego, California. It is administered by the Save Our Heritage Organization (SOHO). The Whaley House was the home of Thomas Whaley and his family."

"The San Diego Union Museum enables visitors to see where the San Diego Union, the first newspaper in the city, got its start. Visitors can tour the recreated editor’s office and the original print room to see how they looked in 1868. The prefabricated wooden building was manufactured on the East Coast, shipped to California and reassembled in 1851."

"The museum showcases the region’s unique, colorful, and diverse history exhibiting artifacts, costumes, textiles, art, and photographs detailing life and development of the local area."