Best Restaurants for People Watching in Kearny Mesa

First time dining here, I celebrated my 30th birthday. I received a sweet birthday postcard and had an AMAZING waitress named Sky. She was very kind, informative and just sooo sweet!! All of the food was beyond delicious. I have never been to a restaurant where I can say the food, service and atmosphere was all a 10/10. When I say everything was a 100/10, I am not being dramatic. We ordered about 7 or 8 dishes for the table and shared (between 4 people). Each bite was savory and melt in your mouth delicious. The drinks were yummy as well. I wholeheartedly recommend, I can’t wait to go back!!

Great experience with a lovely ambiance. The food surpassed out expectations . We started with The provolone fondue and pretzel bread. 5 stars. I had the Korean skirt steak. An abundance of flavors with a slight kick. My husband had the Bolognese. I felt that is was a bit on the sweeter side but my husband said it was perfect. For dessert, we have the Key Lime Crème Brûlée. It was real good but the tart was a bit too much for me to finish.

The food, service and atmosphere were all wonderful. Stefano was our server and he was amazing! They were able to accommodate a simple cheese pizza for our kids, Stefano provided an exceptional wine pairing recommendation, and overall a great experience. Can’t wait to return.

The Whaling Bar is hands down our favorite local spot, whether it’s for a cozy date night or an evening out with friends. The atmosphere is fantastic, the cocktails are exceptional, and the food never disappoints. We love everything on the menu, but our personal favorites are the celery salad, Caesar salad, the baos, and the chicken—each dish is perfectly executed. We’re also lucky enough to have George as our server every time we dine here. He’s simply the best, making every visit even more memorable with his friendly demeanor and excellent service. And don’t forget to save room for dessert! The burger dessert is an absolute must-try. We can’t wait to come back again soon!

If you’re a foodie then you will appreciate this place for a date night for flavorful international food with California and British influence’s and caring service. From the beverages I enjoyed the mocktail and happy hour appetizer with the best crispy pork belly bao I’ve had. The entree from the house made pasta in cream sauce and the jerk chicken was done with fresh ingredients and just hit the flavor notes. For desserts we appreciated the date cake with the homemade gelato. There is an outdoor area for kids to play around and outdoor seating. We’ll stop by with our kids next time for their high tea and my husband will consider California English as a spot to bring in business clients. Plenty of parking just as you drive past it to your right side, and try not to accidentally park in the Chick-Fil-A area. Thank you again!