La Mesa Craft Kitchen (first look)

Thanks for continuing to drop by to read mmm-yoso!!! Today, Kirk and Ed(from Yuma) are taking breaks and Cathy is writing. 

Over the past six months, whenever we'd stop at Carnitas Uruapan (which is far more often than I've posted), The Mister and I watched the progressing construction of this new La Mesa Gastropub, which opened about two weeks ago. (cc has been here recently; here is a link to her post)IMG_5324IMG_5325The location of Craft Kitchen La Mesa used to be a 7-11. (Look into the distance of the above photo, you can see the new 7-11 location, directly on the other side of Spring Street).IMG_5321Stepping into the front door, the menu board and ordering area are in front of you.  There are also menus on the counter and some chairs if you need to peruse. The menu is short.

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IMG_5308Order, pay, find a seat…IMG_5302_2IMG_5306Perhaps decide on a beer or wine to accompany your meal… IMG_5303Then again, there are tasters ($2 each) when you can't decide.  Julian Hard Cider and Karl Strauss Mosaic were our choices this day.  IMG_5311Other difficult choices were deciding what we wanted to try on this visit (while planning what we want to try on future visits…did you notice there is breakfast…daily breakfast, not just a weekend Brunch…).  So, the "Greens " flat bread ($10) was our mutual choice.  Fresh made chewy (with a bit of bottom crunch) flatbread topped with Mozzarella, sun dried tomatoes, artichokes, fresh chopped garlic and basil…the flavors all melded wonderfully and went well with each beverage choice.   
 IMG_5313IMG_5317This quite large (despite the photo) "Strawberry Fields" salad ($11) with added chicken ($2) was also a mutually decided choice, primarily because of the cheese –Burrata– and our general tendency toward trying to have a 'balanced' meal.  Spring mix greens, whole almonds and a very nice strawberry vinaigrette combined with the Burrata and good portion of warm/just cooked marinated chicken (the flavors of the chicken were good enough not to need any seasoning additions) made this salad an excellent meal…well, half the salad plus half the flatbread was a great meal.  

La Mesa (and its border) is gradually becoming the East County version of 30th Street, with a few stumbles and successes, with established  gastropub/regular pub type restaurants. The concept of breakfast at Craft Kitchen will be thoroughly investigated.  

La Mesa Craft Kitchen 4253 Palm Avenue (at Spring Street) La Mesa, CA 91941 (619)461-4887 Open 7 days Mon-Fri 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Sat 8a.m.-11 p.m. Sun 8 a.m.-10 p.m. Website
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