Downtown La Mesa Gains a Gastropub

Curbside Eatery & Drinkery has opened on a prime corner of La Mesa’s downtown district. Ringed with garage-style windows, the gastropub gets its name from the curbside patio that wraps around the building; the 2,200-square-foot restaurant and bar is currently serving dinner starting at 4 p.m. but will commence lunch service on Friday, October 12.

Managing partner Jonathan Baron is a La Mesa native and lives in the East County neighborhood, where he also owns The Regal Bar, a popular local hangout. In the kitchen is Lance Repp, a veteran chef from local properties including Tom Ham’s Lighthouse, La Valencia, and Rancho Valencia who was most recently executive chef of the University Club atop Symphony Towers. His menu for Curbside ranges from bar snacks like ahi tuna poke and chorizo cornbread bites to tostadas, salads, and sandwiches including a short rib melt and a brie and bacon onion jam-topped burger.

The bar, which will offer a competitive happy hour, has craft beer on tap as well as champagne-based drinks, sangria, mojitos and more.