Best Breakfast Spot in La Mesa! Centifonti's is such a cute and cozy, family-style restaurant and bar that truly has something for everyone. They serve breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and as if that wasn't enough, they also make homemade candy, caramel apples, and gelato. It's honestly a one-stop shop for everything your stomach craves! From the moment I walked in, I noticed how clean and tidy the restaurant is. Every table is decorated with an adorable sunflower-themed artistic vase, which adds such a cheerful, welcoming touch. There are also multiple TVs showing sports, so sports fans will definitely feel right at home. Our waitress was so kind, attentive, and professional, which truly made the experience even better. Parking is easy to plan for as there are parking meters lined up along the street in front, since it's located right in downtown La Mesa on La Mesa Boulevard. Everything about this place feels just right from the atmosphere to the attention to detail. Perfection all around. Hands down, the best breakfast place ever! Come on down, you'll be so happy you did! #yelpsandiego #sandiego #sandiegocalifornia #centifonti's read more

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Another wonderful Mother's Day celebration with family. Exciting atmosphere, good food a perfect location to experience togetherness in a room full of families recognizing moms and appreciating all that we do and have done and yet to do. HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY 2026(15) read more

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The food here is fresh from the Friday market in La Mesa. The salads are all organic., Sent Fonte is really cares about what goes into their food and service. We give them five stars. read more

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Food here is the freshest and best you can get in La Mesa come in and try it. It's beautifully done and the people here it's owned by the family and they are very friendly and nice so come and enjoy a nice breakfast or lunch. The ambience is Restaurant and Bar delicious . read more

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well, I'm back and I can't understand what all the fuss is about. If you don't have enough time to wait for your food in a patient manner maybe you shouldn't come here. Maybe you should be a fast food person. This seems to be a great place to eat I'm having the same experience as my initial time here. Please come with patients depending on what day you're here. I came on a fairly dead day. It still took a while for our food, but it was quite wonderful when it did arrive. I never have a problem here t. They deserve top reviews. read more

Centifonti's Restaurant - the special! so much caramel! - Desserts Near Me - La Mesa, California

Very welcoming environment. Fast AND attentive service. You can taste the love in the food. This is a definite place to put on your bucket list. Great location for group meetings. I told them 5-stars on YELP! read more

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A hidden spot in the busy street of downtown La Mesa, mom and pop shop oriented. Everyone that was working this day made us feel so welcome and were attentive, the food portions almost fills up two people. Nice spot to enjoy even a beer later in the evening but there is tons of goodies to browse left and right! Definitely will come back again. read more

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Terrible service. TERRIBLE. We had to ask multiple times for a menu and to just simply be served by somebody. We finally were waited on after maybe 25 minutes and ended up ordering drinks only. We waited 15 minutes for our drinks and nothing, so we just walked out and left. Terrible. There were many workers there to help - some just wandering around looking for I don't know what, and they didn't seem to want to come to our table in the corner. Awful service. You guys need better communication and the simple initiative to help all customers, because you clearly do not have set tables assigned to designated servers. read more

Don't sleep on this spot, I'm telling you, if you've been eating/drinking on La Mesa Blvd and haven't slipped into Centifonti's, you've been missing out. Wake up, people! My love for downtown La Mesa has grown over the years. From the car shows, the farmers markets, a few little dive bars, and overpriced pizza, my hangout sessions on the main drag have increased from "on occasion" to "quite frequent" and Centifonti's has given me even more reason to spend a few bucks at a local business. Why? Giiiiirrrl, I'll tell you! The food was terrific, which I'll admit, I was surprised. While the sophisticated locals have been dipping in quickly for homemade gelato, the misfits like me and my friends will throw a few back at the bar and order a selection of food to pass around. The highlights: - The lasagna was legit! Seriously, the portion is big and served with garlic bread to soak up the red sauce that's surely going to left when you've tackled the layers of pasta and meat. - The mussels were our absolute favorite and are one of those dishes that I'd go to a restaurant for, specifically. Piled high in a bowl and drowned in a white wine/butter based sauce... these mussels didn't stand a chance against my friends and I. Once again, served with bread to leave not a trace of the carnage that happened when attacked by a gaggle of hungry dudes. - The tacos! I had the chicken tacos from the happy hour menu and these f#ckers were big and served two to a plate. Rumor has it that their taco Tuesday is quite popular with $15.00 landing you a taco, a Caesar salad, and a Mexican beer. See you Tuesday? Ah s#it, today is Tuesday... see you tonight? Welp, am I fan? Beyond a fan of Centifonti's. Great people, great food, and a very fun atmosphere in the bar area. Take my money. read more

Wonderful service and food. We ordered the carbonara pasta and chipotle shrimp. Excellent authentic Italian food and our host Adam was excellent. Definitely recommend to try. read more

Centifonti's Restaurant - Carbonara pasta - Desserts Near Me - La Mesa, California

Such a bummer. We saw their happy hour and were excited to give this spot a try! We arrived at 6:20, during the Friday farmers market. Someone brought us water and menus right away. We then sat until 6:55 with no help. The table next to us had a server bringing them food and she never even looked our way. We stood up twice to bring the lack of service to their attention and they kept saying they would be right there. When we finally brought the menus back to the hostess, we were not even acknowledged. read more

Rate 3.5 Server/ Staff 5 We dropped by kinda late around 8:45pm to get some hot coffee and desserts. They close at 10 pm so we had time. Ordered hot mexican mochas. I noticed their brewed coffee is Cafe Moto. That's good stuff. I enjoyed the drink but I didn't tasted too much of the Mexican Mocha. The cookie was good. The Carmel Apple was different. I think the Carmel may have been off because unfortunately it didn't taste good. The staff is hardworking and friendly at this establishment. read more

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Just found this hidden gem in LaMesa! Family owned & one of the best meatballs I've found in San Diego. Delicious espresso martini & great company. Thanks Kiersten! We'll be back! read more

Scrumptious gelato and sooo many flavors to choose from. Nice and friendly service... family feeling. Great place to grab a gelato to go as well and walk around the village area or sit a the bench and take it all in :). read more

This is our favorite La Mesa spot. The food is well-prepared and attractive. We especially enjoy the pastas, soups and salads. The portions are generous. It is a very good brunch place with great drinks. Kirsten our server/owner is very attentive and willing to fulfill customer requests. The vibe is family. read more

Centifonti's Restaurant - Soup and salad combo with fruit and shrimp added on request - Desserts Near Me - La Mesa, California

This place is in downtown La Mesa. We were not greeted upon arrival. We figured out it's seat yourself. Took a while for waitress to come take our order, she was the only one. I ordered fish tacos with a Cesar salad. It was pretty good, different with cheese on tacos. They do have Gelato for sale. Got some and it was good. read more

Centifonti's Restaurant - Desserts Near Me - La Mesa, California

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Huge portions. Excellent service. Good value. Great for lunch. Outside seating. Wednesday is $5 wine with lunch.

I am only reviewing this restaurant's Gelato. The hubby and I were walking in The Village of La Mesa and stopped in close to their closing time (8pm) on a Saturday night, and were just wanting something sweet. This was our first time at Centifonti's. We walked up to the frozen desert counter and we're greeted with a warm, friendly, smile. Since we were not familiar with their Gelato, we were graciously offered tastings, which we accepted. We chose the peach and the salted butterscotch (2 small scoops was $7). The peach Gelato was somewhat creamy with small pieces of infused fresh peach throughout. Every so often we would get an ice crystal in our bite, a bit unpleasant. The salted butterscotch was a bit too sweet for our liking and tasted like artificial flavorings, but it was very creamy. There are other display cases with homemade chocolates and fresh pastries. Looks like a fun place to come and eat a meal when they have live music; so we'll come back to dine at another time and update this review. read more

Had the best lunch today, pasta special,. 1/2 Meat sauce 1/2 Alfredo! The best! Service is excellent. Very friendly atmosphere.

Came here early on a Saturday evening as we had just dropped off the kidlet for a sleep over nearby. It was not super busy and we were able to seat ourselves in a booth. Staff came over to get drink orders, drop off menus etc. There is a lot going on in this space. There is a bar, the restaurant tables, a gelato case, a dessert case. Since we were sitting down eating it wasn't an issue for us. For drinks I got a happy hour red wine (I let the server pick and I think she picked a cab. It was tasty and not something I would have ordered $4). My husband got an old fashioned $12. I feel like it was on special too but I could be wrong. We got toasted ravioli for an appetizer $13. It was half meat, half cheese. I preferred the meat vs the cheese but both were tasty. For dinner I got clam linguine with jumbo shrimp $22 and my husband got the lasagna $19. Since we had got an appetizer we didn't get through a lot of the food. Overall a positive experience supporting a small local business vs the chain restaurants we have patronized. We will definitely be back to try a dessert or some gelato. read more

Centifonti's Restaurant - Clam linguine with jumbo shrimp $22 - Desserts Near Me - La Mesa, California

My friend and I entered this establishment and noticed that, although it was lunch time, there were no patrons. Besides us, there was only a grandmother with her two grandchildren dining. The restaurant was a nice size with wooden tables and chairs. It appeared clean enough. The hostess was kind and attentive. The food, on the other hand, was inedible. I ordered the fish and chips and specifically asked if it was battered, because I only like pub style beer battered fish when ordering fish and chips. I also requested extra crispy fries and dry slaw. I was told the fish was battered. My friend ordered the reuben on grilled sourdough. Our food looked nice enough. However, my fish was panko crusted and NOT battered. Rather than complain, I decided to decided to give the dish a try. The coating was bland and tasteless. The small fish section underneath the thick coating was dry, rubbery, and chewy. I was unable to swallow the bite I had taken. The fries were brown on the outside but soggy throughout and not crispy at all. My fiend's reuben contained meat that was chopped/diced and not sliced and appeared to be ham rather than pastrami. The meat was also not grilled but appeared to be boiled and/or microwaved and had the consistency of chewing on rubber bands. We spoke with our hostess about our dissatisfaction, and she asked if we wanted to try something different from their menu. We both declined and were not charged for the uneaten meals. Our bill was $38, and we left a $20 tip, because the service was great! The food is the issue here. This is not a place I would suggest to anyone, and I do not plan on ever trying it out again. read more

Centifonti's Restaurant - Fish and chips - Desserts Near Me - La Mesa, California

I came here with my boyfriend on Sunday around 11am. The restaurant was pretty busy and half the bar seats were taken. We've walked past this place several times after eating nearby and have kept saying that we need to try this place....and we finally did! I can't believe we haven't been here sooner. The chalkboard in the back by the end of the bar is chalk full of reading material and great specials for every day of the week. We came here on Sunday which meant Happy Hour ran all day....woohoo!! My boyfriend got the Bloody Mary which he really liked and I just got a glass of Sauvignon Blanc ($4....what?!) :0]. Despite the fact that they were pretty busy we didn't have to wait too long before someone came to take our order at the bar. Server was very friendly and pleasant despite how busy it was. I had the Pork Chop and Eggs which was great. Very decent portion size and loved the hash browns. My boyfriend got the French Toast and he cleaned the plate. The vibe was nice too with whoever's playlist they were playing....funk R&B...it was nice and mellow. We loved it! We'll definitely be back again to try the martinis and their dinner menu. read more

Centifonti's Restaurant - Pork Chops and Eggs - Desserts Near Me - La Mesa, California

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I can't believe I have never been here! Came here during Friday Farmers Market and wanted coffee. This place is like the neighborhood bar. The it place to be which has food, desserts, coffee, gelato and even live music! I had the almond toffee gelato. I love that all of their gelato has some sort of toppings. I had almond toppings. I also got the Irish cream latte and it was sooo good! It has alcohol so they do check ID. It was sweet and creamy just the way I like it. My friend got Keoke Coffee which had Brandy and Kahlua. She said it was too strong for her. There's happy hour Monday to Saturday 3-7pm and all day Sunday. read more

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From the food to the service!! When coming to downtown La mesa this is where you definitely should go! Brunch on a Sunday to dinner on a Thursday centifonti has great food and amazing service!! read more

Everytime we stop in, we wonder why we don't come more often. The menu is extensive, service is fantastic, food is delicious. Happy Hour is great. Today I had their amazing beef stew, sitting outside having happy hour champagne. Love this place!!! read more

The service here was wonderful, I came here with my sister for a late snack, and the gelato I had was really good. I had the key lime pie gelato. They have plenty of seating inside and out. The service was great, both the lady and gentleman in there were helpful and nice. read more

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Chicken chipotle quesadilla with AMAZING fresh made margaritas. The Gentleman behind the bar Adam, is always kind and polite and serves up the best drinks in La Mesa. Friendly. Fair price. Chill atmosphere. Delicious! Highly recommend read more

Centifonti's Restaurant - Chipotle Quesadilla with Margaritas - Desserts Near Me - La Mesa, California

What a find in La Mesa Looking for breakfast place - this is the place e Food was tasty - all made to order - yummy french toast Service was friendly fast and accommodating Clean space mom and pop vibe Def coming back again read more

Centifonti's Restaurant - French Toast Platter - Desserts Near Me - La Mesa, California

They have a huge menu. I've had a few hits and misses here, but typically the food is pretty good. The portion sizes are large and they're reasonably priced. I really enjoy their various specials throughout the week. The staff are friendly and extremely attentive. The restaurant itself is very much a "Mom and pop" vibe. It's a little dated, but I appreciate it. Bonus! The gelato is amazing!! read more

So it's a hit !! we enjoyed the appetizers! Calamari was delicious! My son and I decided to share a burger and it was good ! Next time I'll come And try the spaghetti and meatballs as I heard it from a customer it's pretty good and that's all he ever eats there so we'll be back again we are very happy with everything the service was good the food was good! We also got sone great for after dinner ! Candy apple and a jaw breaker ! Fun stuff we don't normally eat! read more

Centifonti's Restaurant - Desserts Near Me - La Mesa, California

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Best tomato soup I've ever had. Our server was very friendly and took great care of us. I recommend it! We'll be back for sure.

The staff at Centifonti's is aaaaaaaalways incredible. The hubs and I love popping in for happy hour when there are events in The Village. And there are aaaaaaaalways events in The Village. The location is fantastic, their patio is super fun people-watching, and they make their gelato in-house! Did I mention the staff is incredible? read more

The chicken wings were great but the service could have been better. The bartender could have been more attentive to arriving customers. I sat at the bar for 10 minutes waiting to place an order while he socialized with guests. The guests had already ordered. How would I know this, they were my friends who arrived before me. Again, the service could have been better. I'll try again. read more

Centifonti's Restaurant - Lemon Pepper, Garlic Wings tossed in Buffalo Sauce they were delicious. But.......... - Desserts Near Me - La Mesa, California

This place is a weekly must. Every Friday my daughters and I come for our weekly mama & daughter date. Amanda, Adam, & Kirsten (Kyrsten-not sure how she's spells it) are usually the servers/bartenders who are working and they are always on top of it! I worked in the serving & bartending industry for over 16 years and I wish I had staff like them when I managed. I come from a small town and this restaurant makes me feel like home. The happy hour is great, the food amazing, but the HOMEMADE GELATO! The best. I have no clue why this place would be anything less than 5 stars. read more

Had to give a shout out to the staff on the lunch shift today, January 21 2025. Two friends and I met there to celebrate a birthday in the group. We ordered, from the extensive and varied menu, and chatted away. In the back of my mind I was thinking it was taking a long time for our food, but whatever. We didn't have a deadline. Finally our meal arrives and the birthday girl has a candle ON THE PICKLE!! We laughed and our server confessed they were out of candles so someone ran out to a store to buy a package!! It was so unexpected and such a thoughtful touch. Absolutely above and beyond. By the way the food was delicious. read more

Centifonti's Restaurant - The Birthday Pickle! - Desserts Near Me - La Mesa, California

Was craving a chicken Alfredo and this place did not disappoint! Both our server and hostess were very attentive and kind. I was also very impressed with the menu, so much to choose from. This made it a great place to bring my family of 5. read more

Centifonti's Restaurant - Desserts Near Me - La Mesa, California

Place is welcoming our server Amanda was nice , polite as well attentive, happy hour it's not bad it all. Definitely coming back to try the whole menu. read more

Centifonti's Restaurant - Happy Hour - Desserts Near Me - La Mesa, California

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Wonderful family run business. Very friendly staff and service was great. They have a large variety of drinks and hot sauces. We tried maybe 10 different ones! The food was tasty and the extra crispy bacon was the bomb. The best I've had when asking for extra crispy. Cute little place in downtown La Mesa. read more

Centifonti's Restaurant - Cheese Fries - Desserts Near Me - La Mesa, California

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I am so glad we discovered this place. Gelato and food are amazing. I highly highly recommend getting the espresso martini (they add gelato in it!) read more

Centifonti's Restaurant - Espresso Martini - Desserts Near Me - La Mesa, California

Went back again! Very consistently good food and service. Tried an espresso martini and it had a scoop of gelato in it. Yes they have gelato and an assortment of pastries! It was different from any espresso martini I've had...in a good way. Definitely appreciated that it wasn't overly sweet. Also ordered a burger that satisfied my burger craving completely :) read more