Had an anniversary dinner on Saturday at Scena good service, host were friendly, attentive! Chef has an amazing flavor! Ordered a spicy rigatoni and pesto pasta. Flavors were vibrant top of the line! Would definitely go again! read more

Try it and you will be back again Love the place and the food Everything is perfect read more

I dined with my partner on a busy Friday night and although they were packed the bartender Alejandro was running back and forth taking excellent care of us. Our food did take a little while but overall it was delicious, the service was nice and the ambiance was romantic. Perfect for a special date night or any occasion. read more

This place opened up not too long ago in La Mesa/ Grossmont Area. My husband and I decided to go on a date night here since it looks very aesthetically pleasing and romantic inside. Our server was very friendly, helpful and insightful on the menu. They also checked in a lot throughout the night. To be fair it was a Wednesday evening and it wasn't super busy. I think that's important to note. Now the star of the show was the food! We ordered a couple appetizers, our main dishes and of course some dessert. Of course we shared so we could both try everything. Sadly, I only managed to get pictures of the appetizers and dessert. (I was too busy stuffing my face) Here is my breakdown lol Appetizer 1- meatballs in a red sauce - 8/10! (Personally thought they just needed a tad bit more salt) Appetizer 2- Balsamic glazed brussels sprouts - 9/10! (If you like Brussel sprouts, then I think you'll like these) Main 1 - ravioli in a vodka sauce- 9/10! (Wish the portion was a little bigger for the price) Main 2 - shrimp pasta with a red sauce - 8/10! (Same thing, wish portion was a little bigger but also I felt like the sauce was a little bland) Dessert was a New York cheesecake - 100/10! (So creamy, light and not too sweet) Overall; This place is great! Definitely deserves more attention. I do think it is a bit on the pricier side but the food was good and so was the treatment. So I'd come back! read more

This review is all about service. I'll lay it out. In the original bill they charged $10 too much. Not a problem right? So they took the $10 off. However, they left the gratuity and tax based on the original bill, so I was penalized $3.03 for their mistake. I discussed this with the waiter and the manager, who said she would take care of it, so she (supposedly) corrected the bill. My mistake was that I did not check the math. I paid it and left, assuming she had taken care of it, but she still stuck me with that extra tax and tip penalty. And I'm certain she knew what she was doing. She kind of had an attitude about the whole thing. Or maybe she just didn't have a clue. She was a bit preoccupied with her set up to photo and Instagram some food she had laid out. We were a party of 8, we are in a Restaurant group, so we dine out a lot, and sometimes something may be off, but rarely, and they're typically addressed in a professional manner. This is the worst customer service our group has ever witnessed. It is often the front of the house that brings down otherwise great establishments. read more

Good service, they were attentive and food came quickly considering it was a busy evening. Overall though, the food was pretty mediocre and the expense doesn't match the quality. We got a few appetizers and a few entrees and everything was somewhat disappointing, either overcooked and just kinda bland. I wanted to like this place and was hoping something could succeed in this location but my impression is that's way overpriced and will struggle to last. read more

I actually ended up really liking this place. It was clean. There was a lot of nice decor. The way it's set up is really beautiful. It's definitely a good date spot or family dinner place with very low key vibes. You have the option of sitting inside or outside, which is nice. They do ask you if you have a reservation which I did not but they'll still seat you no problem. Not sure if that accommodation would apply if it's extremely busy because when I went, it wasn't busy. The food was actually delicious. This place is pricey, but the service is great. The food is great. The ambience is great, I think all worth it. The staff here is terrific. I'd come back. read more

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Came on a weeknight for dinner and made a resy on OpenTable. The inside was clean and modern, decor was nice. We were greeted and seated promptly. Service was really great, our server was nice and attentive. Food-wise, there was room for improvement. We ordered a pasta and a pizza and the pizza dough was not fresh and the cheese was a bit off. The pasta bolognese I got was clumped in places and the noodles were broken off. The sauce flavor was good but besides that the pasta noodles were sad. I got a mocktail which was good. Overall pricey for a mediocre dinner but I think this place has room for improvement. They are newer and just opened so let's see how it goes. read more

Scena Fusion Kitchen & Bar - Mocktail and inside - Italian Near Me - La Mesa, California

Beautiful Italian restaurant with a warm, upscale atmosphere that's perfect for a date night or special occasion. There's plenty of convenient parking available in the nearby garage. The prices are a bit higher than average, but the overall experience is enjoyable. We ordered the wedge salad, calamari, mussels, cheese burger and pepperoni pizza. The food was good overall, with average portions and fresh ingredients. While it didn't completely wow us, it was a solid meal in a great setting with attentive service. read more

I went last night to treat my colleague to a birthday dinner and had the most amazing time. Parking was super easy so automatically I was in a good mood, the ambiance is super chic, the music was good ( lots of Olivia Dean) and the bathroom was a nice pleasant surprise . Not only was the bathroom super clean but they had REAL fresh flowers. Now on to things that actually matter, the food was delicious and decently priced, portions could be bigger though. I didn't really have a chance to try their desserts other than the complimentary birthday dessert but I'm always excited when a restaurant offers plenty of dessert options. I would come back for the espresso martini and grilled octopus . The octopus was juicy and paired with really good sauce . Give this play a try ! read more

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The last time I visited this La Mesa address, it was for a breakfast at dinner event. Fast forward to now, and the ownership has changed hands. The next door sushi restaurant took over the suite and created Scena Fusion Kitchen & Bar as a new eatery. The location was not ideal in that it faced the MTA trolley line to the south instead of Fletcher Parkway to the north. That meant it was out of sight to vehicles driving on the road. The interior decor remained the same with dimmer lighting in the dining area to the left when you walked in. The menu was mainly Italian cuisine although you could get entrees like steaks and chops. From the dozen appetizers, I chose the Polpo alla Griglia which is one of my regular selections when I see it on a menu. Grilled octopus was served with potatoes, haricot verts, olives, chili flakes, capers, lemons, and arugula. The tentacle was the largest serving I have encountered in a long time. It was grilled perfectly, and the protein was tender. The rest of the mixture was acidic. I could have done without the chili flakes. For a main dish, I picked one of the pasta listings which was the Spaghetti alla Vongole. This was noodles with littleneck clams of which there were over a dozen included in the dish. The spaghetti was cooked with garlic and white wine sauce. The garlic was not prominent while the clams were cooked to the right degree. The better value was from the appetizer though. The service from the waitstaff was pleasant. They were on point with refilling my water glass and clearing my finished plates. Overall, I gave a solid four star rating for my dinner at Scena Fusion Kitchen & Bar. read more

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Picked a new place and mostly good. We were greeted with a huge smile and seated immediately. The atmos is modern, clean, and friendly. Our server was fine but the service itself felt rushed. We never got to relax into the meal. We ordered the focaccia and its was good, not great. $6 for four sticks of bread is a lot. I don't think it was fresh made at least it didn't taste like it. The pastas were fine, the bolognese was hearty and tasted great. The other pasta with the bacon was so mild as to have nearly no flavor and many of the bacon bits were hard as glass. Not a bad dish, just lack luster. When we were almost done, the rushed service came into play again. Menus laid down, desserts asked about. Hard to imagine that the very long and deep conversation my dining partner and I were having could have been missed. Don't interior the flow is a lesson the service team could learn. Overall a nice night but $80 for two plates of pasta and one iced tea is a lot to ask. They do get their pasta from Italy who h is nice but for $80 house made would be much better. read more

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I'm starting to think this location is one of those that will always struggle to get it right. Let's start with the good. Beautiful. Love the aesthetic. Clean, comfortable, not too serious. Great bar area. Staff are WONDERFUL. Cas was an absolute delight. Drinks? Proportioned well and presented properly. On to the food. Presentation was fine but when we dug in...50 shades of overcooked. Calamari was flavored perfectly but rubbery. Chicken was seasoned well yet dry. Half of the mussels were overcooked and the other half spoiled. Like that last place that was here, I have the same comment...I want it to be good. I can see it can be. A little care on execution and prep will take this place beyond the first year. Pasta was al dente to the point of wondering if the water was boiling. We'll try again a few months from now and let them settle in a bit. read more

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Man- I wanted to be able to click 4 or 5, but just couldn't get there. I booked Valentines dinner for myself, hubs and son here several weeks in advance. The day of, we wanted to add the parents to the reservations so we called in to ask. They told us it could not be done due to other reservations and table availability. After my hubs hassled them for a while they finally gave in and moved us from 3 people to 5. Why this matters?? Because during our reservation there were a TON of 5+ tables open... so it felt like they hassled us for nothing. When we arrived the entrance is pretty and they greeted and sat us right away. Problem was, our table had red sauce all over it, it was splattered on the booth back rest and got all over my new pink sweater, and they also only put place settings for 3... which, also had food remains and sauce... I'm not sure what happened but since there was so many other tables open I didn't know why this one was chosen for us. Next, it took quite some time for our server to come and bring water, and the.my still hadn't brought the right number of settings so we didn't have 5 cups. He had to come back again, and now we are probably 25 minutes after being reseated due to the bus boy scrubbing down the table (young kid, looked about 17-18 and he did a great job making sure there was no mess left!) but still we had no settings. I was super excited to try the bread bowl after seeing several great reviews.... And much to my disappointment- they did t have it available. NO top selling bread on Valentines at an Italian food fine diner? Weird. My son asked for milk (he's 15 and drinks a gallon every 3 days at minimum!!) and was told they did not have any. Later though, my MIL asked for some due to a spicy dish and they brought it right out??? Confusing. Several of our entrees were tasty, but definitely on the high end of pricing. Son had chicken fettuccine and he said it was great. I had the carbonara, added shrimp. It was good but the sauce thickened almost to un forkable quickly. Husband had the ribeye. The steak was cooked nicely to a cool medium BUT the fat was not rendered and that is usually his favorite part. MIL had the gnocchi- I found this to be the best plate of the night!! Very rich and filling! Would have been great with bread..... FIL had the clams- very okay, and the sea bass, pretty good but nothing he would come back for. At desert time we wanted the lemoncello cake!!! But, like the bread they were out of it or it wasn't available. The place is pretty. Relatively loud music for this establishment. Seemed clean other than our table. Our server seemed confused several times and the restaurant seemed unprepared for valentines crowds. For 5 adults , with 3 appetizers, and 1-2 cocktails each... the tab was just shy of $500 before tip. I felt that was pretty steep for what we received. Would we return? Maybe. It's local. It's nicer than many la mesa options, but they need to up the service and prepare better for busy holidays or weekends. read more

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Ok so here is the deal.... Went here for dinner. The service was EXCELLENT! His name was Lionel. So the dinner was going great and the food was good. Until the end of dinner when I went to the bathroom and all hell broke loose with my stomach! I believe it was the fish. Now in defense of the restaurant, I did call the next day and spoke with Melissa who was very apologetic. She did say they pulled the fish for the rest of the night and she was very nice and did remember me and remembered the incident. So I am going to give this place another chance, but I will stick with the pasta! read more

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Tried this place for the first time during dinner. The ambiance is lovely. Beautiful place and great service. Food was okay. We were amazed that they charge you for bread. I know it's minor but it is also inexpensive for a restaurant. The fusion part I guess is Italian and American. We had a chicken sandwich with pesto. Not enough pesto for sure. The bread was too thick for The filling. Next, was pasta with clams. It was okay as well. The price for what you get depends on what you get. If you are in the area try them out and share your own experiences. Happy meals! read more

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Valentine's Dinner with the hubby here was AMAZING!! Scena Fusion Kitchen & Bar didn't disappoint....They even gave me a rose as we walked in. We can't wait to visit again!! The staff was so attentive and the ambiance was on point!! * Focaccia Bread * Polpo alla Griglia (not my fave) * Ricotta Stuffed Squash Blossoms * Salmon & Shrimp #DiningWithTheAndersons #WithMyHoneyBunny #HappyValentinesDay #LoveInTheAir #Blessed read more

I came her on a weekday in the evening. It was honestly pretty empty which felt weird because I kept seeing this place all over my social media. Anyways, I was excited for a new restaurant that wasn't far from home but the food was lacking. I want to start off by saying this place is decorated beautifully. The service was very prompt and the staff were very nice and knowledgeable of the menu. We had a round of cocktails and then started with the blossoms. They were overstuffed with ricotta and lacked flavor. I had pasta which was okay but again was missing something. Honestly, we were in and out of here in 40 minutes which also took away from the experience. I hope to come back again and have a more enjoyable meal. read more

If you are looking for your next perfect date night spot-look no further!! Everything we ordered was absolutely delicious! From the perfectly cooked spicy rigatoni pasta with chicken to the pizza with a crispy crust, every bite was delicious! We also ordered the arancini and the eggplant Parmesan for apps and both had great flavor! On top of the incredible food, the service was outstanding, friendly and attentive. Truly a wonderful meal from start to finish. Can't wait to come back and try other options on the menu! Highly recommend! read more

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Amazing First walk into a beautiful restaurant a wonderful nice space. Food was delicious NY strip was perfect charred medium Pizza was excellent Fettuccine was good Our server was a nice Argentinian man who went above and beyond to accommodate our needs Highly recommend this new restaurant read more

Scena Fusion Kitchen & Bar - Calabrese pizza NY Strip Fettuccine Alfredo - Italian Near Me - La Mesa, California

We recently checked out Scena, which has been open for less than two months, and overall had a really solid experience. We were seated right away, and the hostess was friendly and welcoming. The restaurant was still pretty empty when we arrived, but the ambiance was great--clean, modern, and relaxed. We were seated in a comfortable booth with nice mood lighting that set the tone for the meal. I ordered a Villa Prosecco, while Bree went with the non-alcoholic Amalfi Fizz. The first Prosecco was a bit of a letdown--somewhat flat and almost more like a Chardonnay--but the second glass was spot on, landing perfectly between sweet and dry. The food was mostly excellent. The ciabatta bread bowl appetizer was outstanding, and the marinara dipping sauce was some of the best I've ever had. The 12 oz New York steak was cooked perfectly and so tender I could cut it with a butter knife. Unfortunately, the pesto chicken pizza missed the mark. It was very dry, had barely any pesto, and the dominant flavors were just cheese and dry chicken. I wouldn't order it again. Service was a highlight. Our waitress was super nice, attentive, and made us feel well taken care of throughout the meal. We came in around 5 and left a little after 6, and the place was still fairly quiet when we left. Overall, I'd give Scena an 8/10. It would've been a 10 if the pizza had been executed better, but it feels like normal growing pains for a newer restaurant. We really hope this place makes it--and we'll definitely be back. read more

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Scena Italian Fusion is an absolute gem. From the moment you walk in, the atmosphere is warm, stylish, and inviting. The food is outstanding--beautifully plated, full of flavor, and made with high-quality ingredients. Their Old Fashioned deserves a special mention--perfectly balanced, smooth, and expertly crafted. It's one of the best I've had and always sets the tone for an amazing night. I've been here four times for date nights, and we even hosted our Christmas party here because it's just that good. The service is always attentive, friendly, and professional without being overbearing. You can truly feel the passion behind both the food and the experience. Highly recommend--this is a go-to spot and we will definitely keep coming back. read more

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Scena is absolutely beautiful. Such a cozy, romantic atmosphere that instantly makes you feel like you're somewhere special. From the moment we sat down, everything was perfect! The food was outstanding. The rigatoni was so good we had to order a second one. The carbonara was cooked perfectly, rich and balanced, and the pizza was flawless. The calamari was crisp and tender, the squash blossoms were incredible, and both the Caesar salad and wedge salad were fresh and perfectly dressed. Service was excellent from start to finish. The staff was attentive, and the food came out in perfect timing. Overall, an amazing experience. Great food, great service, and a beautiful vibe. We can't wait to come back. read more

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Great service, friendly staff, wonderful food and a lovely atmosphere! Feel like this could be a new spot for "date night"! Drinks and wine looked great, but didn't partake this visit. We went and had their Chop Salad(delicious and great textured ingredients! The Margarita Pizza was tasty! Loved the crust and char from the pizza oven! Finished up with dessert with the Pistachio Berry Ricotta Cake- it was a nice finish to a great meal! Will definitely be back! read more

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Remarkably underwhelming for the price. I only had two dishes the Caesar salad and the mac & cheese, Both could use salt. And I will say, as a culinary aficionado, if you're adding salt, not much else can be said... Staff seemed a little disoriented, despite the restaurant not being terribly busy. Ultimately just Meh. read more

Finally tried this restaurant last night for my birthday dinner and it did not disappoint! We were a party of 10 girls and each of us had nothing but great things to say as we were leaving. The staff was attentive and polite, giving us great recommendations since there was so many of us and to try a "family style" dinner, which we were so thankful for! The food was incredible. We got quite a few apps to start including the calamari, octopus and some salads. Also threw in a few pizzas. All great! For dinner we tried 3 different pastas and we can all say hands out - the SPICY RIGATONE!!! Wow did it pack a punch in the best was possible. If I come back anytime soon, it will be just for that! The ambience is perfection and it was a great 10/10 experience. We frequent Banbu next door so much that we are so happy to be able to change it up a bit! read more

Absolutely 5 stars! The ambiance and decor were stunning. The service is outstanding. Alaa was our server and she was brilliant. She described the dishes we were curious about, she was patient, kind and a true professional with a smile for everyone! The bar staff was fabulous. The food is out of this world delicious. 100% over the top quality and authenticity. We will definitely be back again and again. I wish I had taken photos of the food... perfection. Plenty of parking in the lot. Make sure you take your time, savor the moment, this is a dining experience not to be rushed. read more

From the first round of cocktails, Scena set the tone for a perfect evening. The espresso martini was smooth and bold, while the Oaxaca mezcal old-fashioned brought a smoky, complex twist that paired beautifully with the night ahead. We started with the carpaccio -- delicate, flavorful, and beautifully presented. It struck that perfect balance of freshness and richness that makes a simple dish unforgettable. For our mains, the braised beef ravioli was deeply comforting with layers of flavor, and the garlic-crusted seabass was light yet satisfying, served with creamy mashed potatoes and crisp broccolini. Every bite felt thoughtful and well executed. We finished with affogato -- the ideal blend of warmth and sweetness, the kind of dessert that makes you linger over the last spoonful. Scena delivered from start to finish: elegant atmosphere, top-notch service, and food that reminds you why dining out is worth savoring. (compliments to our waiter, Ron) read more

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Excellent service love the drinks Kai is an amazing bartender. Great service. Great ambiance . Highly recommend!!!!!

Overall, I had a really lovely experience. The service was warm and attentive, and the ambiance is genuinely beautiful and well thought out. I also really enjoyed the music playlist--it was a great vibe and added to the whole experience. The food was memorable and enjoyable, though I do feel it was on the pricier side for La Mesa. read more

Good value and service, however bartender was not attentive, we ended up leaving hoping for a nightcap after dinner.

The decor is a 5: The decor and design is excellent. Classy and refined The music/vibe was a 3: It was very confusing song playlist. Just literally, all over the place. Which is a shame because it is a very romantic/classy decor. Went from smooth jazz, to rap, to brittney spears, to everywhere else. I think they need to simply pick a lane. Service 5: everyone was excellent. Polite, well informed on the menu, and attentive. Food 3: unfortunately, the food was underwhelming compared to other Italian restaurants. Especially for the price. They state their pizzas are Neopolitan style. From the picures on yelp, those look neopolitan style. From what I got, they are not even close.the crust and pizza was 100% different and they use cornmeal, which is definitely NOT neopolitan style. We were there right when they opened and I should have sent it back. Buena forchetta does an actual neopolitan style pizza and Scenas pizza tastes like caffeteria pizza. The dough is completely wrong. Pizza gets a 0, but I wish I could give it less for false advertising. I wish i took a picture so you could see how awful it was. I got the spicy rigatoni and it was pretty decent. The sauce did taste premade. It had a good flavor, but there was something about it that tasted bottled or canned. Wouldn't be so bad if the prices weren't so high. It gets a 3.5. Wasn't bad. Wasn't great. The seabass was actually very good. The fish was cooked perfectly, the sauce and potatoes were good. I only tasted it as it was my wifes order. She gives it a 4. We also got the aquash flowers which were excellent. The squash puree was awesome. I am a sucker for squash puree though. 5. Overall, I actually liked the place. The thing that lowers it rating the most is the pizza. It was terrible. Please work on getting a better recipe. Should be airy, fluffy, and chewy, not flat and cardboardy. The second thing is the prices. If you are going to charge premium prices, the food should be premium. 2 stars overall. I honestly should give it less because the pizza they. Gave me was garbage. I hope they do resolve the pizza especially. An italian restaurant with bad pizza is just a non-starter. read more

The food at this place was decent. I ordered the salmon and shrimp plate--the salmon was good at first, though it became a bit too salty. The service was good, and the ambiance was pleasant. However, the restaurant has an open-window setup, and it got quite warm last night due to limited air circulation. If you have any health concerns, you may want to be cautious about overheating. It's also not a very large restaurant. If you want to make a reservation I would go as late as possible. Parking is limited. read more

My husband and I tried this place for the first time last night. Sadly it was not good at all. We had the shrimp pappardelle that was absolutely devoid of any flavor, brussels sprouts that were slimy and also unseasoned, and a margherita pizza that was undercooked and had so much sauce it dripped off the pizza. It was really bad, and unfortunately also expensive. The service was fine, and the only reason for the two stars. Ambience is great, I just wish the food matched. read more

We decided to try this restaurant while out shopping after the holidays. The food was very good. The portions were just right. My husband and I shared our dishes. We ordered spaghetti in clam sauce, fresh bread, a pizza and Caesar salad. The presentation was pretty and the wait staff was helpful. You can tell they have tried the food as well and could answer questions about it- preparation and etcetera. Our water glasses were always full- we did not have to ask, and dishes were removed promptly from the table that were empty. The wine was excellent. We stared with Spritzes be fore dinner...nice atmosphere and polite staff. They greeted you on your way in and thanked you on your way out. The sushi bar, which is popular in the same area, owns this place. They have not advertised and don't need to!!! My husband wants to book a staff luncheon there. I highly recommend this new restaurant. read more

Scena Fusion Kitchen & Bar - Pizza and spaghetti in clam sauce. - Italian Near Me - La Mesa, California

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HORRIBLE!!! Absolutely... Just HORRIBLE!!! 2/14/2026 7:30pm reservation for Valentines day Let me first start off by saying the waitress and the manager were very polite. They both tried very hard to save the night, but it was just a little too little too late. My wife ordered a dirty martini, and we had to send it back. She said it wasn't cold enough and it tasted like salt water. After she got a replacement she said it still tasted mediocre. The serving size/oz ratio just looked completely off. We order a mussel appetizer dish, a panko fish entree and chicken breast pesto penne pasta dish. We were serve the appetizer first and then 1 minutes later our entree dishes came out. We weren't given the chance to even finish our appetizer before giving us our main course. It was like they were trying to get rid of us as soon as possible not allowing us to enjoy our Valentines day meal. On any other day I think i would have been just whatever, but on a special day where you are trying to take your wife out close to a $180 meal you expect things to go well and enjoy time you spend there. I told the waitress about it and they took our entrees back to the kitchen where i assume they put it under the food warmer. But when we received our meal, my pasta was dried out, like the pasta was all glued together with no pesto sauce, and the $50 fish my wife got was also dry and the mash potato was not warm enough. I talked to the manager at this point where she tried her best to resolve the situation, but honestly we just wanted to leave at this point. One thing they told us was it was a busy night and that's why the kitchen was trying to get the food out fast and I understand that, but you are open on Valentines day and you know its going to be busy and have to account for that. There really shouldn't be any excuse not to offer the right presentation with patience and grace. AND NOW... here is the worst part. They charged my credit card to someone else's bill. They gave me a refund of that of course, but the lack of attention just shows how the staff operates without any communication and due diligence. Here's me being SALTY: That wine rack wall you see posted is there only attraction. If you just want the photo I say come here and order just 1 salty martini at the bar. That way you don't have to pay for an overpriced bob's big boy diner experience. read more

Worst customer service. The food took about an hour and half to come. Everytime we would call the server she'd say the food will come in 5 minutes and it ended up taking so long. People who were seated after us got their food before us. read more

I am a definite diner. Worked in high-end Italian for years in Chicago. A few issues... Food. I ordered Pasta Carbonara. Usually can be very salty, but this was lacking salt. Even with pancetta and extra cheese ground after, it was still below the correct salt level. But, perfect consistency and texture. My partner ordered the Pork Saltimbocca. Bone in, prosciutto wrapped with the standard sauce you'd expect on a Saltimbocca. However, for $50.00 + sitting atop a basic mashed potato. No garnish. Nary a veggie in site. Was over cooked. So no description of it having a potato or any starch underneath the chop, he ordered a side of mashed potatoes. A fairly small ramekin of mashed potatoes arrives. Lumpy, no butter, and VERY sub-par. Nothing special. That was $15.00. No mention from our server that it already had mashed potatoes. The rest if the food was good, but not mind-blowing. I'm not really understanding the "Fusion"? Service: Great door service and very good service from our server other than mentioned above. We spent over $300.00 with tip. I fear for La Mesa or in most areas these prices will NOT be accepted well or sustainable for long. I hope I'm wrong, but fear I'm correct. Ambience: Well done interior from the previous breakfast place. Good lighting and great acoustics. read more

The most amazing Italian food. The service was amazing and the servers are so sweet. The vibes were immaculate, and the music matched exactly what I'm looking for in a restaurant. Will be returning soon. read more

Scena Fusion Kitchen & Bar - Complementary dessert for a special occasion - Italian Near Me - La Mesa, California

This restaurant is just what East County needed: a higher-end dining option. The modern decor is clean and tasteful, rivaling any chophouse in the Gaslamp Quarter. The staff was welcoming and dressed in black pants and white shirts, which reinforced the upscale dining experience. My wife and I dined with another couple and kicked off the meal with two appetizers and cocktails. We had focaccia with olive oil and balsamic and a plate of beef tenderloin carpaccio. The carpaccio was outstanding, served with a dressed pile of arugula, grated parmesan, and lemon wedges. The bread service was good; the focaccia was warm and generous, but I didn't like the way the olive oil and balsamic vinegar were served. It was basically a very small bowl with a little olive oil and balsamic vinegar added. They should just have the oil and vinegar in separate containers and allow guests to add what they want. It was a pain, and as everyone knows, oil and vinegar don't mix. And when dealing with olive oil, I prefer a vessel with a spout for a nice clean pour. My buddy and I each had the 16-ounce ribeye steak, which was outstanding. I'm involved with the beef industry, so I'm very picky when it comes to steaks. This was top-notch: cooked to a perfect medium-rare with a beautiful crust on the outside. My wife had the carbonara, which looked good and she enjoyed. My friend's wife had the tenderloin, which was, again, cooked to perfection. The cocktails are fantastic. I like a good classic Old Fashioned but opted to try their Scena Old Fashioned, which had a "tart cherry finish." I would order this drink again. If I could, I would rate this place a 4.5 out of 5 due to two minor negatives: the olive oil situation I mentioned above, and the music. When I go to a nice restaurant with friends, I like to have great conversation while enjoying great food. Music should be in the background enhancing the experience. Instead, the music was pumping, and the style didn't match the decor. With softer music and separate serving vessels for the olive oil and vinegar, this would be a straight 5 all day. That being said, we will be going back to try Scena's other offerings. Cheers read more