1. The Lips

    1. The Lips

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    La Mesa, CA

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    The Lips

    3.5 (15 reviews)

    The Lips Photos

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    Vin S.

    OK... I drove by The Lips yesterday and noticed that the weeds are starting to grow in front, blocking the view. Lip Lovers, Inc. needs to get out there and do some tidying up! Also, Abigail N. mentioned that the gift shop is not open - that needs to change. Come on, folks, let's not neglect this regional treasure!

    Christine A.

    The Lips are not really anything to drive out of the way for. Worth seeing once, at least. We came from downtown to see them, while down for the day. I had no idea what we were going to see. On getting off the 8 onto Lemon Grove, you see them straight ahead at the 3-way intersection, painted on a jagged rock at ground level (photo: http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/the-lips-la-mesa#NKXLDLxDsUvZzoOVWRXeOw). If you drove out there just to see them, you're bound to go, "That's it?" Eh. It's a quirky, little landmark that's endeared itself to the locals like the Fish Head Rocks in the Mojave Desert (http://www.yelp.com/biz/fish-rocks-trona) or the woman's face carved in the boulder in Simi Valley.

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    11 years ago

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    9 years ago

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    9 years ago

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    11 years ago

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    12 years ago

    My grandfather told me the lips were already painted as far back as 1919 when he was a little kid. Whoever started it is no longer with us.

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    11 years ago

    Grew up seeing this everyday ! We used to say when we passed it that we had to make a wish and blow a kiss !

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    13 years ago

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    10 years ago

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    13 years ago

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    Review Highlights - The Lips

    These lips are carved on the rocks that are clearly visible when getting on freeway 94 while coming from Broadway lemon grove, in front of Honda dealership.

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    Lido's Italian Foods

    Lido's Italian Foods

    3.9(986 reviews)
    0.7 mi
    $$

    Parking was a breeze. The inside looks way bigger than the outside…read more Service was great! Food was flavorful and hearty. We have so much left over, the Pasta for 2 Dinner would've def fed the 4 of us.

    Ah, Lido's. The name evokes visions of candlelit dinners, flowing Chianti, and the soothing strains…read moreof Italian music in the background. What do you actually get? A gastro-adventure straight to the snack aisle of your nearest convenience store. Let's start with the hors d'oeuvres, or as Lido's likes to call it, "a chef's journey into the heart of the '90s lunchroom." Picture this: a plastic ramekin filled with precisely seven Cheez-It crackers (yes, I counted) and a square of Lunchables cheddar. No garnish. No flair. Just the unapologetic crunch of nostalgia and the slightly sweaty texture of processed cheese. Très magnifique! The waiter presented it with such flourish you'd think he'd just handed us the Mona Lisa of appetizers. "Our finest pairing," he said, without a hint of irony. I half expected him to pull out a Capri Sun and pierce it for us tableside. I politely asked if this was a joke. His response? "That's how we keep it casual here." Casual? Sir, this isn't casual; this is culinary gaslighting. The rest of the meal wasn't even worth salvaging. The breadsticks were cold, the pasta was overcooked and drowning in bland marinara, and the tiramisu was a soggy mess that tasted like someone spilled coffee on a sponge. But honestly, after the snack attack that was the starter, everything else just felt like a backdrop. The only redeeming part of the evening was the exit, where I got to share a knowing, pity-filled glance with another couple clearly wondering if they'd accidentally wandered into the wrong restaurant. In summary, if you're looking for a unique dining experience that will have you laughing, crying, and questioning your life choices all at once, Lido's is your spot. Just be sure to BYOP--Bring Your Own Pepperoni. Apparently, that costs extra. Lido's isn't Italian--it's an insult.

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    Lido's Italian Foods
    Lido's Italian Foods
    Lido's Italian Foods

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    Olive Garden Italian Restaurant -  Order online & pickup your favorites with Olive Garden ToGo. Enjoy our convenient Carside Delivery we’ll bring your order right to your car

    Olive Garden Italian Restaurant

    3.3(737 reviews)
    2.3 mi
    $$

    Mar was hands down one of the best waitresses I've had in a long time!…read more My sister and I stopped by Olive Garden for dinner, and from the moment we walked through the door, the vibe was on point. We were warmly greeted by the front staff and seated almost immediately. Mar was absolutely amazing from start to finish. She was super friendly, laid-back, and attentive throughout our entire dining experience. Whether it was taking our drink orders, keeping the breadsticks and salad coming, answering menu questions, or checking in to see if we needed refills, she made sure we were well taken care of every step of the way. Now let's talk about the food! The breadsticks were hot, fresh, and even better dipped in a side of Alfredo sauce. Trust me--order the Alfredo sauce on the side. You can thank me later! For appetizers, we ordered the Spinach-Artichoke Dip with pita crackers, and it was absolutely sensational. For our entrees, we both went with the Chicken Alfredo--one topped with crispy chicken and the other with grilled chicken. Both dishes were cooked fresh to order, flavorful, and incredibly satisfying. By the time our entrees arrived, we were already stuffed from the endless salad and breadsticks, so a to-go box was definitely necessary! I honestly haven't been to Olive Garden in years, so this felt like a brand-new experience all over again. The excellent food, outstanding service, and welcoming atmosphere reminded me why this place remains so popular. It's no surprise this location stays packed on the weekends. If you're ever in the Grossmont area, give this Olive Garden a try. There's plenty of parking, a fantastic staff, and great service. I'll definitely be back. As always, your favorite Yelper did the research for you--you can thank me later!

    I went for the second time with my large group of my ladies Bible study and there were about 10 of…read moreus today and we got there when they opened. We got seated right away. We had two wonderful women waiting on us. They did a great job, keeping our beverages full and bringing our orders quickly and giving us all separate checks. They kept the salad bowls full and whatever we needed. They have a great lunch special here soup and salad for 12 1/2 dollars and they also have on specials that are under $15 that include unlimited soup or salad and a small lunch entrée. I decided on the shrimp scampi which is Angel hair and little tiny pieces of asparagus and tomatoes and shrimp. I opted for the salad rather than the soup even though there's four delicious soup choices. The reason why I only gave it three stars is because I was severely disappointed with my shrimp scampi because there were four tiny shrimp on it and I could not taste the garlic and the food was actually tasteless. I couldn't even taste the asparagus and it so tough that it was like eating tiny branches that had no taste. I was so disappointed. I should've tried the eggplant Parmesan with the spaghetti next time I'll know better. The salad is basic, but it fills you up. It's nothing special and they offer their creamy ranch or their Italian dressings. The breadsticks are pretty tasteless as well so if you like food that doesn't have a lot of taste but fills you up you could come here and enjoy it and they have a great deal that if you purchase an entrée, you could bring home take-home portions of three different pastas for six dollars each and then you don't have to cook Like I said, this went from five stars to three because of the lack of flavor for any of the food which is pretty standard for Olive Garden And the disappointing shrimp scampi, which I paid $15 for food The employees here are always great and there's plenty of room for large parties and I forgot to say that the bathroom was pretty gross and the paper towel dispenser wasn't working

    Photos
    Olive Garden Italian Restaurant - Fettuccine Alfredo: Our signature alfredo made fresh in-house every day, served over fettuccine.

    Fettuccine Alfredo: Our signature alfredo made fresh in-house every day, served over fettuccine.

    Olive Garden Italian Restaurant - Minestrone: Fresh vegetables, beans and pasta in a light tomato broth.

    Minestrone: Fresh vegetables, beans and pasta in a light tomato broth.

    Olive Garden Italian Restaurant - Five Cheese Ziti al Forno: Oven baked blend of Italian cheeses, pasta and our signature homemade five cheese marinara.

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    Five Cheese Ziti al Forno: Oven baked blend of Italian cheeses, pasta and our signature homemade five cheese marinara.

    Antica Trattoria

    Antica Trattoria

    4.4(1.3k reviews)
    2.4 mi
    $$$

    Came here on a whim for dinner as I was craving Italian food and this did not disappoint. Upon…read morestepping inside, the interior was decorated beautifully and reminded me of Italy. We got the fresh homemade bread, polpettine, insalate venere, linguine, and lasagna. The herb infused dip for the bread was delicious, and the bread came warm wrapped in a towel. The polpettine was my favorite appetizer, the meat was so tender and delicious and paired perfectly with the whipped ricotta. I appreciated the olives and onions in the dish as well, and the sauce was great with the bread. Our server was extremely kind and offered to split the salad for us. My boyfriend loved the salad and loved the pairing of the greens, goat cheese, and walnuts together. He got the lasagna for the main and noted that there were about 12 layers beautifully stacked upon one another. My linguine was delicious and packed with seafood which was cooked perfectly. The texture of the linguine was delicious and seemed home made. Overall the food and service were excellent. I'm so glad I found a gem near my home and will be back to try more of the menu.

    What a gem in La Mesa! The food completely blew us away and pleasantly surprised us. We usually…read morehead to Little Italy, North Park, or downtown for our go-to Italian spots, but Antica Trattoria absolutely holds its own. Our server, Leticia, made the entire experience even better. We had two families at the table with three little kids, ages one, two, and four, and she was so patient, funny, and genuinely wonderful with them. As parents, we rarely get the chance to go out together, and she made the night feel so easy and enjoyable. It was one of those evenings that made us wonder why we don't do this more often. The food was amazing, the atmosphere was incredibly family-friendly, and the service was exceptional. We highly recommend Antica Trattoria, and we'll definitely be back.

    Photos
    Antica Trattoria - Nice spot to watch the Chefs.

    Nice spot to watch the Chefs.

    Antica Trattoria - This homemade gnocch with short ribs iwas to die for

    This homemade gnocch with short ribs iwas to die for

    Antica Trattoria - Sangria and dirty Martini

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    Sangria and dirty Martini

    The Lips - localflavor - Updated September 2026

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