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    Topwater Grill

    3.7 (27 reviews)
    Closed 7:00 am - 7:00 pm
    Updated 1 week ago

    Topwater Grill Photos

    TOPWATER GRILL ATMOSPHERE

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    Burger
    Cerena P.

    Came here on opening weekend and there was a few things they could work on but overall it was a great time. Order at the counter and they call your number when your food is ready. Food was great! The fries were really good and crunchy and the burger and sandwiches were delicious and fresh. They have a variety of drinks and a few alcoholic beverages as well. When our number was called they did not give us everything we ordered we had to go back to the window and show them what we were missing. Having to wait for our missed items was a disappointment when others at our table were already eating. The view and atmosphere of this place is really great, right on the lake. There's live music occasionally and misters on those hot days. Food was great, hopefully they have improved because this location is definitely a great spot for a nice quick meal.

    Ordering Station
    Jillian N.

    Santee Lakes has now become an even better experience thanks to Topwater Grill. The food was amazing and had us coming back for more! Service was fast and the staff were friendly making sure we were well fed. Would recommend to anyone in the area, especially after a long day of fishing .

    Front counter
    Alma M.

    While camping at Santee lakes we wanted to try the food at the Topwatwr Grill. It is located near the entrance of the camping ground. It was our last day and we stopped by for breakfast. You place your order at the front counter and they provide a buzzer device to notify you when the food is ready for pick up. So there is no table service. Top water Grill is an outdoor seating are on a very big deck over the lake with a very nice view. I was not impressed with their drink selections. I ordered a "boba" which was basically like a strawberry mango lemonade/ koolaid tasting drink with some bursting boba of choice. I did not like it at all so went back and ordered a caramel latte, I thought I'd be hot but it was cold and out of a premixed non dairy machine. The latte lacked flavor, it tastes like watered down chocolate milk. I did really enjoy the bagel Sandwich I chose, it is called the sunrise bagel melt and it was pretty tasty. You get to choose your protein and it's a bagel sandwich with lots of avocado, pepper jack cheese and a fried egg. I also tasted the spicy chipotle wrap, it was okay it did not have much of a chipotle flavor. If I'm ever back camping I'd probably get the same bagel sandwich but I'd bring my own coffee.

    Wings
    Brian B.

    We came by for the music. Ashley E Norton entertained this Saturday on the deck. It was a great venue and really nice vibe and views. Set up by her Americana style performance. We ordered the Blue Moon on tap. Delicious wings which were on the Yelp menus and not the QR coded one. They were spectacular with the home rub. The sweet potato fries were enjoyed by my wife and nicely cooked. Thanks for a great Saturday evening.

    Earlybird
    Jen H.

    Love that this spot is here! Had the Earlybird Breakfast & chicken quesadilla, which were yummy! Deck is huge, with fans & heaters. Restroom & a park is close by. They call your number over a speaker. Many drink options available. They had options such as burgers, chicken sandwiches, breakfast items, sides, salad, & beer. Thanks Alicia & Kevin for the nice service!

    Kids $9 hot dog
    Mike D.

    Service good. Location beautiful. Food terrible. Kid's hot dog says it's served on a warm bun, we received some weird nonsense on toasted hoagie rolls. The kid's menu is the same as the adults menu. I threw all the food in the trash but drinks were good though.

    The boys love the big chair
    Courtney P.

    We visited today june 19th. The staff was kind and shared their favorite items off the menu with us. Which made it easier to order. Our boys got kids meals. There were like 7 options which was nice. My mom and I both got sandwiches and loved them!! The location was perfection. Plenty of covered seating, a nice breeze, and everything was clean and organized. It was amazing. We will be back.

    Smoothie menu

    30 minutes wait for chicken tenders and a chicken burger with a short order line. If you want to know the calorie count of their smoothies they have them posted. No prices posted though. You gotta ask.

    Garlic Fries not a basket like I paid for

    I ordered $74 dollars worth of food. The fries and onion rings were under cooked. Paid $4 dollars for a literal handful of garlic fries, received 5 onion rings and a hanful of regular fries. All under cooked and had to put in my airfryer. Ordered the fries and chicken strips. Also, undercooked and had to cook. Not worth the price. Order#5755

    Steak Sandwich  Bacon Burger  Mozzarella Sticks Quesadilla  Fries

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    10 months ago

    The food and service and variety are great for the family and kids. Reasonably priced and food and staff was good .

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    1 year ago

    Ah hello! Angus burger on the deck by the lake! Take a good walk and come get a fresh salmon power bowl.

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    Anny's Fine Burger - Texas Burger w/ waffle fries

    Anny's Fine Burger

    4.0(903 reviews)
    1.5 mi
    $$

    This has become our go-to burger spot. A bit of a haul from La Mesa, but after reading their…read morewrite-up in the Union-Tribune, we headed east to Santee. Great burgers (if you want it medium, make sure you impress that upon them), great people (thank you Lisa and Grace!), good prices, cold beer and a casual outside area where we can hang out with our dog. The trip east is incredibly worth our time!

    I did not feel like cooking tonight. -!: I had been helping my Mom care for my Dad after hip…read moresurgery also. She either cooks or I cook and bring him delicious, nutritious, and creative meals to help him feel satisfied and happy with great-tasting along with healthy meals that he needs to heal during the recovery process. I was originally going to head to In and Out Burgers in Santee, but after driving there I quickly changed my mind. The drive through was so long, it made me reconsider. I decided to tryAnny's Fine Burgers. I ordered a regular burger with lettuce and tomato plus onion the way my Dad likes, oh and pickles too. I decided to get one also prepared the same way. I normally do not eat red meat because I am a chicken, shrimp, and fish lover but on occasion I will make an exception if a restaurant knows how to make good burgers. I ordered for both of us, but I had to quickly eat mine so I could write this review and satisfy my raging appetite . The girl behind the counter was so friendly and helpful. She brought me a plate and my bag of food. I opened the wrapper and my eyes were in awe because this bigger was large in size and looked fresh. I bit down thinking there was no way I could eat it all. But, I did! I devoured it in five minutes! It was fresh, delicious, and juicy! They seasoned it to perfection . So glad they do not overly salt their burgers. I also ordered a homemade lemonade and a side of fries for my Dad to enjoy. I better go now as I need to deliver this deliciousness to my Dad! Oh I almost forgot, they keep the place so clean and I love the music in the background . Drake was playing! This is on my favorite burger list! You need to try this hidden gem in Santee, California.

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    Anny's Fine Burger
    Anny's Fine Burger - Burger and fries

    Burger and fries

    Anny's Fine Burger

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    Pioneer BBQ

    Pioneer BBQ

    3.9(725 reviews)
    3.4 miSan Carlos
    $$

    I remember back in 2018 Chef Hanis Calvin founded The Pioneer.  I saw him hard at work in the…read morekitchen and the bbq was very good.  Sadly he left for other ventures.  I'm visiting for the last time as The Pioneer closed on July 8, 2025. Pioneer Bbq smokes their meats with white oak which gives their meats a smoky flavor without the bitter aftertaste. Pork baby back ribs were tender and had a smoky aroma and flavor from the white oak.  Dry rub gave the ribs a bit of sweetness from the brown sugar and some spice from the black pepper.  Very tasty. Prime beef brisket was tender and juicy.  Peppercorn based dry rub and the smoky flavor combined with the high quality beef into some delicious brisket. Staff was nice and efficient.  I'll miss this place Chef Hanis created.  I was told I could get the same Texas style bbq at a sister restaurant Del's Hideout which employs the same Executive Chef Tim Eylens.  It was back in 2011 I first sampled Chef Hanis food at Carnitas Snack Shack.  Best carnitas I ever had.  It's been since 2023 when I last saw Chef Hanis at the now closed Carbon Bbq.  I hope he is doing well. https://www.hungryones.com/2023/08/carbon-bbq/ To absent friends, lost loves, old gods, and the season of mists; and may each and every one of us always give the devil his due. Neil Gaiman

    Enjoyed a good bbq me at pioneer. The meat was pretty tender and the corn was a nice side…read more Unfortunately looks like they've closed. Dels hideout, their sister restaurant is an another good bbq option.

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    Pioneer BBQ
    Pioneer BBQ
    Pioneer BBQ

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    Phil's BBQ - Bbq chicken

    Phil's BBQ

    4.0(2.1k reviews)
    1.4 mi
    $$

    Love the menu options and amount of food they give you all customized to your liking and the fast…read morecasual concept of ordering then finding your own table. Great beer variety on tap, flat screens for all the current sporting events, and all the condiments and napkins tableside. You can't go wrong with your order but usually I only order the big beef bone, el toro sandwich or their chicken wings and don't forget the fries and onion rings or you'll only have yourself to blame.

    The best thing about Phil's BBQ is the smell. The aroma. It'll hit you from nearly a mile away. If…read moreyou shop anywhere else in the shopping center, the smell is unstable. It's aromatic, intoxicating. It promises amazing food and an amazing time. Unfortunately, that's also the worst part about it because nothing inside the restaurant lives up to this promise whatsoever. The interior is about as Midwestern/country tacky as you can get. The customer service is just fine, the employees are doing the best they can with what they've got. There's really not a lot to say with that aspect, for better or worse. Although the line system and how long you wait for the subpar food is a crime in and of itself. The food itself is the most disappointing part: the majority of the offerings taste cheap, virtually all the meat is incredibly dry, and the sauce will do a little to nothing to fix that. The best thing about the food is that they have Cajun seasoning at the table that you can overload your food with, making it taste slightly more edible. This hardly fixes the fries, though, which might be the worst part about it, emphasizing the dryness of the restaurant's to a degree that can only be compared to a sprawling baking desert in the middle of July. And you can forget about healthier eating options here. All of it is mediocre at best. It would be nice to recommend a local business like this. Unfortunately, it's impossible to do that in this case. Until the restaurant completely overhauls its menu, service style, and does something to really spruce up the place to bring it up to a higher caliber, it's best to steer far clear of aroma tempting roasting aroma that lingers across the neighboring parking lots.

    Photos
    Phil's BBQ - Fast easy ordering.

    Fast easy ordering.

    Phil's BBQ - Rib-Less Tickler

    Rib-Less Tickler

    Phil's BBQ - Phil's BBQ (Santee)

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    Phil's BBQ (Santee)

    Topwater Grill - breakfast_brunch - Updated September 2026

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