Veronica&#x27;s Kitchen

Off the beaten path! It is so worth the stop. Everything is homemade! Everything is incredible!…read more The soup to a burger! It was awesome! Service is excellent! Hometown feel! Nice people!

We started coming here because our family photographer (XO Kim -- check out my review!) highly…read morerecommended it, and it has become our tradition after every photo session for about five years. Enticing our kids with the animals at XO Ranch and then grabbing food at Descanso Junction has been our routine that just works. It has made taking family pictures a better experience. We always bring our dogs to the photo shoot and sit outside on the patio at Descano Junction Restaurant. We have enjoyed sitting outside. There is a wooden chair that my kids love squishing themselves into. At night they have garland lights. Unfortunately the laat time we came the heater did not have gas and we were freezing. My two younger kids still opted to eat with us because they wanted to eat with our dogs and sit in the chair. Portions here are generous and priced well. Honestly, I could probably share with my youngest, but since it's a bit of a drive for us, we each get our own dish and take home leftovers. Some menu items are served only at certain times and days, so plan around that. Service has always been consistently good -- friendly and attentive, even when we're seated on the patio with the dogs. They sell dog friendly burger patties for $5.99. Our Favorite Items Smaller Bites These come with two sliders and one side. We've tried all the options and have zero complaints. Burgers My kids love the burgers here. They're a great size and always come out juicy. We order them Medium to Medium-Well. For sides, you can pick fries, potato salad, or coleslaw, or pay extra for battered onion rings, soup, or a salad (I usually upgrade). Favorites for my family: * Traditional * Bacon Cheeseburger * Ultimate Burger My favorite burger is the Mushroom Burger I'm a mushroom lover, and this one is always cooked perfectly. Taco Salad Huge. I order it with Carne Asada and it's delicious every time. BBQ Combo: You can create your own combo. Options: Jack Daniel's Tri Tip Saint Louis Style Pork Ribs Smoked Pulled Pork Desserts I'm a dessert person. I don't have a must eat here but its a good way to end the meal. We have tried the brownie, cheesecake and apple pie. If you're in the area, definitely check this place out. Great portions, fair prices, tasty food, and consistently good service. And don't forget to walk around the shops on the same lot afterward.

1/2 Sweet Jalapeno Burger, 1/2 Grilled Chicken Ranch Melt, fresh cut fries. This is the part that's coming g home with us...

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Cookout and Tiki bar!

Janet's Montana Cafe

4.5(931 reviews)

8.5 mi

Awesome and Delicious Food Great indoor and outdoor Service!…read more Old Country Ambience and nicely decorated dining areas Slightly higher-priced Meals that taste homemade , but Definitely worth it! JSB, Alpine

Have been hearing about this place for a while and it was on my breakfast places to go to - I'm…read morehappy to report it's amazing! I had the bacon and cheese omelet and my partner got the asparagus omelet special! We walked out with so much food. I was so excited to have breakfast for lunch! everyone that works here added to the homey, eat what you can, stay awhile feeling. I can't wait to come back

Inside cafe

Delicious cookie! Soft on the inside and yummy, crispy edges.

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Peppermint mocha and hazelnut mocha

The Pub At Lake Cuyamaca

3.9(214 reviews)

9.4 mi

We had a wonderful experience at The Pub at Lake Cuyamaca. The fish and chips and burgers are very…read moretasty. They paired well with the ice cold beer from Nickel Beer Company. The service was excellent as well. We enjoyed our lunch and beverages outside on the pet friendly patio. I highly recommend this establishment.

I haven't been here since they changed ownership and name a few years ago, but the view is still…read morethe same! Absolutely gorgeous! We decided to stop by The Pub the other week for dinner. Unfortunately, free parking is just as tough as ever (though sometimes you can tell the people in the back lot that you're eating there and they will let you park for free). However, a was made up by the food! While I miss the larger variety of foods the old restraunt had, the burgers and sandwiches offered were good. I got the brisket sandwich with tots and my husband got the Swiss mushroom burger. The tots were crispy to perfection on the outside and soft on the inside. The brisket sandwich was delicious and salty-savory (in a good way) when dipped in the thing of sauce/gravy. My husband said it best: the mushroom burger was what a good standard burger should be (as fas as cook, flavor, texture goes). Though we both agreed that it needed a few more mushrooms. Our waitress kindly suggested a local cider which was pretty refreshing on a hot summer day. Overall, the Pub is a good place to swing by up by Julian. You can't beat the views and it's a nice place to take a pit stop.

Friends and family belly up to enjoy a cold beer.

Pub burger and fries.

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Great view and place to eat on the patio - when the snow is melted.

Alpine Tavern & Grill

4.1(329 reviews)

8.5 mi

Came here with a group of my friends and I really enjoyed the experience here!…read more The place is super adorable with some outside seating available. We were a party of 11 and we got a big booth so all of us could fit. I ordered a bowl of chili and had an Alpine Duet IPA. Im not normally an IPA drinker but this one I liked, it wasnt too bitter and I dare say I liked this IPA! Chili was great and hit the spot, was hearty and well seasoned, just what my body wanted. Ambiance was cozy and gave you a small mountain feel. Service was on point and no issues. Id definitely come back when in Alpine again, was a fun experience!

Why haven't we been here before!? Today the hubby and I met up with brother feom another mother,…read morefor linner. We were pleasantly surprised. We were greated right away & were told we could sit wherever we liked. Reallly nice a/c on this very warm day. Great vibes & music. What we ordered: * Potato Skins * Steak Sandwich w/ Salad * Alpine Protein Bowl Everything we had was very yummy. I loved their twist on the potato skins. They were sliced like thicker potato chips. Then mixed with.bacon & cheese. It was a HOT bowl filled with ooey gooey goodness..... The hubby & I shared the steak sandwich. DELICIOUS!! Our salad was fresh & crisp. My bro seemed to have really enjoyed his meal too. Ryan was our server and did a wonderful job. He even put the Padres game on for us!! Perfect.... We had a really good time. We can't wait to go back to try some of their other delicious items.

Fried green beans

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Jay's Southern Cafe

4.7(352 reviews)

8.9 mi

First time at Jays Southern Café and wow... what an experience! Vi was a whole vibe--super sweet,…read morefriendly, and really helped my hubby and me decide on what to order since it was our first visit. She made us feel right at home. Now let's talk food... the brisket was out of this world! Tender, flavorful, and just the right amount of smokiness. Paired with the coleslaw (so fresh and delicious) and their BBQ sauce that was sweet but not overpowering, the whole combo was dynamite. I even had to snap a "before" pic of the plate--and let's just say the "after" pic didn't survive because it was THAT good! They were out of dessert during our visit, but I'll definitely be back to try that cinnamon and lemon pound cake that customers around us were raving about. Big shoutout to Vi and to Penelope (I believe she was the cook that day) for serving up not just a meal, but an experience. The layout was super cool and very clean. I never knew this place was in Alpine but I found my new barbecue spot. Definitely come and support as they are a hidden gem We'll 100% be back soon--thanks again for the warm hospitality and amazing food!

Hey, Yelp Community! If you're looking for the BEST BBQ and Soul Food restaurant in East County,…read moreJay's Southern Cafe is the go-to spot. My brisket sandwich with a special BBQ sauce was hands down the most amazing brisket sandwich I've had. OMG, that BBQ sauce was an added yummy flavorful touch along with the fresh creamy coleslaw...the combo sooo finger-lickin' good. The young man's customer service was top notch with a smile. I didn't have to wait. Thank you!! Whenever you're in the area, you have to stop by to eat some delicious authentic Southern food and support a local family-owned business. It's Alpine BEST kept foodie secret.

Breakfast

Lunch and Dinner

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Frosty Burger

3.5(200 reviews)

5.4 mi

Growing up we would always stop here for lunch. The food and ice cream is still just as good. The…read moreservice was quick and the restaurant still has the same feel to it.

Friendly cashier. Nice area. The food was not the best…read more Every hamburger ordered was wrong. Some ordered plain and were received with onion and mustard. Some recieved with pickles. Fries were soggy. Drinks warm, given without ice. Ice cream cones were delicious. No bathrooms but have a sign that public restrooms are across the street at the park. If going to enjoy the food, sit across the street on the tables at the park. So beautiful. Sorry. Forgot to take pics of our meals.

Coffee shake (has vanilla base so wasn't that coffee flavored), Rocky Road shake, butterscotch sundae

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Outdoor seating

Off The 8 Cafe

4.5(79 reviews)

9.4 mi

The staff were super kind and attentive. I came in after a really long day of work feeling…read moreexhausted, but they were welcoming and helped me get settled to order. There is seating available both inside and outside, with a comfortable and quiet vibe. The pancakes were soft and perfectly cooked, they came out pretty quickly

The service was fast and the girls were great. The food was perfect and the place is really cute…read moreinside. We were on our way to Sedona and we hadn't had breakfast. Got off on Tavern Road and found this place.

Off the 8 café open Monday through Friday 8am till 130

ABC omelette with Hash-browns

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Chocolate Shake

The Grove Steakhouse

4.0(293 reviews)

5.3 mi

•$$$

Recently it was my first experience eating here and it was quite delicious. As a big fan of casinos…read moreand steak and seafood, this was right up my alley and it did not disappoint. The restaurant itself is pretty large, with a nice bar area in the front for more casual dining than 2 other dining areas in the back. They also had the biggest fireplace I've ever seen which was unique. The staff here are very professional, cordial and efficient, and the kitchen did a good job on plating. To the best part - the food. Really excellent menu that made it hard for me to pick. After much deliberation, I ordered the crab cakes that were much larger than I expected and filled with crab and probably one of the tastiest crab cakes I've had. I stayed on the seafood route and ordered the Atlantic sea scallops with pancetta and mushrooms. And again, the scallops were larger than I expected and I really enjoyed this dish. My dining companion went the turf route and got the filet mignon, and lucky me, I got to try it and was pretty solid and cooked perfectly. Then the finale of chocolate cake, very decadent was a great end to a delicious dinner!

The worst steakhouse of all time . I showed up on a Thursday…read morewith my significant other ,we wanted to eat good . Big mistake our steaks were completely wrong when they arrived . Then I had to wave down the waitress every time I needed something,I literally had to turn around and break my neck when she approached the table when I called her . She suppose to stand in front of me and take an order . We were treated like they were doing us a favor . I sent my steak back to cook longer something I never do . And when it came back I ordered my check and paid and left food there. I would never eat food that was sent back but I did it to prove à point . Do not waste your money or time This is a fake needed wannabe steak house . Viejas casino shoujd be ashamed.

King Crab Benedict

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Amuse Bouche (short rib with cornichon) on a crouton like cracker

Viewpoint Neighborhood Kitchen

This restaurant is great for all hours of the day. The menu is a decent size with options for…read moreeveryone. The drinks are good and the food as well. And the portion size is good. The restaurant wasn't too loud...or loud at all actually. All of the staff were really great. No matter what time we went they were all friendly and attentive.

The food here is always great. There is a strawberry salad with cherry vinaigrette and avocado on…read moretop. That is amazing. It'll be the second time we got the French dip because that one's good too. The surface is really good. They bring you hot bread right when you sit down. For your birthday to bring you a hot chocolate chip cookie with ice cream on it Ambience is cool Cafe style casual

Inside

Breakfast steak and eggs. The steak was way over seasoned but the eggs and hash browns were perfectly done!

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Best Bloody Mary

Baron Long Bar & Grill

3.7(160 reviews)

5.3 mi

We always have a great eating experience here. Servers are…read moreconscientious and very attentive. Whatever server we had previously always greet us warmly and our visits are always a pleasant experience. Whatever we order is always top notch.

Went to the Viejas outlet mall on a Monday. And the place is a ghost town. Not sure why , it's so…read morenice here. Lots of shops for shopping, food restaurants and outdoor activities for the kids and lots of parking. Had lunch at Baron Long today and went with the soup & salad. It was good and a large portion. Probably should have shared. Our waiters Omar & Kimberly were great. The food is good and the bonus is - no tax on your food. You gotta try it!

Bar Jan 22, 2025

2 egg breakfast was great. Potatoes were perfect. Servers and food runners were great. Side of sausages were good.

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Fish and chips

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7 reviews that are not currently recommended

The reviews below are not factored into the business's overall star rating.

Allison O.

0

3

0

14 years ago

$7 for a lousy carne asada burrito. Why not just use the quality tender carne asada? Use the, thin carne like they sell in TJ.. Why cant they just get out the mesquite charcoal out and cook up some good carne??? You know, the kind that marinates in orange juice and spices. They just pour out of a big bag of chopped meat on a flat grill, that is tough, and has zero flavor. Only using salt and pepper just does not work for me. What a shame. I love real authentic TJ street tacos, Their carne asada would be laughed at in Mexico. Very tough, and also has a weird flavor. Maybe they are using horse meat. I think wood tastes better. It totally sucks. I would rather eat at .Del Taco. I hope they read this and decide to go higher quality and get it over with. I just don't understand why they would take the low road on their carne asada burrito. It is garbage! I have a few words of advice for that place; USE MESQUITE! Cook up the carne like a five star steak house restaurant! How much harder would it be to cook on an open flame?? Make a better burrito that has real authentic carne asada flavor. Too many lousy Mexican restaurants now. They must think we don't know the difference. read more

Stepha T.

1

4

0

6 years ago

This place is awesome! Mexican food served in a cozy setting in Descanso. Small bar in the back serving beer, wine and of course, margaritas! The carne asada is perfection, the carnitas plate is amazing but the chile relleno & enchiladas are probably my favorite. The chips are made fresh only when you order them. read more

Julian H.

0

3

0

12 years ago

One was the Topolobampo classics, one was the old world cuisine with ingredients that were available centuries ago, and the last one is the beach themed with emphasis on seafood. Everything was fantastic and a great service from the sommelier as well. read more

Brittaney Rodriguz F B.

3

0

11 years ago

One of the best breakfast spots in Descanso, CA. There are several items to choose from on the menu. They do things to eggs that are incredible. The service is great and the staff does everything they can do to make your experience a good one. read more

Jesus V.

0

2

0

12 years ago

Whenever I visit a great food city, I never go back to the same restaurant, except for eronica's Kitchen.It is so great.

Amy B.

0

4

0

6 years ago

Food is always great here, they are unique as far as Mexican restaurants go with their special flavor

Sarah Q.

36

3

0

4 years ago

Amazing service. The staff are very friendly. Good food. Good price. Great location. read more

Veronica's Kitchen - tradamerican - Updated August 2026

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If you're looking for authentic Mexican food with incredible service, this place is an absolute…read moremust-visit. From the moment you walk in, you're greeted with a smile and treated like family. The service is consistently amazing: attentive, friendly, and genuinely welcoming. You can tell they truly care about their customers. The food? Out of this world. Everything is fresh, flavorful, and clearly made with love. The cheese enchiladas, rice, and beans are hands down some of the best I've had...perfectly seasoned and so satisfying. And don't even get me started on the margaritas (try watermelon!) - delicious, refreshing, and the perfect complement to the meal. A special shoutout to the owner, Chelsea, who is absolutely wonderful. Her passion for what she does shines through in every detail, from the food to the overall experience. Tucked away in the shopping center off Tavern Road, this spot is a hidden gem that you don't want to miss. Once you try it, you'll definitely be back!

LA CARRETA is an Alpine Village Classic. Tasty unique menu with a great authentic atmosphere. LOVE…read more& ENJOY old town Alpine atmosphere!!

Descanso Junction Restaurant

4.4

(411 reviews)

Off the beaten path! It is so worth the stop. Everything is homemade! Everything is incredible!…read more The soup to a burger! It was awesome! Service is excellent! Hometown feel! Nice people!

We started coming here because our family photographer (XO Kim -- check out my review!) highly…read morerecommended it, and it has become our tradition after every photo session for about five years. Enticing our kids with the animals at XO Ranch and then grabbing food at Descanso Junction has been our routine that just works. It has made taking family pictures a better experience. We always bring our dogs to the photo shoot and sit outside on the patio at Descano Junction Restaurant. We have enjoyed sitting outside. There is a wooden chair that my kids love squishing themselves into. At night they have garland lights. Unfortunately the laat time we came the heater did not have gas and we were freezing. My two younger kids still opted to eat with us because they wanted to eat with our dogs and sit in the chair. Portions here are generous and priced well. Honestly, I could probably share with my youngest, but since it's a bit of a drive for us, we each get our own dish and take home leftovers. Some menu items are served only at certain times and days, so plan around that. Service has always been consistently good -- friendly and attentive, even when we're seated on the patio with the dogs. They sell dog friendly burger patties for $5.99. Our Favorite Items Smaller Bites These come with two sliders and one side. We've tried all the options and have zero complaints. Burgers My kids love the burgers here. They're a great size and always come out juicy. We order them Medium to Medium-Well. For sides, you can pick fries, potato salad, or coleslaw, or pay extra for battered onion rings, soup, or a salad (I usually upgrade). Favorites for my family: * Traditional * Bacon Cheeseburger * Ultimate Burger My favorite burger is the Mushroom Burger I'm a mushroom lover, and this one is always cooked perfectly. Taco Salad Huge. I order it with Carne Asada and it's delicious every time. BBQ Combo: You can create your own combo. Options: Jack Daniel's Tri Tip Saint Louis Style Pork Ribs Smoked Pulled Pork Desserts I'm a dessert person. I don't have a must eat here but its a good way to end the meal. We have tried the brownie, cheesecake and apple pie. If you're in the area, definitely check this place out. Great portions, fair prices, tasty food, and consistently good service. And don't forget to walk around the shops on the same lot afterward.

Tapatios Mexican Grill

4.4

(329 reviews)

Food is good here, little advice to the dragonball tattoo guy behind the counter. After you address…read morethe customers waiting in front of you, dont answer the phone two more times before helping them. The phone can wait. Business was lost today thanks to this unprofessionalism.

So I'm from the Bay Area visiting family down in San Diego. Up north there's relatively decent…read moreMexican food, but nothing on the level of Tapatio's. The only thing I can think that compares is Cholo's in LA. Where I'm from burritos are 20 bucks, and like I said they're decent, but you can tell level of care and competence at Tapatio's is on another strata. The tortillas are fried to a perfect crisp. The cheese is melted perfectly. The chili rellanos exquisitely dipped in just the right batter... the salsas are smoky sweet. Don't miss Tapatio's!

Rita's Mexican Food

4.1

(83 reviews)

Hidden Gem. Been hitting Rita's for many years. This location isn't in a great spot, only because…read moreyou can't really see it from 2nd St. But there's plenty of parking here. Everything is great here & all cooked fresh when you order. Great red & green salsa. Ask for their Habanero salsa if you can hang with spicy. It's really spicy but it also has amazing flavor. The lite menu is awesome & so is everything else here. Most burritos are 1-2 dollars cheaper than anywhere else too. Oh!... the rolled tacos are easily some of the best rolled tacos in all of east county.

I love this place! They always have much more affordable prices for their food and they serve large…read moreportions. I've been going to this place for a couple of years now and will continue if they keep everything the same! I've never had issues with missing items, presentation, or cold food. Good job Rita's!

Tres Hermanos

3.8

(35 reviews)

I've been here at least six times and really enjoy their food and service…read more I always get the Chilaquiles and eggs--the red ones are my favorite. The Carne Asada burrito and Carne Asada fries are also fantastic. And the Phantom salsa? It's super spicy but packed with flavor! Best in town

The tacos here are always really good and they make the food quick. I don't mind eating inside…read moreeither because the place is always clean.

Poncho's Authentic Mexican & Seafood

3.4

(100 reviews)

Food is really good. Been going there for years. Depends who is working on the counter, counter…read morehelp could be better. So shouldn't have to ask for napkins while sitting at a table to eat, or a straw for your drink. And it would be nice that they would bring in to you. I'm am handicap person and had to go get my food? While the counter gal was laughing with the cook in back? Down spot/ counter help.

This is our must stop place EVERY TIME we are in our hometown! Have to get our fix of Mexican food…read moreand this is the spot. This location is the finer of the other locations. They have absolutely delicious rolled tacos, carne asada, and adobada tacos. Various combination options, a great extensive menu. The California burrito is a favorite. Popular Carne Asada; ALL burritos are huge and worth the value for the portion. The salsa bar has at least 6 different types of salsa and a fresh onion, radish relish. Few TVs to watch, that surround the inside space. Owner supports local schools, sports teams etc. Lovely locally owned restaurant. Highly recommend you stop in and try.Till next time Ponchos!

Tavo’s Tacos N Beer

4.5

(8 reviews)

Tavo's has recently taken over "Pinchas Tortas." They offer as their namesake goes a variety of…read moretacos and beers, but also mix of Mexican fair such as tortas, quesadillas, burritos, rolled tacos, combination plates, and breakfast! For my fist visit, I had a trio of taco de adobada or marinated pork and a side of rice. The tacos were good, and I appreciated the fact that they included guacamole, and also came with chopped white onion and cilantro. The pork meat was tasty but could of been a little more tender. Also, I would suggest they put on a finer chop to the white onions so that one does not get a strong sense of onions. They put a very good amount of meat and guacamole which is always a very good thing. The rice was very good. It offered that good Mexican rice flavor and a loose consistency. They offer a salsa bar, but with only two salsas at the moment. I hoping they add that ever so delicious avocado salsa soon! Service was friendly and welcoming.

Good food, great Mexican flavor, the service good and the ambience in the place good too because…read morethey have spacious tables with chair with tv for have a moment of relax eating.

El Paso Taco Shop

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This place is really good. The burritos are generous and they have pretty much anything you'd be in…read morethe mood for. Except maybe migas, but that's okay. The orders are made quickly without sacrificing quality and they package everything so that it's all secure during transport. There are a few tables outside so you can sit and wait for your order or eat it there if you want to. It's a family and biker-friendly setup but cannot host large parties unless you're down for tailgating.

This place is either hit or miss, we've had descent food. But it's nothing special. The carne asada…read moretacos aren't bad.

Ferny's Mexican Grill

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I love this place. If you're looking for the best crispy potato tacos, this is it! Also I love…read moretheir habanero salsa! So good! The people are nice and they've given the place a facelift. The only downfall to this place is the parking. But overall, everything I've ordered from there was good! Now, if they made an avocado salsa, they'd really be all set!

lol wut Ordered a…read moresteak & egg burrito at 9:47. Finally received my food at 10:08 when I went to ask what was going on since several other people ordered after me and left with their food before me. Now I am home with a cold burrito and IT'S NOT THE RIGHT ONE. Ordered Steak & Egg, received Chorizo. To add insult to injury, young boy that needs a belt busted my balls for asking for more than the allowed tiny hot sauce cups. I also asked for carrots and didn't get those either. What happened to Ferny's? Used to love this place for Taco Tuesday. It's all bright inside now since they remodeled. Maybe owner change? At least the Orange Bong is good Major bummer. Wish I would have spent the extra to order via Doordash. At least I could report the errors and recoup a little.

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