San Diego Area (mostly vintage) Bars and Restaurants - Tiki Travel

M mbonga Member La Mesa, California Joined: Dec 04, 2005 Posts: 556	M mbonga Posted posted on Mon, Jan 23, 2006 4:18 PM The Islands Restaurant is still in business? I didn't see the sign when looking for it when I passed by on Highway 8 last year on a visit to San Diego, so I thought it was gone. My family used to go there quite a bit in 1969-1970, and it had a heck of a lot of atmosphere inside, a waterfall inside, tiki torches outside, lots of philodendrons and other tropical plants. I remember liking the lichi nuts and I remember that their food back then had so much MSG that we actually got a little dizzy and would swear the overhead lamps were swaying when in fact they weren't. That was before the big "No MSG" push. I'd like to see photos of that restaurant to see if it's the same, if anybody plans to go there soon with a digital camera, since it may be a long time before I can get out there again. Jamar Restaurant in La Mesa is one of the few remaining restaurants I remember from that era. It's been around since 1946, and has never had particularly remarkable decor or notable cuisine, but I ate there 3 years ago on a California visit and the service and food were quite decent, good enough to keep them in business another few decades, so that restaurant stands out in my mind for those reasons. The Islandia has been around since at least 1969, and has a view of Mission Bay and decent food, but we had an obsequious waiter years ago so we never went back. Still, it's another one that commands respect just because of its age. Those are the kind of restaurants I like. Jamar Restaurant 7777 University Avenue La Mesa, CA 91941-4950 (619) 469-7777 P.S.--Another vintage restaurant that goes back to at least 1971 that has always been good is Su Casa, a Mexican restaurant. My family used to eat there in 1971, there's a bar, there's interesting decor, and their octagonal aquarium there now has been there since I took a date there in 1989. Su Casa Mexican Restaurant 6738 La Jolla Blvd La Jolla, CA 92037 (858) 454-0369 [ Edited by: mbonga 2006-01-23 16:20 ] [ Edited by: mbonga 2006-01-23 21:35 ] [ Edited by: mbonga 2006-01-23 21:42 ] [ Edited by: mbonga 2006-01-23 21:46 ] [ Edited by: mbonga 2006-01-24 10:07 ]

The Islands Restaurant is still in business? I didn't see the sign when looking for it when I passed by on Highway 8 last year on a visit to San Diego, so I thought it was gone. My family used to go there quite a bit in 1969-1970, and it had a heck of a lot of atmosphere inside, a waterfall inside, tiki torches outside, lots of philodendrons and other tropical plants. I remember liking the lichi nuts and I remember that their food back then had so much MSG that we actually got a little dizzy and would swear the overhead lamps were swaying when in fact they weren't. That was before the big "No MSG" push. I'd like to see photos of that restaurant to see if it's the same, if anybody plans to go there soon with a digital camera, since it may be a long time before I can get out there again.

Jamar Restaurant in La Mesa is one of the few remaining restaurants I remember from that era. It's been around since 1946, and has never had particularly remarkable decor or notable cuisine, but I ate there 3 years ago on a California visit and the service and food were quite decent, good enough to keep them in business another few decades, so that restaurant stands out in my mind for those reasons.

The Islandia has been around since at least 1969, and has a view of Mission Bay and decent food, but we had an obsequious waiter years ago so we never went back. Still, it's another one that commands respect just because of its age. Those are the kind of restaurants I like.

Jamar Restaurant
7777 University Avenue
La Mesa, CA 91941-4950
(619) 469-7777

P.S.--Another vintage restaurant that goes back to at least 1971 that has always been good is Su Casa, a Mexican restaurant. My family used to eat there in 1971, there's a bar, there's interesting decor, and their octagonal aquarium there now has been there since I took a date there in 1989.

Su Casa Mexican Restaurant
6738 La Jolla Blvd
La Jolla, CA 92037
(858) 454-0369

[ Edited by: mbonga 2006-01-23 16:20 ]

[ Edited by: mbonga 2006-01-23 21:35 ]

[ Edited by: mbonga 2006-01-23 21:42 ]

[ Edited by: mbonga 2006-01-23 21:46 ]

[ Edited by: mbonga 2006-01-24 10:07 ]

Post #209799 by mbonga on Mon, Jan 23, 2006 4:18 PM