San Diego Reader

• Restaurant | American | Grazing | La Mesa

Terra American Bistro

• 7091 El Cajon Boulevard, La Mesa, CA 92115 | Directions
• 619-293-7088 | Website

This is exactly what you’d expect from a Hillcrest bistro that moved to East County, converted a family-style restaurant into a clean and simple dining space, then started serving house-infused spirits at the U-shaped bar. So, yeah, there’s X-Games bike-jumping on the TV and a friendlier, more all-comers vibe than you find at some drinkeries, but there’s also lemon-basil vodka in your Basil Martini and coffee-vanilla bourbon mixing with crème de cacao and a dollop of half and half in your Bourbon Whip (think pleasingly bitter cocoa). The list changes with the seasons. Terra is, however, a restaurant first, so don’t come looking for late-night libations.