La Mesa is advancing a policy that would allow restaurants across the city to add sidewalk dining. Right now, it’s only permitted in downtown La Mesa.
LA MESA, Calif. — Outdoor dining is a staple in La Mesa, a place where sunny weather and walkable streets make eating outside part of daily life. Now, the city is moving to expand that experience beyond downtown, opening the door for more restaurants to add sidewalk seating.
On the bustling stretch of La Mesa Boulevard, nearly every restaurant already has tables along the sidewalk. Diners said it’s part of the charm.
“Fresh air, San Diego. It’s a beautiful weather, yeah, if a place offers outside dining, we always take it,” said Shera, who ate lunch outside with her daughter Lincoln.
Restaurants also said the demand is clear and good for business.
“People want to eat in a nice, inviting, comfortable spot, and having this outdoor seating definitely adds to that,” said Mark De Salvo, an employee at City Tacos.
For De Salvo, the appeal is obvious.
“This is the spot for people watching. You know, La Mesa Boulevard’s [a] nice, easily walkable neighborhood, and so it’s nice to sit and watch the people, have your food, have a beer,” he said.
Currently, only restaurants in downtown La Mesa can apply for sidewalk dining permits. A new city policy, approved last month, will extend that option to all commercial zones, creating more opportunities for outdoor seating across the city.
The updated policy also sets a 10 p.m. closing time for outdoor dining areas. After feedback from businesses, the rules were revised so that anyone seated before 10 p.m. can stay until they’re finished. The policy also streamlines the permitting process to make it easier for restaurants to participate.
Shera and Lincoln said that’s welcome news.
“We’re always super excited when a place has outdoor dining, and we can be outside and enjoy this. Yeah, we also have a dog, so sometimes we like to bring him outside,” they said.
It’s feedback like that, city leaders said, that helped push the expansion forward.
The policy is scheduled for a second and final reading at Tuesday’s city council meeting, where it has strong support to move ahead.
Dining and Cooking