Best Fun Restaurants in Serra Mesa

We celebrated my adult son's birthday here with Sunday brunch in December. The food was amazing, and the service was just right--attentive, but not hovering. I gave a 2/4 on noise level because the restaurant was fairly quiet and not filled to capacity for this holiday weekend brunch, but I imagine that it would be much more festive on a regular weekend evening. We will definitely return to sample their dinner menu.

Great Maple has been our "go to" for many years now. The food is always outstanding, and the staff is second to none when it comes to friendliness, service and recognition. My ONLY regret is that they are no longer open mid-week as we enjoyed dining there after work - but THRILLED that they are still there and making it "work" for them. Last night we celebrated a friend's birthday. From the moment we walked in, until we left, she was treated as an honored guest by the team. We appreciated that for many reasons, the least of which was recognition. My rating overall for last night was 5-stars with only a couple minor dings. A relatively new server (to us) was a bit uniformed on a few bar items, but friendly and attentive. If there was any one request it would be to find a way to bring down the noise level. Given that it is an older building, that may be hard to accomplish. Some like that energy, but it can be a bit much when trying to converse with people at your table. Not a complaint - just an observation that seems to be the trend at a lot of restaurants now-a-days. Once the weather warms up, the outdoor patio seems to fix that issue for me. The food is excellent. Last night my group started with the crispy calamari and the portobello mushroom fries (always a favorite) followed by the duck special, the curried chicken pot pie, the turkey bolognese, the vegan hash and the buttermilk fried chicken. The duck and curried chicken pot pie seemed to get the most raves. I had the fried chicken, and while very good, I am not a fan of food on top of food. (Chicken on top of mashed potatoes with gravy.) It was still very good, but something I probably would not order again simply for that reason. My southern friend at the table disagreed with me on that issue! Not only is the food good, but the presentation of each dish always pleases the eye. Unfortunately, no room for dessert - but I do recommend that you try their pie specials or even the maple bacon donuts!

Great food and drink choices, and wonderful staff!

Amazing Experience at insideOUT! I recently dined at insideOUT in Hillcrest, and it was truly an unforgettable experience. From the moment we arrived, we were captivated by the chic and inviting ambiance. The atmosphere strikes the perfect balance between upscale and relaxed, making it ideal for a night out. Our server, Grant, was absolutely amazing—attentive, knowledgeable, and incredibly friendly. He went above and beyond to ensure we had everything we needed, making the service nothing short of phenomenal. The food was exquisite, with every dish crafted to perfection. And let’s not forget the festive drinks—they were not only delicious but also beautifully presented, adding a fun and celebratory vibe to the evening. If you’re looking for a restaurant that offers top-notch service, delectable food, and a gorgeous setting, insideOUT is a must-visit. We’ll definitely be back!

My family and I had reservations at 6:30pm the day before Christmas Eve. It was crowded and they were running behind. The hostess (Tiffany) was calm, professional and helpful even though many customers were asking her questions constantly. She was even bussing tables. We had another table of relatives (celebrating my birthday) and she was able to get us near each other. Which she didn't have to do. Once we were seated, our chef Chris was outstanding. He was funny, entertaining and the food was outstanding. Our wait staff was also wonderful but I've forgotten their names. My family and I will definitely return to Benihana's.