Specialty of the House: New Sign Toasts Revived Lemon Grove Cafe

Almost a year after the iconic Antique Row Café closed on Lemon Grove Avenue, new owners put the finishing touches on its southern face Tuesday.

Jesus Gutierrez of Spring Valley, in a daylong job ending just before 4 p.m., carefully painted the outlines of the new name and then filled in the letters with a narrow roller.

Behold the Lemon Grove Café, “serving American Greek Mexican cuisine.” 

Up and running for four or five months, the new café is owned by former Lemon Grovian Bernardino Celaya (now of Spring Valley) and brother Jacob Celaya of La Mesa.

The restaurant at 3521 Lemon Grove Blvd. Serves senior breakfasts ranging from $5.45 to $6.45 and children’s breakfasts with names like Mickey Mouse Jr. Combo (including a Mickey Mouse shaped pancake), Little Donald (waffle, egg and sausage or bacon) and Little Daisy (french toast, egg and sausage or bacon) for $4.95.

Greek dishes include chicken or beef Souvlaki, Spanikopita (spinach, feta cheese and egg baked in filo dough) and gyro and falafel plates.

Burgers, a wide assortment of sandwiches, egg skillets, frittatas and other Mexican food fill out the menu—along with BBQ chicken, fish and chips, meatloaf, liver and grilled onions and ribeye steak.