Ney Restaurant — Restaurant in La Mesa

AMAZING! New favorite place. It was empty on a Saturday evening? I couldn’t believe it bc the food was so good! The place is decorated very nicely and has a good vibe. They were playing pop/club hits from like the 2000’s-2010’s though, which was interesting, but I’m a millennial so I enjoyed it haha

We got the tzatziki and pita to start, and it had big chunks of cucumber and was so refreshingly delightful and the pita was pipin HOT, but soft and not burnt.

I got a wrap and my friend got the lamb and at first we thought his dish was pricey, but then it came out with a side of soup and rice and flatbread and we realized it was a great deal! The lamb shank was cooked to perfection, and also piping hot. The wrap was made from some filo dough type bread, which was exquisite. The side of pickled cauliflower and carrots were so unique, the yellow side also had curry flavor. I never had anything like it. I got truffle fries for a little extra $ and they were good, but I think I’ll just get regular fries next time bc they were thicker than I expected. Not quite steak fries, but definitely not thin fries. We were getting full halfway through our meal, so we got boxes so we could try dessert!

For dessert we got baklava and Turkish coffee ice cream. Both were also incredible! Thick layer of pistachio near the bottom of the baklava, and crispy dough on top with a side of vanilla ice cream, sooooo delicious. Turkish coffee ice cream had a deep roasted, but balanced flavor.

Service was excellent, but again there was only one other person in the restaurant, so there were 3 servers waiting on 3 people. Seriously cannot believe this place was nearly empty on the weekend during dinner!...

Amazing!! Went here with a few other people on a Monday evening. Great service, very helpful and attentive. I was debating between the Ney Rice and Baryani and at the end of the meal server brought a small bowl of the one I hadn’t gotten so I could try them both.

Lentil soup was so light and simple. Very toned down flavor but still delicious. Ney style rice had cinnamon, which I didn’t expect and usually don’t like, but it was delicious!! Turkish coffee espresso martini was smooth and had a very nice foam, though on the sweeter side. Mediterranean flatbread was nice and crunchy and piled high with goat cheese and other toppings. Crunchy chicken wrap lived up to its name, crunchy chicken and crunchy outside, the pickles and pickled veggies on the side really went well with the texture. THE BEST HUMMUS I HAVE EVER HAD!!!!! Added it to all of my food, almost licked the bowl clean. Even if you get nothing else, you NEED to try the hummus!

Went on a Monday so they had a happy hour special all day, got $3-$4 off on most of the food, and considering the portions the prices are quite reasonable. Expect to take home leftovers!

Had a wonderful experience, will...

I recently visited Ney Restaurant in La Mesa with the simple goal of grabbing a few sides to complement my dinner at home. To my surprise, the restaurant was completely empty, yet I wasn’t greeted or acknowledged at all. It set an unwelcoming tone from the start.

When I asked about ordering sides, I was met with a dismissive response. The chef immediately shifted focus to two women seated at the bar—ignoring me entirely—before curtly telling me I couldn’t purchase the sides I wanted, even though they were clearly listed on the menu under appetizers and sides. I pointed this out, but it was dismissed as if I was making a silly inconvenience. This treatment was not just unhelpful—it felt condescending and unnecessary.

Despite being a healthcare professional and cooking enthusiast, I left feeling deeply alienated. The service—and lack thereof—felt racially charged. In such an empty restaurant, this level of disregard was inexplicable and offensive.

To anyone who cares about respectful service and inclusive environments: do not recommend Ney Restaurant. The lack of basic courtesy—let alone an attempt at understanding—makes it a place I...