Anita's Mexican Restaurant: "El Camino Real Location " — Restaurant in Oceanside

I can't believe the lack of kindness and civility at this restaurant by the hostess. I was with my elderly neighbors this evening, who apparently eat here regularly (it was my first and last time). One of them is an 87-year-old Marine vet who really needs to sit due to arthritis and recent hip surgery. We were told that there was a wait for a booth (10-15 minutes). We agreed to wait, but the only seats for waiting customers near the entrance were filled. We had a buzzer and thought we would order a few drinks while we waited. There were a few two top tables open in the bar, so my elderly companions sat at the cushioned banquette in the bar area and I sat in a chair across from them. Just as we were looking at the menu and about to order drinks at the bar, a different hostess approached us and told us we had to move for other waiting customers. Here's the thing, we were about to order drinks, there were at least two other open tables in the bar, and my companions were clearly older and needed to sit. I asked her how long the wait was for the booth, and she said five minutes. I politely asked if we could sit for five minutes until our table was ready. She was incredibly rude and basically insisted that we move. I'm young, I'm fine with this, but my friends deserved a little more consideration and compassion. What is five minutes? Just let them sit and not be on their feet. I've been a server and hostess, so I'm fully aware it was a busy Saturday night and I'm sympathetic to the challenges of trying to accommodate many customers, but a good server, a good person would have seen this situation as unique and shown some consideration. I can only assume this young woman is related to the owners because no one would choose to have her working in a customer facing position. I only hope she isn't treated as rudely and with such lack of empathy when she's 87! There are so many great restaurants in Oceanside, don't waste your money here. We ended up at Venezia (formerly Veneto's) on Coast Hwy. and were treated impeccably and the food was outstanding. Thank you for saving me the trouble of eating at Anita's and getting food poisoning (seems to be a common complaint according to...

We LOVE Anita’s!

Delicious food, extensive variety, colorful “papel picado” decor (intricate designs cut-out on colored paper, in many various colors, here it’s made on tissue paper that is draped from the ceiling like a string with various flags. The hanging Papel Picado gently waves in the breeze that’s created when people walk under the strands of Papel Picado,, so they make for a really colorful, breezy, and fun atmosphere).

BOOTHS are available for cozy/comfortable/intimate dining & close convos, fantastic service. Great for DATE NIGHT & family outings too, truly FAMILY FRIENDLY!

COOL BAR AREA! Separated from dining area by a fairly tall “half-wall”, which has wrought iron scrollwork on the top of the half-wall, thereby adding another 1–2 feet of “screening” from the dining area. Like I said, the bar area is cool!

It’s a TRADITION to dine here every year for my BIRTHDAY! Plus it’s one of our FAVORITE places to dine, on a regular basis. The El Camino/Vista Way location is ideally located.

WE LOVE this ANITA’S, especially when compared to the other Anita’s Restaurant in O’side (on the 101/PCH).

I’ve Never once seen a roach or had hair in my food. We’ve Never once been served anything but consistently hot food, all around. I’ve never once seen staff members standing around while their peers &/or their subordinates were running around. Yes sometimes drink refills are slower than what would be ideal, but we totally understand that the staff is always busy when they’re slow on the drink refills, so we understand that we need to wait for our turn. That’s the worst thing that I can remember ever experiencing at this Anita’s.

We have been dining at this Anita’s location since it opened, about 15–16 years ago. (We had our 2nd date at this location, 17 years ago, when the restaurant at this location was a Fuddrucker’s, lol!)

We hope to support this Anita’s location as much as we can, to ensure that the business thrives and that the restaurant remains open & in business at the (northeast) corner or El Camino/Vista Way location.

We want to dine here for years & years &...

In North County San Diego it's hard to find that true authentic Mexican "Catina" Style restaurant. Coming from a hispanic decent. I love trying types of food that taste like home. This is one of the last places I feel that style sit down restaurant. Like Alcopolco. Which is no longer around. And sorry El Torrito. You don't count. This location is located right off the freeway. Visible from the corner. As you park your vehicle. It has it's own dedicated parking lot. I can see where it might be a problem if there is no parking. As to because Anita's has it's own corner. And there is no more parking its lot. As we first come in. We have to wait to be greeted. It was a little awkward because no one acknowledged us. It gave me a bad taste. Finally the serve came to us. Sat us down with a menu. But no.... "A server will be right with you". I dont really huffy at little things like that. But its gesture. It's the Catina feel. We sat down and the waiter came to us and ask if we wanted any drinks. We asked for water. Brought us water with no straws or thank yous and left. So we were started to get disappointed because he never returned. So I physically got up got us straws and napkins. I was about to take our own order. Feel more and more bummed out. I took a timer. 3 minutes which is not a lot but when you already feel like bad service. 3 minutes feel like an internity. But BAM REDEMPTION. Lulu was our waitress. Brought us our chips. I had asked for salsa that was spicey. And respectfully in Spanish said I got you. I'll get you something spicey! And it's amazing what one person can ulter your experience. She took our order. And within 5 minutes. Our food was at our table. Talk about coming back! The food had a simple look. But don't let it receive you. The flavors from down to the toasted tortilla from my burrito and lettuce gave it texture and flavor galour. With that crunch and flavor of the marinated meat. Pulled it all together. From music and the food. Great come back. We will definitely come back....