The Pub at Lake Cuyamaca

I ended up here on a busy Saturday afternoon, and this place was packed — which kind of sets the tone right away. We checked in around 3:10 and were told the wait would be about 20 minutes, but it turned into closer to 35. Honestly, I didn’t mind too much because the view here is the whole reason to come. Once we got seated outside on the patio, overlooking the lake, the energy shifted. It just felt calm and good. Our server was quick with drinks — I ordered an iced caramel coffee, and it came out fast. Sweet, layered, a little over the top in a fun way. I just sat there watching the water and kind of forgot I was hungry. For food, I went with the Southwest Chicken sandwich. Solid choice. The garlic fries hit especially well. Not the best burger/sandwich of my life, but definitely good —

What a great hidden gem, it seems like a locals joint. Outdoor seating was pleasant with a beautiful view. Bloody Mary was like a meal, very picture worthy. The burger was phenomenal and my chili bowl was good. It was very good but a little too tomatoey, but still good if you know what I mean. Service was good, David was very attentive.

Rating is just for the burger. It’s fantastic. Seasoned and cooked well. Juicy fresh beef and overall ratios and flavor was spot on, worth a stop!

Terrific food and craft beer. The trout entree was excellent, as was the service and the scenery. Will be back soon. Stopped by again and had the pickle Burger w/ Garlic Fries. It's a winner with chopped pickles in Chipotle sauce and cheddar cheese. The fish & chips are also terrific. The Southwest Chicken Sandwhich with a side order of Onion rings has become a favorite. One of the best San Diego backcountry pubs with an excellent Nickle beer selection and Pliny the Elder. Recommended

The first time visiting this place, we were blown away. Service was great and the food was delicious. We’ve been back a few times since and it’s been inconsistent at best. On our most recent trip, the biggest change went from being seated and served, to ordering at the counter and finding your own seat. This in itself isn’t an issue, but they charge gratuity on every order, without really doing anything. The next issue was the food. They were serving a limited menu so we ordered two burgers, a blackened chicken sandwich and the PUBLIC chili. We’ve had the chili before and it was delicious. However, the chili was bland and lukewarm. The burgers were a huge disappointment as well. We ordered them medium rare and received them way over well done. How do you have a dry burger that’s greasy at