D’Lish Bistro

My wife and I came here two days in a row. We ordered the exact same dishes and were not disappointed. I got the Magherita pizza on gluten free crust which is amazing. My wife got the Greek Feast, and ate it all which is HIGHLY unusual. Today we shared an order of buffalo chicken wings, and enjoyed them immensely.
We don’t typically eat out often because we are exceptionally picky people. The food here was fresh and expertly prepared. If you are looking for some tasty, fresh fare this is your place. If you want to take your family to a place where everyone will be happy — this is it. It’s definitely worthy of your time and money.

Family dinner at D’Lish with my little girl, one of my closest friend, his lovely wife, and their beautiful kids. 5 stars right off the bat just due to the company alone. It’s almost impossible to have a poor dining experience when you’re surrounded by some of your favorite people. But I will do my best to be as fair as possible with this review.
D’Lish Bistro is located in Otay Lakes right next to L&L. I’ve always seen this place, but never gave them a shot until recently. Let’s start with the menu, there’s something for everyone. This place specializes in pizzas and BBQ. Guess what I had? Their salmon of course. I put myself on a «one cheat meal» per week plan. I already had my cheat meal, so fish was my only option for this night. My dish was D’Lish! It really isn’t hard to mess up salmon, but it is difficult to make it flavorful. At D’Lish, they somehow was able to prepare salmon with a lot of flavor. This dish is also served with spinach, which was a good touch. Even though the portions were big, I still had an extra salmon filet added just to ensure that my protein levels stayed high. Obviously, I wasn’t disappointed. My meal was so good that I didn’t regret missing out on the BBQ.
As for the rest of the group, they weren’t on any food restrictions, so order they did. My bud and his wife got the ribs and some humongous onion rings. The kids got either pizzas, pastas, or sandwiches. I doubt that they were unsatisfied because most of their food was demolished.
Service here was pretty good considering it was also a Friday night. Actually, it was slow. I really don’t have much to complain about this joint. Nothing but positives here. I just need to try to BBQ next time.
Salmon Entrée w/​Spinach (Double Order):

Ok so I went there again and this time I brought friends and it was about ½ hour before it closed. I usually don’t go into restaurant before the close because I know that they all want to go home.
I asked the waitress (and I didn’t get her name (sorry)) was cheerful and was joking around with us. The salads we ordered was great as usual and we also ordered the ½ BBQ chicken which was good. The food was served was in a timely manner and we weren’t rushed. The hot bread with the bruschetta is must and it we ordered seconds. We also had the crème brule and that fed four of us, I forgot to say that the portions were big.
Go there and give it a try.

I couldn’t believe this place when we found it. They make everything in house and cook the pizzas in a stone oven. I wasn’t a fan of the calamari but my pizza was amazing. Their chicken is brined and seasoned and very moist. I wish I lived closer to the Eastlake location, I would visit more often. I don’t remember the server’s name but she was very knowledgeable of the menu and gave great advice.

This place is terrible. It looks so run down. The Greek salad was drenched in so much dressing, I couldn’t even finish it! My husband’s meal came with cornbread but we had to ask them for it. We will never come here again.

This D’Lish is a favorite spot for lunch. I’m a great fan of their Salmon, the cooks prepare it to perfection each time I order. Last week I ordered for a catered event.
The waitress ‘Casey’ took my order, helped me to select three main dishes, Greek salad also their delicious chocolate cake. She asked if anything else was needed, plates, utensils, soda, etc. I answered yes on serving utensils (free). And the best part was they delivered my order hot in a timely manner. The Meat Lasagna, Tomato Angel Hair Pasta, Seafood Cioppino, and bread-​sticks arrived fresh from the oven. Yes hot as it should be served and enjoyed. The Greek salad — fresh crispy vegetables with a generous portion of salad dressing on the side, no mushy salad delivered. Our chocolate cake was delivered fresh, in a sealed box. I could honestly write a paragraph on the chocolate cake, yummy.
What I hope to convey is the professional service I received from beginning to end — made me feel secure, that the evening would be a success. When you have someone whom is knowledgeable about each item on the menu and detailed to the point of ingredients and serving portions, ordering is easy. Also an easy decision is having confidence with kitchen preparing your order. Each item a generous family portion, so delicious and full of flavor — did I say hot and ready to serve. Greek salad was just made, not sitting in a large bowl waiting to scoop out for serving to a waiting customer.
Yummy — Chocolate Cake — Yummy
Thanks to Casey’s guidance and Robert the manager confirming each step of the order the evening was a success. This was my first experience with D’Lish Catering — I highly recommend and personally will experience again.

Absolutely everything you want in a restaurant. Superb service, excellent food, and the most perfect dining experience you could ever ask for in a restaurant.
The first time I came here a couple of years ago, I thought this place was mainly a BBQ spot, but to my surprise, this restaurant specializes in pizza and pasta. Now, with that said, I’ve only tried the BBQ, and I must say it is definitely a hidden gem when it comes to food. They don’t even specialize in BBQ (I know I’ve already said that but I need the emphasis), but it is AMAZING! The meat is always tender and moist, and never dry. They are now on their 4^th rendition of their home made BBQ sauce and every time it just gets better and better.
I usually order the two meat plate which enables you to choose two types of BBQ and two sides. It’s difficult to choose which sides you want because their onion rings are awesome, their baked beans are better than everywhere you’ve ever gotten them, and their mashed potatoes are topped with cheese, green onions, and BACON!!!
The service here is excellent. Every single time I’ve ever been here I’ve been approached by the manager, sincerely asking me how I liked the place. That is one key element that makes a good restaurant, a great restaurant. Normally, a manager would ask how your food is, but when you ask about how you feel about the restaurant and discuss how you can make the restaurant better, you definitely feel like you’re involved with the overall flagship of the restaurant. The servers are always in a good which puts me in a good mood and makes me happy about eating at the restaurant. They also got rid of all the «cheap beers» (bud light, coors, etc.) and replaced the draft with all local or IPA beers and they let you sample them before you choose which one you want! The manager Robert also gave me and my wife a free sample of their home made Tiramisu which was honestly the best I’ve ever had before.
So with all of that said, try this place out, get to know the people who work here and you’re in for a real good treat. The next time I come here, I’m definitely going to try the pizza or pasta and I already know I am going to love it. Let the manager know how you feel about this place.
Oh, and they have a Unilocal Check-​In offer right now! :]
10% off your entire food order!

Try their pastas and their ribs! It’s a great place… haven’t tried it yet but I heard they have great tea options! Will be trying their black iced tea soon!

I love their food here. My personal faves are the Thai chicken salad with peanut dressing and their Chicken Pesto pizza is to die for. I would give them 5 stars but they r definitely a little on the high side in terms of cost, but its comparable to other places of this quality. Btw, the chicken pesto pizza isn’t on this location’s menu, but if u go online and read them off the ingredients (in case the person who answers the phone is new) it magically appears :) Pic of it above.
Btw, I didn’t check-​in on Unilocal until I was in my car leaving. BIG mistake! I totally missed out on a 10% off check in offer! Love them 10% more now!

Every now and then you visit restaurants that need improvement. MASSIVE improvements. Few will act upon it, many don’t. Others exceed expectations to ensure a strong and constant clientele presence. D’lish is one of those few restaurants that will do just that.
I came here a second time in hopes to up my star rating and I was not disappointed. Instantly, you begin to feel changes. The vibe, the feel… something seemed to be a little more uplifting that second time around. The customer service that day was also noteworthy. Now I’m guessing our waitress was named Clarice? If that is, then I just want to thank her for being attentive and considerate. She not only checked up on us to make sure everything was going well, but she went ahead and filled our glasses to the brim every time she saw that it was at the half. I could barely keep up with my first serving of water!
Now the food was just as a good as we remembered. Earl got the Meatzilla pizza this time around and I went for the Italian Meatball Sandwich. Um… Safe to say we enjoyed it because we KILLED our food. Earl’s Meatzilla was fresh, crisp, and chewy. As for my meatball sandwich… There was so much flavor in the meatball that I would have been fine if I was just served that. The Mozzarella was extra gooey; making 6-​inch tracks from the sandwich to the mouth. The side salad was delicious as well. It wasn’t saturated with dressing and it was just enough to balance the starchy goodness. The only feedback that I have is that there was too much bread but then again that’s just me. Earl always gives me a hard time for not finishing my bread, even at home so it’s nothing against you guys.
What topped it all off was the fact that I was able to meet with the manager, Robert. He genuinely cared for each of his patrons, making sure that their restaurant is up to their standards. In fact, I do not think I’ve ever met a manager so inclined to providing the best service that they can possibly give to their patrons. If anything, that alone should yell «5 stars.» If you’ve never stepped in here, please do so. I would truly recommend this place to anyone looking for a comfortable dining experience. Oh and if you’re feeling for dessert, check out their Tiramisu. It will definitely set the cap to your meal. I’ll have to go back and try their crème brûlée one day!

I remember going here about a year ago and wasn’t that impressed but we decided to order take out the other night and I must say it was pretty awesome.
Great onion rings, nice portions, excellent homemade pasta and everything was tasty. Great second impression and we’ll definitely be going back. –just bummed they’re closed on Mondays.
As for Jennifer’s review, why would you give them a hard time for charging you for iced tea even if you didn’t like the water. If you order an item off the menu, you should expect to pay the price on the menu. Nothing wrong with that. Her other gripes seemed reasonable but her comment about the iced tea just seemed like she had it out for the business. A hair in the food is disgusting but I’m sure not on purpose… mistakes happen. It was a nice gesture from the GM to invite them back.
All in all, this place is worth a try. Especially for the onion rings and homemade pasta.

I love this place! I’ve been a regular customer at D’lish for about 4 years now! They have quite a variety! They have fire roasted pizzas, huge salads, homemade pastas, sandwiches, burgers, wraps, AND they even have a separate BBQ menu! Everything is homemade! Including the salad dressing and BBQ sauce! I am in love with their Tequila Chicken Fettuccine! I always tell them to make it spicy! Their staff is always very friendly and attentive. The sign outside should also be more inviting! It doesn’t really catch anyone’s attention. If you’re looking for a fancy dining experience then this isn’t for you. But, if you’re looking for good service and AMAZING homemade food then you definitely need to try this place! You’ll love it!

Update:
Continues to be WONDERFUL.
They are focused on fresh ingredients, and now feature craft beer that matches the tastes of the food. The organic blonde is yum.
WOOT
F R E S H.
I was always tempted by the yummy smell of the hickory smoker as I drove by on Otay Lakes Rd, but finally one Sunday night me and the hubby decided to give it a try.
I usually consult the gurus of Unilocal before I eat anywhere new, but this time, hubby said let’s just try it. We did check Unilocal once we seated, and noticed the cool 10% bill discount on check in. YEAH!
The food was fresh and delicious. I had the brisket meal and he had the pulled pork and brisket meal. The cornbread muffins were warm, and a nice texture. The best part was the sweet potato fries– I’m hardcore addicted to the sweet potato fries at Studio Diner, but from Eastlake that’s a huge commute for fries… so I’m glad I found a local place that cooks ‘em just right.
The waitress was nice, friendly and checked on us a few times, which I appreciate. The new manager came by to say hello when we mentioned we’d never been here before. He treated us to a slice of his Tiramisu– OMG heavenly. Not too coffee soaked, not too sweet. Just right.
I agree with the previous review about the ugly fake flowers, we joked that they need a makeover, to update the look, but heck I’m here 90% for FOOD and 10% atmosphere, so toss the silk faux greens and keep doing EXACTLY what you’re doing in the kitchen. YUMMMM
My suggestion to management: watch a few episodes of «Kitchen Nightmares» for décor advice (NOT for the food though– thats GREAT!)
R&M, visited on Sunday Aug 26

Stopped in on a whim and was very happy with the food! Hamburger was great and so was the Spaghetti.

This once was one of our favorite restaurants. The food is okay, and the menu is diverse enough to accommodate a few different tastes. BBQ, Italian, Greek-​style, and an assortment of greasy fryer products made this the go-​to spot for my boyfriend and myself.
Sadly, this all has changed.
Service here has always been hit-​and-​miss, but our experience here this past weekend has cemented the fact that we will not return to this restaurant. As a family outing with a total of four in our party, we decided to have lunch at my boyfriend’s favorite place. Out of the four of us, 3 of us had issues with our orders, my boyfriend getting the worst experience of all.
It all started with the drinks. Everyone ordered a fountain drink except me, I just wanted water. The water tasted «downright terrible», to use my exact words. Ever drink water from the «water» button on a soda fountain and it tastes… off? That’s what happens when you don’t clean the fountain. I’ve done my share of food service work, I know.
So I order an iced tea (Plain, from the brewing tank not the fountain). And am charged for it. No biggie, whatever. They want to charge me for tea because their drinking water is substandard, fine. But the next person to get reamed was my mother. Her tostada pizza with chicken arrived, and while they did hold the onions and jalapenos as my mother asked, they decided to barge on ahead and hold the chicken as well. So pizza bread with guacamole and sour cream smeared on it. A bit lacking.
Now we enter the truly sad story of my boyfriend’s meal. He picked up some fries off his plate, put them in his mouth, and immediately spat them out. A long dark hair with a reddish tint was included with his fries. I’m surprised D’Lish didn’t charge extra for that, too! So we notified our server and the dish was sent back. The manager came out to tell us «No-​one in the kitchen has that type of hair».
Now wait a minute. Did you just come and try to accuse our medium-​brown haired selves that we planted a hair in the food for kicks? Why would the manager come tell us that when there are three dark-​haired women working in the restaurant? None of us have hair of that color or length, and we certainly don’t carry hair with us to plant into restaurant meals.
So the manager and my boyfriend had the following exchange:
Manager: Would you like another one?
Boyfriend: Yes.
Manager: Anything else?
Boyfriend: No.
The other three of us sat and waited for a bit, and then hunger took over and we started eating. After a while, I noticed it was taking very long to make the order, much longer than the first time we placed our orders. After finishing half my meal, I pointed this out to our server.
«Oh, my manager said he didn’t want another one».
What?
The manager working at the Otay Lakes D’Lish on Saturday, June 23, 2012 around the lunchtime hour was completely rude and apparently a colossal jerk. In addition to handling the hair incident in an unprofessional manner, he decided to interpret «yes» as «no». My boyfriend had to go outside because he was so upset that 1) He was treated badly by the manager and 2) That his favorite restaurant in Chula Vista could fail him so hard. We received no apologies for this treatment, no offer to refund our meal, and no reason to return to this restaurant again.
One star for the one shining star of the restaurant: our server, who handled everything as well as he could considering it was his first day on the job. We left him a fat tip, but I’m sure the manager made him pay for my boyfriend’s order with it.

Went in today with my kids. Ordered Lasagna for me, kid’s Mac n’ Cheese and the kid’s Cheese Pizza. The flavors are ok but nothing to brag about. I’d think twice before going there again.

I like this place. I was a little concerned when they changed from Sam’s to D’Lish but the food has been great. I tried one of there pasta dishes and it was delish! I requested they cook the pasta Al Dente and that they did. The sandwiches and burgers are delicious and service is nice. I have gone here for eat-​in and takeout quite a few times and the food has been delicious everytime.

So — again, we go to D’lish hoping that someone in the place has gotten their shit together. Seriously — we’ve been there over and over again, giving it a shot — their other place is a few miles away and we were tired.
I will NEVER be that tired again.
I have one question though — what exactly did you add to the dinner that made it taste like ASS?
Again, the beer tasted like it had been siphoned through a urinal (husband had to take a breath, drink it, then exhale). Stella? I don’t think so.
Wine tasted like it belonged in a salad, not a glass.
The «leaf salad» — come on… can you get more lazy? Literally — chopped lettuce and a few rancid croutons… nothing more than that. No sign of a cucumber or tomato — the dressing was soooooo thick you could have used it as wallpaper paste.
Then the pasta. Which leads me back to the question… what exactly did you add to the pasta to make it taste like Ass?
Horrible meal.
Oh…and the service sucked too. Server never checked back when she dropped off the meal. EVER.
i ALWAY tip at least 20 percent on the total bill. They weren’t busy — I always alllow for that and am gracious. Last night, 15 percent pre-​tax.
I will NEVER go back there again. Would rather heat up hot pockets.

There is really nothing bad I can say about D’lish! It used to be a BBQ place, but they have taken that menu and expanded upon it with pizza, burgers, steak, and lots of great appetizers and salads. They also have a decent alcohol selection if you are into that.
I took my wife and daughter here for Valentine’s Day and it was the best food experience we have had in a long time. We started off with an order of Train Wreck Fries and Mozzarella Sticks. The Mozzarella Sticks were battered and fried perfectly, and the marinara sauce that came with it was awesome! The Train Wreck Fries were amazing as well. My wife ordered a BBQ plate with coleslaw and cornbread. The BBQ was always good, and it still is! I ordered a Five Cheese Pizza, which has no sauce but rather chunks of tomato on top with basil, garlic, and olive oil. The pizzas are wood fired and taste awesome!
It took a few minutes for us to be seated, but the service was otherwise good. Our order was taken pretty quickly, and our food was brought out in a timely manner. Drinks were refilled when they needed to be, and we weren’t bothered with the cheesy «how is everything» bit too much. Overall we loved this place and will be coming back here on a regular basis!

Only redeeming quality unfortunately for the lunch hour is the preparation of the pasta, which was perfectly al dente. Many places in this price range for italian cnanot seem to get that right. This place did.
I don’t hate the food, in fact the Portabello and wild mushroom fettucini was pretty good.
The Margarhita pizza was forgettable, and borderline bothersome. I didnt order a bruschetta pizza-​I ordered a Margarhita pizza, use some restraint with the tomatoes and add a bit more cheese.
We went for lunch, and when we let the guy know that we were running late to get back to work, he had our food expedited… which seemed pretty easy to do considering there were 7 people in there. We appreciated the thought at least.
It was a lot more expensive than I had hoped, and the value for the quality wasn’t quite what I am used to… guess I should have Unilocaled first and showed up never…
Not a horrible experience, just not one worth repeating with so many other choices available.