THIS RESTAURANT IS CLOSED Mesquite

THIS RESTAURANT IS CLOSED Mesquite Restaurant Review:

Matt Rimel, of La Jolla's Rimel's Rotisserie and Zenbu, melds both concepts into Mesquite. The locale---an East County strip mall---isn't glamorous, but Rimel and his team have converted the space into a hip haven serving simple foods done right. Fresh locally caught fish cooked on the eponymous grill is the main focus, although there are plenty of choices for vegetarians and meat lovers. Throw in some hearty soups and salads, sushi and sashimi, steaming rice bowls and Mexican-inspired appetizers. We love the quesadilla, stuffed with tender rotisserie chicken, roasted potatoes and cheese and served over black beans, sliced avocado and spicy sriracha sauce. Other familiar dishes from La Jolla are the half-rotisserie chicken with herb-roasted potatoes and green chile-garlic sauce; the very large vegetable-rice bowls (go for the mahi mahi topping); and the Angus burger. The high-quality sushi and sashimi are reminiscent of upscale Zenbu. Yet, the best Mesquite has to offer is the simplest: fish perfectly cooked. Pair it with sautéed spinach and garlic and a side of yams. Dessert deserves special note, including a halved plantain, dipped in vanilla sugar, deep-fried, drizzled with chocolate syrup and topped by homemade coconut gelato.