REVIEW: SHELDON’S SERVICE STATION - A DELIGHTFUL ADDITION TO LA MESA’S DOWNTOWN VILLAGE

By Miriam Raftery

March 2, 2017 (La Mesa) – I visited Sheldon’s Service Station, La Mesa’s newest coffee shop, looking forward to a tasty and piping hot cup of java.  The Espresso Mocha lived up to expectations, but the most delightful surprise was the array of creative and healthy breakfast and lunch menu options.

The quinoa salad is my favorite – a colorful and crunchy entrée complete with roasted butternut squash, pomegranate seeds, dried cranberries, haricot verts (green beans), and pepitas. 

The Portobello mushroom soup was also richly satisfying, while the arugula salad with pears, local apples, fennel and more offered a healthy alternative for light eaters. 

I look forward to returning for breakfast to sample such options as blue corn tortilla chilaquiles or cinnamon scented warm quinoa with bananas, walnuts, honey and local sea salt. 

A newly added kids’ menu has four items:  peanut butter Panini, French toast croissant, a kids’ parfait with fresh fruit, and an all-beef hotdog in puff pastry with cheese.

There’s also an array of pastries and beverages, including wine, beer, a mimosa bar, a variety of coffee drinks and cocoa.

Sheldon’s is owned by Aaron Dean, who is also the proprietor of several other new eateries in town.

It’s located at 8401 La Mesa Blvd., La Mesa 91942 in the building originally occupied by Sheldon’s gas station and more recently by British gift shops.  The name Sheldon’s Station reflects the historical heritage, as do displays of vintage items from bygone days serving up gas.

An outdoor patio with umbrella tables is an ideal spot on a sunny day, where you can also catch live entertainment on weekends from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.  It’s also dog friendly.

The only disappointment is that there’s no patio cover or enclosed area for chilly winter days or inclement weather. The old song title, “It Never Rains in California,” isn’t true – as this winter’s deluges have shown!   I’m hoping Sheldon’s will find a way to make its seating area inviting year-round, since this is a place I’d like to enjoy more often.

With apologies to Sheldon’s for not getting this posted sooner – my original batch of photos vanished with a cell phone that died, so I had to wait for a warm day to return and savor it all again.

To read more and check out their menu, visit their website at http://www.ssslamesa.com/ or call (619)741-8276.   You can also visit Sheldon’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/ssslamesa/.