Press Box Restaurant + Bar

4.3

13 Reviews

$30 and under

American

Make a reservation

2 people

Dec 1, 2024

7:00 PM

Booked 3 times today

Neighborhood gem
Great for craft beers
Good for groups

An East County neighborhood community gem for over 15 years, Press Box Restaurant & Bar offers a refreshing take on all-American classic cuisine. Featuring a wide selection of local beers on tap, original cocktails, and a whiskey lovers dream, Press Box's menu highlights creative bar staples like "Mediterranean Chicken Skewers" and "Beef Cheek Nachos," alongside more classic dishes like the "Ribeye with Seasonal Potatoes and Vegetables" and "Smash Burger Sliders."

Owned and operated by Executive Chef Joseph "Papa Joe" Salem, the same mastermind behind the restaurant "Sahara of the Middle East," Press Box incorporates a Mediterranean flare into both the menu and design. Items are sourced fresh on a daily basis, and chef's specials can be found as a constant addition. Opened daily for lunch, happy hour, dinner and weekend brunch, the restaurant also features a large selection of TVs to highlight the upcoming game of the season.

Order delivery or takeout

Additional information

Dining style
Casual Dining
Price
$30 and under
Cuisines
American, Mediterranean
Hours of operation
Daily 11:00 am–10:00 pm
Phone number
(619) 713-6990
Website
https://pressboxsportslounge.com/
Payment options
AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
Dress code
Business Casual
Executive chef
Joseph Salem
Catering
Press Box Restaurant + Bar offers offsite and pick-up catering options with items on and off our regular menu! Please inquire with our management team to discuss all catering options available at pressboxsportslounge@gmail.com.
Private party facilities
Press Box Restaurant + Bar offers a private dining room that comfortably seats up to 30 guests. With a large projector screen and its own televisions, it's the perfect place to host a birthday party, shower, or business meeting! Please call 619-713-6990 to inquire about private dining room reservations.

Location
2990 Jamacha Rd, El Cajon, CA 92019
Neighborhood
Rancho San Diego
Parking details
Private Lot
Additional
Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Full Bar, Gender Neutral Restroom, Happy Hour, Late Night, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Takeout, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Offers

Sunday Funday!
Multiple dates available
Sun - 11:00 AM - 9:45 PM
Happy Hour all day Sundays! 11AM-10PM Special priced appetizers | Craft cocktails | $1 off draft beers | $6.5 house wines

Baked Brie$14.90
wrapped in puff pastry | bourbon honey drizzle | almonds, walnuts, peanuts & dried fruit | granny smith apple | lemon zest | french baguette
Balsamic Brussels$14.90
crispy bacon | feta cheese | balsamic reduction | parmesan cheese | harissa aioli
Kung Pao Brussels Sprouts$14.90
kung pao sauce | harissa peanuts | feta | bonito flakes | scallions
Crispy Calamari$15.90
harissa peanuts | jalapenos | harissa aioli
Hummus Plate$13.90
pita bread | kalamata olives | feta | cucumber | tomato | scallions | EVOO | paprika (+ steak $7 | gyros $6 | chicken skewers $6.50 | blackened grilled shrimp $7.50)
Papa Joe's Meatballs$13.90
3 pc | veal, beef & pork meatballs | mozzarella | marinara | artisan sourdough
Fried Risotto Balls$14.90
3pc | mushroom-mozzarella | marinara sauce
Potato Skins$13.90
3pc | crispy bacon | green onion | melted cheddar | crème fraiche | sriracha
Sheet Pan Nachos$14.90
shredded melted cheese | nacho cheese sauce | jalapenos | salsa fresca | crème fraiche | cilantro (+ steak $7 | grilled chicken $5 | avocado $2.50)
Short Rib Nachos$21.90
slow braised beef short rib | nacho cheese sauce | fontina cheese | harissa | crème fraiche | lettuce | scallions
Giant Pretzel$14.90
nacho cheese sauce | spicy mustard | cornichon | pickled jalapeños
Angus Beef Sliders$14.90
white american | caramelized onion | chopped jalapeños | mayo | Hawaiian roll (+ fries $5.90)
Chicken Tenders or Wings$14.90
garlic parmesan | sweet chili | house bbq | lemon pepper | cajun rub | buffalo | vadouvan (french curry) (+ fries $5.90)
Buffalo Fries$16.90
crispy chicken | buffalo sauce | green onion | ranch
Garlic Pamesan Fries$9.90
crispy fries | fresh minced garlic | butter | parmesan

Salads and Vegetables

+ grilled chicken skewers $6.5 | grilled wild shrimp $7.5 | faroe island salmon $8.5 | NY Steak $10

The Caesar$12.90
romaine hearts | breadcrumbs | pecorino romano (half salad $6.90)
The Wedge$13.90
pancetta | bleu cheese crumbles | tomato | chives | smoked baby bleu dressing (half salad $7.90)
The Balsamic$13.90
organic spring mix | shredded cabbage | blue cheese crumbles | cherry tomato | candied walnuts | house balsamic
Seasonal Vegetables$8.90

Sandwiches & Burgers

Our burgers are ground fresh in house using the finest chuck roll short rib & brisket. Served with either shoestring fries, tots, or sweet potato fries.

Chicken Sandwich$14.90
crispy chicken | calabrian aioli | pickles | lettuce | confit tomato | brioche
Pesto Chicken Club$15.90
thin sliced roasted chicken breast | crisp bacon | tomato | avocado | white american | pesto mayo | grilled sourdough
French Dip$17.90
thin sliced ribeye | fontina | veal jus | french baguette
All American Burger$15.90
white american | lettuce | tomato | onion | pickles | spread | brioche bun
BBQ Western Burger$18.90
white american | bacon | lettuce | tomato | bourbon bbq sauce | shoestring onions | chipotle aioli
Bacon Mushroom Cheeseburger$18.90
white american | caramelized onion | mushroom | bacon | lettuce | tomato | spread

House Made Pizzas

Pepperoni + Ricotta$18.90
mozzarella | marinara | pepperoni | ricotta make it spicy + chopped calabrian chilis $1 + hot honey $1
Meatlovers$18.90
garlic confit | marinara | cherry tomato | mozzarella | fresh basil | extra virgin olive oil
Margarita$15.90
garlic confit | marinara | cherry tomato | mozzarella | fresh basil | extra virgin olive oil

Pastas

Mac & Cheese$10.90
macaroni |classic cheese sauce | breadcrumbs
Pesto Penne$14.90
basil arugula pesto | parmesan | cream | cherry tomato (+ grilled or crispy chicken $6.5 | grilled wild shrimp $7.5 | faroe island salmon $8.5)
Lasagna Bolognese$16.90
pancetta beef & pork bolognese | pomodoro sauce | parmesan | mozzarella | béchamel sauce
Spaghetti & Meatballs$18.90
Papa Joe's famous veal beef + pork meatballs | marinara | parmesan
Crispy Chicken Fettuccini Alfredo$19.90
panko chicken | garlic | butter | cream | vermouth | red pepper flakes
Beef Short Rib Parpadelle$19.90
slow braised beef short ribs | crushed tomato | red wine | breadcrumbs | house ricotta
Shrimp Arriabbata$19.90
grilled shrimp | penne pasta | spicy pomodoro | crushed tomato | butter | cream | chardonnay | parmesan | urfa chili flake

Entrees

Mediterranean Chicken Skewers$11.90
garlic confit | marinara | cherry tomato | mozzarella | fresh basil | extra virgin olive oil
NY Steak Frites$10.00
10oz ny steak | cacio e pepe butter | shoestring fries
Filet Medallions$22.90
two 3oz medallions | seasonal potatoes & vegetables
Ribeye$24.90
10oz USDA Prime aged | cacio e pepe butter | seasonal potatoes & vegetables (make your turf surf + 5 grilled shrimp $7.50)
Lemon Caper Faroe Island Salmon$23.90
lemon caper butter sauce | chef's roasted vegetables | basmati rice (FAROE ISLAND SALMON| Because salmon from the Faroe Islands are able to roam freely in sizable contained environments, their diet is natural, rather than controlled.)
Catch of the Day

Sides

French Fries$5.90
Sweet Potato Fries$5.90
Tater Tots$5.90
House Salad$5.90
cucumber | tomato | red onion | house balsamic
Mashed Potatoes$6.90
Mac + Cheese$6.90
Half Caesar$6.90
Half Wedge$7.90

Soup of the Day

Soup of the Day
Cup $6.00 | Bowl $9.00

Kid's Menu

Kids 12 & under | includes milk, juice, or soft drink

Macaroni$9.90
butter + parmesan | pomodoro | mac & cheese
Cheeseburger Slider$9.90
Fries | Add Extra Slider +$5.00
Chicken Tenders$10.90
Fries
Grilled Cheese$8.90
white american | sourdough | fries

Desserts

Chocolate Sticky Toffee Sponge Cake
Vanilla bean gelato
Chocolate Chip Pizooki
Vanilla bean gelato
Lemon Ricotta Cheesecake$11.90
Lemon curd | seasonal fruit | bee pollen
Gelato$5.90
Vanilla bean
Apple pie$10.90
Vanilla bean gelato

What 13 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.3

4.3 based on all time ratings

4.2Food
4.7Service
4.5Ambience
4.1Value

Noise • Moderate

13 Reviews

D
Derek
San Diego
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on October 9, 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Great place to watch a Padre game with family or friends. Great energy and the service is amazing. Definitely coming back for game 4!
Is this helpful?
OT
OpenTable Diner
San Diego
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on June 16, 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
The prime rib was cooked to perfection and the loaded mashed potatoes were delicious! The French Dip sandwich was so loaded, had to get a box for all the leftovers!
Is this helpful?
JJ
JesusJ
San Diego
1 review
1.0
1 review
Dined on June 7, 2024
1. Overall 1
2. Food 1
3. Service 1
4. Ambience 1
The app allowed my to make a reservation 30 mins in advance when I showed up the restaurant didn’t even seem to know about my reservation and they were full by this time at first they basically told me there was nothing they could do maybe try the restaurant next-door which to me seemed ridiculous. If you allowed me to make a reservation how would you not be able to seat us so eventually we asked and they said they would be able to sit us in about 40 minutes, which would be atleast 30 minutes after our original reservation time so we just ended up taking our business somewhere else
Press Box Restaurant + BarResponded on June 10, 2024
Hello, We're so sorry to hear about the miscommunication regarding your reservation. We pride ourselves on exceptional service and this is definitely not up to our standards. We would love to make it up to you and hope you might join us again!
Is this helpful?
J
Janet
San Diego
21 reviews
vip
4.0
21 reviews
Dined on June 2, 2024
1. Overall 4
2. Food 4
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 4
The service was exceptional and the food was well prepared. It was pretty quiet which we appreciated as we are hard of hearing. We will return for another meal.
Is this helpful?
CW
CaroleW
San Diego
14 reviews
vip
5.0
14 reviews
Dined on May 31, 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Tried their new menu and absolutely loved the lasagna! One of the best I’ve ever had; delicious! Hubby had the ribeye and it had great flavor, just a little tough. Overall great experience with friendly service.
Is this helpful?
DY
DebiY
Central Coast
14 reviews
4.0
14 reviews
Dined on May 17, 2024
1. Overall 4
2. Food 3
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 4
Miss the old menu for sure. Steak was tasteless and no where near as good as before but cost $10 more. Way too much greasy butter on the plate, could hardly eat the vegetables floating in grease. Wine options by the glass totally boring. Miss the Spanish wines, its actually part of why we would dine at Press Box at least a couple times a month. Not sure we will be back which is sad because it was a favorite. On the plus side Fatima is wonderful and we were happy to ve greeted by a familiar face.
Press Box Restaurant + BarResponded on May 27, 2024
Thank you for your feedback--we're sorry to hear the steak was not to your liking. We're constantly working on our menu and will provide your input back to our kitchen staff. If there's a particular wine you're looking for, please let us know as we'd love to add some fan favorites back to our menu if we can. As for Fatima, she's a gem and we're so happy to hear that you love her!
Is this helpful?
US
USMCSSGT
San Diego
10 reviews
vip
5.0
10 reviews
Dined on May 12, 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
New menu is great, waiter was great and fast. Kept checking on us to make sure we were doing alright.
Is this helpful?
OT
OpenTable Diner
San Diego
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on April 25, 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Highly recommend the Chicken Wings. They were seasoned to perfection.
Is this helpful?
OT
OpenTable Diner
San Diego
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on April 25, 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 4
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
The menu change has a different flare, but is limited compared to what they use to offer. Not sure what the end goal is for them are you trying to be more up scale and not a sports bar any longer? There are not many options in Rancho San Diego and this place was a great sports bar.
Press Box Restaurant + BarResponded on May 27, 2024
Thank you for your feedback. We will be reintroducing some of our old bar favorites back to the menu, along with expanding some of the items. We hope that you'll give us another chance!
Is this helpful?
OT
OpenTable Diner
San Diego
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on April 25, 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
I’ve always loved this place! Close to my house too! The items on the new menu were delicious! We had Ceasar salad, sliders, fries and lasagna! And tiramisu for dessert!!
Is this helpful?

FAQs

Press Box Restaurant + Bar offers takeout which you can order by calling the restaurant at (619) 713-6990.

Press Box Restaurant + Bar is rated 4.3 stars by 13 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a reservation

2 people

Dec 1, 2024

7:00 PM

Booked 3 times today

Order delivery or takeout

Google Map for Press Box Restaurant + Bar

2990 Jamacha Rd, El Cajon, CA 92019

Additional information

Neighborhood
Rancho San Diego
Hours of operation
Daily 11:00 am–10:00 pm
Price
$30 and under
Cuisines
American, Mediterranean
Dining style
Casual Dining
Dress code
Business Casual
Parking details
Private Lot
Payment options
AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
Executive chef
Joseph Salem
Additional
Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Full Bar, Gender Neutral Restroom, Happy Hour, Late Night, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Takeout, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Website
https://pressboxsportslounge.com/
Phone number
(619) 713-6990
Catering
Press Box Restaurant + Bar offers offsite and pick-up catering options with items on and off our regular menu! Please inquire with our management team to discuss all catering options available at pressboxsportslounge@gmail.com.
Private party facilities
Press Box Restaurant + Bar offers a private dining room that comfortably seats up to 30 guests. With a large projector screen and its own televisions, it's the perfect place to host a birthday party, shower, or business meeting! Please call 619-713-6990 to inquire about private dining room reservations.

Press Box Restaurant + Bar

Make a reservation

Order delivery or takeout

Additional information

Sunday Funday!

Shared Plates

Baked Brie$14.90

Balsamic Brussels$14.90

Kung Pao Brussels Sprouts$14.90

Crispy Calamari$15.90

Hummus Plate$13.90

Papa Joe's Meatballs$13.90

Fried Risotto Balls$14.90

Potato Skins$13.90

Sheet Pan Nachos$14.90

Short Rib Nachos$21.90

Giant Pretzel$14.90

Angus Beef Sliders$14.90

Chicken Tenders or Wings$14.90

Buffalo Fries$16.90

Garlic Pamesan Fries$9.90

Salads and Vegetables

The Caesar$12.90

The Wedge$13.90

The Balsamic$13.90

Seasonal Vegetables$8.90

Sandwiches & Burgers

Chicken Sandwich$14.90

Pesto Chicken Club$15.90

French Dip$17.90

All American Burger$15.90

BBQ Western Burger$18.90

Bacon Mushroom Cheeseburger$18.90

House Made Pizzas

Pepperoni + Ricotta$18.90

Meatlovers$18.90

Margarita$15.90

Pastas

Mac & Cheese$10.90

Pesto Penne$14.90

Lasagna Bolognese$16.90

Spaghetti & Meatballs$18.90

Crispy Chicken Fettuccini Alfredo$19.90

Beef Short Rib Parpadelle$19.90

Shrimp Arriabbata$19.90

Entrees

Mediterranean Chicken Skewers$11.90

NY Steak Frites$10.00

Filet Medallions$22.90

Ribeye$24.90

Lemon Caper Faroe Island Salmon$23.90

Catch of the Day

Sides

French Fries$5.90

Sweet Potato Fries$5.90

Tater Tots$5.90

House Salad$5.90

Mashed Potatoes$6.90

Mac + Cheese$6.90

Half Caesar$6.90

Half Wedge$7.90

Soup of the Day

Soup of the Day

Kid's Menu

Macaroni$9.90

Cheeseburger Slider$9.90

Chicken Tenders$10.90

Grilled Cheese$8.90

Desserts

Chocolate Sticky Toffee Sponge Cake

Chocolate Chip Pizooki

Lemon Ricotta Cheesecake$11.90

Gelato$5.90

Apple pie$10.90

Overall ratings and reviews

FAQs

Does Press Box Restaurant + Bar offer delivery through OpenTable or takeout?

How is Press Box Restaurant + Bar restaurant rated?

Is Press Box Restaurant + Bar currently accepting reservations?

Make a reservation