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Herb & Sea, Encinitas, CA

Herb & Sea

4.6
4.6
2831 Reviews
$30 and under
Californian
A photo of Herb & Sea restaurant

Herb & Sea

4.6
$30 and under
Californian
Encinitas

Make a booking

2 people
19:00
Booked 58 times today
Experiences are available.
  • Lively
  • Good for special occasions
  • Neighbourhood gem
Blending classic East Coast culinary traditions with a modern Californian sensibility, Herb & Sea is Chef Brian Malarkey’s venerable companion restaurant to the much-loved Herb & Wood in Little Italy. Quickly becoming one of the most sought-after tables in town, the concept shines with a menu that focuses on simple, clean, bright flavors. Located steps from Moonlight Beach in Encinitas, the vibrant space is housed in a 1920’s art deco building that has been restored to its original glory.

Daily operations are helmed by Executive Chef Aidan Owens. The menu includes a mix of raw bar staples, fresh seafood, meat dishes, and roasted vegetables. A variety of pizzas and pastas round out the offerings, alongside dessert and a dedicated kids’ menu.

The spirits program is bright and playful, emphasizing citrus and floral notes that utilize the same ingredients found on the menu. The wine list offers a similar sense of whimsy, highlighting labels meant to complemen

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Elegant
  • Price
    $30 and under
  • Cuisines
    Californian, Seafood, Oyster Bar
  • Hours of Operation
    Dinner Tue–Sun 17:00–21:00
  • Phone number
    (760) 704-8300
  • Payment Options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Smart Casual
  • Executive Chef
    Brian Malarkey and Sara Harris
  • Private party facilities
    Herb & Sea’s chic coastal ambiance meets a neighborhood-friendly vibe that can fit events of all shapes and sizes. The concept shines with a menu that focuses on simple, clean, bright flavors. Come into our home, where we think of it all so that you don't have to.
  • Area
    Encinitas
  • Cross Street
    D Street and 2nd Street
  • Parking details
    Convenient street parking is available. The entrance is located between West D Street and West E Street on the East side. You are more than welcome to call the restaurant, (760) 704-8300, if you have further questions!
  • Public transit
    Encinitas Train Station: 25 E D St, Encinitas, CA 92024
  • Additional
    Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, Chef's Table, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Counter Seating, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Vegan, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Experiences

  • Christmas Eve Dinner

    US$92.00 per person

    24 Dec 2024 only
    Gather your family and friends to come celebrate Christmas Eve with us at Herb & Sea! We are excited to offer a pre-fixe menu for all to enjoy. Pricing will be $92 for adults and $37 for children for this year's Holiday dinner. We look forward to celebrating with you and your loved ones this Christmas Eve.
    Christmas Eve Dinner photo
  • New Year's Eve

    US$100.00 per person

    31 Dec 2024 only
    Gather your family and friends to come celebrate New Years Eve with us at Herb & Sea! We are excited to offer a pre-fixe menu for all to enjoy. Pricing will be $100 for adults and $38 for children for this year's dinner. We look forward to ringing in the new year with you and your loved ones!
    New Year's Eve photo

What 2,831 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

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

4.6
4.6 based on recent ratings
  • 4.6Food
  • 4.5Service
  • 4.6Ambience
  • 4.2Value

NoiseModerate

Loved For

  • North San Diego

    Californian

  • North San Diego

    Most Booked

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
Herb & Sea offers a delightful dining experience with "delicious food" and "fantastic service." Guests rave about the "exceptional cocktails" and vibrant atmosphere. Highlights include the Tuna 3-course dinner and imaginative seafood dishes. While some note the "noise level" is high, the restaurant remains a "favorite" for its inspired menu and welcoming staff.

2,831 Reviews
  1. Jan

    Minneapolis

    15 reviews

    3.0

    15 reviews

    Dined 3 days ago

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 2
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    Service was excellent but food was way too salty. Not as good as in years past.

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  2. Lili

    San Diego

    10 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    10 reviews

    Dined 3 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Exceptional food and service! Truly a gem - menu is so creative and every bite is so good and unique and delicious!

    Is this helpful?

  3. Dave

    San Diego

    323 reviews

    4.0

    323 reviews

    Dined 4 days ago

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 3
    Wait people were great - nice accommodation of a soy allergy in our group - manager stopped by to ask about it. Food was good. Ragu was delicious, wife’s fish she said was good.

    Is this helpful?

  4. Jason

    Central Coast

    22 reviews

    vip
    2.0

    22 reviews

    Dined on 9 December 2024

    1. Overall 2
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 2
    4. Ambience 2
    Underwhelming experience. After seeing their website was very much looking forward to this dinner, but all my expectations were sadly disappointing.

    Is this helpful?

  5. David

    San Francisco

    23 reviews

    vip
    4.0

    23 reviews

    Dined on 7 December 2024

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 4
    Food was awesome! Some of the best I have had. Service was slow and fair. We were there to celebrate my wife’s birthday and the server totally forgot about it. They did not do the basic things - like pick up the appetiter dishes as they placed main course dishes. Would not go back as you pay for better service than they are capable of.

    Is this helpful?

  6. Tina

    San Diego

    16 reviews

    5.0

    16 reviews

    Dined on 7 December 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    The food and service were fabulous! Our server, A.J., was knowledgeable and friendly. We were celebrating a birthday, and everything was perfect.

    Is this helpful?

  7. Tammy

    San Diego

    39 reviews

    vip
    4.0

    39 reviews

    Dined on 2 December 2024

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    Food was tasty but the mussels on sourdough with Brie and wine reduction was probably my favorite thing off the entire menu. Highly recommend that as a starter was the best thing on the menu

    Is this helpful?

  8. Brandon

    San Diego

    2 reviews

    3.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on 2 December 2024

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 2
    4. Ambience 4
    Food was average overall. Service not very good. Waiter was polite but not very engaging and never informed us of any specials but certainly did to the table of three single girls sitting next to us right before we left. Anime much better with service. Friendlier and more engaging

    Is this helpful?

  9. J Lindsay

    San Diego

    79 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    79 reviews

    Dined on 2 December 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 3
    We moved to the area about a year ago and, especially over the summer, we have eaten here fairly often. It's consistently excellent: good food, good service, and not too expensive (though certainly not cheap). Last night, we dined early. Being winter (or what passes for it, in SoCal), it was getting dark outside. And that brings me to the point: the lights inside the restaurant are so dim that it weas very difficult to read the menus. We were not the only ones - many people used their phones (or the candles on the table) so help them. And one of the pleasures of eating in a good restaurant is visual: the decor, how the food is plated, and the food's quality. It was far too dark to appreciate any of those things. We hadn't experienced this before, before it was always bright daylight when we ate. So, to the management - PLEASE increase the lighting a shade (pun intended) when it's dark outside.

    Is this helpful?

  10. Bill

    New York City

    141 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    141 reviews

    Dined on 1 December 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 3
    we are fans and frequent flyers. Esp liked the chicken fried fish (this week cod , last week, shark) and the fig tart dessert. Pasta a bit too bland. Rachel, our waitress was terrific and added to the buoyancy of the evening.

    Is this helpful?

FAQs

Herb & Sea is rated 4.6 stars by 2831 OpenTable diners.

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

A photo of Herb & Sea restaurant

Herb & Sea

4.6
$30 and under
Californian
Encinitas

Make a booking

2 people
19:00
Booked 58 times today
Experiences are available.
Google Map for Herb & Sea

131 W D St, Encinitas, CA 92024-3516

Additional information

  • Cross Street
    D Street and 2nd Street
  • Area
    Encinitas
  • Hours of Operation
    Dinner Tue–Sun 17:00–21:00
  • Price
    $30 and under
  • Cuisines
    Californian, Seafood, Oyster Bar
  • Dining style
    Casual Elegant
  • Dress code
    Smart Casual
  • Parking details
    Convenient street parking is available. The entrance is located between West D Street and West E Street on the East side. You are more than welcome to call the restaurant, (760) 704-8300, if you have further questions!
  • Public transit
    Encinitas Train Station: 25 E D St, Encinitas, CA 92024
  • Payment Options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Executive Chef
    Brian Malarkey and Sara Harris
  • Additional
    Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, Chef's Table, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Counter Seating, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Vegan, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine
  • Phone number
    (760) 704-8300
  • Private party facilities
    Herb & Sea’s chic coastal ambiance meets a neighborhood-friendly vibe that can fit events of all shapes and sizes. The concept shines with a menu that focuses on simple, clean, bright flavors. Come into our home, where we think of it all so that you don't have to.
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