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Herb & Sea, Encinitas, CA

Herb & Sea

4.6
4.6
2938 Reviews
$30 and under
Californian

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2 people
MonTueWedThuFriSatSun
7:00 pm
Booked 72 times today
Experiences are available.
  • Lively
  • Neighbourhood gem
  • Good for special occasions
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

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Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Elegant
  • Price
    $30 and under
  • Cuisines
    Californian, Seafood, Oyster Bar
  • Hours of Operation
    Dinner Tue–Sun 5:00 pm–9:00 pm
  • Phone number
  • 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

  • Dudley Market x Herb & Sea

    20 Mar 2025 only
    On Thursday, March 20th, we're excited to welcome Chef Gabriel Lindsey and CDC Danny Miller of Dudley Market in Venice, Los Angeles for a special one-night-only collaboration. Together with Chef Aidan Owens, the chefs will craft an à la carte menu celebrating the best of locally sourced seafood and seasonal ingredients. Expect vibrant dishes like Aidan’s Local Rock Cod Crudo with orange, sour grape, pickled mustard seed, and castlefranco, alongside Dudley's Baja Kanpachi Crudo with lime leaf ponzu, radish, and bay leaf oil. The two will also come together to create exclusive, one-night-only dishes that merge their distinct coastal influences. Join us for an evening where L.A. meets Encinitas, a celebration of sustainable and ingredient-driven cooking.
    Dudley Market x Herb & Sea photo
  • WILDCOAST Dinner

    USD 120.00 per person

    Prepaid

    6 Apr 2025 only
    Join us for an unforgettable evening in support of ocean conservation at this year’s WILDCOAST Dinner. Chefs Aidan Owens, Drew Deckman, and Davin Waite are coming together for a four-course, family-style feast spotlighting locally sourced seafood, paired with wines from Niner Winery, tequila from Solento, and brews from Pure Project. Kick off the night on the Moonlight Deck with welcome cocktails and bites from each chef before diving into an interactive, open-air dining experience—where the chefs will be cooking live, bringing the flavors of the sea to life. 100% of ticket profits directly fund WILDCOAST’s mission to protect our planet’s most critical ecosystems. Ticket price includes beverages, taxes, and fees.
  • Easter Brunch

    USD 68.00 per person

    20 Apr 2025 only
    Gather your family and friendsto join us at Herb & Sea for a pre-fixe brunch for the Easter Holiday. Pricing will be $68 for a 3 course brunch experience. We are looking forward to hosting your Easter holiday!

What 2,938 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
  • 4.5Food
  • 4.5Service
  • 4.6Ambience
  • 4.2Value

NoiseModerate

Loved For

  • North San Diego

    Californian

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
Herb & Sea offers a delightful dining experience with "amazing food" and "outstanding service." Known for its imaginative menu and creative cocktails, it's a perfect spot for special occasions. While the noise level can be high, the restaurant's vibrant atmosphere and "locally sourced" dishes make it a must-visit for food enthusiasts.
2,938 Reviews
  1. Cecil

    Phoenix4 reviews

    2.0

    Dined 1 day ago

    1. Overall 2
    2. Food 1
    3. Service 2
    4. Ambience 4
    Disappointing. The bone marrow was amazing and setup what I thought would be a great meal. The mains were too busy and out of balance. Filet was salty, carrots were over sauced and smokiness of the pork combated with a riata that was too sour. Overall, the price of the meal was out of step with the service and product delivered. It’s a nice place with friendly people, our meal was likely just a miss.

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  2. Janis

    Sacramento42 reviews

    4.0

    Dined 2 days ago

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    Mulvaney's eclectic style was prominent. The Roasted Carrots veggie was incredible, topped with pistachios and fresh herbs. Our favorite dish was the Barramundi Ristoto. The fish had a crispy well well-seasoned skin layer, and the cook was perfect, leaving it moist in the middle. The level of spice with the risotto left me pleasantly surprised. The Gnocchi was layer with pesto. A generous portion but a single note for flavor. It would have been better to share as an appetizer and not the main. The Tuscan Ragu was tasty and a large portion. Our server Tosh was very attentive and really knew the menu and ingredients within each dish.

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  3. Don VIP

    San Diego22 reviews

    4.0

    Dined 4 days ago

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 4
    Miss the crab linguini. Service pretty slow last night. Pork brisket was very good, but over all not firing on all cylinders compared to first few years.

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  4. OpenTable Diner

    Chicago2 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 5 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Our server was fabulous! Generously portioned food. The halibut and swordfish were wonderful. Highly recommend!

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  5. Denise

    Orlando3 reviews

    2.0

    Dined 5 days ago

    1. Overall 2
    2. Food 2
    3. Service 2
    4. Ambience 4
    The appetizer I wanted was not available. The halibut my husband had was over cooked and dry. The waiter was ok but not exceptional. The mussel toast was amazing!! We ate at the sister restaurant Hearn & Wood, two days and it was A++ while Herb & Sea was a C-

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  6. OpenTable Diner

    San Diego1 review

    3.0

    Dined 5 days ago

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 2
    4. Ambience 4
    Decent food, but service is very slow. I wouldn’t recommend this spot if like attentive waiters or fast drink service. Ambience is very cool.

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  7. OpenTable Diner

    San Francisco2 reviews

    3.0

    Dined 6 days ago

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 3
    Menu was far more limited than I expected and very expensive for what it was. Super loud. To the point where it was very hard to hear. There’s also nowhere to wait for your table without clearly and awkwardly crowding other diners who are trying to enjoy their meals. Drinks were not strong and pretty pricey.

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  8. Heather

    San Diego8 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 6 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    The flavors are amazing! On top of that, there's great drinks, service and atmosphere! I highly recommend this hidden gem.

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  9. Chris VIP

    Palm Springs22 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 6 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Overall great experience. Food was just a little off...lettuce in salad was not as fresh as we would have liked. My Halibut was tasty but a little dry. Wine selection is good, the linguini was excellent and the west coast oysters with their homemade hot sauce were superb. Overall great experience and we will go back.

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  10. Tiffanie

    Fayetteville7 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 7 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    What an fantastic experience! We were a group of 4 that split the mussel toast and hush puppies both delicious, don't skip the honey herb butter . We enjoyed the ragu, yellow tail, carrots, beets, and bone marrow app. We enjoyed every item we ordered. Robert and his lovely manager took such great care of us and seating us in an area better suited for my FIL. The noise level isn't in anyone's control, so if you are wanting a quiet dinner go earlier or later. It is a happening spot where every is having a great time, so be ready. We couldn't have asked for a better experience. ❤

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FAQs

Herb & Sea is rated 4.6 stars by 2938 OpenTable diners.

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

Make a booking


Booked 72 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 5:00 pm–9:00 pm
  • 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
  • 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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  • Cookie Preferences
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