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Herb & Sea, Encinitas, CA

Herb & Sea

4.6
4.6
2828 Reviews
$30 and under
Californian
A photo of Herb & Sea restaurant

Herb & Sea

4.6
$30 and under
Californian
Encinitas

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 p.m.
Booked 63 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 5:00 pm–9:00 pm
  • 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.
  • Neighbourhood
    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

    Dec 24, 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

    Dec 31, 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 2,828 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.

2,828 Reviews
  1. Jason

    Central Coast

    22 reviews

    vip
    2.0

    22 reviews

    Dined 3 days ago

    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.

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  2. David

    San Francisco

    23 reviews

    vip
    4.0

    23 reviews

    Dined 5 days ago

    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.

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  3. Tina

    San Diego

    16 reviews

    5.0

    16 reviews

    Dined 5 days ago

    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.

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  4. Tammy

    San Diego

    39 reviews

    vip
    4.0

    39 reviews

    Dined on December 2, 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

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  5. Brandon

    San Diego

    2 reviews

    3.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on December 2, 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

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  6. J Lindsay

    San Diego

    79 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    79 reviews

    Dined on December 2, 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.

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  7. Bill

    New York City

    141 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    141 reviews

    Dined on December 1, 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.

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  8. James

    San Diego

    160 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    160 reviews

    Dined on December 1, 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Excellent seafood restaurant with amazing flavors and excellent service.

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  9. Jen

    San Diego

    8 reviews

    5.0

    8 reviews

    Dined on December 1, 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Excellent meal to celebrate my husband’s birthday! Everyone left the table full and happy.

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  10. James

    San Diego

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on December 1, 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Incredible food. Had four appetizers and two mains, none of which disappointed. The incorporation of middle eastern and Mexican influence is 100% up to my palette liking. Incredible. Out of all the nice restaurants I’ve been to in San Diego, this one and one other are now my top 2 favorites.

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FAQs

Herb & Sea is rated 4.6 stars by 2828 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 reservation

2 people
7:00 p.m.
Booked 63 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
  • Neighbourhood
    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
    (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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  • Terms of Use
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