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Herb & Sea, Encinitas, CA

Herb & Sea

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Visa Dining Collection

4.6
4.6
2945 Reviews
$30 and under
Californian
131 W D St, Encinitas, CA 92024-3516

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2 people
19:00
Booked 61 times today
Experiences are available.
  • Good for special occasions
  • Lively
  • 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

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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
    Gluten-free Options, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Vegan

Experiences

  • Easter Brunch

    US$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!
  • Mother's Day Brunch

    US$68.00 per person

    11 May 2025 only
    Celebrate your mom at Herb & Sea! We are offering a pre-fixe brunch menu to spoil your mom on her special day. The pricing for the menu will be $68 per person. We are excited to host you and your loved ones on this holiday.
  • WILDCOAST Dinner

    US$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.

What 2,945 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

Diners' Choice Awards

  • North San Diego

    Californian

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
Herb & Sea, located in Encinitas, promises a vibrant dining experience with a menu that creatively supports local fishermen and farms. Guests consistently praise their "impeccable service" and "delicious mussel toast." While some diners noted noise levels and slow service, the atmosphere is lively, making it a "great place to gather with friends and family." The restaurant's commitment to fresh, local ingredients, paired with its energetic vibe, creates a memorable visit.
2,945 Reviews
  1. danielle

    Las Vegas1 review

    5.0

    Dined today

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Came for happy hour and the food and cocktail’s were amazing! Great service and good atmosphere.

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  2. Olga

    San Antonio2 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 4 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We loved all the food and drinks! Definitely recommend.

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  3. M VIP

    Portland6 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 4 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 4
    Food was good for the most part. Some of their staple items are gone, which is too bad. The noise level is awful inside. We couldn’t hear our server, let alone have a discussion at the table.

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  4. Caroline

    San Diego4 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 5 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Absolutely delicious! We loved the corner seat we were given and the food was amazing especially to the mussel toast...what a brilliant idea!

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  5. Rex & Catherine

    San Diego9 reviews

    2.0

    Dined on 23 March 2025

    1. Overall 2
    2. Food 2
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 2
    Been to 2 other restaurants with the same owners. The others were much better! Uncomfortably loud! Food was too spicy and full of canola oil! We will not be back! 

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  6. Carol

    San Diego3 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on 23 March 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We loved everything about this restaurant. Our dinners were fabulous. Service was impeccable, but friendly. We loved it even more when we learned that the chef orders directly from and supports our local fishermen, and vegetables are from our local farms and vegetable gardens.

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  7. Jack

    Las Vegas1 review

    5.0

    Dined on 23 March 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    We had the best waitress. She was so nice, friendly and knowledgeable. We celebrated our 16th wedding anniversary here and will definitely be back

    Is this helpful?

  8. Cecil

    Phoenix4 reviews

    2.0

    Dined on 20 March 2025

    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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  9. Janis

    Sacramento42 reviews

    4.0

    Dined on 19 March 2025

    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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  10. Don VIP

    San Diego22 reviews

    4.0

    Dined on 17 March 2025

    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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FAQs

Herb & Sea is rated 4.6 stars by 2945 OpenTable diners.

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

  1. Home
  2. United States
  3. San Diego
  4. North San Diego
  5. Encinitas

Make a booking

2 people
19:00
Booked 61 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
    Gluten-free Options, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Vegan
  • 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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  • Terms of Use
  • Impressum
  • Cookies and Interest-Based Ads
  • Cookie Preferences
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