Herb & Sea

Name: Herb & Sea
Address: 131 W D St, Encinitas, CA, United States, 92024-3516
Telephone: (760) 704-8300
Price range: $30 and under
Rating: 4.7

Visa Dining Collection

4.7 (3047)

$30 and under

Californian

131 W D St, Encinitas, CA 92024-3516

Make a reservation

2 people

Jul 22, 2025

7:00 PM

Booked 45 times today

About this restaurant

Good for special occasions
Neighborhood gem
Lively

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
Website
http://herbandsea.com/
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.

Location
131 W D St, Encinitas, CA 92024-3516
Neighborhood
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

Popular dishes

Oysters on the Half Shell$24.89
lemon cocktail sauce, apple mignonette, house hot sauce
Ahi Puttanesca$28.43
cured olives, tomatoes, capers, california balsamico, calabrian chili, crispy garlic
Ceviche$22.91
halibut, leche de tigre, coconut, plantain chips
Hamachi Crudo$23.77
white ponzu, sprouts, pickled fresno, sunflower seed, citrus, avocado
Beef Tartare$28.56
pickled mustard seed, capers, egg yolk, micro arugula
Two Fish Tartare$23.24
tuna belly, seabass, shaved fennel, basil oil, milk bread crouton

Appetizers

Carrot Hummus$15.72
tahini, roasted garlic, za'atar, flatbread
Gem Salad$16.74
feta, pickled onion, sunflower seed, everything spice, buttermilk dill dressing
Endive Salad$18.24
frika, pine nuts, grana padano, meyer lemon vinaigrette
Roasted Oysters & Bone Marrow$29.01
pernod, kale, lemon, gruyere, breadcrumb
Broiled Scallops$23.33
tomato béchamel, smoked tuna lardon, fontina, gremolata
Seared Shrimp$23.10
green harissa, lime pulp, micro cilantro
Hoecake$28.67
brown butter corn cake, smoked striped sea bass rillette, white sturgeon caviar, honey butter

Vegetables

Roasted Baby Carrots$14.27
cashew sesame relish, aleppo yogurt, carrot top pesto
Braised Leeks$14.14
porcini butter, hollandaise, fried shallots
Crispy Boardwalk Potatoes$13.66
old bay, malt vinegar, lemon aioli
Spring Peas & Strawberries$14.20
brown sugar vinegar, too much butter
Brussel Sprouts$14.06
caramelized shallot agrodolce, horseradish "cream", fried walnuts, watermelon radish

Entrees

Oak Grilled Steelhead$42.24
beurre blanc, toro de oro pepper, leek oil, chive
Plancha Fired Whole Branzino$36.35
castelvetrano olive, calabrian chili, citrus, fennel
Oak Grilled Eggplant$24.44
sugar snap peas, black sesame miso puree, chimichurri, harissa
Roasted Half Chicken$32.67
salsa verde, tuscan kale, lemon, caper
Oak Grilled Pork Chop$38.29
date & orange jam, rainbow chard, herbs
8oz Prime Filet$52.35
caramelized onion demi-glace, stilton cream, crispy shallots
10 oz Hanger$38.78
brown butter hollandaise, chimichurri, sherry demi-glace, shishito peppers
20 oz Coffee Rubbed Bone-In Ribeye$85.32
bone marrow butter, madre mezcal jus, chimichurri

Pizza + Pasta

Rigatoni$32.54
short rib ragu, lemon, grana padano, garlic confit
Shrimp Linguini$29.65
preserved lemon, capers, parsley, callabrian chili
Fennel Sausage Pizza$24.89
broccolini, garlic, lemon, tomato, ricotta, grana, parsley
Mushroom Pizza$22.82
maitake mushroom, red onion, goat cheese, calabrian chili, truffle pesto
Hawaiian Pizza$25.43
crispy speck, coal roasted pineapple, taleggio, red onion

Cocktails

Refreshing

Beets by Herb$16.00
pisco, vermouth, beet shrub, lemon, meringue
Guavamente Bessame$16.00
jalapeno tequila, guava, lime, house made tajin
Oaxacan Affair$16.00
mezcal, cognac, macadamia nut orgeat, lemon, rum float
Razzle Dazzle$16.00
vodka, framboise, chareau, raspberry agave, lemon
Ord To Jfk$18.00
bourbon, lemon, cabernet sauvignon, clarified with milk
Dirty Once$16.00
olive oil washed gin, cake, lemon
H & Spressotini (Nitro)$16.00
vodka, mr. black coffee liquor, ironsmith espresso, madagascar vanilla

Direct

Ash & Vine$17.00
wine barrel aged bourbon, montepulciano, rosé vermouth, curaçao, grape stem dust
H&S Old Fashioned$15.00
bourbon, amaro lucano, cynar, honey, orange twist
Martinez de Mezcal$16.00
mezcal, dolin rogue, maraschino, house made orange bitters

Spirit-Free

Never Have I Heather$9.00
lemon juice, dragon fruit, basil
Brûlée & Black$9.00
charred lemon iced tea, turmeric-black pepper honey, brûléed lemon
Kollo Iced Tea$9.00
cold brewed, whole leaf, single origin

Wine by the Glass

Sparkling

Bisol, Brut Prosecco, "Jeio", Italy$15.00
Victorine de Chastenay, Brut Rose NV, Crémant de Bourgogne, France$15.00

White

Pinot Grigio, Livio Felluga, Friuli, Italy$16.00
Sauvignon Blanc, Tinpot Hut, Marlborough, New Zealand$17.00
Sauvignon Blanc, Paul Buisse, Tourraine, France$17.00
Chardonnay, Jordan, Russian River Valley, California$20.00
Chenin Blanc, Babylonstoren, Franschhoek, South Africa$16.00

Rosé

Cinsault Blend, Peyrassol, Méditerranée, France$16.00
Grenache Blend, Stolpman, Ballard Canyon, California$15.00

Red

Cabernet Sauvignon, Niner, Paso Robles, California$20.00
Malbec, Mary Taylor, Cahors, France$17.00
Pinot Noir, Au Bon Climat "Pmc Block", Santa Maria Valley, Califorina$22.00
Cabernet Franc, Marcel Martin, "Les Bernieres", Chinon, France$16.00
Grenache / Syrah Blend, Vignerons Ardechois, Rhône Valley, France$16.00
Montepulciano, Abbondanza, Montepulciano d'Abruzzo, Italy$15.00

Beer

Tap

Kook Slams, West Coast India Pale Ale, Duck Foot Brewing, 7.5%, San Diego$10.00
Rumbler, Double Dry Hopped Pale Ale, Harland Brewing, 5.4%, San Diego$10.00
Harbor Cruise, Kolsch Style Ale, Eppig, 4.9%, San Diego$10.00

What 3,047 people are saying

Herb & Sea reviews from people who’ve dined at this restaurant. Based on recent rating.

Overall ratings and reviews

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

4.7

4.7 based on recent ratings

4.6Food
4.6Service
4.7Ambience
4.2Value

Noise • Moderate

Loved For

North San Diego
Californian

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews

Herb & Sea offers a delightful dining experience with "great food and service." Known for its "delicious cocktails" and standout dishes like mussel toast and trout dip, the restaurant impresses with an "extensive wine list" and attentive staff. Despite occasional service delays and high noise levels, the vibrant atmosphere and "amazing appetizers and entrees" make it a neighborhood favorite.

3,047 Reviews

M
Matthew VIP
Phoenix / Arizona9 reviews
4.0
Dined 2 days ago
1. Overall 4
2. Food 4
3. Service 4
4. Ambience 5
Overall it was a good experience. They were busy, but still seemed attentive. Oysters were amazing. Cocktails were also great. Only downside, steak was massively undercooked and had to send it back, but they were able to cook it correctly. Steak was ok, not bad, nothing special. Side potatoes were fantastic, and probably best part.
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m
mark VIP
Las Vegas82 reviews
5.0
Dined 3 days ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Always fantastic! A real foodie place. Highly recommended.
Is this helpful?
C
Corinne VIP
San Diego41 reviews
5.0
Dined 5 days ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 4
Great food and service -second time back for that delicious Caesar salad
Is this helpful?
j
jorja
San Diego1 review
5.0
Dined on July 14, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Absolutely outstanding! Every flavor better than the last. Great ambiance, amazing food, fabulous people. Show stopper!
Is this helpful?
M
Mark VIP
San Diego94 reviews
5.0
Dined on July 13, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
We have recently tried several well thought of restaurants only to be disappointed. No so at Herb & Sea. To start we have the smoked trout dip, which was outstanding, not to mention the Negroni Bianco and Tropic Thunder cocktails which were equally well done. My wife had seafood crudo (scallop, fish, tuna) for dinner, and she used a real critic, but she loved it. I had the Tuscan Ragu since their pasta is made in house, with a side of blistered peas. Both equally as good as everything else. I will not say much about the Budino dessert, other than it’s a must do! Herb & Sea is a great experience and value. We spoke to the front end manager who was checking in with patrons, and then were visited by Aiden Owens himself for a few minutes. Ignore Michelin ratings when you’re looking for a great value and experience- visit Herb & Sea.My husband and I went to Herb and Sea last Saturday night. We didn't know what to expect but all the reviews we read were excellent. We've been disappointed before with highly rated restaurants, including those with Micheline stars and bibs. This restaurant beats them all. First, our server spent time walking us through the entire menu including the drinks and wines. At that point, we wanted to order everything on the menu! We ended up starting with the Trout Dip. I cannot even describe how delicious this dip was. I honestly wanted to lick the bowl clean. My husband ordered the Tuscan Ragu which was not only a large portion, but incredibly flavorful. One of the best pasta dishes he's eaten. I orderd the crudo trio which consisted of hamachi, salmon, and trout. This dish is an appetizer, but was a perfect size for me. Very well seasoned and so fresh. We also ordered the blistered peas and, OMG sooo amazingly good. The dish could have been a meal. We ended with a shared butterscotch budino and I cannot describe the creamy deliciousness of this dessert. The drinks were very good and had the appropriate amount of alcohol.
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A
Alex VIP
Los Angeles2 reviews
3.0
Dined on July 13, 2025
1. Overall 3
2. Food 2
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Nice environment, friendly attentive service. Limited menu, underwhelming taste. Overpriced. My tuna was appetizer sized. The side potatoes tasted the best. Even the Ceasar salad was meah.. Probably won’t come back .. too much competition in the area with excellent t food options.
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s
sUSAN
Las Vegas2 reviews
5.0
Dined on July 11, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 4
Good excellent and our server was helpful pleasant and efficient.
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C
Claudia
San Diego40 reviews
5.0
Dined on July 10, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Cannot say enough about one of my favorite restaurants. Just the best. The menu is different, fresh, and flavorful.
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J
Jason
Houston6 reviews
5.0
Dined on July 9, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Everything was great. Would definitely go back Again
Is this helpful?
L
Lan
San Diego8 reviews
3.0
Dined on July 9, 2025
1. Overall 3
2. Food 4
3. Service 3
4. Ambience 4
Skip the happy hour, the food and drinks on there were okay, with the exception of the oysters which don’t require cooking, just bang for your buck. I would skip the cocktails altogether from the sampling we tried. The food on the regular menu is better. Overall, I guess it’s good for North County, but drive further down to San Diego proper for better cuisine.
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FAQs

Herb & Sea is rated 4.7 stars by 3047 OpenTable diners.

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

Make a reservation

2 people

Jul 22, 2025

7:00 PM

Booked 45 times today

131 W D St, Encinitas, CA 92024-3516

Additional information

Cross street
D Street and 2nd Street
Neighborhood
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

Website
http://herbandsea.com/
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.

Herb & Sea

Make a reservation

About this restaurant

Additional information

Roasted Baby Carrots

Hamachi Crudo

Shrimp Linguini

Raw Bar

Oysters on the Half Shell$24.89

Ahi Puttanesca$28.43

Ceviche$22.91

Hamachi Crudo$23.77

Beef Tartare$28.56

Two Fish Tartare$23.24

Appetizers

Carrot Hummus$15.72

Gem Salad$16.74

Endive Salad$18.24

Roasted Oysters & Bone Marrow$29.01

Broiled Scallops$23.33

Seared Shrimp$23.10

Hoecake$28.67

Vegetables

Roasted Baby Carrots$14.27

Braised Leeks$14.14

Crispy Boardwalk Potatoes$13.66

Spring Peas & Strawberries$14.20

Brussel Sprouts$14.06

Entrees

Oak Grilled Steelhead$42.24

Plancha Fired Whole Branzino$36.35

Oak Grilled Eggplant$24.44

Roasted Half Chicken$32.67

Oak Grilled Pork Chop$38.29

8oz Prime Filet$52.35

10 oz Hanger$38.78

20 oz Coffee Rubbed Bone-In Ribeye$85.32

Pizza + Pasta

Rigatoni$32.54

Shrimp Linguini$29.65

Fennel Sausage Pizza$24.89

Mushroom Pizza$22.82

Hawaiian Pizza$25.43

Cocktails

Refreshing

Beets by Herb$16.00

Guavamente Bessame$16.00

Oaxacan Affair$16.00

Razzle Dazzle$16.00

Ord To Jfk$18.00

Dirty Once$16.00

H & Spressotini (Nitro)$16.00

Direct

Ash & Vine$17.00

H&S Old Fashioned$15.00

Martinez de Mezcal$16.00

Spirit-Free

Never Have I Heather$9.00

Brûlée & Black$9.00

Kollo Iced Tea$9.00

Wine by the Glass

Sparkling

Bisol, Brut Prosecco, "Jeio", Italy$15.00

Victorine de Chastenay, Brut Rose NV, Crémant de Bourgogne, France$15.00

White

Pinot Grigio, Livio Felluga, Friuli, Italy$16.00

Sauvignon Blanc, Tinpot Hut, Marlborough, New Zealand$17.00

Sauvignon Blanc, Paul Buisse, Tourraine, France$17.00

Chardonnay, Jordan, Russian River Valley, California$20.00

Chenin Blanc, Babylonstoren, Franschhoek, South Africa$16.00

Rosé

Cinsault Blend, Peyrassol, Méditerranée, France$16.00

Grenache Blend, Stolpman, Ballard Canyon, California$15.00

Red

Cabernet Sauvignon, Niner, Paso Robles, California$20.00

Malbec, Mary Taylor, Cahors, France$17.00

Pinot Noir, Au Bon Climat "Pmc Block", Santa Maria Valley, Califorina$22.00

Cabernet Franc, Marcel Martin, "Les Bernieres", Chinon, France$16.00

Grenache / Syrah Blend, Vignerons Ardechois, Rhône Valley, France$16.00

Montepulciano, Abbondanza, Montepulciano d'Abruzzo, Italy$15.00