Herb & Sea
Seafood restaurant · Encinitas
131 W D St, Encinitas, CA 92024
Highlights
Sophisticated seafood spot with raw bar, chandeliers, and innovative dishes
Sophisticated seafood spot with raw bar, chandeliers, and innovative dishes
"Part of the Puffer Malarkey Collective, Herb & Sea offers East Coast seafood favorites prepared with a modern California twist. Helmed by the talented chef Aidan Owens (Trust), find coastal highlights like bluefin tuna crudo, mussel toast, raw bar specialties, and rotating fish dishes like wood-fired halibut. All the fish are caught by rod and reel. Don’t skip on the desserts, like butterscotch budino with salted caramel and a gluten-free shortbread cookie, courtesy of executive pastry chef Laura Warren. The restaurant also launched happy hour specials, including a smash burger, West Coast oysters, frites, and a glass of bubbly for $20, available Tuesday through Friday from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. For a refreshing cocktail to pair, try the Sonoran Sunset, or sip on the Surfin’ Swine with Thompson Heritage Ranch pork fat-washed bourbon." - Helen I. Hwang
"When you’re in Downtown Encinitas and want something a bit fancier than gastropubs and taco joints, hit up Herb & Sea. With its beaded chandeliers and arty light fixtures, it feels different as soon as you walk ih. Get going with a playful kick of heat from the poached scallop aguachile, then cool off with Mussel Toast in a white wine butter sauce. You can't go wrong with any piece of fish here, like the seared halibut with chorizo risotto and braised fennel, and the sides hit almost as hard. When they're in season, the grilled sunchokes with shallot vinaigrette and spiced pistachios are bold and smoky, while the caesar salad might convince you that crackly chicken skin is the new crouton." - ligaya malones, candice woo
"When you’re in Downtown Encinitas and want something a bit fancier than gastropubs and taco joints, hit up Herb & Sea. With its beaded chandeliers and arty light fixtures, it feels different as soon as you walk ih. Get going with a playful kick of heat from the poached scallop aguachile, then cool off with Mussel Toast in a white wine butter sauce. You can't go wrong with any piece of fish here, like the seared halibut with chorizo risotto and braised fennel, and the sides hit almost as hard. When they're in season, the grilled sunchokes with shallot vinaigrette and spiced pistachios are bold and smoky, while the caesar salad might convince you that crackly chicken skin is the new crouton." - Ligaya Malones
"Should diners find themselves at the bar counter or dining at a high-top table at this Encinitas outpost, they’ll want to check out the happy hour deals available from 5 to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Friday (the specials are available on the bar side only). Food deals include oysters from the West Coast that come with a side of the house hot sauce ($12 for half a dozen, $24 for the dozen) and a $20 happy meal with a smash burger, three oysters, fries, and a glass of bubbles. Discounted cocktails and wine are also poured during this hour, along with $6 beers like the Mosaic Pale Ale from Carlsbad’s Burgeon Beer Company." - Roxana Becerril
"In Encinitas, you’ll find a Christmas Eve feast with a four-course festive meal, including options like scallop crudo, beef tartare, tiger prawns, wild boar sausage, prime rib and seafood boil by pre-order. Priced at $92 per adult and $37 per child." - Helen I. Hwang
