Rustic, wood-fired dishes from Top Chef finalist Brian Malarkey—the man behind several of SD’s standout eateries—are the main draw at Herb & Wood. His California ethos of focusing on fresh, local, seasonal ingredients prepared with simple yet eclectic flavors means you’ll find bigeye tuna encrusted in Ethiopian berbere, venison rubbed with Moroccan coffee, and branzino accompanied by a Castelvetrano olive tapenade. Malarkey rounds out the menu with plenty of starters (the Roasted Oysters and Bone Marrow is a must), vegetable sides (like the Seven Spiced Cauliflower or Roasted Baby Carrots with cashew sesame dukkah), and house-made pastas and pizzas that you can smell the minute you step into the space.

At Little Italy’s Herb & Wood, Chef Brian Malarkey’s wood-fired dishes include roasted parsnips with pickled raisins, parsley-shallot verde, and molten Marin County brie; roasted beets with sherry, walnut pesto, jamón Ibérico, and burrata; and grilled flat bread with whipped eggplant, za’atar, onions, and pine nuts. But the Mediterranean- and California-inspired menu isn’t the only big draw here: The industrial-boudoir aesthetic is equally inviting, with tufted sofas, soft lighting, and feathery fronds under the soaring ceilings of this onetime warehouse. A charmingly tattered edition of Emily Post’s Etiquette book has pride of place on the hostess stand.

Wood-fired dishes are the cornerstone of this upscale, trendy restaurant established by celebrity chef Brian Malarkey to showcase California and Mediterranean flavors. Why we love it: A former rubber band factory, this cavernous space bounced back as a striking open-air dining room with vaulted ceilings, flickering gas lamps and enough potted plants to fill a greenhouse. The vibes are good for date night or drinks on the town.

Address: 2210 Kettner Boulevard, San Diego, CA 92101 Phone: (619) 955-8495 Website. The extensive menu includes seafood, meat, salads, pasta, toasts, wood-fired pizza, craft cocktails, and a dessert menu that might tempt you to start there first. Brunch is also a treat at this popular spot.

The sprawling, upscale locale offers multiple spaces to relax and dine, including an elegant bar, informal lounge area with cozy love seats and plush horeshoe shaped booths and several separate dining spaces that have rustic meets muted pastel vibes. The restaurant serves up tapas-style, wood-fired dishes made with seasonal ingredients and old-school, fruit and herb-infused cocktails that have a botanical focus -- the menu is sure to please any palette. I kid you not when I say to get ready to feast your feed on a menu and atmosphere that’s bound to get your, and your followers’ approval.

The scene: Set inside a former 1,100m2 art warehouse, Herb & Wood is a multi-space restaurant divided into four separate zones. The chic loft-like lounge area is the first to greet guests before they continue on to dine in the Lavender Lounge with an outdoor porch atmosphere, the Paris meets NYC feel of the Main Dining Room or the Patio with a double-sided fireplace and comfy seating. The food strongly focuses on delicious proteins and seasonal vegetables prepared in their wood-fired oven, resulting in plenty of mouth-watering dishes.

After gazing at ships both antique and modern, walk north to Little Italy, where you can sample more local beers at Bottlecraft before dining at one of the neighborhood’s fantastic restaurants, such as Herb & Wood. After dinner, stroll through the charming neighborhood to reach decadent Extraordinary Desserts. The sugar rush should get you started for a night out in the Gaslamp District club scene; if you prefer something chill, the swanky retro cocktail bar Prohibition Lounge is a great way to finish the night.

Indulge in life’s sweet moments at Little Italy’s Herb & Wood. Using flavors inspired by seasonality that evoke a sense of nostalgia, Herb & Wood’s Executive Pastry Chef, Laura Warren, leads a distinctive dessert program. Herb & Wood’s dessert menu highlights unique and refined dishes with a rustic and Mediterranean influence like the Blueberry Soufflé with fresh blueberry compote, lemon curd, mascarpone whip, lavender honey ice cream and Baklava with pistachio, walnut, almonds, apricot orange blossom sorbet.

Pulling from his tenure at the two-Michelin-star Spago in Beverly Hills, Herb & Wood’s Executive Pastry Chef Adrian Mendoza has a slate of five-star desserts at this glam Little Italy restaurant. The showstopper is the soufflé, a gluten-free option with flavors that rotate seasonally (blueberry in the summer, pear currently). He uses Bartlett pears sourced from Penryn Orchard Specialties in Northern California and a touch of sugar to create the base, then folds in meringue and lavender whipped crème fraîche.

Top Chef alum Brian Malarkey and his partner Chris Puffer believe dining should be an immersive experience and sensory escape. The stunning setting of Herb & Wood melds Paris ’20s chic with Cape Cod flair with its flickering lanterns, crushed blue velvet booths and vintage wooden canoes bursting with greenery. A wood-fired oven delivers rustic coastal California with Mediterranean touches with sumptuous dishes like oxtail gnocchi, grilled Iberico pork, roasted branzino and artichoke and arugula flatbreads.

Qué es: La humilde pizza se transforma en un platillo gourmet en los populares restaurantes Little Italy y Encinitas de Brian Malarkey. Las pizzas al horno de leña son hábilmente creadas usando los mismos ingredientes de primera clase que van en los otros platillos, desde el confit de pato al chorizo español, el queso idiazábal vasco al prosciutto y las aceitunas Castelvetrano sicilianas. Herb & Eatery, el café restaurante casual hermano de Herb & Wood, también ofrece noches de pizza de 4:30 a 8 p.m.

Herb & Wood is an award-winning restaurant by celebrity Chef Brian Malarkey's new restaurant that is known for wood fire cookery focusing on basic rustic preparations that rely on the quality of the ingredients. Go for tuna tartare, grilled branzino, or oxtail gnocchi. The wood fire oven churns out pizzas charred to perfection with an array of delectable toppings, from seasonal veggies, to house-made sausage and salumi (and even escargot).

Where: 2210 Kettner Blvd., San Diego, CA 92101Nestled in a spacious, outdoorsy Little Italy setting, Herb & Wood serves up seasonal California-Mediterranean food with a focus on wood-fired cooking. I kicked off my meal with tender pork belly atop butternut squash, brown butter and a candied orange medley. My next course was the roasted baby carrots, which were sweet and crunchy with cashew sesame dukkah, aleppo yogurt and pesto.

Herb & Wood in Little Italy has a cozy patio, complete with a fireplace and gas-lit lanterns, that offers a perfect setting for a relaxed evening under the stars. The menu is a delightful mix of wood-fired dishes and Mediterranean-inspired flavors, featuring items like roasted branzino and handmade pastas. Don’t miss their happy hour, where you can enjoy a smash burger, roasted oysters, fries, and a glass of bubbly for just $20.

Herb & Wood is run by famed chef Brian Malarkey, a Top Chef finalist and Food Network regular. The restaurant has been named one of America’s “10 Best Restaurants by USA Today” along with numerous accolades from Zagat, Eater, and the New York Times. Make a reservation if you’re looking for open spaces, natural light, flowing greenery and of course: food re-imaging in a modern, ingredient-forward style.

2210 Kettner Blvd, San Diego, CA 92101(619) 955-8495 Secure The Best Table in The House Here $$$ | Rustic | Upscale. With transcendental art on the walls, gorgeously prepared food being served, and expertly crafted cocktails, it’s no wonder why I put this on my list of greatest restaurants in San Diego. This Little Italy restaurant has the pleasure of having Chef Brian Malarkey on staff cooking meals.

Little Italy’s Herb & Wood surrounds guests with its serene atmosphere and features cocktail and entrée options that will not disappoint. For a twist on your traditional margarita, the Heat & Jalisco cocktail is crafted with Tequila, Grapefruit Juice, Red Bell Pepper Syrup, Lime, and Firewater Bitters, $14, and is sure to complement any entrée you pair it with.

Herb and Wood is a relatively new entrant to San Diego’s hip dining scene, and no one is complaining about it. This cool space with the modern decor is as romantic as you want it to be, and the food is pretty good too!. If you want a cheaper romantic date, Herb and Eatery, a day-time restaurant in the same space is a lovely breakfast / bakery / deli spot.

After the massive success of Herb & Wood by Chris Puffer and Brian Malarkey of the Puffer-Malarkey Collective, comes another fresh venture in San Diego: ANIMAE. Located on the ground floor of the Pacific Gate by Bosa, ANIMAE is Puffer Malarkey’s uber-stylish spin on West Coast Steakhouse, layered with a delightfully unconventional take on Asian flavors.

Located in the downtown area of San Diego in the neighborhood known as Little Italy sits the cutest brunch spot called Herb & Wood. They actually only serve brunch on Sunday mornings, so you aren’t going to want to miss this spot. Herb & Wood features the classic breakfast items plus delicious donuts and unique dishes like fried quail and biscuits.

By far, one of our favourite, San Diego restaurants, Herb & Wood, is a total elevation in terms of service decor, creativity and Mediterranean food that has been notched up and lightly flavoured to perfection. It even has a Cali-twist that just hits!. The creation of celebrity chef Brian Malarkey, the decor is very different from the exterior.

Walking into Herb & Wood, I was immediately captivated by the great atmosphere that exuded a perfect blend of warmth and sophistication. The dimly lit dining room had an intimate feel, with flickering candles casting a romantic glow on the beautiful wooden accents. The fantastic service at Herb & Wood truly elevated the dining experience.

Mediterranean dishes done San Diego food-style is the order of the day at this upscale hotspot. Sunday brunch at Herb & Wood will get you a tasteful spread of thoughtful rustic dishes such as eggs Benedict and mushroom polenta, each prepared with an eye on gourmet quality and comforts of home. Herb & Wood | 2210 Kettner Blvd.

Totally different than the other loft spaces Herb & Wood offers up more environment and less blank canvas but you can’t be mad about it because it’s GORGEOUS. Trust us if you want a loft but don’t want to bring in a ton of outside stuff you’ll love it here!. Address: 2210 Kettner Blvd, Sandiego, CA 92101

Herb & Wood is an upscale restaurant in Little Italy with a trendy, indoor-outdoor space. The kitchen has a wood-fired oven and offers artisanal pizza, pasta, and small plates prepared in a simple, rustic style with quality ingredients. Herb & Wood is also known for its strong cocktail game.

Chef Brian Malarkey’s Herb & Wood is the most recently Michelin-selected Mediterranean restaurant in San Diego. He has added his signature wood-fired dishes to the menu, as well as regular ones. Desserts like chocolate whiskey cake and rich milk chocolate gelato are simply irresistible.

Herb & Wood has funky artwork that exudes a distinct Parisian bohemian warmth. The restaurant focuses on rustic, wood-fired dishes. The menu elevates humble ingredients, highlights Mediterranean flavours, and brings a California ethos of seasonality and sustainability to every dish.

*Great for tourists and locals, a special occasion, families, lively music and atmosphere. Celebrity Chef Brian Malarkey’s Herb & Wood serves up a Mediterranean-inspired brunch with California Ethos in Little Italy. The focal point of the contemporary and airy space is the bar.

Finish your day with their roasted branzino, then walk off your dinner while experiencing the lively ambiance of Little Italy’s nightlife. Live music in the square, a concert at Casbah, or sitting on an oversized adirondack chair there is always action on India Street!

Herb & Wood is one of the most popular restaurants in the Little Italy area—and for good reason. The expansive interior caters well to large groups and intimate diners, alike. But thankfully, the restaurant’s volume doesn’t come at the cost of the food or service.

Seriously a tie with the above for my top favorite San Diego restaurants is Herb and Wood in Little Italy. I may even venture to say I am rather obsessed with the group that owns this restaurant (Puffer Malarkey Collective in case you are wondering ;)!

2210 Kettner BlvdSan Diego, CA 92101(619) 955-8495 Visit Website See Menu Open in Google Maps. Owned by celebrated chef Brian Malarkey, this culinary fixture downtown takes pride in its incredible Mediterranean dishes with a modern take.

Local celebrity Chef Brian Malarkey opened this restaurant to celebrate Mediterranean flavors, including pizza. The wood-fired menu features classic combos and perfect cocktail pairings to make dining here an upper-crust experience.

Herb and Wood is a relatively new entrant to San Diego’s hip dining scene, and no one is complaining about it. This cool space with the modern decor is as romantic as you want it to be, and the food is pretty good too!

Though the interior design alone was enough to capture our hearts, famed chef Brian Malarkey’s Herb & Wood seals the deal with a delightful menu of wood-fired pizzas, fresh seafood plates and balanced pasta dishes.

– Rating: 4.5 / 5 (301 reviews)– Detailed ratings: Food (4.5/5), Service (4.5/5), Value (4.0/5)– Type of cuisine: American– Price: $$$$– Address: 2210 Kettner Blvd, San Diego, CA 92101– Read more on Tripadvisor

An incredible take on Mediterranean cuisine, the food here is delicious. Owned by a world-famous chef, Brian Malarkey, the attention to detail and use of sustainable ingredients is apparent.

2210 Kettner Blvd, San Diego, CA 92101Phone: 619-955-8495 Visit Website. View this post on Instagram. A post shared by Herb & Wood (@herbandwood)

Dining at a Trendy Restaurant: Check out popular spots like The Crack Shack, Nobu, or Herb & Wood for a memorable dining experience.

They have one of the best gluten free pizzas I've ever had and their happy hour happy meal is fantastic!