We had an incredible meal here with great service. Chef Manny was exceptional and the dishes he crafted were some of the best I've had in SoCal. I'll definitely be back. read more

I'm somewhere between a 3 and 4 on this place. Came once for dinner and once for HHour. The dinner was good with a nice ambience, but a bit pricey to make it stand out. That said we came back for HHour. What was disappointing to me about HHour was the dearth of selection when it came to HH priced food. Due to this dearth, pretty much everyone in the entire bar was ordering the exact same thing for happy hour: The Happy Meal, which consists of a burger, fries, 3 oysters, and champagne. The presentation of the Happy Meal is very nice. The burger tasted very much like an In N Out burger to me, but with a much larger patty. It was good, but despite the similarity we think In N Out burger slightly edged out Herb and Sea's take. The fries were quite delicious. The oysters were large, but they're taste was meh. The same could be said for the bubbles/champagne: a large pour, but nothing to write home about. Due to the lack of food choices on the HH menu, we also ordered the scallop aguachile. It would have been nice if they would have labeled it something else, like a "deconstructed" aguachile. The scallop quality was very good, and the flavor was fine, but this dish is nothing what I expected; I expected a hearty bowl of spicy fish, like one might find at Ironside (Little Italy) or Mitch's Seafood (Point Loma). They had very few beer choices, but the Bulbous Flowers was delicious!!! read more

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Spectacular service, great food, and fun ambiance! Having frequented for the burger/oyster HH meal, so glad to have returned in a group of 5 so we could try a little bit of everything. Although a pricey restaurant, the quality of ingredients and creativity make for a memorable dining experience. Lots of fun cocktail options. Of the appetizers, we LOVED the mussel toast! Caesar salad and tomatoes were a touch salty for us, but packed some complex flavors. Wish we had gotten our pizza earlier so we could soak up the sauce on all the bread! For main entrees, the pork tomahawk and fish dishes were soo good! This is a great spot to have a fun meal in a beautiful space. read more

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If I could, I'd give this restaurant 3.5 stars. Overall, I enjoyed my meal. Everything I ordered was good, and the service was warm, attentive, and genuinely welcoming. My biggest hesitation is the value. The restaurant has the feel of a fine dining establishment, and the prices reflect that. Because of that, I found myself paying closer attention to the little details. There were a few inconsistencies in the knife cuts and sauces, and while the cocktails were enjoyable, they felt a bit expensive for what was offered. The only item that really missed the mark for me was the hot sauce served with the oysters. It tasted more like a blend of barbecue sauce and ketchup than a traditional hot sauce, and I was hoping for something with a little more spice. Even a classic like Cholula would have complemented the oysters nicely. That said, I had a good experience overall. The food was enjoyable, the service was excellent, and I can see the potential. With a little more consistency and attention to the finer details, I think this restaurant could truly match the premium dining experience it's aiming to provide. read more

Very spacious arrangement, and spread out seatings. Way above dining room noise. Good for group parties. Challenging street parking. No valet parking at this high price, subtract 1 star. Good service but doesn't feel personal. Just like robots. Limited draft beer options in San Diego. We ordered "Ode to Swan" and Beef carpaccio for appetizers. The raw fillet mignon is right on. The raw fish is underwhelming in tiny portions. Then we shared the mussel toast, half baked red snapper, blackened salmon, grilled half peri peri chicken, roasted oysters and bone marrow, and shrimp linguine. They are on the salty side, especially the signature mussel toast. Very nice prepared half red snapper. Recommended the peri peri chicken for the spice and moist meat. Everything else is just ok not standout. read more

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Service and atmosphere were on point--warm, welcoming, and the kind of place that makes you want to linger over another drink. The seafood was impressively fresh, and the fish was cooked perfectly. But the real MVP of the night was the bone marrow. Rich, buttery, and decadent, it was so good I briefly considered ordering a second round and calling it dinner. Slathered on bread, it was pure happiness. Then came the pizza... and unfortunately, it felt like it showed up to a different restaurant. The crust was undercooked, the sauce was bland, and each bite left me wondering if the chef had accidentally forgotten the seasoning and the oven timer. With so many delicious dishes on the menu, this is one pie I'd pass on. read more

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Such a beautiful and satisfying dining experience. The interior is spacious and comforting. For starters, we ordered the beef carpaccio which paired perfectly with the arugula salad. But the tuna tartare on bone marrow absolutely blew us away! The flavors were so complex and addicting. For our entrees, we got the seared sea bass which had the most flavorful sauce and paired well with the fresh tomatoes. We also got the Tuscan Ragu which had the most al dente noodles and the most savory marinara. Our server Robert recommended the seared snap peas to go along with it which added a bright crunch and contrast to cut through all the soft textures. Overall, great service, flavor packed dishes with the freshest ingredients and the perfect date spot. Can't wait to go back! read more

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Perfect fancy date night spot! I had a reservation for 8pm and it took about 15 minutes to be seated, we could tell they got a little bit of a rush around that time so we were fine to wait. Once we were sat our server was so kind and great at recommending items we were interested in trying. She had a busy section but was still checking in on us and making sure we always had drinks. She was wonderful! The food was all incredible and so fresh. We had the best date night and will be recommending herb and sea to everyone we know! read more

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They have an amazing menu. All the dishes were very unique with interesting names. I didn't expect to get a chicken with the claws and a fish with the head but it's sliced perfectly in half... so it looks big but you are only half a fish. The Caesar salad was my favorite of all the dishes. Instead of croutons they use fried chicken skin. Certainly very unique dishes. Our server was amazing. He made us feel so welcome and was happy to share that they sometimes cut a whole tuna fish in front of guests. We will have to catch that event next time. Inside is quiet and romantic atmosphere. Definitely make reservations before you come. read more

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Located in one of my fave little beach towns, Herb and Sea in Encinitas was delicious! We were seated in a long table with ample room for our party of 7. Cocktails (well done), appetizers of spicy shrimp, oysters, and bread, then we shared a delish chicken, steak and salmon. The roasted carrots also, get them!! Interior aesthetic is beautiful and our server was very considerate and helpful! read more

Herb & Sea - Seafood Near Me - Encinitas, California

We ate here for dinner tonight and had such a wonderful time. Ordered: 1) scallop aguachile - love the flavors and scallop was fresh! 2) half dozen oysters - so fresh and love the tangy sauces they provide 3) sourdough bread service - free but must ask for this 4) chocolate mousse pistachio pie for dessert 5) half baked red snapper - OMG, a must get and was surprised by the succulent texture! Delicious, might be the best snapper I've had in terms of how it's cooked 6) pork chop -- so good, husband loved this and sauce was great. He would recommend and no wonder it's always on the menu 7) spicy Baja shrimp - decent but nothing too extraordinary 8) margherita pizza - kids loved this 9) chorizo pepperoni pizza - kids loved this Food came out pretty quick. Service was attentive and friendly. It's also nice that this place is a Chase Sapphire Reserve Table Exclusive! read more

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I had a great experience here and shared a lot of plates with my group! Ceviche (6/10) Beef carpaccio (10/10 amazing I could've eaten the entire dish) Bluefin crudo (7/10 good but I've had better) Half baked red snapper (10/10 this was amazing) Seared swordfish (8/10 decent but not as good as the snapper) Smashed potatoes (9/10 great flavor) Roasted baby carrots (8/10) read more

Staff is always very professional and friendly. I always appreciate good service- main reason for stars. Food is good but not amazing. Every dish feels like it's missing a little something whether it's a small piece of crusty bread or a bit more flavor. Also, food is typically lukewarm at best. read more

Herb & Sea - The pork belly pizza and the shrimp linguini. Both only ok. Pizza needs more flavor and more arugula. Sparse. - Seafood Near Me - Encinitas, California

We found this place by chance. We came in on a Thursday evening which was the night the started the summer prefix menu as an option. The menu was focused around a fresh bluefin tuna the restaurant obtained that day. The way chef prepared the different courses was unique and really let the blue fin be the star of the show. The sauces paired with the fish were exquisite. To start we had a Cesar salad which was served with fresh house dressing made the traditional way. Probably the best I've ever had. Robert was a fantastic server for the evening. I'll ask to sit in his section every time we come back. read more

Celebrated a friend's birthday here. I have been wanting to try this restaurant for a long time. I am so glad we did! Everything was amazing! Drinks from the bar were crafted and served beautifully. Our server was amazing. So engaging and made great menu suggestions. The food was top notch. The seafood was very fresh and packed so much flavor. The restaurant is beautifully decorated and has a nice upscale yet business casual vibe. Looking forward to returning soon. read more

Got couple of appetizers and main to share along five of us. Appetizers come in good portion. I forgot to take a picture but the smashed potatoes were amazing!! Quick service as well. Food came out fast. Parking is a bit difficult as usual. read more

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Great happy hour! The $20 Happy meal is definitely worth the wait in line to get in for a seat for the happy hour in the bar. The burger and fries and delicious and the prosecco from France is very tasty and pairs well with the oysters. A 5 star meal! read more

Herb & Sea - Happy meal - Seafood Near Me - Encinitas, California

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Really great restaurant. So many good options, it was hard to choose! The stand out favorite was the tomato sumac salad. Probably one of the best dishes I've had in a long time. Also the crudo was life changing. Omg I wanted a second one, it was Smokey, sweet and savory. Delicious! Spicy shrimp were also good, skip the cabbage, we love a good cabbage dish but theirs.... Not good. Tastes boiled and soggy. Drinks were delicious and service was really good as well! Over all very enjoyable dinner. read more

Came here for Happy Hour, and our "pre" 20th wedding anniversary. Made reservations for happy hour at 5pm. When we arrived there was a line out around the corner. I think this is a regular occurrence. When the doors open, everyone rushes to get bar seating, which is first come, first served. At the front desk, we checked-in and they sat us at a table in the main dining room. I let it slide since we didn't want to get the Happy Meal anyway, but also wouldn't get any happy hour drink prices. We ordered: * Berry Hot & Bothered - $18 * Societe Bulbous Hazy IPA - $10 * Beef Carpaccio - $29 * Ode-to-Swan - $34 * Johnny Cake & Caviar - $29 * Half-Baked Red Snapper - $48 * Peaches, Peaches, Peaches - $18 * Butter Me Up - $17 The cocktails were fine. Butter Me Up was the best (an espresso martini). The beer was good. The Peaches and Berry drink were very mediocre. Server did get us two small glasses of champagne for our anniversary which was a nice touch. The Beef Carpaccio was amazing. There is a TON of breadcrumbs so if you inhaled, you'll choke. But the flavor was fantastic. Would order again. The Ode-To-Swan reminded me of the Spanish Sashimi at Valentina. Only they put a metric TON of chives on it so you can't even see the fish. This is a huge mistake. The dish was okay but all I tasted was chives. I love sashimi but would not order this again. The Johnny Cake was good but way too sweet! It's basically a thick pancake with caviar on top. The caviar was very savory and the sea bass rillete underneath was smoky. I loved the flavor combination but we could not finish the dish. The half-baked fish was phenomenal. A stunner. Even with the foggy eyeball staring at you. Soo good, I only wished there was more of that sauce on the plate. Even at $50, I would order this again. Total was $270 after tip. They add a 4% surcharge on the bill which is not great. I would come here again but skip the cocktails. Go to SAGO across the street instead for some banger cocktails. Parking was sparse. Street level only. We had to park a block away but the walk was not bad. It was 69° so the weather was perfect. Service was good but our server was clearly trying to get us to order more food. We did not need a second entree or a plate of carrots or potatoes. I would come back, mostly to try new dishes. The food is expensive but interesting in a way you don't know what something will taste like. Please ditch the chives on the sashimi! read more

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Herb & Sea has become our default spot for a special occasion meal. We've brought out of town guests here, celebrated birthdays and anniversaries, and even visited for Thanksgiving dinner. The menu changes through the year which keeps our visits interesting and we always leave happy with our meals. Recent standouts from our 2026 visits include a duck pizza, a spring pea appetizer, and the chocolate tart. I appreciate the mocktail and kids menu! If you visit during the holidays, the bar area is decked out like the Santa himself oversaw the decorations. Street parking has been fairly easy to find within a couple blocks. read more

Whenever a celebrity chef opens up a new location, you have to visit. I've seen Brian Mularky's work on Food Network regularly. Now that this restaurant had opened up right in my own backyard, had to give it a try. Luckily time on my schedule opened up while family were visiting. So glad it all worked out! It was extremely crowded on a Friday night during the holidays. There was a table available with an hour and a half wait. We decided to wait in the bar and grab a drink and appetizers while we waited. Seating was at a premium here as well. We grabbed space at a common table and ordered. In the mean time a table opened up in the bar, so we pounced on it quickly. Soon after our appetizers arrived. The mussel toast was both unique and delicious. The mussels were prepared in a butter and wine sauce that I'd drink a gallon of if I could! We also ordered a half dozen oysters. Half east coast, half west coast. Both were served with various sauces that superbly enhanced the flavors! We ended up staying at our table in the bar to complete our meal. We enjoyed the grilled half Peri Peri Chicken, Shrimp Linguini and the Chorizo Pizza! We added the Blistered Green Beans to add veggies to our meal. Everything was delicious! Lots of flavor in the pizza! Tender shrimp in the linguini. Little spice in the chicken. Our server was amazing! Sadly I didn't catch his name. The support team was great too. The restaurant was decked out for the holidays! If you missed it, definitely make plans to visit next year! Looks nothing like the restaurant during the year. Keep on Yelp'n! read more

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This goes down in the books as my "Most Disappointing Restaurant of 2025." I've had 2 previous misses of visiting this restaurant and thought perhaps a 3rd attempt might be a charm. I should've just given up after 2 failed attempts of coming here. Those 2 failed attempts were disappointing but the experience here with my daughter and my friends were even more of a disappointment and a waste of money. We came here on 26Dec2025. The restaurant was packed and the line for the bar was long. Half of the restaurant (the bar side) was beautifully decorated with Christmas lights and ornaments. The restaurant side was ordinary. My daughter ordered an espresso martini and it was awful. It was very acidic. We each had one small sip and that was more than enough. Our group ordered the following: WC Fresh Catch $20.25 Parker House Rolls $10.33 Johnny Cake $28.67 Seabass $34.01 Tuscan Ragu $28.21 Carrots $15.27 Charred Peppers $18.63 Potatoes $15.11 The Fresh Catch were heavily crusted mussels that were over-baked to the point where they were crispy and stuck to their shells. The Parker House Rolls were good, but the garlic herb butter smothered on top was nasty. The Johnny Cake was one single pancake heavily drenched in honey and was overly sweet. There was probably half a teaspoon worth of caviar on top. This dish made us feel physically sick. The Seabass itself was nicely cooked, but the sauce was bad. The Carrots were not even fully roasted. Some were still raw, and the yogurt sauce that came with it, well, that should be banned from menu. It tasted like spoiled yogurt and did not pair well with the carrots at all. Seriously, the chef had a really off night because the dishes that I've mentioned so far were just awful. The Tuscan Ragu, Charred Peppers, and Potatoes were the only 3 dishes that were edible and decent. Service was bad. Our server took forever to take our order and it felt like an eternity before the horrible dishes were brought to our table. Our water glasses were empty, and he never once checked in on us. Such a disappointing restaurant! I want my Money back! This was a waste of $261.65 (before tip). read more

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Came here for date night and enjoyed most of the food! The standout was the Berkshire pork, so tender and flavor of the grilled meat with the citrus salad was amazing! The red snapper which was tender and delicious with the creamy sauce was a nice light balance. The Tuscan ragu was pretty standard. The smacked boardwalk potatoes were so good! The charred cabbage wasn't our favorite, so would recommend the potatoes as a more crispy yet hearty side. It was a busy night so service wasn't super quick, but it was cool to see the open kitchen. The restaurant was beautiful and fun to see the art pieces on the wall that go with the theme near the sea. read more

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My boyfriend and I were craving ceviche. Herb & Sea really delivered with the scallop aguachile and tuna topped with fresno chili and a bunch of sauces. The fish was fresh but had these perfect juices and toppings. Our waiter had true opinions on the food, which I appreciated. He recommended the chicken which was perfectly roasted with crispy skin. The wait staff looked crazy busy, but the food came out in a timely manner. I'm interested to come back here and try more. The food is creative and well cooked! read more

The whole experience was fantastic but what really stood out was the service. Our server was so knowledgeable of the menu, portion sizes and suggestions. The Parker house rolls are a killer off menu item. The herb butter with it was perfect. The Johnny Cake and Caviar is a must try for its uniqueness. Killer vibe and energy on a Saturday night will definitely be back! read more

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Great service and swanky ambiance. Food wise - The happy hour burger and oysters were excellent. Looking forward to coming back to try more of the menu! read more

Herb & Sea - Seafood Near Me - Encinitas, California

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My family and I came here for dinner on a Sunday and it was pretty crowded! I'd definitely recommend making a reservation ahead of time. The atmosphere was coastal and rustic. Our waitress gave great recommendations! a For 3 people, we ordered the smashed boardwalk potatoes, blistered green beans, half baked red snapper, shrimp linguini, and the bone in pork tomahawk. Everything was so flavorful and decadent and we were so impressed with every dish! read more

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Really debated on how to rate this place. On when hand, the food is incredible. On the other, the service is not. Things take really long to come out, even when your reservation is at 9 PM. I was not expecting them to be this crowded at this hour What's good!! - The food is really flavorful and high quality - Lamb meatballs, sea bass, and the ragu squid ink pasta were delicious - The bar of the restaurant is decorated in christmas decor - very vibey energetic environment. Kind of loud but not too loud Improvement areas - Wait can be long, even with a reservation. Theres alot of really big groups and a small kitchen slow things down - Service isn't super attentive, especially when the restaurant is busy - Birthday was indicated on the res, but bday dessert wasn't offered to us even though other tables got it, which was disappointing - Half chicken skin came out very burnt It was hard to rate this place bc the food is good but other parts need impovement. I would come here again if i didnt mind the wait read more

I came here having read all the recent 3 star or lower reviews so I had my reservations when arriving. However, I was previously recommended by a friend and had enjoyed dinner at their sister restaurant Herb & Wood the year prior so wanted to try it out anyways. I had a reservation for 2 on a Friday night at 5:30pm. Street parking was easy due to the early dinner time. We were sat promptly by the hostess, but unfortunately waited 5 or so minutes before our waitress came with introductions and water. I have heard of the slow service here so we prepared with our full order including entrees when she came to ask for our drinks. Here's the review on what we've ordered: - Drinks (Sonoran Sunset & Tropic Thunder(?)) - delicious, mezcal forward - Ode to Swan: I wanted to order this because I personally went to Swan Oyster Depot a few years ago in SF and this was one of their more famous dishes. Fresh and simple, very tasty but can easily be duplicated at home. - Caesar Salad: this one was a bit odd for me - very fishy flavor likely due to the anchovies(?) in the dressing. The chicken skin was nice and crisp, but the salad was just too dressy for me. Could have lightened the sauce just a bit. It is u like a standard Caesar salad in my opinion. -Tuscan Ragu: Great! Perfectly al denté squid ink pasta with a beefy ragu sauce. Typically I like to order protein entrees à la carte like fish, or a steak. However, nothing jumped out for me on this menu for me to order. Overall, a decently pleasant experience but food was just good. Nothing exceptional and while I'm glad we tried it, I would not come back or recommend this to friends over other fine dining restaurants. Given this is a 'seafood' restaurant, they sure had limited options for fresh seafood here during the time I was here. read more

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What a great experience. Before the Resturant opened; you see a line out the door waiting for the dining experience. The appetizers were amazing with. Ton of seafood options. Oysters; sashimi options. Loved them all and didn't have a bad dish. Try the Caesar salad; very different than your traditional Caesar's and was one of the best I've had! Good variety on entree options from land to sea! We opted for one of each! Did not disappoint; the Resturant dining experience was fabulous. A great place to bring a date too! read more

Sorry everyone but Herb & Sea is mid. If you have to eat here - get the filet or tomahawk. I did love the 90s R&B music (we heard all of Destiny's Child's greatest hits). We found easy street parking. Hostess and waitress were nice enough. Desserts didn't even sound good so we skipped it. Don't think I've ever done that! read more

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What a great vibe to enjoy such a fun fresh seafood-forward menu - paired with the great service and the staff at Herb&Sea are doing something right! Impressed with the attention to detail and the well-balanced flavors! We got to share a bunch of dishes between friends and our favorites were definitely the whole fish, the cavatelli, and roasted oysters w bone marrow and toast The drinks were a little underwhelming but everything did their job The staff was all so friendly and helpful, as well We'll definitely be back to celebrate again! Cheers, H&S! read more

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This place is amazing! We were seated at a table in the bar area. Nice space and ambiance. Our waitress Andrea was great and gave us some wonderful recommendations. We started with the Ode to Swan which included tuna, scallops, salmon and yellowtail. It was fresh and flavorful! Next we had the mussel toast! Wow, what creamy delicious goodness! It's mussels on top of sourdough with an insanely good Brie and cream sauce! We had to ask for more bread to soak up the yummy flavors. For the entree I ordered the red snapper and hubby had the chorizo pizza. Both were very good. The carrots we ordered as the side were super delicious as well. I took a star off only because they added a 4% surcharge. Just roll it into the menu price instead of having a surcharge please. I do love the quality and uniqueness of the food so we will be back. read more

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My boss took us to dinner at Herb & Sea while we were recently in town. It's a super cute restaurant in Encinitas. The whole area is really fun! H&S was very busy with lots of people enjoying the bar area. Service was good, though not super attentive. Also, they were great in subbing some stuff most restaurants wouldn't during peak dinner hours. My ragu was good, had a little spice to it which I enjoyed. The drinks were really good though I wish I had gotten something else to go with what chose for an entree. Mezcal and ragu clashed a bit. Thoughtless on my part. It does get pretty noisy in the restaurant so at some point it felt like we were shouting at each other which was a bummer. read more

Herb & Sea - Interior bar - Seafood Near Me - Encinitas, California

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We come here to our birthdays and when we have special friends or family. The food is amazing, well priced for what you get. Service is outstanding. Still amazed on our second visit. Every table is packed and hard to get a same-day reservation. Started with the dinner rolls - wow. I enjoyed the half baked red snapper and shared the carrots and mussel toast. Delish! Barbara wine was so-so, I've had better. Overall wonderful experience, will be back on the next t event we celebrate. read more

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Came here for The Summer I Turned Pretty Watch Party and my friends and I had a great time at the Herb & Sea event. The menu was smaller, but we all found something we enjoyed and it was hosted in the back patio. The staff did a great job taking care of us. I ordered Ceviche and Fries. My girlfriends ordered 1/2 a burger and a Happy Meal, which consisted of 1/2 a Burger,Fries, Bubbles, and 3 Oysters. We all enjoyed our food. I'll definitely visit again to try their daily menu. read more

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Arrived early so we could get a seat for the Adult Happy Meal - it's a great deal. Also, the hot sauce for the oysters is delicious (and I'm a hot sauce hater). You do have to arrive early as it gets packed almost immediately for happy hour! read more

This spot has quickly become one of our favorite places to eat in Encinitas. Their happy hour is unbelievable.....I mean where else can you get a Smashburger, crispy fries, oysters and a glass of champagne all in one place? Every time we come, the food is consistently delicious and the cocktails are always on point. The bartenders are among some the best!! Jared and Ael can make some incredible drinks and their service is over the top! I will come back just for them! The rest of the staff is friendly, attentive, and genuinely makes you feel welcome. The ambience is beautiful....the perfect mix of relaxed coastal vibe and elevated dining. We've tried several dishes off the regular menu too and everything has been amazing. If you're looking for great food, great drinks, and a happy hour that feels like a steal, this is your spot. Can't recommend it enough! read more

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Ambiance..its in thr corner but hard to see but so beautiful inside Seevixe..fast and friendly Food..very different and amazing flavours..got the pita with pickles..mashed potatoes..goat milk pasta and margaritas pizza. Pizza was okay but everything else was amazing. read more

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Wow! I was recommended by a friend and was really happy with everything! Service was absolutely lovely and very attentive. The food was amazing and they had so many options for wine/cocktails. I love the way the inside is decorated, it can get a bit loud on a busy evening. Overall can't wait to visit again! I highly recommend their steak. read more

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