Little Italy has many good dinners, but Herb & Wood is the one guests plan an evening around. This wood-fired, Mediterranean-leaning dining room from Chef Brian Malarkey helped put San Diego's modern restaurant scene on the map. Find it at 936 West Ivy St, San Diego, CA 92101 (cross: Kettner Blvd & Ivy).
Herb & Wood: The Little Italy Dinner Worth Planning Around
What to go for: the live-fire menu is the draw. The signature starter is roasted oysters & bone marrow, followed by wood-grilled meats and seafood, house pastas, and branzino among the dishes. The menu is seasonal, so treat this as the style of cooking to expect, not a guaranteed list.
Plan your visit: Herb & Wood serves dinner only — Monday through Thursday and Sunday 5:00 PM–9:00 PM; Friday and Saturday 5:00 PM–9:30 PM. Reservations are recommended. Happy hour runs daily 5:00–6:00 PM. Phone (619) 955-8495. Official site: herbandwood.com.
Stay a short walk away: My SD Rental's Little Italy lofts put dinner, Piazza della Famiglia, and home on foot — no driving after dinner, no parking hunt. Book direct at mysdrental.com and skip the platform guest fees. Questions? Call (619) 567-2972.
A central home base: San Diego International Airport about 5 minutes, Petco Park and the Gaslamp Quarter about 5 minutes, Balboa Park about 6 minutes, San Diego Zoo about 8 minutes, SeaWorld about 10 minutes, Coronado about 11 minutes, Mission Beach about 13 minutes, and La Jolla about 20 minutes.