Timeless yet approachable, celebrated Chef Brian Malarkey opened Herb & Wood to instant acclaim over four years ago. In that time, the restaurant has become an icon, a dining destination that has helped to propel San Diego’s culinary reputation to new heights. By focusing on rustic, wood-fired dishes, Chef Malarkey’s menu elevates humble ingredients such as carrots, beets, and chicken, incorporating Mediterranean flavors and a California ethos of seasonality and sustainability. Designed by the collective’s co-founder Chris Puffer, the interior of Herb & Wood invites guests with an almost Southern charm while somehow feeling perfectly at home in Southern California. An eclectic study of contrasts, the space evokes the dual persona of the Gilded Age: lavish sophistication set against industrial simplicity.