2 New San Diego Restaurants Ranked Among Best in Country
The mouthwatering standouts: San Diego-based celebrity chef Brian Malarkey’s Little Italy restaurant, as well as a cool tiki lounge in Pacific Beach
By Monica Garske ••
Two of San Diego's hottest eateries of 2016 have officially been ranked among the top 10 best new restaurants in the United States, according to votes gathered in an online contest.
About a month ago, USA Today's "10Best" editors and a panel of food and travel experts nominated local hotspots Herb & Wood and The Grass Skirt for the "10Best" Reader's Choice Awards in the "Best New Restaurant" category. The restaurants were named among 20 new places across the country where travelers enjoyed dining in 2016.
Two San Diego restaurants that opened in 2016 have gotten a lot of buzz: Brian Malarkey’s Herb & Wood in Little Italy and the SDCM Restaurant Group’s The Grass Skirt in Pacific Beach. NBC 7’s Monica Garske takes a look at these dining hotspots.
The contest was then opened to online voters, who cast their ballots through Jan. 2. On Friday, the top 10 winners were announced and both of the San Diego standouts made the cut, making San Diego the only city to snag two spots in the awards category.
The Grass Skirt -- a cool, kitschy tiki lounge and restaurant in Pacific Beach -- landed the No. 4 spot on the list. Herb & Wood -- a hip, high-end restaurant from local celebrity chef Brian Malarkey -- landed at No. 6.
Last month, NBC 7 shared this in-depth look at both The Grass Skirt and Herb & Wood. The restaurateurs behind both businesses discussed what makes each spot special and unique, and why patrons keep coming back.
Monica Garske/NBC 7
Cute, kitschy signs of tiki culture are everywhere.
Monica Garske/NBC 7
The sign out front inviting patrons into The Grass Skirt in Pacific Beach.
Monica Garske/NBC 7
The outside of the dual-concept poke and tiki lounge in Pacific Beach.
Monica Garske/NBC 7
During the day, the spot on Grand Avenue in PB houses a small poke restaurant.
Monica Garske/NBC 7
This is the "secret" path that leads you from Good Time Poke into The Grass Skirt.
Monica Garske/NBC 7
Tiki, tiki, tiki.
Monica Garske/NBC 7
The Grass Skirt has a cool and colorful vibe, paired with smooth tiki tunes.
Andrew Jorgensen Photography
SDCM's Matt Spencer says cocktails have gotten too serious over the past few years. The Grass Skirt changes that, offering cool, tropical cocktails.
Monica Garske/NBC 7
Inside The Grass Skirt, colorful murals fill the walls, transporting you to that island life.
Andrew Jorgensen Photography
The Grass Skirt is located at 910 Grand Ave., at the former site of Good Time Charlie’s in PB.
Monica Garske/NBC 7
The bar at The Grass Skirt. If you order certain cocktails off the menu, keep your eye on this wall. It lights up with fire, smoke and other bells & whistles, depending on what you order.
Monica Garske/NBC 7
Tiki details everywhere.
Andrew Jorgensen Photography
The Grass Skirt is the latest dining and drinking destination from SDCM, the creative group behind popular local hotspots like Kettner Exchange and FIREHOUSE American Eatery + Lounge.
Monica Garske/NBC 7
The interior of The Grass Skirt. The restaurant serves an elevated menu of Polynesian-influenced fare and very cool, quirky cocktails.
Monica Garske/NBC 7
The interior of The Grass Skirt. The restaurant serves an elevated menu of Polynesian-influenced fare and very cool, quirky cocktails.
Jim Sloan Photo
The Big Eye Tuna Ribbon at The Grass Skirt features kaffir, soy, avocado, radish, chive and chili oil. The plating is unique -- in that fish bowl is a live gold fish.
Andrew Jorgensen Photography
“Tiki is something we’re pretty passionate about here, said SDCM co-owner Matt Spencer, talking about the debut of The Grass Skirt. This cocktail is dubbed the Tiki Iniki.
Good Time Poke/The Grass Skirt/SDCM
Open evenings, The Grass Skirt is the latest tiki-themed spot to open in San Diego as the tiki culture revival continues to trend. The cool cocktail program at this tiki watering hole will be spearheaded by Beverage Director Steven Tuttle.
Monica Garske/ NBC 7
The entrance to Herb & Wood.
Monica Garske/ NBC 7
San Diego-based celebrity chef Brian Malarkey says he's beaming with pride over Herb & Wood. “I’ve never been so proud in my culinary life to walk up to a table because guests are in awe of everything – the service, the atmosphere, the food, the cocktails. This restaurant hits on all senses,” he told NBC 7.
Monica Garske/ NBC 7
Herb & Wood opened in spring 2016 and has been buzzing with patrons all year.
Sam Wells
The Oxtail Gnocchi at Herb & Wood.
Monica Garske/ NBC 7
Herb & Wood is housed in vast building, with lots of room to sit and wine and dine.
Sam Wells
The Roasted Beet Burrata at Herb & Wood includes sherry, walnut pesto and Jamon Iberico.
Monica Garske/ NBC 7
Art fills the walls at Brian Malarkey's Little Italy venture, Herb & Wood.
Monica Garske/ NBC 7
The restaurant is in Little Italy, on Kettner Boulevard. At its helm is celebrity chef Brian Malarkey and Chris Puffer.
Monica Garske/ NBC 7
Patio seating area at Herb & Wood.
Monica Garske/ NBC 7
Next to Herb & Wood you'll find Herb & Eatery, a small restaurant and chef's market filled with gourmet foodie findings.
Monica Garske/ NBC 7
The entrance to Brian Malarkey's chef's market, Herb & Eatery, on Kettner Boulevard.
Monica Garske/ NBC 7
The display case at Herb & Eatery filled with colorful salads, pastries and more.
Monica Garske/ NBC 7
Next to Herb & Wood you'll find Herb & Eatery, a small restaurant and chef's market filled with gourmet foodie findings.
Monica Garske/ NBC 7
The display case at Herb & Eatery filled with colorful salads, pastries and more.
Matt Spencer, of SDCM, the creative restaurant group behind The Grass Skirt, thinks the elevated, Polynesian-inspired, Asian-fusion menu created by SDCM’s corporate executive chef Brian Redzikowski sets The Grass Skirt apart from other tiki lounges. He also said the eatery’s over-the-top tropical décor commands attention.
“I think the fun kitschiness of the tiki bar, matched with an elevated food menu, somehow is really resonating,” Spencer told NBC 7, adding that the exotic, eye-catching cocktails on the menu help, too.
Malarkey, who called Herb & Wood his "passion project," told NBC 7 he's never been more excited about a culinary endeavor.
"I’ve never been so proud in my culinary life to walk up to a table because guests are in awe of everything – the service, the atmosphere, the food, the cocktails. This restaurant hits on all senses,” he explained.
Roscoe's House of Chicken and Waffles/Facebook
Robert Benson
In March, the highly-anticipated public marketplace long in the works, Liberty Public Market, finally opened at Liberty Station. The indoor and outdoor market features more than two dozen local merchants and plenty of places to sit and dine. The food emporium is ending the year on a high note, too, having been recently ranked No. 13 among the top food halls in the country.
THE LOT at Liberty Station
In May, Liberty Station saw the debut of THE LOT, a luxury movie theater boasting cozy recliner chairs and gourmet food service. The venue includes a full-fledged restaurant, plus craft coffee, artisan pastries and wine, beer and spirits. You can order your dinner and have it delivered right to your seat inside the movie theater.
Andrew Jorgensen Photography
Tiki culture is trending in today’s dining scene and the campy, colorful theme spawned many cool, new bars and lounges across San Diego in 2016. Some standouts: Miss B’s Coconut Club, which opened on Mission Boulevard in Mission Beach in April, serving tropical drinks in punch bowls and real coconuts; False Idol the hidden, 1,000-square-foot gem that opened in September inside the newly revamped Craft & Commerce restaurant in Little Italy; The Grass Skirt, which opened in November on Grand Avenue in Pacific Beach, serving elevated Polynesian fare and cocktails with a flare. Along with Herb & Wood, The Grass Skirt is in the running to be named the Best New Restaurant in the U.S., as voted on by travelers in a USA Today 10Best poll.
Becca Batista
In the spring of 2016, San Diego-based celebrity chef Brian Malarkey opened his newest project, Herb & Wood, an upscale foodie haven on Kettner Boulevard in Little Italy. Over the past seven months or so, the restaurant has not stopped buzzing as patrons delight in the menu, which includes dishes crafted in a custom, wood-fired oven and a bar menu focused on fresh herbs. Both Malarkey and his eatery took home top honors at <a target="_blank" href=http://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/local/Eater-San-Diego-Awards-Brian-Malarkey-402065016.html” Eater San Diego’s 2016 Awards; Herb & Wood is also in the running to be named the Best New Restaurant in the country in USA Today’s <a target="_blank" href=”http://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/local/Herb-and-Wood-The-Grass-Skirt-USA-Today-Best-New-Restaurants-Contest-405302845.html” 10Best poll. “It’s been a phenomenal ride,” Malarkey told NBC 7 in a December interview, adding that he’s “never been so proud” of a culinary endeavor.
Monica Garske
The highly-anticipated chicken and eggs eatery, The Crack Shack, opened to long lines and rave reviews in November 2015 in Little Italy. In 2016, The Crack Shack began hatching plans for a spinoffs in San Diego’s North County, this time in Encinitas. Now, that second location – which opens next month – is so close, we can practically taste it.
Roscoe's House of Chicken and Waffles/Facebook
After many months of rumors, Eater San Diego was able to confirm over the summer that the famed Roscoe’s House of Chicken and Waffles is, in fact, spreading its wings and coming to San Diego. The soul food eatery plans to open a location in Barrio Logan, at 1678 National Ave. As the New Year unfolds, delicious details on this big opening are forthcoming and, with the restaurant’s cult following, surely all of San Diego will know about this.
Shake Shack/Facebook
Also highly rumored in 2016 was the expansion of Shake Shack into San Diego. In November, Eater San Diego was able to confirm the delicious news: the wildly popular burger chain will add San Diego to its West Coast expansion boom, with plans to open a location in Westfield UTC sometime in 2017.
NBC 7 San Diego
Over the summer, we learned of plans to open a new drive-thru Dunkin’ Donuts location in National City. Months later, those plans became a sweet reality as the 24-hour doughnut shop opened at 2139 East Plaza Blvd., off Interstate 805. This is San Diego’s first standalone Dunkin’ Donuts drive-thru location (another drive-thru in Ramona is both a Dunkin’ Donuts and Baskin-Robbins combo restaurant) and the beginning of the East Coast chain’s major expansion into Southern California. When the restaurant opened on Dec. 7, eager patrons waited in long lines for a bite of those sweet treats; the eatery was expected to sell about 18,000 doughnuts that day, as well as thousands of cups of the chain’s famous coffee.
The seasoned chef said Herb & Wood being named alongside The Grass Skirt as one of the best new restaurants in the country was "quite an honor" and a major nod to San Diego's thriving dining scene.
“Very proud of San Diego to have two restaurants in the Top 10, across the United States. It’s huge for us, it’s huge for him [Matt Spencer and The Grass Skirt],it’s huge for San Diego. We’re very honored. It’s definitely a big pride thing," Malarkey added.
Malarkey opened Herb & Wood in April 2016 along with his business partner, Christopher Puffer. The eatery is located at 2210 Kettner Blvd. in Little Italy, at the site of a former art warehouse. The menu includes proteins and veggies cooked in a custom, wood-fired oven and housemade pastas, plus a cocktail menu focusing on fresh herbs.
Meanwhile, The Grass Skirt opened in early November 2016 at 910 Grand Ave., the former site of Good Time Charlie’s in Pacific Beach. The space includes many traditional tiki design elements, including fire pit tables, and a cool, rum-heavy cocktail menu spearheaded by beverage director Steven Tuttle.
Andrew Jorgensen Photography
On Nov. 7, the dual-concept venue housing Good Time Poké and The Grass Skirt will open in Pacific Beach. These are the latest dining and drinking destinations from SDCM, the creative group behind popular local hotspots like Kettner Exchange and FIREHOUSE American Eatery + Lounge.
Good Time Poke/The Grass Skirt/SDCM
Good Time Poké is San Diego’s first grab-and-go poké shop offering different versions of the traditional Hawaiian fare. The dishes – from tako (octopus) to ahi (yellowfin tuna) are created by Executive Chef Brian Redzikowski. During the daytime, when the space operates as Good Time Poké, the menu will also include custom raw fish and rice bowls, plus kombucha on tap. Pictured here is the Big-eye Tuna, which comes with bonito flake, pickled ginger and sesame.
Andrew Jorgensen Photography
In the evening, the space will transform into The Grass Skirt, the latest tiki-themed spot to open in San Diego as the tiki culture revival continues to trend. The cool cocktail program at this tiki watering hole will be spearheaded by Beverage Director Steven Tuttle.
Andrew Jorgensen Photography
The dual-concept spot is located at 910 Grand Ave., at the former site of Good Time Charlie’s in PB.
Andrew Jorgensen Photography
“Tiki is something we’re pretty passionate about here, said SDCM co-owner Matt Spencer, talking about the debut of The Grass Skirt. This cocktail is dubbed the Tiki Iniki. The Grass Skirt includes a lot of traditional tiki design influences, including fire pit tables.
During the day, the location serves as Good Time Poké, San Diego’s first grab-and-go poké shop offering different versions of the traditional Hawaiian fare. At night, the space transforms into the Polynesian-themed tiki lounge serving dishes like okinomiyaki fries with bonito, spicy mayo and hoison, as well as pork belly buns and kimchi fried rice.
In the end, voters named FLX Table in Geneva, New York, the No. 1 Best New Restaurant in the 10Best contest. Others that made the top 10, in order, include:
(No. 2) Butchertown Grocery in Louisville, Kentucky
(No. 3) Loquita in Santa Barbara, California
(No. 5) Local Provisions in Asheville, North Carolina
(No. 7) UPTON 43 in Minneapolis, Minnesota
(No. 8) The Marsh House in Nashville, Tennessee
(No. 9) Double Knot in Philadelphia, Massachusetts
