8 Best Restaurants in North County and Around, California

When you bring a renowned Cordon Bleu–trained chef to a small pie town in the mountains, you get Jeremy's on the Hill where Julian locals have been counting their culinary blessings since 2007. As the area's most upscale restaurant, this cozy spot has gained a solid reputation thanks to Jeremy's commitment to quality cuisine reflected in the farm-to-table menu. At the young age of 21, he wowed customers-turned-fans with grass-fed bison meatloaf, filet mignon with whipped potatoes, cremini mushrooms with truffle oil, and his signature Brussels sprouts sweetened with pineapple. Although the menu features grilled steak and locally grown pork and veggies, the stars are rack of lamb and some of the best burgers around.

Paying tribute to community around the campfire, it’s all about connecting here, both with the cool crowd and with the distinctive cocktail and dinner menus. Throughout the restaurant, subtle hints of the camping theme—canvas-backed booths, servers in flannels, leather menus branded with the Campfire log—are visible, but it’s the food that will leave you setting up camp, as chefs work their magic behind glass walls grilling, roasting, and smoking almost every dish including the oysters warmed over coals. The fire-roasted cabbage has a crunch, and the smoked brisket with coffee rub delivers with polenta and pickled tomatoes. Topping off the meal are tableside mini-Dutch ovens of hot coals for DIY s’mores with vanilla marshmallows, graham cookies, salted caramel, and chocolate ganache.

Fast-casual takes a healthy spin at this cheery spot where you order at the counter and watch magic happen in the open kitchen. The menu evokes a colorful vibe with bowls like the Mother Earth (ancient grains and sweet potato) or the glow bowl (sweet potato noodles, bok choy, shiitake mushroom, and coconut milk); soups; mix-and-match sides; wraps; and salads mixed with fresh ingredients like organic kale, ginger miso vinaigrette, and proteins that include sustainable salmon, grass-fed steak, and organic, non-GMO tofu.

A one-stop shop meets dining experience starts here with a market, farm, restaurant, brewery, and event space all in one. At the heart of the scene is Haven, a field-to-table restaurant delivering a menu built by both chef and farmer that manifests in such dishes as beetroot hummus, roasted cauliflower soup, smoked chicken, and seared lamb. The sincere and simple menu evolves with the seasons, showcasing the freshest ingredients at their peak. Organic wines, seed-free oils, and other sustainable practices are what make this spot truly on (Fox) point. Outdoor tables offer garden views, and the indoor dining space is equally green with plants draping the A-frame structure as an architectural masterpiece.

Over the past decade, this coveted ocean-view spot in Del Mar has seen restaurants come and go, but finally Monarch did it right by transforming an 8,000-square-foot facility into dining space, an entertainment venue, and a sundeck for patrons and their pups. Inside, the California coastal menu itself is as cool as the 1970s decor, with rattan furniture and a poster of Tom Selleck greeting you at the bar; outside a bridge connects the restaurant to “Monarch On The Deck” where grab-'n'-go goodies can be enjoyed with live music Sunday from 3 to 6. Good luck wrapping your mouth around the short rib pastrami sandwich, brined for five days and piled high on toasted marbled rye. There’s no skimping on the lobster and shrimp sliders, and the boat fries are perfect for scooping homemade ranch or aioli dip. Burgers, salads, and wood-fired smoked wings are just the right portions to save room for the Hawaiian doughnuts with Tahitian vanilla gelato.

Step into South Coast Winery's dimly lit restaurant, where prices are high but wine pours are generous. Wooden pillars divide L-shape booths where servers deliver favorites like the charcuterie platter, prime rib, and roasted salmon with wild mushrooms; hearty eaters will appreciate the selection of pork chop and grilled filet mignon. Outdoor tables overlooking the lawn illuminated with market lights are equally romantic. Guests at South Coast Winery, or neighboring Carter Estate Resort, can charge their bill to the room.

Don't let its location above the Lexus dealership dissuade you; this swanky restaurant is designed as three restaurants in one: a formal glass-walled dining room; a lively patio with firepits and cabanas; and the lobby bar with leather couches and a wine shop. No matter where you dine, try the macadamia-and-coconut-crusted sea bass, or the slow-braised short ribs, followed with a cocktail using one of the more than 125 vodkas. For something different, come for “Tuesday Date Night,” which features two entrées and a bottle of wine ($75).

Restauranteurs John Resnick and Eric Bost—of Jeune et Jolie and Campfire—are keeping Carlsbad on the culinary radar with their latest creation housed in an 8,000-square-foot former boogie board factory. This is where people come to grab-and-go or spend the entire day with a laptop open ordering brioche French toast and fresh pastries for breakfast, grain bowls and wood-fired sandwiches for lunch, and pizzas and rotisserie chicken for dinner. Despite the casual vibe, there’s an elevated approach to the menu with homemade bread, pasta, and pastries. The street-facing patio and full bar make it easy to lose track of time.