I went to the Secret Garden with my friends and the bartender Jenny was amazing! I’ve never tried absinthe and she taught all of us so much. 10 out of 10 for a Friday night off!
Wormwood is excellent. Some of the best food I've had since eating at Calie and Fort Oak. And the drinks...the drinks are incredible. Superb cocktails all around. I came here for a party in the secret garden and we had our own bathroom and bartenders and every single drink was incredible, The Bombardier, the Sun King, and even the old fashions we ordered with simple syrup were super smooth. Our friends ordered breakfast drinks with a hint of coffee, which were AMAZING. I will be bringing my wife back here for dinner.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Randall Huskinson
Go here for the ambiance and service. Indoor and outdoor the spaces are really special, and while our main server knocked it out of the park with unobtrusive attentiveness, the entire FOH team was also a part of the experience ensuring the meal service was perfect. Also made just enough fuss about the birthday in our group.
The minor letdown is the menu. While it’s a tiny kitchen, it could use a couple more dishes to choose from. It’s a small-portions place. I had the NY steak and it was tasty, but the sides and sauce didn’t differentiate enough in flavor. It all just was on the salty umami side and would have benefited from something green on the plate. The scallop starter was the star.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 3
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Coquilles St Jacques, Mushroom Tartlets
Katie Smith
Booked Wormwood for a private brunch event. Communication going into the event was frustrating as the event coordinator would take days, sometimes weeks to get back to be without a followup. The event was goregous. The staff during the event was so nice and accomidating. However food was packaged up before my guests were done eating. When the event was over they started clean up and moving tables around before all of my guests had left. This was extremely frustrating because they had asked me if I could push my event back by 30 minutes, so I know they had time. Plus my contract stated I would get the venue for 4 hours as opposed to the standard 3. When I asked for my packaged leftovers when leaving, I was told they had been thrown away. They next day I emailed the event coordinator about it and he said there wasnt much but I could come pick up what was left - he hasn't responded to my response. I also was not aware of a 4.00% BEO Event Coordination fee that I was going to be charged. That was not part of my contract. Even after the event it has been impossible to get ahold of the event coordinator. I would dine here again but I would never do a private event here again.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 2
Mira A.S.
Food is delicious. But I was quite uncomfortable gastrointestinally the day after and then bloated and constipated for 3 weeks lol. Pardon me if tmi. I'm a foodie who would eat anything and I don't have digestion problems even when others do after we eat the same thing. Coincidence? I mean, maybe? But I'm not going back. I also didn't think it was worth the price.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 3
Service: 4
Gene Lee
Overall, we had a pleasurable dining experience at Wormwood and must say, it was one of the most creative restaurants I've ever dined at. The charm and coziness welcomes you through the door, and there is a cute outdoor garden patio space in the back. We dined indoors. love the open kitchen design. The service was fair. The staff could be more attentive with refilling waters and being clearer with the ingredients, as each plate was so pretty and you can tell Wormwood is genuinely passionate about the food, presentation, and the overall dining experience. We were there with two friends celebrating their birthdays and wanted a special dinner.
About the food, each dish was gorgeously and meticulously crafted, visually beautiful and bursting with flavor. The chef's dedication to using fresh, high-quality ingredients was evident in every bite. started with the bread and butter infused with rosemary and honey - delicious. The bone marrow/ wagyu tartare looked beautiful. I had the roasted beet salad with mint and a very good dressing.
We had the $60 tasting menu and three of us went with the NY steak and one had the pasta, which has a nice poblano chili flavor. The flavors were perfectly balanced. The citrusy Creamsicle dessert was refreshing, light, and balanced well with the creme fresh and meringue pieces.
Overall, we enjoyed this place and its cool vibe, but it is more expensive (>$100 per person) and be mindful of the add-ons on the menu (in addition to the $60 per person fee, the steak is +$16, cheese plate is +$10, and 4% surcharge on the bill.)
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 4
Justin
Be warned, they add a 4% up charge to your order. Raise prices instead of tricking your customers about the price by hiding it in small print on the menu. Tips already subsidize labor, we don’t need a hidden fee too.
Otherwise, the food and experience were both excellent. However, to me the price trickery is worth removing two stars.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 4
Daniela Shemirani
Absolutely amazing!! What a gem. Some of the best food I’ve had in San Diego. Their vibe is like French with Mexican twist. Very strong flavors in the best way. Romantic date night spot. Get the cheese board. Get the beet salad, it has surprises at the bottom. Get the tart. Also get the steak. So good will be back
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
snowbbike
I live nearby and have been here several times. I felt the need to write a review from this past visit. I feel like it’s way overpriced for what you get. Expect to pay at least $100-200 per person to be comfortably fed with drinks. Some staff here are wonderful and then this past visit we had the manager (?) wait on us probably because it was busy, and it was a very uncomfortably rushed, pushy and pretentious experience. He wasn’t very kind and left a very bad impression on me and my family who was visiting. I left feeling very disappointed that I brought them here especially since the service was not good and the food was definitely not as good as I’ve had in the past. It sucks because it was a $600 bill for 4 and it was not even close to worth it. I’d say this place is usually worth a try on an off night for a special occasion if you have money to spend.
Marquese G
Menu is small but the dish that i had was well prepared. They have quite a selection of Absinthe which is tough to find in SD.
Service is excellent. Our server Carl is lovely and nice. The rest is the bus staff and the manager are all good. As for food, the salad and all the garnish is great. I really don't like the chicken at all. It has no taste and the meat texture is strange. The drinks are good. Maybe for drinks and small bites. The main dish is not up to par for the
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 3
Service: 5
Lidiya Kravchuk
Speculate meal this weekend. Thoughtfully prepared, plated and presented. Kudos to the entire team. Was my third visit but it’s been about 1.5 years since my last one and WOW, things have really developed in that time. Food went from good to great. Will be back soon!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Nick
This was the closest to what we experienced in Burgundy: pre fixe multiple course tasting menu, amazing fresh food prepared with skill and care, and an excellent wine list. Service was wonderful; the staff helped each other out as one team. They made us feel special. Even the chef was accommodating, as he permitted us to substitute a cheese course for the planned desert. Next time (and there will be a next time) we will dine in the little garden, which looked charming. There are a number of interesting, fun restaurants in North Park. Many are worth visiting. But Wormwood stands out from the pack our meal was next to perfect. Highly recommended.
AlexR
Will be back. Never judge a book for its cover. Meaning, we have found it small and nothing fancy or attractive on the outside but inside it was very cozy and the food was delicious. Simple menu with great options, reasonable prices, and high-quality food. In my opinion and experience, the kitchen and service were very very slow. 
Charlie
The Sunday evening patio experience is dependable. An excellent jazz duo playing at a restrained volume makes for a lovely setting. The food and bar program is always on point, and service is always pleasant and professional.
I went to the Secret Garden with my friends and the bartender Jenny was amazing! I’ve never tried absinthe and she taught all of us so much. 10 out of 10 for a Friday night off!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Oysters Rockefeller, Roasted Marrow, Wagyu Tartare
Wormwood is excellent. Some of the best food I've had since eating at Calie and Fort Oak. And the drinks...the drinks are incredible. Superb cocktails all around. I came here for a party in the secret garden and we had our own bathroom and bartenders and every single drink was incredible, The Bombardier, the Sun King, and even the old fashions we ordered with simple syrup were super smooth. Our friends ordered breakfast drinks with a hint of coffee, which were AMAZING. I will be bringing my wife back here for dinner.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Go here for the ambiance and service. Indoor and outdoor the spaces are really special, and while our main server knocked it out of the park with unobtrusive attentiveness, the entire FOH team was also a part of the experience ensuring the meal service was perfect. Also made just enough fuss about the birthday in our group.
The minor letdown is the menu. While it’s a tiny kitchen, it could use a couple more dishes to choose from. It’s a small-portions place. I had the NY steak and it was tasty, but the sides and sauce didn’t differentiate enough in flavor. It all just was on the salty umami side and would have benefited from something green on the plate. The scallop starter was the star.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 3
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Coquilles St Jacques, Mushroom Tartlets
Booked Wormwood for a private brunch event. Communication going into the event was frustrating as the event coordinator would take days, sometimes weeks to get back to be without a followup. The event was goregous. The staff during the event was so nice and accomidating. However food was packaged up before my guests were done eating. When the event was over they started clean up and moving tables around before all of my guests had left. This was extremely frustrating because they had asked me if I could push my event back by 30 minutes, so I know they had time. Plus my contract stated I would get the venue for 4 hours as opposed to the standard 3. When I asked for my packaged leftovers when leaving, I was told they had been thrown away. They next day I emailed the event coordinator about it and he said there wasnt much but I could come pick up what was left - he hasn't responded to my response. I also was not aware of a 4.00% BEO Event Coordination fee that I was going to be charged. That was not part of my contract. Even after the event it has been impossible to get ahold of the event coordinator. I would dine here again but I would never do a private event here again.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 2
Food is delicious. But I was quite uncomfortable gastrointestinally the day after and then bloated and constipated for 3 weeks lol. Pardon me if tmi. I'm a foodie who would eat anything and I don't have digestion problems even when others do after we eat the same thing. Coincidence? I mean, maybe? But I'm not going back. I also didn't think it was worth the price.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 3
Service: 4
Overall, we had a pleasurable dining experience at Wormwood and must say, it was one of the most creative restaurants I've ever dined at. The charm and coziness welcomes you through the door, and there is a cute outdoor garden patio space in the back. We dined indoors. love the open kitchen design.
The service was fair. The staff could be more attentive with refilling waters and being clearer with the ingredients, as each plate was so pretty and you can tell Wormwood is genuinely passionate about the food, presentation, and the overall dining experience. We were there with two friends celebrating their birthdays and wanted a special dinner.
About the food, each dish was gorgeously and meticulously crafted, visually beautiful and bursting with flavor. The chef's dedication to using fresh, high-quality ingredients was evident in every bite. started with the bread and butter infused with rosemary and honey - delicious. The bone marrow/ wagyu tartare looked beautiful. I had the roasted beet salad with mint and a very good dressing.
We had the $60 tasting menu and three of us went with the NY steak and one had the pasta, which has a nice poblano chili flavor. The flavors were perfectly balanced. The citrusy Creamsicle dessert was refreshing, light, and balanced well with the creme fresh and meringue pieces.
Overall, we enjoyed this place and its cool vibe, but it is more expensive (>$100 per person) and be mindful of the add-ons on the menu (in addition to the $60 per person fee, the steak is +$16, cheese plate is +$10, and 4% surcharge on the bill.)
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 4
Be warned, they add a 4% up charge to your order. Raise prices instead of tricking your customers about the price by hiding it in small print on the menu. Tips already subsidize labor, we don’t need a hidden fee too.
Otherwise, the food and experience were both excellent. However, to me the price trickery is worth removing two stars.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 4
Absolutely amazing!! What a gem. Some of the best food I’ve had in San Diego. Their vibe is like French with Mexican twist. Very strong flavors in the best way. Romantic date night spot. Get the cheese board. Get the beet salad, it has surprises at the bottom. Get the tart. Also get the steak. So good will be back
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
I live nearby and have been here several times. I felt the need to write a review from this past visit. I feel like it’s way overpriced for what you get. Expect to pay at least $100-200 per person to be comfortably fed with drinks. Some staff here are wonderful and then this past visit we had the manager (?) wait on us probably because it was busy, and it was a very uncomfortably rushed, pushy and pretentious experience. He wasn’t very kind and left a very bad impression on me and my family who was visiting. I left feeling very disappointed that I brought them here especially since the service was not good and the food was definitely not as good as I’ve had in the past. It sucks because it was a $600 bill for 4 and it was not even close to worth it. I’d say this place is usually worth a try on an off night for a special occasion if you have money to spend.
Menu is small but the dish that i had was well prepared. They have quite a selection of Absinthe which is tough to find in SD.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Restaurantji Recommends
Service is excellent. Our server Carl is lovely and nice. The rest is the bus staff and the manager are all good. As for food, the salad and all the garnish is great. I really don't like the chicken at all. It has no taste and the meat texture is strange. The drinks are good. Maybe for drinks and small bites. The main dish is not up to par for the
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 3
Service: 5
Speculate meal this weekend. Thoughtfully prepared, plated and presented. Kudos to the entire team. Was my third visit but it’s been about 1.5 years since my last one and WOW, things have really developed in that time. Food went from good to great. Will be back soon!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
This was the closest to what we experienced in Burgundy: pre fixe multiple course tasting menu, amazing fresh food prepared with skill and care, and an excellent wine list. Service was wonderful; the staff helped each other out as one team. They made us feel special. Even the chef was accommodating, as he permitted us to substitute a cheese course for the planned desert. Next time (and there will be a next time) we will dine in the little garden, which looked charming. There are a number of interesting, fun restaurants in North Park. Many are worth visiting. But Wormwood stands out from the pack our meal was next to perfect. Highly recommended.
Will be back. Never judge a book for its cover. Meaning, we have found it small and nothing fancy or attractive on the outside but inside it was very cozy and the food was delicious. Simple menu with great options, reasonable prices, and high-quality food. In my opinion and experience, the kitchen and service were very very slow. 
The Sunday evening patio experience is dependable. An excellent jazz duo playing at a restrained volume makes for a lovely setting. The food and bar program is always on point, and service is always pleasant and professional.
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