Wormwood — Restaurant in San Diego

If I could give this place 10 stars, I would.

The owner is French American seasoned San Diego restaurant operator, USD alumni and successful entrepreneur who you can tell has a grand slam hit on his hands.

It’s magical to think a place like Wormwood exists in San Diego.

Our server Jenny guided us through the menu in the perfect way, like a seasoned guide in a foreign land.

We started with the French bread with seaweed butter. The butter was perfect in texture, smell and taste balanced. The seaweed was subtle with just the right amount of saltiness.

The crusty exterior of the hot bread while soft and chewy interior made this a must have fish for French bread lovers.

We had the mushrooms next they were exquisitely presented with a croissant like exterior and moist interior and came five in a plate.

Next we had the artichoke and steak tartar. The artichoke was fresh, crunchy and full of delicately purposefully seasoned bite sized pieces. The freshness, preparation and presentation on plate were excellent.

The tartare was a nice portion size for two and with the bone marrow it was out of control delicious, fatty, moist and tender. The French bread came toasted and the combination made a wondrous pairing reminiscent of an evening dancing in a fancy ballroom in the 20s, all in my mouth.

It’s a gift how food can bring out memories, imagination and take you on unexpected journeys all from the sight, smell and taste. Wormwood does food like a gift from a loved one, how food should always be done.

The cold zucchini soup is so surprisingly amazing and prepared table side by pouring the liquid on top of an elegantly presented bowl. It’s a bit salty but would recommend regardless if you’ve never tried a cold soup as it’s creamy, whipped and just melts in your mouth with a tangy finish on your tongue.

The hanger steak with its two day sauce was perfect as medium rare and the sides were light, creamy and the potatoes crispy on the outside and perfectly cooked on the inside.

The scallops were delicious and well prepared, balanced on the palate with nothing overpowering.

The absinthe cocktails were delicious the a la 30th and the French authentic absinthe collection was plentiful.

10/10 must...

This was my fourth time to Wormwood and I have always had really lovely experiences until this time. Everything, from our server to the food was fantastic with the exception of a French fellow who was not our server, definitely not a sommelier but who was assisting with dinner service. Our family is in France often as we have a family home there and numerous family members who reside there so I know how some French people can be quite abrasive, but this guy was over the top, to the point we just had to laugh about it. First, he was presenting a bottle of sparkling rose, I had just taken a bite of bread with butter so I deferred to my friend next to me to taste it and this fellow has the nerve to say, “Oh good, now she looks like she knows what she talking about”. My friend then asked what he meant by that and of course, he could not expand because it would have been too mean, I’m sure. The rudeness of that comment was a standout from the thousands of dining experiences I’ve had and I won’t soon forget it. The fellow then called my husband a “smart ass” and upon bringing us the most watered down absinthe (American style) I’ve ever had, I inquired where the sugar cubes were and he said “you need no sugar with all of the desserts you’ve all had”. Omg! The laughable rudeness was so over the top we had a very hearty laugh about that one too. Anyway, this guy needs to learn about hospitality and gracious service as I think he’s more suited to the nightclub gig he looks like he just wandered in from. Trés gauche.

PS. I called the restaurant three times and left voicemails and none of them were returned. I was asking to add two more people to our reservation so when I arrived, they asked where my friends were asked if I could just call them last minute to invite them to join us. So they got the message but no return...

Wormwood has always been on my must-visit list—I'd heard whispers that their dinners were nothing short of enchanting culinary masterpieces. But fate had a different plan for my first visit: brunch. Supposedly, it's a new offering for them.

The moment I stepped onto the back patio, I felt transported to another world. The space was quaint, warm, and almost otherworldly in its charm. A two-piece jazz acoustic guitar band was playing and singing tunes that hypnotically transported us straight to a breezy Parisian café.

The menu was an overwhelming delight—in the best possible way. I highly recommend the dish featuring thick, full bacon chunks or get the croque monsieur sandwich. And though panna cotta has never been my go-to dessert, Wormwood’s version was incredible.

You get two choices from the menu for around $35, and while the portions aren’t massive, every bite was deeply satisfying—even for someone like me who usually eats big.

Don’t miss the avocado toast. Seriously. Whatever expectations you bring to that phrase, Wormwood completely elevates it. The service was also impressive. They didn't miss a beat.

A special surprise was meeting Chef Anna Lisa, who came out to greet guests. It wasn’t just her—everyone in the kitchen made us feel incredibly welcome the moment we walked in. That warmth is rare and makes the experience even more unforgettable.

And, bonus: parking was actually manageable, thanks to the brunch timing. I’ve always been a bit intimidated by the evening parking situation in that area, so this was a relief.

If brunch is any indication of what Wormwood delivers at dinner, I can’t wait to return. This place doesn’t just serve food—it crafts an experience.

PS. Definitely get an outside patio reservation because it...