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When you think about it, our feet are pretty amazing. For most, they're an unfaltering foundation - two shock absorbers we rely on daily to hold our weight and propel us through life. Comprised of dozens of bones and hundreds of ligaments, muscles, and tendons, the average person's feet take a fair beating every day - on average, people stand for about four hours every day and take around 5K steps as well. Because your feet are smaller than most other parts of your body, they endure an enormous impact with each step, adding up to hundreds of tons of weight daily.
Strangely, when our feet, ankles, or toes begin to hurt, we do our best to ignore the pain and push through the day. We even give up sports and outdoor activities that we love. Unfortunately, ignoring pain and delaying treatment will further damage your feet and, by proxy, your whole body.
If you're living with foot and ankle pain or have given up on fun activities like hiking and jogging, it's time to change. Why sacrifice a life full of outdoor activities in our beautiful part of the world when you can visit an expert podiatrist in Carlsbad, CA?
Welcome to North County Foot and Ankle - where men and women just like you get new leases on life through some of the most advanced podiatric treatments available in California. With more than 50 years of combined experience treating a wide range of foot and ankle problems, our pioneering doctors have helped hundreds of people reclaim their love of walking, jogging, and life in general.
What makes North County Foot and Ankle stand out from other foot and ankle doctors in Carlsbad? Unlike some foot doctors, our podiatrists work with a client-first mentality. When you walk through our front doors, the time you spend in our office is all about you. We believe in a strong physician-patient relationship fortified by one-on-one attention and honest communication.
Before offering foot pain treatment options, we perform a thorough evaluation, taking into account your individual needs, goals, and preferences. Once that's done, we'll discuss your treatment options in detail and come to a mutual decision regarding the best treatment plan for you.
Whether you have a minor hangnail or need complex surgery, you will receive the same level of compassionate care from our medical team. As board-certified podiatrists in Carlsbad, our doctors are proud to treat you. You can rest easy knowing they will take the time to explain what's causing your foot pain, what treatments are best suited to your problem, and what steps you should take after treatment.
And while our podiatrists are uniquely qualified to perform surgery, we often recommend non-surgical options, using treatments like orthotics to relieve foot, arch, and heel pain. From sports injuries and bunions to gout and blisters, we're here to help you live life to the fullest without nagging, debilitating foot pain.
Patients visit our foot clinic in Carlsbad, CA, for many podiatric problems, including:
If you're dealing with chronic foot pain or are concerned about a long-lasting symptom that affects your daily life, we're here to help. Unsure if you need to call to make an appointment? These symptoms are often signs that you might need to visit our foot and ankle doctors:
Most people over 40 know that strange body aches and pains become more common with age. The same can be said with our feet. As we get older, our feet usually spread out and lose the fatty pads that help cushion our feet. If you're overweight, the ligaments and bones in your feet also take an extra beating. Also, with age, foot abnormalities that you were born with become more pronounced, as the joints in your feet lose flexibility and become rigid. To make matters worse, the skin covering your feet dries out, resulting in more cuts, scrapes, and infections.
It's clear that we endure more foot pain as we get older, but what kind of foot pain should we be most concerned about? It can be hard to tell - pain from what looks like normal bruising may actually be a sign that something more serious is occurring. That's why we're listing some of the most common symptoms of serious foot problems. That way, you're better educated and have a better shot at figuring out whether you need a simple bag of ice or a visit to your podiatrist in Carlsbad, CA.
When you sprain your foot or ankle or suffer an acute injury, it's normal for your foot to swell up. This type of swelling typically goes down after 48 hours have passed. However, if you hurt your foot and the swelling is severe and doesn't go away after a couple of days, it's cause for concern. Persistent swelling often indicates an ankle or foot injury that needs podiatric care.
North County Foot and Ankle Pro Tip: If you notice persistent swelling of any kind on your body, it's wise to see a doctor. Ankle swelling, in particular, could be a warning sign that a blood clot or heart issue is present.
It's normal for your foot or ankle to "smart" after you stub your toe or twist your ankle. However, if you're experiencing ongoing ankle and foot pain, it's probably not normal. The pain doesn't have to be sharp, either - if you have dull pain, tenderness, or weakness that lasts more than two days, a trip to the foot doctor may be in order.
Minor ankle and foot injuries, like sprains, are quite common. When a sprain happens, it's normal to experience some instability or weakness afterward. Chronic instability, however, is a more serious problem. Long-term instability or weakness may signify torn ligaments or something worse. If you've had trouble standing or walking for a long time, it's best to make an appointment at a foot clinic in Carlsbad.
North County Foot and Ankle Pro Tip: Podiatric experts like those at North County Foot and Ankle may have a long-term solution to help reclaim your mobility without surgery. Give our office call today to learn more!
Stiffness is a normal symptom that should be expected with sprains, plantar fasciitis, and arthritis. Often, you can alleviate such stiffness with rest, weight loss, stretching, or even new shoes. With that said, if you're experiencing ongoing stiffness, it could be a red flag that something more serious is going on.
When you've been sitting for a long time, you may have noticed a popping sound from your feet when you stand. That sound is perfectly normal. So long as it's painless, you've got nothing to worry about. However, if you feel pain when you hear a popping noise, it could indicate a subluxation or dislocation, which are conditions that require a podiatrist's attention.
If you're not sure whether you should be concerned about a painful foot or ankle symptom, give our clinic in Carlsbad a call ASAP. Our helpful technicians can help answer your questions and set up a time for you to speak with one of our friendly podiatrists.
Here are just a few of the typical foot problems we treat daily.
Do you have intense heel pain that appears when you first stand up, only for it to disappear after a few steps? If so, you could be one of the millions of people in the U.S. suffering from plantar fasciitis. Plantar fasciitis is most often caused by an inflamed ligament covering bones on the bottom of your feet. Also called "Policeman's Heel," this painful condition is a common reason for heel pain, but it won't go away on its own.
Almost all cases of plantar fasciitis will get better with easy, non-surgical treatments and lifestyle changes. A good place to start is by refraining from activities or sports that cause pain, like jogging, hiking, running, or aerobic exercises.
Common treatment options at North County Foot and Ankle include:
Orthotic shoe inserts provide you with the arch support that your feet need, especially with shoes like women's flats that don't have much foot support. We also recommend wearing shoes that are appropriate for the activity you're enjoying, like hiking boots on your favorite trail and running shoes on the street or track.
Stretching regularly with gentle exercises can help prevent plantar fasciitis and stop flare-ups. Stretching your calves, specifically, reduces heel pain effectively. After you schedule an appointment at our foot clinic in Carlsbad, one of our doctors can explain the proper exercises in more detail.
Wearing a brace or splint while you sleep will keep your plantar fascia stretched. That way, when you wake up and take your first steps of the day, you shouldn't have as much pain because your plantar fascia won't have a chance to tighten up overnight.
North County Foot and Ankle Pro Tip: If you're still struggling with plantar fasciitis after using orthotics, treatments like orthobiologics, platelet-rich plasma (PRP) treatment, or extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT) may be more effective.
Ingrown toenails are among the most common foot maladies in the United States. Though common, ingrown toenails can be painful, resulting in swelling, bleeding, pus, and more. Various factors cause ingrown toenails, such as heredity, trauma, hygiene, nail conditions, and improper trimming. Thankfully, with the help of an expert, most ingrown toenails can be treated at home or in a podiatrist's office.
Ingrown toenails happen when the corners and sides of your toenails grow and eventually dig into the flesh around your nail. Most often occurring on the big toe, ingrown toenails become a serious concern when they are left untreated or when an infection is involved. To determine whether your ingrown toenail needs an evaluation by a foot doctor in Carlsbad, CA, keep an eye out for initial symptoms and infection symptoms:
To help prevent infection, try cutting your nails in a straight line, and don't cut them too short. Do not cut your nails to match the shape of your toe.
When your toenail becomes ingrown, you need doctors with real expertise in diagnosing and treating foot problems. At North County Foot and Ankle, our doctors are highly qualified to treat the underlying conditions causing your ingrown toenail. That way, you can enjoy long-term relief and also learn the ways to prevent ingrown toenails in the future.
If you have a bony bump near the bottom joint of your big toe, chances are it's a bunion. Bunions are deformities on your feet that are formed when your front foot bones become misaligned. When this happens, the misaligned bones cause the top half of your big toe to point inward toward your second toe. From there, your tendons will tighten, which pulls your toe even further inward. Once your toe is pulled more inward, the bottom joint of your big toe will bulge outward. The bulge you see is actually what we refer to as a bunion.
Without treatment, your toe pain can worsen, and the bunion can grow. Painful swelling in the balls of your feet can also cause hammertoe. Hammertoe happens your second toe is bent out of shape by your misaligned big toe.
Luckily, North County Foot and Ankle is California's go-to clinic for bunion treatment in Carlsbad, CA. Our highly-trained doctors can stop these uncomfortable conditions from happening and help prevent worse conditions from developing.
Jason Morris, a board-certified podiatric foot surgeon in Carlsbad, CA, is one of the top podiatrists in the greater San Diego area and has successfully treated patients with bunions for over ten years. He offers advanced treatments for bunion pain, such as:
Our hand-made orthotics, which are worn in your shoes, are molded to fit your foot exactly, correcting bone misalignments and relieving pain much better than cookie-cutter, store-bought options.
Drs. Morris and Redkar performs state-of-the-art triplanar correction surgery using 3-D digital imaging and a minimal incision approach. This procedure is very effective and works by rotating misaligned big toe bones back to the proper position. Once your toe bones are back in position, a metal plate is attached to your bones so that they remain aligned over long-term use.
Drs. Morris and Redkar may recommend both surgery and custom orthotics to keep your foot pain-free and your bunion from growing back.
Request ConsultationIf you’ve been enduring foot or ankle pain that affects your mobility and quality of life, why not make a change for the better? At North County Foot & Ankle Specialists, our podiatrists in Escondido help patients of all ages. Drs. Morris and Redkar take a patient-first approach with all of our podiatry services. Both are highly qualified and recipients of prestigious awards.
Featured in Los Angeles Magazine’s prestigious Top Doctors list of 2021, Dr. Avanti Redkar is a board-certified podiatrist that specializes in foot and ankle pathology. Dr. Redkar earned her undergrad degree in biology at the University of Scranton and her master’s degree in nutrition at SUNY Buffalo. She attended podiatry school at the New York College of Podiatric Medicine. Her three-year surgical residency at Good Samaritan Hospital in West Islip, New York, included foot and rearfoot surgery, wound care, and hyperbaric medicine training. Dr. Redkar also completed a one-year fellowship in sports medicine and ankle reconstruction.
After a rigorous three-year residency at the University of Pittsburgh, Jason Morris, DPM, moved to sunny California to practice podiatric medicine. Once there, Dr. Morris worked as an attending physician at UCLA Medical Center and Cedars Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles. Since relocating to the Escondido area, he has been a staff physician at Palomar Medical Center in Escondido and Poway. Dr. Morris is a podiatric foot and ankle specialist with board certification in rearfoot and forefoot reconstructive surgery. Dr. Morris has undergone extensive training in sports medicine, ankle trauma, diabetic limb salvage, and reconstructive surgery.
If you've been enduring foot or ankle pain that affects your mobility and quality of life, why not make a change for the better? At North County Foot & Ankle Specialists, our podiatrists in Carlsbad help patients of all ages. Drs. Morris and Redkar take a patient-first approach with all of our podiatry services. From minor bunion treatments to complex issues like foot fractures, every treatment option we consider is chosen with your best interest in mind.
Our podiatrists are members of several professional organizations, including:
If more conservative treatments are better for your condition, non-surgical solutions like custom orthotics may be the best route. If you need ankle or foot surgery, our podiatrists will complete your procedure with time-tested skill and precision. Because, at the end of the day, our goal is to provide you with the most effective foot and ankle pain solutions with the quickest recovery options available.
Contact us online or via phone today to schedule an appointment at our Carlsbad office. By tomorrow, you'll be one step closer to loving life without foot or ankle pain.
Lola 55 in East Village has always been a bit of an anomaly. They serve real chefy tacos that other restaurants might charge $10 to 12 for, then somehow charge about half that. For instance, the ...
Lola 55 in East Village has always been a bit of an anomaly. They serve real chefy tacos that other restaurants might charge $10 to 12 for, then somehow charge about half that. For instance, the Michelin Bib Gourmand restaurant smokes its carnitas for four days, then the meat finds a home in hand-made tortillas and hits your plate for less than five bucks (post-inflation!).
The approach has always seemed ripe for replication, and that’s finally happening. The company is bringing chef-driven Mexican food to The Beacon La Costa shopping center in Carlsbad.
Owner Frank Vizcarra was raised by a single mom in Tijuana, where he’d go door-to-door selling eggs for the family. He became a hell of a soccer player, eventually riding a standout run at Ohio State to a pro career (his last season was with the San Diego Sockers in 1983).
After his sports days ended, he worked his way up the restaurant world ladder, eventually becoming VP of corporate strategy for McDonalds before investing in Tender Greens in 2009. Through it all, the desire to become a restaurateur lingered in the corners of his mind.
“I had been wanting to open a taco shop for a long time—since I was very young,” he says. “It got to the point where I was going to [have to] either open a taco shop or stop talking about it.”
He honored the self-appointed ultimatum by launching Lola 55 in 2018. His goal was to disassociate good food with high prices. “We wanted to create something meaningful we could grow with,” Vizcarra emphasizes. “We looked at the taco scene in LA, San Francisco, and San Diego. We went to other cities with taco cultures, like Dallas and New York. Then we went to Mexico City and Oaxaca. We visited over 100 concepts, and nobody was doing high quality at a reasonable price.”
The new Carlsbad location (7720 El Camino Real) is a 3,360-square-foot storefront that will feature a 1,200-square-foot patio and airy, industrial-chic vibes reminiscent of Lola’s Downtown locale. The open kitchen provides a stage for tortilla-making—and a test-run for the chain’s new Oaxacan breakfast concept from chef Kathleen Shen, with memelas, breakfast tacos, and a modest selection of fresh juices and coffee.
Although he hasn’t ruled out the possibility of expanding north of Carlsbad, Vizcarra notes that he's focused on heading south, at least for now. “Our intention is to work our way down the coast, not up,” he says. He is also flirting with the idea of a commissary kitchen, a place where menu prep will occur for all current and future locations as a means of monitoring quality and consistency.
Lola 55’s Carlsbad outpost opens in June.
Have breaking-news, exciting scoops, or great stories about San Diego's food scene? Send your pitches to food@sdmag.com.
Carlsbad MayorThe Carlsbad Cavegirl softball team beat Farmignton Piedra Vista, 6-0, in a rematch Saturday to claim the 5A state title. The Panthers won the first game, 3-2, which forced the rematch.Faith Aragon threw a shutout in the final game, and Carlsbad’s girls scored four runs in the third inning thanks to hits by Johnna Aragon and Maddy Flaco. Aislenn Whitzel led the offense with three hits. Congratulations to all of the Cavegirl players and coaches, and thanks to everyone in the community who joined us in welcomi...
Carlsbad Mayor
The Carlsbad Cavegirl softball team beat Farmignton Piedra Vista, 6-0, in a rematch Saturday to claim the 5A state title. The Panthers won the first game, 3-2, which forced the rematch.
Faith Aragon threw a shutout in the final game, and Carlsbad’s girls scored four runs in the third inning thanks to hits by Johnna Aragon and Maddy Flaco. Aislenn Whitzel led the offense with three hits. Congratulations to all of the Cavegirl players and coaches, and thanks to everyone in the community who joined us in welcoming the players home Saturday evening. It’s Carlsbad’s second straight state title.
On the baseball side, Carlsbad fell to Centennial, who reached the finals, but fell to Rio Rancho, 9-6. Congratulations to the Cavemen as well on a successful season.
Carlsbad’s high school track team also competed at state this weekend, with the boys finishing 11th and the girls finishing 17th.
Highlights for the Cavegirls came from Brynlee Daughtry, who placed 4th in the 100 hurdles 9th in the 300 hurdles and 4th in the triple jump. She also was part of a relay team that took 7th in the 4X400 relay (Gracie Eckles, Madison Edmonson and Emily Glissen)
For the boys, Dane Naylor had a very successful track meet. He took 2nd in the 110 meter hurdles, 4th in the 300 meter hurdles, 15th in javelin and was part of a 5th place 4X400 relay team (Helam Pedroza, Bryce Owens and Chris Serna). Other standouts were Owens, who placed 4th in the 800 meter run and Devin McWright, who placed 4th in triple jump and 15th in long jump. Tylen Gonzales was 5th in discus.
Over the weekend, an Xcel Energy power failure in the Sheep Draw Well Field interfered with the City’s water distribution. Thankfully, Xcel Energy worked through the night to get this issue resolved. We received several good questions about this process, and we will plan an update soon that goes into more detail explaining the situation. Thank you to the many residents who slowed water use over the weekend and allowed time to address this situation.
Over the weekend, we were also informed that Carlsbad resident Frank Romero has passed away. Frank is one of the World War II veterans we have honored during our past Independence Day ceremonies. Frank served in the Army Air Corp. as a tail gunner on a B24 bomber. He was formerly the mayor of what is now Santa Clara, New Mexico. Frank moved to Carlsbad in 1950. We thank Frank and his family for his service to our country.
Carlsbad High School celebrates 'Ralph Cripe Day' to honor the dedicated teacher and baseball coach.CARLSBAD, Calif. — A North County man is being honored for turning a 'Diamond in the Rough' into a beautiful baseball field. In this Zevely Zone, I visited Carlsbad High School on Ralph Cripe Day. Carlsbad High has one of the best high school baseball fields in the nation and one man who doesn't want credit for any of it."Welcome to Ralph Cripe Field on Ralph Cripe Day," said the announcer as people found their se...
Carlsbad High School celebrates 'Ralph Cripe Day' to honor the dedicated teacher and baseball coach.
CARLSBAD, Calif. — A North County man is being honored for turning a 'Diamond in the Rough' into a beautiful baseball field. In this Zevely Zone, I visited Carlsbad High School on Ralph Cripe Day. Carlsbad High has one of the best high school baseball fields in the nation and one man who doesn't want credit for any of it.
"Welcome to Ralph Cripe Field on Ralph Cripe Day," said the announcer as people found their seats. In the 1970s, Ralph Cripe became a teacher and baseball coach at Carlsbad High.
Credit: Ralph Cripe Day
In his younger days, Ralph was once called a bent nail. "Well, I was by far not a great student and really didn't like going to class," said Ralph.
Credit: Ralph Cripe Day
But Ralph always did like a challenge. "Pretty pitiful yeah," said Ralph while talking about the school's baseball field in the late '70s. "We had no resources," said Ralph who dedicated his life to changing that. The seats we were sitting on during our interview came from a Major League baseball stadium. "They came from Anaheim stadium," said Ralph.
Credit: Ralph Cripe Day
In the past 50 years, Ralph helped raise more than two million dollars to build his field of dreams. The white lines are perfectly straight. The grass is immaculate. The wall is filled with advertisers. USA Today once proclaimed it one of the Top 20 High School baseball fields in the country. "You know my wife calls it the other lady," said Ralph.
"I always called it the other woman because I always knew where he was at and who he was taking care of," said Ralph's wife Juanita of 36 years who begged her husband to let the community honor him. "He deserves it because he is one that never wants the light on him," said Juanita. "The best thing is being a role model for these young guys, and they see it and they follow suit."
Credit: Ralph Cripe Day
"He's a legend honestly. The field looks good day in and day out," said the Lancer's baseball player Griffin Moye who plays at the park with pride. Griffin says when the team travels to other fields they can see the difference "Oh yeah, there is a big difference. There is no field that compares to Ralph Cripe's field," said Griffin.
"One of the greatest men I've ever known," said Assistant Coach Denny Cooper. He started off as Mr. Cripe's student and that was just the beginning. "He was in my wedding in 1983 which is pretty crazy but that shows you how close he was to me and what a mentor he was to me," said Coach Cooper.
Credit: Ralph Cripe Day
They then coached together and won a CIF Championship with head coach Joe Pimentel in 1989. "It's awesome. It's a long time coming," said Joe. He's talking about Ralph being immortalized on T-shirts. "We have our beloved Ralph Cripe on the back, our field whisperer," said a booster club member.
As for the field with his name on it, Ralph had this to say, "If it wasn't there it wouldn't make any difference to me," said Ralph. Which is why it took decades for him to approve 'Ralph Cripe Day'. "There is not an 'I' in what 'We' did for this field," said Ralph in front of the fans.
A man who was started off as a bent nail, hammered a homer for his community. "The reward in all of this is in the journey," said Ralph. Whether he likes it or not, Ralph Cripe got a standing ovation. "Thanks, Ralph, way to go, Ralph!" yelled the crowd.
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CARLSBAD, Calif. — Using a single Taiwanese wax apple plant gifted to him 40 years ago, “Uncle Happy Farmer” transformed his San Diego-area backyard into a flourishing exotic fruit farm.Eighty-year-old Frank Lin and his wife Cheng-Mei grow more than 40 varieties of tropical fruits and vegetables in their home garden, Green Lotus Organic Farm in Carlsbad.He and his wife both come from Taiwanese farm families. ...
CARLSBAD, Calif. — Using a single Taiwanese wax apple plant gifted to him 40 years ago, “Uncle Happy Farmer” transformed his San Diego-area backyard into a flourishing exotic fruit farm.
Eighty-year-old Frank Lin and his wife Cheng-Mei grow more than 40 varieties of tropical fruits and vegetables in their home garden, Green Lotus Organic Farm in Carlsbad.
He and his wife both come from Taiwanese farm families.
“We make a really great combination,” Frank said. “I know how to grow vegetables; she knows how to grow fruit trees.”
Frank moved to the United States to study engineering at Ohio State University. He then moved to California to work as a civil engineer for the City of Carlsbad.
That’s where he planted his roots and started his organic farm in 1980.
“At that time, we didn’t have money to buy a house, so we found a piece of vacant lot. After five o’clock, I helped my wife and on the weekends, Saturday and Sunday, I delivered vegetables to the Chinese market, saving the money to pay the down payment,” he said.
In three years, they had enough money for a down payment on the one-acre lot. However, it took a while to perfect the growing conditions for tropical delicacies like the Taiwanese Wax Apple.
The maritime San Diego weather is much like Taiwan, but the soil is different.
“In the summer it’s not cold, in the winter it’s very cool and we get the ocean breeze. My property is only 10 minutes away from the ocean,” he said. “So, I asked my brothers to give me all the information in Taiwan about the soil type, the PH value and moisture and I keep trying and improving after five years and boom!”
Frank has watched his produce grow bigger and better than some of the farms back in his home country.
He does get some help from his farm hand, Lucy the chicken.
“[The chickens] poo under the tree so I don’t need to spray and apply all the chemical fertilizer. Everything is organic,” Frank said
Hundreds of people visit Green Lotus Organic Farm each year to get a taste of Taiwanese culture and a crash course in farming.
“That’s why most people come here to visit — it’s the only garden where you can see all this tropical fruit from their hometown, from the Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam,” Frank said. “They eat all this fruit and remember when they were in Taiwan and appreciate it and then they bring their kids here to learn how to grow these fruits and vegetables.”
It might be Frank’s technique that draws in visitors like one couple touring the farm in April.
“We tried but it wasn’t so successful so this year, we came back to ask them some more questions,” said Jan Sheen, visiting from Seattle.
It’s the taste of home, however, that brings them back.
“Every time we stop by here, you recall what you used to have, your life in Taiwan,” said Bob Sheen, visiting from Seattle.
Frank invites people to embrace his heritage and harvest for free.
“If I charge for a ticket, it’s nonsense because I want to spread Taiwanese culture for everybody to share with them,” he said. “[The farm] produces so many fruits and I can share with friends and neighbors, that’s my happiness. Their happiness will come to me like a mirror.”
If you would like to visit, you can make an appointment here.
While the visit is free, you can purchase fruits and vegetables from the farm once the peak of the harvest happens around June. Individual produce ranges from $2 to up to $30 a piece.
Photo courtesy of CampfireWith gorgeous beaches, quaint shopping, and lush flower fields perfect for spring, the reasons to visit Carlsbad this spring are numerous. The cherry on top is the region’s restaurant scene, a continually growing landscape of dining and drinking venues from some of the country’s top talents. From an idyllic Italian café to a chef-backed deli, these are the best restaurants in Carlsbad to eat and drink at right no...
Photo courtesy of Campfire
With gorgeous beaches, quaint shopping, and lush flower fields perfect for spring, the reasons to visit Carlsbad this spring are numerous. The cherry on top is the region’s restaurant scene, a continually growing landscape of dining and drinking venues from some of the country’s top talents. From an idyllic Italian café to a chef-backed deli, these are the best restaurants in Carlsbad to eat and drink at right now.
Photo by Elodie Bost, courtesy of Campfire
Carlsbad Village
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Campfire honors California's natural flavors and terrains – a pursuit best executed with thoughtful, wood-fired cooking. A 12-foot hearth, powered by a Grillworks grill and lovingly dubbed Grace, serves as the venue’s focal point and is where chef Eric Bost perfects dishes like wagyu skewers, koji-aged ribeye, and Maine lobster. Like any good campout, this one has s’mores and cocktails that feature fired elements, too. Think charred papaya or smoked oats.
Photo courtesy of The Cassara Carlsbad
High-vaulted ceilings and Mediterranean-inspired motifs set the tone for a true escape at Cassara, and the food only helps further the journey. Kick off the meal with lamb meatballs and charred octopus, then move toward heartier options like Baja fish tacos and chicken Caprese. Post-meal, head to the lobby bar to enjoy one of the team’s handcrafted cocktails. We suggest the Flower Power Sour, a dram of tequila, grapefruit, and hibiscus inspired by the nearby flower fields.
Photo courtesy of INVITA Café
Inspired by childhood summers spent at her grandparents’ house in Italy, where the café was the center of social life, Sara De Luca wanted to bring Italian coffee culture and hospitality to the States. In 2017 she opened this Carlsbad café, bringing with it high-quality espresso drinks and from-scratch fare. Another location in Rancho Santa Fe was opened shortly after that. The team takes coffee seriously; the menu features a creamy Italian espresso enhanced by premium organic milk and cream from Straus Family Creamery, a fun tiramisu latte, and a series of bouquet lattes in flavors like orange blossom and white rose inspired by the barista’s favorite flowers. Pair those sips with a medley of snacks, such as egg croissants, overnight oats, and berry almond toast, which are all made onsite.
Photo courtesy of Jeune et Jolie
The team at Campfire opened this romantic venture just down the street. Chef Eric Bost continues to dazzle with winning flavor combinations and locally sourced fare. Scallops are pan-roasted in brown butter and paired with butternut squash ribbons; Liberty Farms duck meets fig and black truffle; and caramelized honey custard and slow-cooked quince for dessert are an ode to the sweet substance made by bees. The dishes are as artful as the design, which showcases a landscape of blue greens, soft curves, and crushed velvet banquettes. A vintage reel-to-reel stereo serves up dreamy St. Tropez vibes.
Photo courtesy of Park Hyatt Aviara
Head to this luxe hotel and find two distinct dining experiences under one roof: Ponto Logo for California coastal cuisine and agave-based cocktails, and Ember & Rye for choice steaks and seafood from chef Richard Blais. Though cuts and catches are the main events at the latter, Blais seasons the menu with veg-forward options throughout, such as a falafel burger and roasted cauliflower pot roast. At Ponto Logo, peruse an array of crudos and ceviches, then spring for mains like seafood paella, Yucatan chicken, or lobster pibil. Pair it with any of the venue’s tequila or mezcal recommendations – more than 50 kinds are available.
Photo by Kimberly Motos, courtesy of The Wise Ox
TRUST Restaurant Group is behind some of San Diego’s premier restaurants (TRUST, Fort Oak, Cardellino, Rare Society), so when chef Brad Wise and team decided to open a chef-driven butcher shop, it was quick to gain a loyal following. That holds true for the recently opened Carlsbad location, where they offer the same pasture-raised, hormone-free beef, pork, lamb, and chicken, all hand-cut by skilled butchers and used across their restaurants. Come for the dry-aged cuts but also for the fan-favorite deli orders, such as the Philly Cheesesteak, with hand-shaved NY strip, peppers, and cheese on a toasted amoroso roll. If you can’t get enough of the goodness onsite, opt for the Ox Box, a monthly subscription featuring 10 pounds of premium meat, encouraging carnivores to cook up some of their favorites at home.
Photo courtesy of Twenty/20
Situated on the lobby level of The Westin Carlsbad Resort & Spa, this restaurant features elevated coastal fare in sophisticated surroundings, including an expansive outdoor terrace, complete with fire pits and ocean views. Mushroom-stuffed arancini, beer-braised short rib, and chicken Petaluma with maitake mushrooms and roasted butternut squash are just a few of the items from the dinner menu, and brunch orders, with hearty bowls and benedicts prove equally satisfying. Pair your plates with any of the local beers, or try a specially tailored cocktail, such as the Cocktail Carlsbad, with vodka, strawberry, basil, and club soda.
Photo courtesy of VUE
Executive chef John Beriker brings more than 30 years of experience and a Gault & Millau Best New Chef of the Year title to this restaurant, where he and the team serve a globally inspired menu rooted in bold flavors. Short rib mole verde with fresh corn tortillas and scallops with ancient grains, risotto, and vadouvan are a couple of dinner favorites, and brunch here is just as satisfying. Don’t miss the croissant waffle (or the option to top it with chicken katsu). Whether you come morning or night, try to snag a table outdoors for tranquil views of the property’s surrounding hills.
*Disclaimer: results are not guaranteed, may not be permanent, and can vary per individual. Some images are of models, not actual patients.
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