A Culinary Journey Through Chef Eric Bost’s Restaurants 2025

From the longtime favorite, Campfire, to the Michelin-starred newcomer, Lilo, Chef Eric, alongside his restaurateur partner John Resnick, continues to deliver exceptional dining experiences. Together the duo has transformed the dining scene in Carlsbad with their restaurants that are all a stone’s throw away from each other along State Street in Carlsbad Village.

With each restaurant embodying its own flair and unique dishes, we encourage you to go on a culinary tour and see for yourself why Chef Eric’s menus have earned so much acclaim.

One of Chef Eric’s newest restaurants, Wildland is an all-day eatery that has already become a hub for the community. Featuring an in-house bakery and wood-fired pizza oven, the menu revolves around comfort food. You’ll find mouthwatering sandwiches, housemade pasta and divine pastries alongside fresh offerings of various salads and bowls. Their drinks menu is also notable. Choose from unique lattes, freshly squeezed juices as well as an impressive selection of alcoholic beverages and non-alcoholic creations.

Diners have the option to grab and go or settle in to catch up with friends or get some work done. The open floor plan provides a seamless connection between indoors and outdoors, with plenty of seating options throughout this lively, inviting space. It’s the perfect place for an impromptu cocktail or delicious brunch before walking through Carlsbad Village on your way to the beach.

While the restaurant does aim to keep a casual feeling, encouraging walk-ins, it is possible to reserve a table if you would like to plan your visit in advance.

Next on your Carlsbad Village culinary journey is the Michelin-starred fine-dining destination, Lilo. The restaurant opened in spring 2025 and quickly earned a Michelin Star for its coastally driven tasting menu and meticulous attention to detail.

Guests are treated to an intimate, multi-course dining experience highlighting locally focused, seasonal ingredients that celebrate the best of California’s coastal bounty. The evening begins on a serene outdoor patio before moving into a refined, minimalist dining room anchored by a 22-seat chef’s counter. Here, diners enjoy a front-row view of the artistry and precision that define each course, creating an immersive culinary experience.

Over the course of twelve beautifully composed dishes, every element reflects Chef Bost’s dedication to ingredient integrity and innovation. Thoughtful wine pairings and a curated non-alcoholic pairing option enhance the journey, making each visit both sophisticated and memorable.

Lilo offers an unforgettable expression of Carlsbad’s evolving culinary identity. Reservations are available online

Known as one of Carlsbad’s most romantic restaurants, Jeune et Jolie is just steps away from Wildland and Lilo, and serves diners a four-course tasting meal that showcases seasonal ingredients. Chef Eric , aims to celebrate the moment through a menu that reimagines French cuisine with vibrant and fresh Southern California flavors.

For the tasting meal courses, you have the option to make your own selections to curate the dining experience you desire. If you’re a seafood lover, be sure to start off your meal with something extra from their raw bar which includes oysters, prawns and more. As you make your way through the meal, expect surprising flavor combinations and elegant plating that will leave you savoring every bite. While reservations are recommended for the tasting menu, they also offer à la carte offerings for walk-in guests at their bar and lounge.

Earning its first Michelin star in 2021 and retaining it since, this French/Californian restaurant is a hotspot for date nights and intimate friend gatherings. Guests have the option of dining inside at one of the cozy rose-colored booths or under the stars at their lovely outdoor heated patio.

Lastly is Campfire, a contemporary wood-fired eatery. When you step into Campfire you are immediately met with a roaring fire in the kitchen and an eclectic outdoorsy ambiance that makes you want to settle down and unwind. Campfire is all about gathering around a fire which is why the cooking techniques for the menu centered around using a massive wood-burning hearth to create flavorful rustic fare.

Taking inspiration from the vast California landscape, you’ll find dishes that evoke the coast, mountains, forests and deserts. Diners are encouraged to order multiple items from the menu to share, creating a communal, relaxed feeling of dining at a campsite.

Campfire has quite a few famous dishes on its menu including the charred broccoli, oysters warmed over coals and of course their twist on s’mores to end the meal. Vegans, vegetarians and children will find something perfect for them on the menu as well. Be sure to pair your meal with one of their signature cocktails and non-alcoholic spirits which are expertly made. Reservations are recommended but they do welcome walk-ins if you feel like stopping by after a stroll in the Village.

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From casual daytime bites to Michelin-starred evenings, each of Chef Eric’s restaurants all share the same dedication to craft, community and creativity. Enjoy your adventure as you take yourself from one restaurant to the next as you savor the magical bites that define Carlsbad’s culinary charm.