From the award-winning team behind Jeune et Jolie, Campfire, and Wildland, a new culinary destination has arrived in North County. Lilo, a 22-seat chef’s counter from chef Eric Bost and restaurateur John Resnick, is now open in the heart of Carlsbad Village — offering an immersive, nature-rooted tasting menu that blends coastal California soul with global inspiration.

PHOTOS VIA ELODIE BOST

A Thoughtful, Intimate Dining Experience

At Lilo, every detail is intentional. The multi-course tasting menu is served exclusively at a sleek, curved chef’s counter — a format designed to foster connection between guest, chef, and plate. With only 22 seats available each evening, the atmosphere is both intimate and transportive, inviting diners to slow down and fully engage in the unfolding story of the meal.

The design, like the menu, reflects a reverence for nature and a sense of place. Organic textures, warm tones, and coastal influences shape the space, creating an elegant yet grounded backdrop for the experience.

Dishes That Tell a Story

Lilo’s menu draws from local ingredients, seasonal rhythms, and culinary traditions from coastlines around the world. Each dish is a precise, artful expression of Chef Bost’s refined approach — layered in flavor, texture, and intention.

Menu highlights include:

• Local Spot Prawns — caught off the San Diego coast and gently steamed to preserve their sweetness, served on ice with seabuckthorn, lime leaf, serrano, and muddled gooseberries.
• Squab — roasted on the bone and finished over hot coals, accented with green juniper, puffed amaranth, and burnt vanilla oil.
• Blackened Banana — a signature dessert featuring banana mousse, date cake, toasted rice ice cream, and warm miso caramel, finished with a banana sugar-dusted donut.

The beverage program follows the same ethos, including house-blended aperitifs and cocktails like the Petit Punch, a reimagined Ti’ Punch crafted with sake, French melon liqueur, and Rhum Agricole.

PHOTOS VIA ELODIE BOST

The Team Behind Lilo

Lilo is the latest concept from restaurateur John Resnick and chef Eric Bost, who have previously collaborated on Wildland, Jeune et Jolie, and Campfire in Carlsbad. Their newest venture brings the same attention to craft and community, reinterpreted through a more focused and immersive lens.

Together, their team has helped shape North County’s culinary landscape — and with Lilo, they continue to push boundaries in both experience and execution.

PHOTOS VIA ELODIE BOST

Location & Reservations

📍 Lilo is located at: 2571 Roosevelt St., Carlsbad, CA 92008

Open Tuesday through Saturday, 5pm–10pm.
Reservations are recommended due to the limited seating.

Follow along at @restaurantlilo for updates, seasonal menu previews, and behind-the-scenes glimpses of the Lilo kitchen.