It’s been six years between concepts. And Wildland is worth the wait for wood-fired everything in convivial Carlsbad Village. Earthy. Artisanal. Oozing with handcrafted terracotta. The 190-seat all-day restaurant, bar, and bakery is the follow-up to Michelin-starred Jeune et Jolie from restaurateur John Resnick and his chef/partner Eric Bost.
“We wanted Wildland to be reflective of the natural beauty and creative spirit of North County, to feel timeless, incredibly inviting, and approachable,” says Resnick. “Whether day or night, this place is about community. The stand-up bar adds to this sense of spontaneity, social interaction, and de-formalization.”
With State Street sister spots Jeune et Jolie and Campfire, Resnick has single-handedly elevated North County’s dining scene with thoughtful design, and mad details like soundtracks and glassware. For Wildland, he teamed up with on-again design partner Bells + Whistles.
Housed in the original 1970s Morey Boogie Boards factory, Wildland is soaring and sun-dappled, inspired by Southern California’s natural landscape with cuisine influenced by the coastal culinary traditions of Italy, France, and the broader Mediterranean. Floor-to-ceiling windows, cinderblock walls, and concrete floors are geared toward the all-ages, all-day crowd. No velvet booths here.
The 8,000–square-foot open floor plan is an immersion between indoors and outdoors. It’s centered around rustic, vibrant California cooking — somewhere to grab coffee and a pastry in the morning, a sandwich for the beach, meet up for an al-fresco cocktail, and gather impromptu come evening. Reservations are not required…