wolf in the woods

This food is unquestionably delicious! The service is outstanding, and the atmosphere is endlessly satisfying. Dining here is always a pleasure. I highly recommend it to anyone who values exceptional quality food.

Had a wonderful last-minute dinner here! We were notified of a 6:45 patio opening on Friday and were so glad to snag it! Food is excellent. Tapas style and really delicious to split with someone! They had heaters to keep us comfortable as well as blankets. Street parking is available although you may need to look. Probably not great for large groups bigger than 6 (but for tapas, you want to keep it small and intimate anyway). What I want to spend some time on is the incredible service we received! Our server, Tucker, was an absolute delight! He went over the entire menu, explained how the portions are, and gave us recommendations to help us navigate the dishes. He was also very helpful with the drinks. Big shoutout to his service because it was really personal and thoughtful. The dishes came out one at a time for the most part and they were pretty good about clearing our dishes before bringing the next one out. Honestly this kind of felt like a Michelin experience to me. I loved our date and can’t wait to go back! Dishes we tried: - the pozole (special) which was a huge serving with just the right amount of spiciness - the corn soup DO NOT SKIP. All reviewers said not to skip and I CAN CONFIRM!! So delicious with right balance of taste and sweet - the fennel goat cheese dish. Love love love. Our fruit was a pluot and it paired perfectly with the cheese and bread - the raw yellowtail: highlight of the night. Absolutely delicious - steak: really interesting flavors. I was surprised that it was cold but not in a bad way. The caviar and other flavorings on the steak gave it a unique and exciting taste. Definitely fun and new to try but not my favorite (I wouldn’t say to skip it though) Overall wonderful and would recommend!!

I’m French and I HATE American restaurants. I always leave feeling bloated. HOWEVER this was not the case with Wolf in the Woods!! Great quality ingredients, perfectly executed dishes, precisely portioned. Intimate yet convivial setting. Couldn’t have hoped for better! On the pricier end but truly great cuisine!

Love the food and the ambience. The menu is mostly to share (tapas) so be ready to share! We came there with no reservation and we were six. They made a makeshift section for us and accommodated us dearly… And offered blankets (we were seating outside and it was cold). Thank you to Gina, Tucker, and the owner!

Truly life-changing meal and restaurant as a whole. I want my house to look like Wolf in the Woods. Every single dish was a smash, particularly the corn soup, octopus, yellowtail aguachile, and maize w/ hen of the woods. Incredible service, incredible ambiance!!!

Tu Ngo

After hearing lots of good reviews about this place, I came in with a low expectation because I was thinking it was one of those overhyped restaurants. However, I was pleasantly impressed that food was pretty good, and service was great. The only thing I was disappointed about was the bread. It didn’t taste like it was freshly baked. The citrus octopus and sweet corn soup are to die for!! Both dishes have been consistently good every time I come here. Carne adovada was very tasty, the meat was super soft and the onion added some nice crunch. The richness in the creamy polenta paired very well with the roasted mushrooms which made the whole dish quite delicious and flavorful. Highly recommend!

John Labsan

Our most beloved restaurant in our Mission Hills neighborhood! It doesn’t matter what you order—the food is always delicious. The service is exceptional, and you must order a bottle of wine—the sommelier/owner is amazing, offering not just California wines but incredible European selections. Don’t be alarmed by dining outdoors—it’s quaint, lovely, and heated. Or you can dine inside; either way, you can’t go wrong. Truly one of the best-kept secrets in San Diego!

Nadia Adan

Tried this place for the first time after hearing a lot about it and I wasn’t disappointed! The food was delicious my favourite was the carne adovaba while my husband loved the octopus and tartar, and the fresh focaccia is a must!! The patty for the mini burger was delicious and very well sized! While the croquetas are delicious, they are a little expensive as is the aguachile… there wasn’t much fish and the sauce was a little bland for my taste. I ordered the NA gin and tonic to drink, unfortunately it tasted very flat, it was changed but the second one wasn’t much better, wouldn’t order again. We took our baby with us and were thoughtfully sat at the end of the patio so we’d have enough space for the stroller. If you have Amex platinum book through resy for $100 credit a quarter! Will definitely be back!

Son Hong

Incredible quaint and romantic spot with excellent food and service. The sweet corn and piñon soup was unlike anything I’ve had before. Unreal. The depth of flavor in the red hatch chile sauce from the Carne Adovada is 🤌🏼. Spent every piece of that fry bed mopping up every last drop of the sauce. Had the citrus marinated octopus. Love the flavor. I thought the texture of the octopus was off. I was expecting firm and springy yet tender but it was firm and mealy :( Still an excellent place

Sequoia Montgomery

Definitely love coming here for celebrations. The food is excellent and the service is more of the same. They change their menu every so often, but we usually get the potato chips, corn soup and yellowtail aguachile. This time around we got the beef tataki and the adobada. Both were amazing! Fair warning, the tataki is a japanese style dish that is served barely seared and cold. Amazing flavor, but might not be for everyone.

Sharon Lawson

It’s a unique jewel of a restaurant tucked in a historic neighborhood of San Diego. We sat outside and the heat lamps worked great as it was chilly. The hostess and wait staff were friendly and attentive. Food was delicious with a New Mexico southwestern flair. Lovely wine list. It’s a special place!

Kashan Piracha

What a lovely discovery and experience. Such a cozy little place with excellent food. Perfect for a date night. Pretty much everything we tried was great. Loved the ambience and the vibe felt like we were in Europe not San Diego. Must try spot!

Omar Torres

This place is a little bit small but it feels very intimate. Food is amazing and they have great wine selection. A good idea for a date night. Staff was fast and friendly.

Stanley Li

This is one of my favorite restaurants in San Diego. The food is so delicious. Chicken liver is my favorite and the dessert is really good too.

Alba O'Neill

I’m French and I HATE American restaurants. I always leave feeling bloated. HOWEVER this was not the case with Wolf in the Woods!! Great quality ingredients, perfectly executed dishes, precisely portioned. Intimate yet convivial setting. Couldn’t have hoped for better! On the pricier end but truly great cuisine!

Ashley Hung

Truly life-changing meal and restaurant as a whole. I want my house to look like Wolf in the Woods. Every single dish was a smash, particularly the corn soup, octopus, yellowtail aguachile, and maize w/ hen of the woods. Incredible service, incredible ambiance!!!

Mary Wenthur

Winning restaurant of the year 2024 for a reason. Such bold and unique flavors using unlikely ingredient pairings that is sure to broaden your taste plate. With wonderful service from our waiter Spencer, who was not only very personable but extremely knowledgeable about the menu and accommodated to my gluten allergy. This darling place is tucked in a gorgeous neighborhood surround by beautiful homes that transport you outside of the hustle and bustle of downtown San Diego. Can’t wait to come back and continue trying the rest of the menu!

Emma H

Excellent restaurant! A super nice surprise when visiting San Diego. Everything was perfect. Quiet, lovely and chill atmosphere. Delicious food - all items we ordered were creative and tasty with fresh ingredients. I will for sure revisit this place 70/person before tips, a bit pricy but good value for the price Reservations required. We made our reservation 1 month before our visit. Street parking available. Outdoor seating can be a bit chilly with a 9pm curfew as it’s located in a residential area.

SVIATLANA TSIKHUN

This food is unquestionably delicious! The service is outstanding, and the atmosphere is endlessly satisfying. Dining here is always a pleasure. I highly recommend it to anyone who values exceptional quality food.

Nousha Hefzi

Had a wonderful last-minute dinner here! We were notified of a 6:45 patio opening on Friday and were so glad to snag it! Food is excellent. Tapas style and really delicious to split with someone! They had heaters to keep us comfortable as well as blankets. Street parking is available although you may need to look. Probably not great for large groups bigger than 6 (but for tapas, you want to keep it small and intimate anyway). What I want to spend some time on is the incredible service we received! Our server, Tucker, was an absolute delight! He went over the entire menu, explained how the portions are, and gave us recommendations to help us navigate the dishes. He was also very helpful with the drinks. Big shoutout to his service because it was really personal and thoughtful. The dishes came out one at a time for the most part and they were pretty good about clearing our dishes before bringing the next one out. Honestly this kind of felt like a Michelin experience to me. I loved our date and can’t wait to go back! Dishes we tried: - the pozole (special) which was a huge serving with just the right amount of spiciness - the corn soup DO NOT SKIP. All reviewers said not to skip and I CAN CONFIRM!! So delicious with right balance of taste and sweet - the fennel goat cheese dish. Love love love. Our fruit was a pluot and it paired perfectly with the cheese and bread - the raw yellowtail: highlight of the night. Absolutely delicious - steak: really interesting flavors. I was surprised that it was cold but not in a bad way. The caviar and other flavorings on the steak gave it a unique and exciting taste. Definitely fun and new to try but not my favorite (I wouldn’t say to skip it though) Overall wonderful and would recommend!!

Amazing hole-in-the-wall, super fun atmosphere and vibe, I was able to grab a seat at the “mini-bar” without a reservation and it was perfect. They served tapas and the wine list was awesome. I had 3-dishes and dessert (was planning on two) and tried 3 wines (again planned on two), but the first two dishes (corn soup and aguachile) were so good I ended up staying for a third dish and dessert. There is a subtle New Mexico theme that becomes apparent as you realize each dish has a very thoughtful element of spice (even the panna cotta!) that isn’t overwhelming. As someone who works with wine I can tell you confidently that it’s ambitious to own a wine bar that isn’t afraid of food with spice, but Wolf In The Woods knocks it out of the park with their selections. I just happened upon this restaurant after searching for “food near me” from the nearby hotels, this place is truly a gem! Great wines, great food, highly recommend!

Overall a wonderful experience with some caveats. Firstly the service was outstanding— friendly and attentive. The ambience is good but let down by tight seating. Food was tasty overall - soup was a highlight tho it was served luke warm and not hot; salad was quite ordinary; both desserts— chocolate mousse, carrot cake were exotic and delicious. The cheese board was tasty but portions were tiny for the $25 price. Vegetarians are not well catered for here with choices limited to a polenta/mushroom dish and an open toast with veggies (both good but not outstanding)— definitely need to add more vegetarian options. We were served with some nice (free) champagne shots at the end to top off the birthday celebration!

Rajiv Mehta

Overall a wonderful experience with some caveats. Firstly the service was outstanding— friendly and attentive. The ambience is good but let down by tight seating. Food was tasty overall - soup was a highlight tho it was served luke warm and not hot; salad was quite ordinary; both desserts— chocolate mousse, carrot cake were exotic and delicious. The cheese board was tasty but portions were tiny for the $25 price. Vegetarians are not well catered for here with choices limited to a polenta/mushroom dish and an open toast with veggies (both good but not outstanding)— definitely need to add more vegetarian options. We were served with some nice (free) champagne shots at the end to top off the birthday celebration!

MsCritiqu eater

it is a rare day that I walk out of a restaurant and say WOW! And no criticisms. This restaurant is European sophisticated minimalism. This restaurant offers excellent service and high quality food. Portions are perfect. Just what you need and not a drop more. The soup is a true standout and who ever created the quarter dollar sized fritters in the soup deserves a grammy an emmy or some great award. The atmosphere is European chic. The wine list is extensive with options from around the world. Cheese board offers several cheeses, not too much of any but just enough. The apricot chutney has a nice spice along with the sweet. Cheesecake and cappuccino for dessert. Cappuccino was excellent - go home Starbucks!! The carrot cake is yummy. Spiced nicely. Cant wait to go again and try the something else - Will let you know.....

Decent dinner atmostphere (music was a little bit loud inside, the patio was calmer). Service was timely and staff was nice, quick, responsive, and professional. The price and portion were reasonable. Food-wise, the tapas (agua chile and tartare) were top-notch and perfect start to the evening; the corn soup looked beautiful, balanced; the entrees (pork shoulder and mushroom polenta), were honestly underwhelming, on a slightly saltier side, lacked the wow factor, and held back the entire experience.

Wolf in the Woods is undeniably cute and cozy — a small, charming spot that really makes you feel like you’ve escaped into the woods. The window looking out over the canyon adds to the atmosphere and makes the space feel intimate and almost magical. That said, the space is tight — if you’re claustrophobic or need elbow room, this probably isn’t the place for you. But for a small group (no more than four), it’s a lovely setting for a relaxed evening. Service was great — attentive without being intrusive. The staff kept things moving smoothly, especially given the 90-minute dining limit (a necessity due to the size of the place). As for the food and drink: I started with the Lupo e Luna cocktail, which was refreshing and delicious — a great way to kick things off. We shared several dishes, tapas-style, starting with the crudo, which was fresh but lacked that pop of flavor I was hoping for. The meatballs were just okay for me, but the octopus was solid. It’s worth noting that most dishes had a noticeable level of spice — possibly because they were running a New Mexico-themed menu that night. I would have appreciated a bit more variety in flavor profiles. Now, the star of the evening: the corn soup. OMG. Creamy, flavorful, perfectly balanced — this is the dish you start planning your return visit for before you’re even halfway through it. I would honestly go back just for that soup. Get it with the amazing focaccia. We also had the slider, which was juicy and tasty, and wrapped up with a carrot cake for dessert. It was decent, though also carried a bit of spice (continuing the theme of the night). Still, nothing came close to the corn soup — the clear winner. This spot specializes in tapas and wine, with a few main dishes offered. We were too full to try the entrées, but it’s good to know they’re available. I’d be curious to go back and try different plates — especially if the menu changes seasonally. Just keep that soup on the menu, please. In short: I wouldn’t rush back immediately, but I definitely plan to return. It’s not ideal for big groups, but for a date night or a small dinner with friends, it’s a cozy little gem — as long as you don’t mind being up close and personal with your fellow diners.

The restaurant itself is very cute and the food was exceptional — truly delicious and beautifully presented. Unfortunately, our experience was overshadowed by our waiter, who was extremely rude from the start. His attitude made us feel uncomfortable and even a bit intimidated, which took away from what should have been a lovely evening.

Luna Bello Reis

Wolf in the Woods is undeniably cute and cozy — a small, charming spot that really makes you feel like you’ve escaped into the woods. The window looking out over the canyon adds to the atmosphere and makes the space feel intimate and almost magical. That said, the space is tight — if you’re claustrophobic or need elbow room, this probably isn’t the place for you. But for a small group (no more than four), it’s a lovely setting for a relaxed evening. Service was great — attentive without being intrusive. The staff kept things moving smoothly, especially given the 90-minute dining limit (a necessity due to the size of the place). As for the food and drink: I started with the Lupo e Luna cocktail, which was refreshing and delicious — a great way to kick things off. We shared several dishes, tapas-style, starting with the crudo, which was fresh but lacked that pop of flavor I was hoping for. The meatballs were just okay for me, but the octopus was solid. It’s worth noting that most dishes had a noticeable level of spice — possibly because they were running a New Mexico-themed menu that night. I would have appreciated a bit more variety in flavor profiles. Now, the star of the evening: the corn soup. OMG. Creamy, flavorful, perfectly balanced — this is the dish you start planning your return visit for before you’re even halfway through it. I would honestly go back just for that soup. Get it with the amazing focaccia. We also had the slider, which was juicy and tasty, and wrapped up with a carrot cake for dessert. It was decent, though also carried a bit of spice (continuing the theme of the night). Still, nothing came close to the corn soup — the clear winner. This spot specializes in tapas and wine, with a few main dishes offered. We were too full to try the entrées, but it’s good to know they’re available. I’d be curious to go back and try different plates — especially if the menu changes seasonally. Just keep that soup on the menu, please. In short: I wouldn’t rush back immediately, but I definitely plan to return. It’s not ideal for big groups, but for a date night or a small dinner with friends, it’s a cozy little gem — as long as you don’t mind being up close and personal with your fellow diners.

Spring B

The restaurant itself is very cute and the food was exceptional — truly delicious and beautifully presented. Unfortunately, our experience was overshadowed by our waiter, who was extremely rude from the start. His attitude made us feel uncomfortable and even a bit intimidated, which took away from what should have been a lovely evening.

Derick Foster

I really really like and recommend this restaurant, it can be casual and can be formal as well, all depends on where you sit and how you approach the occasion but they have great wine selection, appetizers are great, anyway all the options feel like appetizers due to the restaurant style, is a mix with casual tapas style. Strongly recommended.