John Resnick, founder of the acclaimed Carlsbad restaurants听Jeune Et Joie听- a Michelin-starred French concept - and听Campfire, envisions Wildland as a casual, approachable neighborhood caf茅 serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Located just 350 feet from Jeune et Jolie, Wildland will share a transformed 10,000-square-foot former garage space with its fine-dining sister concept, Lilo (pronounced lahy-low).
Wildland will focus on handmade pastas, wood-fired pizza, rotisserie-cooked meats, and an in-house bakery offering fresh breads and pastries. The menu from Executive Chef Eric Bost will feature seasonal dishes made with locally-sourced produce, reflecting both classic techniques and the laid-back coastal sensibilities of Southern California. The name Wildland is inspired by the surrounding natural landscape, with an emphasis on bringing bold ideas to timeless culinary traditions.听
Next door, Lilo will open in early 2025, providing a more refined dining experience, with only 22 seats available for an intimate chef's table-style dinner. The name Lilo is derived from The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows by John Koenig, where it is used to describe a friendship that can lie dormant for years but picks up instantly as if no time has passed. This concept will be reflected in the atmosphere of the 2,000 square foot east corner of the space, which aims to offer guests a space to rekindle connections through a coastal-inspired, seasonal multi-course tasting menu.
Wildland will open to the public on December 14, with a friends and family soft opening on December 10-11. For more information, visit听听and check out the menus below.
Originally published on December 6, 2024.听
