Mendocino Farms Bring Boho-Styled Casual Eatery to Del Mar

Mendocino Farms is gearing up to open its sixteenth location, the biggest one yet, in Del Mar. It replaces Carnitas’ Snack Shack in the Del Mar Highlands Town Center and the adjacent Nekter Juice Bar, combining the two spaces into a new 4,000-square-foot restaurant that’s due to grand open at the end of August.

Founded over a decade ago by Mario Del Pero and Ellen Chen, Mendocino Farms now eateries throughout Southern California. Buoyed by the popularity of their La Jolla Village store, which opened last year, the owners tell Eater that they are currently scouting in neighborhoods ranging from Little Italy to Carlsbad and Hillcrest with the plan to launch another outpost here within the next year, with the goal of eventually having five San Diego-area branches.

Aiming to bring high-end design to the counter-style service concept, this North County location will have a bohemian chic look across the indoor/outdoor space that will seat over 120 guests and include a glassed-in patio with a 40-foot living wall, cornhole court, and an interactive play/seating area for kids.

Open for lunch and dinner, Mendocino Farms offers a seasonal fast-casual menu of chef-created sandwiches and salads. This kitchen will have a double line to increase its capacity for delivery services and will feature twice the amount of craft beer taps than the La Jolla eatery as well as sandwiches and other items unique to Del Mar. As is customary with all their grand openings, the eatery is partnering with a local guest chef on a menu creation that will see all proceeds go to charity; this time around it’s a smoked carrot salad from Andrew Bachelier of Campfire in Carlsbad.