Dine / Herb ’ s Place
FOOD & DRINK
A Retro Hideout
FEEL LIKE YOU ’ RE TURNING BACK TIME IN THIS NEW 1970S-INSPIRED SPACE AT SKYLOFT .
By SHARON STELLO
Clockwise from top left : Herb ’ s Place inside Skyloft ; Herb ’ s BBQ Burger with grilled pineapple and crispy onion rings , plus fries and a shake ; a barbecue plate ; the brisket nachos , with baked beans and Cajun aioli on top
A t the top of the stairs , through the orange velvet curtains , a retro room awaits inside Skyloft . Brightly colored chairs are gathered around tables topped with vintage band poster designs from Metallica to Nirvana , Lynyrd Skynyrd and the Pixies . A record player spins tunes above a rack of board games in the corner . Wood paneling , leather couches , nostalgic photos , kitschy decor and neon lights round out the throwback space .
Herb ’ s Place , a drinks-and-barbecue joint with a 1970s vibe , quietly opened right before the holidays in December . Step inside to find chill vibes and funky beats . It ’ s the perfect place to stay and hang out for a while .
If the decor feels familiar , it ’ s because it was designed by the same team behind Bodega Laguna Cocina & Cantina below Skyloft ; the sister restaurants are owned by Ivan Spiers , who also has Mozambique and Rumari in town . For the latest transformations , he partnered with longtime friend Jimmy Duval of Jimmy ’ s Famous American Tavern in Dana Point and Duval ’ s fiancee and design partner , Amanda Whitney .
The couple modeled the look and feel of Herb ’ s Place after Duval ’ s basement growing up , and the name is an homage to Duval ’ s father . “ My friends used to call my house Herb ’ s Place in the ’ 70s and ’ 80s ,” he shares . “… My pop would feed burgers and amazing barbecue to my neighbors and friends .”
After checking out the surroundings , grab a seat and order something to sip on . Try the sweet Georgia Peach Cobbler cocktail with peach-infused vodka , peach schnapps , caramel drizzle and a sprinkle of cinnamon . Or consider the pear mule with pear-infused vodka , St-Germain liqueur , citrus and ginger beer . Plenty of other options abound , too , from a pomegranate martini to a cucumberjalapeno margarita , sangria , beer and wine .
A great appetizer to share with friends is the brisket nachos , piled high with pieces of smoked brisket , pepper jack cheese , avocado and pico de gallo . Baked beans lend a touch of sweetness while extra flavor comes from a Cajun aioli . Or get a Skyloft Sampler to nibble on : It comes with 2 ounces each of smoked turkey and brisket plus barbecue ribs , chicken andouille sausage , charred Brussels sprouts and sides of barbecue sauce and spicy mustard . For those with a bigger appetite , enjoy a full meal in this throwback hideaway . Build a barbecue plate with your choice of meat and sides like macaroni and cheese , sweet potato fries , coleslaw , citrus white rice or mashed potatoes . And the pulled pork sandwich is a must-try , with smoked and shredded pork shoulder smothered in barbecue sauce and topped with tangy mustard seed coleslaw .
A long lineup of burgers and sandwiches also fit the bill for dinner such as the Blue Sky Burger with blue cheese crumbles , fried shallots and Buffalo sauce , and the Herb ’ s BBQ Burger , which layers American cheese , grilled pineapple , coleslaw and crispy onion rings .
End the evening with decadent dessert like butter cake with strawberries , banana-pecan bread pudding or flourless chocolate ganache . Or order a milkshake : Boozy shakes include the Cherry Bomb and Cinnamon Toast while traditional shakes come in flavors such as chocolate , banana , Oreo , vanilla , blueberry or the Herbspectacular combo of strawberry and peach . You ’ ll feel like a kid again — and with the retro decor , you might just think for a moment that you ’ ve been transported back in time . g
HERB ’ S PLACE ( INSIDE SKYLOFT ) 422 S . Coast Highway ; 949-715-1550 ; skyloftoc . com / herbs-place HOURS : 11 a . m . to 10 p . m . Monday and Tuesday ; 11 a . m . to 11 p . m . Wednesday and Thursday ; 11 a . m . to 1:30 a . m . Friday ; 10 a . m . to 1:30 a . m . Saturday ; 10 a . m . to 11 p . m . Sunday
BOTTOM LEFT : SAMANTHA WHARTON ; ALL OTHER PHOTOS : SHARON WILLIAMS
70 LAGUNABEACHMAGAZINE . COM