(Above: FOX 5/KUSI’s Heather Lake visits Lilo and Wildland in Carlsbad on May 2, 2025)

CARLSBAD, Calif. (FOX 5/KUSI) — A fine-dining destination in San Diego County recently earned a coveted Michelin star, just 10 weeks after it opened for business.

Lilo, which opened in Carlsbad in April, was one of nine other California restaurants to be awarded new stars in the 2025 Michelin Guide.

The awardees learned of their honors during a ceremony Wednesday at the SAFE Credit Union Performing Arts Center in Sacramento.

“We are so insanely proud of our entire team, and marvel at the pure dedication, joy and thoughtfulness that they bring to Lilo, to our guests, and to each other,” a post on Lilo’s Instagram page said. “Our first days here at Lilo have been absolutely magical, and we are only just getting started…”

The intimate 22-seat restaurant impressed Michelin’s anonymous reviewers enough to nab one star.

Lilo in Carlsbad earned one Michelin star. (Lilo)
Lilo in Carlsbad earned one Michelin star. (Lilo)
Lilo in Carlsbad earned one Michelin star. (Lilo)

“Good things often come in small packages, and it’s certainly true of Lilo, where guests are welcomed to a moveable feast beginning on the heated patio with an array of small bites before moving into the petite dining room,” the guide’s description read.

Lilo is the third Michelin-recognized restaurant helmed by executive chef Eric Bost and owner John Resnick. The partners are also behind the Carlsbad restaurants Jeune et Jolie, which has one star, and Campfire, which earned a recommendation in the guide.

Bost and Resnick also recently opened up Wildland, an all-day restaurant, bar and bakery whose bustling and more casual environment serves as a stark contrast to the more inconspicuous and reserved Lilo.

Tucked away directly behind Wildland but facing a quieter, residential street, Lilo takes its customers through a multi-course tasting menu, with each dish comprised of locally sourced ingredients but inspired by flavors from around the world.

Lilo can be found at 2571 Roosevelt St. in Carlsbad.