Week 154: Botanica and more notably, Leila
- elenalilamartin
- Dec 20, 2025
- 4 min read
Week 154: December 14th-20th, 2025
FINALLY, after over a year since it opened, I got to go to Leila in North Park. Leila is a very popular Middle Eastern and Persian-inspired restaurant that has taken San Diego by storm. When it first opened, I tried really hard to get reservations but never found a good time. Thankfully, a few friends of mine got lucky with a last minute reservation for a table for 5 at 7:30pm on a Sunday. Since dinner was a little late, especially for these dark winter times when the sun sets literally at like 4pm, we decided to try one of the cute Christmas bars down the street before going to our highly anticipated dinner at Leila.
We started at Botanica, which was nothing really special other than their cute decor and relatively festive drinks. I will say it sucked at first because we shivered in the cold at the "Please wait to be seated" sign outside, next to a non-operational heat lamp, for at least TEN WHOLE MINUTES, before someone came outside to seat us. Even after they asked how many were in our party, we waited another eight minutes in the cold before getting let inside and sat at our table. I don't mind waiting cause we didn't have a reservation, but I did mind waiting outside in the cold next to a cruel, non-operational heat lamp.
To keep it short and sweet, since that's what our time at Botanica was, we ordered some festive drinks. My friend and I both got a Candy Cane Lane cocktail in a ridiculous unicorn mug, and my other friend got a Jingle Balls Nog in a little espresso mug.
Despite the irritatingly long wait with no attention at the host stand, our server was sweet and I liked Botanica and may return to try their other concoctions. They also got points because they had purse hooks under their tables, which is a very necessary thing for a group of young women.
Here is their Yelp Page and their Instagram is @botanica_sd. The whole over-the-top Christmas bar thing is always fun, and I'm a sucker for a theme, so I will always enjoy when businesses participate.
Anyway, back to the real story with Leila. We shivered down the street a few blocks through the weird fog that has been plaguing San Diego, and arrived just in time for our reservation.
When we walked in, we immediately all gasped. It was like being transported to another world. I tried to capture it in some photos, but they don't really do it justice. The @leilanorthpark Instagram account is another fun way to see what they have to offer. Because of their popularity, Leila is all over social media and I'm sure there are tons of well-produced TikToks or Reels that show how it is much better than I could.
Of course, Leila is part of the CH Projects group, a large restaurant management company that operates many other well-known trendy spots like Born and Raised, Morning Glory, The Lafayette Hotel, and more. In this EATER article announcing when it first opened in July 2024, Leila is described as a "multi-sensory experience [that] begins as you enter off 30th Street into perpetual night under a blanket of “stars”, where tables are tucked in amongst trees hung with Moroccan lanterns and a waterfall flows and pools alongside the main dining room, providing soothing, ambient sound." That description is a bit over the top, but I get what they mean. It felt like we were on a set at Disneyland, or part of some big production, as we walked across a bridge over a real water stream in the middle of the restaurant. The photos in the article are also much better than mine.
Our table was in the middle of the restaurant so we got to enjoy all aspects of the environment. Our server was a very soft spoken young woman named Natalie, and she suggested a few key menu items to try. I love going out to eat with people who like sharing, and we came to a consensus to order the Salatim Platter (appetizer of breads and various dips/sauces) and the Soltani Platter (kabobs, vegetables and rice). We also wanted to get the tah dig, or crispy rice, and a salad, so we got Chicken Tahchin and a Fire Roasted Cauliflower salad. I didn't get any photos of the tah dig or the salad because we were all so excited to eat. I got a non-alcoholic Lassi style drink as well, but was drawn to the "Joon" cocktail that was described as "very habibi."
The zhoug sauce (also spelled zhug or skhug) is always my favorite alongside tzatziki. I really loved sharing the appetizer platter and kabob platter with all the girls. Eating family style is always my preferred method of eating, because sharing all the dishes and trying everything possible, especially at a new restaurant, is a way to connect with people and cultures.
I will say that CH Projects must have spent a bag on this place. Every decoration was intentional, and the ambiance was insane. There were intricate details like carved wood doors and tile fountains even in the bathroom!
Bonus: Here are some of the holiday cards I made this year :)
And I already got a great present pile growing. I am feeling like a very productive little Santa elf, gathering my gifts for everyone and wrapping them.
Some gifts are handmade, like this beaded plant in a little pot.
And extra bonus: my parents came down to visit for a few days before Christmas (since my dad is going to AFRICA!!! soon) and we explored Del Mar a bit. We went to Paris En Rose, and the Del Mar library so everyone could get a San Diego County library card. I got to have a purse-dog moment with little blind Kingsley as well.
See you next week.
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