Graze By Sam The Cooking Guy, a Grit & Grain Collective concept, is getting ready to rebrand into a new Italian restaurant in Little Italy at 555 W Date St Suite B.
The group, along with celebrity Sam “The Cooking Guy” Zien, opened the wine-focused restaurant and bottle shop in early 2020 but will soon end its run after May 5, and the group will rebrand, according to SanDiegoVille. The 1,600-square-foot space will transition into a yet-to-be-named restaurant offering East Coast Italian cuisine, wine, beer, and more. The new Italian restaurant is expected to open sometime in Summer 2024.
Grit & Grain is known for several well-respected concepts in San Diego, starting with Not Not Tacos by Sam the Cooking Guy and the Little Italy Food Hall, a vibrant and locally driven multi-vendor hall across from the Graze by Sam site. Other concepts in the company’s portfolio include Carnitas’ Snack Shack, the iconic Broken Yolk Café, and Samburgers by Sam the Cooking Guy. The group, led by Mike DiNorscia, will now introduce another concept to its portfolio.
The rebranding of Graze by Sam proves Grit & Grain Collective is committed to bringing new life to the area surrounding Piazza della Famiglia. Other eateries in the area include Frost Me Cafe and Bakery, CooCoo’s Nest, and Princess Pub & Grille. While the new restaurant will sit in a great location with plenty of tourism and foot traffic, it will still have to compete with other notable Italian restaurants, including Ambrogio15, Davanti Enoteca, and Vincenzo Cucina and Lounge.
