RIP Brandon Zanavich
He sprang onto North Park’s culinary scene in 2018 with a no-nonsense approach that quickly garnered a devoted following.
Within weeks, Brandon Zanavich of The Friendly became known for his thin-crust pizzas and more so, his “dirty flat top” cheeseburgers, which never allowed for modifications at his original, existing location at 4592 30th St.
Sadly, Zanavich passed away unexpectedly in early May at the age of 41.
We salute the entrepreneur for his steadfast support of the local hospitality industry and his clever ability to stay relevant in the face of fierce competition — and without a website.
Zanavich eventually expanded his general concept to the nearby Friendly Tavern, and to eateries in Pacific Beach and Kearny Mesa.
Originally from Detroit, he had worked at Pizzeria Luigi and Carnitas Snack Shack before launching The Friendly.
Hob Nob Hill reopens
There are many goners and a few newcomers to the menu at Hob Nob Hill, the historic 82-year-old restaurant in Bankers Hill that reopened in May under new ownership.
The locally based developer, Creative House, made only minor changes to the dining room, with the most noticeable being the removal of a large Wizard of Oz mural on the back wall of the main dining room. It has been replaced with mirror panels.
“We are going to bring Hob Nob Hill back to its original glory,” said Creative House owner Douglas Hamm when we spoke to him in February soon after he acquired the restaurant from former proprietor Tania Warchol. “And many of the original recipes used over the decades will be kept in place,” he added.
To the contrary, Hob Nob’s long-famous coffee cake now uses a different recipe by a new baker. It is no longer included in the bread baskets served with meals. The overall daily pie selection has been reduced in lieu of some newly introduced sweets—and the nostalgic Waldorf salad was axed along with many other dishes across the menu.
On a recent visit we were told that the corned beef still uses the same brine, although the Reuben sandwiches using the meat are now smaller.
Fresh additions to the lineup include a Mediterranean-style salad and omelet. In addition, the shortened dinner menu has seen the arrival of beef Stroganoff while established dishes such as chicken-and-dumplings, turkey dinners, and meatloaf have undergone slight recipe changes.
2271 First Ave., (619) 239-8176, hobnobhill.com.
Gina Freize bids a fond farewell to Venissimo Cheese
After operating for 21 years as San Diego’s premier artisan cheese retailer, Gina Freize and her husband, Roger, have passed the torch to longtime employee Rob Graff. The sale of Venissimo Cheese to Graff included the company’s three shops in Mission Hills, North Park (inside Bottlecraft), and Del Mar at the Flower Hill Promenade.
“Our 21 years in business went by in a blink of eye because every minute of it was fun and delicious,” said Freize, adding that “we found a little place in Italy where we will move to later this year.”
Graff plans on maintaining the status quo with the business, saying that he will also continue offering classes through Venissimo’s “Academy of Cheese,” as well as group visits to European cheesemakers through the company’s “Veni Voyages.”
754 W. Washington St., (619) 491-0708, venissimo.com.
Pizza kitchens in the spotlight
Little Italy and University Heights recently made way for two anticipated pizzerias.
Slice House burst into Little Italy with a bang in mid-May as eager customers lined up for a taste of its varied pizza styles perfected by celebrity pizzaiolo Tony Gemignani.
The San Francisco-based chain serves four types of pies: Grandma-style with a pan-fried thin crust; Detroit-style featuring a deep-dish crust with crispy, cheesy edges; Sicilian pies using fluffy foccacia; and classic New York-style with a thin, semi-firm crust.
Gemignani earned top honors in pizza-making and dough-throwing competitions in Italy and the U.S. over the years, including winning the World Pizza Cup in Naples. He also serves a variety of salads and pasta dishes.
2100 Kettner Blvd., (619) 228-9824, slicehouse.com.
Sonny’s Pizza on Madison Ave. draws its inspiration from a Brooklyn, NY joint called Roberta’s Pizza.
Owners Matt Sieve and Jeff Fink opened the business in an antiquated building that once served as a storage garage for electric trolley cars. It later became an auto shop. The men also own nearby Madison and Madi restaurants.
Wood paneling, interior picnic tables and photographs of iconic Italians set the stage for 12-inch pizzas that Sieve describes as “a hybrid between Neapolitan and New York style.” The menu also features dishes such as baked clams, spaghetti carbonara, pistachio-pesto pasta, grilled branzino, and more. Craft cocktails, beer and wine are available as well.
1728 Madison Ave., (619) 432-1838, letsgetsonnys.com.
Karl Strauss lands a big partnership
The downtown-based Karl Strauss Brewing Company was selected to produce a single American-style IPA beer for Disneyland’s 70th anniversary, which officially kicked off on May 16. The exclusively crafted brew offers grapefruit aromas with hints of tropical fruit flavors.
It is the official craft beer in a culinary program that features 70 food and beverage items specific to the celebration.
For the coming months, the beer is available on draft and/or in cans at various Disney-owned theme parks and restaurants. They include Disneyland’s Carnation Cafe and Blue Bayou Restaurant; California Adventure’s Carthay Circle Restaurant and Wine Country Trattoria; the Grand California Hotel & Spa; and at select outdoor vending locations.
1157 Columbia St., (619) 234-2739, karlstrauss.com.
Henry’s Pub closes, Fat Tuesday coming
Mid-May saw the closing of Henry’s Pub, a bar and restaurant with Finnish roots that has served visitors to the Gaslamp Quarter for 25 years.
Gone are the white cheddar curds and famous peach whiskey/Red Bull shots as the address makes way for a New Orleans-style party bar known for its frozen cocktails.
Based in Miami, Fat Tuesday is expected to open in the 3,600-square-foot space by the middle of summer. The national chain, founded in 1984, brings not only an array of icy, fruity libations, but also pizzas, baked chicken wings and more.
618 Fifth Ave., fattuesday.com.
‘Sweet 16’ for Cucina Urbana
The Bankers Hill hot spot Cucina Urbana will celebrate its 16th birthday throughout the month of June with select dishes and fine wines by the glass all priced at $16.
The deals will be available Sunday through Wednesday until the end of the month at all other Cucina locations throughout San Diego and Orange counties, as well.
The brand is owned by founder Tracy Borkum of the Urban Kitchen Group. The Bankers Hill restaurant is where Borkum’s venture began with a wine-driven menu of Italian-inspired foods. 505 Laurel St., (619) 239-2222, urbankitchengroup.com.
Wiener Wednesdays!
Now under new ownership, Lancers bar in University Heights is slinging free hot dogs with the purchase of any drink between the hours of 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. every Wednesday.
Bartender Robin Chiki, who told us she has “a hot dog fascination,” helped organize the weekly deal. The steamed wieners are available in meat and vegetarian form and include an array of condiment options.
Lancers is known for its affordable drink prices and dive-bar vibe. It has been in operation since 1963, and was recently purchased from the former owner by three longtime employees.
4671 Park Blvd., (619) 298-5382.
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