Graze Brings Sam the Cooking Guy’s Living Room to Little Italy

An extension of the Little Italy Food Hall, now open at the Piazza Famiglia, is another showcase for popular everyman chef and cookbook author Sam “the Cooking Guy” Zien. For those who tune into his widely-watched YouTube channel to watch the videos he films in the San Diego home he shares with his wife Kelly, Graze by Sam the Cooking Guy is a chance to experience Zien’s world first-hand. The space is filled with a mix of tables as well as comfy couches and coffee tables to give off a living room vibe and the “grazing” menu is designed the way Zien likes to cook and eat, with an eclectic lineup of shareables that ranges from charcuterie plates and salads to flatbreads and snacks that include Chinese barbecue pork and brisket sliders.

The 1,646-square-foot space is Zien’s second project with Grain & Grit Collective, who partnered with the chef for Not Not Tacos and their incoming restaurant and bar at Seaport Village. Beyond the eatery, Graze by Sam the Cooking Guy also spans to include a full bar with cocktails and a high-tech wine dispensing system, plus a bottle shop selling beer and wine.

On Thursday, March 5, Graze will begin offering lunch service, officially extending its hours to 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 11 a.m. to midnight on Friday and Saturday starting Monday, March 9.

Diana Rose Photography