Zama Restaurant & Bar To Bring South American Cuisine With Asian Influence To San Diego's Gaslamp Quarter

January 27, 2022

San Diego Dining Group (Farmer's Table, Greystone) has taken over the space previously occupied by Monkey King in the Gaslamp for the opening of Zama Restaurant & Bar, which will offer a menu of South American cuisine with an Asian influence. 

San Diego Dining Group is the product of Sicilian-born chefs and co-owners Vincenzo Loverso and longtime partner Alessandro Minutella, who operate such local dining concepts as Greystone The Steakhouse, Osetra The Fishhouse, Osteria Panevino, Saltwater, Rusticucina, The Butcher's Cut, Breakfast & Bubbles, Allegro, Farmer's Table and InPasta. The local hospitality company is expanding their presence in downtown San Diego with the recent lease of the 3,600-square-foot restaurant that last housed Monkey King at the corner of 5th and Island in the Gaslamp Quarter. 

Zama Restaurant & Bar will be inspired by a popular dining concept called Amazónico, which has locations in Madrid, London and Dubai. Expect an interior design featuring lush greenery and natural materials from Greg Mueller of Tucker Sadler design firm, who was the architect for such local projects as The Portside Pier and San Diego Symphony's The Rady Shell at Jacobs Park venue. The food menu will be centered around Latin American cuisines inspired by South American countries, as well as the Asian and Mediterranean communities which inhabit them. Dishes will range from ceviches and sushi to grilled meats and fish. There will also be a full bar with tropical cocktails, local beer and wine. 

Zama Restaurant & Bar is anticipated to open by this summer at 467 Fifth Avenue in San Diego's Gaslamp. For more information, visit sandiegodininggroup.com.