Sam The Cooking Guy has proclaimed he is no longer in the restaurant industry. His announcement came via an Instagram post, where Zien expressed pride in the achievements of his ventures but indicated it was time for him to move on to new endeavors.
"We started all this with Not Not in 2018, and since then the food has been great, and the people even better," posted Sam The Cooking Guy to social media. "I'm incredibly proud of what we’ve accomplished, but it’s time to move on. What’s next you might wonder? You’ll just have to stay tuned. Btw, the restaurants are not going away - just me."
This decision marks the end of Zien's direct involvement with the establishments he helped bring to life under the partnership with Mike DiNorcia's Grit & Grain Collective. Despite his departure, Zien reassured fans and patrons that the restaurants themselves would continue to operate. Grit & Grain issued a generic farewell post on its social media channels.
"Roses are red And we all love croissants, But as of today I’m out of the restaurants," read Sam's Instagram post. "Not Not and Samburgers And si Basta too, It’s time to say goodbye But I def won’t be blue. Me and my partners We had a good run, But finding a way forward Just couldn't be done. So go and support As I surely will, And keep an eye for what's next Cuz I sure can’t sit still."
Basta, located at 550 West Date Street in San Diego's Little Italy, was the latest addition to Zien's portfolio, having opened in June 2024. Basta transformed the space formerly occupied by Graze By Sam The Cooking Guy, offering a twist on classic East Coast Italian cuisine under the culinary direction of Gavin Mills, previously of San Francisco's Michelin-starred One Lombard Street.
Samburgers and Not Not Tacos, both part of the Little Italy Food Hall, were among Zien's initial forays into restaurant ownership. Not Not Tacos, known for its unconventional taco offerings, and Samburgers, which offered unique burger creations, have been staples at the food hall. In 2023, Sam The Cooking Guy also opened CooCoo's Nest, a fried chicken sandwich eatery sited in the food hall, but that vendor closed last year. The Little Italy Food Hall, a vibrant 4,685 square-foot space, has been a hub for food lovers, featuring a selection of vendors handpicked by Zien and Grit & Grain Collective.
Adding another layer to this transition, both the Little Italy Food Hall and the Basta space are currently listed for sale by San Diego's Next Wave Commercial real estate brokerage. The combined asset sale, which includes 6,331 square feet of interior space, a full liquor license, and fixtures, was set at an asking price of $495,000 (down $100k from initial listing) with a monthly rent of $31,308 plus expenses and maintenance. This move towards selling these properties was already underway before Zien's announcement, suggesting a strategic shift for Grit & Grain Collective.
At one point, Grit & Grain with Sam The Cooking Guy were planning to open a full-service restaurant at the former Buster's Beach House space in Seaport Village but ultimately backed out of the project. The building is now slated to house a location of Los Angeles-based, tavern-style sports bar concept Cork & Batter.
While Zien's statement leaves his future plans somewhat mysterious, his departure from these ventures does not necessarily spell the end for the restaurants themselves. As for Zien, his fans are left in anticipation of his next project, which he hinted at in his Instagram post.
Little Italy Food Hall & Basta are both located within Piazza Della Famiglia in San Diego's Little Italy. For more information, visit littleitalyfoodhall.com and bastasd.com.
Basta, located at 550 West Date Street in San Diego's Little Italy, was the latest addition to Zien's portfolio, having opened in June 2024. Basta transformed the space formerly occupied by Graze By Sam The Cooking Guy, offering a twist on classic East Coast Italian cuisine under the culinary direction of Gavin Mills, previously of San Francisco's Michelin-starred One Lombard Street.
Samburgers and Not Not Tacos, both part of the Little Italy Food Hall, were among Zien's initial forays into restaurant ownership. Not Not Tacos, known for its unconventional taco offerings, and Samburgers, which offered unique burger creations, have been staples at the food hall. In 2023, Sam The Cooking Guy also opened CooCoo's Nest, a fried chicken sandwich eatery sited in the food hall, but that vendor closed last year. The Little Italy Food Hall, a vibrant 4,685 square-foot space, has been a hub for food lovers, featuring a selection of vendors handpicked by Zien and Grit & Grain Collective.
Adding another layer to this transition, both the Little Italy Food Hall and the Basta space are currently listed for sale by San Diego's Next Wave Commercial real estate brokerage. The combined asset sale, which includes 6,331 square feet of interior space, a full liquor license, and fixtures, was set at an asking price of $495,000 (down $100k from initial listing) with a monthly rent of $31,308 plus expenses and maintenance. This move towards selling these properties was already underway before Zien's announcement, suggesting a strategic shift for Grit & Grain Collective.
At one point, Grit & Grain with Sam The Cooking Guy were planning to open a full-service restaurant at the former Buster's Beach House space in Seaport Village but ultimately backed out of the project. The building is now slated to house a location of Los Angeles-based, tavern-style sports bar concept Cork & Batter.
While Zien's statement leaves his future plans somewhat mysterious, his departure from these ventures does not necessarily spell the end for the restaurants themselves. As for Zien, his fans are left in anticipation of his next project, which he hinted at in his Instagram post.
Little Italy Food Hall & Basta are both located within Piazza Della Famiglia in San Diego's Little Italy. For more information, visit littleitalyfoodhall.com and bastasd.com.
Originally published on January 27, 2025.