Gusto Deli & Bistro has quietly slipped onto Garnet Avenue in Pacific Beach and is already acting like it has been there for years. The new spot takes what started as an online Italian market and turns it into a neighborhood deli, with shelves of imported pantry goods and a compact kitchen turning out fresh pastas and grab-and-go sandwiches. The shop opened in December, then rolled out its sandwich and pasta program earlier this year, blending a retail market of hard-to-find imports with a counter full of ready-to-eat options. Founders Luca Colasanto and Frances Manai, who launched Gusto Grocery as an online specialty store, teamed up with longtime friend Giorgio Corletti to run the food side. Locals say the place is already drawing regulars who pop in for both pantry staples and quick Italian meals.
Colasanto said the reception has been “fantastic,” with some customers even driving in from as far as Temecula to check out the selection, according to the Times of San Diego. That outlet also reports the owners spent months searching for the right storefront before landing on Garnet, and that the deli menu revolves around fresh, homemade pasta and Italian-style sandwiches.
What’s in the case
Shelves are lined with imported olive oils, dried pastas, cheeses, and cured meats, and the deli counter leans on those same ingredients for its sandwiches and simple pasta dishes. Gusto Grocery’s online shop lists many of the same brands and product categories, underscoring that the in-store selection closely tracks the mail-order lineup, according to Gusto Grocery. The focus is on high-quality ingredients rather than mass-market deli fare.
From online to Garnet
The business started as a delivery-focused operation, with a small pickup storefront near Morena Boulevard, before the owners decided they wanted a more visible retail presence. Local coverage notes that the Pacific Beach location took over a former Flame Broiler space on Garnet, and delivery listings put the address at 1088 Garnet Avenue, according to SanDiegoVille and its listing on Uber Eats. The move gives the brand a foothold on PB’s main retail strip and makes its imports easier for neighbors to browse in person.
Menu picks
On the sandwich side, standouts include a calabrese loaded with spicy ‘nduja salami and a Milan built with prosciutto capo and a porcini mushroom sauce with caramelized onions, sandwiches the owners say customers keep coming back for. Those options highlight the shop’s emphasis on straightforward, authentic Italian flavors and made-to-order preparations, as reported by the Times of San Diego. Staffers suggest grabbing a sandwich and heading a few blocks down to the beach for an easy lunch…