Now open in the Mission Beach space that housed Gabbiano Pizza for nearly four decades is Southern Comfort Kitchen, a Southern home-cookin' restaurant serving soul food in San Diego.
After nearly 40 years serving San Diego's Mission Beach community, Gabbiano Pizza shuttered over the summer so the owners could retire. Around the same time, Christopher & Shy Wellington were looking for a change while operating a once-popular bed and breakfast in Tennessee.
"We owned a bed and breakfast in Nashville, TN, called The Nash Guest House, that was known for its food," explained Southern Comfort Kitchen founder Chris Wellington. "People came from far and wide for the decadent breakfast we made every morning. Sadly, we were forced to close the BnB due to Covid-19, like so many others have had to do. We decided to make a fresh start in life and business since hotels didn't seem to be making a comeback anytime soon. We sold our home, packed our three Great Danes and all of our belongings, and headed for San Diego! We had decided to take our fabulous food on the road. 'Just because people cant book a room and stay doesn't mean they can't eat, let's open a restaurant', Shay tells me on the drive across the country. So, that's exactly what we did. Invested everything we had into hearts, souls, and every last penny. It had always been a dream to open a restaurant so we were excited. We decided to keep to our southern style and see how it would fare in California."
The Wellington's partnered with longtime friend Jace Luna to open Southern Comfort Kitchen earlier this month just steps from the sand in Mission Beach. The new owners redid the patio and interior and launched their eatery with an expansive menu of Southern staples complimented by a bit of cajun influence. Expect items like fried chicken, mac 'n cheese, gumbo, dirty rice, and other classic Southern dishes, some with a California, healthy twist. Southern Comfort Kitchen offers a large assortment of signature sandwiches, barbecue and fried chicken, salads, desserts, and even vegan items.
Southern Comfort Kitchen is now open Tuesday through Sunday from 11am to 10pm at 2912 Mission Boulevard in San Diego's Mission Beach. For more information and to place an order, visit scksandiego.com.
