The owner of Landini's Pizza has taken over the space previously occupied by Iron Pig Alehouse in San Diego's Pacific Beach for the opening of a new concept named Slowly Bar & Restaurant.
Florence-native Leo Landini started his San Diego culinary career in 2005 as the general manager of what was then the oldest Italian restaurant in the Gaslamp, the now-defunct Trattoria La Strada. In 2008, Landini took over the former Pizzeria Luigi in Little Italy and opened his namesake pizzeria.
In 2016, Landini repurposed the second tier space above his pizzeria and launched full-service restaurant Ristorante Illando, and most recently in 2018, Landini launched a small-scale eatery inside the Liberty Public Market in Point Loma's Liberty Station. In October 2020, Landini unveiled his newest and largest restaurant to date, Scuderia Italia in Pacific Beach.
Landini has now taken over the building that last housed Salsa & Smoke/Iron Pig Alehouse, which is sited directly across the street from his Scuderie Italia, to open a new eatery dubbed SLOWLY Bar & Restaurant. Slowly's Executive Chef is Spencer Hays, who previously worked in the kitchen at Eric Ripert's Le Bernardin, a three-Michelin star French seafood restaurant in Midtown Manhattan, New York City.
Although the concept is still in development, we do know Slowly will not be an Italian restaurant. Expect a menu focused on sustainably-driven ingredients with dishes from "the sea to the forest of California," as well as a devotion to craft cocktails, late night offerings and weekend brunch.
Slowly Bar & Restaurant is expected to open this summer at 1520 Garnet Avenue in San Diego's Pacific Beach.
Slowly Bar & Restaurant is expected to open this summer at 1520 Garnet Avenue in San Diego's Pacific Beach.
