GBOD Hospitality Group Adds Little Italy Favorites, Bencotto Italian Kitchen And Monello, To Award-Winning Portfolio

GBOD Hospitality Group, the San Diego-based creators behind Gaslamp Quarter hot spots Mezé Greek Fusion, El Chingon, Prohibition Lounge and Havana 1920, has acquired Little Italy dining destinations Bencotto Italian Kitchen and Monello.

The GBOD Hospitality Group

Founded by husband-and-wife, Guido Nistri and Valentina Di Pietro, the award-winning restaurants have remained open through the transition and operations are unaffected by the acquisition.

Behind GBOD Hospitality Group are Raymond Davoudi and Joe Santos, who have been long-time guests and fans of the restaurants. The acquisition enhances GBOD’s portfolio of dynamic award-winning hospitality brands and curated dining, drinking, nightlife and entertainment destinations throughout San Diego.

The GBOD Hospitality Group collection includes Mezé Greek Fusion, El Chingon, Prohibition Lounge and Havana 1920 in the Gaslamp Quarter; Las Tres Catrinas in Chula Vista, California; and El Chingon and La Chingona in Fort Worth, Texas. El Chingon will open a third location in Dallas by the end of the year.

“All of us at GBOD are ecstatic to be part of the Bencotto and Monello family, two restaurants that we’ve been fans of for so long,” said Santos. “We’re working with Chef Fabrizio Cavallini and the team to continue to offer the authentic Italian cuisine and warm atmosphere that has set the standard for dining in Little Italy.”

About Bencotto Italian Kitchen

Bencotto Italian Kitchen, located in the heart of Little Italy at 750 W. Fir St., has repeatedly been named among the best Italian restaurants in San Diego by Thrillist and San Diego Magazine, among others. Executive chef and co-founder, Cavallini, has developed a menu of home-style dishes, made-in-house pastas and traditional recipes inspired by Northern Italy. Visit the website here for more info.

About Monello

Located next door, Monello is a Milanese kitchen applauded for its decadent cheese wheel pastas and accolades, including “Best New Restaurant,” “Best Pizza” and “Best Happy Hour” by San Diego Magazine and more. The acquisition was completed on Monday, March 13, and GBOD is working to keep the same teams in place at both locations. Click here to keep up to date with Monello.

For more information, visit GBOD Hospitality Group here.

See you there, San Diego!