From the Buona Forchetta Family comes the Gelati & Peccati Diner, a new restaurant serving up Roman-style pizza (pizza al taglio), authentic Italian gelato and diner classics with an Italian flair.
It’s located in the heart of downtown Encinitas in the former Angelo’s Burgers space. I’ll have to be honest: I never really developed an affinity for Angelo’s, but then again, I never frequented it much.
Given that Angelo’s had a drive-through right in the center of the building, the GP Diner folks maximized the space by offering an eclectic array of food and beverages that would be good for dining in or take-out. Besides the Roman-style rectangular pizza, they offer homemade gelato and diner fare for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
There is also a full coffee menu with pastries, croissants and baked goods, which is great since Encinitas is lacking in coffee offerings…I’m joking.
For those unfamiliar, pizza al taglio or pizza al trancio is a variety of pizza baked in large trays and sold in rectangular or square slices. This type of pizza was invented in Rome, Italy, and is common throughout Italy. I think Encinitas now has just about every pizza available, and I’m not kidding. It’s almost overwhelming.
Like most Buona Forchetta ventures, they make it seem even more authentic by staffing it with Italians with sexy accents and a passion for food.
GP Diner has Luca Zamboni and Giovanni Bonomi. Zamboni previously worked under famed Italian pizzaiolo Gabriele Bonci, and Bonomi is a master gelato maker passionate about producing unique flavors.
A lot is going on at GP Diner, the pizza, coffee and gelato side of the building where you order and pay separately from the diner side, where the eclectic menu has a lot going on. However, I was pleasantly surprised to find two of my favorite things on the diner side, pinball machines and a jukebox, all fully functional.
I am a big fan of pinball and could see going back when they get their beer and wine flowing to play pinball and music on the classic jukebox with a glass of beer or wine, then chow down on some solid diner food.
I started my GP Diner experience on the diner side and ordered a delicious cheeseburger. It’s a 100% Angus beef patty, American cheese, lettuce, tomato and onion, as a diner burger should be, simple yet very satisfying. The fries were on point as well.
I returned for dinner and had to sample the pizza, so we ordered several varieties. The high-hydration dough ferments for three days, then topped with various ingredients and baked to a light, airy, crispy crust.
The crust was a highlight, for sure. I enjoyed everything we sampled, but there are so many fantastic pizza options in Encinitas, including their sister restaurant up the road in Leucadia Buona Forchetta, that it is tough to stand out in such a crowded market.
Nevertheless, the presentation is fabulous, and the pizza does not disappoint. I also made a return visit for their Fried Spaghetti which was not the variety I was accustomed to. Instead, I went with the carbonara, which I love. It was a small deep-fried square stuffed with pasta inside.
I liked it but was expecting a fried pasta dish, so my bad for not asking; they were not on display when I ordered. This would be perfect after a few beers but not so much for lunch.
The great thing about GP Diner is they have so many options that you can go with a group, and everyone will be happy. An example would be the homemade meatloaf with mashed potatoes and what appeared to be a delicious Italian red gravy.
I’m a big fan of meatloaf, and this did not disappoint. I made it a point to save half the next day in a sandwich on spongy white bread, sharp cheddar cheese, and yellow mustard. It was a delightful lunch.
Salads, panini, burgers, and a wild mix of entrées ranging from Chicken Pot Pie to Fish & Chips to Chicken Milanese to Steak & Fries, which sounded delicious being a 12oz ribeye, but the $39 price seemed a bit out of line with the other entrée’s that ranged from $10 – $22.
The diner side also serves all-day breakfast, ranging from the standard toasts, benedicts, omelets and egg dishes to some great-looking breakfast pizzas. In addition, some classic shakes and fun desserts, including a Banana Split, provide options in that area.
Still, I would suggest heading back to the other side for their famous gelati (plural of gelato).
You can’t go wrong with their gelato, and it’s worth a visit simply for that, although given the culinary talent of the team running GP Diner and in the kitchen, I don’t think you can go wrong with anything on the menu.
GP Diner is at 608 South Coast Highway 101 in Encinitas. For more information www.buonaforchettasd.com/gp-diner/
