Panizzeria Laguna Beach, a takeout-focused eatery from restaurateur Gianni Chilorio, will bring a menu centered on house-made focaccia sandwiches and “pizzette,” a handheld-style pizza inspired by Italian street food. The concept is slated to open at 263 Forest Ave, Laguna Beach, in August, Chilorio told WhatNow in an exclusive interview.
Chilorio, who operates the Nardò Italian Restaurant locations in Huntington Beach and Culver City, as well as the growing Doppio Zero pizzeria brand in Northern California, describes Panizzeria as a departure from the traditional full-service restaurant model.
“We wanted to do a takeout concept because it allows us to offer our product to more people,” Chilorio told What Now Orange County. “It’s something we can scale and grow.”
At the heart of the menu will be focaccia sandwiches made with in-house-baked bread and filled with a variety of premium ingredients. Guests will also find pizzette, approximately seven inches in diameter, topped with classic Italian ingredients and folded in half “like a wallet” before being wrapped for easy eating on the go.
While Panizzeria will primarily cater to takeout customers, the Laguna Beach location is expected to feature a handful of outdoor tables in the plaza surrounding the restaurant.
Though focaccia sandwich shops have become increasingly popular in recent years, Chilorio believes Panizzeria’s combination of artisanal sandwiches and pizza offerings will help distinguish the brand from competitors.
“We wanted to do a combination because our pizza is delicious,” he said. “Instead of doing traditional pizza by the slice, we created something a little different.”
Both the focaccia and pizza doughs will be made from scratch in-house. The pizzette dough is designed to fall somewhere between Roman and Neapolitan styles, while the focaccia will be soft, airy, and sturdy enough to hold a variety of fillings.
