Late in June, Chris Miller hung a sign and a bunch of balloons outside a small shop under the clock tower at El Tordo and La Granada. That was his only marketing. Within a week, more than 100 people a day were coming through Rancho Sandwich and Creamery, Miller told the San Diego Union-Tribune.
That kind of demand for a breakfast burrito and a soft serve cone helps explain the Village this fall. Nick & G's, the sit-down restaurant on the corner of Paseo Delicias and La Granada, closes in mid-October for a full renovation and plans to reopen in November. A year ago, losing that table would have left a hole. In 2026, the Village filled in the everyday end of its dining, and most of that growth came from local owners using space they already had.
A Conference Room Under the Clock Tower
Rancho Sandwich and Creamery started with a spare room. Miller is a Rancho Santa Fe resident who owns the El Tordo building and runs a private investment firm there. He had an underused conference room in the corner and decided to make it a sandwich shop, with no restaurant experience. "We wanted to do something really nice for the community," he told the Union-Tribune.
Owning the building didn't make it quick. Miller said permits took a year and involved six county and state agencies, and the project needed a new plumbing system. He also said owning the building helped a great deal. Friends and family helped with the build-out, using materials left over from the family's home. Murals by Carmel Valley's Hanna's Murals cover the walls, including one that reads "Ice cream fixes everything."
The menu is easy to learn. Bread comes from O'Brien's and the meats are Boar's Head. The menu includes a chicken chipotle sandwich and a pastrami-and-provolone special. An early best-seller is the East County Native, a French roll with turkey, provolone, bacon and avocado. The name nods to Miller's Fallbrook roots. Breakfast covers avocado toast, breakfast burritos, muffins and bagels, all served as grab-and-go.
A Second Door on Paseo Delicias
Three months after the sandwich shop opened, another local owner expanded on Paseo Delicias. Jennifer Fields opened Paseo last fall in the former Rancho Santa Fe Bistro space. She then opened Paseo Pizza and Gelato next door, at 6024 Paseo Delicias, Unit D, with grand opening events on Sept. 25 and 26.
Paseo Pizza and Gelato is the casual counterpart to Paseo. It serves 18 signature pies plus build-your-own pizzas, rotating gelato flavors and its own craft beer. The namesake Paseo pie comes with Grande mozzarella, imported burrata, crispy prosciutto and arugula. You can order online at paseopizzarsf.com.
| Spot | Location | Hours | Best fit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rancho Sandwich and Creamery | 6110 El Tordo, under the clock tower | Mon–Sat, 8 a.m.–4 p.m. | Breakfast, lunch, a soft serve stop |
| Paseo Pizza and Gelato | 6024 Paseo Delicias, Unit D | Daily, noon–9 p.m. | Late lunch, a weeknight dinner without reservations, gelato after |
Between them, the two shops cover the Village from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and from noon to 9 p.m. on Sunday. Neither needs a reservation. That matters while Nick & G's is closed.
The Anchor Closes in a Different Village
Nick & G's is renovating just before its 10th anniversary. Its building has a long history. It's a Lilian Rice building from the 1920s that was first home to the Millar family, one of Rancho Santa Fe's earliest. Delicias ran there for 24 years, then Ponsaty's had a short stint. Local resident Sandra DiCicco-Bonar of the Grand Restaurant Group opened Nick & G's in 2017 and named it for her children, Nicolas and Gianina. Gianina Pickens, the "G," is now the group's chief operating officer and is leading the refresh with chef and partner Alex Carballo.
According to the Union-Tribune's report on the redesign, the changes include:
- An Amalfi Coast look that is brighter and lighter, with yellows, oranges and blues and nature-inspired patterns
- A large olive tree in the middle of the dining room, surrounded by new custom banquettes and tables
- A new wine cellar you can see through to a lighter bar and lounge, plus a view into the kitchen
- A planted patio under a new wave-shaped shade canopy, and a garden-style back courtyard with water features
- New private event space
The menu is getting smaller. Carballo told the Union-Tribune that some favorites will stay. The new menu will focus on coastal Italian-Americana: handmade pasta, seafood and the best local produce. He plans to use the closure to work on wine pairings, hire and train staff, and learn the new menu. The restaurant also hopes to keep hosting live music, special dinners and community events, like its recent Patrimony Estate wine dinner.
Carballo sees his restaurant as one piece of a bigger change. In the same article, he said he's excited by the Village revitalization. He named Paseo, the new Paseo Pizza and Gelato, Rancho Sandwich and Creamery, longtime favorite Mille Fleurs, Lilian's and the cafe at The Inn, plus Thyme in the Ranch, Caffe Positano and Rancho Roasters. Three of the businesses he named opened within the past year. For November, his list ends with "coming soon, a new Nick & G's."
What's Still Fenced Off Around the Covenant
Restaurants are only part of the construction. Several other projects that affect daily routines are at different stages. Here they are in order of expected finish, based on the latest reporting:
- Rancho Santa Fe Golf Club clubhouse restaurant. On Oct. 4, the Union-Tribune reported that the Association's renovation had reached the finish stage, with wood flooring, wall finishes and restroom tile going in, and was getting ready for a fall opening. The new kitchen has a temporary certificate of occupancy from the county, so staff can start prepping and training. No opening date had been announced as of that report.
- The golf club snack bar. The Association approved this project at $3.3 million in February. It will have a better kitchen, upgraded restrooms and a larger patio with a small upper deck. The club is aiming to finish by the end of 2026.
- The golf club paver plaza. On Oct. 1, the Association board approved $850,000 for a new entry plaza, paid for entirely by the golf club. It will connect the clubhouse, snack bar, players' clubhouse and pro shop. Director of agronomy Tom Huesgen hopes to finish by the first week of February 2027. His biggest worry is the super El Niño expected this winter, and he said there will be some access challenges during construction. Chief Administrative Officer Dominique Albrecht noted that much of the work is required by the county's stormwater rules.
- Rancho Santa Fe Pharmacy's new building. The pharmacy's new home at 6105 El Tordo was still under construction as of a May 2026 county planning group agenda and the June 30 Union-Tribune report on the sandwich shop across the street. The Association approved the move in 2017. The Union-Tribune reported in 2025 that the county process and the pandemic delayed it. None of the reporting we found gives an opening date.
The sandwich shop needed a year of permits. The pharmacy's move has been in the works since its 2017 approval and still isn't finished.
Filling the Calendar While the Patio Is Closed
While Nick & G's is closed, the Village calendar fills some of the gap:
- Saturday, Oct. 17: Watercolor painting at the Rancho Santa Fe Library
- Thursday, Oct. 22: Author event with Elizabeth St. John at the library
- Wednesday, Oct. 28: Rancho Santa Fe Rotary Halloween Party, 6 to 9 p.m.
- Thursday, Oct. 29: "Inn After Dark" at The Inn at Rancho Santa Fe, starting at 6 p.m. It's free with RSVP and adults-only, with live music, themed spaces and a costume contest, according to the Union-Tribune.
- Thursday, Nov. 12: Rancho Santa Fe Art Guild exhibit reception at the library, listed in the Union-Tribune's October library roundup
We haven't found a published date yet for the 2026 Rancho Santa Fe Stroll and tree lighting at The Inn. Last year both were held on Thursday, Dec. 4, with the Stroll starting at 4 p.m. and the tree lighting at 5 p.m. If the redesigned Nick & G's opens on its November schedule, its new patio could be ready by the time the 2026 date is set.
Until then, the sandwich counter opens at 8 a.m. and the pizza oven runs until 9 p.m.
At O'Rourke Realty, we pay attention to which storefronts open, which buildings change hands, and why local owners are investing in Rancho Santa Fe Village. If you own in the Covenant and want to talk about how changes in the Village affect your home, Contact John & Yani.
