Culty Gabagool Italian Food Cart Goes Brick and Mortar in St. Johns

After crushing Reddit, the Gabagool food cart has been a buzzy underground spot for Italian street food on N Mississippi Avenue, and earlier this year, it shuttered and announced plans to go brick and mortar. Now owner-chef Ryan Sherman tells Eater he's signed a lease at 7955 N Lombard Ave., near Leisure Public House and Mama San Soul Shack. Gabagool could start serving its fresh pastas—including a cult-worthy gnocchi—and Italian street foods as early as mid-October.

Sherman says, "I'm a tall guy, and I'm pretty excited to be getting out of a truck I can't stand up in. Plus, St. Johns is awesome, and we're excited to bring a new food option to the neighborhood."

More than just pastas, Sherman and his long-time business partner Peter Fischer are known for making piadina, an Italian sandwich made with unleavened flatbread. "We're the only place in the city that serves it, I believe," says Sherman. In St. Johns, Sherman and Fischer say they'll keep the staple menu items but add new pasta shapes, more entrees, and more gluten-free, vegetarian, and kids' dishes.

Gabagool will also bring a novel service model. After ordering at the counter, choose to close out your bill or to keep it open. Choose the latter, and servers will continue to check in on your table to take drink and food orders.

At 1300 square feet, the restaurant will be mid-sized, with 43 seats indoors and 30 outside on a patio. Shermans says Gabagool'll have a full bar focused on beer and wine with a small cocktail menu. Currently, it's considering serving lunch and dinner seven days a week. Construction should begin next week, and you can follow along on Gabagool's Facebook and Instagram.