This column will explore how food can make or break your day as a college student dealing with God-knows-what and some insight on where to dine to decrease your chances of breaking it. “Ya, I’m totally down to hang! Do you have Instagram?” the words of the girl from orientation you will, statistically, never see again. Oh, you’re waiting for her to message you first? Cmon. WAKE UP! DM her right now and tell her you want to get lunch at this new spot you found. Ggiata. With East Coast-inspired Italian sandwiches and wraps, Ggiata provides a chicken caesar wrap that can fill minutes of conversation that might otherwise have been pure awkward silence. First opening up in 2020, the Italian deli was started by three friends wanting to bring Jersey-style sandwiches to the West Coast. Started by friends to make sandwiches for friends. After opening their first brick and mortar in Melrose Hill, they expanded all over Los Angeles, finally making it to Brentwood! Recently opening in November 2025, Ggiata is now open on San Vicente Blvd every day from 8 a.m.- 9 p.m. It’s about two miles from UCLA, but if you don’t have a car, or your new friend won’t strap you to the back of their e-bike, you can take the bus and get there in fifteen minutes! So take a second and check out some of the items on the mini-guide included below! Whenever I go somewhere with someone I don’t really know, I always try to guess what they’re going to get. While I try not to judge, I do know that if they’re getting something with pickles, we’re on the right track. If your new friend is feeling breakfast they serve bagel sandwiches till 2 p.m.! If they’re overwhelmed with the menu, you could recommend something classic like “The BEC,” or bacon, egg and cheese, on a sesame bagel. It’s your best bet if you guys aren’t into taking risks before 10 a.m. If you eat fear for breakfast, or it’s 10:15 a.m., feel free to try “The Breakfast Club” with herb roasted turkey, two fried eggs, Swiss, bacon, avocado and Calabrian chili paste on an everything bagel! Now, just because you get there early, it doesn’t equal a mandatory bagel because everything else is available ALL DAY! Exciting, I know. Remember that chicken caesar wrap I mentioned earlier? This spot has got to be one of the top contenders for the best in LA. A combination of perfectly dressed crunchy lettuce, toasted herb croutons, freshly shaved parmesan and a crispy, fried chicken cutlet. They took a classic, nailed down every single component and made something consistently good — great. Besides the wraps and breakfast bagels, there are the classic Italian subs as well as some Ggiata signatures to choose from. If you want to try a sandwich and you’re looking to try something special, “The Prosciutto Panino” might be something you’re interested in! In the sandwich lives some Prosciutto di Parma, Genoa Salami, Stracciatella, basil, arugula, honey, Calabrian chili paste, tomato and pesto aioli on grilled ciabatta panini style. Before you grill me on the lack of vegetarian items provided for your Los Angeles life-style embracing friend, have them try the grilled caprese sandwich instead! And if they’re hard-core, vegan options like a surprisingly decent looking portobello sandwich are there too. While I could never truly understand it, I have to respect it. Since the new location opened up, Ggiata provides a chance for UCLA students to get a taste of LA without having to go too far off campus! It was one of the first places I went when I realized this city has so many special things to offer. So try not to worry so much about reaching out to someone new, if it goes well, you gain a best friend and a great lunch, if not, at least you’re not friendless and hungry.
