By Gretchen Pahia
Photos courtesy of Sfizio
In Italian, the word sfizio translates to the English word whim, something you don’t need but for whatever reason, you want. With that in mind, there’s no denying why you’d want to dine at Sfizio Modern Italian Kitchen.
The restaurant opened about a year ago near Desert Ridge Marketplace, filling a niche for neighbors seeking a locally owned restaurant that emphasizes high quality ingredients. Chef Rocco Pezzano and his family run the local eatery and they serve dishes rooted in Italian tradition with flavors matching what you’d find in southern Italy.
The menu isn’t large but offers a robust selection of dishes to satisfy Italian cravings. Whether you are enjoying a family night out, dinner with friends, or a date night, Sfizio delights the tastebuds.
Looking for a pizza? Check out one of their authentic from-scratch brick oven pizzas including their versions of a margarita, calabrese, prosciutto, Americana, or you can put together your own creation with a build-your-own pizza or calzone. Feeling more like a pasta dish? The pasta dishes are handcrafted, and the menu includes top-rated items such as frutti di mare, jumbo shrimp, mussels, clams, calamari, fresh cod fish, and squid ink pasta in a light spicy red sauce. Sfizio’s version of lobster mac and cheese is another delectable option, as is the shrimp risotto. They also offer main entrees including delicious braised short ribs, pollo (chicken) parmigiana, eggplant tortino, and more. There is also a solid kids menu if there are a few younger members of your party there to enjoy a meal.
As expected, there’s an extensive wine list at Sfizio, along with signature Italian cocktail creations including a bellini, negroni, blood orange cosmo, and many others. For those abstaining, there’s soda, lemonade, iced tea, and coffee.
Reservations aren’t required but the popular spot can get busy on weekends, so be sure to keep that in mind if you’re looking to dine with a larger party. Sfizio Modern Italian Kitchen is located at 21050 N Tatum Blvd Unit 110. To make reservations or order a meal to go, call 480-687-8107 or visit sfizioitaliano.com.
