Frequently Asked Questions
What's Sfizio's service model?
Sfizio is a hybrid of counter service and full service. Before you sit, you order at the counter where we will take your full order (which we will course out for you), make your drinks and take you to your table. Once seated, no need to get back into line; flag down any of our staff and they can get you whatever you need.
What kind of food is Sfizio?
Even though we specialize in pasta, we're more of a California-Mediterranean restaurant than Italian; we draw inspiration from all over the Mediterranean, Middle East, Latin America and Asia. Many of our ingredients are sourced from the amazing bounty of Northern California farms, foragers, ranchers and fishermen. In particular we work closely with Stonybrook Canyon Farm in Hayward, an organic farm 20 minutes from the restaurant.
There's a line, what do I do? Can I put my name down?
Our line moves pretty fast, don't worry! We don't have a wait list, just hang out in line and we will seat folks as tables open and we take their order. We'll do our best to work our way down the line and chat with folks and get a drink order while you wait.
Why do you only take reservations for 5pm?
It has always been our intention to be a restaurant that is walk up only; part of trying to keep our prices reasonable is being able to turn tables, which means filling them quickly. We decided to take a few reservations for seating at 5pm to make it easier for bigger parties and folks with scheduling restrictions like families with small children to dine with us. Check out the 'Hours and Reservations' tab for more info.
Can I place a takeout order?
We offer our full menu for take out. Just call 510-229-8365 during our business hours to place an order. We don't do scheduled pickups, but the food takes about 20 minutes, so just call before you'd like to pick up. Also, bottles of wine are 50% off bottle price to go!
Are all your pastas homemade?
Yes, even our gluten-free pasta. Come by on Wednesdays for gnocchi night.
How often does your menu change? And when will my favorite dish be back?
We usually change 1-2 dishes a week, although the Spaghetti and Meatballs and Foccacia are always on the menu. We cook with the seasons, which is one of the most fun parts of being a cook; looking forward to the short window of perfect tomatoes or dreading the two weeks of never ending artichoke prep. If you had a dish in the summer, it will be back next summer and definitely not before then, when we know all the ingredients are just right.
Is your gluten free pasta safe for celiacs?
We use Caputo gluten free flour and cook it in a separate pot from our other pastas. That being said, we do use the same extruder to make the pasta and there is a lot of flour in the restaurant. We've had folks with Celiac's eat here without getting sick, but we can't guarantee it.
Do you offer gift cards?
We do! We have electronic gift cards that can be sent to any email address you like. Give us a call at 510-229-8365 between 12 - 4 Wednesday to Saturday and our staff can set you up with one over the phone.
Can you accommodate dietary restrictions, such as vegan, vegetarian, or food allergies?
We sure can. Most of our menu is usually vegetarian and there are usually a couple vegan options or dishes that can be made vegan very easily. Our pasta is just flour, water and salt (although the gluten-free pasta has egg). Please let our staff know if you have any allergies or dietary restrictions, not every ingredient is listed on our menu,