Cafe and patisserie in the daytime, bar and restaurant in the evening, Sfizio promises to deliver a genuinely Italian experience.

The Venue
Situated on a busy main road, Sfizio is a rather small establishment that, at first glance, appears to be a deli. You enter the glass-fronted cafe to be confronted with a lovely array of cakes and pastries on your left, with the day’s specials on a chalk board above. Beyond this is the bar, with its display of paninis and other Italian-style sandwiches. The bar is divided by a white wall that runs almost its entire length. On the other side are most of the wooden tables and perspex chairs, and a flat-screen TV.

The decor is very natural - the walls are bare red brick and the floors are dark varnished wood, giving the place a very open and calm appearance that is finished off by a little stone water feature in one corner, complete with Bonsai tree.

The Atmosphere
As Sfizio operates under more than one genre, the atmosphere depends on what time of the day you go, and the reason you are visiting. It opens early to serve Italian coffees and pastries, moves right through to lunch, then becomes a bar and restaurant in the evenings. The clientele changes along with this – office workers call in during the mornings and at lunchtimes, whilst in the evenings the after work crowd mingle with groups of friends and locals who come to enjoy the relaxed atmosphere and the Italian sport shown on the TV. Many Italians visit here too, which is always a good testament to the quality of the food. It is a family-run place in true Italian style, so the staff are always friendly, welcoming and eager to assist.

The Food
The food is made on the premises and the specials change every day. It’s a good idea to head along in time for the aperitivo, which was basically lots of homemade hors d’oeuvres Italian-style and is free between 5pm-7pm Monday-Friday if you drink at the bar. Brilliant for whetting the appetite.

You can then enjoy a heartier meal, starting with dishes such as the cheesy garlic bread pizza. Don’t let the £2.90 price deceive you – it is the same 12” as the pizzas with just the right balance of garlic and mozzarella to produce a tasty start to your meal. For the mains, a pizza is always an excellent choice and a testament to whether an Italian eaterie is of quality. Highly recommended is the Godfather, with Italian sausage and mushrooms. The sausage isn’t sliced, instead the meat is crumbled over the top of the pizza, rather like mince, but opening up the flavours, which explode in the mouth. Also good is the 3 Gusti with mushrooms, whole green and black olives and ham, Italian-style, thinly-sliced and full of flavour. Just be sure to leave some room for dessert, such as the homemade Italian cakes from the patisserie. These are nice; mostly a combination of pastries, fruit, light custard and whipped cream. Delightful.

The Drink
For a venue that looks more like a cafe than a bar, Sfizio has a good range of beverages. There are the usual wines, spirits, liqueurs and beers, and a cocktail list, but prices are fairly expensive, unlike the food.

The Last Word
A cafe by day, bar and restaurant by night, Sfizio is basically what you make it. Overall, it is a charming, open and relaxed venue to go to with your friends for an informal meal and a few drinks.

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