RESTAURANT REVIEW 1473 Fitzgerald Avenue, Suite 102, Pinole | (510) 223-ZIOS (9467) | ziospasta.com By Zio’s Salad and Breadsticks
ZIO’S PASTA PRONTO:
Catering to Your Busy Lifestyle
Let’s face it—life is hectic! People are working longer
hours, varied schedules, and commuting farther and longer
to get to school or work. Busy families are faced with afterschool
or extra-curricular activities for their children, often
lasting late into the evening. With such busy lifestyles,
cooking at home and sitting down with the family around
the dinner table for a meal is not nearly as common as it
once was. Hence, fast food establishments can be found
everywhere, many of which are undesirable due to the
often-perceived unhealthy fare offered, and the mediocre
quality and freshness of the products served. Well, for those
embroiled in the aforementioned hectic lifestyle, you’ll be
happy to know that there’s a healthier, fresh alternative
available—ZIO’s Pasta Pronto! Located in the Pinole Vista
Shopping Center on Fitzgerald Drive in the former location
of Dickey’s Barbecue Pit, ZIO’s is next door to Panda
30 MARKETPLACECONTRACOSTA.COM SEPTEMBER 2017
Vickie Lewis
Express on one side, and Cold Stone Creamery on the other.
Owners of ZIO’s Pasta Pronto, Tony LoForte and
Sherry Bolus LoForte, previously owned the Dickey’s
Barbecue Pit franchise at this location, which operated
between 2014 and 2016. For various business reasons, the
LoFortes decided to exit the barbecue business and convert
the venue to a “take-out” version of their fine dining
restaurant, Zio Fraedo’s, located in Vallejo. The popular
Italian waterfront restaurant has been in operation for over
12 years and has been nominated as the “Best Restaurant
in Vallejo” for the past several years. Tony’s father owns
and operates the original Zio Fraedo’s restaurant in Pleasant
Hill, which has been in business since 1974. Tony is a very
experienced restauranteur, having grown up in the business,
helping his father since he was only three years old.
Leveraging some of the recipes from Zio Fraedo’s, ZIO’s