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rich. The soup was served with a small bag of oyster crackers,
which we both added to the creamy mixture. I don’t think
either of us was able to finish the soup because its richness
made it extremely filling—especially after everything else we’d
had the opportunity to consume. If you are a fan of clam
chowder, I highly recommend that you try a hearty bowl of
it at Zio’s when you stop in. The new menu indicates that
this wonderful soup will be available regularly on Fridays and
Saturdays, versus just an occasional special of the day.
Aware that we were likely too full to eat dessert, Tony
offered each of us a piece of home-made Tiramisu to take
home. There were a couple of other dessert options to choose
from, as well; but after all, what is an Italian meal without
Tiramisu for dessert? This was the first time my guest had
ever tried this dessert, and she found it to be light, moist, and
flavorful. The cream was fluffy and not too rich, and the rum
flavoring was definitely evident but not too strong. I have
eaten plenty of Tiramisu over the years, and this one ranked
right there among the best. I would highly recommend Zio’s
Tiramisu—that is, if you manage to save room for dessert!
During our visit, a steady stream of customers came in
for lunch, several of which ate in the dining room and others
who ordered food to go. Tony informed us that about 50% if
their business is take-out, which is good, because the idea is to
provide fast and fresh high-quality cuisine that customers can
take home or back to work to enjoy. The head chef at Zio’s
Pasta Pronto is Martin, who has worked for the LaForte family
since 1991. Martin previously worked for Tony’s father at Zio
Fraedo’s in Pleasant Hill, and is very familiar with the various
recipes and food preparation. He definitely prepares orders
quickly, based on our observation that day. Most orders were
ready within approximately five minutes.
As previously mentioned, Zio’s modified their menu
somewhat, and the new selections are now published on
their website. During our visit, Tony told us that one of the
new featured menu items would be Fish and Chips. For this
dish, Zio’s uses beer-battered Icelandic Cod during, and on
Fridays, will offer a special Salmon Fish and Chips. There will
continue to be new daily featured specials, as well as ongoing
Family Deals. Zio’s had just introduced its first Family Deal
shortly before our visit. This deal advertised 1 family-sized
order of Spaghetti with Meatballs, 1 family-sized order of
mixed green salad with either house or Caesar dressing, and 10
breadsticks, for $44.95. This could easily feed a family of four
or five, at a cost of approximately $10 per person. Variations
on the family deal will be featured in the future; however,
Tony informed us that customers can order family style meals
at any time by just telling the employee at the counter that
they wish to do so. Zio’s Pasta Pronto also offers full catering
options, available for pick-up or for delivery on-site. On-site
catering is arranged as a buffet; seated catering service is not
available. Please contact the restaurant for further information.
Zio’s Pasta Pronto offers a pleasing new option to the
West Contra Costa County community, serving fine dining
fare without having to dine at a traditional restaurant. While
there is the option to dine-in, all of the menu options are
conducive to take-out, and are prepared quickly, in spite of
being cooked to order. One aspect of our dining experience at
Zio’s that was a bit surprising was that all items were served on
paper plates (except for the soup.) The cutlery is also plastic,
which is appropriate to provide when food is taken “to go”,
but not as common when dining in at a restaurant. Tony said
that they would soon be moving to regular plates and flatware,
as they now have a commercial dishwasher available. The paper
plates didn’t really bother me; however, I could see how some
of the dishes, for example, those served with sauces, could get
soggy after sitting for a short while. My daughter discovered
Zio’s before I did, and she has visited multiple times to get
her favorites--Chicken Parmesan, Fried Ravioli and Fried
Zucchini--and always gets them “to go.” The good news is
that the take-out containers are all plastic, eliminating concerns
about soggy food.
Tony and Sherry live in Benicia with their two daughters,
Elizabeth and Isabella, who are 12 and 10 respectively. They
are busy on-the-go parents, but still manage to run multiple
successful restaurants. The LoFortes plan to open yet another
food establishment, Sherry’s Kitchen, at the former location of
Dickey’s Barbecue in Pleasant Hill, which they also previously
franchised. But for now, the focus is on getting the word out
about Zio’s Pasta Pronto and introducing customers to the
many great options available from their “fast and fresh” menu.
My guest and I had a fabulous experience when we visited, and
as mentioned, my daughter has quickly become a fan of Zio’s
over the last couple of months.I believe that once you have an
opportunity to try out some of the delicious food selections
here, you’ll be a fan too!
Chicken Marsala and Breadsticks
Hours: Sunday – Thursday 11:00 AM – 9:00 PM | Friday & Saturday 11:00 AM – 10:00 PM