The name Lo Sfizio comes from a popular term used in Naples, Italy. Sfizio refers to a whim or fancy, something one can’t resist nor help but desire. This is the feeling the restaurant wishes to evoke as they serve authentic Italian street food to patrons.
The 1,800-square foot Lo Sfizio seats about 50 diners. “We wanted to bring a new flavor to Parsippany,” says Giuseppina Spinosa, who hails from Naples, Italy. She owns the restaurant with her husband, Sergio Capdevielle. The couple currently live in Montclair with their son.
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Lo Sfizio serves authentic Italian street food using recipes from the owner’s mother and grandmother. “Street food is what you find in the streets of Italy,” Giuseppina explains. Examples include arancini, potato croquettes, Suppli Romani (similar to arancini but smaller and stuffed with mozzarella), fried pizza, and sandwiches. They also serve pasta dishes, desserts, cappuccino, and espresso.
At the moment, their most popular dish is their fried pizza called pizzetta Montanara. This also happens to be Giuseppina’s favorite dish, and it comes from her mother’s recipe. It’s a Neapolitan street food that’s popular not only in Naples, but around the world. Pizzetta Montanara consists of fried pizza dough that they top with tomato sauce, mozzarella, and basil.
Meanwhile, the Focaccia sandwiches at Lo Sfizio are also a hit. That could be because many of their sandwiches use fresh-made chicken cutlets.
About the Owners
Giuseppina came to the United States with her family when she was eight years old. Her mother’s family had immigrated to Pennsylvania years before and opened a chain of Italian pizzerias and restaurants outside Philadelphia. She regularly watched her mother cook for the holidays and Sunday dinners for the family. This made her realize that food can bring people together, and inspired her to be creative in the kitchen.
She is also no stranger to helping her grandmother cook meals. In fact, Giuseppina began writing down her grandmother’s recipes when she was only nine years old. This is the basis for her love of turning simple ingredients into tasty dishes. Even today, she keeps her grandmother’s words top of mind—“The real ingredients in your cooking are love and passion.”
Visit Lo Sfizio at 77 New Road in Parsippany. Look for them online to learn more.
See the Latest Restaurants Open in New Jersey.
Lo Sfizio FAQs
No, they do not accept reservations.
No, they do not have gluten-free options.
Lo Sfizio Grille offers vegetarian options, yes.
They do offer takeout, yes.
Yes, they offer delivery via Doordash, Grubhub, Uber Eats, Slice, and their website.
No, they do not serve alcohol.
They have a kids’ menu, yes.
All Photos: © Sergio Capdevielle
