Third Sfuzzi restaurant slated for Houston shopping center

Nation's Restaurant News, August 22, 1988 by Ken Frydman

Third Sfuzzi restaurant slated for Houston Shopping center

HOUSTON -- Sfuzzi, a northern Italian restaurant concept in Dallas and New York, will open its third site on the first level of the Pavilion Saks Fifth Avenue shopping center here in mid-October.

Crillon Management Group, which also owns and operates San Simeon, Club San Simeon, and Petaluma in Dalls, will repeat its moderately priced, casual Italian trattoria concept at its third Sfuzzi (the S is silent and the English definition is "fun food").

However, the new Sfuzzi will be 4,100 square feet--halfway between the New York and Dallas sites--and will feature 130 seats, compared with New York's 150 and Dallas' 70.

"We tailored the concept to fit the different cities," said Mary Edwards, a spokesman for CMG. "For instance, we have white tablecloths in New York and none in Dallas."

San Simeon executive chef Richard Chamberlain will orchestrate the new Sfuzzi menu with Sfuzzi Dallas executive chef Steve Singer. The restaurant will be staffed by 75 employees.

"The northern Italian influence will be accented with seasonal foods and American cooking techniques to create a traditional flavor," said Chamberlain.

Pastas and pizzas dominate the Sfuzzi menu. Pizzas, which range from $8 for a small eight-inch pie to $13 for a large $12-inches, are topped with exotic combinations like grilled salmon with caramelized onion and basil pesto sauce.

First-course primi plates feature sweet Italian sausage with marinated peppers and reggino ($7). "Splittables" -- designed for two--include garlic bread with roasted peppers ($3), stewed artichoke and Roma tomatoes with garlic and Parmesan ($5), and sauteed escarole and spinach pancetta ($3.50).

Sfuzzi's signature drink is the frozen "un-bellini-able," a blend of peach nectar, peach schnapps, sparkling champagne and "secret ingredients," according to Edwards.

The new restaurant's interior design will combine the Italian renaissance with modern table and lighting appointments. And trompe l'oeil art work will hang on the wall.