Update 7/19/21: This article has been updated to include information from Way Station Brew owner Warren Spicer.

Pop-up restaurant Sfizio opened at Way Station Brew, located at 2120 Dwight Way, serving fresh pasta and seasonal vegetables on a weekly basis.

Chef and owner Matt Solimano started serving pasta last summer at South Park Cafe in San Francisco during the COVID-19 pandemic after he quit his job as the sous-chef of Italian restaurant Pizzaiolo.  He started making pasta at Way Station Brew on June 16 and since then, Sfizio has been open every Wednesday night from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m, according to a post from the restaurant’s Instagram account, @sfiziopasta.

Warren Spicer, owner of Way Station Brew, added that they will soon host Sfizio on Thursdays from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. as well.

“A friend of mine used to live across the street and became good friends with Warren, the owner of Way Station,” Solimano said in an email. “They told him about Sfizio and he was super excited. He’s been really supportive and accommodating to us.”

Spicer has wanted Way Station Brew to have a “European cafe vibe” where customers can grab coffee and pastries during the day and transition to beer, wine and more food in the evening, Solimano added.

Way Station Brew opened in October 2017, or as Spicer likes to call, “two years and a pandemic” ago. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, Way Station Brew had been open most nights but cut its hours due to lack of business and staffing issues, only opening for lunch most days, according to Solimano.

Way Station Brew has allowed several pop-ups at its location in the past, and according to Spicer, it will continue to offer a platform for chefs to “put their work out there.” Currently, Sfizio is the only pop-up Way Station Brew is working with, Spicer added.

Solimano said he tries to keep his prices as affordable as possible. In addition, Sfizio’s menu changes every few weeks and can be found on the Instagram account.

Oakland resident Cindy Ngo tried the squid and egg asparagus for an appetizer and spaghetti and gnocchi for her main course.

“Customer service was great and the food was incredible,” Ngo said. “The gnocchi was the standout entree and they even were able to make mine dairy-free without cheese.”

Sfizio’s current menu includes appetizers such as grilled zucchini and eggplant, early girl tomatoes and cucumber and grilled Monterey Bay squid for $7. It also has Base Camp Bakery bread available for $3.

As for main dishes, Sfizio serves spaghetti pomodoro, fettuccine e mais and gnocchi primavera ranging from $8 to $13. For dessert, Sfizio offers grilled peach with a griddled biscuit and whipped cream.

“We aren’t on a high foot traffic street. Bringing awareness of Way Station to a larger audience that appreciates quality in food, coffee, drinks and atmosphere will only help our success over time,” Spicer said. “We, like Matt, feel everyone deserves access to a quality experience.”