Big Fish opening Sazio in former Zebra location

In Italian, the word sazio roughly translates to satisfied or full. That’s exactly how Big Fish Restaurant Group Managing Partner Eric Sugrue wants customers to feel when leaving the company’s newest restaurant in Rehoboth.

“We want every one of our guests to be happy, satisfied and full,” said Sugrue.

Sugrue said the Rehoboth-based company purchased the former downtown Rehoboth Italian restaurant Zebra in October. Under the name Sazio, he said the restaurant will be an Italian restaurant serving seafood - the parent company’s bread and butter.

Located at 32 Lake Ave., this is the company’s first Italian restaurant. Sugrue said Big Fish kept the Italian theme because of the location’s history, but other than that, and the number of seats, there won’t be much in common with the immediate predecessor. He said the layout will be a little different, the decor will be updated and pizza ovens are being installed, allowing for the roasting of dishes.

Sugrue said it’s too early to know exactly when the restaurant will open, but he said he’s expecting it to be sometime in late May.

The opening of Sazio will make six restaurants with a Rehoboth mailing address for the company, and the second on Lake Avenue in downtown. It also owns Stingray Sushi Bar and Asian Latino Grill at 59 Lake Ave.

Sugrue said the company is ready for the challenge, adding if Big Fish didn’t do it, someone else would have.

“We’re excited about the opportunity,” he said.