Mary’s Pizza Shack opens new fast casual dining restaurant in Sonoma

Mary’s Pizza Shack, the family-owned casual dining Italian restaurant chain, on Monday opened its newest business, Slice Shack by Mary’s, off the Sonoma Plaza.

The new restaurant, at 14 W. Spain St. next to the Mary’s Pizza Shack in Sonoma, is the Sonoma-based chain’s attempt to compete in the fast casual food sector and comes after the Santa Rosa openings of the Persona and Pieology pizza restaurants.

The menu features items that can be served quickly and purchased to-go, such as meatball sandwiches, salads and a pizza with a thinner type of crust than offered at Mary’s Pizza Shack, said Stefanie Bagala, director of marketing. It is aimed at locals and tourists who want to take their food and browse shops around the plaza, she said. It will also serve beer and wine.

Mary’s has 19 full-service casual Italian restaurants in Sonoma, Napa, Marin, Solano, Shasta and Contra Costa counties. Slice Shack by Mary’s is its first foray into a new business since it was founded in 1959 by Mary Fazio.