Must Try: Cibo Restaurant

Although we’re all for spontaneity when it comes to social gatherings, sometimes it’s great to be able to be pick a time and place to meet your friends and know that you won’t be faced with a two-hour (or longer) wait. Other things we love: tapas, pizza, and a well-curated wine list. Turns out Cibo, Calgary’s newest restaurant on 17th avenue SW, is all of these things and more.

The space is unrecognizable from its former days as a video rental store. The high, exposed ceilings (which are adorned with some pretty stellar light fixtures) together with an abundance of wood creates warm and welcoming atmosphere, whether you are seated at the front of the house (with an excellent vantage for people watching), at the bar, tucked away behind the bar with a birds-eye view of the kitchen, or upstairs. Bonus: they also have a patio on the west side of the building.

There were five people in our group and so we went with our server’s recommendation to try a sample of items from the menu, which was designed to promote sharing and communal eating. From a long list of appetizers, you can choose one, three, or five different items for a fixed price. Among our faves were the eggplant and the marinated mushrooms. Next, we had to choose from a diverse mix of pizzas, pastas, and plates (i.e., meat). The prosciutto pizza, a perennial fave regardless of the restaurant, was amazing thanks to caramelized onions (which paired well with the not-too-salty prosciutto) and a wonderfully chewy crust. Opting for two pizzas and a pasta, we left room for dessert and were rewarded with plenty of chocolate, whipped cream, salted caramel, and nutella. 

Cibo has only been open a week, but it is already creating buzz on social media and local blogs due to the amazing food, service, and atmosphere. Saturday evening was busy, and with summer at our doorstep, you’ll definitely want to add Cibo to your list of go-to restaurants for a client lunch or an evening out with friends. Cibo is on OpenTable for reservations. 

Photo courtesy Cibo