Cibo Wine Bar (@LibertyGroup) first opened its doors to the King West crowd back in June of last year. Taking over the former space of Alimento, Cibo Wine Bar prides itself in serving a true taste of Italian cuisine while adding a modern twist. Their pasta is freshly made in house everyday! Unfortunately, we didn’t opt for their pasta dish that evening because the one offered on their Winterlicious menu didn’t seem as appealing to the ones that are offered on their regular menu!
The second you walk through Cibo’s front doors – you’ll noticed the largest wine cellar plotted in the center of the eatery. The atmosphere here is very cozy and chic. Exposed brick wall everywhere with wooden floors and a very artsy decor in the lower level. Our waitress suggested we snap pictures here and there.
Bread to Start:
- I’m not sure if it was just our table, but the bread served was rather difficult to slice. My friend and I both tried to cut this “semi pre-sliced bread” with a fork and knife for quite some time (the table was on the verge of shaking) – finally, we both gave up and just used our hands.
- The bread itself is of course chewy on the shell and contrasted with a soft texture underneath. In terms of taste – there was a lot of salt sprinkled on the shell but once you get past that the bread is alright.
Baked Eggplant
- Melted Bocconcini + Parmigiano, Light Tomato Sauce
- My baked eggplant starter resembled a “baked parmesan chicken” but replace the chicken with an eggplant
- Although the baked eggplant may seem to be slightly heavy for a starter, I enjoyed the bold flavours yet mushy texture of the eggplant!
Arugula & Prosciutto di Parma
- Shaved Parmigiano Reggiano, Red Wine Vinegar, Extra-Virgin Olive Oil
Chianti Braised Short Ribs
- Porcini Crusted Beef Short Ribs with a Creamy Gorgonzola Polenta & Crispy Onion
- When the dish arrived, I was quite excited to dig in – the short ribs were tender in some areas that the meat fell off the bone yet some parts were a bit dry.
- The creamy gorgonzola polenta had really strong & creamy flavours so I was able to finish about half
Tonno Scottato & Caponata
- Seared Ahi Tuna, Grape & Black Olive Salami, Roasted Red Peppers
Tiramisu Martini
- A Venetian Classic
Vanilla Bean Panna Cotta
- Candied Blood Orange & Tangerine
- I enjoyed Cibo Wine Bar’s representation of a Panna Cotta. It had a nice subtle taste of vanilla bean which did not make the panna cotta too rich or heavy
- The texture of this panna cotta was a bit more solidified then what I’m usually used to having – which I enjoyed
Based on my Winterlicious experience at Cibo Wine Bar, I felt that some things were better than others. My friend and I both enjoyed our apps and desserts more than we enjoyed our main. I noticed that the tables beside us had ordered off their regular menu, and the pasta looked great. I was very close to opting for the regular menu that evening – they had a great selection of pastas and pizzas but hey, you can’t say no to a $25 – 3 course pre fixe especially if the deal is only offered twice a year. That being said, I would like to come back to try other things on their regular menu – click here! (I.e. Linguine with fresh seafood and also the Penne in Rose Vodka Cream Sauce)
Price: $25 + tax + gratuity
