If we had to choose one evening of the week to be the sexiest one of all, it would have to be Saturday nights hands down. Saturdays are prime time date nights, so once we laid eyes on Cibo Wine Bar we let the rest of our senses take over. Surrounded by a warm and intimate interior, and sumptuous Italian food, we knew we could relax and enjoy the night for what it truly was – a celebration of life’s special moments together.
Bellini: a classic Italian drink to start off the night.
Mojito with Prosecco – an Italian twist.
Baked eggplant layered with melted bocconcini, parmigiano in a light tomato sauce: delicate layers of deliciousness! There were three soft layers of eggplant covered in a rich sauce that would just melt with each bite. We would most definitely order this again.
Grilled octopus, radicchio, fried capers, extra-virgin olive oil, lemon juice: we always tend to go for calamari whenever we spot it, but this time we wanted to switch things up with octopus. Besides, how often do you see octopus on the menu?! The tentacles were tender and chewy, however we wish the dish was less salty (perhaps it was the fried capers), but overall everything was tasty and well portioned.
Diavola pizza: tomato, mozzarella, spicy calabrese salami, roasted red peppers. Two words: on fire! They weren’t kidding when they said this was going to be spicy. The crust was well done, the red peppers were soft and sweet, and the salami added a HUGE kick.
Linguine with fresh clams in a white wine sauce: one of our favourite dishes of the night! Although we wish there were more of the delicious clams and we were expecting more sauce, the flavours were solid and light. It was obvious the linguine was freshly made on site and cooked perfectly al dente.
An after meal latte
Tiramisu to satisfy our sweet tooth: our go-to dessert.
Upon entering the restaurant, you’re immediately greeted by this grand display of wine behind the hostess, which leads into the dining room. Encased by a glass wall and fully climate controlled, this is a showpiece in and of itself. We were invited by the restaurant into the wine room, and were impressed with its organization and engulfed by its enormity.
What I liked most about Cibo was its open concept design, where certain prep stations were elegantly displayed and viewable from your table. The pasta station, and the charcuterie station seen here were visually appealing and entertaining. If you look closely, you can see the dried octopus in the background.
A vespa by the front door, coupled by a wall of skulls at the entrance make for an intriguing invitation to a modern yet comforting Italian restaurant on the ever hip King Street West. We had a great time at Cibo Wine Bar; the menu was exciting and had something for everyone, the service was attentive and coordinated, and the venue was inviting. Looks like we’ve got our Saturdays lined up. đ
Cibo Wine Bar
522 King St. W
Toronto, M5V1L7
416-504-3939
