March 12, 2014

Cibo Wine Bar in Coral Gables

This Italian restaurant makes the hassle of getting to the Miracle Mile worth it, as it is a welcoming blend of a nice atmosphere, well-prepared food, attentive service, and the best selection of wine in any Miami restaurant I have been to. Although you can find good Italian food at other places on the Mile, none do what Cibo is doing to create a full experience that satisfies.

Walking in, you will be struck by the size of the restaurant. Walls are made of stone and glass, with wood finishes that add a rustic vibe. Close to the semi-open kitchen, you will find exposed hams hanging in a glass case that remind you that although this is a fancy setting, you are here to eat soul satisfying food. Servers will immediately flock to your table and provide recommendations on what to eat and drink. They also tell you all about the day’s specials, which I might add are some of the best in the Coral Gables area. Weekly events such as Pizza+Peroni Mondays and Lobster every Tuesday are more than just quick ideas to try to lure customers in. The price values for some of these items are hard to argue with, and they will definitely draw me back on a regular basis. Prices are not very inflated when it comes to the food, and everything I’ve tried has been better than decent.

pasta at cibo restaurant in coral gables

I usually stick to pasta when I go to Italian restaurants, so I was pleasantly surprised to find that the selection here was enough to satisfy every craving a person might have. The pasta part of the menu is divided into three sections, but I recommend the section of their house made pasta. According to the server, it is made on-site every morning, and this statement was enough to get me to try a couple of items from here. On this particular visit, I ordered the Parpadelle served with a lamb ragu and pecorino shavings as well as the Lasagna. Both were very well prepared, but I would recommend the Parpadelle. You can definitely feel the difference between fresh pasta and one coming from a box, as the texture is a little bit more tender. Even though I wish the lamb ragu were a bit more hearty and flavorful, it provided a good accompaniment to the perfect execution of the pasta. The Lasagna, although good, was a lose interpretation of what I’m used to in the dish. It was not as cheesy as others I have had, but there was a welcome addition that I wish more restaurants used. This particular recipe included salami, which added some welcomed spice to the already flavorful dish.

cannoli at cibo bar miami

To end the meal, I sampled the cannoli, which came as a trio of three small servings. The fried dough was very fresh and crisp, which means that the cannolis were piped to order. My favorite part of the dessert was the filling, as it was cheesier and tangier than any other cannoli filling I have tried. There was some orange zest added to the filling as well, which paired well with the berry syrup that came on the plate.

I won’t lie and say that Cibo is the best Italian restaurant on the Mile. But as an overall package, it more than delivers on what it promises. I appreciate the fact that they are offering something new to the city, and I know for a fact that I will be back to take advantage of some of their specials. Also, word has it that they are opening a South Beach location soon, so if this is closer to you, you are in for a treat.