GASTRONOMY REVIEW: Cibo - Manchester

A tastefully decorated Italian restaurant at the top end of Liverpool Road in Manchester, this excellent establishment offers quality dishes and superb service.

At the end of my reviewing before Christmas (and before yet another looming possible lockdown), it was time to celebrate the festive season in a little style. Knowing I will be fed up (metaphorically and literally) with the traditional turkey dinner by the end of the next couple of weeks, my companion and I went for Italian food instead. And it was a perfect choice. 

The tables are laid in a lemon and white theme, uniform and smart. The seats are extremely comfortable, and we did not feel in any way rushed before, during or even after we had finished eating. The staff are attentive and polite, but certainly not over-fussy. Music is being played, but it is not too loud, it is true background music. However, I would have thought perhaps Italian music would have been preferable, and even, considering the time of year, Christmas music; but it was neither. My only other criticism here is that the tables were just a little too close together for true comfort and distance. It was a little cramped, and I imagine when the restaurant is full, it would feel very much like a tin of sardines. 

However, the food was quite simply superb. My companion and I went the whole hog, pushing the boat out so to speak, with a starter, main, dessert, wine and coffee! Our starters were calamari (lightly battered and deep fried squid rings and tartare sauce), and a duck and chicken liver pate served with toasted Italian bread and cranberry sauce. I had the pate and can safely say it was delicious. Extremely smooth, full of flavour, and very moreish. The main courses were cooked to absolute perfection, and again, nicely presented and flavoursome. They were Saltimbocca alla Romana (thin scallops of veal with Palma ham, and a sage sauce dressing; and a 7oz ribeye steak in sauce Diane. Of course, with it being an Italian restaurant, we had to finish with tiramisu, which was actually not as full-coffee flavoured as it usually is, the emphasis here being on the cream and the textures; but this suited me perfectly, and enjoyed it immensely.

For the Thursday before Christmas, the restaurant was not busy at all; I think there must have been many cancellations for sadly all-too-obvious and prevalent reasons. We however. were rather thankful for it as we were able to dine in relative quietude. 

For high quality service and true Italian cuisine this restaurant named simply 'Cibo' (which is 'food' in Italian!) simply cannot put a foot wrong. 

Reviewer - Matthew Dougall