Cibo Trattoria

First time in Cibo. Seems like owner couldn’t decide between sports bar and contemporary Italian. The mix doesn’t work. TV’s (with sound) dominate the small setting. All would have been forgiven if the food was good and fairly priced. Instead it was overpriced and mediocre. $ 19 for the full «Garbage Salad» was a joke. Just a big wooden bowl of shredded iceberg lettuce and a few tomatoes and other scattered ingredients. The Veal Milanese was $ 20, came a la carte, was overcooked and flavorless. Margarita pizza was ok. Kids penne bolognese was best value at $ 7. Very disappointed with overall dining experience. Such a shame as restaurants in Glencoe are at a premium.

I found this gem while visit family in the immediate area. Because of the mixed reviews that I read online, I was skeptic about dining here, but the quality of the restaurant met — and exceeded my expectations.
For our first course, our party dined on fried Calamari and the Stromboli with sweet Italian sausage, Italian beef, and sweet peppers… delicious! It was followed by a succulent Veal Parmesan, Chicken Caesar Salad, and a divine creation of squad ink spaghetti with garlic shrimp (I’m the type of person who shares a meal with others but this was not the case). And to top it off, we tried the Matterhorn, a multi layer chocolate cake!
It was a great dining experience and I look forward to returning to Cibo on my next visit.

Ok so it’s our second time here and probably the last.
The good:
Service was attentive, friendly, and efficient.
Atmosphere is nice albeit too dark. There are two beautiful Game of Thrones like chandeliers which are pretty to look at but give off unflattering glare. If you’re on the outskirts of the dining room, you’re in the dark. They have two large tv screens flanking the bar and two more on each side of the wall which just display some art, it’s bizarre.
Food is just bad. I had the veal Parmesan which was dry and flavorless. It had a fake tasting cheese and probably the worst side of pasta I ever had.
My partner had the cibo burger which tasted freezer burnt. The fries were not bad however and came with a truffle mayo dipping sauce (how original).
Got carrot cake for desert and it was actually good but I suspect was not made in house.
I would definitely not try this place for the third time and waste my money sorry to say.

I dined here for the second time tonight. I love the atmosphere. The food is fine enough. Our service tonight was terrible, and the noise level was obnoxious.

Never having been to Glencoe, I found Cibo via Unilocal; it was perfectly located across the street from Books on Vernon, where I was going to see a play. The play was outstanding, the restaurant was OK. Staff was cordial, if a bit unpolished, and the service was quite attentive until the place started to fill up after 6:30 on a weeknight.
VIBE: Dark wood tables, dark wood floors, TVs over the bar, a couple of glaring chandeliers. Not lovely, but OK for what it is, a neighborhood trattoria.
SERVICE: Everyone was eager and polite. Food arrived promptly, but not rushed. Toward the end of the meal, I called for the check early because response time was clearly sagging as the place got busier.
GOOD: My companion’s Tuscan chicken was flavorful and tender. A kale salad was tasty, but the kale had not been massaged and so was rather chewier than it might have been.
NOT SO GOOD: My pappardelle noodles were a bit too al dente, and were stuck together.
I might return if I were in town again. There aren’t many alternatives right in «downtown» Glencoe, so this place is A-​OK.

Compelled by tastebuds to leave review. Jalapeño quinoa with chicken so simple and delicious. Like my favorite Thai basil fried rice but with superfood du jour — ingenious! Stromboli was heaping in portion (no complaints) and super savory. Hope second iteration incorporates bed of paper thin succulent shredded beef. Sausage tasty anyway. Burger better than neighbors across street. Classic Caesar nice and creamy with some accoutrement but could use more parm, citrus, whitefish anchovies maybe? Excellent croutons. Nice wine selection. Looking forward to further menu items. Bravo

My friend and I ate here recently, and enjoyed it. Here’s what we both liked, and didn’t like:
+ It’s a welcome addition to the dining scene on the north shore
+ The atmosphere is intimate without feeling overly fussy or intimidating
+ Our server was attentive, but not overbearing
+ Both of our dishes, pappardelle bolognese, and a white fish, were delicious
+ My glass of wine was fantastic — now I can’t remember what it was
— Cibo’s is expensive for what it is. My average portion of pasta with bolognese was $ 18, and my friend’s rather small portion of white fish was $ 22.
— There was a horrible draft where we were sitting when the heat wasn’t on; when the heat was on, it was like sitting under an enormous fan blowing hot air
— Like I told my friend, the tiramisu was a good dessert, but not a great tiramisu. It was too cakey, too cold, and didn’t have enough filling. Of course, this is a subjective opinion, but based on having lived in Italy, and eating tons of the stuff while there
— There was an eight layer chocolate cake on the menu for $ 18. I didn’t ask, but I assume this is not for the entire cake. I have never, in my long life, ever seen a dessert listed at $ 18, not even while living in Manhattan. I’m not saying they don’t exist, just … why? Why an $ 18 dessert?
I’ll definitely go back, because I’d like to try other items on the menu; it’s close to home; and the food is good.

This restaurant has the potential to be wonderful but it is new and certainly experiencing issues. Overall, I thought the food was wonderful but the service and acoustics were serious pitfalls, to the point that I would probably not go back. The ambiance is nice but the lack of material to absorb the sound made it almost unpleasant. You can barely hear each other speaking. The seating is tight and more importantly, the servers cannot figure their way around the seats easily. There seems to be no sense of networking among the service and we had a hard time getting their attention even though it appeared we had eye contact. We had a play across the street and somehow they could not wrap their heads around the fact that we needed to move quickly despite the fact that we planned and made reservations that should have allowed us more than enough time. However, even though my Italian beef and parmesan fries were delicious, I will need a lot of enticement to go back. In their favor, there are not a lot of restaurants in Glencoe.

The food was excellent. We had the white pizza, which was large enough for two or a great starter for a large group. We would definitely order this again. The broccoli rabe and veal were also delicious.
The décor is inviting. The only thing that didn’t make sense to me are the TVs. There are two giant TVs on either side of the dining room., which isn’t that big to begin with. There are two additional TVs in the bar area, which are viewable to the dining room, so I don’t understand why these are needed. I think they detract from the ambiance.
Also if you go on a cold night be sure to ask for a table away from the front windows. I sat against the window and it was so cold And drafty I had to keep my jacket on.

It has taken us a long time to try this place but we finally did and were pretty pleased! We went with a group of 9 to celebrate a couple of birthdays. I was happy to see the pricing was reasonable which helps to take out a large group of people and still have a great meal.
We ordered
–calamari appetizer
–Zucchini fries appetizer–
–Brussel Sprouts — A must that was a favorite of the whole table.
–Quinoa Pesto bowls — LOVED it and only $ 10!
–Caprese Quinoa Bowl — it was ok… it came out as a cold dish and we were not told that nor was it described that way… the Pesto bowl was warm and was more like an entrée… I think people should be aware of that as the person that ordered would not have gotten this
–Burger — they said it was a great one
–Pesto Chicken sandwich —
–Meatball sandwich
–Fries were really good with a great aioli included
Kids meals were free with the purchase of adult entrees
Love the décor and atmosphere… nice addition of TVs so you can watch a game while there.
I think the service could continue to be improved upon but everyone was so nice and helpful.
We brought in dessert and they plated it and even presented the bday boys with awesome candles!
We will definitely be back and will get takeout from here!

First of all, its great to have a neighborhood spot so I’m pleased with that.
They had a few miscues on my initial visit.
1. Ordered a pizza appetizer
40 minutes later it showed up
While the table next to me came 15 minutes after me and got their pizza and meal inside of 30 minutes and left by the time we ate our first slice. The staff said sorry and that was it.
Wouldn’t you know it they gave our original pizza order away to someone… hmmmm and we had to wait for them to realize it after I inquired about our pizza order taking so long!!! They did nothing to correct their mistake.
2. We ordered pasta and salad and that took another 30 minutes after the pizza came. Let me tell you the place was not full and it was baffling what was going on as to why salad and pasta take over an hour to get delivered to your table?
3. The seafood pasta was tasty but I think they use frozen shrimp and scallops which were the size of peanuts. I’ve never seen shrimp and scallops that small. It was overcooked and chewy. I would recommend less seafood but use fresh or higher quality because the trade off would be worth it. 24 dollars for a pasta entrée is very steep and if the seafood isn’t fresh or notable it’s not worth it.
4. Ambiance is 4 stars. So very quaint and cozy interior.
5. Service this night was a 1. They were polite but not really owning the issue or acknowledging the problem.
I’ll give this place another try. Service this night was not great. The menu looks good so I’ll give it another go but hopefully they will make some tweaks.

I have to say, when I first walk in here I thought is was a cute neighborhood trattoria. I guess I was right! :-) It was very friendly and the service was excellent. Rocko, the manager greeted us and came by the table after to check on everything. I also noticed many regulars in the place and was excited to try this spot. Well started with a very nice Italian Cab and warm Italian bread. We ordered Veal Parmesan and I had the most incredible Black Spaghetti Shrimp. Both parties loved the veal and said the taste was exceptional and the sauce not acidic at all. My dish was composed of Squid Ink Spaghetti, pan seared garlic rock shrimp, Soppressata, jalapeño pesto, scallions and pecorino cheese. I had also noticed other tables ordering awesome looking thin crust pizza, like the Quattro Formaggi with Fontina, Gorgonzola, mozzarella and Parmesan or the Mozzarella with Mozzarella and San Marzano tomatoes. The food was incredible as was the service. It is well worth the trip. The place is small, about 15 tables and a full bar. It can fill up fast but a reservation by 7pm usually gets you in pretty fast. It was Saturday night, but suprisingly the Glencoe crowd eats late. By 8pm it was full.

Was hoping for a nice, neighborhood Italian place. Was once again foiled by the low restaurant expectations endemic on the North Shore.
Let’s face it, the food was just meh. Veal Milanese was over cooked, dry, and poorly seasoned. Black Spaghetti Shrimp looked interesting (props for the addition of jalapenos) but ended up being overcooked, mushy, and under seasoned. Tuscan Kale Salad was o.k., but too much dressing and therefore too mushy.
Not a fan of the TVs in the dining room, but I can live with it for a neighborhood place. Unfortunately, the décor and menu seem to trying to move in a different direction than that. They fall short. Pick one (neighborhood place or upscale Trattoria) and hopefully the execution of that vision will bring things into focus.

We had a much better experience on our second visit. The meatball appetizer is very tasty. The tuna appetizer had a nice presentation. Everyone at my table enjoyed the tuna (including myself) but I keep thinking that it needed a drizzle of something. The prosecco was reasonably priced at $ 40 a bottle and came with a very festive bow (which I have never seen before but kind of loved). Service at the bar and at the table was very good and friendly. I worried that the tvs might be a distraction but they weren’t at all. The fun couples that we dined with probably helped! Next time, I have to try to pizza. It looks really good!

Ricky can’t fool me. His plan is to fatten up all of Glencoe so that we have no choice but to join his gym, MVP Fitness, conveniently located across the street. While I’ve been a member of MVP for a few years now if I keep indulging in Cibos delicious pizzas and other food I may be at the gym twice a day.
Nothing is more exciting in Glencoe than when a new biz (especially a restaurant) opens up. And Cibo does not disappoint…
I’ve dined in a few times and picked up a few more times. I’ve truly liked it all, but if I just had to pick a few menu favorites:
— Ahi Tuna Tartare
— White Pizza (ask for it extra crispy)
— Lobster Ravioli
— Black Spaghetti Shrimp
(And my husband LOVES the meatball)
Again, I“ll have to spend more time at the gym if i continue to eat all that, but well worth it.
While it took them awhile to get a liquor license they now have one. I’ve only had their delish mocktails to date, but look forward to many cocktails/​glasses of wine after my baby arrives later this year.
Great spot for a date night. Great spot for a GNO. And while I haven’t brought the kiddos yet I hear it’s also a good spot for the littles too.
Happy to see the restaurant scene has improved in just the 2.5 years I’ve been in Glencoe. I’m hoping for a casual brunch spot suitable for kids next! Fingers crossed.

It’s great to have this new place so close to home. All the food we tried was good, margarita pizza, veal, filet and rigatoni vodka. We would have liked some better coffee or other options like espresso for after dinner, but that’s ok.
The staff was very friendly but seemed like they are still working out some kinks. One guy came by and took one of the plates before our friend had finished eating.
Overall we liked the place and will go back again to give it another try.

Nice new spot in downtown Glencoe bringing really yummy tasting food to downtown. Italian inspired cuisine with staples such as a meatball sandwich and second looks with an Italian BLTP. Menu is full of good tasting choices including salads, pizzas and sandwiches (served with Parmesan fries with aoli — really yummy!)
Décor is cozy and warm for evening dining, but also comfortable for lunch with a few tables on the sidewalk out front. However, there are two big TV screens inside the restaurant that deter from an otherwise nice ambiance. I hope they don’t have them going during dinner which would detract from conversation.
Note: until they get a liquor license they are byob.

Service was strange — overly attentive before we ordered and completely ignored after we were served. Not a stop to refill water or ask how we liked our meals.
The chopped salad was tasty but came with the salami we asked them to hold. Grilled octopus was a ridiculously small portion for the price — literally 2 small tentacles cut in half and plated at 12, 3, 6 and 9 o’clock with a few fingerling potatoes in between. It tasted great but it was WAY too small for $ 14!
The ragu bolognese was a much better deal and it had rich, deep flavors and tender, perfectly cooked pappardelle.
The chicken quinoa bowl was very fresh with plenty of flavor.
Brussel sprouts side was a bit too greasy and plenty for 4.
Roast chicken is a solid if uninspired dish.
Not sure if we will return.

The Pappardelle Bolognese and the Margherita pizza were delicious. My kids who are so picky gobbled them up… and asked if we can come back soon to try some other dishes. The spinach salad with strawberries, asparagus, cheese and nuts was tasty too. The asparagus was a nice touch. It’s nice to have a very good new restaurant in Glencoe.
Good luck guys!!!

Glencoe is so happy you are here!
First customer to dine! We went opening night right at 5:00 pm! Got seated right away.
Ordered:
Grilled Octopus — Interesting
Cibo Meatball — EXCELLENT
Margherita Pizza — Classic
Black Spaghetti Shrimp — Innovative
9 Layer Chocolate Cake — Order one for your whole table!
Food was delicious. Staff was courteous and attentive. Owners were there to greet and meet. Space was cozy. Community seating. No Liquor, yet…
I’m ready to go back and try more items on their extensive menu. I’ll be curious to see how comfortable the seating will be with a packed house — the space is a bit tight, so get to know your neighbors!