CIBO VINO
Hoppen Hierarchy:★★★⭑
District: Downtown Omaha
Italian cafe with in-house pasta
Perfect For: Date Night; Casual Dining
Standout Dishes: Pappardelle Bolognese; Tiramisu; Porcini Beef Tip Penne
“Cibo” and “vino” translate to “food” and “wine” in Italian, making Cibo Vino one of the most straightforward named restaurants I think I’ve ever encountered. If you’re going to go with a name that simple and on the nose, you’d better absolutely nail both elements.
I’m no wine expert, but I can happily report that Cibo Vino (pronounced CHEE-boh VEE-noh) nails the food aspect of that promise. And yet, I’d argue that Cibo Vino could potentially add a third element to its name: Ospitalita. Because the hospitality here is off the charts.
From the moment you walk into Cibo Vino, you not only feel warmly welcomed, but also that the employees are happy to be there. These aren’t plastered-on smiles or throwaway “How are you?”s. The Cibo Vino team exudes an authentic appreciation that you’ve chosen their restaurant, from the first interaction with the hostess stand to the final goodbye with your server.
Upon leaving one meal, our waiter declared us “world class eaters” for completely cleaning each appetizer, entree, and dessert that left the table.
It was a fun, genuine moment, but my follow-up thought was: When the food tastes this good, who’s not eating every last morsel?
An Italian restaurant opened by a pair of restaurant veterans in Omaha’s Old Market (11th & Jackson), Cibo Vino’s menu is diverse but mostly centered around pasta, much of which is made in-house. In a unique twist, pastas can be ordered as smaller, sharable plates (“starter pastas”) like you’d find in Italy, or larger entree platters we’re used to in America. The classic pasta dishes—Cacio e Pepe, Spaghetti Carbonara, Rigatoni Alla Vodka, etc.—are present, but Cibo Vino adds in some fun new dishes too.
The most popular dish is an old classic: Pappardelle Bolognese. The noodles are the star here: well-formed and cooked to a delightful al dente, these long, silky ribbons grab onto the hearty sauce with a warm embrace. The bolognese has both beef and pork and has a homey richness, though it’s a little light on the meat. Some more protein would thicken it up a bit.
Handmade pasta shows up in another fan favorite, the Fettucini Frutti Di Mare. Again, the long, ribbon-like strands make a perfect base for the dish, and they absorb all the flavor of the rich, briny, umami-laden broth. The seafood is cooked well and there’s plenty of it, and the toasted focaccia is perfect for sopping up any remaining broth (more on that bread soon).
But Cibo Vino doesn’t just play the expected hits; it creates new dishes, as well. The Porcini Beef Tips Penne is a wonderful example and, though these noodles aren’t made in house, they’re cooked well and the ridged tubes allow the creamy, earthy sauce to take up residence. The beef is very tender and savory, and the dish eats almost like a “pasta meets pot roast” type of plate.
The menu also includes a number of proteins, from Filet Au Poivre to Veal Scalloppine, Fennel Citrus Salmon, and Sausage & Peppers. There are a lot of dishes to explore here, ranging from pretty traditional to rather inventive.
Regardless of what you order, your meal should begin with an order of the Rosemary Focaccia, a plate of fluffy, oily bread that’s toasted on one side to give it a nice crisp. It’s served with balsamic vinegar and olive oil for dipping, or you can feast as is.
But to really take it to the next level, order the Burrata Caprese and slather that bread with rich, creamy cheese and plump, juicy tomatoes. Both starters are strong on their own, but they’re even better together.
There are few stumbles when it comes to the sweets at Cibo Vino. There’s too much cocoa powder atop the Tiramisu, causing the dessert to lean too far in the bitter direction. But if you scrape a bit of the dust off, you’re left with a fantastic balance of sweet and bitter with a creamy, melt-in-your-mouth consistency.
The Hazelnut Panna Cotta is set perfectly, and the bulbous mound jiggles pleasantly when the plate is nudged. It’s rich, sweet, and silky-smooth with a bit of a milky flavor, and the hazelnut adds a buttery undertone.
The interior is elegant but unpretentious, as Cibo Vino could easily serve as a meeting spot for an anniversary date or a family Sunday supper. A beautiful bar displays a wide array of spirts, though the TVs give off a bit of a sports bar vibe that seems a bit out of place.
But wherever you sit, you’re going to feel like a priority. The service is truly stellar, and the pacing of the meal and timing of each course’s arrival feels just right.
Ironically, that’s what stands out about Cibo Vino even more than the food and drink in its name. Thinking back on my meals here, the dishes were mostly very solid but unspectacular, tasty without forming core memories. And the drinks are good, but I’m not going to write any love letters to Smiley’s Old Fashioned.
What I do remember is what a good time I had, enjoying the company of people I like with food and drink I enjoy. So while I don’t expect Cibo Vino to change its name any time soon, just remember that the hospitality is the name of the game at this Omaha restaurant.