Restaurant Review: Via Cibo Coventry

Some of my friends have always complained that it’s hard for them to get downtown to enjoy a lot of the restaurants since they live far from the core. For others, it’s tough because of kids and getting them home for bedtime. So it was really nice to see Via Cibo opening up a sister location in the northern part of the city with their south location being such a hit! We were lucky enough to be invited to sample their delicious food and check out their amazing new space.

Atmosphere: An Italian style eatery with a casual bistro feel, perfect for those looking for Italian fare outside the core.

Price Range: Mid $10s - $20s

Food: We ran in to some good friends at the event and decided to share everything so we were able to try a greater selection of food then what we had initially ordered. It worked out perfectly since we didn’t order any of the same dishes! We started with the Insalata Bistecca made with grilled steak, a mix of greens, roasted peppers, cipollini onions, shaved grana padano cheese and topped with aged balsamic vinaigrette. The beef was sliced quite thinly and therefore remained quite tender and all the greens were extremely fresh. The balsamic vinaigrette made for a classic combo.

We ordered the Arugula and Roasted Vegetables insalata with arugula, seasonal vegetables, shaved grana padano cheese and a house Italian vinaigrette. By itself the salad was quite peppery due to the use of arugula and I would have preferred to have a fit of spring greens mixed in. However, it was perfect mixed with the pizza and pasta. It added that nice bitterness and really helped cut through the strong flavours. I highly recommend ordering this and just placing a bit of it on top of your choice of pizza or mix with the gnocchi.

For pastas we tried the Rose Pasta and Shrimp made with a white wine rose sauce, slow roasted tomatoes, shrimp, baby spinach and topped with lots of shaved grana padano cheese. I really liked the cream sauce, it was tangy due to the tomatoes and the penne pasta really sopped it all up. The shrimp itself was cooked nicely and was a nice addition to the pasta.

My favorite however was the Gnocchi. The gnocchi themselves were soft and pillowy, the gorgonzola cream sauce was velvety and flavourful! All the extras such as the slow roasted tomatoes, pancetta, green onions and shaved grana padano cheese was the proverbial cherry on top. We added grilled chicken to ours to make it a heartier meal but it would have been a great vegetarian dish if you’d prefer to leave the chicken off.

For the pizzas we were encouraged to sample the traditional Margherita topped with tomato, fior di latte mozzarella and fresh basil. A classic combination, the flavours definitely went well together. However the star was the dough itself, crispy on the outside while remaining nice and chewy on the inside, exactly what I look for in a pizza crust.

When it comes to pizza though, I prefer the sweet and salty and ordered the Prosciutto E Arugula made with prosciutto, arugula, fior di latte mozzarella, slow roasted tomatoes, shaved grana padano cheese and a drizzle of fig infused balsamic reduction. The reduction added a nice simple sweetness to the pizza and really lifted the flavours. I added more arugula from our salad on top of this pizza and found the combination to be a winner. I think others around the table agreed. Again the chewiness of the dough was really the star here making for a wonderful bite.

For a side we had the Polpette, which are three handmade meatballs with pomodoro (aka tomato) sauce and shaved grana padano cheese. The dish is great for sharing and the meatballs themselves packed in quite a bit of flavour. They were moist and tender and I thought would go well with any of the pasta dishes.

Via Cibo serves Fiasco Gelato and espresso type coffees to curb your sweet tooth. You can see all the gelato flavours through their display and order to your hearts content.

My Pick: Gnocchi

Overall: For those who are craving Italian, Via Cibo is a great option and not just because you have a family. It’s also great for those just looking for a lovely evening out but don’t want to deal with the hassles of parking downtown.

Via Cibo Coventry
Unit 101, 104 Country Village Road NE
Calgary, AB
(587) 755-4856
Website: viacibo.com