VIA CIBO

Walking into Via Cibo, I was greeted by a fully open kitchen where chefs prepared fresh pasta, pizza and other classic Italian dishes. Designed as a fast casual restaurant (I believe the first of it’s kind in Toronto) Via Cibo served up authentic, traditional Italian cuisine with a focus on fresh, simple ingredients. To be honest I wasn’t sure what to expect from Via Cibo, but after just a few bites, I knew I’d be recommending the spot to friends. The food was delicious, from buttery gnocchi to refreshing Italian soda.

Disclaimer: All food and drinks reviewed below were provided complimentary. All opinions expressed below are wholly mine.

Atmosphere: The Hubby and I stopped by for a late lunch on Saturday after grocery shopping at the Longo’s in the same plaza. With large front windows, the entire dining area was flooded with natural light. High ceilings, exposed pipes and lots of metal features with bright red walls created a modern space. I loved the high, communal marble table lit by large pendant lights. On that Saturday, many of the tables were occupied by families that ranged from toddlers to grandparents.

Service: Being a fast casual restaurant, service was minimal. Orders were placed at the counter and each kept track with a number. Diners picked their own table in the restaurant and their order was delivered to them when ready. The dining area was very clean and tables were cleared off quickly once vacated.

Food: The Hubs and I ordered two items from Via Cibo’s lunch menu and two items from their brunch menu to try. We started with the Italian Eggs Benedict, two poached eggs with pancetta, slow roasted tomatoes and spinach served on a herbed flatbread. The yolk of the eggs were perfect, golden and runny. The hollandaise sauce was also perfect, creamy and rich with a silky smooth consistency. For me, those are really the two key points that make an eggs benny and Via Cibo was on point. I really enjoyed the added savouriness from the pancetta and the touch of nuttiness from the spinach.

Next was the Tiramisu French Toast with mascarpone, cinnamon, vanilla, espresso and chocolate chips. On paper, it sounded amazing and there was a strong coffee flavour, but I found it wasn’t sweet enough for me. So much promise.

Our first lunch item was the Calabrese Sausage Piadina, an Italian street food staple made with fresh flatbread. There were big chunks of handmade Italian sausage tucked into the flatbread along with roasted peppers, onions, pomodoro sauce, provolone and aioli. The flatbread was crispy and had a great roasted flavour. This would make a great lunch and very filling.

The last item we tasted was also my favourite, Gnocchi with a gorgonzola cream sauce, slow-roasted tomatoes, pancetta and grana padano cheese. The sauce had a smokiness from the pancetta and each spoonful was a bite of cheesy heaven. I also really liked the texture of the pillowy gnocchi. With four dishes, there was no way The Hubs and I were going to finish everything, but this plate was licked clean.