WAYNESBURG − Cibo’s Restaurant offers a delightful Italian dining experience that includes homemade pastas and specials at reasonable prices.
The establishment was born in 1971, when a local orthodontist purchased the former Mohawk movie theatre for his mother, who, along with her friends, began cooking traditional Italian recipes.
Cibo means food in Italian.
To accommodate the growing number of patrons, the theatre was remodeled in 1986, transforming into a spacious, tiered dining room that seats more than 200 people. The ambiance retains a cinematic charm, making diners feel as if a movie could start at any moment.
During my visit, the restaurant was bustling with families, individual diners, and groups of friends. I had the chance to speak with Loraine Dawson of Jackson Township, who was enjoying freshly made rolls with her teenage sons, Jake and Robert. Dawson praised the pasta, especially the Friday specials (all-you-can-eat gnocchi or rigatoni with one meatball for $11.59). She noted that it includes a salad or soup and a Cibo’s roll, making it an excellent value for a busy working mom.
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Cibo’s offers a variety of specials on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, including chicken parmesan ($12.39) and meat or cheese ravioli ($12.39), which come with salad or soup and a roll.
Our server, Jen, was busy with an assortment of tables. She has been working at the restaurant for 25 years, and while she was quite busy was still attentive.
I decided on the lasagna with meat sauce ($13.39 for regular size; $11.29 for small), paired with a house salad. The salad was crisp and fresh, and the lasagna was hearty with generous amounts of delicious sauce. Cibo’s sells their sauce, with or without meat, in quart jars at the front desk.
My friend Nicole enjoyed the all-you-can-eat gnocchi special ($11.59), choosing chicken soup with capellini instead of a salad. Cibo’s soups are available with a unique feature − your choice of pasta (cavatelli, spaghetti, capellini or rigatoni).
The housemade Cibo’s rolls are quite large. Served with pads of butter, they look like a meal themselves. Beyond pasta, the menu includes baked or fried fish dinners, baked chicken, ham and grilled shrimp over fettuccini alfredo. Several dishes come in regular or smaller portions and include a side order.
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For parties of eight or more, Cibo’s offers family-style dinners that include two pasta dishes with meatballs or with chicken or baked steak. These dinners at a set price include salad, rolls and a soft drink. A seven-course dinner for two is also available for $35.95.
To finish our meal, we tried the spumoni ($5.35), a traditional Italian gelato with layers of flavors and candied fruits. While it wasn’t as flavorful as other spumoni I’ve had, it was a refreshing end to a warm summer evening.
Dining at Cibo’s is a fun, change-of-pace experience with a lively atmosphere, owing to its origins as a theatre. This iconic Waynesburg restaurant offers hearty portions and excellent value, especially for families.
Reach Bev at bshaffer@gannett.com or 330-580-8318.
If you go
WHAT – Cibo’s Restaurant
WHERE – 134 W. Lisbon St. in Waynesburg
PHONE – 330-866-3838
WHEN – 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday; 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday; and 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday.
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