Their new Neapolitan signature dish makes our lunch break
IF a signature dish is the recipe that best sums up a restaurant's culinary style, Cibo has chosen well with its Pacheri Alla Pescatrice.
It's a seafood pasta dish associated with Naples and the surrounding towns, and it demonstrates that very Italian art of creating something sublime out of a handful of simple ingredients.
Served on al dente folds of fresh pacheri pasta, it features Scottish clams in their shells, and chunks of Scottish monk fish, both of which are delivered fresh every few days to Cibo. This is the sister restaurant of Don Giovanni so it's no surprise to find that fresh fish is a central part of its menu.
Served on al dente folds of fresh pacheri pasta, it features Scottish clams in their shells, and chunks of Scottish monk fish, both of which are delivered fresh every few days to Cibo.
The sauce complements the seafood perfectly with a hint of chilli warmth, a sprinkling of fresh parsley, and a summery sweetness from baby plum tomatoes which burst under your fork. The flavours are elegant and mellow rather than robust, and the tender, silky texture of the clams and pasta make it very spoonable.
The Pacheri Alla Pescatrice is available in two portion sizes (£9 and £16.50) and can be ordered for lunch or as an evening meal.
While you're there, be sure to ask for a plate of their home-made ciabatta which is one of the best we've tasted in the city centre. It's served warm with sweet balsamic vinegar and olive oil for dipping, both imported from Italy.
Bread and oil – another dish that shows how simple food can outshine the fanciest fine-dining when cooked with skill from the right ingredients. To experience relaxed Italian cuisine at its most rustic and beguiling, Cibo is your place.
Cibo is on Liverpool Road, opposite the Hilton Deansgate.
