CIBO Rapido at Opus Mall: Quicker Service, Same Delicious Italian Food
How do your weekends typically go? For those in deep adulting mode, one full day can be easily spent in the mall – trying to balance both errands and your social life. Start the day with a quick wellness appointment, then stop by True Value, drop by a café for a quick coffee hangout, catch a movie with your kids, and then grocery shop at The Marketplace. Whew, quite a busy day!
At the end of it all, you just want to grab a quick bite and get on with the rest of your adulting – oh, and we forgot to add “bring the dog to the pet shop” to the to-do list. It just never ends, huh? Still, it’s nice to reward yourself every now and then with a nice, comforting plate of your Italian favorites. Maybe a slice of pizza, a bowl of pasta, and some tiramisu for a sweet finish?
Well, che fortuna! CIBO’s latest quick-service concept – CIBO Rapido – which is conveniently located at The Marketplace in Opus Mall, promises to deliver Italian cuisine at a pace that any hustling adult would appreciate: pronto!
As you approach CIBO Rapido, your eyes will be immediately drawn to the counters displaying their wide selection of dishes: pasta, pizza, mains, desserts, salads, starters, and more. Do you recall those cartoons with heart-shaped eyes shooting out of their sockets? That was us when we visited, shamelessly drooling over the sight (and smell!) wafting from the glass display cases.
After quickly collecting ourselves, it was time to check the menu. At CIBO Rapido, you can quickly get your order in just three easy steps – another win for those in a rush! But while they’re always on display, they maintain just the right balance of elements to make sure that everything stays fresh. Hence, CIBO’s battle cry: “Fresh and ready now!”
There are three sets available: “Choose 2 (P489++),” “Choose 3 (P649++),” and “Choose 4 (P969++).” Menu items available are the same for all sets, only the number of main dishes and additional dishes vary. Some dishes require a little extra, however, but they’re clearly marked on the menu.
Here are the easy-peasy steps:
Step 1: Pick a Main Dish between their Pasta and Rice Meal options. For pasta, customers can choose between their Classic or Seafood Lasagna, or their crowd-favorite Baked Telefono (which is in a deep-dish tray, unlike in their regular CIBO establishments where it is cooked over the stove). Rice meals include Pork Ribs, Roast Pork Roman-Style, Alette di Pollo (Baked Chicken Wings) which is CIBO Rapido-exclusive, and Roast Organic Chicken.
Tip: You can bring home a whole Roast Organic Chicken!
Step 2: Pick your additional dish. Choose one or two from the Antipasti (Starters), Insalate (Salads), Cibo di Strada (Street Food), Pizza Romana, or Dolci (Desserts). Their starters include Pugliesi Taralli (wheat-based crackers with a subtle herb aftertaste, perfect for munching!) and Potato Chips. Salad lovers can choose between their Palm Heart Salad, Tuna Salad, or Seafood Salad. They also serve “Street Food,” such as Mozzarella Sticks, Risotto Balls Telefono, and another CIBO Rapido-exclusive, the Beef Crocchette.
They also have four available flavors for the Pizza Romana: All-Meat, Four Cheese, All-Veggies, or Bolognese. Lastly, their dessert menu consists of their iconic Tiramisu or Panna Cotta (chocolate, mango, or caramel).
What We Tried
For starters, we grabbed some of the Beef Crocchette which was packed with shredded beef. It was perfect as a filling snack, but those seeking something lighter should munch on the Pugliesi Taralli. The subtle taste of this Italian cracker makes it an ideal snack for movie nights, road trips, or a picnic.
The Palm Heart Salad’s light flavor with a hint of acidity matches the peppery (not spicy!) punch that the Alette di Pollo (Baked Chicken Wings) packs. While not an exclusive pairing, these two would be great for a quick lunch. If you’re looking for something heavier to refill your energy tank after a full day of errands, then we suggest the Roast Pork Roman-Style plus a slice of Pizza Romana – essentially, do as the Romans do.
For dessert, you cannot go wrong with either option. Their version of the Tiramisu features a crunchy layer unlike the traditional soft layer courtesy of coffee-soaked ladyfingers. While the Panna Cotta is less sweet, it is also a nice way to end a meal packed with strong flavors.
Oh, and before you go, you can grab a whole roast chicken to continue that CIBO meal at home! Make sure to also grab a box or two of the frozen CIBO Pizza Romana (Salame or 3 Carni flavor) and a pack of their German Sausage. And while you’re at it, grab a bag of Taralli or Potato Chips – that’s a full meal right there!
With their latest, different restaurant format, CIBO Rapido assures their loyal patrons that no matter how busy life gets, you can still grab your Italian favorites and stay on the go.
To stay updated, check out CIBO's website and follow them on Instagram or Facebook.
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