Cibo Rapido: A New Kind of Cibo at Opus Mall, Bridgetowne

Cibo Rapido
G/F The Marketplace, Opus Mall, Bridgetowne, Quezon City
Contact: 0939-903-5292

(SPOT.ph) Cibo has long been a staple in the local food scene, Manila and beyond.  Chef Margarita Forés' restaurant is one of the first of its kind after all, giving Filipinos a taste of chic Italian right here in the city from 1997 to present—now, more than 25 years after its inception, a new kind of Cibo has opened its doors. Right in Opus Mall, Bridgetowne, they've set up a different concept called Cibo Rapido that puts a spin on our ol' dependables.  Allow us to walk you through it.

Also read:
Opus Mall, Bridgetowne: Newly Opened and Soon-to-Open Shops
Guide to Restaurants and Cafés at Opus Mall in Quezon City

What to know about new concept Cibo Rapido

Opus Mall is a brand new establishment that can't be missed as you drive along C-5, what with its shining facade and The Victor statue peeking out behind it. If you ever visit this massive upscale mall, make sure to drop by the Cibo Rapido housed in a cozy corner of The Marketplace on the ground floor. 

While the space retains the bright modern-retro vibe we know and love Cibo for, a step inside reveals that it isn't exactly how you'd expect. This Cibo lives up to its name of "Rapido" with a cafeteria-like setup that allows you to walk up to the counter and choose what you'd like to eat from all the tasty eats displayed up front. There's quite a number of seats available for you to pop in for a quick bite after doing groceries or between work appointments. 

You might be familiar with a certain type of Italian restaurant called the Tavola Caldo, or "hot table," that works similar to a cafeteria, complete with homecooked-style meals. Just like in a Tavola Caldo, the focus is on hot, fresh, and ready food. Now here is where Cibo Rapido makes a mark: you'll be getting a tray and choosing what to eat, with the freedom to create your own combo dish. There's a certain joy in having choices, especially when you've got a slew of tasty Cibo treats in front of you.  

The combo meals of Cibo Rapido can be built in three steps: first, choose a pasta of rice meal; second, choose an additional dish; last, get a dessert or drink. You won't have to go full-on everytime as you can pick whether you want a combo meal of two, three, or four choices.

To lay it down, the Choose 2 Combo Meal will you get a main dish and an additional for P489, the Choose 3 Combo Meal will get you one main dish and two additional dishes (P649), and the Choose 4 Combo Meal will get you two main dishes and two additional dishes (P969). 

And if you're not quite hungry enough for a full meal, you can drop by for a quick snack as they've also got an a la carte menu. There are the classic pastas and pizzas Cibo is known for, and also a new "Cibo di Strada" line of food items. As in the name, this "street food" selection carries Mozarella Sticks (P99), the classic Risotto Balls Telefono (P139), and the branch-exclusive Beef Crocchette (P139). You can also get cups of coffee here to perk you up.

Apart from the Tavola Caldo, you can also pick up food to eat at home just like you would from an Italian rosticceria. Just head on over to the refrigerator near the counter and take your pick between pizzas, sausages, and even desserts. Even better, you can pick up a full roast chicken from their rotisserie, which we'll talk more about later. 

What branch-exclusive menu items can you get from Cibo Rapido?

It's not just the quick-style concept that's different here. Cibo Rapido is home to menu items that you can only get a bite of in Opus. 

We've already talked about the Cibo di Strada line, from which you can get food you can eat while on the go. The Beef Crocchette is made with slow-stewed, fork-tender beef balled up and fried, making for croquettes that are crisp on the outside and hot and full of flavor inside. It comes with a oil-and-chili dip to add a little zing to your bites.

For events that call for a treat, you can drop by and pick up a whole chicken roasted Cibo-style, called the Pollo Arrosto (P1,199). We can definitely imagine this slow roast brightening up any at-home celebration, and hey, if you try to pass it on as your own cooking, we won't tell. 

Another star that's a little more unexpected are the Alette di Pollo, or Baked Chicken Wings (P159/2 pieces or P949/12 pieces). You can also get this as a rice meal in your combo options. Forget what you know about the oily, deep-fried wings as Cibo Rapido does them their own stellar Italian way. These wings are marinated and then slow-baked, resulting in tender wings full of Italian herbs and seasonings. 

The crowd-favorite Telefono takes a different form with the Baked Telefono, adding even more cheese and flavor to the go-to. You've got all your classics here, too, so there's no need to miss anything. You can choose between the rich and creamy Classic Lasagna or even a Seafood Lasagna option. There's pizza here as well, only for a different take, they've used a crust more similar to foccacia. What you get are heftier and thicker slices than we're used to from Cibo, but no less tasty with all the usual toppings.

Cibo Rapido has got everything there is to love about the OG Cibo, wrapped up in a quick, new concept. Check it out for yourself over at Opus Mall.