SAVOR
Restaurant
Cibo Restaurant Photos by Tiffany Candelaria
A little slice of Italy in Arizona BY TIFFANY CANDELARIA
S
Since the summer of 2005, Cibo has been serving wood-fired pizzas, homemade pastas, antipasti and other Italian comfort food favorites in a charming historical house in downtown Phoenix.
The bungalow-style home dates back to 1913 and features a large brick patio out front with twinkling lights and heat lamps in the cooler months. It’s not in the touristy area of downtown, or even a populated area, but for years this little gem has consistently stayed open and earned great reviews, which highlight their (gluten-free) pizzas, attentive, friendly service and the overall ambience. While there are many parts to a successful business, the food needs to be delicious and consistent, and head chef and co-owner Guido Saccone delivers. Growing up in Napoli, one of the great food cities in Italy, he worked in kitchens with his brothers and learned how to cook the staples of Southern Italy. In 2005, Guido and wife Michelle opened Cibo, bringing the essence of those Napoli Italian pizzerias here to Phoenix. “We've had a wonderful relationship with our team from the beginning, raising our families together. I can honestly say they are my best friends,” says co-owner
52
GREEN LIVING
|
greenlivingmag.com
Michael Krassner. “Cibo is our only restaurant, we've been tempted to open elsewhere but we still haven't figured out how we would keep the same quality we have at our current location in a second location.” Their authentic family restaurant really is one of a kind, and their diners are savvy and can feel that. Speaking of the diners, co-owner and front of house manager Krassner credits their “incredible clientele” for the longevity of their restaurant. “The local downtown community has been our bread and butter since day one. We have many of the same customers we had since the beginning, and the same goes for the staff. We are so lucky to have them all.” Giving back to their customers and community is important to them. Over the past few years, they’ve provided daily meals for thousands of needy people at the nonprofit
