Food Meets Beauty at Cibo & Bella.

After Sunday mass, Yue and I went on another food adventure. We checked out the restaurants and diners within the vicinity of the cathedral until we came across this Facebook-familiar restaurant (because I've seen this several times in my feed) called Cibo & Bella. I've read quite a few good reviews about this place so Yue and I decided to give it a try.

Cibo & Bella.

Cibo & Bella isn't exactly a new restaurant. In fact, it's been around for almost seven years, and is one of the few local restaurants that survived the pandemic. Previously located along Balagtas Boulevard, Cibo & Bella moved to this new location along P. Zamora Street, which is one of the busier streets in the city proper and has more foot traffic. I guess this is one of the reasons why the restaurant is gaining more traction on social media - because it's now more accessible and more people are noticing it.

Cibo & Bella are Italian terms which mean 'food' and 'beauty', respectively. The restaurant holds true to its name because the place is simply beautiful with its white walls and neutral boho aesthetic. On the other hand, their table tops, furniture, and accents give off that crisp and clean Santorini vibe. This design combination gives the restaurant a cozy and welcoming ambiance, and makes the place truly Instagrammable. It's "reel-material", as my teenager calls it.

Macrame curtains.

Santorini patterns.

Vintage-inspired vignettes.

The place is well-lighted and fully airconditioned, and is spacious enough to seat large groups or host family gatherings. They also have chairs and tables outside for those who prefer al fresco dining.

Wine bottles on the accent wall.

For al fresco dining.

As for the food, Cibo & Bella has a wide selection of pasta and rice meals on their menu. They also have a variety of salads and appetizers, and of course, coffee and dessert. One of their bestsellers is the Baby Back Ribs, which I ordered. Yue, on the other hand, had their Fettucine Bacon Alfredo and Fish & Fries for sides.

Fettucine Bacon Alfredo, Fish & Fries, and Baby Back Ribs.

As you can see, their Baby Back Ribs were huge! The rack of ribs that they served me was about the size of Yue's palm, and if you've seen my son in person, he's got really big hands so you can just imagine how generous this serving is. I loved how flavorful the ribs were, but the meat wasn't as tender as I expected it to be. It wasn't 'fall-off-the-bone' tender, and I even asked for a knife because the meat just wouldn't budge with just my spoon and fork.

Baby Back Ribs, Php 295.

The Fish & Fries were exceptional, though - perhaps one of the best fish and fries that I have tried among the restaurants here in San Pablo. I loved the crunch of its light and crispy batter, and how the fish tastes buttery and melts in your mouth. Yue enjoyed them too, as well as the fries, which were thick-cut and lightly seasoned.

Fish & Fries, Php 205.

Their Fettucine Bacon Alfredo is also Yue-approved with its creamy, flavorful sauce and slightly crunchy bacon bits. He wanted to dig in the moment his pasta made it to the table (it was that yummy, the scent alone was very appetizing); I told him to wait for a few seconds because I had to take food photos, haha.

Fettucine Bacon Alfredo, Php 165.

To cap our meal, we also had coffee and dessert. Yue ordered Dark Chocolate, while I had the usual - Spanish Latte. We also got a slice of Carrot Cake, which was their Cake of the Week, for sharing. Their coffee is pretty good with just the right strength and sweetness, while their Carrot Cake is almost perfect - moist, tangy, sweet but not saccharine. A bit more cinnamon spice on the cake and it would have been a perfect 10 for me.

Carrot Cake (Cake of the Week), Php 130 per slice.

Iced Dark Chocolate, Php 150.

Spanish Latte, Php 115.

If you're in the mood for pasta and coffee, Cibo & Bella is a nice choice. Its chic interiors and relaxing ambiance make it the perfect place to hang out with friends, have an intimate dinner with your significant other, or, in our case, bond with your family after Sunday mass. Plus points to the Cibo & Bella staff who were nice and friendly, and served guests with a smile. They made our dining experience even more enjoyable.

Thank you for the treat, Yue! ;)

Cibo & Bella

#71 P. Zamora (Lauro Dizon) St., 

San Pablo City

0919 400 2260