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Cibo e Vino restaurant, Italian for “food and wine,” has opened its doors on Mattison Avenue.

The 85-seat restaurant offers moderately priced traditional Italian fare served “cicchetti,” or small-plate style—which is the Italian equivalent of a Spanish tapas house, according to restaurant co-owner Karen DeGiglio. Everything on the menu is made to order and patrons are encouraged to order a couple of different dishes to share with each other, family-style.

DeGiglio and her husband, Jim, [shown above] also own Fish Urban Dining, located right next door to Cibo e Vino.

Whereas Fish is an upscale fine dining restaurant where patrons go to treat themselves, Cibo e Vino is a place where restaurant goers can relax and eat in a casual atmosphere, she said.

“This restaurant is like a big hug,” she said.

Cibo is the couples second Italian-themed restaurant venture together. The first was Pinziminio Trattoria, located on Long Beach Island, which they sold in September to focus efforts on the two Asbury Park restaurants, and so DeGiglio wouldn’t have to spend May through September away from her husband to handle day-to-day operations at Pinziminio during the busy summer season, she said. Now, the two will operate their side-by-side restaurants year round.

Their faithful chef, Dave Syminuk, who has worked with them for 8 years in all 3 restaurants, is now the head chef of Cibo e Vino. Diana Grossman, who previously managed Fish, will now manage the new space.

Instead of going with the popular reds, browns and yellows normally associated with the interior colors of Italian restaurants, they chose a warm bluish-purple theme. Wooden tables are surrounded by natural wooden chairs and table settings are kept simple to encourage the home-style feel.

All of the large-scale photos that adorn the walls were taken by the DeGiglio’s during their trip to Italy last November, she said.

Appetizer selections include variations of bruschetta, arancini [rice balls], salads and other traditional Italian sides like escarole and beans. Other hot starters include mussels, crispy calamari, house made meatballs—made from either beef, pork, or veal—and additional selections you would expect to find at a traditional Italian restaurant.

Entrees include a selection of pasta dishes that range between $8 and $12, along with short ribs, pork medallions, a monkfish francaise, chicken cacciatore, milanese risotto and braciole that cost between $8 and $14.

House made grilled pizza is hand tossed, and for the pizza lover with dietary restrictions, gluten free and whole wheat alternatives are available.

The restaurant features a full bar with domestic and imported beer selections and specialty cocktails. Wines by the bottle range from $24 and $96; by the glass between $6 and $9. Wine flights crafted to pair with food selections range between $12 and $25.

Cibo e Vino is open daily for dinner service starting at 4 p.m. except for Christmas and Thanksgiving. The restaurant is located at 603 Mattison Ave.

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